Chemistโs love for science creates growing business
A Detroit Chemist has taken her love for science and beauty, and created a successful business. โSo I actually go into the lab and formulate all of the products by hand, that we do sell and produce, and Iโve actually created these formulas from scratch over the years,โ Alyssa Space, Founder & CEO of 4 Her Cosmetics told โLive in the Dโs,โ April Morton.
Tech Time in Space: Mars news; Earthโs new companion; NASA to crash International Space Station
There's a lot happening in space lately -- here's a roundup of what's new this week, including a tree stump of sorts on a different planet, Earth has a new companion and the International Space Station will come crashing to Earth soon.
Tech Time in Space: Metal barreling toward moon, a cosmic mystery, more
This past week has been a busy one in the space world: Weโre talking about a telescopeโs final destination one million miles from Earth, four tons of metal barreling toward the moon and a mystery in the cosmos that is baffling scientists.
Find out how your future bedroom might look on the moon
We all know from Star Trek that space is the final frontier, and in 2021 we saw a big jump in space exploration. Now, if you want to get closer to the stars you can see a new exhibit in Metro Detroit that will take you on a journey to our future.
Live stream: Blue Origin launches into space with William โCapt. Kirkโ Shatner onboard
Actor William Shatner and Audrey Powers, Blue Originโs vice president of mission and flight operations, will fly on board New Shepard NS-18. They will join crewmates Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries for the flight.
The last supermoon of 2021 -- aka the Strawberry Moon -- is happening this week
If youโve missed any of the celestial events that have happened this year already -- the Pink Moon in April or the recent solar eclipse, to name a couple -- youโve got one more chance to witness a rare supermoon this year, and itโs happening this week.
Spidernauts and space dogs: What happens to the creatures of spaceflight
Animal spaceflights paved the way for the first human astronauts, and today, creatures big and small continue to space travel, advancing our knowledge of how the zero-gravity environment impacts all beings and aiding research down on Earth.
In 1st, NASA prepares to fly helicopter on Mars
NASA is getting ready for yet another historic flight: A 4-pound helicopter is being prepared to fly on Mars. During a news briefing on Tuesday, NASA officials and engineers talked about preparations for the upcoming maiden voyage of the small helicopter, named Ingenuity. AdSee: Part of Wright brothersโ 1st airplane on NASAโs Mars chopperNASA is hoping to fly the small Ingenuity on April 8. NASAโs successfully landed its Mars Rover Perseverance on Feb. 18 this year near an ancient river delta in the Jezero Crater to search for signs of ancient microscopic life. AdMore: Check out these new photos from Mars Rover โPerseveranceโRelated: Dream realized: Rochester Hills native named NASA flight director
NASA space probe spots northern lights on Jupiter
If you thought the northern lights were a rare sight for us earthlings, you may want to think again. Those beautiful colors most visible in the Arctic and Antarctic are not only found on Earth: Jupiter has northern lights, too. Northern lights here on Earth result from charged particles from the sun that interact with the earthโs magnetosphere to create that glow that we see. AdPrevious missions did not really provide a good look at the Jovian aurorae, but Juno is a polar-orbiting spacecraft, so these images are our first real deep dive into the planetโs northern lights. New revelations on Jupiter, combined with those recently discovered on Mars, have made for an interesting year of space exploration so far!
NASA uses Navajo language to name interest points on Mars
As a way to honor Native Americans -- and, particularly, a Navajo engineer on the Mars Rover Perseverance team -- NASA is naming points of interest on Mars using the Navajo language. The latest NASA rover to land on Mars is currently focusing on a rock named after the planet itโs on -- but in Navajo. The rock is called โMaaz,โ which means โMarsโ in the Navajo language. The Navajo engineer on the Perseverance team helped get permission and collaboration from his tribe to use the names. Listen: NASA Perseverance rover captures audio from MarsAdNASAโs Mars Rover Perseverance successfully landed on Feb. 18 near an ancient river delta in the Jezero Crater to search for signs of ancient microscopic life.
Live Stream: Astronauts spacewalk outside International Space Station
This photo provided by NASA shows US astronaut Kate Rubins outside the International Space Station during a space walk on Friday, March 5, 2021. Rubins and Japan's Soichi Noguchi floated outside to complete unfinished work from Sunday's spacewalk. More mounting brackets and struts need to be installed for new and improved solar panels due to arrive in June. (NASA via AP)
Listen: NASA Perseverance rover captures audio from Mars
Local 4 meteorologist Paul Gross was born in Detroit and has spent his entire life and career right here in southeast Michigan. Paul has researched, written and produced eight half-hour documentaries for WDIV, as well as many science, historical and environmental stories.
LIVE STREAM: Astronauts spacewalk outside ISS
Back dropped by the rotating earth, U.S. Army and NASA Astronaut Col. Andrew Morgan pauses for a photo opportunity during extravehicular activity (EVA) #64 at the International Space Stationโs Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer worksite Jan. 25, 2020. Col. Morgan and Italian Air Force and ESA astronaut Col. Luca Parmitano participated in this fourth and final EVA to complete repairs on the AMS, a state-of-the-art particle physics detector. The emblems displayed on Col. Morgan's cuff checklist are U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (top) and U.S. Space Command (bottom). (Photo by ESA Astronaut Luca Parmitano)(Department of Defense)
NASA Rover Perseverance captures HD panorama view of Mars landing site
NASA Mars Rover Perseverance is giving a never-before-seen view of the Red Planet just days after its successful landing. With 19 cameras on board, Perseverance provides a 360-degree panorama view of Mars, visible in a new high definition image of the roverโs landing site. Check out the view in the video above from NBC News, or take a longer look in NASAโs Twitter video touring the Mars landing site below. #CountdownToMarshttps://t.co/9tpv4Vl4lV โ NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 25, 2021The Mars rover successfully landed on Feb. 18 near an ancient river delta in the Jezero Crater to search for signs of ancient microscopic life. AdAs NASAโs biggest and most advanced rover, Perseverance successfully tackled NASAโs smallest and trickiest target by landing in the Jezero Crater, which is a 5-by-4-mile strip on an ancient river delta full of pits, cliffs and rocks.
You can now enjoy free U-M planetarium shows from your living room
ANN ARBOR โ Its perhaps one of the silver linings of so much isolation -- fun events streaming straight into your home. The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History is now offering free virtual planetarium programs for the whole family. Starting on Thursday, go to the edge of the solar system, learn about planets and constellations with this fun, educational event. To register, click here. Virtual planetarium show schedule (Thursdays at 4 p.m.):Feb. 25March 4March 11March 18March 25More dates may be added in the future.
Watch: First video is back from Mars rover Perseverance
NASA shared the first video it received from the Perseverance rover on Mars. The new point-of-view video released Monday shows the Perseverance rover shedding its shields and performing its landing maneuvers, including the successful touchdown. Watch how we did it.#CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/Avv13dSVmQ โ NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 22, 2021The Perseverance rover landed last Thursday near an ancient river delta in Jezero Crater to search for signs of ancient microscopic life. After spending the weekend binge-watching the descent and landing video, the team at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, shared the video at a news conference. Read more: NASA releases Mars landing video: โStuff of our dreamsโAd
Watch NASAโs amazing video showing Perseverance Rover landing on Mars
New video shows the dramatic landing of NASAโs new Mars Rover last week. NASA released new point-of-view video showing the Perseverance Rover shedding its shields and performing its landing maneuvers, including the successful touchdown. Your front-row seat to my Mars landing is here. Watch how we did it.#CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/Avv13dSVmQ โ NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 22, 2021Perseverance, the biggest, most advanced rover ever sent by NASA, became the ninth spacecraft since the 1970s to successfully land on Mars, every one of them from the U.S. Scientists believe that if life ever flourished on Mars, it would have happened 3 billion to 4 billion years ago, when water still flowed on the planet.
LIVE STREAM: NASA update on Perseverance rover after Mars landing
This Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 photo provided by NASA shows the Perseverance rover lowered towards the surface of Mars during its powered descent. (NASA via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ NASA will offer a live update on their Perseverance rover after landing safely on Mars last week. NASA equipped the spacecraft with a record 25 cameras and two microphones, many of which were turned on during Thursdayโs descent. It's the ninth time that NASA has successfully landed on Mars __ and the fifth rover. As it did with 2012's Curiosity rover โ still roaming 2,300 miles (3,750 kilometers) away โ NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed Perseverance descending beneath its massive parachute.
Check out the new images from NASAโs Perseverance rover on Mars
Perseverance is healthy and working just fine days after landing on Mars. Now weโre getting the first images from the NASA rover -- and theyโre stunning. There are a lot of scientific instruments on the rover that we will get to see in action. It also has a โweather stationโ on it that will analyze the Mars weather. Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 3 This Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 photo provided by NASA shows the Perseverance rover lowered towards the surface of Mars during its powered descent.
Check out these new photos from Mars Rover โPerseveranceโ
(Image: NASA JPL)NASAโs new Mars Rover โPerseveranceโ is sending back some amazing photos, just a day after landing on the red planet! #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/8SgV53S9KG โ NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 19, 2021Read: NASA rover Perseverance lands on Mars: How it went, and whatโs nextA couple of others show the rocky surface surrounding the Rover:An open horizon, with so much to explore. #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/hAaxeVGs04 โ NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 19, 2021I love rocks. Canโt wait to find out.#CountdownToMarshttps://t.co/7w3rbvbyoL pic.twitter.com/H3q1M0YJAd โ NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 19, 2021Every picture tells a story. Latest update and images: https://t.co/fnnEOOMWsV pic.twitter.com/39aGp963a3 โ NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 19, 2021Perseverance, the biggest, most advanced rover ever sent by NASA, became the ninth spacecraft since the 1970s to successfully land on Mars, every one of them from the U.S.
NASA rover Perseverance lands on Mars: How it went, and whatโs next
The NASA Perseverance rover made a successful landing on Mars on Thursday. Perseverance, the biggest, most advanced rover ever sent by NASA, became the ninth spacecraft since the 1970s to successfully land on Mars, every one of them from the U.S. However, they believe this is one of the best spots on Mars to search for signs of ancient life. AdโOnboard Perseverance we have some pieces of technology that are specifically flying to mars to advance human exploration,โ said Adam Steltzner, NASA Perseverance chief engineer. AdRead more: NASA rover lands on Mars to look for signs of ancient life
LIVE: NASA successfully lands Rover โPerseveranceโ on Mars
This illustration provided by NASA depicts the Mars 2020 spacecraft carrying the Perseverance rover as it approaches Mars. Perseverance's $3 billion mission is the first leg in a U.S.-European effort to bring Mars samples to Earth in the next decade. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ NASA successfully landed its newest rover on Mars! #CountdownToMars pic.twitter.com/dkM9jE9I6X โ NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) February 18, 2021Watch NASAโs live Mars Rover coverage below:Spacecraft aiming to land on Mars have skipped past the planet, burned up on entry, smashed into the surface, and made it down amid a fierce dust storm only to spit out a single fuzzy gray picture before dying. Almost 50 years after the first casualty at Mars, NASA is attempting its hardest Martian touchdown yet.
WATCH LIVE: NASAโs Perseverance Rover lands on Mars
This illustration provided by NASA depicts the Mars 2020 spacecraft carrying the Perseverance rover as it approaches Mars. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ NASA will attempt to land its newest Mars Rover, Perseverance, on Thursday, more than six months after it left Earth. Watch NASAโs live Mars Rover coverage below. Almost 50 years after the first casualty at Mars, NASA is attempting its hardest Martian touchdown yet. COVID-19 PRECAUTIONSSpeaking of clean, NASAโs Mars Mission Control has never been so spotless.
LIVE STREAM: NASA to land Mars Rover โPerseveranceโ
This illustration provided by NASA depicts the Mars 2020 spacecraft carrying the Perseverance rover as it approaches Mars. Perseverance's $3 billion mission is the first leg in a U.S.-European effort to bring Mars samples to Earth in the next decade. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ NASA will attempt to land its newest Mars Rover, Perseverance, on Thursday, more than six months after it left Earth. Watch NASAโs live Mars Rover coverage below. Almost 50 years after the first casualty at Mars, NASA is attempting its hardest Martian touchdown yet.
Why itโs so difficult for NASA to land rover on Mars
Hereโs a look at how NASAโs Perseverance rover will attempt to land on Mars on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021. Dr. Roger Weins, a NASA scientist, explained why itโs so difficult to land on the Red Planet. โPartly because of the very thin air on Mars. But with that thin air on Mars, that only slows it down to several hundred mph, and thatโs not good enough to land at all. After that, you have to use retro rockets.
Hereโs how NASAโs Perseverance rover will try to land on Mars
One week from today, NASA will attempt to land its newest rover onto the red planet. This is no easy task, as youโll see in this short video explaining how NASA will try to stick this landing -- watch above. Read more: NASA launches Mars 2020 Perseverance roverPerseverance was launched successfully back in July from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The rover is set to land on Mars Feb. 18, 2021 at the planetโs Jezero Crater. The mission has the ambitious goal of returning samples of Mars rock and soil back to Earth.
Japan scientists to study source of high heat on asteroid
About 3 grams (0.1 ounce) of the black granules are from Ryugu's surface and were gathered when Hayabusa2 touched down on the asteroid in April 2019. AdBased on near-infrared spectrophotometer analysis of data transmitted by Hayabusa2, JAXA scientists found that the asteroid was exposed to extremely high temperatures both on its surface and underground, possibly caused by an internal source of heat or planetary collisions rather than heat from the sun. Kohei Kitazato, a University of Aizu planetary scientist working with JAXA, said his team found indications of heat exceeding 300 degrees Celsius (572 degrees Fahrenheit) both on the asteroid surface and underground. AdJAXA is continuing an initial examination of the asteroid samples ahead of fuller studies next year. Following studies in Japan, some of the samples will be shared with NASA and other international space agencies for additional research.
Here are some simple ways to clear the clutter
Andrea Wolf, who has been in the organizing business for 15 years, said January is one of her busiest time of the year. โAlways start with a blank slate,โ Wolf added. โIn order to get that blank slate, that means youโve got to go through and touch everything in that closet. โIf your space needs to be re-imagined from where it was before, we can look at it with a blank slate,โ Wolf said. Wolf advised not to go out and buy items that you likely will not need once youโve cleaned your space.
Scientists have first ever direct image of a dying galaxy
Local 4 meteorologist Paul Gross was born in Detroit and has spent his entire life and career right here in southeast Michigan. Paul has researched, written and produced eight half-hour documentaries for WDIV, as well as many science, historical and environmental stories.
NASA astronauts ring in new year with very different ball drop
DETROIT โ Crew members on the International Space Station rang in the new year with a very different ball drop Thursday. How do you drop the ball in zero gravity? Turns out you do not. The globe they used for the ball drop went up, not down. The NASA astronauts also got to celebrate the start of 2021 16 times, since the space station orbits the earth every 90 minutes.
A wonderful science angle (or is that โAngel?โ) to โItโs a Wonderful Lifeโ
DETROIT โ As you probably know, an annual NBC tradition is airing โItโs a Wonderful Lifeโ on Christmas Eve -- and this year, more than any other year, we need that movie. There is a way cool science angle to the movie that nobody knows about: Near the beginning, remember the scene where the angels in heaven choose an angel named Clarence to head to Earth to save George Bailey? Well, thereโs an ultra-cool science angle to that scene. Check out my explanation in the short video above -- itโll make your Christmas even more special! RELATED: Best Christmas movie?
โChristmas Starโ set to light up night sky on winter solstice
DETROIT โ If the weather cooperates, something very special will be visible on the winter solstice this Monday night -- the โStar of Bethlehem,โ also known as the โChristmas Star.โDespite the names, itโs actually not a star at all. Since Jupiter orbits the sun every 12 years and Saturn orbits the sun every 30 years, the two largest planets in the solar system donโt line up very often. The two gas giants will cross paths in the night sky on the winter solstice on Monday, Dec. 21. Though the planets are 450 million miles apart, to the naked eye, they will appear as one bright light in the sky. To view the Christmas Star, turn your gaze toward the southwest sky a little after sunset on Monday, Dec. 21.
Rare โChristmas Starโ to be visible for first time in 800 years on Dec. 21
With this yearโs winter solstice comes more than just confirmation of our already-cold weather and ever-fleeting daylight: The rare โChristmas Starโ will be visible for the first time in 800 years. Each year, Earthโs northern hemisphere enters the winter solstice on Dec. 21 -- the shortest day of the year -- officially marking the start of winter. This year, bright planets Jupiter and Saturn will align perfectly on Dec. 21 to create what is commonly called the Christmas Star or the โStar of Bethlehem.โAccording to NASA, Jupiter and Saturn align with one another every 20 years or so, but not nearly as close together as they will be in 2020. Experts say the Christmas Star can be seen by the unaided eye just after sunset on Dec. 21, 2020. You can see Saturn and Jupiter nearly align on Dec. 21, forming what appears to be a Christmas star.
Live stream: Total solar eclipse crosses South America on Dec. 14, 2020
This yearโs only total solar eclipse will cross South American countries Chile and Argentina on Monday, Dec. 14. Watch live coverage of the eclipse beginning at 9:30 a.m. EST Monday in the video player below, courtesy of Slooh. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon is the perfect size and distance from Earth to block out the sun entirely when their orbits cross paths. A total solar eclipse will cross Chile and Argentina on Dec. 14, 2020. Another total solar eclipse is expected to cross just below Detroit in 2024.
Total solar eclipse to cross Chile, Argentina on Dec. 14, 2020
The only total solar eclipse of the year will cross South America on Monday, Dec. 14. A total solar eclipse will cross Chile and Argentina on Dec. 14, 2020. So, in those rare occurrences where the moon makes a direct path across the sun, we get a solar eclipse. Watch Sloohโs live coverage of the Dec. 14 total solar eclipse below. In 2024, a total solar eclipse will take a path quite close to Detroit.
Whatโs that thing orbiting the Earth in 90 minutes? A guide to what the International Space Station is, does
This year, the International Space Station celebrated 20 years of having a continuous human presence on it. But what exactly is the International Space Station and what does it do? Over a 13-year period from 1998-2011, different modules were launched into space and attached to each other in orbit by astronauts. That mission was successful to create an initial base, and in subsequent years, other modules were launched into orbit and connected. The ISS is aging -- and if itโs not eventually destroyed or taken down by humans, space obstacles might arise, according to space.com.
Live coverage: 4 SpaceX astronauts journey to International Space Station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ Four astronauts have climbed aboard a SpaceX rocket have officially launched to the International Space Station on Sunday night. You can watch the live coverage of their journey to the International Space Station using the video player below. The launch was delayed from Saturday night to Sunday night after Elon Musk was sidelined from the event due to COVID-19. The astronauts' flashy white suits with black trim matched their rides, made by Elon Muskโs two main companies: SpaceX and Tesla. Read more here: SpaceX aims for night crew launch, Elon Musk sidelined by virus
SpaceX aims for night crew launch, Elon Musk sidelined by virus
With COVID-19 still surging, NASA continued the safety precautions put in place for SpaceXโs crew launch in May. Even the two astronauts on the first SpaceX crew flight stayed behind at Johnson Space Center in Houston. โI didnโt start breathing until about a minute after it took off,โ Pence said during a stop at SpaceX Launch Control to congratulate the workers. Similar pleas for SpaceXโs first crew launch on May 30 went unheeded. The first-stage booster is expected to be recycled by SpaceX for the next crew launch.
SpaceX crew flight delayed; Elon Musk gets mixed COVID-19 results
Fridayโs postponement news came after SpaceX chief Elon Musk disclosed he had gotten mixed test results for COVID-19 and was awaiting the outcome of a more definitive test. โI can assure everyone that weโre looking good for the (crew) launch and all of the critical personnel involved,โ said SpaceXโs Benji Reed, senior director for human spaceflight. โSo โElon Musk Tests Negative for Covidโ is an equally correct title,โ he tweeted. The upcoming crew flight comes just three months after the end of the test flight with Hurley and Bob Behnken, both NASA astronauts. NASA and SpaceX are especially eager to retrieve this first-stage booster; it will be used for the next crew launch.
Your best bet for catching a breathtaking glimpse of the Leonid meteor shower this month
Have you heard of the Leonid meteor shower? It comes around every November, but the chances of seeing it this year are much higher than last year. The shower happens at the same time every year, when Earthโs orbit crosses the orbit of Comet Tempel-Tuttle, according to Space.com. A trail of dust is left behind the comet, and when Earthโs orbit crosses that trail, pieces of the comet fall toward our planetโs surface. Luckily for us, meteors are visible to the naked eye, and the shower will peak overnight Monday into Tuesday (Nov. 16-17) around 3 a.m.