Physical Science

The space telescope Kepler has identified more than 1,200 Earthlike planets to date. Some of them might support intelligent life. Avi Loeb of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Edwin Turner of Princeton University believe the best way to find…
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Sky glow is a problem for astronomers because it obscures the sky so that they cannot identify stars and other celestial forms. Astronomers need clear skies to do their work well. Sky glow adds brightness to a part of the…
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In Venice, in 1609, Italian astronomer and mathematician, Galileo Galilei heard rumors that a Dutch spectacle maker had invented a spyglass. Later renamed telescope, this device was believed to make distant objects appear nearer. A patent had been requested, but…
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Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) made many advances in mathematics and physics, but is best remembered for his contributions to astronomy. He was central to challenging the idea that the Earth sat at the center of the universe with everything revolving around…
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Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) is well known for having dared to defy the Roman Catholic Church by agreeing with the theory, formulated in 1512 by the Polish astronomer Nicholaus Copernicus (1473-1543), that the planets including Earth orbited the Sun. Galileo paid…
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It is possible, at least speculatively, to calculate the possibility of other intelligent life in the universe. Since the 1960s, a general equation for doing so has existed, and is known as the Drake Equation. The Drake Equation tells us…
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When a full moon appears to be of greater size than usual, it is beautifully bright and clear and details of the moon’s surface can be detected by the naked eye. This is what is known as a super moon….
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Once the sole pioneers in space, the United States space agency (NASA) now readies to mothball its manned space vehicles with just two flights remaining in the Space Shuttle program. The agency will now abandon its mission in space for…
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Orbital Decay 101 Orbital decay is commonly mentioned in advanced modern technology discussions; however many remain interested in learning more about this topic. What is it all about? What causes it to occur? How can it be prevented? What are…
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“Frickin’ Sharks with Frickin’ Lasers” As a laser engineer, I have to endure what that movie has done to that field at least once a month, and without fail on every plane ride.  But many people simply do not understand,…
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