Articles by Robin Burks
'12 Monkeys' cast and producer talk about why the show is going to be very different from the movie
At the recent Syfy press tour, '12 Monkeys' co-executive producer Travis Fickett, along with series stars Aaron Stanford and Amanda Schull, spoke about the challenges of turning a popular film into a television series.
NASA's IRIS unlocks more mysteries about our sun
NASA's IRIS launched last year and since then has uncovered many of our sun's mysteries. Today, scientific groups published five papers outlining new discoveries derived from data and images collected by IRIS.
Saturn moon Mimas may have a 'life-friendly' underground ocean
After studying the wobble of Saturn moon Mimas from data collected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, scientists suggest that the icy moon may contain a potentially life-sustaining underground ocean or a football-shaped core.
Why quarantines aren't very effective in fighting Ebola
Although the quarantine of patients with infectious diseases is necessary, the problem with the process of mandatory quarantines is often considered a violation of personal rights and freedoms, particularly in the United States. There has also been a recent study by Drexel University that suggests that the mandatory quarantines of 21 days aren't long enough.
Does dark matter really exist? Astronomers may have found the first direct evidence
Dark matter has eluded physicists for over 30 years. Now, however, a team of astronomers may have found direct evidence of the elusive material from an inexplicable X-ray signal picked up from space.
The Milky Way strips neighboring galaxies of star-forming gases
Scientists recently discovered that the Milky Way galaxy is not a very good neighbor because it is stripping the nearby spheroidal dwarf galaxies of gas that's necessary for star formation.
NASA gets first photos of water ice on Mercury
NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft has taken the first ever photos of water ice on Mercury. These photos could help us understand how water came to the rest of the solar system.
Why are people so scared of clowns? History might have an answer
Clowns hold a confusing place in the human psyche. They make some people laugh, they make some people cry and they make some people scream in horror. With Clowns of America heavily criticizing American Horror Story's depiction of clowns, we asked ourselves, what makes clowns so scary?
What’s after Pluto? NASA picks objects in the Kuiper belt for New Horizons mission
NASA recently used the Hubble Space Telescope to detect objects in the Kuiper Belt for potential future missions for its New Horizons spacecraft after it flies by Pluto next year.
NASA's Maven collects its first data about Mars' atmosphere
NASA's Maven spacecraft collects its first scientific data about the atmosphere of the red planet as it undergoes tests before beginning its primary mission of learning more about Mars' atmosphere.
Newly discovered planet in binary star system resembles Uranus
An international team of astronomers recently discovered a new planet in our galaxy residing in a binary star system 25,000 light-years from Earth that closely resembles our 'ice giant' planet Uranus.
Rosetta team confirms landing site on comet
After careful consideration of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and examination of new photos by the Rosetta spacecraft, European Space Agency officials confirmed that the site it chose for landing on the comet is a 'go.'
Gamergate: Feminist and video game critic Anita Sarkeesian cancels college speech after threats
Feminist Anita Sarkeesian canceled a speech at Utah State University after receiving threats of a mass shooting at the event. University officials would not comply with Sarkeesian's requests preventing concealed weapons there.
Four areas in Northern California are due for large earthquake
A new geological study of the San Andreas fault has pinpointed four specific areas in Northern California underneath that fault that are ready for earthquakes measuring at least 6.8 in magnitude.
Rosetta spacecraft snaps selfie and an odd pyramid-shaped boulder
As the Rosetta spacecraft gets closer to its target comet, its cameras are snapping photos of itself and the comet. Some images even turned up a mysterious pyramid-shaped boulder on the comet.
Chemistry explains why old books smell so good
Chemists tackle the challenge of finding out where the distinctive aroma of old books comes from and breaks it down to the degradation of compounds used in the creation and binding of the books.
Will your vote actually count? New voting systems confirm only 58 percent of votes
Researchers at Rice University recently tested three new voting systems created for better security. However, all three systems seemed to fail in counting total votes, losing almost half during the process.
Katja Herbers talks 'Manhattan' and what it's like playing a 1940s woman scientist
In 'Manhattan,' series co-star Katja Herbers portrays Helen, the only woman scientist working on the Manhattan Project. Herbers discusses this unique role, along with what it's like to portray her.
Air Force's secret mystery space plane may land today
The U.S. Air Force's top secret X-37B plane will return from Earth's orbit after over two years there. The space plane will potentially land at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base today.
MIT outlines why the Mars One mission will fail
Engineers at MIT have looked at plans by Mars One that will bring human colonies to Mars by 2024. However, those engineers think that the mission is doomed and will result in those colonists' deaths.
New data suggests volcanoes on the moon were recent
Although scientists recently discovered that volcanic activity, and not asteroids, are responsible for the moon's unique shape and features, new data suggests that the moon's volcanic activity was also fairly recent.
How a lunar eclipse saved Christopher Columbus and helped him manipulate people
Christopher Columbus used advance knowledge of a lunar eclipse from an almanac to assuage a group of angry natives while shipwrecked on the island that is now known as Jamaica.
Do political beliefs divide the U.S. more than race?
Although racial biases are strong in the United States, a new study from Stanford University finds that the biases between political parties, Democrats and Republicans, are even stronger.
Happy World Space Week! Here are some of Hubble Space Telescope's most stunning photos of all time
In honor of World Space Week, we put together an image gallery of some of the most beautiful, detailed and amazing photographs of the cosmos taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
NASA preps for rare encounter with Siding Spring comet
In anticipation of a very close Mars flyby of the Siding Spring comet, NASA is aiming many of its instruments and a lot of its attention at this once-in-a-lifetime event.
NASA's Hubble creates detailed weather map of an extreme exoplanet
A team of scientists using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have created the most detailed map yet of an exoplanet, detailing its turbulent weather, its temperature differences on its two sides and its water vapor.
Astronomers get peek inside the heart of an exploding star
For the first time, an international team of astronomers use multiple telescopes to see right into the heart of a star during its nova phase, when it explodes and emits gamma rays.
New fusion reactor concept could provide cheaper and cleaner power than coal
A team of scientists from the University of Washington have successfully finished their concept for a fusion reactor that could effectively provide clean power cheaper than using natural gas and coal.
Harvard breakthrough with stem cells could cure type 1 diabetes
Using stem cells,researchers from Harvard University created cells that produce insulin that is ready for transplant. The medical breakthrough could mean a cure for people suffering from type 1 diabetes.
How did the violin get its shape? A scientist tracks the instrument's evolution
The shape of the violin, perhaps one of the most iconic musical instruments, has changed and evolved over the course of its 400 years. Plant researcher and musician Dan Chitwood found out how.
