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Giving shape to black holes' intense winds

Researchers detected a nearly spherical stream of highly ionized gas streaming out of the quasar PDS 456, measuring the strength of ultra-fast black hole winds. The discovery reveals that these powerful winds can transfer energy back to their host galaxies and affect star formation.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateFeb 19, 2015
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

NASA measured nor'easter's powerful winds from space

The ISS-RapidScat instrument provided forecasters with wind speed data on the hurricane-force nor'easter. The storm brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to the Northeast region, with sustained winds reaching up to 35 meters per second (78.2 mph/126 kph).

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJan 28, 2015
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Light pollution contributing to fledgling 'fallout'

A 15-year study found thousands of birds are attracted to artificial lights during their first flights, leading to high mortality rates. Turning street lights off decreased the number of grounded fledglings, suggesting a link between light pollution and bird deaths.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 15, 2014

NASA sees a weaker Typhoon Vongfong near Amami Oshima

NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP and Aqua satellites monitored Typhoon Vongfong's weakening, showing strongest thunderstorms in the northern quadrant. The storm is now forecasted to spread out and become an extra-tropical storm, tracking over Japan's islands.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 12, 2014
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

NREL software tool a boon for wind industry

The Simulator for Wind Farm Applications (SOWFA) tool simulates complex variables to optimize wind farm energy production. It enables developers to improve individual turbine performance and reduce wake losses, potentially cutting costs by billions of dollars.

SourceDOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory·DateOct 7, 2014

Water, water -- not everywhere: Mapping water trends for African maize

Researchers mapped water trends in African maize-growing areas between 1979 and 2010, finding increases in water availability during the growing season. However, some regions experienced declines due to decreased evaporative demand and changing rainfall patterns.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJul 21, 2014
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Low back pain? Don't blame the weather

Researchers found a slight increase in lower back pain risk with higher wind speed but it was not clinically significant. This contradicts previous studies that linked cold or humid weather to increased symptoms.

SourceWiley·JournalArthritis Care & Research·DateJul 10, 2014

We can eliminate the major tornado threat in Tornado Alley

Researchers propose building three east-west great walls to eliminate the major tornado threat in Tornado Alley. The walls, inspired by Jiang-Huai Hills in China, can be built locally at high-risk areas and gradually extended to cover the entire region.

SourceWorld Scientific·JournalInternational Journal of Modern Physics B·DateJun 23, 2014

Swiftly moving gas streamer eclipses supermassive black hole

Researchers have discovered a rapidly moving gas streamer blocking X-rays from the galaxy's nucleus, indicating a significant decrease in radiation. This phenomenon may regulate the growth of both the supermassive black hole and its host galaxy.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalScience·DateJun 19, 2014

Swiftly moving gas streamer eclipses supermassive black hole

An international team of astronomers discovered a clumpy gas stream flowing quickly outward and blocking 90 percent of the X-rays emitted by the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy NGC 5548. The researchers believe this activity provides new insights into the interaction of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience·DateJun 19, 2014

Swiftly moving gas streamer eclipses supermassive black hole

Researchers detected a clumpy gas stream flowing quickly outwards and blocking X-rays emitted by the supermassive black hole. The discovery provides direct evidence for the shielding process that accelerates powerful gas streams, offering insights into how black holes interact with their host galaxies.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalScience·DateJun 19, 2014
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Environmental conditions may impact bird migration

Wind speeds on migration predicted annual survival, male arrival date, female egg laying, and productivity of yellow warblers. Higher westerly wind speeds associated with lower apparent annual survival due to increased in-flight mortality risk.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 14, 2014

Antennae help flies 'cruise' in gusty winds

A recent study by Caltech researchers found that fruit flies use their antennae to quickly sense changes in wind speed, helping them maintain a steady groundspeed. The findings suggest the antennae are responsible for initial deceleration in headwinds and provide critical information to help the fly regain its original speed.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2014
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Traffic jams lend insight into emperor penguin huddle

A mathematical model recreated the positions and movements of individual emperor penguins in a huddle, showing that an individual penguin only needs to move 2 cm for its neighbor to react. The model revealed how travelling waves propagate through the entire huddle, keeping it dense and protecting the birds from the cold.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateDec 16, 2013
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

NASA HS3 mission reveals Tropical Storm Humberto's hybrid core

The NASA HS3 mission has revealed that Tropical Storm Humberto had a hybrid core structure, characterized by both warm and cold cores at different levels. This discovery provides new insights into the processes underlying hurricane formation and intensity change in the Atlantic Ocean basin.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 20, 2013

Around the world in 4 days: NASA tracks Chelyabinsk meteor plume

Scientists tracked the Chelyabinsk meteor plume using NASA satellite data, observing its formation of a thin stratospheric dust belt. The plume evolved as it moved around the Northern Hemisphere, with different particles experiencing varying wind speeds.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 14, 2013
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Distorted GPS signals reveal hurricane wind speeds

Scientists have developed a new technique to calculate wind speeds of hurricanes using distorted GPS satellite signals, providing valuable information at little additional cost. The method offers a broader view of wind speeds than traditional dropsonde measurements, which are expensive and only available over large bodies of water.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalRadio Science·DateJul 15, 2013

NASA sees heavy rainfall as Cyclone Mahasen made landfall

Cyclone Mahasen brought heavy rainfall to southern Bangladesh, with the TRMM satellite capturing areas of intense thunderstorms north of the storm's center. The cyclone is expected to weaken and move across northeastern India due to rugged terrain and strong wind shear.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMay 16, 2013
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Using fluctuating wind power

Researchers propose a new strategy to optimize power-generation efficiency in fluctuating wind conditions by predicting maximum turbine generation capacity and incorporating various factors. The approach shows promise in improving power-generation efficiency, but further refinement is needed based on local conditions.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateMar 25, 2013

NASA sees many things happening in Tropical Storm Ewiniar

Tropical Storm Ewiniar's clouds revealed a partially exposed low-level circulation center, open to outside winds that can affect its trajectory. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, with the strongest on the eastern quadrant, were observed around the storm.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 28, 2012
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

NASA sees Hurricane Lane punched in the eye

Hurricane Lane's eye has become cloud-filled, resembling being punched in the eye, due to powerful thunderstorms surrounding it. Cooler waters and increased wind shear are forecast to weaken the storm further, leading to its eventual dissipation by Wednesday.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 18, 2012

Wind could meet many times world's total power demand by 2030, researchers say

A new study suggests that wind power has plenty of potential to meet half the world's power demand by 2030, with a capacity to exceed demand by several times. Researchers used a sophisticated climate model to calculate the theoretical maximum wind power potential on Earth.

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 10, 2012

Usain Bolt could break his own record with the help of altitude and the wind

Researchers studied the effects of wind speed, altitude, and other environmental factors on athletic performance. They found that a tailwind of 2 meters per second and racing at an altitude of 999 meters could improve Usain Bolt's record time to 9.48 seconds.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalEuropean Journal of Sport Science·DateAug 2, 2012

NASA's TRMM satellite eyeing Tropical Storm Khanun's rainfall

Tropical Storm Khanun is expected to increase in power and affect South and North Korea as it moves northward through the Yellow Sea. The TRMM satellite provided a 3-D view of Khanun's rainfall structure, showing powerful convective storms near the center pushing to heights of about 17 kilometers.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 17, 2012
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

NASA satellites examine powerful summer derecho

A powerful summer derecho moved from Illinois to the Mid-Atlantic states, bringing destruction and wind gusts of up to 90 mph. NASA satellites captured the event's progression and aftermath, including extensive power outages and massive blackouts.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 5, 2012

Wind turbines that learn like humans

Researchers developed a biologically inspired control system that uses memory of past control experiences and outcomes to generate new actions. This approach shows promise for enhancing wind power conversion efficiency, outperforming traditional methods in simulations.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateMar 27, 2012

Launch madness at Wallops in March - '5 in 5'

Scientists will gather data on the high-altitude jet stream, which affects satellite and radio communications, using chemical tracers and instrumented payloads. The mission will help better understand the process responsible for this phenomenon, located 60-65 miles above the Earth's surface.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMar 5, 2012
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Power generation is blowing in the wind

Researchers found that power generated at a set wind speed is higher under stable conditions and lower under strongly unsteady conditions. Wind shear plays an important role in assessing turbine efficiency. The team's study provides valuable insights for better estimating power generation, especially when including atmospheric stabilit...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJan 17, 2012

New energy in search for future wind

A new study from CSIRO Australia has found that Australia's average wind speed is increasing, contrary to recent international studies showing a decrease. The research provides valuable insights into the causes of variations in near-surface wind and long-term wind speed trends over Australia.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalJournal of Climate·DateSep 26, 2011

Climate change threatens many tree species, say Hebrew U. researchers

Researchers at Hebrew U. warn that climate change may cause many tree species with wind-dispersed seeds to become extinct due to reduced wind speed and increased seed production. This could lead to a slower spread of trees than expected, making them vulnerable to extinction.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalEcology Letters·DateJan 23, 2011
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Measuring air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide in the open ocean

Researchers measured carbon dioxide fluxes in the North Atlantic using an autonomous system, making nearly 4,000 flux measurements. The study found that formation of bubbles in breaking waves may increase gas transfer at high wind speeds.

SourceNational Oceanography Centre, UK·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 6, 2010

Global warming reduces available wind energy

A study by Diandong Ren finds that rising global temperatures decrease wind speeds, reducing the power output of wind turbines. This means that more wind turbines are needed to achieve the same amount of energy production, highlighting the need for a switch to renewable energy sources earlier.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateNov 9, 2010

Slight change in wind turbine speed significantly reduces bat mortality

A study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment found that raising wind turbine cut-in speeds to 11 mph reduces bat fatalities by 44-93% and annual power loss by less than 1%. This change limits turbines to operating only during higher wind speeds, minimizing bat collisions.

SourceEcological Society of America·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateNov 1, 2010
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Sensing wind speed with kites

Scientists at the University of Reading in the UK have created a kite-based system to measure wind speed with high accuracy. By attaching a strain gauge to a kite's tether line, researchers found that the tension in the line is linearly related to wind speed, making it a potential tool for atmospheric research.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateJul 27, 2010

Flag has ladies all of a flutter

Scientists at the University of Manchester have discovered how male common snipes use their outer tail feathers to produce a highly seductive drumming sound. By observing deformations in the feathers as they produce the sound, researchers found that the feathers flutter like flags in the wind.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateApr 28, 2010
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

17P is now a fading depression

Tropical cyclone 17P has weakened and is now a fading depression due to moderate to strong westerly vertical wind shear. The storm's organization and ability to produce thunderstorms are limited by the wind shear, leading to its expected dissipation in the next few days.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateFeb 23, 2010

Warmer means windier on world's biggest lake

Researchers found a significant increase in wind speed and current strength on Lake Superior, but a decrease in chlorophyll levels due to temperature stratification. This affects the lake's ecosystem and may impact airborne pollutants and nearby communities.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalNature Geoscience·DateNov 15, 2009
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Weather patterns help predict dengue fever outbreaks

A study published in BMC Public Health found that high temperatures, humidity, and low wind speed are linked to increased dengue fever cases. The authors suggest that weather conditions affect mosquito survival and flying patterns, which contribute to disease transmission.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Public Health·DateOct 26, 2009