Articles by Robin Burks
Astronauts Explain Why Everyone Should Go To Space
Astronauts returning from space often echo each other in one thing: everyone should go to space at least once in their lifetimes. Now, with the advent of commercial space travel, that's a possibility.
New Study Makes The Case For Free 'Super Wi-Fi' For Everyone
A new German study suggests that when some TV frequencies become common property soon, we should use those frequencies for extending Wi-Fi networks by creating free 'super Wi-Fi' available to all.
Manual Used By NASA's Gene Kranz During Apollo 11 Sold At Auction
The manual used by NASA flight director Gene Kranz during the Apollo 11 mission recently sold at auction for over $90,000. Franz used the manual during the astronauts' descent to the moon's surface.
What Happens To Your Body When You Overeat?
With Turkey Day just around the corner, and Christmas around the next corner, there's a chance that we'll all be overeating during the holidays. But what happens inside the body when you eat too much?
NASA Releases Remastered Europa Photo: Is A Mission To Jupiter's Moon Likely?
NASA revealed a beautiful remastered image of Jupiter moon Europa using an image taken from the Galileo spacecraft in the 1990s. Is this a sign that the agency is taking a mission there?
Hubble Observations Disprove Leading Theory About How Star Clusters Form
We thought we knew how globular clusters of stars form, at least here in the Milky Way. However, observations of distant globular clusters disprove our leading theory about cluster formation.
Long Lost Letter That Inspired Jack Kerouac's 'On The Road' Is Found
A letter from writer Neal Cassady to Jack Kerouac written in 1950 that inspired not only 'On The Road' but the Beat literature genre of writing was recovered after long thought lost.
Albert Einstein's World War II Letter Sells At Auction
A letter written by Albert Einstein in 1939 to New York businessman Isidore Zelniker, in which the famed scientist acknowledged efforts in helping Jewish refugees in Europe during World War II, recently sold at auction for $12,500.
This Is The Most Beautiful HD Video Of Earth Ever Made
This video using imagery from Russia's Elektro-L weather satellite, is not only the most high-resolution video ever made of Earth, but also one of the most beautiful timelapse videos ever made.
Why Does Lightning Happen In Some Areas More Than Others?
Researchers recently found that the sun's magnetic field pulls on the Earth's magnetic field, so much so that when the sun's field rotates, it increases the amount of lightning on those affected areas on the planet.
What's The Difference Between Imagination And Reality In The Brain?
Researchers discover that the differences between imagination and reality in the brain lie in the way information moves through the brain's circuits: imagination and reality flow opposite of each other.
This Is What Landing On A Comet Sounds Like
When the Rosetta Mission's Philae Lander touched down on a comet for the first time in history, one of its instruments recorded the sound. The ESA just released that audio file to the public.
Our First Gameplay Impressions Of 'Dragon Age: Inquisition'
With about ten hours total of playtime devoted to newly released video game 'Dragon Age: Inquisition,' the game's first impressions are mostly good, save for a few minor graphics and sound bugs.
Odd Alignment Of Black Holes Suggests Order In The Universe
Astronomers uncover a bizarre new feature of supermassive black holes from a collection of 93 quasars: each black hole in each quasar is parallel to each other billions of light-years.
Updated Turing Test Expects Artificial Intelligence To Be Creative
A professor from Georgia Tech suggests that the oft-used Turing test for judging a computer's intelligence as compared with human intelligence is less valid than judging AI on something more creative.
Watch a Mysterious Black Hole Get Kicked Out of Its Galaxy
Astronomers working with NASA's Swift satellite attempt to understand a strange source of light nearly 90 million light-years from Earth: is it a supermassive black hole or is it a rare star going supernova?
Mysterious New Glow Worms Discovered in Peru
A new mysterious glowing worm, which could be the larval stage of a new species of beetle, was recently discovered in the rainforests of Peru. The worms use their light to lure prey.
The Bellas Are Back in the 'Pitch Perfect 2' Trailer
You might have missed them when they were gone, but the Bellas of 'Pitch Perfect 2' are back in this new trailer for the upcoming sequel for the 2012 hit film.
Scientists Date Viking Fortress To Around 10th Century
A Viking fortress discovered earlier this year in Denmark is from the 10th Century, researchers now say. The fortress, which shares similar features with other similar buildings, could have belonged to Harald Bluetooth.
Nielsen Will Finally Start Tracking Netflix and Amazon Viewership Data
Nielsen, the organization behind the current television ratings system, announced today that they will now start measuring viewership numbers for subscription online video services, such as Netflix and Amazon Video.
Why Didn’t The Universe Collapse After The Big Bang? We Have Gravity To Thank
Although what we know about physics states that the Universe should have collapsed after the Big Bang, it didn't. So what saved us? A team of researchers believe the answer is simple: gravity.
Watch Celebrities In Powerful PSA About Ebola
As part of a new campaign for Bono's One.org, a new ad featuring celebrities in silence confronts global leaders' slow response to the growing Ebola crisis in West Africa.
The World's Tallest Roller Coaster Is Coming To Orlando
Orlando, home to both Universal Studios' The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Walt Disney World, is getting a new thrill next year when engineers start construction on Skyscraper, the world's tallest roller coaster.
Don't Get Too Excited Over The Detection of Organic Molecules on Comet 67P
Today's headlines might read that the Rosetta Mission's Philae Lander detected organic molecules on a comet, but that news misses a few key important facts: we don't know what those organic molecules are yet.
With Lunar Mission One, The UK Is Crowdsourcing A Trip To The Moon
Lunar Mission One announced today the beginning of its crowdfunding effort to send a rover to the moon for an exploratory mission that includes drilling into the moon's surface for the very first time.
A Covert Mission Was Undertaken To Secretly Exhume Chopin’s Heart
Earlier this year, the archbishop of Warsaw, Poland's culture minister and two scientists exhumed the heart of composer Frederic Chopin to check that the alcohol preserving the organ hadn't evaporated.
Artificial Intelligence Is Now Learning How To Do Its Own Magic Tricks
Artificial intelligence can now work as a magician, after researchers created algorithms that enabled a computer app to do magic tricks, including working with the popular 'guess the card' game.
The ISS Now Has Its Own Zero-G 3-D Printer
This week, astronauts installed the first zero-gravity 3-D printer in space on the International Space Station. After testing, the printer will eventually create tools and parts needed for ISS maintenance and repairs.
Is Cloning A Woolly Mammoth Ethical?
After a well-preserved DNA sample was recently extracted from the remains of a woolly mammoth, scientists begin the debate as to whether we should clone the great beasts or not.
Don't Count Rosetta's Philae Lander Out Yet: Craft May Wake Up Next Spring
Although the Rosetta spacecraft's Philae Lander seemed down for the count this weekend after running out of power, scientists are now confident it will wake up as Comet 67P gets closer to the sun.
