LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Andrew Follett A microscopic animal could be the only species to survive a planet-wide extinction, Oxford University researchers announced Friday. The study argues that microscopic tardigrades would survive astrophysical catastrophes that wipe out all other life on Earth, and could stick around for another 10 billion years afterwards. Moreover, the…
LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Andrew Follett The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Boeing to conduct design and build the military’s next hypersonic spaceplane, according to an announcement Wednesday. The unmanned Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) can lift a payload into orbit and return to Earth to land on a runway. DARPA hopes…
LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Michael Bastasch Pope Francis gave President Donald Trump a copy of his encyclical that refers to Earth as an “immense pile of filth” and calls for phasing out fossil fuels to fight global warming. Francis gifted Trump with his 2015 letter “Laudato Si” during their half-hour meeting Wednesday, Bloomberg reported. The…
LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Andrew Follett The comet C/2015 V2 Johnson will fly close enough to Earth for amateurs to spot in the summer sky, according to Universe Today. Amateur star gazers can currently see the comet with binoculars. The comet will be closest to Earth on June 5, but the best time…
LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Andrew Follett The Earth-like planet, “Proxima b,” could have conditions favorable for the development of life, according to a new study by scientists from the University of Exeter. The study found “Proxima b” could have liquid water, meaning the odds of life developing are “quite favorable.” The planet could…
LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Andrew Follett Purdue University revealed a device Wednesday capable of feeding astronauts on Mars, but it could also be used on Earth to improve nutrition in several African countries. NASA commissioned Purdue to develop a device capable of processing plants grown on Mars, like soybeans, into puffed cereals and pastas. The device,…
LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Andrew Follet The Cassini space probe detected hydrogen coming from Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, which suggests alien life could develop there, according to NASA. NASA said Enceladus has “almost all of the ingredients needed to support life as we know it on Earth,” but admitted they found no living organisms….
LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Andrew Follett Scientists have found an Earth-like planet with an atmosphere for the first time. The planet, GJ 1132b, is cloaked in a thick layer of gases composed of water, methane or a mixture of both, new research found. The exoplanet is 1.4-times the size of Earth and 39…
LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Andrew Follett Earth’s magnetic field may be about to reverse, which could have devastating consequences for humanity. Scientists think that Earth is long “overdue” for a full magnetic reversal and have determined that the magnetic field’s strength is already declining by 5 percent each century. This suggests that a fully reversal…
by Andrew Follett NASA scientists discovered 24 Earth-sized planets orbiting other stars, according to a new paper. A team of researchers from NASA’s Ames Research Center, the SETI Institute and the University of Nevada used the space agency’s Kepler Space Telescope to find the new exoplanets by detecting very small decreases in the brightness of stars. This change occurs when an…