Extraordinary Aurora Given a Very Ordinary Name

Termed as an aurora, but technically an aurora-like feature, this phenomenon behaves differently—and has been named differently too. While most auroras ripple and fade horizontally, this one appears as a bright green/purple vertical streak. “Steve,” as its known, was discovered by the Alberta Aurora Chasers, who follow and photograph the Northern Lights and it’s now been verified by the European Space Agency’s Swarm satellites. While …

NASA’s Cassini Mission Gets a Google Doodle

Today, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft is making the first of 22 dangerous swoops between Saturn and its rings. Part of what’s called the “Grand Finale,” this mission will give us humans an unprecedented view of our solar system’s second-largest planet (after, of course, Jupiter) and is set to take 13 years all up. The Doodle is adorable, and shows a smiley little satellite taking snaps of …

Link About It: Earth Day 2017 Edition

Some fascinating, recent news about our beautiful planet

1. 3D-Printed Coral Could Save Our Endangered Reefs Jacques Cousteau’s grandson Fabien Cousteau believes that synthetic, 3D-printed coral might be the thing to save our endangered reefs. According to CNET, “In nature, coral reefs are made up of calcium carbonate skeletons where tiny organisms called polyps take root” and these polyps grow their own reefs too—but only at one centimeter per year. That isn’t fast …