The standard cosmological model holds that there is a type of matter known as dark matter permeating the Universe, which accounts for the massive discrepancies that exist between how much matter the Universe has, and the amount it should have, according to predictions. Astronomers hypothesized that dark matter should exist, comprising most of the unseen matter, and exerting its influence on normal matter through the force of gravity alone. Now, some experts propose a new approach to explaining the discrepancy – the Modified Theory of Newtonian Dynamics, or MOND, Space reports. Astronomical observations have shown over recent years tha... [read more >>] Top officials in the Russian Federation announced on Thursday that they gave their acceptance to a proposal stating that the country should pursue the development of a nuclear-powered spacecraft, which is currently set to fly as early as 2012. This would essentially leave the former Communist nation in charge of the nuclear space race, as the United States continue to lose their role as the dominating force in space today. According to Russian scientists, building the new spacecraft could cost as much as $600 million, Wired reports. “The idea [of nuclear-powered spaceflight] has bright prospects, and if Russia could stage a breakthro... [read more >>] In a recent poll, in which 10,000 people got the chance to have their say, the X-ray machine was voted as the most important innovation of the century. More than 50,000 votes were recorded in the Science Museum of London inquiry, which saw X-rays defeat things like penicillin and steam engine. All of the ten objects came from areas of research such as science, engineering, technology and medicine, and the goal of the poll was to promote Science to the masses, and make it more interesting, the BBC News reports. Further details on all the items are available at the SML.One of the main reasons why X-rays were considered to be so groundbre... [read more >>] A rift in eastern Africa is most likely the place where a new ocean will begin to take shape in the future, scientists confirm after serious investigations. The formation started “unzipping” in 2005, when it reached its current length, of about 35 miles, within only a few days. The rip began when the Dabbahu volcano, located at the northern end of the Ethiopian formation, started erupting and pushing the tectonic plates at the location away from each other. The same type of activity is also parting the Red Sea at this very instance, geologists say, quoted by LiveScience. In a statement released yesterday, scientists essentiall... [read more >>] Most sane people consider being in a bad mood as, well, a bad thing, and try to get out of it, by any means at their disposal. But, according to a group of scientists from Australia, that may not be necessarily the best idea possible. In a new study they conducted, they showed the fact that people who were sad, or generally in the worst mood possible, were also more keen in their judgment of others, were more likely to experience memory boosts, and were also less gullible. The University of New South Wales (UNSW) team, which was led by Psychology Professor Joseph Forgas, also showed another interesting thing. When people were in a bad moo... [read more >>] Every one of you who has ever gone to the circus knows the thrills of taking a ride into the haunted house. There are fake, plastic skeletons, and eerie ghost sounds, and canned blood and whatnot, and all these elements contribute to a “scary” ambiance. But, if you are looking for real thrills, or, as critics say, as real as ghost stories can ever be, you should probably ask scientists at the Goldsmith College in London and architect Usman Haque about letting you in on a ride in their haunted house.You see, in an attempt to verify whether paranormal experiences can be artificially induced, or whether a long-since-departed spirit... [read more >>] While the World Health Organization (WHO) is painting a dire image of the new influenza outbreak, there are voices that say the situation is not nearly as bad as official announcements would have it. Regardless of where the truth lies, the main question on everybody's lips now is whether they should be getting the new vaccine or not. There are scientists who urge you to do so, and there are those who argue that you should avoid the shot at all costs. Here are some of the viewpoints in this debate. “Influenza vaccines are one of the most effective ways to protect people from contracting illness during influenza epidemics and pan... [read more >>] NASA's Swift satellite is the first spacecraft to have spotted the first signs from the earliest known explosion in the entire Universe. The phenomenon is believed to have taken place about 13 billion years ago, when the Cosmos was just around 700 million years old. The star that exploded sent forth a massive amount of radiation, in the form of a gamma-ray burst (GRB). It required all this time to reach our planet, and it was first observed on April 23. Usually, these types of emissions become visible when stars collapse into black holes, at the end of their burning cycle, Space reports. Two astronomy teams then took it upon themselv... [read more >>] Central Michigan University professor Axel Mellinger has recently compiled a new groundbreaking image of the night sky, with the Milky Way at its center, by stitching up more than 3,000 individual photographs. The high-resolution panoramic view, presented in an interactive manner here, can be used by professional and amateur astronomers alike, and shows known features of our galaxies in great detail. The creation process for the new image is described in the November issue of the respected journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. “This panorama image shows stars 1,000 times fainter than the human eye can see, ... [read more >>] In astronomy, the term binary system refers to a group of two stars, which are locked to each other through their mutual gravitational forces and orbit a common center of gravity. Instances in which a small star orbits a massive one are not unheard of as well. The difference between such a system and an eclipsing binary is strictly a matter of perspective, as in how we see them from the Earth. Their orbits around their center of gravity must be organized in such a manner that, from time to time, they either fully or partially cover one another, Space Fellowship reports. In most instances, the two stars are not of the same caliber, size an... [read more >>] | 
RSS
