Before I watched this video and you had asked me if dubnium was a real element or not, I would have had to guess.
It turns out dubnium (Db) is on the periodic table with atomic number 105. It is a synthetic element that you can make by smashing an americium atom (atomic number 95) with a neon atom (atomic number 10). One interesting thing about dubnium doesn't have anything to do with the element itself. Instead, the interesting thing is how the way it was named set the standard for naming new elements in a way that didn't ruffle the feathers of particle physicists.
Next year, NASA’s Artemis 1 mission will carry a baker’s dozen of small cubesats to space, including one that’s home to a colony of yeast cells. That cubesat, BioSentinel, will orbit the sun to help scientists understand how space radiation affects living organisms outside of Low Earth Orbit. NASA hasn’t purposely sent any lifeforms beyond […]
A new definition of kilogram went into effect today. No longer is the kilogram defined by Le Grand K, a 140-year-old weight under glass in a secret location near Paris. Now it’s determined by the Planck constant, based on physicist Max Planck’s theory that “electromagnetic energy at a given frequency could only be emitted in […]
Here’s the first 14 of 100 proofs that the Earth is a globe, with the rest still to come author David Morgan-Mar. [via] 1. The Blue Marble The most straightforward way to check the shape of the Earth is to look at it. There’s one small problem, though. To see the shape of the Earth […]
Raspberry Pi is one of the world’s most versatile open-source computers. Alexa is a home automation hub with limitless potential. Together, they’re a dream team for ambitious makers, opening the door to everything from automatic lights to voice-controlled robots. Learning Raspberry Pi is meant to be relatively easy for newbies, but its applications with Alexa […]
Heads up: The clock is winding down on a free-entry contest to win not only one of the best smartphones on the market but a handy pair of earbuds. A simple sign-up is all you need to be eligible to win a 256 GB iPhone XS Max, along with AirPods. And while “free” is tough […]
Kudos to those of us who have chosen a less wasteful third option to “paper or plastic” at the supermarket or club stores. Tote bags are reusable, but they can be a pain to tote around. Here’s an upgrade to that planet-saving measure. The Club Cart Lotus Trolley Bag is that rare tote you’ll want […]
