Sir Arthur C. Clarke's Vision of the Computer-Dominated Future
Sir Arthur C. Clarke was a British science-fiction author who co-wrote the screenplay for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
How Medieval Armorers Made Knights Bulletproof
A select few suits of armor were crafted with secret techniques that made them stronger than others, possibly even bulletproof. Historians and ballistics experts reconstructed the amor of an elite knight and tested its strength by shooting it with a musket.
How Do Hurricanes Form?
Scientists predict that our increasingly warmer atmosphere and oceans will feed these hurricanes — we may not see more of them that we used to, but the ones we do see are likely to get more and more intense.
Could Mars Have a Ring Around It One Day?
Phobos, one of Mars' moons, has an uncertain origin, but its surface grooves show that tidal forces are pulling it apart. In time, Mars' gravity will shatter it entirely, creating a ring of debris around the planet.
Cameras Capture Earthbound Meteorite
In 2021, cameras recorded the fall of the Winchcombe meteorite, allowing scientists to trace its cosmic origin.
Solar System: Wandering Worlds Preview
From meteorites that impact Earth, to a moon that orbits backwards, to an imposter lurking in the asteroid belt, a variety of strange, wandering worlds are rewriting what we know – and even how we think about – our solar system.
This Moon May Have the Ingredients for Life
Europa is such a strong candidate for life that NASA launched a mission to explore the moon.
Why Do Comets Have Tails?
Worlds that exist close to the warmth of the sun, like the rocky worlds of Mars, Earth and our moon, have relatively little ice, because they lie inside what is known as the ice line.
Solar System: Icy Worlds Preview
Out in the solar system, ice can get bizarre. Visit strange, frozen worlds – from Uranus’s ultra-hot superionic ice, to glaciers of nitrogen ice on Pluto, to carbon dioxide snow on Mars – and discover why the ice here on Earth is so unique.
Could This Icy Moon’s Ocean Support Life?
Enceladus has jets rich in phosphates and likely hydrothermal vents in its ocean. With the key ingredients for life on its surface, the moon may serve as an incubator for life.
Enceladus: A Frozen Moon With Explosive Eruptions
Enceladus erupts over 660 pounds of water per second, with jets reaching up to 6,000 miles into space. These massive plumes far exceed the size of the moon itself.
This Tiny Moon Is a Volcanic Powerhouse
Jupiter’s small moon Io is the most volcanically active body in our solar system, with constant eruptions reshaping its surface daily.
Solar System: Volcano Worlds Preview
Around our solar system, violent eruptions are shaping distant worlds. Discover the explosive forces that helped create some of the most dynamic worlds in our cosmic neighborhood – and what makes the volcanoes right here on Earth so special.
How a Walnut-Shaped Moon Help Shape Saturn’s Rings
Shaped by gravitational forces over millions of years, Saturn's rings are incredibly complex. A tiny moon named Pan, just 17 miles wide, has notably influenced their structure by creating the Encke Gap.
Why is Haumea Shaped Like an Egg?
Haumea is one of the fastest rotating large objects in our solar system. A single day on the dwarf planet is only about 4 Earth hours long.
Solar System: Strange Worlds Preview
From a dwarf planet that looks like a deflated football, to a tiny moon with cliffs taller than Mt. Everest, to the spectacular rings of Saturn, discover how the effects of gravity produce the amazing variety of weird worlds in our solar system.
How the Martian Atmosphere Helped Nasa’s Rovers Restore Energy
NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers exceeded their expected lifespan on Mars. Unique Martian weather conditions may have played a role in restoring their energy levels.
Venus: The Planet With Battery Acid Clouds
The surface of Venus is comparable to the bottom of Earth’s oceans with one major difference: Venus has the hottest planetary surface in the solar system.
This Powerful Psychedelic May Help Treat Opioid Addiction
There's growing evidence that ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic, may help treat opioid addiction, traumatic brain injuries, and even depression. But it can be dangerous too — including side effects like cardiac arrest and death.
Can Technology Detect Deepfakes Better Than Humans Can?
Researchers are trying to develop tools to thwart deep fakes in several different ways — from before they are even made, to detecting them once they are out on the internet.
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