One of the most frequent questions astronauts get asked is, how do you go to the bathroom in space? For decades, their reply has been the same icky answer: they essentially soil their suits. Astronauts in transit (space stations have more sanitary solutions — but even those can sometimes go awry) have long depended on what are essentially adult diapers to absorb their urine. For short missions, this is merely uncomfortable, and just a bit gross. But for longer journeys — like, perhaps ones p ...read more
The percentage of Americans seeking mental health treatment nearly doubled between 2004 and 2022, with almost a quarter of the population reporting that they saw a mental health care professional in 2022.This surge in help-seeking has many potential explanations. The pandemic, along with other external stressors, led to unprecedented high rates of anxiety and depression across all age groups.Yet the majority of Americans with a mental health condition are not receiving adequate treatment or any ...read more
When you first encounter a hummingbird moth, you might mistake it for a tiny hummingbird flitting from flower to flower. However, these flying insects are simply displaying their mastery of mimicry. Often referred to as hawk moths or sphinx moths, hummingbird moths are captivating critters with fascinating behaviors and appearances, which makes them a favorite of nature enthusiasts and backyard gardeners alike. In this article, we'll explore the world of the hummingbird moth, discussing what mak ...read more
There’s more to beach sand than meets the eye. It has stories to tell about the land, and an epic journey to the sea. That’s because mountains end their lives as sand on beaches.Over time, mountains erode. The mud, sand, gravel, cobbles and boulders they shed are washed into streams, which come together to form rivers. As they flow down to the sea, all this sediment is ground up and worn down in nature’s version of a rock tumbler.Big rocks break down into smaller pieces, so most of what re ...read more
A researcher working alone – apart from the world and the rest of the wider scientific community – is a classic yet misguided image. Research is, in reality, built on continuous exchange within the scientific community: First you understand the work of others, and then you share your findings.Reading and writing articles published in academic journals and presented at conferences is a central part of being a researcher. When researchers write a scholarly article, they must cite the work of p ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine