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Enjoy These Breathtaking Photos From Space as We Prepare to Welcome Three ISS Crew Members Back to Earth

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Krystian Science SpaceThe space community has fully embraced social media and sharing online, which is truly a treat for the world! Day-to-day life on the International Space Station is something very few people get to experience. Plus, the view from up there is simply one-of-a-kind. NASA’s flickr account is updated frequently, pulling from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other internet accounts. I’ve decided to post a few of my favorites in honor of the three space station members set to return to earth in a few days! 🚀

NASA astronaut Terry Virts (left) Commander of Expedition 43 on the International Space Station along with crewmates Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov (center) and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti on May 6, 2015 perform a checkout of their Russian Soyuz spacesuits in preparation for the journey back to Earth. Credits: NASA
NASA astronaut Terry Virts (left) Commander of Expedition 43 on the International Space Station along with crewmates Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov (center) and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti on May 6, 2015 perform a checkout of their Russian Soyuz spacesuits in preparation for the journey back to Earth.
Credits: NASA

The three ISS crew members pictured above are scheduled to depart the orbiting laboratory on Thursday, June 11, after more than six months in space performing scientific research and technology demonstrations. We will be welcoming back Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, NASA astronaut Terry Virts, and my girl crush, Italian born ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. For a full schedule of their anticipated departure/arrival click here.

NASA Television will air converge of their departure and return to Earth. Coverage begins at 10:40 a.m. EDT Wednesday, June 10, when Expedition 43 Commander Terry Virts of NASA hands over command of the space station to cosmonaut Gennady Padalka of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos).

(05/31/2015) — Expedition 43 Commander and NASA astronaut Terry Virts is seen here in the International Space Station’s Cupola module, a 360 degree Earth and space viewing platform. The module also contains a robotic workstation for controlling the station’s main robotic arm, Canadarm2, which is used for a variety of operations including the remote grappling of visiting cargo vehicles. (Flickr: nasa2explore)
(05/20/2015) — Earth observation of South America from the International Space Station on May 20, 2015. NASA astronaut Terry Virts tweeted this image with the remark of: “Farm fields in central #Brazil #SouthAmerica”. (Flickr: nasa2explore)
(05/04/2015) — ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti glides through supply containers packed onboard the International Space Station. (Flickr: nasa2explore)
(05/08/2015) — This image of Tropical Storm Anna taken from the International Space Station displays the view looking south-southeastward from western Virginia towards storm about 200 miles east of Savannah, Georgia, Bahamas and Florida in the distance. (Flickr: nasa2explore)
(05/02/2015) — This image of the American upper Midwest and parts of Canada was captured by NASA astronaut Terry Virts on the International Space Station on May 2, 2015. Virts made this comment with the tweet: “It’s great to see the #GreatLakes with no snow”! (Flickr: nasa2explore)
(04/24/2015) — NASA astronaut Scott Kelly on the International Space Station shows off his personal living quarters in space. Scott tweeted this image out with the comment: ” My #bedroom aboard #ISS. All the comforts of #home. Well, most of them. #YearInSpace”. (Flickr: nasa2explore)
(05/14/2015) — SpaceX’s Dragon cargo capsule is seen here docked to the Earth facing port of the Harmony module. SpaceX’s sixth commercial resupply flight to the International Space Station launched on April 14th and arrived three days later. It will depart with over 3,100 pounds of research samples and equipment and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on May 21. (Flickr: nasa2explore)
(04/09/2015) — NASA astronauts Terry Virts (bottom) and Scott Kelly (top) are seen here inside the Destiny Laboratory performing eye exams as part of ongoing studies into crew vision health. (Flickr: nasa2explore)
(05/29/2015) — This nighttime image from the International Space Station shows the Soyuz TMA-15M which carried NASA astronaut Terry Virts, Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti to the station and will return them in early June. (Flickr: nasa2explore)
(12/23/2014) — ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti on the International Space Station captured this warm water image of the aquamarine and turquoise waters around the Bahamas down to the central American countries of Honduras and Nicaragua. (Flickr: nasa2explore)
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2015 Xtreme Eating ‘Winners’: Sad Day for Red Lobster, Sonic, and Cheesecake Factory – ‘Merica!

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KS HealthThe Center for Science in the Public Interest surveyed the menus of more than 200 restaurant chains in search of high-calorie, high-fat gut bombs. They found the drinks, meals, sides, desserts, and ridiculous combos that are unbearably high in calories, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. Nine items topped the list – view them below! I’m embarrassed proud to admit one of my top guilty pleasure treats (#2) made the list this year. Eat up 😉

The full list of “winners” was published in the June issue of CSPI’s flagship publication, Nutrition Action Healthletter.

Xtreme Eating 2015 Winners!

‘It’s not easy to win an Xtreme Eating award. For starters, most restaurant meals pack around 1,000 calories, so anything in that neighbor-hood is a yawner. To stand out in the crowd, you’ve got to hit around 2,000 calories—an entire day’s worth of food—even if it’s just dessert.

But our winners have what it takes…a total disregard for the obesity epidemic and the coming diabetes tsunami. Of course, you can’t blame restaurants for that. That would be so unfair.’

#10) Red Lobster’s Lobsterita (890 calories) A 24 oz. Traditional Lobsterita (with its 860 mg of sodium). IMAGE: Instagram – Red Lobster
9) IHOP’s Chorizo Fiesta Omelette (1,300 calories) IHOP’s Chorizo Fiesta Omelette, which is loaded with spicy chorizo sausage, roasted peppers, onions and pepper jack cheese, then topped with a citrus chili sauce and sour cream and served with a fresh grilled serrano pepper…will have you holding your stomach. A 1,300-calorie sausage omelette alone would strike many as a tad on the heavy side. But this one comes with three buttermilk pancakes (or hash browns, toast, or fruit) for MORE added calories! IMAGE: IHOP website
8) Steak ‘n Shake’s 7×7 Steakburger (1,330 calories) The 7X7 Steakburger ‘n Fries (available from midnight to 6 a.m. on the “Up All Night” menu) squeezes seven beef patties between its buns. The 1,330 calories in the burger make the 240 calories in the small side of fries seem puny. But what’s puny about the plate’s 47 grams of sat fat and 4,570 mg of sodium? IMAGE: Steak ‘n Shake website
7) Outback Steakhouse’s 16 oz. Herb Roasted Prime Rib (1,400 calories) The 16 oz. prime rib is 1,400 calories alone. For sides, let’s say you get the dressed baked potato and the classic blue cheese wedge (it’s a “premium side salad,” so it’ll cost you a buck), and that you eat just half the loaf of bread and use just a light schmear of butter. The tab: 2,400 calories, 71 grams of sat fat (31⁄2 days’ worth), and enough sodium (3,560 mg) for today and tomorrow. IMAGE: CSPI website
6) Uno’s 6” Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza (1,470 calories) A Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza (“a small plate version of their famous Chicago Classic Deep Dish with sausage, mozzarel- la, chunky tomato sauce and romano”). IMAGE: CSPI website
5) The Cheesecake Factory’s Warm Apple Crisp (1,740 calories) Between the apples, “delicious crispy nutty topping,” two scoops of ice cream, small mountain of whipped cream, and caramel sauce, you’re looking at 1,740 calories—more than any cheesecake on the menu. In fact, you can eat TWO slices of the original cheesecake instead. Gross. IMAGE: Cheesecake Factory website
4) Dickey’s Barbecue Pit’s 3 Meat Plate (2,500 calories) With a whole 3 meat plate, including two sides, sweet tea, and a half cup of ice cream in a cone (and no re- fills), your meal comes to roughly 2,500 calories, 49 grams of sat fat and 4,700 mg of sodium (21⁄2 to 3 days’ worth of each), plus 29 teaspoons of (mostly added) sugar. It’s like having three Big Macs with five Vanilla Cones. IMAGE: Twitter – Dickeys
3) Sonic’s Large Pineapple Upside Down Master Blast (2,020 calories) “SONIC’s real, vanilla ice cream perfectly mixed with pineapple, salted caramel & pie crust pieces” comes in a 32 oz. cup topped with several inches of whipped cream. That’s for a large, which fires 2,020 calories at your midsection, and 61 grams (three days’ worth) of sat fat and 41⁄2 grams (two days’ worth) of trans fat (from the pie crust) at your arteries. And it comes with some 29 teaspoons of added sugar. One Master Blast has the calories of roughly four Dairy Queen Banana Splits. IMAGE: Sonic website
2) The Cheesecake Factory’s Louisiana Chicken Pasta (2,370 calories) The Louisiana Chicken Pasta, which weighs an impressive 1.5 pounds, comes topped with four slices of heavily breaded chicken. Add the New Orleans sauce (butter and heavy cream), and your plate is up to 2,370 calories (more than a day’s worth), plus 80 grams of saturated fat (a four-day supply) and 2,370 milligrams of sodium (11⁄2 days’ worth). IMAGE: Cheesecake Factory website
1) Red Lobster’s “Create Your Own Combination” (2,710 calories) For CSPI’s Create Your Own Combination at Red Lobster, they picked three shrimp dishes (Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut, Walt’s Favorite, and Linguine Alfredo). With french fries as the side, Caesar as the salad, and just one Cheddar Bay Biscuit, the total came to 2,710 calories, 37 grams (two days’ worth) of sat fat, and 6,530 mg (a four day supply) of sodium. IMAGE: CSPI website

 

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Top 10 Crazy New Species Found in 2014: A Cartwheeling Spider, Neon Sea-Slug, and the Bird From Hell

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KS Strange ScienceScientific American shared a list of the top 10 most interesting new species discovered last year. The fascinating list was published by the International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry on May 21. Explore the new creatures below!

INDONESIAN FROG: Limnonectes larvaepartus is a small fanged frog found in forests on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It is unique in that the female’s eggs are fertilized internally and she gives birth to live tadpoles. Of the 6,455 known species of frogs, fewer than a dozen undergo internal fertilization. And apart from this new species, all frogs either lay eggs or give birth to froglets. Photograph by Jimmy A. McGuire
CORAL PLANT: Found only on the southwestern slopes of Mount Mignan in the Philippines, Balanophora coralliformis is an endangered plant that parasitizes the roots of other plants. Its rough, elongated, repeatedly branching, aboveground tubers set it apart from other species of its kind. Photograph by P.B. Pelser & J.F. Barcelona
CARTWHEELING SPIDER Meet the arachnid world’s top gymnast. Cebrennus rechenbergi is a hunting spider found in the deserts of Morocco. This spider is the only species to “cartwheel,” which allows it to move two times faster than running when escaping from danger. Its unique movement inspired a biomimetic robot that walks and rolls. Photograph by Ingo Rechenberg, Technical University Berlin
CHICKEN FROM HELL Anzu wyliei is a bird like dinosaur that inhabited North American 66 million years ago. Because its relatives are chicken-size and the fossils were discovered at the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota, A. wyliei received the nickname “chicken from hell.” Its genus name, Anzu, derives from the feathered demon “Anzû” of Babylonian mythology. Illustration by Mark A. Klingler
THE X-PHYLA: Residing on the sea floor off the coast of Australia, Dendrogramma enigmatica is notable for its tiny size and mushroomlike shape. It resembles members of the phyla Cnidaria (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones and hydras) and Ctenophora (comb jellies) but lacks key evolutionary traits of both. Consequently, scientists have proposed that D. enigmatica might be a member of its own new phylum. Photograph by Jørgen Oleson
BONE-HOUSE WASP: A wasp found in the Gutianshan National Nature Reserve in eastern China, Deuteragenia ossarium has gained notoriety for its morbid nesting habits. It builds its nests in hollow plant stems made of cells separated by soil walls, with each cell hosting an individual egg. To prepare the nest, it kills and deposits a spider in a cell as food for the larva when it hatches, lays an egg in that cell, then repeats the process for each consecutive cell. The wasp fills the last cell with up to 13 dead ants, which serve as a chemical barrier to the nest by camouflaging it with the odor of decay. Photograph by Merten Ehmig
WALKING STICK Measuring at 23 centimeters long—yes, as long as a human forearm—Phyganistria tamdaoensis is a member of the family of “giant stick” insects, the largest insects in the world. The creature’s stick like body makes it a master of camouflage, which helps explain how it eluded discovery in its habitat in Vietnam—until now. Photograph by Jonathan Brecko
PHOTOGENIC SEA SLUG: This gastropod, Phyllodesmium acanthorhinum, sports vivid shades of blue, red and gold. Its discovery helped scientists understand the symbiosis that occurs in members of this genus. Algae called zooxanthellae typically exist symbiotically with coral, where they exchange nutrients via cycles of respiration and photosynthesis. In sea slugs a type of tri-species symbiosis occurs when algae residing in a slug’s gut draw nutrients from coral its host consumes, in turn furnishing the slug with the nutrient products of photosynthesis. Photograph by Robert Bolland
SOLITARY BROMELIAD: Tillandsia religiosa, a solitary flowering plant with rose-colored spikes and flat green leaves, grows in rocky terrain in Morelos, Mexico. T. religiosa has long been known to native people of the region, who incorporated it into nacimientos (altar scenes depicting the birth of Christ) at Christmas. Yet scientists have only recently described it. Photograph by A. Espejo
WHITE-SPOTTED PUFFERFISH: In 1995 scientists described an underwater phenomenon akin to crop circles on the sea floor off the coast of Japan’s Amami-Oshima Island. Marine exploration led to the discovery that these large geometric designs are actually the nests of a pufferfish known as Torquigener albomaculosus. The fact the culprits who made them eluded scientists for 10 years earned T. albomaculosus a place on the list. Male pufferfish build these intricate nests by wriggling around in the sand on the ocean floor. The nests are intended to attract females and designed to minimize ocean current at the center of the nest to protect the eggs. Photograph by Yoji Okata
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I Dare You To Ignore These Adoptable Pups Once They Hit The Photo Booth

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KS_LOGOs2_PopCultureThe Humane Society of Utah started putting their adoptable dogs in front of the camera and the results are too cute!

Humane Society 1
Ciara the 3 year old Black Mouth Cur mix CREDIT: Humane Society of Utah Facebook

The mastermind behind the photo booth project is photographer Guinnevere Shuster, who is the Social Media Coordinator at the Humane Society.

This campaign puts adoptable dogs in front of the lens, letting them show off their unique personalities. The Humane Society uses their popular Facebook page to constantly post new pics of puppies, and updates those photos once the pup has been happily adopted.

The best part about this new photo booth campaign is that it’s working! According to the Humane Society, the placement rate of dogs has reached a whopping 93.26%.

All the dogs you see below have been adopted! Click through a selection of the dog portraits and enjoy 🙂

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It’s not all going to the dogs. The Human Society of Utah also has a bunch of adorable cats and other animals to adopt. They make frequent appearances on social media as well.

Humane Society 2
Credit: Humane Society of Utah Facebook

 

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Epic Photos of the “Red Moon” and Shortest Eclipse of the Century

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Krystian Science Space

The full “blood moon” lunar eclipse only lasted five minutes! But, people all over the world still managed to capture the epic moment on film. Check out these beautiful photos of the ‘shortest lunar eclipse of the century,’ courtesy of TIME, Yahoo, and Flickr.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – APRIL 04: A blood red moon lights up the sky during a total lunar eclipse on April 4, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. The shortest total lunar eclipse, or “blood moon”, of the century will last just a few minutes. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
A lunar eclipse is seen from Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday, 04 April 2015. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon on its way around the Earth moves through the planet’s shadow cast by the sun in opposing position. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
A lunar eclipse is seen beside a clock tower at Marina Beach in Chennai, India, Saturday, April 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)
Indians watch a lunar eclipse from the banks of River Kuakhai on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, April 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout)
A total lunar eclipse is observed above cherry blossoms in Shiraishi city, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, Saturday, April 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – APRIL 04: Sky-watchers got a glimpse of the Blood Moon in the shortest eclipse of the century as it sets behind Pikes Peak April 4, 2015 in Colorado Springs. The top edge of the eclipsed moon should appear much brighter than the rest of the orb.(Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
The beginning of a total lunar eclipse is seen behind leaves illuminated by a street light in Canberra, Australia, on Saturday, 04 April 2015. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon on its way around the Earth moves through the planet’s shadow cast by the sun in opposing position. EPA/LUKAS COCH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
Lunar eclipse in Las Vegas with stratosphere. Flickr: tslclick
A lunar eclipse is observed above a lion-shaped statue in Urasoe city, Okinawa prefecture, southern Japan, Saturday, April 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT
A partially eclipsed full moon sets behind a statue of a Kansa Indian at the Kansas Statehouse, Saturday, April 4, 2015 in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Baby Sloth Bear Birth Sneaks Under the Radar in Germany

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KS NatureA baby sloth bear was born at NaturZoo Rheine in Germany in December, but it was kept under wraps so the newborn could bond with its mother in peace.

Little Niko, born to his mother Devi and father Franz, greeted the world on December 6, 2014.

The first few months of a sloth bear’s life are crucial. According to NaturZoo Rheine’s Facebook page, newborn sloth bears are blind, nearly hairless, and about the size of a guinea pig. Niko spent the first few months of his life alone with his mother in a dark, sound-proof room, under the watchful eye of a hidden camera. At that age, his father is kept separate because he is considered a threat to the baby’s health.

Sloth bear births in zoos are very rare and caring for them can be challening. According to NaturZoo Rheine, there are just 25 sloth bears currently living in European zoos.

Niko is just now beginning to explore his outdoor surroundings, so stay tuned to the NaturZoo Rheine Facebook page for updates!

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Photo: National Geographic
Photo: National Geographic

The reclusive sloth bear lives in the forests of South Asia, feeding on fruits, flowers, termites, ants, and other insects. They have special long, curved claws that allow them to dig deep into nest mounds to find food.

These nocturnal animals tend to keep to themselves. They usually rock a shaggy black coat with a cream-colored snout, and their chest is occasionally marked with a light ‘V’ or ‘Y’ design.

Sloth bears can live up to 40 years in the wild and grow to be nearly 300 pounds! Unfortunately, sloth bears are incredibly vulnerable, threatened by habitat loss and sometimes capture.

Fun Fact: Sloth bears carry their cubs on their back! This is considered a unique trait among bears.

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Even the Sky is Begging For a Green Beer on St. Patrick’s Day!

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Krystian Science Space

NASA has reported that a severe geomagnetic storm is underway and luckily Sebastian Saarloos captured these amazing “St. Patrick’s Day Auroras” at Donnelly Creek, Alaska on March 17, 2015.

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“The auroras were amazing last night and it was the most color that I’ve ever seen. The auroras also lasted longer than usual. Often I’ll see red or purples for a few minutes but last night it lasted hours. The only reason I stopped photographing was because I was physically exhausted from walking through knee deep snow and fighting 35 mph winds. It was quite warm at 30 f, so cold wasn’t a factor, and the adrenaline kept me warm. I’m looking forward to another great night tonight, but last night will be hard to live up to. The equipment used was a Nikon D810, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Super Wide Angle Lens, and a tripod.” – Sebastian Saarloos

You can see more images from Sebastian here: www.facebook.com/SebastianSaarloos

NASA also celebrated St. Patty’s Day by posting a photo of Ireland. This image taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA’s Aqua satellite shows the Emerald Isle in all its green glory.

Credit: NASA/MODIS RAPID RESPONSE TEAM
Credit: NASA/MODIS RAPID RESPONSE TEAM
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