Astronomy
Black Holes: Objects of Attraction
Black holes have been the stuff of science fiction since their discovery in the late sixties. But now a new, nimble NASA telescope is using its powerful x-ray vision to hunt for these abundant yet invisible, massive space oddities.
Video on Sep 25, 2012 by Sheraz Sadiq from QUEST Northern California
Black Holes: Ultimate Trash Compactors of the Universe
As bizarre as black holes have been depicted in science fiction, the reality of black holes as described by science is far stranger.
Post on Sep 21, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Space Shuttle Endeavour Makes a Bay Area Victory Lap
The Endeavour flyover will make for a striking sight: Piggybacked to a 747, the shuttle will be flying at a low altitude of 1500 feet in some parts of the Bay Area.
Audio Report on Sep 20, 2012 by Amy Standen from QUEST Northern California
Your Photos on QUEST: Rogelio Bernal Andreo
Astrophotographer Rogelio Bernal Andreo's colorful wide field images of deep sky objects like galaxies, nebulae, star clusters has garnered him dozens of photography awards including the Royal Observatory of Greenwich's 2010 Best Astrophotographer of the Year.
Video on Sep 11, 2012 by Amy Miller from QUEST Northern California
Will the Asteroid Apophis Rock Our World?
With all of the giant rocks flying around in space that can cross Earth's orbit and therefore be a impact threat, what are the odds of one hitting us?
Post on Sep 07, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
NASA's New Mars Rover: Armed and Curious
Space exploration has caught up with science fiction (again): we have deployed laser-armed nuclear-powered robot on Mars, and nearly two weeks after landing, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, the rover Curiosity, has fired that weapon on a Martian rock.
Post on Aug 24, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
NASA's Roving Robotic Chemist Will Collect Clues For Life on Mars
Scientists are looking for elements and molecules that signify life as we know it. But even if they don’t find those molecules, minerals contain important information about the Martian environment. That could help scientists determine if life could have survived on the planet.
Post on Aug 15, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
Mars Science Laboratory's Touchdown on The Red Planet
Last Sunday, NASA scored a long-distance touchdown…on Mars! The Mars Science Laboratory, nicknamed "Curiosity" is the largest, most complex spacecraft ever to have set down on the Red Planet.
Post on Aug 10, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Stunning Solar Visualizations: The Sun's Van Gogh-like Artistry
While nearly all eyes are focused on Mars, two astophysicists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center have been quietly staring at the sun instead.
Post on Aug 07, 2012 by Danna Staaf from QUEST Northern California
NASA's Mars Lander: The Exploration Begins
NASA's Curiosity lander has ended its 352 million-mile journey, landing safely on the surface of Mars. For scientists at NASA Ames in Moffet Field, the work is just beginning.
Audio Report on Aug 06, 2012 by Amy Standen from QUEST Northern California
Do Constellations Change Over Time?
Do the constellations—the patterns made by the stars in the night sky—change over time, and if so, how long have they resembled what we see today?
Post on Jul 27, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Deep, Dark Waters of Titan
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, NASA finds another ocean for us to worry about — this time on Saturn's moon, Titan.
Post on Jul 13, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Space Telescope to Begin Search for Black Holes
NASA's newest space telescope, NuStar, will soon begin its hunt for black holes. Scientists are hoping to learn more about how they grow and why they're such messy eaters.
Audio Report on Jun 29, 2012 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
Voyager: Old Spacecraft, New Frontier?
Thirty-five years after beginning a remarkable journey that started with encounters of Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 1 may once again be making a historic scientific encounter: the boundary between our Solar System and interstellar space!
Post on Jun 29, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Science on the SPOT: Up all Night with SOFIA, NASA's Flying Observatory
SOFIA is more than a telescope tucked into a re-purposed commercial airliner. It's a complete flying astronomical observation platform which carries a dozen or more astronomers, observers and crew far above the clouds to observe objects and phenomena too cold to be seen in visible light.
Video on Jun 27, 2012 by Craig Rosa from QUEST Northern California
Sizing Up the Earth
What has a mass of about 6 yottakilograms, occupies a volume of space of about 1 million million cubic-kilometers, and is about 40 kilometers fatter than it is tall. Guesses, anyone?
Post on Jun 15, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Soaring in Space: Citizen Science at 103,000 Feet
Citizen scientist Marc Labriet and students from Valley Christian High School in Dublin, CA collaborated on a special balloon project to retrieve images from near space as well as test theories on gamma rays and radiation repercussion yields.
Post on Jun 14, 2012 by Cat from QUEST Northern California
KQED Science Fan Spotlight
We'd like to share your stories about why you're passionate about science.
Post on Jun 13, 2012 by Jenny Oh from QUEST Northern California
Don't Miss Your Last Chance to See a Transit of Venus on Tuesday
Don't miss the chance to experience history! Tuesday, June 5, 3:04 PM to 9:46 PM PDT, the Transit of Venus. Rare event. Historical scientific significance. Last chance to see it!
Post on Jun 01, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Photographing the Sun: Let Me Count The Ways
Turns out there are as many as ways to photograph as eclipse as there are to watch it. With a bit of preparation and the generosity of strangers, I got to experience five of them during Sunday's annular eclipse.
Post on May 22, 2012 by Danna Staaf from QUEST Northern California
