Want to chat with the physicists from Einstein@home?

Our pal, Elsa Youngsteadt, at Sigma Xi (one of the oldest and largest scientific organizations in the world) asked us to invite you to participate in an online conversation taking place right now over at The World: Science. Elsa co-produces the popular science podcast for The World, a daily international news magazine broadcast on public radio stations … Read more “Want to chat with the physicists from Einstein@home?”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Computers & Technology

What makes a good citizen science project–for you?

Can I pick your brain for a minute? Next week I’m going to be part of a panel discussion on the topic of citizen science. It’s part of a joint conference of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the Geological Society of America titled “Earth and Space Science: Making Connections in Education and Public Outreach.” To … Read more “What makes a good citizen science project–for you?”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Geology & Earth Sciences

I love an old-fashioned sky show

While in New York last week, I dropped in at the Hayden Planetarium for a real treat: an old-fashioned sky show. This was not your typical overwrought, highly digitized, celebrity narrated, long-on-glitz and short-on-insights production number that planetariums feel they have to create these days in order to get the public’s attention. This was a … Read more “I love an old-fashioned sky show”

Categories: Astronomy & Space

Amateur Astronomers Discover Massive Fireball on Jupiter

Not that we’re competing, but stargazers Anthony Wesley and Christopher Go have now spotted one more giant fireball on Jupiter than me, according to several news reports. Wesley apparently caught the impact event on camera from Australia, and Go simultaneously captured video of the resulting blast of light from the Philipines. Pretty amazing stuff. If … Read more “Amateur Astronomers Discover Massive Fireball on Jupiter”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, In the News

Science for citizens is everywhere!

This is going to sound odd, but I’m pretty sure I’m being stalked…by citizen science. Ever since we launched Science for Citizens a few months ago, I find myself bumping into science and taking part in science-flavored activities no matter where I am or what I’m doing. Take my recent trip to California’s Anza Borrego … Read more “Science for citizens is everywhere!”

Categories: Animals, Astronomy & Space, Birds, Citizen Science, Nature & Outdoors

Phone apps for citizen scientists: What are you packing?

One of the many reasons I love to sneak up to Point Reyes is the night sky.  It’s often stunningly clear up there compared to foggy, urban San Francisco, offering a gorgeous celestial show to anyone inclined to look up. But on a recent getaway, I was bummed to find out that I’d forgotten to … Read more “Phone apps for citizen scientists: What are you packing?”

Categories: Animals, Apps, Astronomy & Space, Biology, Birds, Computers & Technology

Watch Out for Solar Stormwatch!

The coolest new citizen science project may also be the HOTTEST! Launched this week, Solar Stormwatch is looking to citizen scientists to help spot explosions on the sun and track them across space to Earth. These explosions, also known as “coronal mass ejections” or “solar storms”, release high-energy particles that can be a safety hazard for … Read more “Watch Out for Solar Stormwatch!”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Physics

Citizen scientists power cosmic research

British astronomers have shed new light on an intriguing quirk in the anatomy of certain galaxies: a structure that looks like a bar running through a galaxy’s center. But how the researchers formulated their findings is just as interesting as the findings themselves. Their report is based on an analysis of a mountain of astronomical … Read more “Citizen scientists power cosmic research”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Computers & Technology, Other

View the Milky Way, help stem light pollution!

Have you ever seen the Milky Way from where you live? Most of us have not and it’s largely due to increased light pollution from outdoor lighting. Light pollution not only wastes between 2 to 10 billion dollars a year in energy and money but it causes human sleep disorders and disrupts habits critical to … Read more “View the Milky Way, help stem light pollution!”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Nature & Outdoors