Sci-tech
The mass of artificial objects on earth can now predominate living beings
At the same time, overall biomass is decreasing, mainly because of deforestation and land use changes making way for intensive agriculture. On average, every person in the world is responsible for the creation of human-made matter equal to more than their bodyweight each week, the paper published in Nature says. [Full Article...]
Northern Lights visible for some of Midwest Wednesday night
The hope by sky watchers is that this will unfurl Northern Lights across the Great Lakes area as soon as tonight. The Northern Lights could be visible over MI this week due to anticipated effects from a coronal mass ejection (CME). A massive amount of energy ejected from the Sun on Monday, Dec. 7, is expected to arrive on Earth from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11. Unfortunately for us, the lights will ... [Full Article...]
A Sunspot Seen by the Most Powerful Solar Telescope in the World
Measuring at about 16,093 km (10,000 miles) across, it is just a tiny part of the Sun but is large enough for the entire Earth to comfortably fit inside. Sunspots are the most visible representation of solar activity. Astronomers know that the more sunspots that are visible on the Sun, the more active the Sun is. [Full Article...]
Norfolk turkeys to be culled after bird flu outbreak
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food said in a press release on Monday that a dead mute swan found in the Ljubljana area had tested positive for avian flu. "We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease". The disease can spread to poultry and other captive species when wild birds migrate from mainland Europe du... [Full Article...]
Ever image of a sunspot
The Inouye telescope made a splash when it released its first observations in January. While the device is in its final stages of development, these data indicate that the telescope's advanced optics and a four-meter mirror will give scientists more information about the Sun over the next few decades. [Full Article...]
Watch for the Geminid Meteor Shower
You'll have better odds spotting meteors in the Northern Hemisphere, but the Geminids are also visible south of the equator, just later in the night and in fewer numbers. As soon as the space debris crosses over, it breaks down into what scientists call a "meteor", which then vaporizes and - as a result of friction - appears as a bright streak of light in the sky. [Full Article...]
Jupiter and Saturn to have closest visible encounter in almost 800 years
The alignment will create a radiant point of light in the night sky. It's been almost 400 years since Jupiter and Saturn were as close together as they will be during this year's winter solstice on December 21. The event is dubbed the " great conjunction ". A similar "close encounter" occurred about 400 years ago, in 1623, but the planets were too close to the sun on that occasion and therefor... [Full Article...]
SpaceX’s second Dragon supply capsule heads to ISS with Christmas presents
The crew also includes two Russians and one Japanese. SpaceX is making preparations for its second Dragon vehicle to be sent to the International Space Station . SpaceX Crew-1 Dragon, which arrived 3 weeks ago, is still docked at the station. Approximately nine minutes after launch, the booster's first stage landed back on Earth onto one of SpaceX's drone ships in the Atlantic Ocean, ... [Full Article...]