Most space mission systems historically have used one spacecraft designed to complete an entire mission independently. Whether it was a weather satellite or a human-crewed module like Apollo, nearly every spacecraft was deployed and performed its one-off mission completely on its own.But today, space industry organizations are exploring missions with many satellites working together. For example, SpaceX’s Starlink constellations include thousands of satellites. And new spacecraft could soon ha ...read more
Earth’s oxygen is something of a puzzle. Until recently, scientists believed it is produced entirely by photosynthesis — plants using sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.But earlier this year, oceanographers discovered an entirely new source of oxygen. Deep in Earth’s oceans, they found oxygen levels much higher than can be explained by photosynthesis alone, which typically occurs near the surface where sunlight can penetrate.The researchers concluded that ...read more
When you think of a fearsome, sharp-toothed predator, a squid probably isn’t the first animal that comes to mind. But these complex creatures have sophisticated eyesight, a strong beak to crush shells, and agile tentacles that help them snatch up prey.Oh, and they have teeth in their suckers. The serrated teeth inside the suction cups on their tentacles allow them to latch onto prey.While most hard tissues in animals are mineralized, with calcium fortifying their bones, shells, or teeth, the s ...read more
Imagine being charged by a woolly mammoth. You hold a wooden spear with a razor-sharp stone tip. Do you hurl it at the 10,000-pound animal and hope it pierces its thick leathery skin? Or do you stay put, plant the base into the ground and trust that the beast will impale itself?The conventional wisdom — both scientific and cultural — has long favored the first version. But archeological evidence and an experimental approach shows that the second may have been more realistic and common during ...read more
Antlers are like giant, imposing cradles, sometimes stretching out from an animal’s head in a bowl-like shape with horns reaching for the sky.And there is variation in horns and antlers among many animals. In a recent study published in Communications Biology, researchers found that ruminant headgear may have evolved from a common ancestor that lived 15 million years to 20 million years ago.“There’s some sort of genetic predisposition that this family has towards ornamentation,” says Zac ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine