2017

From Molecular Profiling to Mars: Insights after a Year Orbiting Earth

Astronaut Scott Kelly's return to Earth on March 2, 2016, marked NASA's completion of its One-Year Mission. The study monitored Earth-bound and retired astronaut, Mark Kelly, as his identical twin brother, Scott, resided 249 miles above the ground in the International Space Station. Along with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, they orbited Earth for 340 days, 7 hours, and 44 minutes.

athenssciencecafe February 16, 2017

Can’t Stop (Catching) the Feeling(s)!

It's that time of the year again. Valentine's Day is upon us. It's the festival of romantic love, and a time in which we are reminded by our friends, relatives, and Hallmark that we all need to be in love. However, the millennial generation isn't looking for a long-term relationship. A recent study by the

athenssciencecafe February 15, 2017

The Ocean: A new frontier of exploration

Space! It is an amazing place to study and explore, but the ocean is equally fascinating. They are both vast realms of mystery that call out for us to explore the unimaginable. Throughout history we find ourselves seeking adventure, whether it is shooting into the black space above the clouds or sailing around the world,

athenssciencecafe February 10, 2017

Read Between the Layers

The world's greatest library lies centimeters below the surface of the Earth. We would know the planet's best-kept secrets if we could understand the text in which its stories are written. PhD Candidate, Danielle Haskett, has dedicated the last six years learning to interpret this earthly code, written in the form of fossilized bug heads.

athenssciencecafe February 8, 2017

The confusing world of black holes and quantum mechanics

The dramatic story of black holes is one filled with mysteries, intrigue and paradoxes. From the obscure birth at the beginning of the twentieth century to their rise in importance at the end of the past century, black holes have constantly made us question the very foundations of what we thought we understood about physics.

athenssciencecafe February 8, 2017

Bears in Space

Try picturing a 600 lb grizzly bear floating through space without the protection of a handy space suit. Unfortunately for our furry friend, let's call them Oswald, they would definitely die within minutes due to hypoxia or from the loss of external pressure. Also, Oswald would probably get some gnarly burns from the cosmic radiation.

athenssciencecafe January 1, 2017