Tag Archives: radiation

New, older age for the universe

By Stephen Ornes / April 4, 2013

This map shows the energy left over from shortly after the Big Bang, as mapped by the Planck space telescope. The average background temperature is about 2.7 degrees above the coldest possible temperature (known as absolute zero). Red spots are slightly warmer, while blue spots are slightly cooler. Astronomers hope this map can help them learn more about the history of the universe.

Telescope peers back to see the first light after the Big Bang

Posted in Space | Tagged absolute zero, age of the universe, astronomy, astrophysics, Big Bang, cosmic background radiation, cosmology, energy, European Space Agency, George Efstathiou, getinvolved, inflation, Matthew Kleban, New York University, Planck space telescope, radiation, Richard Easther, temperature, University of Auckland, University of Cambridge, waves

Out-of-this-world atmospheres

By Stephen Ornes / March 29, 2013

This illustration depicts the planet HR 8799c (foreground) orbiting its star. Two other planets in the system can also be seen in the drawing.
Credit: Image courtesy of Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics; Mediafarm

Light from a distant, giant world offers clues to the gases in its atmosphere

Posted in Space | Tagged astronomy, atmosphere, Ben Oppenheimer, Earth, exoplanets, getinvolved, HR 8799, infrared, Jonathan Fortney, light, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Neptune, planets, Quinn Konopacky, radiation, Santa Cruz, Saturn, Smithsonian Institution, space, spectral lines, spectrometry, topstories, University of California, University of Toronto

Healthier mice, through X-rays

By Stephen Ornes / November 29, 2012

Scientists found that sickly agouti mice, which carry a gene that colors their coat yellow, benefit from a small dose of radiation. These benefits were blocked by vitamins, though, turning conventional ideas about radiation and vitamins upside down. Credit: The Transgenic Core Facility

In sickly mice, small doses of radiation helped while vitamins harmed

Posted in Body & Health | Tagged biology, cells, DNA, epigenetics, genetics, getinvolved, methylation, radiation, topstories, toxicology, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Wisconsin–Madison, X-rays

Twinkle, twinkle oldest stars

By Stephen Ornes / November 21, 2012

Blazars are bright galaxies that send high-powered radiation jets directly toward Earth. They can be used to detect the light in the universe left over from every star that ever shone. In this image, the blazars are shown as green dots; the Milky Way glows orange in the middle. Credit: NASA, DOE, Fermi LAT Collaboration

Astronomers find traces of ancient light in the activity of bright, distant galaxies

Posted in Space | Tagged astronomy, astrophysics, Big Bang, blazar, cosmic fog, cosmology, Fermi telescope, galaxy, gamma rays, getinvolved, Kavli Institute, light, optics, photon, photons, radiation, star, telescope, topstories, University of Texas at Austin, Volker Bromm

Crime-solving camera

By Stephen Ornes / August 31, 2012

A digital camera fitted with the right filters, like the one shown here, can detect only infrared light. The crime-fighting trick can reveal bloodstains hidden behind layers of paint. Credit: bmcent1/iStockphoto

Quick-change trick allows a digital camera to photograph blood concealed by paint

Posted in Light & Radiation | Tagged blood, blood detection, camera, crime, detectives, filter, filters, forensic science, forensics, getinvolved, Glenn Porter, infrared, lens, Lenses, lenses/mirrors/filters, light, paint, photography, physics, radiation, University of Western Sydney, wavelength

Tsunami’s trek traced in the sky

By Stephen Ornes / July 6, 2011

The red and green glowing lights in this picture are “airglow” in the Earth’s ionosphere. (This photo was taken from a space shuttle, visible at left.) The March tsunami that wreaked havoc on Japan produced similar atmospheric, glowing ripples.

Scientists photograph atmospheric ripples that followed the March tsunami across the Pacific

Posted in Earth | Tagged electromagnetism, electron, getinvolved, ions, radiation

Quake leaves destruction, fear

By Stephen Ornes / March 21, 2011

In Japan, an earthquake started a tsunami that caused a nuclear disaster

Posted in Earth | Tagged fission, isotopes, nuclear, radiation, uranium

A very good blast from the past

By Amanda Leigh Mascarelli / October 27, 2010

And into the future: New, cool stuff that lasers can do

Posted in Physics | Tagged energy, laser, light, radiation, waves, waves/radiation

The science of disappearing

By Stephen Ornes / February 17, 2010

Invisibility cloaks and other new materials that play with light are in the works

Posted in Technology & Engineering | Tagged electron configuration and light, electrons, Invisibility, Lenses, light, radiation, waves/radiation

Galaxies on the go

By Susan Gaidos / November 4, 2008

Millions of stars are mysteriously racing toward one point in the sky

Posted in Space | Tagged absorption, color, Doppler, fluorescence, frequency shift, Lenses, light, physics, radiation, reflection, waves/radiation

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