Articles by Robin Burks
What Boeing's space taxi could mean for the future of commercial space travel
Although Boeing's new space taxi might replace the space shuttle in ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS, the company also hopes it will someday be used for commercial space flight, too.
How to survive an apocalypse in a city
Forget the bunkers and weapons: New Yorkers and other urban dwellers should prepare for disasters by packing necessities in a backpack and have a viable escape plan out of the city.
White House cybersecurity leader proudly claims he knows nothing about cybersecurity
The man in charge of the White House's cybersecurity, Michael Daniel, recently claimed that he doesn't need to know anything about cybersecurity, stating that the knowledge would be a 'distraction.'
Astronomers find evidence of one of the Universe's first stars
A group of astronomers discovered a star that contains the traces of a star that existed before it. In turn, those remnants could be from one of the first stars in the Universe.
Did the Atlantic Ocean slow down global warming?
A group of researchers find a new reason for the current hiatus of global warming: the Atlantic Ocean could be keeping things cooler by drawing heat into its deepest fathoms.
Why are these mysterious blue creatures washing up on West Coast shores?
Small jelly-fish like creatures, called velella velella, are washing up on California beaches. Scientists suggest that it has something to do with wind currents, but could also be a result of Earth's temperature.
ISS technology inspires surgical robotic arm for helping sick children
The company responsible for the robotic arms used by the International Space Station are taking on a new mission: creating a robotic arm for performing intensive delicate surgery on sick children.
There is now empirical evidence that reading 'Fifty Shades of Grey' is bad for you
A new study suggests that women reading 'Fifty Shades of Grey' are more likely to have eating disorders and indulge in binge drinking. These woman are also likely to have a verbally abusive partner.
NASA doubts Russian claims of sea plankton on ISS
Russian space agency officials report the presence of sea plankton and other microorganisms clinging to the outside of the International Space Station, but NASA officials doubt the validity of the claim.
Why your morning cup of coffee might not be 'pure'
Your daily cup of coffee may have more than cream and sugar in it. In response to a coffee shortage, some coffee may have filler ingredients mixed in, such as wheat, soybeans, twigs and dirt.
Could cyborg moths be the future of disaster relief?
A group of researchers from North Carolina State University are turning regular moths into cyber moths by strapping small equipment to them, allowing for electronic control of the 'biobot' moths.
What the discovery of life in Antarctica means for us
Researchers from Montana State University discover microbes, as well as an entire ecosystem, beneath the ice of West Antarctica. Does this suggest similar forms of life in other parts of our solar system?
Astronaut Chris Hadfield is getting his own ABC sitcom pilot
ABC television has officially ordered a pilot based on the bestselling memoir of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth." Hadfield will act as consulting producer on the series.
Seals and sea lions brought tuberculosis to the Americas
After studying various strains of tuberculosis worldwide throughout history, scientists discover that the disease did not migrate to the Americans via humans, but by animals like seals and sea lions.
Why can't older adults stay asleep throughout the night?
A group of researchers identify a loss of certain neurons in the brain that happens when we age, explaining why older people have more sleep problems than their younger counterparts.
Rare snow leopards are born at the Bronx Zoo
A pair of rare adorable snow leopard cubs were born earlier this year at the Bronx Zoo and are now on display at the zoo's outdoor Himalayan Highlands exhibit there.
A cup of coffee a day may keep the doctor away
The message from researchers when it comes to coffee is drink up. New studies show that there is nothing linking coffee to illnesses and that the beverage actually has certain health benefits.
Underground rumbles predict that Iceland volcano may erupt soon
The ground beneath Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano is showing activity, indicating that the volcano may erupt soon. In response, the aviation industry has raised its volcano alert status to orange, the second highest level.
Can a child’s drawings predict their intelligence?
Research done by the King's College London points to a correlation between the drawings of children and their intelligence at the time of the drawing, as well as at 14 years of age.
SpaceX video shows Falcon 9 reusable rocket in action
SpaceX recently released video footage of the latest test for its Falcon 9 reusable rocket, which successfully delivered six satellites to space and then arrived back to Earth fully intact.
Elephants may soon face extinction, thanks to rise in illegal poaching
We could be facing a future without elephants. Due to a dramatic rise in illegal poaching and a booming ivory trade in China, hunters are killing elephants faster than they reproduce.
New camouflage material is inspired by octopus, squid and cuttlefish
Taking a cue from nature, scientists create a new form of camouflage that reacts to its surroundings without needing any external input, much like the skins of octopus and squid.
The science behind Captain America and the Incredible Hulk
Stanford scientist Sebastian Alvarado looks at scientific principles, specifically those regarding biology and epigenetics, to realistically explain the background and origins of popular Marvel superheroes Captain America and the Incredible Hulk.
Astronaut snaps photo of Cygnus spacecraft burning up in Earth's atmosphere
After the Cygnus spacecraft ended a month-long delivery mission to the International Space Station, astronauts filled it with trash and released it from the station, where it burned up as it reentered Earth's atmosphere.
'Star Trek' fan film 'Axanar' flies past its Kickstarter goal
'Star Trek' fan film 'Axanar' will boldly go where no one has gone before by not only reaching its original Kickstarter goal, but by exceeding it, taking in over double of what it asked for.
New crowdfunded mission wants to throw darts at Mars to search for life
A group of scientists set up an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for a possible future mission that will penetrate Martian soil to search for existing life on the red planet.
Google Maps knows where you're going and where you've been
If you have Google Maps on your phone, Google is tracking your every movement, from your visit to the doctor's office to your last vacation. Fortunately, there is a way to turn this tracking off.
Massive asteroid may smash into Earth and wipe out humans in 2880
Asteroid 1950 DA is currently on a trajectory that will have it crashing into Earth, resulting in extinction of the human race. Fortunately, the collision won't happen until 2880, giving scientists time to stop it.
New Hubble image shows us sparkling stars and solves old mystery
A beautiful new image released by Hubble of a sparkling star-filled sky not only shows a group of stars 55,000 light years away from Earth, but also answers a question about the age of these stars.
Scientists find first stardust from outside our solar system
Scientists believe that seven tiny grains of dust collected by NASA's Stardust mission could be the first ever such particles discovered that originated in interstellar space and traveled to our solar system.
