The Space Fence is the radar system that tracks thousands of objects orbiting Earth.
Science & Tech
Are We Martians? Scientist Says We Just Might Be
As Adam Frank has said over on the 13.7 blog, “Earth and Mars have been swapping spit (astrobiologically speaking) for eons … [and] it is entirely possible we were Earth’s first alien invasion.”
Earthquake jolts Aleutian Chain
No injuries or damage reported yet, and no tsunami expected from Friday morning’s 7.0 magnitude temblor
NOAA reviewing ESA protections for humpback whales
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will initiate an in-depth review into whether the North Pacific humpback still needs protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Tons Of Molten Glass Go Into Making Mirror For Giant Telescope
Technicians on Saturday are set to cast 20 tons of glass for the third of seven ultra-precise primary mirrors that will make up the 72-foot Giant Magellan Telescope, scheduled for completion in northern Chile’s arid Atacama Desert in 2020.
NASA Reactivating Spacecraft To Hunt For Near-Earth Asteroids
NASA is bringing a retired spacecraft back into service to help search for asteroids that could pose a danger to Earth, the space agency announced on Wednesday.
Did You Know? Alaskan Waters Are Home To Sharks Too
When you ask anyone to name animals in Alaska, answers run the gamut from wolves to whales and occasionally the erroneous penguin. But there’s one animal that hardly ever makes the list: sharks.
VIDEO: ‘Sideways Rocket Hop’ By SpaceX Prototype
The engineers at SpaceX this week successfully launched a 10-story rocket to an altitude of about 800 feet, moved it about 330 feet sideways and then brought the “Grasshopper” back down to its landing pad.
Rarely Seen Sky Phenomenon Caught On Camera by UAF Grad Student
When thunderstorms emit lightning, we see the white, snaking electricity from the ground. But if you flew above the clouds, you would see a sky phenomenon known as sprites.
USCG Arctic strategy requires more ice breakers
The number of ships through the Bering Strait grew 118 percent between 2008 and 2012, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. As nations attempt to stake claims for rich Arctic resources, the U.S. currently has little presence there. The Coast Guard has two ice breakers capable of operating in the region. That’s four short of…