Physical Science

Because distances in deep space are so vast, astronomers have adopted a number of stellar distance units to make them more manageable. Three of the most important of these are the astronomical unit (AU), the parsec, and the light-year. Without…
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Tellurium Symbol: Te Atomic Number: 52 Atomic Mass: 127.6 amu (atomic mass units) Melting Point: 449.5 C (722.65 K, 841.1 F) Boiling Point: 989.8 C (1262.95 K, 1813.64 F) Number of Protons: 52 Number of Electrons: 52 Number of Neutrons:…
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There are so many stars in the universe it would be very strange indeed if there was no life on any other planet but ours, and would that life be dangerous to us? Professor Stephen Hawking’s fear, that extra-terrestrials would…
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Messages to outer-space have become somewhat contentious lately. Are we seeking technologically superior, benevolent extra-terrestrial species or setting ourselves up as victims to more scientifically and militarily capable predators?    While the Arecibo broadcast was the first electromagnetic METI (message…
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Dubnium Symbol: Db Atomic Number: 105 Atomic Mass: 262.0 amu (atomic mass units) Melting Point: Unknown Boiling Point: Unknown Number of Protons: 105 Number of Electrons: 105 Number of Neutrons: 157 Classification: Transition Metal Crystal Structure: Unknown Density @ 293…
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The phoenix is a mythological bird that comes to us from Ancient Egypt; it bursts into flame when it dies. From that flame it is reborn, young and strong again, to live another 500 year lifetime. It has represented rebirth…
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Kalpana Chawla (1962-2003) was an Indian-American aeronautical engineer who became a NASA astronaut, flying on the Space Shuttle between 1997 and 2003. She was aboard the shuttle Columbia in 2003 when it was tragically destroyed during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere….
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Venus is the most visited of the other planets in our solar system. This may be surprising to many: since the fall of the Soviet Union, the space program of which specialized in Venus exploration, and the rise of interest…
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Krypton Symbol: Kr Atomic Number: 36 Atomic Mass: 83.798 amu (atomic mass units) Melting Point: minus 157.2 C (115.950005 K, minus 250.95999 F) Boiling Point: minus 153.4 C (119.75001 K, minus 244.12 F) Number of Protons: 36 Number of Electrons:…
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The future of space exploration looks bright indeed with some of the ingenious non-polluting rockets on the drawing board!  Leading the way is the solar-sailor, a spaceship that uses the power of the sun the explore the solar system.  Just…
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