Category Archives: Science

Barophiles

The barophiles we have found are tiny organisms, usually bacteria, living in areas with intense pressure. They are found on ocean floors where pressure can reach about 400 atm. For reference, the atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1 atm. Some barophiles known as obligate barophiles cannot survive in low pressures. The barophile Halomonas salaria […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Science, Universe | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Barophiles

The Hubble Space Telescope turns 32!

On April 24, 2022, the Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 32nd birthday. To commemorate the celebration of the most famed telescope man has ever seen, the team behind the telescope released an image of Hickson Compact Group 40, the shot containing 5 whole galaxies, taken by Hubble late last year. Nearly all of the galaxies […] Continue reading

Posted in Galaxies, Science | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Hubble Space Telescope turns 32!

Blog 7: Drake Equation

The Drake equation, as we know, has served to estimate the amount of possible intelligent life in the universe. Up to this point, we only know of one, us. We were previously searching for life by looking for radio signals. But obviously, we have not had success with this. Despite this, a new method of […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Science | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Blog 7: Drake Equation

The Double Ridges of Europa: An Opportunity For Life

While looking into climate change related developments on the surface of Greenland, associate professor of geophysics at Stanford University’s School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences Dustin Schroeder noticed small double-ridge formations developing, similar to those observed on the surface of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. The double ridges form when pressurized water from below pushes up […] Continue reading

Posted in Moons, Science | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Double Ridges of Europa: An Opportunity For Life

Using Variable Stars to Find Exoplanets

One of the preeminent methods for finding exoplanets is tracking periodic variations in stellar brightness. In class, we practiced this technique by examining the light curves of certain variable stars and identifying the presence of orbiting exoplanets. In the real world, scientists must first identify variable stars and then determine which of these variable stars’ […] Continue reading

Posted in Instruments, Light, Observables, Science | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Using Variable Stars to Find Exoplanets

blog post 05

In 2006, Pluto was taken off the list of planets, leaving our Solar System with just 8 planets. This demotion occurred 76 years after Pluto was initially added to the list of planets. This decision by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) defined what objects could be classified as a planet. An object needs to be […] Continue reading

Posted in Historical, Observables, Science | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on blog post 05

Are Wormholes Possible?

What is a wormhole? A wormhole is a theoretical bridge joining two points in space-time that would create shortcuts for extremely long journeys throughout the universe. Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen back in 1935 came up with the idea and concluded that due to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, wormholes could exist. He concluded that […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Science | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Are Wormholes Possible?

The Artemis Moon Rocket (Post 6)

NASA has continued ground tests this week for the Artemis I mega moon rocket. The rocket encountered a hydrogen leak on Thursday so it seems like there is still some improvements that must be made until the rocket is ready to be launched. The Artemis mission manager said that all of the problems that the […] Continue reading

Posted in Science, Space Travel | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Artemis Moon Rocket (Post 6)

Planet 9 (Post 5)

The Kuiper Belt is a doughnut shaped group of ice, rock, comets, and dwarf planets, beyond Neptune. There have been discussion recently about whether there is a ninth planet within the Kuiper Belt. These discussions began back in 1846 after the discovery of Neptune, but they became more focused when it was discovered that the […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Science | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Planet 9 (Post 5)

Amateur Astronomer Discovers Jupiter’s 80th Moon

Amateur Astronomer Kai Ly used images from the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope taken in 2003 to identify a previously undiscovered Satellite orbiting Jupiter, the first planetary moon discovered by an amateur astronomer. The telescope used was the 3.6 meter Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope located on Mauna Kea. Ly used an image captured in February 2003 to identify a set […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Moons, Science | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Amateur Astronomer Discovers Jupiter’s 80th Moon