Four keys to understanding moon phases

Artist’s concept of the moon, Earth and sun aligned in space. Image via Ask.com

Why does the moon seem to change its shape every night? Why can I see the moon in the daytime?

The answer to both questions is the same. It’s that the moon is a world in space, just as Earth is. Like Earth, the moon is always half illuminated by the sun; the round globe of the moon has a day side and a night side. From our earthly vantage point, as the moon orbits around Earth, we see varying fractions of its day and night sides. These are the changing phases of the moon. And the moon is in the daytime sky about half the time. It’s just that it’s sometimes it’s so near the sun we don’t notice it. How can you understand moon phases? Here are four things to remember:

1. When you see the moon, think of the whereabouts of the sun

2. The moon rises in the east and sets in the west, each and every day

3. The moon takes about a month (one moonth) to orbit the Earth

4. The moon’s orbital motion is toward the east

Moon phase composite via Fred Espenak. Read more about this image.

1. When you see the moon, think of the whereabouts of the sun. After all, it’s the sun that’s illuminating and creating the dayside of the moon.

Moon phases depend on where the moon is with respect to the sun in space. For example, do you see which moon phase is being shown in the illustration above? The answer is, it’s a full moon. The moon, Earth and sun are aligned with Earth in the middle. The moon’s fully illuminated half – its dayside – faces Earth’s night side. That’s always the case on the night of a full moon.

Don’t just take our word for it. Go outside. No matter what phase of the moon you see in your sky, think about where the sun is. It’ll help you begin to understand why the moon you see is in that particular phase.

Earth’s daily spin causes the moon – like the sun – to rise in the east and set in the west each day. Image via Martin Clebourne’s article Where is the Moon?

2. The moon rises in the east and sets in the west, each and every day. It has to. The rising and setting of all celestial objects is due to Earth’s continuous daily spin beneath the sky.

Just know that – when you see a thin crescent moon in the west after sunset – it’s not a rising moon. Instead, it’s a setting moon.

At the same time, though …

3. The moon takes about a month (one moonth) to orbit the Earth. Although the moon rises in the east and sets in the west each day (due to Earth’s spin), it’s also moving on the sky’s dome each day due to its own motion in orbit around Earth.

This is a slower, less noticeable motion of the moon. It’s a motion in front of the fixed stars. If you just glance at the moon one evening – and see it again a few hours later – you’ll notice it has moved westward. That westward motion is caused by Earth’s spin.

The moon’s own orbital motion can be detected in the course of a single night, too. But you have to watch the moon closely, with respect to stars in its vicinity, over several hours.

The moon’s eastward, orbital motion is easiest to notice from one day (or night) to the next. It’s as though the moon is moving on the inside of a circle of 360 degrees. The moon’s orbit carries it around Earth’s sky once a month, because the moon takes about a month to orbit Earth.

So that the moon moves – with respect to the fixed stars – by about 12-13 degrees each day.

The moon’s orbital motion carries it eastward in Earth’s sky. Image via cseligman.com.

4. The moon’s orbital motion is toward the east. Each day, as the moon moves another 12-13 degrees toward the east on the sky’s dome, Earth has to rotate a little longer to bring you around to where the moon is in space.

Thus the moon rises, on average, about 50 minutes later each day.

The later and later rising times of the moon cause our companion world to appear in a different part of the sky at each nightfall for the two weeks between new and full moon.

Then, in two weeks after full moon, you’ll find the moon rising later and later at night.

We have more details on individual moon phases at the links below. Follow the links to learn more about the various phases of the moon.

Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Last Quarter
Waning Crescent
New Moon

… and here are the names of all the full moons.

Earth and moon, via NASA

Bottom line: Why the moon waxes and wanes in phase. Four keys to understanding moon phases. Links to descriptions of the various phases of the moon.

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1iYdhDd

Artist’s concept of the moon, Earth and sun aligned in space. Image via Ask.com

Why does the moon seem to change its shape every night? Why can I see the moon in the daytime?

The answer to both questions is the same. It’s that the moon is a world in space, just as Earth is. Like Earth, the moon is always half illuminated by the sun; the round globe of the moon has a day side and a night side. From our earthly vantage point, as the moon orbits around Earth, we see varying fractions of its day and night sides. These are the changing phases of the moon. And the moon is in the daytime sky about half the time. It’s just that it’s sometimes it’s so near the sun we don’t notice it. How can you understand moon phases? Here are four things to remember:

1. When you see the moon, think of the whereabouts of the sun

2. The moon rises in the east and sets in the west, each and every day

3. The moon takes about a month (one moonth) to orbit the Earth

4. The moon’s orbital motion is toward the east

Moon phase composite via Fred Espenak. Read more about this image.

1. When you see the moon, think of the whereabouts of the sun. After all, it’s the sun that’s illuminating and creating the dayside of the moon.

Moon phases depend on where the moon is with respect to the sun in space. For example, do you see which moon phase is being shown in the illustration above? The answer is, it’s a full moon. The moon, Earth and sun are aligned with Earth in the middle. The moon’s fully illuminated half – its dayside – faces Earth’s night side. That’s always the case on the night of a full moon.

Don’t just take our word for it. Go outside. No matter what phase of the moon you see in your sky, think about where the sun is. It’ll help you begin to understand why the moon you see is in that particular phase.

Earth’s daily spin causes the moon – like the sun – to rise in the east and set in the west each day. Image via Martin Clebourne’s article Where is the Moon?

2. The moon rises in the east and sets in the west, each and every day. It has to. The rising and setting of all celestial objects is due to Earth’s continuous daily spin beneath the sky.

Just know that – when you see a thin crescent moon in the west after sunset – it’s not a rising moon. Instead, it’s a setting moon.

At the same time, though …

3. The moon takes about a month (one moonth) to orbit the Earth. Although the moon rises in the east and sets in the west each day (due to Earth’s spin), it’s also moving on the sky’s dome each day due to its own motion in orbit around Earth.

This is a slower, less noticeable motion of the moon. It’s a motion in front of the fixed stars. If you just glance at the moon one evening – and see it again a few hours later – you’ll notice it has moved westward. That westward motion is caused by Earth’s spin.

The moon’s own orbital motion can be detected in the course of a single night, too. But you have to watch the moon closely, with respect to stars in its vicinity, over several hours.

The moon’s eastward, orbital motion is easiest to notice from one day (or night) to the next. It’s as though the moon is moving on the inside of a circle of 360 degrees. The moon’s orbit carries it around Earth’s sky once a month, because the moon takes about a month to orbit Earth.

So that the moon moves – with respect to the fixed stars – by about 12-13 degrees each day.

The moon’s orbital motion carries it eastward in Earth’s sky. Image via cseligman.com.

4. The moon’s orbital motion is toward the east. Each day, as the moon moves another 12-13 degrees toward the east on the sky’s dome, Earth has to rotate a little longer to bring you around to where the moon is in space.

Thus the moon rises, on average, about 50 minutes later each day.

The later and later rising times of the moon cause our companion world to appear in a different part of the sky at each nightfall for the two weeks between new and full moon.

Then, in two weeks after full moon, you’ll find the moon rising later and later at night.

We have more details on individual moon phases at the links below. Follow the links to learn more about the various phases of the moon.

Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Last Quarter
Waning Crescent
New Moon

… and here are the names of all the full moons.

Earth and moon, via NASA

Bottom line: Why the moon waxes and wanes in phase. Four keys to understanding moon phases. Links to descriptions of the various phases of the moon.

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1iYdhDd

Why I became a children’s cancer researcher – Richard’s story

Professor Richard Gilbertson spends his days carrying out pioneering research into children’s cancers at our Cambridge Cancer Centre.

A world-renowned expert in children’s brain tumours, Richard’s work is leading the way towards better, kinder treatments, helping more children survive their disease.

But Richard hasn’t always been a scientist – his journey into the lab began as a student in medical school.

So what drove him to trade his stethoscope for a microscope? And what motivates him as a researcher? Read Richard’s inspiring story below to find out how he’s helping make progress on children’s cancers.

Opening the door to research

Right now, more children than ever are surviving cancer.

In late 1970s, just 2 in 5 children in the UK survived their disease for at least 5 years. Now, over 8 in 10 children will survive cancer for at least 5 years after their diagnosis.

And that’s thanks to research.

But while progress has been made, every year children still die from cancer; something that Richard is all too familiar with.

“Back in my second year of medical school, I saw a child dying of medulloblastoma,” he recalls. Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumour in children.

“I asked her doctor what treatments were available for her, and he said there weren’t any. He said that they had done everything they can, and that all they could do was let her die in peace.

A child shouldn’t have to die in peace – they should be able to enjoy the rest of their life.

– Professor Richard Gilbertson

“That made me angry. A child shouldn’t have to die in peace – they should be able to enjoy the rest of their life. And that’s what motivated me as a medical student to start working on medulloblastoma.”

Though that heartache and frustration may have ignited Richard’s passion, it was an evening at his local pub that same year which changed the course of his career forever.

“I was in the pub one night with my best friend and fellow medic Nigel,” Richard says. “He told me that at the end of our careers, no matter which field of medicine we chose, we should have been responsible for a 15% reduction in deaths from a disease that we worked on.

“I’ve never forgotten that. And I made it my goal to be able to say that when I retire, 15% more children will survive brain tumours because of the work that we do.”

And while there is no doubt that this ambition is a noble one, hanging up his stethoscope to achieve that goal was no rash decision.“I loved working with kids,” says Richard, “and I loved doing medicine. But I knew that to get to the 15%, it would be through research.

“So that meant opening the door on the lab and closing the door on the clinic forever. But I haven’t regretted it.”

Finding signposts

Throughout his career, Richard has seen more and more children being cured of medulloblastoma.

But he points out that while boosting survival is the mainstay of cancer research, in some cases this has not been without cost.

“The significant improvements in survival of medulloblastoma have been achieved through increasingly intense treatments, which are associated with serious long-term side effects,” Richard says.

“Of course, doctors and parents want cures. But when you have no rule books, how do you decide when to reduce treatment for patients to lower the risk of these effects later in life?”

That’s where Richard’s work comes in.

Through his research, Richard hopes to spare children unnecessary treatment

His lab is interested in the origins of cancers, particularly children’s brain tumours. Through his research, Richard hopes to answer this burning question which has stumped scientists and doctors alike for decades: why, when treated the same way, do some children with brain tumours survive while others sadly don’t?

Through answering this, he hopes to be able to improve treatments so that children are given the minimum amount needed to cure their disease, while sparing their developing bodies lasting damage.

And over the past 15 years, Richard and his team have made significant progress towards this goal.

Walking the treatment tightrope

Largely thanks to his research, we now know that medulloblastomas are not one single disease, but rather a collection of diseases born from different brain cells and involving different genetic flaws.

And perhaps most importantly, earlier this year his team shed first light on why some types of medulloblastoma are curable. And, therefore, why others aren’t.

“We found that these more treatable tumours produce lots of proteins that make them ‘leaky’ to drugs,” Richard says. “So for these children the door is always open to chemotherapy, which is why the tumours respond well to the treatment.

“And we could switch this effect on and off in cells in the lab. So if we could make harder-to-treat forms of the disease produce these proteins in patients, then perhaps we could allow more chemotherapy drugs to flood in and make the tumours curable.”

And it’s this knowledge, Richard says, that will help researchers along the path to more personalised treatments.

“Understanding the biology of tumour cells provides doctors with rules and directions that they can follow to tread that fine line between cure and harm,” he says.

“That’s my research.”

Dreaming of empty rooms

It can take years, even decades, for research to be translated into something that benefits patients.

But the more scientists work together, exchanging ideas, resources and expertise, the faster their discoveries can make their way into the clinic.

That’s why Richard fills the gaps of his demanding schedule as a researcher with directing our Cambridge Cancer Centre.

“What we’re doing here is bringing together a range of disciplines – doctors, nurses, scientists, engineers, chemists and physicists – all under one roof, working on the most devastating cancers of both children and adults,” he says.

“This means we can see how to best place people to make the biggest impact on curing these cancers.

I firmly believe we’ll cure brain tumours. I’m absolutely committed to that.

– Professor Richard Gilbertson

“It’s incredibly exciting.”

And though the journey ahead may be long and difficult, for Richard, cures are in sight.

“I firmly believe we’ll cure brain tumours,” he says. “I’m absolutely committed to that.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy – I’ve been working on it for 20-30 years. But I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t believe it were possible.”

And unlike most of us, he’s committed to putting himself out of a job.

“What if I was to open the door to the clinic and it was to be empty?” he wonders.

“That would be magic.”

Justine

from Cancer Research UK – Science blog http://ift.tt/2f7z0LX

Professor Richard Gilbertson spends his days carrying out pioneering research into children’s cancers at our Cambridge Cancer Centre.

A world-renowned expert in children’s brain tumours, Richard’s work is leading the way towards better, kinder treatments, helping more children survive their disease.

But Richard hasn’t always been a scientist – his journey into the lab began as a student in medical school.

So what drove him to trade his stethoscope for a microscope? And what motivates him as a researcher? Read Richard’s inspiring story below to find out how he’s helping make progress on children’s cancers.

Opening the door to research

Right now, more children than ever are surviving cancer.

In late 1970s, just 2 in 5 children in the UK survived their disease for at least 5 years. Now, over 8 in 10 children will survive cancer for at least 5 years after their diagnosis.

And that’s thanks to research.

But while progress has been made, every year children still die from cancer; something that Richard is all too familiar with.

“Back in my second year of medical school, I saw a child dying of medulloblastoma,” he recalls. Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumour in children.

“I asked her doctor what treatments were available for her, and he said there weren’t any. He said that they had done everything they can, and that all they could do was let her die in peace.

A child shouldn’t have to die in peace – they should be able to enjoy the rest of their life.

– Professor Richard Gilbertson

“That made me angry. A child shouldn’t have to die in peace – they should be able to enjoy the rest of their life. And that’s what motivated me as a medical student to start working on medulloblastoma.”

Though that heartache and frustration may have ignited Richard’s passion, it was an evening at his local pub that same year which changed the course of his career forever.

“I was in the pub one night with my best friend and fellow medic Nigel,” Richard says. “He told me that at the end of our careers, no matter which field of medicine we chose, we should have been responsible for a 15% reduction in deaths from a disease that we worked on.

“I’ve never forgotten that. And I made it my goal to be able to say that when I retire, 15% more children will survive brain tumours because of the work that we do.”

And while there is no doubt that this ambition is a noble one, hanging up his stethoscope to achieve that goal was no rash decision.“I loved working with kids,” says Richard, “and I loved doing medicine. But I knew that to get to the 15%, it would be through research.

“So that meant opening the door on the lab and closing the door on the clinic forever. But I haven’t regretted it.”

Finding signposts

Throughout his career, Richard has seen more and more children being cured of medulloblastoma.

But he points out that while boosting survival is the mainstay of cancer research, in some cases this has not been without cost.

“The significant improvements in survival of medulloblastoma have been achieved through increasingly intense treatments, which are associated with serious long-term side effects,” Richard says.

“Of course, doctors and parents want cures. But when you have no rule books, how do you decide when to reduce treatment for patients to lower the risk of these effects later in life?”

That’s where Richard’s work comes in.

Through his research, Richard hopes to spare children unnecessary treatment

His lab is interested in the origins of cancers, particularly children’s brain tumours. Through his research, Richard hopes to answer this burning question which has stumped scientists and doctors alike for decades: why, when treated the same way, do some children with brain tumours survive while others sadly don’t?

Through answering this, he hopes to be able to improve treatments so that children are given the minimum amount needed to cure their disease, while sparing their developing bodies lasting damage.

And over the past 15 years, Richard and his team have made significant progress towards this goal.

Walking the treatment tightrope

Largely thanks to his research, we now know that medulloblastomas are not one single disease, but rather a collection of diseases born from different brain cells and involving different genetic flaws.

And perhaps most importantly, earlier this year his team shed first light on why some types of medulloblastoma are curable. And, therefore, why others aren’t.

“We found that these more treatable tumours produce lots of proteins that make them ‘leaky’ to drugs,” Richard says. “So for these children the door is always open to chemotherapy, which is why the tumours respond well to the treatment.

“And we could switch this effect on and off in cells in the lab. So if we could make harder-to-treat forms of the disease produce these proteins in patients, then perhaps we could allow more chemotherapy drugs to flood in and make the tumours curable.”

And it’s this knowledge, Richard says, that will help researchers along the path to more personalised treatments.

“Understanding the biology of tumour cells provides doctors with rules and directions that they can follow to tread that fine line between cure and harm,” he says.

“That’s my research.”

Dreaming of empty rooms

It can take years, even decades, for research to be translated into something that benefits patients.

But the more scientists work together, exchanging ideas, resources and expertise, the faster their discoveries can make their way into the clinic.

That’s why Richard fills the gaps of his demanding schedule as a researcher with directing our Cambridge Cancer Centre.

“What we’re doing here is bringing together a range of disciplines – doctors, nurses, scientists, engineers, chemists and physicists – all under one roof, working on the most devastating cancers of both children and adults,” he says.

“This means we can see how to best place people to make the biggest impact on curing these cancers.

I firmly believe we’ll cure brain tumours. I’m absolutely committed to that.

– Professor Richard Gilbertson

“It’s incredibly exciting.”

And though the journey ahead may be long and difficult, for Richard, cures are in sight.

“I firmly believe we’ll cure brain tumours,” he says. “I’m absolutely committed to that.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy – I’ve been working on it for 20-30 years. But I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t believe it were possible.”

And unlike most of us, he’s committed to putting himself out of a job.

“What if I was to open the door to the clinic and it was to be empty?” he wonders.

“That would be magic.”

Justine

from Cancer Research UK – Science blog http://ift.tt/2f7z0LX

Watch for Taurid fireballs!

We’ve been talking about the South Taurid meteor shower for a month now, and some have already captured photos of meteors in this long-lasting (but relatively minor) shower. Various sources give wildly different dates for the peak date of the South Taurids, and tonight – November 4, 2016 – is one of those predicted dates. Thus tonight and tomorrow night (November 5) both might feature a higher-than-average rate of South Taurid meteors.

There are actually two streams of Taurid meteors. Both the South and North Taurids, which peak in November, are long, spread-out showers with no well-defined peak. If tonight and tomorrow are peak nights, you can expect the average number of Taurids (around 5) to increase to around 7. But The American Meteor Society explains what’s awesome about these meteor showers:

The Taurids (both branches) are rich in fireballs and are often responsible for increased number of fireball reports from September through November.

Yes! Fireballs are the name of the game for the Taurids.

Eliot Herman in Tuscon, Arizona caught this bright Taurid on October 28, 2016. Go to his Flickr page if you want to see it larger. Nice colors!

Seeing a Taurid fireball – even if it’s just one – counts as a big thrill. And, by the way, a fireball is just another word for a particularly bright meteor.

What’s more, for once, the moon is cooperating.

The moon is now in a waxing crescent phase. Setting in the early evening, that means no moonlight to ruin the prime time viewing hours, centered on about 12:30 a.m. local time.

We’re guaranteed to have deliciously dark skies for the South Taurids tonight and tomorrow, to highlight any Taurid fireball that might come whizzing by.

2017 EarthSky Lunar Calendar pre-sale…is happening NOW!

You can see this meteor is radiating from the constellation Taurus the Bull. See that V-shaped pattern to the right of Orion? The three Belt stars of Orion point to it. That’s the Bull’s Face. Eliot Herman in Tucson caught this Taurid meteor, too, in 2015. The bright object was the moon! Thanks, Elliot.

The other Taurid shower – the North Taurids – should add a few more meteors to the mix from late night until dawn.

And again … the Taurid showers do not exhibit strong peaks. So if you’re clouded out tonight and tomorrow, no problem. Just keep watching. The two Taurid showers tend to overlap and to plateau in activity during the first few weeks in November.

On any given night, these rather slow-moving meteors produce the greatest numbers in the few hours after midnight.

Skywatchers are still remembering the Taurid fireballs they saw in 2015. The Taurids appear to have a 7-year cycle of bright fireballs, and 2015 was apparently a peak year! Read more about that, and see more fireball photos, here.

If you trace the South Taurid meteors backwards, they all appear to radiate from the constellation Taurus the Bull. As always, you don’t have to identify a meteor shower’s radiant point to watch the meteor shower. Just lie back comfortably and look up, in the hours between midnight and dawn.

By the way, the constellation Taurus itself is full of interesting things to see such as the Pleiades star cluster, the V-shaped Hyades cluster with bright Aldebaran in its midst.

Just be aware … you don’t need to find Taurus to watch the Taurid shower, for these meteors streak all over the sky.

View larger. | The three stars of Orion always point to Aldebaran, the fiery eye of the Bull in the constellation Taurus.

Bottom line: The annual South Taurid meteor shower has been going on throughout October, and now the North Taurids have started at well. The peaks of these showers aren’t well defined. What’s cool about them are the possibility of fireballs, or very bright meteors … watch for them!

Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!

EarthSky’s meteor shower guide for 2016

See it! Best photos of 2015 Taurid fireballs

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1OnRMgk

We’ve been talking about the South Taurid meteor shower for a month now, and some have already captured photos of meteors in this long-lasting (but relatively minor) shower. Various sources give wildly different dates for the peak date of the South Taurids, and tonight – November 4, 2016 – is one of those predicted dates. Thus tonight and tomorrow night (November 5) both might feature a higher-than-average rate of South Taurid meteors.

There are actually two streams of Taurid meteors. Both the South and North Taurids, which peak in November, are long, spread-out showers with no well-defined peak. If tonight and tomorrow are peak nights, you can expect the average number of Taurids (around 5) to increase to around 7. But The American Meteor Society explains what’s awesome about these meteor showers:

The Taurids (both branches) are rich in fireballs and are often responsible for increased number of fireball reports from September through November.

Yes! Fireballs are the name of the game for the Taurids.

Eliot Herman in Tuscon, Arizona caught this bright Taurid on October 28, 2016. Go to his Flickr page if you want to see it larger. Nice colors!

Seeing a Taurid fireball – even if it’s just one – counts as a big thrill. And, by the way, a fireball is just another word for a particularly bright meteor.

What’s more, for once, the moon is cooperating.

The moon is now in a waxing crescent phase. Setting in the early evening, that means no moonlight to ruin the prime time viewing hours, centered on about 12:30 a.m. local time.

We’re guaranteed to have deliciously dark skies for the South Taurids tonight and tomorrow, to highlight any Taurid fireball that might come whizzing by.

2017 EarthSky Lunar Calendar pre-sale…is happening NOW!

You can see this meteor is radiating from the constellation Taurus the Bull. See that V-shaped pattern to the right of Orion? The three Belt stars of Orion point to it. That’s the Bull’s Face. Eliot Herman in Tucson caught this Taurid meteor, too, in 2015. The bright object was the moon! Thanks, Elliot.

The other Taurid shower – the North Taurids – should add a few more meteors to the mix from late night until dawn.

And again … the Taurid showers do not exhibit strong peaks. So if you’re clouded out tonight and tomorrow, no problem. Just keep watching. The two Taurid showers tend to overlap and to plateau in activity during the first few weeks in November.

On any given night, these rather slow-moving meteors produce the greatest numbers in the few hours after midnight.

Skywatchers are still remembering the Taurid fireballs they saw in 2015. The Taurids appear to have a 7-year cycle of bright fireballs, and 2015 was apparently a peak year! Read more about that, and see more fireball photos, here.

If you trace the South Taurid meteors backwards, they all appear to radiate from the constellation Taurus the Bull. As always, you don’t have to identify a meteor shower’s radiant point to watch the meteor shower. Just lie back comfortably and look up, in the hours between midnight and dawn.

By the way, the constellation Taurus itself is full of interesting things to see such as the Pleiades star cluster, the V-shaped Hyades cluster with bright Aldebaran in its midst.

Just be aware … you don’t need to find Taurus to watch the Taurid shower, for these meteors streak all over the sky.

View larger. | The three stars of Orion always point to Aldebaran, the fiery eye of the Bull in the constellation Taurus.

Bottom line: The annual South Taurid meteor shower has been going on throughout October, and now the North Taurids have started at well. The peaks of these showers aren’t well defined. What’s cool about them are the possibility of fireballs, or very bright meteors … watch for them!

Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!

EarthSky’s meteor shower guide for 2016

See it! Best photos of 2015 Taurid fireballs

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1OnRMgk

The Integrative Biology of Exercise VII – Day 2 [Life Lines]

Mitochondria produce more than just ATP

Anatomy of a mitochondrion from Wikimedia Commons

Pinchas Cohen from the University of California – Davis presented data showing that mitochondria produce more than just ATP. They also make several peptides that can each affect our physiology. Some help cells respond to insulin better, some help with weight, some regulate cell metabolism. What is even more impressive is that some of these peptides have been shown to slow down the development of atherosclerosis or Alzheimer’s, and some even help prevent side effects from chemotherapy in animals. Maybe some day we will see mitochondrial peptides on the market to treat various diseases.

Good news for caffeine drinkers?

By Takkk – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, http://ift.tt/2fJU12z

Boyett et al. (James Madison University) presented a poster showing that when ingested in the morning or evening, caffeine helps improve cycling performance in most people. Although for trained athletes it was only effective in the morning.

Blame it on your genes if you don’t like exercise

By Apers0n, via Wikimedia Commons

Rodney Dishman (University of Georgia) presented research showing that genes involved in regulating levels of dopamine in the brain could be to blame for exercise avoidance in some individuals. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that signals pleasure, reward and drive. According to a press release from the American Physiological Society, Dr. Dishman stated, “Our current field trial with humans suggests that variations in genes that encode for dopamine and other neurotransmitters linked with physical activity account for low or high physical activity directly.”

Exercise may protect us from the holidays

By Ben Franske (Own work) – via Wikimedia Commons

Ludzi et al. (University of Michigan) presented a poster showing that people who do not exercise regularly develop increased signs of inflammation in their fat tissues after just one-week of excessive calories. In contrast, exercise was shown to protect our fat tissues from developing inflammation even after a week of overeating.

from ScienceBlogs http://ift.tt/2fnkw9I

Mitochondria produce more than just ATP

Anatomy of a mitochondrion from Wikimedia Commons

Pinchas Cohen from the University of California – Davis presented data showing that mitochondria produce more than just ATP. They also make several peptides that can each affect our physiology. Some help cells respond to insulin better, some help with weight, some regulate cell metabolism. What is even more impressive is that some of these peptides have been shown to slow down the development of atherosclerosis or Alzheimer’s, and some even help prevent side effects from chemotherapy in animals. Maybe some day we will see mitochondrial peptides on the market to treat various diseases.

Good news for caffeine drinkers?

By Takkk – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, http://ift.tt/2fJU12z

Boyett et al. (James Madison University) presented a poster showing that when ingested in the morning or evening, caffeine helps improve cycling performance in most people. Although for trained athletes it was only effective in the morning.

Blame it on your genes if you don’t like exercise

By Apers0n, via Wikimedia Commons

Rodney Dishman (University of Georgia) presented research showing that genes involved in regulating levels of dopamine in the brain could be to blame for exercise avoidance in some individuals. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that signals pleasure, reward and drive. According to a press release from the American Physiological Society, Dr. Dishman stated, “Our current field trial with humans suggests that variations in genes that encode for dopamine and other neurotransmitters linked with physical activity account for low or high physical activity directly.”

Exercise may protect us from the holidays

By Ben Franske (Own work) – via Wikimedia Commons

Ludzi et al. (University of Michigan) presented a poster showing that people who do not exercise regularly develop increased signs of inflammation in their fat tissues after just one-week of excessive calories. In contrast, exercise was shown to protect our fat tissues from developing inflammation even after a week of overeating.

from ScienceBlogs http://ift.tt/2fnkw9I

Family History Fuels Student Engineer's Passion for Medical Engineering

A family member's medical condition fuels a young Maker's interest in biomedical engineering.

from Science Buddies Blog http://ift.tt/2fjBLKO

A family member's medical condition fuels a young Maker's interest in biomedical engineering.

from Science Buddies Blog http://ift.tt/2fjBLKO

See 4 planets during 2017 solar eclipse

Positions of the 4 visible planets during totality in the August 21, 2017 eclipse. Illustration by Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium.

The total eclipse of the sun of August 21, 2017 will be the most-observed solar eclipse to date. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States since 1979. For many people, the eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime event, and you’ll want to plan ahead. If you’re within the path of totality on eclipse day, the only time you may look directly at the sun, without using eye protection, are the brief minutes of totality, when the moon will cover the sun completely. In those fleeting minutes, you’ll want to see the dramatic changes going on in the sky and in the landscape all around you. For example, during totality on August 21, 2017 – although it will be close to midday – you’ll easily be able to see 4 planets with the unaided eye near the eclipsed sun!

In order of brightness, these planets will be Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Mercury. Mars is slightly brighter than Mercury, but so nearly the same in brightness that you probably won’t notice a difference.

About 15 to 30 minutes before totality, the planet Venus will gradually become clearly visible near the darkening sun. It’ll be to the west of the sun.

About 30 seconds before and after totality, two other planets will appear. Close to the west side of our star will be Mars, appearing as an orange “star.” At a similar apparent distance, on the east side of the sun, you’ll see planet Mercury. Jupiter – the second-brightest planet in Earth’s sky – will also be very easy to spot, as the bright planet will be located farther to the southeast of the eclipsed sun.

Details on the August 21, 2017 eclipse from eclipse master Fred Espenak

Positions of the 4 visible planets during the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, as seen from Wyoming. Plus many bright stars. Notice Orion! Illustration by Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium.

And it’s not just planets. Many bright stars will be visible near the eclipsed sun as well. After all, during a total solar eclipse, the sky turns dark. Just remember that the planets and stars will visible only briefly for those located in the path of the moon’s shadow.

You’ll surely see Sirius – our sky’s brightest star – to the southwest of the sun. It will be very bright, but not as bright as Venus.

Two more bright stars, yellow Arcturus to the east, and Capella to the northwest, will likely pop into view.

You might also be able to see Regulus, the brightest star of Leo’s constellation, very near the eclipsed sun. See the illustration at the top of this post.

Planets and stars visible during totality, as seen from Nashville, Tennessee. Note the Big Dipper. Illustration by Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium.

*Don’t forget to purchase solar eclipse glasses well in advance, because shortages of those glasses and other solar filters will be inevitable. It is extremely important to understand that only solar eclipse glasses, and safe, approved solar filters must be used whenever view the sun directly, including during the partial phases of a total solar eclipse.

There’s plenty more to see during a solar eclipse, and the precious minutes of totality will happen fast. So educate yourself, and plan ahead.

For example, if you have binoculars or a telescope, it is safe to look (only during totality!) you might be lucky enough to see solar prominences! Check out the photo below.

Although it is safe to look directly at the sun during the fleeting minutes of totality – or maximum eclipse – please be sure you are observing with safe solar filters whenever any portion of the sun is visible. Otherwise, you may damage your eyes. Wang Legian in Norway captured this spectacular image of totality during the March, 2015 solar eclipse. Used with permission.

Remember to take just a quick look at the planets, and return your attention to the eclipse itself! Also, if you plan to take pictures, try to use a tripod and make sure you spend more time on seeing the eclipse than photographing it. After the solar eclipse, there will be thousands of pictures of this great event, so it is better to store those amazing images on your brain’s memory instead of your SD card.

Totality will be over very fast, so make sure you live the experience!

Bottom line: The August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse is the first visible from the contiguous United States since 1979. During the eclipse, four planets and many bright stars will be visible in the sky near the eclipsed sun.

Best places to watch the 2017 solar eclipse

Here is a nice interactive map of the 2017 total solar eclipse from www.eclipse2017.org

Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2eEoVW7

Positions of the 4 visible planets during totality in the August 21, 2017 eclipse. Illustration by Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium.

The total eclipse of the sun of August 21, 2017 will be the most-observed solar eclipse to date. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States since 1979. For many people, the eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime event, and you’ll want to plan ahead. If you’re within the path of totality on eclipse day, the only time you may look directly at the sun, without using eye protection, are the brief minutes of totality, when the moon will cover the sun completely. In those fleeting minutes, you’ll want to see the dramatic changes going on in the sky and in the landscape all around you. For example, during totality on August 21, 2017 – although it will be close to midday – you’ll easily be able to see 4 planets with the unaided eye near the eclipsed sun!

In order of brightness, these planets will be Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Mercury. Mars is slightly brighter than Mercury, but so nearly the same in brightness that you probably won’t notice a difference.

About 15 to 30 minutes before totality, the planet Venus will gradually become clearly visible near the darkening sun. It’ll be to the west of the sun.

About 30 seconds before and after totality, two other planets will appear. Close to the west side of our star will be Mars, appearing as an orange “star.” At a similar apparent distance, on the east side of the sun, you’ll see planet Mercury. Jupiter – the second-brightest planet in Earth’s sky – will also be very easy to spot, as the bright planet will be located farther to the southeast of the eclipsed sun.

Details on the August 21, 2017 eclipse from eclipse master Fred Espenak

Positions of the 4 visible planets during the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, as seen from Wyoming. Plus many bright stars. Notice Orion! Illustration by Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium.

And it’s not just planets. Many bright stars will be visible near the eclipsed sun as well. After all, during a total solar eclipse, the sky turns dark. Just remember that the planets and stars will visible only briefly for those located in the path of the moon’s shadow.

You’ll surely see Sirius – our sky’s brightest star – to the southwest of the sun. It will be very bright, but not as bright as Venus.

Two more bright stars, yellow Arcturus to the east, and Capella to the northwest, will likely pop into view.

You might also be able to see Regulus, the brightest star of Leo’s constellation, very near the eclipsed sun. See the illustration at the top of this post.

Planets and stars visible during totality, as seen from Nashville, Tennessee. Note the Big Dipper. Illustration by Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium.

*Don’t forget to purchase solar eclipse glasses well in advance, because shortages of those glasses and other solar filters will be inevitable. It is extremely important to understand that only solar eclipse glasses, and safe, approved solar filters must be used whenever view the sun directly, including during the partial phases of a total solar eclipse.

There’s plenty more to see during a solar eclipse, and the precious minutes of totality will happen fast. So educate yourself, and plan ahead.

For example, if you have binoculars or a telescope, it is safe to look (only during totality!) you might be lucky enough to see solar prominences! Check out the photo below.

Although it is safe to look directly at the sun during the fleeting minutes of totality – or maximum eclipse – please be sure you are observing with safe solar filters whenever any portion of the sun is visible. Otherwise, you may damage your eyes. Wang Legian in Norway captured this spectacular image of totality during the March, 2015 solar eclipse. Used with permission.

Remember to take just a quick look at the planets, and return your attention to the eclipse itself! Also, if you plan to take pictures, try to use a tripod and make sure you spend more time on seeing the eclipse than photographing it. After the solar eclipse, there will be thousands of pictures of this great event, so it is better to store those amazing images on your brain’s memory instead of your SD card.

Totality will be over very fast, so make sure you live the experience!

Bottom line: The August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse is the first visible from the contiguous United States since 1979. During the eclipse, four planets and many bright stars will be visible in the sky near the eclipsed sun.

Best places to watch the 2017 solar eclipse

Here is a nice interactive map of the 2017 total solar eclipse from www.eclipse2017.org

Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2eEoVW7

The White House celebrates math and mentorship

By Carol Clark

“It’s not every day that the White House invites you to a reception in honor of what you do for a living,” said Emory mathematician Ken Ono.

He was a featured speaker at  “Math and the Movies,” recently hosted by the White House Office of Science, Technology and Policy (OTSP) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The evening included a screening of the film “The Man Who Knew Infinity,” the true story of how the genius of an obscure Indian clerk, named Srinivasa Ramanujan, was discovered and nurtured by G. H. Hardy, a leading mathematician at Cambridge University. Their unusual collaboration changed the field of math and science forever.

Ono served as an associate producer and math advisor for the film, and afterwards helped found “The Spirit of Ramanujan Math Talent Initiative,” which aims to find exceptional mathematicians around the world and match them with advancement opportunities in the field.

France Cordova, director of the NSF, was among the speakers during the evening at the White House, which was focused on the importance of inspiring and mentoring students of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Ken Ono (center), accompanied by U.S. chief Data Scientist D. J. Patil (left) and actor Jeremy Irons, presents a math problem to the nation while at the White House: What is the smallest number that is the sum of two cubes in two different ways? Click here for the answer.

“Tonight’s event addresses issues that we at NSF believe are critical for the nation,” Cordova said. “There is widespread recognition of the need to open up STEM opportunities for everyone. We’re looking for ways to broaden opportunities and include those who are underrepresented. That includes working with partners in museums, in social media and the entertainment industry to do a better job of telling the diverse stories of science and scientists.”

Hannah Larsen, a senior majoring in math at Harvard University, thanked the NSF for funding the Research Experience for Undergraduates program at Emory, where she spent three summers doing number theory research with Ono. The steadfast support of Ono and other mentors “deepened my love of mathematics,” Larson said, and was key to her decision to apply to graduate school and pursue a career in math research. Larsen recently won the Alice T. Schaefer Prize, given annually to the top undergraduate woman in math in the United States.

Following are highlights of remarks by other speakers.

Ken Ono: “Every few months you’ll hear about breakthroughs in black hole physics. Or solutions to ancient mathematical mysteries. Or even applications that help drive the Internet. I can tell you that the work of Ramanujan plays a role in all of those. If you want a role model for young students, if you want to help create world-class scientists, I think we should all do our part to make Ramanujan a household name.”

Andrea Hariston, applied research mathematician at the National Security Agency (NSA): “Exposure is a big, big deal for students who may not know what their options are. I had a mathematical curiosity growing up but I saw it as a hobby – solving puzzles – not as a career. A fellowship obligated me to do an internship at the NSA. That’s when I got mentors who opened up mathematics for me. They showed me you can do really interesting things with mathematics, really important things for the nation, using mathematics.”

D.J. Patil, chief data scientist for the OTSP: “People don’t always appreciate how much president Obama has down to return science to its rightful place, at the forefront of the nation, in leading and driving innovation. … What gets a kid excited about math? There are lots of different paths, but one of them is inspiration. I had really excellent coaches, people who were there to inspire, shape and mold me.”

Actor Jeremy Irons, who plays Hardy in the film: “Pure mathematics is rather similar to poetry and art. It’s something about which you can become passionate. It’s something that requires a mind that is really open and free to allow whatever to come to you. I thought, I know about that because that’s the state I try to get into when I’m acting.”

Related:
The beauty of math and Pi: Ken Ono chats with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Mathematicians find 'magic key' to drive Ramanujan's taxi-cab number

from eScienceCommons http://ift.tt/2fzKDj1

By Carol Clark

“It’s not every day that the White House invites you to a reception in honor of what you do for a living,” said Emory mathematician Ken Ono.

He was a featured speaker at  “Math and the Movies,” recently hosted by the White House Office of Science, Technology and Policy (OTSP) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The evening included a screening of the film “The Man Who Knew Infinity,” the true story of how the genius of an obscure Indian clerk, named Srinivasa Ramanujan, was discovered and nurtured by G. H. Hardy, a leading mathematician at Cambridge University. Their unusual collaboration changed the field of math and science forever.

Ono served as an associate producer and math advisor for the film, and afterwards helped found “The Spirit of Ramanujan Math Talent Initiative,” which aims to find exceptional mathematicians around the world and match them with advancement opportunities in the field.

France Cordova, director of the NSF, was among the speakers during the evening at the White House, which was focused on the importance of inspiring and mentoring students of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Ken Ono (center), accompanied by U.S. chief Data Scientist D. J. Patil (left) and actor Jeremy Irons, presents a math problem to the nation while at the White House: What is the smallest number that is the sum of two cubes in two different ways? Click here for the answer.

“Tonight’s event addresses issues that we at NSF believe are critical for the nation,” Cordova said. “There is widespread recognition of the need to open up STEM opportunities for everyone. We’re looking for ways to broaden opportunities and include those who are underrepresented. That includes working with partners in museums, in social media and the entertainment industry to do a better job of telling the diverse stories of science and scientists.”

Hannah Larsen, a senior majoring in math at Harvard University, thanked the NSF for funding the Research Experience for Undergraduates program at Emory, where she spent three summers doing number theory research with Ono. The steadfast support of Ono and other mentors “deepened my love of mathematics,” Larson said, and was key to her decision to apply to graduate school and pursue a career in math research. Larsen recently won the Alice T. Schaefer Prize, given annually to the top undergraduate woman in math in the United States.

Following are highlights of remarks by other speakers.

Ken Ono: “Every few months you’ll hear about breakthroughs in black hole physics. Or solutions to ancient mathematical mysteries. Or even applications that help drive the Internet. I can tell you that the work of Ramanujan plays a role in all of those. If you want a role model for young students, if you want to help create world-class scientists, I think we should all do our part to make Ramanujan a household name.”

Andrea Hariston, applied research mathematician at the National Security Agency (NSA): “Exposure is a big, big deal for students who may not know what their options are. I had a mathematical curiosity growing up but I saw it as a hobby – solving puzzles – not as a career. A fellowship obligated me to do an internship at the NSA. That’s when I got mentors who opened up mathematics for me. They showed me you can do really interesting things with mathematics, really important things for the nation, using mathematics.”

D.J. Patil, chief data scientist for the OTSP: “People don’t always appreciate how much president Obama has down to return science to its rightful place, at the forefront of the nation, in leading and driving innovation. … What gets a kid excited about math? There are lots of different paths, but one of them is inspiration. I had really excellent coaches, people who were there to inspire, shape and mold me.”

Actor Jeremy Irons, who plays Hardy in the film: “Pure mathematics is rather similar to poetry and art. It’s something about which you can become passionate. It’s something that requires a mind that is really open and free to allow whatever to come to you. I thought, I know about that because that’s the state I try to get into when I’m acting.”

Related:
The beauty of math and Pi: Ken Ono chats with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Mathematicians find 'magic key' to drive Ramanujan's taxi-cab number

from eScienceCommons http://ift.tt/2fzKDj1