At its final stage, a caterpillar searches out a safe place and constructs an encasing called a chrysalis. Though this structure seems motionless at first glance, incredible processes are underway inside. Special butterfly cells transform into the wings, legs and eyes of adult butterflies in this demanding process, which may take between 1-14 months depending…
Astronomers are eagerly awaiting tonight, when Jupiter makes its closest approach to Earth in 59 years – an event known as planetary opposition. This asteroid may be smaller than many that have gained headlines, yet it comes much closer to Earth than those which remain thousands of miles away. Earth Earth is the sole planet…
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, will come closer to Earth than ever in 59 years this Monday, making itself visible in the night sky as an enormous, bright spot. Astronomers can use any telescope to view its many moons and Great Red Spot (an oval twice wider than Earth) through telescopes. It…
The Smithsonian has published a high-resolution scan of Apollo 11 command module Columbia that is freely available online and includes data files suitable for 3D printing or VR viewing. If we ever want to build long-duration bases in space, astronauts will require the ability to manufacture their own tools – this is where additive manufacturing…
On November 14th 1969, Florida’s Kennedy Space Center saw its front move away and NASA launched Apollo 12 without incident. Commander Pete Conrad and Command Module Pilot Dick Gordon settled into their seats to await the Saturn V rocket’s thrust of energy that would propel their capsule. Two minutes after liftoff, lightning struck twice on…
