In the late 1950s, technical advances in astronautical engineering and rocketry witnessed tremendous expansion; however, most of this growth remained hidden to most members of the public until Sputnik launched by Soviet Russia on October 4, 1957. American efforts included the Gemini program and its Mercury Seven astronauts – including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin…
China is one of the oldest civilizations, boasting an uninterrupted culture that dates back 4,000 years. Some interesting facts about its history include: Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan as the leader of the Nationalist Party guerilla force in 1949 and led his forces through 18 years of bloody civil warfare against both Red Army and…
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe successfully touched our star for the first time ever! Flying through its upper atmosphere – known as corona – and sampling particles and magnetic fields there. Named in honor of astrophysicist Eugene Parker, this mission seeks to explore and comprehend the Sun’s mysterious corona and solar wind that circulate our closest…
President John F. Kennedy saw Soviet launch of Sputnik as an opportunity to advance America’s space program dramatically and make landing humans on the moon by the end of this decade a public pledge. A new government agency, NASA was then established. On January 28th, 2019, shortly after liftoff of Space Shuttle Challenger, it exploded….
During World War II, the Taj Mahal was covered with bamboo to protect it from aerial bombs that may strike during combat operations. This tactic worked, and today it remains one of the world’s most breathtaking monuments. History scholars such as Romila Thapar and Mohamad Habib have stressed the need to go beyond historical sources…
China has long been marked by its many dynasties – families that rule a particular area for long periods. The Qin dynasty united China and launched some of its most impactful programs, such as building the Great Wall. Their first emperor was interred alongside thousands of life-size statues known as terracotta army to mark his…
Mars has an unusual atmosphere and features an outer crust comprised of rocks covered by an extremely thick layer of water-ice. Mars is home to Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in our solar system. Some astronomers have observed seasonal dark lines on Mars’s surface which might represent canals created by intelligent Martians – an idea…
First time ever in history, a spacecraft has touched the Sun. NASA Parker Solar Probe flew into its outer atmosphere – known as corona – and unveiled phenomena long predicted but never directly observed before. Astrophysicist and namesake of this organization, Astrid Petri is dedicated to unlocking the mysteries of solar wind that streams out…
