Nov 19 - Space Hibernation

November 19 Space Hibernation by:

Image via ESA.

ESA studies human hibernation for space travel Jennifer Ngo-Anh, a team leader at the European Space Agency, commented: "For a while now, hibernation has been proposed as a game-changing tool for human space travel. If we were able to reduce an astronaut’s basic metabolic rate by 75% – similar to what we can observe in nature with large hibernating animals, such as certain bears – we could end up with substantial mass and cost savings, making long-duration exploration missions more feasible." Read more. Who knew? Plants 'panic' when it rains Using a spray bottle to simulate rain, researchers found a "panic-like" response in plants. Complex chemical warning signals were passed from leaf to leaf and even communicated to other plants. Read more. Why Nile hasn’t changed course in 30 million years Scientists say they've solved the geologic mystery of the Nile River’s unchanging northward path, and also discovered that the river is about 30 million years old - 6 times older than previously believed. Read more.

EarthSky lunar calendars are back in stock. Order now! We're guaranteed to sell out. They make awesome holiday gifts. Your support means the world to us and helps us keep going. Purchase here.

Tonight … Come to know the Pleiades, or 7 Sisters At this time of year, for all of us around the globe, the Pleiades star cluster culminates - reaches its highest point in the sky - around midnight. Read more. This image - via Krishnan Subramanian near Mumbai, India - shows a laser pointer aiming up past the V-shaped face of Taurus the Bull, toward the tiny, misty dipper of the Pleiades. Thank you, Krishnan!

Moon and balloon View at EarthSky Community Photos. |  A hot air balloon caught by Joseph Snodgrass in Mountainair, New Mexico, during the 1st Annual Mountainair NM matanza and hot air balloon rally, this past Sunday, November 17. Our thanks to Katherine Snodgrass for sharing! And, by the way, who knows if the moon's a balloon? Submit your photo to EarthSky here! Did a friend forward EarthSkyNews to you? Click here to get your own subscription!

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