Monthly Archives: April 2014

Extremophiles

Posted on April 29, 2014 by philipapelles

As their name suggests, extremophiles are organisms that mostly dwell at the microscopic level and thrive in harsh conditions. Extremophiles can survive where other life cannot, and because they are so robust can endure even under the most stressful conditions. After learning about extremophiles in class, I wanted to research specific extremophiles found here on… Continue reading →

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Hugh van Heesewijk 2014-04-29 14:12:20

Posted on April 29, 2014 by hughavanheesewijk

  Throughout the semester we have learned the ins and outs of many topics. We have learned topics ranging from the formation of atmospheres to the formation of solar systems. However, I feel that the topics that I have most benefitted from have been the ones that I can see every day. I love being able […] Continue reading →

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Space X and the Capitalism of Space

Posted on April 29, 2014 by dhbrett

Spurred on by the Cold War, and aided by military research on ballistics and rocket fuel, NASA and the Soviet Space Program competed to complete more and more exceptional missions. In today’s less hostile international climate, the governments of the world are much less interested in space exploration than they once were. To continue the … Continue reading Space X and the Capitalism of Space → Continue reading →

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Arctic Lake Extremophiles

Posted on April 29, 2014 by hughavanheesewijk

We have been learning a lot about extremophiles and whether they would be able to survive on other worlds, specifically within out solar system. I found an article on Wired that pointed to a discovery of microbes in a brine lake located beneath 65 feet of ice in Antarctica. This extremophile had to survive in […] Continue reading →

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Extremophiles on Earth

Posted on April 29, 2014 by dhbrett

Extremophiles are life forms that can tolerate extreme conditions. They are found in exotic environments all over Earth, such as deep sea vents, the upper atmosphere, and boiling hot geysers, such as those in Yellowstone National Park. Many astrobiologists believe that extremophiles represent the most likely type of life to exist on other planets. In … Continue reading Extremophiles on Earth → Continue reading →

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The Most Astounding Fact

Posted on April 29, 2014 by karapetros

This has always been one of my favorite videos. It always make me think about how transient life is and what the important things in life are. It is so fascinating to think that the atoms that make up who I am and everything around me originated from the beginning of the universe and have … Continue reading The Most Astounding Fact → Continue reading →

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Tardigrades

Posted on April 29, 2014 by karapetros

This video discusses what the toughest animal on Earth is. It as interesting to me that while I imagined a big animal like a lion, they determined that the toughest animal is a tardigrade, a type of extremophile. These animals are able to withstand the greatest temperatures and pressures on Earth as well as the … Continue reading Tardigrades → Continue reading →

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The Future of Astronomy

Posted on April 29, 2014 by colepospisil

The future of astronomy lies in finding or making worlds habitable for people. While we are learning so much about the universe around us, the things that people seem to care about are aliens and space colonization. This is why I feel that resuming space travel is crucial to reviving public interest in astronomy. While […] Continue reading →

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What’s in store for the future?

Posted on April 29, 2014 by thomasridgway

The field of astronomy is fascinating; there is much that we have yet to learn. This semester in Astro 201 …

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My Big Takeaway

Posted on April 29, 2014 by thegarrettnondorf

Astronomy has taught me a lot of stuff about the universe that I didn’t know. What I will remember learning though is the size of our earth. Relative to our Sun, we are quite small. Relative to our solar system, we are barely visible, and relative to our galaxy, earth is nothing. The lesson is that … Continue reading My Big Takeaway → Continue reading →

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