Tag: space

Why Google decided to give everyone 15GB

When Google debuted its Gmail e-mail service in 2004, the Internet community thought it was a joke. Not just because the service debuted on April Fool’s Day, but because Google promised storage space of 1 gigabyte – for starters. Its competitors, like Hotmail, offered 2 megabytes of storage, with paying customers eligible for an additional… Continue reading Why Google decided to give everyone 15GB

Wringing out a washcloth in space is the coolest thing you’ll see all day

Some would call it a slow news day. We call it an epic day for space, for Canada, and for science. Canadian Space Agency‘s Chris Hadfield has made a name for himself as being a combination of Bill Nye the Science Guy and Buck Rogers with his series of videos demonstrating things that so few… Continue reading Wringing out a washcloth in space is the coolest thing you’ll see all day

Tardigrades survive just about anything and scientists still don’t know why

They can survive temperatures near absolute zero or as high as 300 degrees. The crushing pressure at the bottom of the ocean doesn’t faze them, nor does the vacuum of space. Radiation 1000x the level strong enough to kill an elephant doesn’t slow the tardigrade down. They are so durable that scientists are either not… Continue reading Tardigrades survive just about anything and scientists still don’t know why

Dreaming of being an astronaut just got easier

The childhood bed has been the place where many dreams of traveling through space have manifested. Since before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, children have wondered what it would be like to blast off beyond the clouds to play in the stars, laying awake at night picturing themselves in a space suit with nothing… Continue reading Dreaming of being an astronaut just got easier

NASA set to launch 13k square foot solar sail as early as next year

The term “solar sailing” was first coined by Arthur C. Clarke in the 1964 book “Sunjammer” but the roots of the concept can be traced back centuries. “Let us create vessels and sails adjusted to the heavenly ether, and there will be plenty of people unafraid of the empty wastes.” ~ Johannes Kepler, 17th century… Continue reading NASA set to launch 13k square foot solar sail as early as next year

In space, nuts in a can might freak you out

“Mixed Nuts in Space.” No, it’s not a sci-fi comedy starring Simon Pegg or a strange space porno. It could possibly be a portion of a horror flick based upon the creepy movements of the nuts in a can suspended in zero gravity. As you’ll see, they seem… alive. Nuts will never be the same… Continue reading In space, nuts in a can might freak you out

How a Canadian astronaut cuts his nails on the International Space Station

Things that we take for granted can be challenging in zero gravity. Take cutting your finger nails, for instance. It’s something that few people think about as a challenge. In space, they can be floating projectiles that end up in astronauts’ eyes, inhaled, or otherwise embedded where they do not belong. The answer – suction.… Continue reading How a Canadian astronaut cuts his nails on the International Space Station

NASA jumps the gun, tells us why the world didn’t end ahead of it not actually ending

When you’re talking about why the world didn’t end yesterday, the normal way to do so is to make sure that “yesterday” actually already happened. NASA sets aside conventional thought with their latest video that tells why the world didn’t end yesterday. It’s available on YouTube now, but don’t watch it until December 22nd or… Continue reading NASA jumps the gun, tells us why the world didn’t end ahead of it not actually ending