sciencehabit writes:
Radioactive fallout is rarely a good thing. But new research suggests charged particles emitted from Cold War-era nuclear tests may have boosted rainfall thousands of kilometers away from the testing sites, by triggering electrical charges in the air that caused water droplets to coalesce. The United States, Soviet Union, and other nations often tested nuclear weapons above ground in the…
Tag: soviet
Large Chunks of a Chinese Rocket Missed NYC By About 15 Minutes
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: A week ago, China launched the newest version of its largest rocket, the Long March 5B, from its southernmost spaceport. The launch proceeded normally and represented another success for China as it seeks to build a robust human spaceflight program. Over the next few years, this rocket will launch components of a…
How Did Covid-19 Begin? WaPo OpEd Calls Its Origin Story ‘Shaky’
The story of how the novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, has produced a nasty propaganda battle between the United States and China. Columnist David Ignatius writes in an opinion piece for The Washington Post: The two sides have traded some of the sharpest charges made between two nations since the Soviet Union in 1985 falsely accused the CIA of manufacturing…
Happy birthday, Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin was a Russian pilot who became the first human to travel to space, in 1961. His story … plus links to a Yuri’s Night celebration near you. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/this-date-in-science-yuri-gagarins-birthday…
NASA issues a Venus rover design challenge
NASA has issued a public challenge where you can help design a critical sensor that would be needed for a future rover on Venus. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/venus-aree-rover-sensor-public-challenge…
For All Mankind review: A superb alternative history of the space race
When the Soviet Union lands on the moon first people in the US are shocked. But For All Mankind provides an even bigger surprise when one cosmonaut’s identity is revealed, says Emily Wilson Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532700-500-for-all-mankind-review-a-superb-alternative-history-of-the-space-race/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
For All Mankind review: A superb alternate history of the space race
When the Soviet Union lands on the moon first people in the US are shocked. But For All Mankind provides an even bigger surprise when one cosmonaut’s identity is revealed, says Emily Wilson Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532700-500-for-all-mankind-review-a-superb-alternate-history-of-the-space-race/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Sophisticated Soviet spy radio discovered buried in former forest in Germany
Archaeologists have found a sophisticated Soviet spy radio that was buried in a former forest in Germany shortly before the fall of the Iron Curtain. Source: https://www.livescience.com/soviet-spy-radio-discovered-germany.html
Valentine Venus
Talk about an awesome Valentine’s Day activity! Go outside and show your sweetie Venus, the planet of love. Astronomer Guy Ottewell provides a chart and more. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/valentines-day-activity-2020-how-to-see-venus…
Today in science: Launch of Explorer 1
Can you believe it’s been 62 years since the United States launched its 1st satellite? Explorer 1 advanced the space race between the US and the Soviet Union. It led to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/launch-of-explorer-1-jan-31-1958…