Tag Archives: technology

Using Variable Stars to Find Exoplanets

Posted on April 17, 2022 by alexlitt

One of the preeminent methods for finding exoplanets is tracking periodic variations in stellar brightness. In class, we practiced this technique by examining the light curves of certain variable stars and identifying the presence of orbiting exoplanets. In the real world, scientists must first identify variable stars and then determine which of these variable stars’ […] Continue reading →

Posted in Instruments, Light, Observables, Science | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Using Variable Stars to Find Exoplanets

Blog #5: AR Aur b (protoplanet formation caught in action!)

Posted on April 17, 2022 by nadiamcglynn

As we have been able to look farther outside of our neighborhood of the solar system, our understanding of extrasolar planets and the formation of other planetary systems has had to undergo questions and testing to ensure that our hypothesis is reasonable. The surprising orbits of some extrasolar planets has caused some such questioning, such […] Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Universe | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Blog #5: AR Aur b (protoplanet formation caught in action!)

Asteroid Mining

Posted on April 17, 2022 by Johann West

Picture of Asteroid With the current rise of privatized space travel, one industry that may very well likely be popularized within our lifetimes is asteroid mining. However the initial investment cost of getting to a profitable asteroid will be enormous, the payoff of mining and bringing back the metals that these asteroids contain would be …

Continue reading Asteroid Mining

Continue reading →

Posted in Space Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Asteroid Mining

The Future of Exoplanet Analysis

Posted on April 16, 2022 by Brian

The search for extrasolar planets and alien life is a fascinating research focus that sits at the intersection of astronomy, physics, planetary science, and biology. As we have discussed in class, discovering exoplanets is a very difficult task, but we have discovered roughly 5,000 exoplanets to date and are making significant progress in that area.Continue reading “The Future of Exoplanet Analysis” Continue reading →

Posted in Aliens, Class, Exoplanets | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Future of Exoplanet Analysis

Asteroid Mining

Posted on April 8, 2022 by jesszhang782

Rocky asteroids contain metals that are commonly used on Earth. What if there was a way to mine those metals from asteroids and bring them back to Earth? The potential gains seem promising, as even a small asteroid can contain enough industrial metals … Continue reading →

Posted in Class | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Asteroid Mining

Nuclear Fusion: The energy of the universe… but not the energy of the Earth?

Posted on March 23, 2022 by alexlitt

Nuclear fusion is the fundamental source of energy generation in our universe. Stars (like our Sun) undergo nuclear fusion in their cores and emit energy in the form of heat and light. This stellar energy stands in the way of a dark, cold, lifeless universe, and provides the necessary ingredients for life on Earth. Sadly, […] Continue reading →

Posted in Science | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Nuclear Fusion: The energy of the universe… but not the energy of the Earth?

Climate Change and Cryptocurrency (Post 3)

Posted on March 22, 2022 by ccatanese1

Climate change is a pressing issue in that it has the capability to completely destroy the way humans live life on Earth. One of the main types of emissions is CO2 and it is causing our atmosphere to heat rapidly. Cryptocurrency is a new trend that is focused on decentralizing finance and allowing owners of […] Continue reading →

Posted in Science | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Climate Change and Cryptocurrency (Post 3)

Legacy Survey of Space and Time: The future of astronomical observation is here…. almost!

Posted on March 22, 2022 by alexlitt

Just two years from now, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will commence operations, beginning its mission to image nearly 40 billion celestial objects over 10 years! These observations will be made with the world’s largest digital camera and an enormous 8.4 meter (in diameter) telescope, ensuring that its images will be of the highest quality. […] Continue reading →

Posted in Instruments, Observables, Science, Stars | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Legacy Survey of Space and Time: The future of astronomical observation is here…. almost!

Blog #3: Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating

Posted on March 22, 2022 by nadiamcglynn

Radioactive decay is one of the processes by which Earth produces heat. Radioactive isotopes start off unstable (these are called the parent isotopes), and so they decay into other, more stable daughter/progeny isotopes. The decay produces alpha, beta, or gamma radiation which is then converted into thermal energy. The decay of isotopes like uranium, thorium, […] Continue reading →

Posted in Class | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Blog #3: Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating

The Future of Fusion

Posted on March 22, 2022 by alexbawa

While stars are powered by nuclear fusion, nuclear reactors here on Earth have yet to make that leap. Fission is our only readily available source of nuclear power, but it is significantly less lucrative than its counterpart. The difference is the process, which combines two isotopes of hydrogen to trigger an energy release instead of […] Continue reading →

Posted in Physics | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Future of Fusion