A Geek and Freelancer Writing About the Awesomeness of Science
Former astronaut Andy Thomas turned 70 years old today (December 18). Besides having a distinguished career with NASA, he has achieved much as an Australian in space. Even now, Thomas continues to champion the development of the space sector in our country. Thomas grew up in Adelaide and was fascinated with space from a young... Continue Reading →
On October 16, 2021, the Australian Antarctic Division’s (AAD) brand-new icebreaker RSV Nuyina arrived in its homeport of Hobart for the very first time. The ship will carry expeditioners to and from the bottom of the world, resupply Australia’s sub-Antarctic and polar stations and will be crucial in future scientific discoveries. Nuyina builds upon a... Continue Reading →
The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) was the first vehicle designed for another world. It was a staple of the later Apollo missions and helped astronauts travel further afield on the Moon than ever before. Though it resembled a dune buggy, with its nickname affectionately being “Moon buggy”, it was actually very different from a car... Continue Reading →
Antarctica has fascinated the public since it was first discovered centuries ago. It’s the driest desert on the planet and its ice-covered landscape is as beautiful as it is deadly. While the early polar explorations led to the first permanent science stations, tourism is something a lot newer. Visiting Antarctica has only been happening for... Continue Reading →
Many millions of years ago Australia was part of a large landmass called Gondwana. South America, India, Africa, Madagascar, New Zealand and Antarctica were also part of it and dinosaurs had free range. As the supercontinent broke apart because of plate tectonics, Australia’s dinosaurs became isolated and evolved differently from their counterparts in other areas... Continue Reading →
The Polly Woodside has been a Melbourne icon for many years. The ship has a rich history that dates back to 1885 but it had been left to rot by the mid-1960s. Sold to the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) for one cent in 1968, Polly was painstakingly restored to its former glory by a... Continue Reading →
CubeSats are a type of nanosatellite, meaning they weigh anywhere between 1 and 10 kgs. They’re quite versatile and can be used for a number of applications such as weather and climate monitoring, disaster observation to help relief efforts and science experiments. CubeSats exist because of an explosion in technology miniaturisation that’s occurred over the... Continue Reading →
When researchers head “out into the field” in Antarctica for longer periods of time and need something more robust than a tent, there are Igloo Satellite Cabins and Googie Huts. While unusual in appearance, both fibreglass accommodations are Australian designed and have been serving the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) for decades. The South Pole is... Continue Reading →
Wi-Fi is one of the most popular modern technologies to come out in recent years. In areas known as “hotspots”, Wi-Fi works over short distances and lets people connect “wirelessly” to the internet easier than ever before. The tech is common in offices, public buildings, airports, cafes, homes and many other locations. It’s been suggested... Continue Reading →
Before it was proven humans could survive the trip to space, the Soviet Union sent dogs in rockets to the outer edge of the atmosphere. The oldest tests date back as far as 1951. As a result, dogs were among the earliest space pioneers. Dogs versus Apes America and the Soviet Union had very different... Continue Reading →