(Newswise)–Scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks have identified a new species of thalattosaur, a marine reptile that lived more than 200 million years ago. The new species, Gunakadeit joseeae, is the most complete thalattosaur ever found in North America and has given paleontologists new insights about the thalattosaurs’ family tree, according to a paper […]
Coast Guard, Scripps Institution of Oceanography open Blue Technology Center of Expertise
SAN DIEGO–The Coast Guard and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego launched the Blue Technology Center of Expertise (COE) on the Scripps Oceanography campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and expo on Friday. Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Mike Levin, UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, Port of San Diego Commissioner […]
NASA’s Kepler witnesses Vampire Star system undergoing super-outburst
(Newswise)–NASA’s Kepler spacecraft was designed to find exoplanets by looking for stars that dim as a planet crosses the star’s face. Fortuitously, the same design makes it ideal for spotting other astronomical transients – objects that brighten or dim over time. A new search of Kepler archival data has uncovered an unusual super-outburst from a […]
NASA, French space laser measures massive migration of ocean animals
Every night, under the cover of darkness, countless small sea creatures – from squid to krill – swim from the ocean depths to near the surface to feed. This vast animal migration – the largest on the planet and a critical part of Earth’s climate system – has been observed globally for the first time […]
Astronomers catch wind rushing out of galaxy
(Newswise)–Exploring the influence of galactic winds from a distant galaxy called Makani, UC San Diego’s Alison Coil, Rhodes College’s David Rupke and a group of collaborators from around the world made a novel discovery. Published in Nature, their study’s findings provide direct evidence for the first time of the role of galactic winds–ejections of gas from galaxies–in […]
NASA spacecraft launches on mission to explore frontier of space
After successfully launching Thursday night, NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) spacecraft is in orbit for a first-of-its-kind mission to study a region of space where changes can disrupt communications and satellite orbits, and even increase radiation risks to astronauts. A Northrop Grumman Stargazer L-1011 aircraft took off at 8:31 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air […]
Prehistoric AC
Newswise–Tyrannosaurus rex, one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs on the planet, had an air conditioner in its head, suggest scientists from the University of Missouri, Ohio University and University of Florida, while challenging over a century of previous beliefs. In the past, scientists believed two large holes in the roof of a T. rex‘s skull — […]
NASA invites students to name next Mars rover
Starting this week, K-12 students in U.S. public, private and home schools can enter the Mars 2020 Name the Rover essay contest. One grand prize winner will name the rover and be invited to see the spacecraft launch in July 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Name the Rover contest is […]
The SunCAVE, The World’s Highest Resolution Walk-in Virtual Reality Environment, Turns Two
(Newswise)–Tucked into a cozy-feeling room on the first floor of the UC San Diego’s Qualcomm Institute are 70 screens, bundles of cables and 35 computer nodes that make up a powerful system that can process massive amounts of data transmitted over the Internet from researchers all over the US or even Antarctica. It can also […]
San Diego Wins International Award For Use Of GIS Technology
SAN DIEGO–The City of San Diego is joining the ranks of other high-profile organizations in winning an international award for its use of geographic information systems (GIS). The Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) presented the city with its 2019 President’s Award at its annual User Conference. “We’re using technology in new and innovative ways to […]