Author Archives: jblubin

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Posted on April 28, 2014 by jblubin

“We are a way for the Cosmos to know itself,” said Carl Sagan.  Astronomy is not only the oldest science, but also a window through which mankind peers through in attempt to glimpse the fleeting answers to our deepest and most fundamental questions. As a direct result of the this class, I find myself looking … Continue reading Standing on the Shoulders of Giants → Continue reading →

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Are We Alone?

Posted on April 28, 2014 by jblubin

The famous science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke was quoted as saying, “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” A truer statement is hard to come by. Yet quote also sparks tremendous debate and intrigue among those whose ears come across it for the … Continue reading Are We Alone? → Continue reading →

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Science Fiction to Science Fact

Posted on March 30, 2014 by jblubin

It has always been the fantasy of science fiction writers to mine an asteroid for its precious materials. Stories such as Catch that Rabbit by Isaac Asimov, The Rolling Stones by Robert A. Heinlein, and the Heechee stories by Frederik Pohl are among hundreds that feature futuristic mining camps on asteroids. But now humanity has … Continue reading Science Fiction to Science Fact → Continue reading →

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Edmond Halley: Proving Newton

Posted on March 29, 2014 by jblubin

Newton was the first to provide a mathematical construct to describe the effects of planetary motion around the Sun. But then the question arose, how could we find evidence for the theory? Stepping up to the plate was the prominent astronomer Edmond Halley. Born in the English countryside on November 8, 1656, Halley was a … Continue reading Edmond Halley: Proving Newton → Continue reading →

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Is There Anybody Out There?

Posted on March 11, 2014 by jblubin

We have always asked the question, “Are we alone in the Universe?” Until now we firmly do not have an answer. But there is a little dreamer kid in all of us, including scientists. Which is why when NASA announced  it would be sending a probe to deep space, they decided to include a message … Continue reading Is There Anybody Out There? → Continue reading →

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Planet Earth in the Splash Zone

Posted on March 11, 2014 by jblubin

We often take for granted our Earthly paradise; with its warm temperatures and comforting blue skies, it’s easy to overlook the uniqueness that is Earth. This is even especially true when we consider the vast amount of liquid water on our planet. Water itself is not all that special, it can be found all over … Continue reading Planet Earth in the Splash Zone → Continue reading →

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A New Generation of US Spaceflight

Posted on February 12, 2014 by jblubin

A new era of spaceflight is underway in America. The Space Shuttle program was retired in 2011 and ever since, if NASA wants to send an astronaut so space, they must buy a ticket on the Russian Soyuz rocket. But this status quo of depending on another nation to carpool to space is about to … Continue reading A New Generation of US Spaceflight → Continue reading →

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Eratosthenes Measures the Earth

Posted on February 12, 2014 by jblubin

How do you measure the circumference of the Earth? It’s not like you can take out a meter stick and lay it end to end hundreds of thousands of times. Today with satellite technology and GPS we can easily complete this task and get an extremely precise answer: 40,075.017 kilometers. But how might a Greek … Continue reading Eratosthenes Measures the Earth → Continue reading →

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Sir Isaac Newton’s World

Posted on February 9, 2014 by jblubin

Sir Isaac Newton was born Christmas day, December 25, 1642 in the small hamlet of Woolsthorpe in the county of Lincolnshire in the English countryside. He lived a full 84 years, in which he revolutionized our fundamental understanding of the universe by discovering his Law’s of Motion, Law of Gravity, and laws of Optics; as … Continue reading Sir Isaac Newton’s World → Continue reading →

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The Grandest Experiment

Posted on January 24, 2014 by jblubin

The majority of physics experiments take place in a small lab found in the basement of a university science building. However, for a grand hypothesis, one needs a grand experiment. The year was 1919 and a nervous Albert Einstein awaited the results of an experiment on the scale never before seen nor bested up to … Continue reading The Grandest Experiment → Continue reading →

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