Day

Celebrate Pi Day 2022 with these epic NASA math challenges for March 14

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If you ever feel like you’re spinning in circles, the annual pi day is a great moment to remind yourself of the power of such thinking. NASA celebrates the famous mathematical ratio each year on March 14 (3/14), which is meant to represent the 3.14 constant that results when you divide a circle’s circumference by … Read more

International Women’s Day 2022: 20 trailblazing women in astronomy and astrophysics

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Image 1 of 20 (Image credit: Michelle Bridges / Alamy Stock Photo) Caroline Herschel (1750-1848) Caroline Herschel is the first woman credited with discovering a comet, and is also the first to receive honorary membership with Britain’s prestigious Royal Society. Herschel’s childhood passions included music, and she sang as a sopranos in several performances in … Read more

International Women’s Day 2022: China’s 1st woman on space station sends message from orbit

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The first woman on China’s space station beamed a message to Earth Tuesday (March 8) to celebrate International Women’s Day from orbit. “Dear fellow women, hello, I’m Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping. I’m currently carrying out a six-month mission in the China space station,” Wang said in the video message from aboard the orbiting Tiangong space … Read more

Just One Extra Drink a Day Is Linked to Brain Shrinking, Study of 36,000 People Shows

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Despite the joys that may come from a boozy Friday night, alcohol is bad for us. And not just in large quantities. Recent studies have been warning that even a moderate amount of drinking is linked to cardiovascular issues and brain damage. A new study looking at over 36,000 adults has now put the boot in as well, finding … Read more

Scientists Identify The Optimal Number of Daily Steps For Longevity, And It’s Not 10,000

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Conventional wisdom would have us believe the journey to a long and healthy life begins with 10,000 steps. Each and every day. For those living a more sedentary lifestyle, it’s a goal that can take some effort to maintain. We’ve also known for some time it’s also almost certainly wrong.   By analyzing data on … Read more

How Far Away Would You Need to Be to Survive a Nuclear Blast?

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It’s been nearly 80 years since two nuclear bombs were detonated over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing at least 129,000 people, and causing devastating, long-term health effects.   To date, those are the only instances of nuclear weapons being used for warfare, but the reality is there are roughly 12,700 warheads remaining in … Read more

This Extremely Extreme Exoplanet Has Metal Vapor Clouds And Rains Liquid Jewels

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A giant exoplanet 855 light-years away is so extreme, it has clouds of vaporized metals and rains liquid rubies and sapphires. That’s the conclusion astronomers have reached after probing its atmosphere – the most detailed such analysis to date, revealing for the first time the conditions and dynamics of the exoplanet’s permanent night side.   … Read more

Astronauts spot an ancient heart-shaped oasis in Egypt just in time for Valentine’s Day

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Soaring 250 miles (400 kilometers) over Earth, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) looked down on our planet last May and saw a heart-shaped oasis blooming in the Egyptian desert. Today (Feb. 14), our friends in space are sharing the striking image as a special Valentine for the whole planet, courtesy of NASA’s Earth … Read more