November 4, 2014

Telescopes at the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii (Ethan Tweedie)

Bizarre Object at the Center of Milky Way Galaxy

November 4, 2014September 4, 2015 Science Connectedastronomy, milky way galaxy, space, telescopes

For years, astronomers have been puzzled by a bizarre, fuzzy-looking object in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. The object was suspected of being a hydrogen gas cloud headed toward our galaxy’s enormous black hole. However, it’s not a gas cloud. It’s something much more awesome. In astronomy circles, the mysterious object is known as G2. It is circling the black hole at the center of our galaxy like a rubber duck circling a bathtub drain. Astronomers have spent years trying to figure out what it is, and a…

An artist's rendition of Erlikosaurus, depicted with feathers (Arthur Weasley)

New Technologies Paleontology

Paleontologists Digitally Restore Dinosaur Fossils

November 4, 2014September 4, 2015 Science Connecteddinosaurs, paleontology

Fossils are usually crushed or incomplete when they are found. Millions of years can take a toll, after all. Consequently, fossils have to be studied very carefully to avoid damage and sometimes they are hard to access. Now, an international team of scientists has found a better way to examine delicate fossils and reconstruct their original forms. The team has been using high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT scanning) and digital visualization techniques to restore a rare dinosaur fossil. They went to work on the skull of Erlikosaurus andrewsi, a 3-4meter…