Category Archives: Cosmology

Astronomy, Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Everything, History of Science, Life, Matter, Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Space, Time, Waves

Zero Point Energy and The Vacuum of Space

Zero Point Energy - The Energy of the Vacuum and Black Holes Artwork: NaturPhilosophie with AIAccording to whom you ask, Zero Point Energy can do everything… or nothing at all.  But what is it?  Something that pervades all of space, albeit on a microscale?  The kinetic energy a molecule does retain, even when cooled down to absolute zero?  And could it offer us a source of unlimited energy?  Continue reading Zero Point Energy and The Vacuum of Space →

Chemistry, Cosmology, Electricity, Energy, Environment, History of Science

Building the Energy Future with Thorium in the Gobi Desert, China

A Thorium fuelled nuclear power installation in the Gobi desert of China - artist's impression. Artwork: NaturPhilosophie with AIWuwei City, Gansu, China.  On the edge of the Gobi desert, the production of safe, inexpensive nuclear energy is soon to be underway.  The technology will not use uranium, and it will not require water for its cooling process. Continue reading Building the Energy Future with Thorium in the Gobi Desert, China →

Astronomy, Chemistry, Cosmology, Electricity, Energy, Environment, Gravity, History of Science, Life, Magnetism, Matter, Physics, Space, Time

Eliminating the Impossible – The Complex Electro-Chemistry Behind the Hessdalen Lights

Hessdalen Lights II: A composite picture (in negative colours) showing the Hessdalen light phenomenon and people gathered at a lookout point to observe at night. Artwork: NaturPhilosophie

A Norwegian valley.  Strange lights observed by many witnesses.  It has been called “Norway’s Roswell”.  But what makes the remote valley of Hessdalen so different from other locations?

Continue reading Eliminating the Impossible – The Complex Electro-Chemistry Behind the Hessdalen Lights →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Gravity, Matter, Physics, Relativity, Space, Time, Universe, Waves

Nine – The Elusive Planet in Our Solar System

A hypothetical Ninth planet has been lurking on the outskirts of our Solar System.  But Planet Nine may not be a planet at all…  Continue reading Nine – The Elusive Planet in Our Solar System →

Algebra, Astronomy, Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Everything, Gravity, History of Science, Life, Matter, Physics, Relativity, Space, Time, Universe, Waves

The Universe Expands Far Faster Than Anticipated…

The Universe is accelerating

For a while now, astrophysicists have known that our Universe is expanding, and accelerating.  And much like the surface of a rubber balloon getting inflated, space is getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger… Continue reading The Universe Expands Far Faster Than Anticipated… →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Geometry, Physics, Relativity, Space, Time, Universe

Crimson Moon – A Total Lunar Eclipse

A meme showing Lance Corporal Jack Jones, from the fictional Home Guard platoon portrayed in popular British sitcom 'Dad's Army' uttering his familiar catchphrase: "Don't Panic!" with a total eclipse of the Moon appearing crimson red in the background.The Motion of Celestial Spheres

The Universe never sleeps.  Every now and then, the night sky presents us mere mortals with some heavenly spectacle.  A Bonnie Tyler moment.  This Friday, the Moon will enter the catwalk dressed in red to accomplish its otherwise normal nightly travel around the Earth.  For one night only.  A strange and rare celestial sight at dusk – a total lunar eclipse.    Continue reading Crimson Moon – A Total Lunar Eclipse →

Chemistry, Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Everything, Life, Matter, Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Space, Time, Universe, Waves

Radioactivity and the Background of Dancing Particles

A picture showing dancing black silhouettes, each one bearing a Greek letter, over an abstract background symbolising a radiation event. Artwork: NaturPhilosophie Natural Radiation

Our environment is permeated by radiation, present around us at all time.  We are constantly exposed to radioactivity from natural sources for the most part naturally occurring radioactive nuclei in rocks and cosmic rays – the ‘background’.  Without ado, this is my lowdown on radioactivity.

Continue reading Radioactivity and the Background of Dancing Particles →

Cosmology, Electricity, Energy, Everything, Gravity, History of Science, Life, Magnetism, Matter, Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Universe

Charming New Particle Xi-cc++ Discovered at CERN

Abstract artist impression of the particle newly discovered at CERN in psychedelic colours. Artwork: NaturPhilosophieThe Xi-cc++ Particle

CERN’s LHCb collaboration has announced the discovery of a new “charming” particle, thought to be instrumental to the strong force – the Xi-cc++.  Another particle.  So…? Continue reading Charming New Particle Xi-cc++ Discovered at CERN →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Everything, Gravity, Life, Matter, Physics, Space, Time, Waves

Sentinel Is Watching

An artist's rendition of the Sentinel 3-A satellite orbiting over the Earth atmosphere. Image: ESAThe Sentinel Constellation

The Sentinel satellite program was designed to replace the older Earth observation missions, which have reached retirement or are nearing the end of their operational life span.  The satellite array will ensure a continuity of data, so that there are no gaps in ongoing studies. Continue reading Sentinel Is Watching →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Environment, History of Science, Life, Physics, Psychology, Space, Time, Universe, Waves

Arecibo and the Great Silence – Where We Talk About a Parrot Named Alex

An aerial photograph showing the Arecibo Observatory telescope, with a picture of Alex at the forefront. The dish reflector of the telescope is built into a valley in the landscape, and the feed antenna is suspended by cables above it. Since the reflector can't be moved, the telescope is steered to point at different regions of the sky by moving the feed antenna $ ($in bell shaped dome$ )$ along on a curving track. The dome shields the feed antenna from interfering radio signals. Collage: NaturPhilosophieArecibo – What a Dish!

The Arecibo observatory is a very large radio telescope located in Puerto Rico.  In 1974, astronomers used it to broadcast a message into outer space intended to demonstrate human intelligence.  Why are we so interested in finding intelligence in the stars, and yet so deaf to the many species who manifest it here on Earth?

Continue reading Arecibo and the Great Silence – Where We Talk About a Parrot Named Alex →

Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Everything, History of Science, Life, Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Space, Time, Universe

CIA Releases “X-Files”

A photograph of two very young buddhist monks, showing one of them sitting in an alley while the other is seemingly levitating in front of him. The image is stamped by the Central Intelligence Agency.The Real X-Files

As the X-Files series enjoy a revival on TV, the American spy agency has decided to place thousands of declassified documents detailing government research into UFOs on its website.  The CIA documents also confirm the reality of humans with ‘Special Abilities’ able to do seemingly impossible things.  Continue reading CIA Releases “X-Files” →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Environment, History of Science, Physics, Space, Universe

The Earth, as Seen from Mars

A photograph taken from Mars showing the Earth and the Moon. Image: NASA.Home World

We start the new year with this photograph of the Earth and its Moon, taken from Mars.  Continue reading The Earth, as Seen from Mars →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Energy, Everything, History of Science, Physics, Relativity, Space, Time, Universe, Waves

2016: Another Year in Cutting Edge Science

A photo-montage showing pictures of the recent scientific developments of the year 2016. From Major Tim Peake's extraordinary space adventure, to the discovery of the missing elements in the Periodic Table, and the gravitational wave detection from a merger of black holes far away in outer space... Collage: NaturPhilosophieYou Spin Me Right Round…

Just over a century ago, Einstein proposed the existence of waves in the spacetime continuum – the logical deduction from his Theory of General Relativity.  In February 2016, scientists finally announced the detection of those “ripples” in gravity, using the technique of laser interferometry.  Continue reading 2016: Another Year in Cutting Edge Science →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Gravity, History of Science, Matter, Physics, Space

Pie in the Sky

A photo-montage showing the meat and potato-filled pie that was sent up to the edge of the Earth's atmosphere, using a weather balloon. Source: SentInSpace Meat and Potato Pie in the Sky

A meat and potato pie has been attached to a weather balloon, and sent “into space”…  Continue reading Pie in the Sky →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Everything, Geometry, Gravity, History of Science, Life, Matter, Physics, Relativity, Space, Time, Universe, Waves

Hunting Ripples in the Fabric of Space-Time – The Trials and Tribulations of LISA

Artwork for "Hunting Ripples in the Fabric of Space-Time – The Trials and Tribulations of LISA" showing the LISA space array, with the caption: "Think Again!" Artwork: NaturPhilosophieMeet LISA!

Erm…No.  Not Mona Lisa!  (Rolls eyes.)  Think again!!  This is LISA – the Lisa Pathfinder satellite, the key element for a grand new project: a space-based gravitational observatory.  Continue reading Hunting Ripples in the Fabric of Space-Time – The Trials and Tribulations of LISA →

Biology, Chemistry, Cosmology, Electricity, Energy, Everything, Gravity, History of Science, Life, Matter, Physics, Space, Time

A Theory of Life… The Physics of Cells and Macroscopic Irreversibility

A meme that reads: "Life has No Ctrl + Z".“It’s Life!  But Not as We Know it…”

There is one essential difference between living things and inanimate clumps of carbon atoms.  From an all-physical point of view, the former tend to be so much better at capturing energy from their environment and dissipating that energy as heat.  At MIT, Jeremy England derived a mathematical formula that he believes explains this capacity.  Continue reading A Theory of Life… The Physics of Cells and Macroscopic Irreversibility →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Everything, Gravity, History of Science, Magnetism, Matter, Physics, Relativity, Space, Time, Universe, Waves

The Discovery of Gravitational Waves – Merging Black Holes and Advanced LIGO

An animation illustrating two colliding and merging black holes in outer space.

Black Holes Far Ago Have Been Causing a Stir…

You know how when you throw a rock into a pool, that makes ripples in the water?  And how Einstein once upon a time predicted that the very mass of stars and planets should warp spacetime?  Although we have had a justified inkling that Einstein was right for quite some time, we had never before detected such a phenomenon.  Until THIS happened… Continue reading The Discovery of Gravitational Waves – Merging Black Holes and Advanced LIGO →

Algebra, Astronomy, Chemistry, Cosmology, Energy, History of Science, Matter, Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Universe

You Wait Ages for a Chemical Element, and Then… BINGO!!

A photograph of Kosuke Morita, the leader of the Riken team, posing with a board displaying the new atomic element 113 during a press conference in Wako, Saitama prefecture on 31 December 2015.Four Elements Come Along at Once…

Just like buses, it seems.  But even rarer and a damn sight more exciting to be honest.  Ooohoo!!!  Out with your old Science books!!  HeL-LOOooo elements 113… 115, 117 and 118!! Continue reading You Wait Ages for a Chemical Element, and Then… BINGO!! →

Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Cosmology, Environment, Everything, Geometry, Gravity, Life, Mathematics, Matter, Physics, Psychology, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Space, Time, Universe, Waves

Lateral Thinking in Science – Who Are You?

A photographic montage showing Laura Dern, Benedict Cumberbatch and Lennie James in various cinematic and TV roles as scientists. The caption asks: "What kind of scientist should you be?"What kind of Scientist are you?

Already this article is beginning to sound like one of those sempiternal quizzes you so often get on social media… but it actually shows how science reality connects.  Are you having a scientific identity crisis? Continue reading Lateral Thinking in Science – Who Are You? →

Astronomy, Chemistry, Cosmology, Electricity, Energy, Everything, History of Science, Life, Matter, Physics, Universe

What’s the Matter… with Spontelectrics?

An artist's impression of a blue electric field in gas. Source: Science AlertSpontelectrics

This blog is cool.  It’s spontaneous!  It’s electric!!  But not as cool as it has been at these cutting-edge laboratories on the outskirts of Europe.  Scientists there are dealing with an entirely new type of solid matter – ‘spontelectrics’. Continue reading What’s the Matter… with Spontelectrics? →

Astronomy, Chemistry, Cosmology, History of Science, Physics, Universe

Physics Without Frontiers…

Young international physicists holding out their passports - most of them from different nations.It’s Nobel Prize Season Again!

In the run-up to the 2015 physics Nobel prize, which was awarded on Tuesday 6 October, Physics World looked at how Nobel-prize-winning physicists have been moving around the globe over the past century. Continue reading Physics Without Frontiers… →

Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Cosmology, Environment, Life, Physics, Space, Time

Mars Has Water!

Mars has water: An artist's impression of Mars primordial ocean.Liquid Water on Mars

Mars is not the dry, arid planet we once thought it was.  Under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found.  NASA’s announcement has the potential of turning some Red Planet theories on their heads…

Continue reading Mars Has Water! →

Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Cosmology, Gravity, History of Science, Matter, Physics, Space, Universe

Exoplanet ‘Young Jupiter’ 51 Eridani b

An illustration showing the distant exoplanet 51 Eridani b, nicknamed "Young Jupiter". Source: SETIKing of Planets

Astronomers have found the smallest exoplanet yet to be directly photographed by a telescope on Earth.  A methane-shrouded gas giant.  A young Jupiter… Continue reading Exoplanet ‘Young Jupiter’ 51 Eridani b →

Astronomy, Cosmology, Energy, Environment, Gravity, Life, Physics, Relativity, Space, Universe

Size Matters… in Astrophysical Terms

Little Big Earth and the Universe

Let’s talk about size…  😉  How big are the objects floating in our Universe and how big can they get?  Starting with a “big” object, our very own Moon…  Embark on a tour of space…  A tour of our Universe… Continue reading Size Matters… in Astrophysical Terms →

Cosmology, Energy, Everything, History of Science, Matter, Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Universe

Behold… the Mystical Pentaquark! – More Exotic Matter Discovered at CERN

A photomontage showing my two open hands facing the camera, between which a pictorial representation in red of the elusive pentaquark particle appears to be levitating. Image: NaturPhilosophiePentaquark… Eh, WHAT?!

First predicted in the 1960s, like the Higgs boson before it, the pentaquark eluded science for decades until its recent detection at CERN’s LHCb collaboration.  The discovery amounts to finding a new form of matter… Continue reading Behold… the Mystical Pentaquark! – More Exotic Matter Discovered at CERN →