Science
Radioisotope generators − inside the ‘nuclear batteries’ that power faraway spacecraft
Radioisotope generators − inside the ‘nuclear batteries’ that power faraway spacecraft Voyager 1, shown in this illustration, has operated for decades thanks to a radioisotope power system. NASA via AP Powering spacecraft with solar energy may not seem like a challenge, given how intense the Sun’s light can feel on Earth. Spacecraft near the Earth […]
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Pupils shed light on the brain during sleep
Pupils shed light on the brain during sleep For the first time, researchers have been able to observe how the pupils react during sleep over a period of several hours. A look under the eyelids showed them that more happens in the brain during sleep than was previously assumed. Our eyes are typically closed when […]
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Mission possible − parastronaut programs can make space travel more inclusive and attainable for all
Mission possible − parastronaut programs can make space travel more inclusive and attainable for all The European Space Agency's astronaut cohort includes a parastronaut, as part of a feasability project. AP Photo/Francois Mori Humans will likely set foot on the Moon again in the coming decade. While many stories in this new chapter of lunar […]
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Is ranch dressing a liquid or a solid? A physicist explains
Is ranch dressing a liquid or a solid? A physicist explains It pours like a liquid but maintains its shape like a solid. Jack Andersen/Stone via Getty Images Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Is ranch […]
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How do researchers determine how toxic a chemical is? A toxicologist explains alternatives to animal testing
How do researchers determine how toxic a chemical is? A toxicologist explains alternatives to animal testing A vast number of chemicals are registered for production and use around the world. But only a portion have been thoroughly evaluated for their toxicity due to time, cost, ethical concerns and regulatory limitations. To safeguard public health, researchers […]
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How an unexpected observation, a 10th-century recipe and an explorer’s encounter with a cabbage thief upend what we know about collard greens’ journey to the American South
How an unexpected observation, a 10th-century recipe and an explorer’s encounter with a cabbage thief upend what we know about collard greens’ journey to the American South Collard greens − a staple of diets across the African diaspora. Bronwen Powell/Abderrahim Ouarghidi, CC BY For generations, collard greens have formed an important part of African and […]
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During hibernation, these lemurs defy cellular aging
During hibernation, these lemurs defy cellular aging Hibernating lemurs can turn back the clock on cellular aging, researchers report. We’re all familiar with the outward signs of aging. But many age-related changes start within our cells, even our DNA, which can wear and tear over time as we get older. Some creatures have come up […]
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3D printing will help space pioneers make homes, tools and other stuff they need to colonize the Moon and Mars
3D printing will help space pioneers make homes, tools and other stuff they need to colonize the Moon and Mars 3D printing could make many of the components for future structures on Mars. 3000ad/iStock via Getty Images Plus Throughout history, when pioneers set out across uncharted territory to settle in distant lands, they carried with […]
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People didn’t kill Ice Age mammoths like in the movies
People didn’t kill Ice Age mammoths like in the movies To kill mammoths in the Ice Age, people used planted pikes, not throwing spears, researchers say. They say the findings might help resolve the debate about Clovis points and reshape how we think about hunting some 13,000 years ago. How did early humans use sharpened […]
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A third of the world’s population lacks internet connectivity − airborne communications stations could change that
A third of the world’s population lacks internet connectivity − airborne communications stations could change that An experimental aircraft like this solar-powered airship could someday play a role in providing internet access to rural areas or disaster zones. Thales Alenia Space via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA About one-third of the global population, around 3 billion […]
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5 lessons from ancient civilizations for keeping homes cool in hot, dry climates
5 lessons from ancient civilizations for keeping homes cool in hot, dry climates Aghazadeh Mansion, a national historic site in Iran, was built with elaborate wind towers and other natural cooling techniques. Amir.salehkhah via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA Modern buildings tend to take electricity and air conditioning for granted. They often have glass facades and windows […]
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2 solar probes are helping researchers understand what phenomenon powers the solar wind
2 solar probes are helping researchers understand what phenomenon powers the solar wind This artist's rendition shows NASA's Parker Solar Probe approaching the Sun. Steve Gribben/Johns Hopkins APL/NASA via AP Our Sun drives a constant outward flow of plasma, or ionized gas, called the solar wind, which envelops our solar system. Outside of Earth’s protective […]
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