Black Hole at Galaxy's Heart Launches Planet-Size 'Spitballs'
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/01/black-hole-spitballs-planets-galaxies-stars-space-science/
National Geographic
By: Nadia Drake
January 4, 2017
This black hole at the center of our galaxy is shooting out spitballs the size of planets. One spitball may be going through space several light years away from earth. It's weird as black holes tend to suck things up rather than spit them out. Our galaxy could be populated by hundreds of millions of these fragments that are the direct remnants of stars. Every 10,000 years or so, a star gets too close to Sagittarius A and when that happens, the star's life is over. Afterwards, the disrupted starstuff begins to reconnect. They ball themselves up and form planet-size clumps of gas and dust. Of the planetoids thrown out of the black hole, about 95% were thrown out of the galaxy and into the cosmic hinterlands separating the Milky Way from the next galaxy over. If scientists are correct about how frequently Sagittarius A shreds passing stars, there could be millions of these almost-planets in the Milky Way.
I think it would be cool to find out more about these planetoids. They seem cool and they would help us to understand a little bit more of the galaxy. Every time scientists find out more about the galaxy that no one knew about before, it shows that there's still so much to learn. This is a positive topic and can definitely talk about it in school. It might change people lives in that they decide on a profession in this field, finding out more about the universe. It doesn't change mine much, but I still love astronomy. This is probably one of the more amusing things on the universe, but it's cool nonetheless. I hope in the future that we will find out more about these black holes and exactly how many stars are shredded by Sagittarius A.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Double-Ringed Galaxy
Astronomers Discover Incredibly Rare Double-Ringed Galaxy
http://www.iflscience.com/space/astronomers-discover-incredibly-rare-doubleringed-galaxy/
IFLScience
By: Alfredo Carpineti
January 4, 2017
Most galaxies follow a regular pattern in the universe, but there are some who rock a different look. Astronomers have discovered something interesting about one of the galaxies. PGC 1000714 has an elliptical core and is surrounded by two rings. The galaxy belongs to a very rare class and is located 359 million light-years from Earth. The red core of PGC 1000714 is 5.5 billion years old, made by older stars, while the outer ring is full of young stars and is only about 130 million years old. By establishing the age difference, researchers found a diffuse red second inner ring closely surrounding the center of the galaxy. The different colors of the inner and outer rings suggest that the galaxy has been through two different formation periods. Researchers suspect the outer ring formed from the gas of a smaller nearby galaxy that was slowly shredded apart. The origin of the inner ring is still mysterious.
I think this is one of the best things to learn. It shows us that there's still so much of the universe that we don't know about. I love learning new things about the galaxy that scientists have just found out. This is a neutral topic. It doesn't really change everyone's life, but some people might change what they want to be. I wish we could get some higher resolution photos. You don't really get to see the red core or the outer and inner ring, and I would love to see that better. I wonder if scientists could find out more if they had donations from people. Not just on this topic, but for the whole universe. I hope, in the future, that we get higher resolution photos and find out the origin of the inner ring.
http://www.iflscience.com/space/astronomers-discover-incredibly-rare-doubleringed-galaxy/
IFLScience
By: Alfredo Carpineti
January 4, 2017
Most galaxies follow a regular pattern in the universe, but there are some who rock a different look. Astronomers have discovered something interesting about one of the galaxies. PGC 1000714 has an elliptical core and is surrounded by two rings. The galaxy belongs to a very rare class and is located 359 million light-years from Earth. The red core of PGC 1000714 is 5.5 billion years old, made by older stars, while the outer ring is full of young stars and is only about 130 million years old. By establishing the age difference, researchers found a diffuse red second inner ring closely surrounding the center of the galaxy. The different colors of the inner and outer rings suggest that the galaxy has been through two different formation periods. Researchers suspect the outer ring formed from the gas of a smaller nearby galaxy that was slowly shredded apart. The origin of the inner ring is still mysterious.
I think this is one of the best things to learn. It shows us that there's still so much of the universe that we don't know about. I love learning new things about the galaxy that scientists have just found out. This is a neutral topic. It doesn't really change everyone's life, but some people might change what they want to be. I wish we could get some higher resolution photos. You don't really get to see the red core or the outer and inner ring, and I would love to see that better. I wonder if scientists could find out more if they had donations from people. Not just on this topic, but for the whole universe. I hope, in the future, that we get higher resolution photos and find out the origin of the inner ring.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Super Volcano
One of Earth's Most Dangerous Supervolcanoes Is Rumbling
National Geographic
By: Brian Clark Howard
December 22, 2016
A volcano that had been quiet for a long time might be waking up and reaching a critical state. It lies underneath 500,000 people in Italy and is a huge supervolcano. Magma may be reaching the critical degassing pressure at Campi Flegrei. A sudden release of hot magmatic gasses is possible in the near future, which could trigger a large eruption. Though, the timing of an eruption is unknown and currently impossible to predict. Italy's government has raised the volcanoes threat level from green to yellow. Campi Flegrei is thought to have formed thousands of years ago. Scientists say an eruption might not happen in our lifetime. They say it's impossible to say with certainty when an eruption will take place.
This is so cool. Volcanoes are one of the best subjects to get people pumped up. It's a positive topic as it's telling us about the risks of volcanoes. This doesn't change my life at all, I just think it's awesome. I think, when the threat level goes from yellow to red, they should start moving people out of that place. The videos in the article are videos of volcanoes blowing up mostly. I just wish the article had talked about why it's waking up.
Climate Change
This is so cool. Volcanoes are one of the best subjects to get people pumped up. It's a positive topic as it's telling us about the risks of volcanoes. This doesn't change my life at all, I just think it's awesome. I think, when the threat level goes from yellow to red, they should start moving people out of that place. The videos in the article are videos of volcanoes blowing up mostly. I just wish the article had talked about why it's waking up.
Climate Change
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Meteor Shower
Quadrantid Meteor Shower Will Light Up The Skies On Tuesday And Wednesday Night
http://www.iflscience.com/space/quadrantid-meteor-shower-will-light-up-the-skies-on-tuesday-and-wednesday-night/
IFLScience
By: Tom Hale
January 3, 2017
The Quadrantid meteor shower is going to show over the next few days after New Years. This celestial display comes every January and is short, but sweet. The meteor shower is expected reach the peak activity between midnight and dawn on January 3 and 4. Unfortunately, the people in the Southern Hemisphere, it can only be seen by the Northern Hemisphere. The meteors are named after the constellation they appear to radiate from. These meteors appear from the location of the former Quadrans Muralis constellation. However, the constellation no longer exists. In the 1920s, the International Astronomical Union rewrote the official definitions into 88 constellations and abolished 30 of them, including the Quadrans Muralis.
I think meteor showers are the best. Stuff like this gets more people looking up at the sky and turning off their lights to see clearer. This topic is positive as it teaches us about important events. It also expands our knowledge on the sky. It doesn't change many people's lives, but it might change some. Some people will turn off their lights, which helps the climate if it happens a lot, and some might want to get a job in this region. I think it's also great how if you can't see it cause you're south of the equator, they can still show you what's happening.
http://www.iflscience.com/space/quadrantid-meteor-shower-will-light-up-the-skies-on-tuesday-and-wednesday-night/
IFLScience
By: Tom Hale
January 3, 2017
The Quadrantid meteor shower is going to show over the next few days after New Years. This celestial display comes every January and is short, but sweet. The meteor shower is expected reach the peak activity between midnight and dawn on January 3 and 4. Unfortunately, the people in the Southern Hemisphere, it can only be seen by the Northern Hemisphere. The meteors are named after the constellation they appear to radiate from. These meteors appear from the location of the former Quadrans Muralis constellation. However, the constellation no longer exists. In the 1920s, the International Astronomical Union rewrote the official definitions into 88 constellations and abolished 30 of them, including the Quadrans Muralis.
I think meteor showers are the best. Stuff like this gets more people looking up at the sky and turning off their lights to see clearer. This topic is positive as it teaches us about important events. It also expands our knowledge on the sky. It doesn't change many people's lives, but it might change some. Some people will turn off their lights, which helps the climate if it happens a lot, and some might want to get a job in this region. I think it's also great how if you can't see it cause you're south of the equator, they can still show you what's happening.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Alberta's Fracking Earthquakes
Study sheds light on Alberta’s fracking earthquakes
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/study-sheds-light-on-albertas-fracking-earthquakes/article32892397/
Globe And Mail
November 17, 2016
David Eaton has been studying earthquakes that has shaken the Fox Creek region of northwestern Alberta for years. Some research suggests that hydraulic fracking can cause earthquakes in about two ways. One of those ways can cause tremors for months, even after activity stops. The largest earthquake in Alberta measured between 4.2 and 4.8 on the Richter scale. The area has experienced tremors since 2013. Research on the earthquakes all point towards hydraulic fracking. The area is in the centre of the Duvernay oil and gas field. Hydraulic fracking involves pumping high-pressure fluids undergrounds, which makes tiny cracks in rock and releases natural gas or oil inside. They were steeply dipping faults that extended from the injection level down into the Precambrian basement. Eaton said that although the most powerful quake occurred due to pore pressure, it's too soon to conclude that more dangerous quakes are created that way.
I think the people doing hydraulic fracking should be more careful. Even though on the Richter scale, the most powerful earthquake was moderate, it might get more powerful as time goes by. This is a positive topic. I think it's positive because more people should know the effects of stuff like this. If people do hydraulic fracking, they should probably keep it higher than the Precambrian basement. I think it got more dangerous because of how far down it was. This doesn't affect my life though. I'm not going to get a job in this field, so I think it should also be left to professionals. That is all I think about this topic.
Climate Change
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/study-sheds-light-on-albertas-fracking-earthquakes/article32892397/
Globe And Mail
November 17, 2016
David Eaton has been studying earthquakes that has shaken the Fox Creek region of northwestern Alberta for years. Some research suggests that hydraulic fracking can cause earthquakes in about two ways. One of those ways can cause tremors for months, even after activity stops. The largest earthquake in Alberta measured between 4.2 and 4.8 on the Richter scale. The area has experienced tremors since 2013. Research on the earthquakes all point towards hydraulic fracking. The area is in the centre of the Duvernay oil and gas field. Hydraulic fracking involves pumping high-pressure fluids undergrounds, which makes tiny cracks in rock and releases natural gas or oil inside. They were steeply dipping faults that extended from the injection level down into the Precambrian basement. Eaton said that although the most powerful quake occurred due to pore pressure, it's too soon to conclude that more dangerous quakes are created that way.
I think the people doing hydraulic fracking should be more careful. Even though on the Richter scale, the most powerful earthquake was moderate, it might get more powerful as time goes by. This is a positive topic. I think it's positive because more people should know the effects of stuff like this. If people do hydraulic fracking, they should probably keep it higher than the Precambrian basement. I think it got more dangerous because of how far down it was. This doesn't affect my life though. I'm not going to get a job in this field, so I think it should also be left to professionals. That is all I think about this topic.
Climate Change
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Dwarf Galaxies
Large number of dwarf galaxies discovered in the early universe
University of California - Riverside
November 21, 2016
The smallest and dimmest galaxies in the universe. They are incredibly important for understanding the history of the universe. It is believed that dwarf galaxies played a significant role in the reionization era in transforming the universe from dark and neutral to bright and transparent. Distant dwarf galaxies are beyond the reach of telescopes as they are so faint. However, using gravitational lensing causes the background object to be brighter and larger, meaning we can discover the dwarf galaxies. These dwarf galaxies are 10 to 100 times fainter than other galaxies that have been observed. The dwarf galaxies were studied and it shows that they were even more abundant earlier, but has evolved. Despite the faintness, the dwarf galaxies more than half of the ultraviolet light this era. These galaxies will be the primary targets of the next generation of telescopes.
This is the coolest thing I have ever heard of. I want to keep on learning more and more about space. Since there is so much in space we haven’t explored or haven't learnt about, it makes it that much cooler when learning about it. I think this is such a positive topic and we should learn more about space in school. It doesn't influence much of my decisions in the future. I already know what I want to do after high school and I don't learn this in schools, so I can not imagine a huge career or anything for this. It’s more of an interest.
Optics
University of California - Riverside
November 21, 2016
The smallest and dimmest galaxies in the universe. They are incredibly important for understanding the history of the universe. It is believed that dwarf galaxies played a significant role in the reionization era in transforming the universe from dark and neutral to bright and transparent. Distant dwarf galaxies are beyond the reach of telescopes as they are so faint. However, using gravitational lensing causes the background object to be brighter and larger, meaning we can discover the dwarf galaxies. These dwarf galaxies are 10 to 100 times fainter than other galaxies that have been observed. The dwarf galaxies were studied and it shows that they were even more abundant earlier, but has evolved. Despite the faintness, the dwarf galaxies more than half of the ultraviolet light this era. These galaxies will be the primary targets of the next generation of telescopes.
This is the coolest thing I have ever heard of. I want to keep on learning more and more about space. Since there is so much in space we haven’t explored or haven't learnt about, it makes it that much cooler when learning about it. I think this is such a positive topic and we should learn more about space in school. It doesn't influence much of my decisions in the future. I already know what I want to do after high school and I don't learn this in schools, so I can not imagine a huge career or anything for this. It’s more of an interest.
Optics
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Magic Mushroms
Magic Mushrooms Help Treat Existential Anxiety In Cancer Patients
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/magic-mushrooms-help-treat-existential-anxiety-cancer-patients/
IFLScience
By: Ben Taub
December 1, 2016
People suffering from cancer may find help in a hallucinogen called psilocybin. It is commonly found in magic mushrooms. A single dose of the drug can produce long-lasting reductions in clinical depression, anxiety and existential worry in around 80 percent of patients facing the prospect of potentially terminal cancer. Roland Griffiths explained that a cancer diagnosis can be psychologically challenging. He and some colleagues took 51 patients and after getting a dose of psilocybin, their mood improved. The participants described their experience as transformative. It helped them gain a new perspective, improving their state of mind and well-being. Psilocybin activates the brain’s serotonin receptors. Because serotonin is one of the key neurotransmitters involved in controlling mood, scientists suspect that this may explain the anti-depressant effects of psilocybin.
The first thing that this makes me think is, what happens once they don`t need it anymore, so they get taken off it? The drug makes them happy, so they might end up getting addicted to it. I would never want to try this in case I end up getting addicted. I hope that this doesn`t become something that we always give to cancer patients. This is not a positive topic, because they are taking drugs to make them happy, but it`s not negative, because they have improved moods despite the cancer. But, when they get taken off it, they won`t have the drug improving their mood, so they might fall hard. I think it would be better if it had talked about what happens after.
Chemistry
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/magic-mushrooms-help-treat-existential-anxiety-cancer-patients/
IFLScience
By: Ben Taub
December 1, 2016
People suffering from cancer may find help in a hallucinogen called psilocybin. It is commonly found in magic mushrooms. A single dose of the drug can produce long-lasting reductions in clinical depression, anxiety and existential worry in around 80 percent of patients facing the prospect of potentially terminal cancer. Roland Griffiths explained that a cancer diagnosis can be psychologically challenging. He and some colleagues took 51 patients and after getting a dose of psilocybin, their mood improved. The participants described their experience as transformative. It helped them gain a new perspective, improving their state of mind and well-being. Psilocybin activates the brain’s serotonin receptors. Because serotonin is one of the key neurotransmitters involved in controlling mood, scientists suspect that this may explain the anti-depressant effects of psilocybin.
The first thing that this makes me think is, what happens once they don`t need it anymore, so they get taken off it? The drug makes them happy, so they might end up getting addicted to it. I would never want to try this in case I end up getting addicted. I hope that this doesn`t become something that we always give to cancer patients. This is not a positive topic, because they are taking drugs to make them happy, but it`s not negative, because they have improved moods despite the cancer. But, when they get taken off it, they won`t have the drug improving their mood, so they might fall hard. I think it would be better if it had talked about what happens after.
Chemistry
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