The Godzilla constellation in the gamma-ray sky — a new set of constellations based off of gamma-ray emissions observed with NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. (Credit: NASA)
Gamma-Ray Sky
For countless years, humans have gazed up at the sky and made sense of the stars by finding shapes in them — constellations of heroes, animals, and well-worn tales. Now, to celebrate the 10th mission year of NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, scientists have used the telesco ...read more
A visualization of the blazar being observed while emitting gamma rays. (Credit: Stefano Ciprini)
Blazar Brightness
After 10 years of observations, scientists have confirmed a two-year cycle in the gamma-ray brightness of a blazar, or a galaxy with supermassive black holes that consume mass and produce high-energy jets as a result. Blazars are the most energetic and luminous objects that we have identified so far in the known universe.
“This is the first time that a gamma-ray period has ...read more
Humans are even now looking for signs of aliens with projects like SETI. Credit: Seth Shostak/SETI Institute
The Drake equation is one of astronomy’s most famous attempts to answer the question: Are we alone? It asks not just about any life, but the top shelf stuff: intelligent life with the ability to communicate with beings outside their planet. Microbes or floating sentient clouds don’t make the cut. We want aliens that will talk to us.
To be clear, this means there could b ...read more
“It’s like being electrocuted,” said Alana, her body quivering. “It keeps happening. Doctors can’t tell me why.”
The 25-year-old had been walking with a friend on a sidewalk when everything started spinning and her body shook. Her chest tightened and she couldn’t breathe. Her friend called an ambulance, which brought her to the emergency room.
Dizzying, heart-thumping experiences like this one had been happening to her every few weeks for eight months. B ...read more
Europe’s olive trees are suffering. The culprit — Xylella fastidiosa, a devastating bacterium that’s common in the Americas — can infect up to 350 different plant species. The pathogen made its way across the pond only recently. Farmers in Europe have to move fast to stop its spread (usually by sap-eating bugs), or else risk destruction of their crops. In response, experts have developed an aerial remote-imaging system that scans orchards to pick out infected trees before ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine
