NASA Selects 9 Crucial Science Instruments for Mission to Jupiter’s Icy Moon Europa

May 27, 2015 risahopeEuropa, Jupiter, nasa, science, space, technologyLeave a comment

Jupiter’s moon Europa has excited the space community with its bizarre icy surface and thick frozen crust. NASA’s Galileo mission in the late 1990’s provided strong evidence that a large ocean exists under its surface. If this ocean exists, it could have more than twice as much water as Earth – even though its roughly the size of Earth’s moon! It’s the perfect place to look for present day life beyond the planet we call home – given the right tools, of course.

Thirty-three proposals were submitted by researchers for instruments to study Europa. NASA selected nine for a mission that will launch in 2020.

Europa Surface — Strange features on Europa’s icy surface suggest a warm interior. NASA’s Galileo mission obtained this unique view of the surface. Galileo was only able to survey a small fraction of the surface in color at high resolution; high-resolution imaging on a future mission to Jupiter’s moon could capture way more! Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA’s fiscal year 2016 budget request includes $30 million to formulate a mission to Europa, including the payload of scientific instruments announced yesterday (May 26).

“This is a giant step in our search for oases that could support life in our own celestial backyard,” said Curt Niebur, Europa program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We’re confident that this versatile set of science instruments will produce exciting discoveries on a much-anticipated mission.”

The NASA selectees are… drumroll, please!

Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) — principal investigator Dr. Joseph Westlake of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Laurel, Maryland. This instrument works in conjunction with a magnetometer and is key to determining Europa’s ice shell thickness, ocean depth, and salinity by correcting the magnetic induction signal for plasma currents around Europa.

Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry (ICEMAG) — principal investigator Dr. Carol Raymond of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, California. This magnetometer will measure the magnetic field near Europa and – in conjunction with the PIMS instrument – infer the location, thickness and salinity of Europa’s subsurface ocean using multi-frequency electromagnetic sounding.

Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) — principal investigator Dr. Diana Blaney of JPL. This instrument will probe the composition of Europa, identifying and mapping the distributions of organics, salts, acid hydrates, water ice phases, and other materials to determine the habitability of Europa’s ocean.

Europa Imaging System (EIS) — principal investigator Dr. Elizabeth Turtle of APL. The wide and narrow angle cameras on this instrument will map most of Europa at 50 meter (164 foot) resolution, and will provide images of areas of Europa’s surface at up to 100 times higher resolution.

This artist's rendering shows a concept for a future NASA mission to Europa in which a spacecraft would make multiple close flybys of the icy Jovian moon, thought to contain a global subsurface ocean. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech — This artist’s rendering shows a concept for a future NASA mission to Europa in which a spacecraft would make multiple close flybys of the icy Jovian moon, thought to contain a global subsurface ocean. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) — principal investigator Dr. Donald Blankenship of the University of Texas, Austin. This dual-frequency ice penetrating radar instrument is designed to characterize and sound Europa’s icy crust from the near-surface to the ocean, revealing the hidden structure of Europa’s ice shell and potential water within.

Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System (E-THEMIS) — principal investigator Dr. Philip Christensen of Arizona State University, Tempe. This “heat detector” will provide high spatial resolution, multi-spectral thermal imaging of Europa to help detect active sites, such as potential vents erupting plumes of water into space.

MAss SPectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Europa (MASPEX) — principal investigator Dr. Jack (Hunter) Waite of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio. This instrument will determine the composition of the surface and subsurface ocean by measuring Europa’s extremely tenuous atmosphere and any surface material ejected into space.

Ultraviolet Spectrograph/Europa (UVS) — principal investigator Dr. Kurt Retherford of SwRI. This instrument will adopt the same technique used by the Hubble Space Telescope to detect the likely presence of water plumes erupting from Europa’s surface. UVS will be able to detect small plumes and will provide valuable data about the composition and dynamics of the moon’s rarefied atmosphere.

SUrface Dust Mass Analyzer (SUDA) — principal investigator Dr. Sascha Kempf of the University of Colorado, Boulder. This instrument will measure the composition of small, solid particles ejected from Europa, providing the opportunity to directly sample the surface and potential plumes on low-altitude flybys.

Can’t get enough of Europa? Click here for the latest news on the Europa mission!

L’Oreal to Begin 3-D Printing Human Skin – Is this the End of Animal Testing?

May 22, 2015May 28, 2015 risahope3D printing, animal testing, cosmetics, health, L'Oreal, makeup, medicine, Organovo, pop culture, skin, technology1 Comment

Beauty giant L’Oreal USA has announced a partnership with 3-D bioprinting company Organovo to develop 3-D printed skin tissue for product testing and other areas of advanced research.

Screen Shot 2015-05-22 at 12.15.02 PM

L’Oreal is no stranger to the field of skin engineering. The company has spent decades exploring skin culture technologies that could take them away from forms of animal testing.

L’Oreal has roughly 60 scientists working on site, at a lab in Lyon, France, growing more than 100,000 skin samples annually. According to Bloomberg – In a year, their efforts produce a cowhide worth of human skin samples. The process yields nine different types of human skin samples, representing different ages and ethnicities, that can be used to test various products.

For this partnership, L’Oreal will provide skin expertise and all the initial funding, while Organovo, which is already working with such companies as Merck to print liver and kidney tissues, will provide the technology – with the hopes of automating the process.

What is the end game?

L’Oreal wins exclusive rights to the 3D printed skin developed with Organovo for uses related to non-prescription skin care products.
Organovo will retain rights to the tissue models for efficacy testing of prescription drugs, toxicity tests, and the development and testing of therapeutic or surgically transplanted tissues.

The end of animal testing?

The beauty industry has famously been at war with animal rights activists protesting the use of animals – with watchdogs like PETA creating lists of companies that are either ‘cruelty-free’ or ‘still testing’ on animals.

In 2013, the European Union banned the import and sale of cosmetics containing ingredients tested on animals. L’Oreal, which is based in France, was one of the first beauty companies to respond. L’Oreal said it would respect the ban and “no longer sell in Europe any finished product with an ingredient that was tested on animals.”

L’Oreal’s current stance on animal testing as posted on their website: The Group no longer tests on animal, anywhere in the world, and does not delegate this task to others.

3-D printed skin tissue will not only protect animals from unnecessary product testing, it will also greatly impact the fields of medicine and cosmetic surgery.

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What does L’Oreal have to say about the new partnership?

Guive Balooch -VP of L’Oreal’s global Technology Incubator- said the potential for this new field of technology is ‘boundless.’

Balooch told The Washington Post, “Some of the biggest potential advantages are the speed of production as well as the level of precision that 3-D printing can achieve… L’Oreal’s focus right now is not to increase the quantity of skin we produce but instead to continue to build on the accuracy and consistent replication of the skin engineering process.”

Organovo Holdings, Inc & Bioprinting

Organovo is one of the first companies to offer commercially available 3D-printed human organs. This deal with L’Oreal is their first foray into cosmetics.

Last year they launched their first product, the exVive3D human liver, for use in toxicology and other preclinical drug testing. They struck a deal with Merck & Co. last month to use this liver system for testing as a supplement to in vitro and animal testing.

Click below to watch Organovo’s video explaining the bioprinting process

Synthetic Cadaver Breathes, Bleeds, and Moves – Totally Awesome or Totally CREEPY?

May 16, 2015 risahopeanatomy, cadaver, education, health, medicine, science, Shark Tank, strange science, surgery, SynDaver Labs, technologyLeave a comment

KS Health

It looks and feels human. It’s even made of salt, water, and fiber – just like you and me. But, this incredible replica of the human body isn’t human; it’s SynDaver Lab’s synthetic human patient.

Human cadavers can cost up to $10,000, and that doesn’t take into account transportation and disposal fees, as well as the need for specialized storage facilities and trained staff. Plus, you can only use them once! The SynDaver ultra-realistic human is meant to be educational and reusable.

SynLabs

According to their official website, The SynDaver Synthetic Human is ‘the most elaborate and sophisticated full-body surgical simulator ever devised. An exquisite 3D jigsaw puzzle; every muscle, bone, vascular component and organ is removable and replaceable.’

This synthetic human can be used in the medical industry to replace live animals, human cadavers, and even human patients – mainly for trauma training, sugerical training, and medical device development.

‘It is obviously good not only for ethical reasons, but also because avoiding animal use saves a great deal of time and money,’ said SynDaver Labs founder Dr Sakezles. ‘So, I started designing synthetic organs to test devices and over time they became very elaborate.’

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How much does all of this cost?

The SynDaver Anatomy “base model,” which has all of the organs, muscles and bones a human cadaver has, sells for $25,000 and is used worldwide at hospitals with simulators and at universities and community colleges teaching anatomy.

The SynDaver Patient is the newest addition to the SynDaver Synthetic Human (SSH) product line. In addition to all of the existing features that have made the Synthetic Human world-famous, the SynDaver Patient also includes an open-source physiology engine that controls body motions and all aspects of synthetic biology.

The SynDaver Patient can be used for practicing ultrasound, fluoroscopy, X-ray and CT imaging, along with surgical procedures involving tools such as lasers, plasma knives and sonic blades. According to GizMag, it’s available now, for $85,000.

Later this year, the company should be releasing a Basic version of its existing Synthetic Human – the latter model not only features full human anatomy, but also functioning circulatory and respiratory systems – along with Preemie and Newborn models. All three should be priced at about $15,000.

Even the ‘Product Description’ on the website gave me chills!

Product Description

SynDaver synthetic tissues have been validated over the last two decade to simulate the mechanical and physico-chemical properties of live tissue. With this technology, our products have created an entirely new field known as live tissue replacement. The SSH is capable of standing in for a human cadaver in medical procedure training but unlike a cadaver, the SSH can last forever.

Features
The model pumps heated synthetic blood (pulsed flow away from the heart and drainage toward the heart) and can be used to simulate procedures with ventilation, insufflation and intubation.

Anatomical attributes include:

Skin with fat and fascia planes (Optional)
Every bone, muscle, tendon and ligament
Fully articulating joints
Functioning respiratory system
Complete digestive and urinary tracts
Visceral and reproductive organs
Circulatory system

Muscles, bones, organs and vasculature are all removable and replaceable to allow onsite servicing and upgrades.

Customization
A variety of pathologies and injuries are available based on patient images, CAD drawings or simple descriptions. Client may also select gender and skin tone.

Included Services
Onsite installation and training, one full year of anatomy and tissue upgrades and a three-year warranty. Annual service contracts covering every aspect of the body are also available.

Imaging Equipment
Compatible with all known imaging techniques including MRI, CT, fluoroscopy and ultrasound.

Surgical Equipment
System is compatible with all known surgical devices including lasers, RF ablation, plasma knives, sonic blades and cryocatheters as well as bipolar, monopolar and harmonic devices.

System Components
Full body with storage and display container, stainless-steel table, deluxe battery-powered heart pump and all required plumbing. The model may be skinless or covered with either the standard SynDaver synthetic human skin (pure wet chemistry) or our new organosilicate-synthetic human hybrid skin (polymer outer – wet inner).

Shark Tank Let Down

SynDaver Labs was awarded a $3 million dollar deal on ABC’s Shark Tank, but unfortunately the deal fell through.

Dr. Christopher Sakezles accepted the deal last week from investor Robert Herjavec in an episode of the hit show. The agreement would have given Herjavec 25 percent equity and equal board representation.

Erin McLean, vice president of marketing for the Herjavec Group, said she could not comment on a deal that hadn’t closed. “We were not able to progress through our due diligence process,” she said, “but we wish them well.”

Dr. Sakezles views this not as a setback, but as an opportunity. “With the exposure that we’ve recently received, we’re looking at much more lucrative opportunities with other investors,” he said.

Click below to see the full video of SynDaver Labs on Shark Tank.

NASA Wants to Build a ‘Robo-Squid’ to Search for Life on Other Planets – I Say Make a Movie!

May 13, 2015May 13, 2015 risahopeEuropa, giant squid, move poster, movies, nasa, NIAC, robosquid, robot, science, space, technologyLeave a comment

KS Technology

NASA’s latest proposal looks like a sci-fi film in the making. The project calls for the use of a soft-robotic rover that resembles a squid -tentacles included- for missions that can’t be accomplished with conventional power systems.

The ‘robosquid’ looks like an eel with a short antenna on its back. The antenna harvests power from locally changing magnetic fields. Ideally, NASA would like to enable amphibious exploration (both land and sea) of gas-giant moons like Europa!

This artist's rendering depicts 2015 NIAC Phase I Fellow Mason Peck's soft-robotic rover for planetary environments for missions that cannot be accomplished with conventional power systems. It resembles a squid, with tentacle-like structures that serve as electrodynamic 'power scavengers' to harvest power from locally changing magnetic fields. The goal is to enable amphibious exploration of gas-giant moons like Europa. Credits: NASA/Cornell University/NSF — This artist’s rendering depicts 2015 NIAC Phase I Fellow Mason Peck’s soft-robotic rover for planetary environments for missions that cannot be accomplished with conventional power systems. It resembles a squid, with tentacle-like structures that serve as electrodynamic ‘power scavengers’ to harvest power from locally changing magnetic fields. The goal is to enable amphibious exploration of gas-giant moons like Europa. Credits: NASA/Cornell University/NSF

Side Note: If they made Sharknado they can make Robosquid. I grew up loving movies like Anaconda, Congo, and Sphere. I’m picturing the same vibe, starring Nathan Fillion, Jon Bernthal, Ludacris, and Kate Upton. Hey J.J. Abrams and Joss Whedon – Think about it! 😉

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC)

The ‘robosquid’ is just one of 15 proposals selected by NASA for study under Phase I of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), a program that aims to turn science fiction into science fact through the development of pioneering technologies.

“The latest NIAC selections include a number of exciting concepts,” said Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We are working with American innovators to reimagine the future of aerospace and focus our investments on concepts to address challenges of current interests both in space and here on Earth.”

NASA hopes the knowledge gained from these proposed studies will bring it closer to its goal of exploration beyond low-Earth orbit, and missions to asteroids and Mars.

The projects are chosen through a peer-review process that evaluates their potential, technical approach and benefits that can be realized in a reasonable timeframe. All concepts are very early in the development cycle and represent multiple technology areas, including aircraft propulsion, human life support, science instruments, unique robotic concepts and exploring other diverse technology paths needed to meet NASA’s strategic goals.

NIAC Phase I awards are valued at approximately $100,000, providing awardees the funding needed to conduct a nine-month initial definition and analysis study of their concepts.

NOAA Discovers Terrifying Deep-Sea Creatures After Exploring the Waters Off Puerto Rico

May 8, 2015May 28, 2015 risahopecreepy creatures, deep sea, dive, NOAA, ocean, Okeanos Explorer, Puerto Rico, Quartz, science, sea, strange science, technology, U.S. Virgin Islands, Underwater1 Comment

I have to admit, I’m a bit terrified of deep sea creatures. I mean, 95% of the ocean floor remains unexplored. That is A LOT of room for giant squid to roam. Lucky for me, NOAA decided to explore the waters off of Puerto Rico in search of the deep sea life that haunts my dreams.

From April 9 to April 30, 2015, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer explored largely uncharted deep-sea ecosystems and seafloor in the vicinity of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. What they found – using state of the art technology – will amaze you!

Quartz posted this incredible video to their Facebook page, using footage gathered from NOAA. Some of these creatures are so new – they don’t even have names.

Océano Profundo 2015

Legs 1 and 2 of the mission focused on mapping the seafloor where primarily only low-resolution satellite or topographic data existed previously. Leg 3 of the expedition featured some of the deepest remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives ever conducted in the region and collected critical deep-water environmental data that will improve ecosystem understanding and inform federal and local resource managers.

Why Puerto Rico?

According to NOAA, a diversity of seafloor features lie just offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that include trenches, seamounts, numerous submarine canyons, valleys, and troughs. These features likely contain valuable and vulnerable ocean resources, but very little is known about them, making this an important area to survey.

It is crucial to explore this area for several reasons:

It is tectonically active, with seismic hazards
It includes a large section of U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone
One of the major fisheries in the area is deepwater snapper, but little is known about snapper populations there
It is of potential interest for marine protected area managers, those creating ocean usage planning maps, and sanctuary managers

Mission map showing the operating areas, with priority areas outlined in black, for Leg 3 of Océano Profundo 2015: Exploring Puerto Rico’s Seamounts, Trenches, and Troughs. Map created with ESRI ArcMap software and data displayed is provided by ESRI, Delorme, GEBCO, USGS, NOAA NGDC, and other contributors. Image courtesy of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program.

Communication Technology

NOAA did a fantastic job of documenting their journey, allowing scientists and the public access to mission logs, daily reports, photos, video, and live underwater video feeds.

During the dives, Okeanos Explorer’s two-body ROV system continuously captured high-definition video, which the ship transmitted to the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research’s website, www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov, where anyone could follow along in near-real time!

Okeanos Explorer

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, “America’s Ship for Ocean Exploration,” is the only federally funded U.S. ship assigned to systematically explore our largely unknown ocean for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge. Telepresence, using real-time broadband satellite communications, connects the ship and its discoveries live with audiences ashore. Visit the NOAA Marine Operations Center Okeanos Explorer page for operations and crew information 🙂

Frostbite, Amputation, and Adoption: This Rottweiler Was Given a New Lease on Life with Four Prosthetic Paws

April 7, 2015April 8, 2015 risahopeadoption, amputation, animals, Colorado, dogs, frostbite, nature, news, prosthetics, science, technologyLeave a comment

This adorable 2-year-old Rottweiler’s name is Brutus, and he gets around using four specially designed prosthetic paws!

Brutus was left out in the freezing cold as a puppy and developed frostbite. His owner decided to amputate all four paws, and eventually gave him up for adoption.

Lucky for Brutus, someone noticed him in a store parking lot in Colorado, where he was looking for a new home. Hundreds of people donated money to give Brutus a new lease on life and four new paws! Brutus’ new owner, Laura Aquilina, says she just wants to give Brutus the gift of being a regular dog.

Felix Deurr, an orthopedics professor at Colorado State University, says prosthetics like Brutus’ have only been around for about 15 years and not all dogs get used to them. A study reviewing their effectiveness is due out later this year.

According to NBC News, Brutus is the second dog in history to receive four prosthetic limbs.

Aquilina says if Brutus doesn’t take to the prosthetics, she will move on without them, but by the looks of this video, Brutus is doing just fine!

Hello Nostalgia: This Device Turns Your iPhone into a GAME BOY!

April 3, 2015April 8, 2015 risahopegame boy, gaming, hyperkin, iPhone, iPhone 6 Plus, nintendo, retro, smart boy, smartphones, technology, video games1 Comment

Is this real life? First, Nintendo enters the mobile gaming ring, and now, THIS?! It’s time to blow the dust out of your old Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, kids!

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Zelda, Pokeman, Donkey Kong Country … I’ve got to figure out what I want to play first! — Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Zelda, Pokeman, Donkey Kong Country, Tetris, Kirby … I’ve got to figure out what I want to play first!

Hyperkin, an independent video game hardware developer from Los Angeles, recently revealed their plans to release a Game Boy-compatible device for the iPhone 6 Plus. Don’t worry, there are plans for more compatible smartphones in the future!

The Smart Boy began as an April Fool’s joke, but is now a full fledged project designed for consumer release.

The Smart Boy, which resembles an old school Nintendo Game Boy, attaches to the bottom of the iPhone 6 Plus, and allows you to play your favorite games in HD. It features the familiar directional pad, start, select, and A + B buttons.

In the beginning, the Smart Boy will only be available in the classic “80’s grey” hue, but more colors may follow.

“We wanted to create a retro device that can be easily adapted into any modern gamer’s arsenal of devices,” said Hyperkin’s product developer, Chris Gallizz

The gameplay itself will output through the iPhone 6 Plus’ own screen, and the Smart Boy will be accessed through an exclusive downloadable Smart Boy app.

If Nintendo is smart, they will see the huge demand for classic gameplay on smartphones, and hopefully team up with Hyperkin (or something similar) in the future.

Festo’s New Robotic Ants, Butterflies, and Chameleon Tongue Will Make You Do a Double Take

March 30, 2015April 8, 2015 risahopeanatomy, ants, bionic, bionicants, butterflies, chameleon, emotionbutterflies, festo, flexshapegripper, future, nature, news, production, robotics, robots, science, technology1 Comment

Festo has unveiled a slew of new animal-inspired robotic creatures you need to see to believe.

I’d like to introduce you to Festo’s BionicANTs, eMotionButterflies, and FlexShapeGripper!

BionicANTs – ‘Highly integrated individual systems to solve a common task’

The BionicANTs not only mimic the delicate anatomy of ants, but also their cooperative behavior. BionicANTs actually work together, under a clear set of rules, to coordinate their actions and movements. They even know when to branch off and use their ‘antennae’ to re-charge at the edge of their work space.

By pushing and pulling together, the ants are able to move an object across a defined area. This way, they are able to move loads that a single ant could not move alone. This technology seems playful, but it could greatly impact factories and production lines in the future.

Why ants? Ants are tough industrious workers that can carry a hundred times their own body weight. They live in big colonies with clear rankings and set rules. Ants know which tasks they need to fulfill, and they can work together to complete them.

eMotionButterflies – ‘Ultralight flying objects with collective behavior’

Festo - eMotionButterflies — CREDIT: FESTO

These might be the most beautiful robots I’ve ever seen! You have to admit they look real. Except for the large ‘Festo’ logo printed on their wings 🙂

These artificial butterflies feature highly integrated on-board electronics, allowing them to activate their wings individually with precision. No human pilot is required to control the eMotionButterflies. Thanks to indoor GPS and a complicated camera system, the bionic insects know where to fly and how to avoid collisions.

The wings are curved out of wafer-thin carbon rods and covered with an elastic capacitor film, which helps keep the eMotionButterfly’s weight as low as possible and its flight as natural as possible.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gu3z7w4Vc8

Why butterflies? Butterflies begin the world as caterpillars and later emerge as colorful flying creatures. They have large wings and slim bodies, making them light and aerodynamic.

FlexShapeGripper – ‘Gripping modelled on a chameleon’s tongue’

Festo - FlexShapeGripper — CREDIT: FESTO

Gripping applications have always played a key role in production, which explains Festo’s interest in the chameleon’s highly specialized tongue. The chameleon has the ability to shoot its tongue out light a rubber band and wrap around objects like a suction cup.

The FlexShapeGripper’s water-filled silicone cap allows it to wrap itself around various items in a flexible and form-fitting manner, much like a chameleon!

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7l-87r4oOY

Why a chameleon? Chameleons can more their eyes independently of each other and change the color of their skin depending on their mood and temperature. Their unique tongues help them attack and retract prey as quick as lightening

All three of these ‘biomimetic’ devices will be on display at the industry trade show Hannover Messe in April.

Science Fix on Netflix: Top 7 Picks to Watch Tonight

March 5, 2015April 8, 2015 risahopeanimals, bees, Brain Games, cosmos, documentary, Higgs boson particle, honey, love, man, monkeys, movies, nature, netflix, online, Particle Fever, physics, science, space, streaming, technology, tv, videoLeave a comment

If you are anything like me, chances are you spend hours streaming on Netflix. So, before you start season 7 of Gilmore Girls, check out these seriously awesome science-y movies and shows available right now! You might even learn something.

#1 – Particle Fever (2013) 1hr39min

‘The creation of the Higgs boson particle, an elusive key to unlocking secrets of the universe, unfolds on camera in this landmark documentary.’

I got chills the first time I saw the trailer for Particle Fever. I remember hearing these words: “It could be nothing, other than just understanding everything.” Watch these intelligent and fiercely dedicated people explore the unknown and tackle the largest machine every built.

#2 – Brain Games (2011-2013) 2 Seasons

‘This interactive series uses games, illusions and experiments to illustrate how our brains manufacture our reality and often play tricks on us.’

You think you have a firm grasp on reality, but you have no idea. Brain Games is a truly mind-bending show. It reveals a new way to perceive your world with games, tricks, and eye-opening experiments. Fun for the whole family!

#3 – Nature: Snow Monkeys (2014) 53min

‘In Japan’s frigid Shiga Highlands, a troop of snow monkeys functions in a complex society of rank and privilege where each knows its place.’

This episode of Nature follows a tribe of snow monkeys through central Japan, showing how they keep friends and family close in order to survive. The shots are absolutely breathtaking, and there is nothing more adorable than snow monkeys relaxing in the arctic hot springs.

Side Note: This episode is narrated by Liam Neeson, which is rad! His voice is soothing and engaging. More like Love Actually Liam, not so much Taken, Taken 2, or Taken 3 – or his new movie Run All Night, which might as well be Taken 4.

#4 – More Than Honey (2012) 1hr35m

‘Already hailed as a definitive work on the subject, this comprehensive documentary examines the disappearance of honeybee populations worldwide.’

Bees are dying all over the world and they say it’s a mystery. 1/3 of our food wouldn’t even exist without bees. This beautiful documentary is slow-paced but it takes a fascinating look at the dynamics of the hive, pollination, diseases, parasites, the business of bees and their disappearance.

#5 – Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014) 1 Season

‘Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson presents new revelations about time and space in this reboot of the original “Cosmos” documentary series.’

Carl Sagan’s original 1980’s TV show Cosmos: A Personal Voyage made scientific documentaries cool. Tyson is willing to take you on a new Cosmos adventure if you follow his strict rules: “Follow the evidence wherever it leads and question everything. Accept these terms and the cosmos is yours.”

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey can be a little cheesy at times, but for the most part, it is educational, visually stimulating and extremely interesting.

Fun Fact: Animator Seth MacFarlane was instrumental in obtaining network funding for Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and also serves as an executive producer. At the time MacFarlane told Tyson, “I’m at a point in my career where I have some disposable income … and I’d like to spend it on something worthwhile.”

#6 – Nature: Love in the Animal Kingdom (2013) 53m

‘Animals compete with everything they’ve got to find and secure a mate. For many, the all-important bonds they share as a couple are what enable the next generation to survive.’

Parts of this episode of Nature actually made me uncomfortable, like I shouldn’t be watching. Mainly, the male sea dragon giving birth, the female gorilla creepily flirting with every male in sight, and the young wolves mating just to be ‘painfully’ interrupted by the female’s angry father.

That being said, what makes this episode so great is probably also what made me squirm. You get a very private, inside look at the way these wild animals dance, sing, flirt, and compete in order to find a mate. It’s highly entertaining.

#7 – Mankind: The Story of All of Us (2012) 1 Season

‘This miniseries charts the rise of civilization, from the first flourishing of life in Mesopotamia through the discovery of America.’

Josh Brolin narrates this 12-hour mini-series that provides an in-depth look at the evolution of mankind. I think we often overlook just how incredible we are as a species.

Mankind may try to fit too much into the series, and at times it can feel like a high school history lecture, but it’s also informative and fun to watch. Prepare to learn about our earliest ancestors, farming, tools, weapons, man’s best friend, warfare, the plague, and much more!

Krystian Science

Just a Girl Obsessed with Science

Technology