Posts Tagged “
solar system
”The Triumphant Journeys of Martian Robots
Since 1960 we've been attempting to explore the red planet, and along the way there have been countless failures and lost spacecraft that attest to just how hard it is to fly those 35 million miles from here to there. However, there have also been success stories, like the twin rovers Opportunity and Spirit, who have both overcome mechanical problems, braved dust storms, and sent back enormous amounts of data. Today, after being threatened with a shutdown due to budget cuts, the Martian rovers got a reprieve. They'll be rolling along for many months to come. To celebrate, check out our list of Martian robots and landers who have already served their robotic duty as our slaves, erm we mean allies, on the red planet. More »
special effects
The Academy's shortlist for visual effects awards hit the web yesterday, and Sunshine isn't anywhere to be found. If you want to see why this is such a travesty, then head out and pick up a copy on DVD today. We know all of you didn't see it, and it flew under the radar for a lot of people out there, so we'll wait here patiently while you pick one up or add it to the old Netflix queue. Or you can click through to see our analysis of how special effects in the actual nominees compare to the stunning Sunshine.
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Sunshine Should Be Burning Up the Oscars
The Academy's shortlist for visual effects awards hit the web yesterday, and Sunshine isn't anywhere to be found. If you want to see why this is such a travesty, then head out and pick up a copy on DVD today. We know all of you didn't see it, and it flew under the radar for a lot of people out there, so we'll wait here patiently while you pick one up or add it to the old Netflix queue. Or you can click through to see our analysis of how special effects in the actual nominees compare to the stunning Sunshine.
More »
The Sun Hurls Continent-Sized Blobs of Gas at Us
Newly-discovered x-ray jets literally blanket the face of the sun, launching continent-sized blobs of superhot gas outwards at 200 million miles per hour. Which is just about 5% of the speed of light, and makes us second-think the chances a spaceship like the one in Danny Boyle's Sunshine might have of getting close to that sucker, even for a quick flyby.
Mega Comet In Our Solar System Grows Larger Than The Sun
The relatively benign Comet Holmes, besides having a cool, superfly name, erupted a few weeks ago in a spectacular stellar event which has caused the scientific community to go "oooh" and "aaah." Since then, it's been growing steadily larger, and now dwarfs even our own Sun in sheer size. Do you need to stock up on sunblock and start digging that bomb shelter? More »









