Solar sails - aka light sails - use faint pressure from sunlight to propel a spacecraft forward. A next-generation solar sail might be made of metamaterials, or smart materials. Read more.
From The Atlantic … Have you heard of the the Denisovans? They're an ancient sister species to to Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, but far more mysterious. Today, people across East Asia have traces of Denisovan DNA in their genes. This week, scientists announced finding a jawbone in a cave on the Tibetan plateau that's revealed new details about the Denisovans' appearance and lifestyle. Read more.
The shower's peak was likely Sunday before dawn, but you might catch some meteors on Monday, too. Colin Legg at Mount Augustus National Park in Western Australia caught these meteors last night. This image is a composite of 5 frames. Colin wrote: "Hello from Mt Augustus. Thought I'd post last nights Eta Aquarids collection. In total I captured 8 meteors pointing south and 12 facing east @ 14 mm." Thanks, Colin!
Thought I'd post last nights Eta Aquarids collection. In total I captured 8 meteors pointing south and 12 facing east @ 14 mm." Thanks, Colin!
