Astronomy
The Once and Future Earth
How will the sun, moon, and Earth change in the far distant future? It may not make a big difference to us, but exploring the possible fate of our home and birthplace is a mind-bending journey.
Post on May 18, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Tag Along On Science Adventures: The Field Trip Podcast
Season 2 of the science podcast, "The Field Trip" premieres today.
Post on May 14, 2012 by Jennifer Huber from QUEST Northern California
Phoebe: Quirky, Mystical, Magical Moon
Phoebe, a quirky outlying moon of Saturn, was once thought to be a captured comet, but now is believed by some scientists to be something much rarer: a captured planetesimal.
Post on May 04, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Amateur Rocketeers Reach For The Stars
For decades amateur rocket builders, or "rocketeers," have been trying to reach space. Now with advances in materials and technology, they're able to do it. QUEST travels to rocket launches in fallowed fields and barren deserts to learn more about this addictive hobby and to meet a group of passionate high school rocketeers.
Video on Apr 24, 2012 by Chris Bauer from QUEST Northern California
UFO? LGM? OMG! What is That Thing in the Sky?
Ever seen something in the sky that was unusual, and which you couldn't explain? Here is a peek at my process of armchair evaluation of unexplained sightings.
Post on Apr 20, 2012 by Ben Burress
Is Anyone Out There?
Planet hunters enter a new phase in their search for extra solar planets and alien life.
Audio Report on Apr 13, 2012 by Andrea Kissack from QUEST Northern California
Yuri’s Night in the Bay Area
51 years ago on April 12th, 1961, the Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made history as the first human to enter outer space. Exactly 20 years later, the United States innovated the space age by launching the Space Shuttle (April 12th, 1981). Yuri’s Night, which commemorates these events, aims to celebrate humanity’s past present and future in space launches Yuri’s Night celebrations this week around the world.
Post on Apr 10, 2012 by Cat from QUEST Northern California
A Celestial Sports Extravaganza: Solar Triple Play
Get ready for a celestial sports extravaganza as you've never before seen—not all at once, anyway. Coming up in May and June this year, a matchup of three rare and beautiful celestial events, conveniently scheduled back to back to back for your viewing enjoyment.
Post on Apr 06, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
ISAAC Promotes Jupiter to Executive Planet
In a solar system shakeup, Jupiter has been promoted to Executive Planet. The International Solar Assembly Advisory Council has also endorsed Jupiter's choice of Saturn to be its Deputy Executive Planet.
Post on Apr 01, 2012 by Brian Underwood from QUEST Northern California
California's (and the World's) Oldest Rocks
California has some pretty ancient rocks, but to experience really old rocks you don't need to look far.
Post on Mar 29, 2012 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
In Search of the Oldest Stuff: Rocks of Ages
What's the oldest stuff you've ever seen, or better still, touched? Have you felt awe from contact with something of great antiquity? How old can stuff be?
Post on Mar 23, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Solar FireworX: First X-Class Flare of the Year
The first X-Class solar flare of the year went off yesterday, on March 7th, in spectacular fashion. Fortunately the flare went off where it's supposed to: on the Sun. Had this intense magneto-plasmic explosion gone off on Earth, we'd be toast; one of these releases an amount of energy on the order of 100 billion megatons of TNT.
Post on Mar 09, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Starship Math: Are the Stars Our Destiny?
What would it take to send a spaceship to another star, all science fiction devices aside?
Post on Feb 24, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Up All Night on NASA's Flying Telescope
The Obama Administration’s new budget for NASA was released last week, and calls for cuts to many space programs. But one California-based project is likely to get more money. The SOFIA flying observatory, a telescope mounted on an airplane, is considered more nimble and cost-effective than other projects. Reporter Lauren Sommer recently caught a ride as it flew over the Pacific Ocean.
Audio Report on Feb 17, 2012 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
European Comet Blockbuster Currently in Production
If the European Space Agency is successful, we'll be enjoying an exciting comet-landing mission blockbuster extravaganza in only 2-3 years!
Post on Feb 10, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
What Can Lake Vostok Tell Us About Europa?
Does the prospect of life in subglacial Lake Vostok really point to the same on the icy satellite Europa? The answer may surprise you.
Post on Feb 09, 2012 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
The Sun Shows A Flare for the Dramatic
A solar flare, associated with the big sunspot numbered 1402, erupted on January 23rd, launching a coronal mass ejection–a "cantaloupe" of plasma that makes Earth look like a grape. Rated as an M9-class flare, it packed umph just shy of what's necessary for adult "X-class" flaredom, the most powerful kind.
Post on Jan 27, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Treasure from the Sky
The recently authenticated fall of meteorites from Mars excites fever dreams as well as scientific fervor.
Post on Jan 19, 2012 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
The Stars Within an Eyelash's Reach
I want to take a moment, again, to contemplate the vastness of the Universe…and expect an epic fail….
Post on Jan 12, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
A Most Earthly Mineral on Mars
The planet Mars tantalizes with its resemblance to parts of Earth. Now space geologists with their trusty field assistant, the rover Opportunity, have found gypsum veins there like those in our own countryside.
Post on Jan 05, 2012 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
