Articles by Rhodi Lee
Boeing, SpaceX bag lucrative $6.8 billion NASA space taxi contract
The contracts awarded to SpaceX and Boeing to develop and operate space taxis will end the U.S. dependence on Russia in bringing American astronauts to and from the ISS. These will also make space travel possible for private tourists.
NASA goal of identifying 90 percent of dangerous asteroids will fall dangerously short, IG warns
In a report, NASA Inspector General Paul Martin said that NASA will not be able to meet its congress-ordered goal of identifying 90 percent of near-Earth objects that are at least 460 feet by 2020 given its pace and resources. So far, NASA has only identified 10 percent of these asteroids.
Rare Chinese sturgeons in wild on brink of extinction: They are not reproducing
Human activities such as building of dams and pollution have affected the Chinese sturgeon's ability to reproduce naturally. This could lead to the extinction of the endangered species.
Schizophrenia linked to eight genetic disorders, not one: Study
New study suggests that the mental disorder schizophrenia is not a single disease. It is actually a group of eight genetic disorders that individually has its own distinct symptoms.
ESA selects Rosetta Philae probe landing spot on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: Head on!
ESA finally revealed the landing site of the Philae Lander on the surface of comet 67P. Scientists said that Site J offers scientific potentials and poses minimum risks compared with other locations.
Curious link found between sunshine and suicide rates: Study
Researchers have found a link between short streaks of sunny days and increased suicide rates. How sunshine affects tendencies for suicide may have something to do with the neurotransmitter serotonin.
Blue Moon: Rare flawless blue diamond on display in LA NHM
The 12-carat Blue Moon Diamond, one of the rarest stones in the world, will be displayed at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles County. The gem was cut from a rough diamond unearthed from the Cullinan mine in South Africa, where the largest diamond was found about a century ago.
Abbott Absorb dissolving heart stent as effective as Xience in trial
Unlike metal stents that remain permanently in the arteries, Abbot's Absorb eventually softens and dissolves over time and the Absorb II trial showed that angina occurs less in patients who received Absorb compared with those treated with Xience.
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen donates $9 million to help fight Ebola in Africa
Billionaire Paul Allen's foundation donated $9 million for U.S. efforts in fighting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has earlier donated another $2.8 million for the outbreak through the American Red Cross and provided funding for a research on Ebola vaccine.
NASA to launch 3D printer into space first time ever
The NASA-commissioned SpaceX cargo mission to the ISS this week will carry what will become the first 3D printer on space that astronauts can use to create plastic parts and tools.
ESA to reveal soon Rosetta probe landing spot on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
The European Space Agency is set to announce on Monday the prime landing and backup sites of the Philae lander when it descends to the surface of comet 67P to gather scientific data.
Want a happy marriage? Make wife happy: Study
No matter how men feel towards their marriage, having a happier wife tends to make husbands happier as well, a new research has found. Happier marriages are also associated with better life satisfaction and happiness.
Curiosity ready to climb Mount Sharp, gets NASA backing
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity mission continues to receive backing from the U.S. space agency despite criticism from a review panel. The rover is now ready to climb Mount Sharp where scientists hope it can find more information about the Red Planet's history.
Rare opportunity to see Northern Lights over US skies: How and where to watch the celestial wonder
The solar flares that occurred this week resulted in the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) to be seen at a farther distance. Experts gave tips on when and where to watch the light display.
Solar storms bombard Earth and cause some headaches
Major solar storms can cause some problems in that they could disrupt electrical and communication systems as well as lead to re-routing of air traffic but experts from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center said they do not expect anything unmanageable.
Humongous Spinosaurus terrorized the mid-Cretaceous period: Paleontologist
The Spinosaurus aegyptiacus may have feasted on early crocodiles, sharks and gigantic fish during the mid-cretaceous period but it is believed to have also occasionally taken down other dinosaurs.
Rosetta delivers amazing surface map of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Detailed images taken by Rosetta's main imaging system OSIRIS allowed scientists to create a map that show the different regions of comet 67P's surface, each marked by distinct physical characteristics.
Sweet sound of single atom captured by boffins: Here's how
In an experiment, researchers designed an artificial atom to release phonons, or energy in the form of sound, instead of photons (light). They revealed that the atom produced a D-note.
Giant swimming Spinosaurus dwarfed T. rex
Remains of the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus that were unearthed from Kem Kem beds in Morocco revealed that the animal is bigger than the Tyrannosaurus rex by at least 8 feet providing evidence that it could have been the largest predatory dinosaur that existed in prehistoric times.
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko photobombs this amazing Rosetta selfie
ESA's Rosetta captured a selfie using the CIVA camera attached to the robotic Philae lander that it is set to land on the surface of comet 67P in November this year.
Mars rover Curiosity reaches prime destination: Base of Mount Sharp
After months of travelling, Mars rover Curiosity has finally reached the base of Mount Sharp, where scientists hope it could unravels the history of the planet and find evidence that it once supported life.
Discovery of woman without cerebellum stuns doctors in China
A woman who had trouble with balance most of her life and who only started to talk intelligibly when she turned 6 years old was found to be missing her cerebellum, the part of the brain involved in balance and some cognitive functions.
Sluggish sloth evolved AMAZINGLY FAST
Sloths are slow animals but findings of a new research have found that the ancestors of these animals grew at a rate of more than 220 pounds every million years, which is among the fastest among mammals.
New intercalation technique may pave way for industrial-scale graphene production
A modified intercalation method that involves the use of non-oxidizing agents to split graphite into sheets could pave way to industrial scale production of high quality graphene.
Ozone layer is recovering. Good news! Hooray!
Scientists revealed that the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from the harmful UV rays of the sun and which has been thinning since the 1970's, is on its track to recovery.
Gold substrate used to create Graphene 'cousin' germanene
Researchers were able to synthesize germanene using gold as substrate. Just like graphene, the 2D material has remarkable optical and electrical properties that could also find practical uses and applications.
Sun caught shooting X-class solar flare at Earth (but don't panic)
The sun fired an X-class flare, the most intense of solar flares, on Earth. However, NASA said that the phenomenon does not pose danger to anyone on the planet or to the astronauts at the International Space Station.
Missed watching final supermoon of 2014? Too bad. It was spectacular
Monday's supermoon, the last of the trio of supermoons this summer, did not disappoint spectators as evidence by beautiful photos of the lunar event shared on the internet.
Blood type linked to memory loss? Yes, if you're AB
Researchers found that people with the rare blood type AB are more likely to develop memory impairment that could lead to dementia but also said that individuals with this blood type should not worry because other factors are known to play a bigger role in cognitive impairment.
Climate change may wipe out almost half of North American bird species: Study
The bald eagle, a national symbol of the United States, is among the 314 species of birds in North America that Audubon scientists have predicted to be at risk of extinction due to climate change.
