Mika McKinnon

Implausibly Visible Logo On The Canadarm Triggers Parliamentary Query

Science in Canada is in a bad state — government scientists muzzled, science library books chucked in the dumpster, long-running experiments abruptly defunded, and painfully more — yet this photograph is the thing that spawns a parliamentary query. This rogue logo is now the subject of a parliamentary query. Image credit: NASA, modified by CSA…

Assemble A Paper Orion Spacecraft Before December’s Test Flight

The Orion spacecraft is fully assembled and ready to be rolled out to the launch pad on November 10th. Surely that means it’s time for us to build small paper models to adorn our workspaces as good-luck charms for next month’s test flight. Top image: Part of Orion paper model printout (left) and test flight…

The Space Station At Night Just Keeps Getting Creepier

The International Space Station would make the greatest set for a horror movie. This photo set taken by Gerst sneaking around the station late one night is just begging you to write a thrilling short story. Ok, these suits are a lot less jovial than the previous air guitar musician. Previous photographs of the space…

Turbulence Prevents Star Formation In Galaxy Clusters

Galaxy clusters are large clouds of hot gas, seemingly-ideal places to observe gas cooling and condensing into stars. Yet, we don’t see that happening. Here’s a look at how black holes and turbulence are conspiring to keep galaxy clusters underpopulated with hot new stars. Top image: Perseus (left) and Virgo (right) glow extremely brightly in…

China Gets A Step Closer To Their Lunar Sample Return Mission

China’s Chang’e 5 test vehicle has successfully completed the most recent stage of its lunar return technology demonstration. Launched on October 24th, the spacecraft swung around the far side of the moon, snapped a gorgeous photo of home, and safely returned to Earth on Halloween. https://gizmodo.com/the-earth-and-the-moon-in-a-single-frame-1652534967 Top image: Chang’e 5 launch on October 24, 2014.…

Show Us Your Science-Themed Pumpkin Carvings

What awesome science-themed pumpkins have you found to celebrate the most hallowed of eves? Top image: a rocket, ringed planet, and collection of stars on three wee pumpkins are gracing my steps this most halloweed eve. Credit: Mika McKinnon Every year, Will Gater makes a delightfully elaborate space-themed pumpkin. This year’s space lantern is a…

Teal Tendrils Of The Tarantula Nebula Are Simply Beautiful

Once again, it’s time to bask in the stunning wonder of our universe. This is the Tarantula Nebula, and my most recent excuse to bask in endless, encompassing joy. Top image: Tarantula Nebula in near-infrared. Credit: ESA/Hubble Space Telescope/NASA Stellar nursery LHA 120-N 11 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Image credit: NASA/ESA This gorgeous image…

Cargo Runs To The Space Station Resume With A Successful Launch

The Russian Progress spacecraft launched without incident last night, carrying three tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the International Space Station. Less than a day after the unexpected Antares rocket explosion, it’s reassuring to have a successful cargo run. https://gizmodo.com/antares-rocket-explodes-crashing-into-pad-seconds-afte-1651915513 Top image: Progress 57 on approach to dock with the International Space Station. Image…

Uncrewed Antares Rocket Explodes, Crashing Into Pad Seconds After Launch

Instead of a nice, predictable cargo run to the space station, an Antares rocket exploded seconds after launch this evening. No injuries are reported and all personnel are accounted for, but the payload is lost and the launchpad damaged. Orbital Sciences and NASA are investigating the accident. Antares rocket explosion shortly after the launch of…

This is Where LADEE Crashed Into The Moon

After completing 100 days of lunar observations, the LADEE spacecraft was sent on a collision course to smash into the moon in April 2014. Now the Lunar Reconnoissance Orbiter has spotted where it crashed, creating a sharp new addition to the dust and craters. https://gizmodo.com/ladees-100-days-of-science-1537889056 https://gizmodo.com/ladee-has-purposely-crashed-into-the-moon-1564710101 Top image: Before and after the April 18, 2014…

How To Find A Mammoth In 20 Not-So-Simple Steps

Mammoths Unearthed is a National Geographic special on archeologist Dr. Tim King and palaeontologist Trevor Valle hunting for mammoths in melting Siberian permafrost. Despite the oozing drama plaguing modern documentaries, it’s an intriguing, surreal, and frustrating look at the reality of fieldwork. https://gizmodo.com/finding-mammoths-takes-more-than-just-science-1651003620 Palaeontologist Trevor Valle (left) and archeologist Dr. Tim King (right). Image credit:…

Finding Mammoths Takes More Than Just Science

Despite hyperactive editing to infuse drama into the long hours of fieldwork, National Geographic’s Mammoths Unearthed is a peek into the conflict of ivory economics and scientific research when hunting for mammoths in northern Siberia. Airing Sunday at 8 pm Eastern time, the documentary follows the adventures of archeologist Dr. Tim King and palaeontologist Trevor…

The SpaceX Dragon Splashes Down With Moustronauts And Arugula

The Dragon capsule detached from the International Space Station, carrying 1,486 kilograms of cargo safely back to Earth. This fourth cargo mission by SpaceX carried a wide variety of science samples, including the first live mammals transported by the commercial company. Top image: The Dragon passing over a cloudy Sidney, Australia before re-entry. Credit: NASA/Reid…

Comet Siding Spring and Mars In One Beautiful Image

Ah, now this was the beautiful view we were waiting for! When comet Siding Spring grazed past Mars last weekend, the robots hid while trying to sneak a peek. The first images of the comet’s nucleus taken were historic, but it takes the Hubble Space Telescope to make it beautiful. https://gizmodo.com/martian-robots-brace-for-close-encounter-with-comet-sid-1648159011 https://gizmodo.com/heres-what-comet-siding-spring-looked-like-from-mars-1648975616 https://gizmodo.com/all-satellites-and-rovers-have-checked-in-as-happy-and-1648459331 Top image:…

Cosmonauts Chuck Equipment Off The Station In Third October Spacewalk

Cosmonauts Alexander “Sasha” Samokutyaev and Max Suraev spent Wednesday’s spacewalk stripping and jettisoning surplus equipment off the International Space Station, conducting a photographic survey of the exterior, and cleaning the windows. Top image: Sasha restoring the station windows to crystal-clear perfection. Credit: ESA/NASA/Alex Gerst Cosmonauts heading out of the station. Image credit: ESA/NASA/Alex Gerst Gerst…

What Do You See In This Nebula?

Did that swirl of gas and dust just face-palm a pulsar? System PSR B1509-58 has a history of inspiring pareidolia, and this latest infrared and x-ray composite image is just calling out for creative interpretation. Top image: X-ray (gold) and infrared (red, green, and blue) composite of neutron star PSR B1509 imaged in 2014. Credit:…

Here’s What Comet Siding Spring Looked Like From Mars

While all the robots were practicing duck-and-cover to avoid being sandblasted by comet Siding Springs this weekend, they were also trying to catch a glimpse of the event. Here are the first images of comet Siding Springs grazing past Mars and what we’ve learned so far. https://gizmodo.com/martian-robots-brace-for-close-encounter-with-comet-sid-1648159011 Comet Siding Spring as seen from the surface…

The Supervillain’s Guide To Causing Natural Disasters

Nature’s fury is a sight to behold: earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides can wipe out thousands of people in a single blow. If you’re an aspiring supervillain, though, there’s some good news. You can harness these forces for yourself. Here’s how! Image credit: NASA Earthquakes Image credit: United Nations Development Programme Intimidation Factor: Few things terrorize…

All satellites and rovers have checked in as happy and healthy robots after their close encounter with comet Siding Spring this weekend.

The Sun Is Beautiful When Its Magnetic Field Is Angry

These huge coronal loops reach out more than fifteen times the diameter of the Earth, tracing out disruptions in the sun’s magnetic field. Whoa. The coronal loops were captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory on October 14th and 15th, 2014. The loops are particles spiraling along magnetic field lines after a long-lasting M-class flare erupted,…