Physics education research, electronic materials, and the musings of Christopher Moore, Ph.D.
Jan 17th, 2006
The launch of the New Horizons, a probe with Pluto as its destination, was delayed today due to high winds. According to MSNBC.com, this is no big deal since NASA has a months worth of launch window to get the craft space-bound. NASA still has nearly a month’s worth of launch opportunities ahead. But if [...]
Oct 2nd, 2005
As if we didn’t already have enough planets … The Associated Press reports that the same astronomers who claim to have discovered a 10th planet now claim that the new rock has its very own moon. Read the AP report here: While observing the new, so-called planet from Hawaii last month, a team of astronomers [...]
Jan 3rd, 2005
I’ve always been a big fan of “Caveman Science.” Take a big rock, smash something, and see what happens. Ahhhh, satisfaction. As a child I would use whatever I could to deconstruct whatever I could, with the purpose of learning how the thing worked. Of course, I usually just blew it up only to find [...]
Nov 8th, 2004
I know it seems like I’m preoccupied with space, but there is a lot of interesting stuff going on right now in private sector space exploration. So get over it. Anyway, Bigelow has finally decided to unveil his $50 million X-prize-esque challenge to rocket builders and space enthusiasts. You can learn more here. Here are [...]
Oct 19th, 2004
I just finished watching an episode of the West Wing. The ending reminded me of why I love science and why I love spreading that love via teaching. It reminded me of how much courage it takes to try, even when you will probably fail. In the beginning of the episode, the President is practicing [...]
Oct 15th, 2004
The successful flight of Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne not only won the Ansari X-prize, but it also set off a flurry of activity in the fledgling space tourism industy. As I reported here, Richard Branson already has paying customers lined up to be the first space tourists hitching a ride on a non-governmental rocket. That’s exciting [...]
Oct 10th, 2004
The rover Opportunity discovered more evidence of a watery past for the Marsian surface. For more see this article. Data sent back by Opportunity suggests an area known as the Meridiani Planum, was drenched with water a second time, after an impact excavated a huge crater. The rover project’s main mission has been to discover [...]