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The Standard Model theory of particle physics
"What a dull name for the most accurate scientific theory known to human beings ... As a theoretical physicist, I’d prefer 'The Absolutely Amazing Theory of Almost Everything'."
May 31, 2018
Today is Walt Whitman’s birthday
"Love the earth and sun and the animals ..." - Walt Whitman
May 31, 2018
Planet-hunter Kepler keeps going as fuel dwindles
Kepler has discovered thousands of exoplanets, and soon will run out of fuel. Now it's begun its 18th observing campaign, with a focus on objects including the famous nearby Beehive star cluster and infamous asteroid Apophis.
May 30, 2018
Moon and Saturn close May 30 and 31
The moon is past full on May 30 and 31. You'll find it ascending in the east several hours after sunset. Saturn - now nearly at its best for 2018 - is the nearest bright object.
May 30, 2018
The real story behind that melted camera
NASA's melted camera became a social media phenomenon last week. Here’s the story behind the picture.
May 29, 2018
Could we learn E.T.’s language?
If an extraterrestrial civilization had a language, would it have common features with Earth languages? Linguists explain why they think it's possible.
May 29, 2018
Top 10 new species 2018
This year's list includes a towering tree and a tiny, single-celled protist, as well as a rare great ape and the fossil of an Australian marsupial lion.
May 29, 2018
On and in extinction
"I am living a few hundred feet above a scar, a surface representing the worst disaster ever inflicted on planet Earth."
May 29, 2018
3rd of this season’s 3 full moons May 29
In 2018, we have 3 full moons between the March equinox and June solstice. Exactly 12 full moons from now - in May 2019 - we'll be enjoying the 3rd of 4 full moons of this season. People will call it a Blue Moon.
May 29, 2018
Lightning sprites over Oklahoma
My best sprite lightning capture to date, said long-time observer Paul Smith.
May 28, 2018
