Author Archives: evang914

Black Hole Systems

Posted on May 4, 2022 by evang914

Stars are capable of being pulled into the orbit of black holes due to their incredible mass. As the stars begin to orbit the black hole, mass from the star is pulled towards the black hole in the form of gas from the star’s atmosphere. NASA believes that the black hole collects the mass asContinue reading “Black Hole Systems” Continue reading →

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The Myths of the Fermi Paradox

Posted on May 4, 2022 by evang914

For decades, the Fermi Paradox has been cited as evidence that if other intelligent life existed out there in our universe they would have inevitably made their way to Earth by now as a part of interstellar exploration or colonization. The paradox is named for Enrico Fermi, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist credited with building theContinue reading “The Myths of the Fermi Paradox” Continue reading →

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C/2014 UN2071: Largest Discovered Comet

Posted on April 17, 2022 by evang914

Scientists in the past week have confirmed the size of the largest comet ever discovered. It is measured to stretch over 80 miles wide (wider than the state of Rhode Island) and weigh 500 trillion tons- 100,000x more than the typical comet. The comet was originally discovered back in 2014 when it was still 3Continue reading “C/2014 UN2071: Largest Discovered Comet” Continue reading →

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New Horizons Still Bringing New Discoveries

Posted on April 17, 2022 by evang914

It’s been nearly 7 years now since the New Horizons spacecraft made its fly-by of Pluto, and even though it now finds itself in the remote parts of the Kuiper Belt (over 50 AU from the sun!), the photos it took of Pluto are still helping scientists today uncover new mysteries about the icy planet.Continue reading “New Horizons Still Bringing New Discoveries” Continue reading →

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White Holes

Posted on March 19, 2022 by evang914

Most people by now are familiar with the term “black hole”- a body of high mass with a gravitational pull so strong that nothing which enters can escape from it. The idea of a black hole was born from Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Also born from Einstein’s mathematical equations, however, is the much lesser-knownContinue reading “White Holes” Continue reading →

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Theories of Moon Formation

Posted on March 19, 2022 by evang914

In class we discussed one potential theory of the moon’s formation that is the favorite within the scientific community: the giant impact hypothesis. The theory states that a Mars-sized body (Theia) crashed into the Earth ejecting pieces of a young Earth’s rocky crust into space. Gravity from the remainder of Theia’s core drew these particlesContinue reading “Theories of Moon Formation” Continue reading →

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Galileo and the Telescope

Posted on February 18, 2022 by evang914

Galileo and the telescope have become synonymous over the ages. It’s difficult to think of one without also considering the other. But it was not Galileo who invented the telescope– although he was one of a few who revolutionized its use for astronomy. The telescope’s origins can be traced back to English philosopher Roger BaconContinue reading “Galileo and the Telescope” Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 9, 2022 by evang914

2) Galileo (February 15, 1564 – January 8, 1642) was incredibly important to the progress and history of astronomy. He carried on the work done by Kepler in helping prove that the Copernican heliocentric model of our solar system was correct rather than the Aristotelian geocentric. He did this by disproving many of the objectionsContinue reading “Historical Astronomers in Context” Continue reading →

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What’s your real zodiac sign?

Posted on January 29, 2022 by evang914

If you ask anyone what their zodiac sign is, chances are they will be able to give you a quick response. I happen to be an Aquarius, which makes me both assertive and easy-going…? At least according to this Cosmopolitan article, I am. Anyway, most people probably don’t know that their zodiac sign, which isContinue reading “What’s your real zodiac sign?” Continue reading →

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Introduction

Posted on January 24, 2022 by evang914

Hi there! My name is Evan, and I’m a senior at Vanderbilt. I originally come from a small-ish town north of Chicago called Northbrook. We were made famous back in 1986 when John Hughes used my high school to film the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I can see the water tower that was paintedContinue reading “Introduction” Continue reading →

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