In 2019, red supergiant star Betelgeuse suddenly dimmed. In fact, the star has a 5.9-year light-cycle minimum period. But, this time, it dramatically to an all-time low. Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in the Earth’s sky and easily can be found on the right shoulder of the constellation Orion. So the dimming, which …
Author Archives: M. Özgür Nevres
Why does heavy rainfall after a drought cause flood? [Amazing illustration by a Meteorologist]
A meteorologist from the University of Reading shows just how long it takes water to soak into the parched ground, illustrating why heavy rainfall after a drought can be dangerous and might lead to flash floods.
Space Shuttle Enterprise successfully made its first free flight test on August 12, 1977
On August 12, 1977, NASA’s Space Shuttle Enterprise successfully made its first free flight test, as part of NASA’s Orbiter Approach and Landing Tests (ALT). The ALT program allowed shuttle pilots to explore the orbiter’s low-speed flight and landing characteristics.
IBM PC (Personal Computer) was released on August 12, 1981
On August 12, 1981, the Personal Computer, (model 5150, commonly known as the IBM PC) was released. This machine (and its descendants) started the PC revolution. It was a very small machine that could not only process information faster than those millions-of-dollars huge computers of the 1960s but also hook up to the home TV …
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The first E-mail from Space was sent on August 9, 1991
On August 9, 1991, two STS-43 astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Shannon W. Lucid and James C. Adamson sent the first e-mail from space. The astronauts used an Apple Macintosh portable computer and AppleLink, a popular service for Mac and Apple IIGS users before the commercialization of the Internet, offered from 1986 to 1994. …
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The first photo of Earth from space taken by a person (August 6, 1961)
On August 6, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov took the first photo of Earth from space taken by a person. It was also the first color image of Earth from space. Titov became the first photographer from space. This spaceflight was the first crewed spaceflight lasting over 24 hours. Titov was also the first to …
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System/23 Datamaster, IBM’s first desktop computer was revealed on July 28, 1981
On July 28, 1981, IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) revealed its first desktop computer, System/23 Datamaster, a demonstration of IBM’s efforts to shrink the size and cost of computing.
Syncom 2, the first geosynchronous satellite was launched on July 26, 1963
On July 26, 1963, Syncom 2 (for Synchronous Communication Satellite) was launched on top of a Delta B #20 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral.
Bumper 8 became the first rocket launched from Cape Canaveral on July 24, 1950
On July 24, 1950, Bumper 8, a two-stage rocket, combining German (V-2) and American technology, was launched. It was the first rocket launch from a place on the Atlantic coast of central Florida called Cape Canaveral.
From computers to Nike Airs: 10 Moon-landing innovations that changed life on Earth
Much of the technology common today that we take for granted originates from the moon landing. Here are 10 moon-landing innovations that changed life on Earth.
