By Nipun Chandrasiri  To answer some of the biggest questions of life, such as how life began on Earth or if there is life out there, we need to understand what the universe is made up of. From the beginning of the space exploration era, scientific measurements were made to understand the composition of various planetary bodies. Analytical chemistry, the realm of scientific exploration that includes using instruments and methods to explore the chemical makeup of a sample or a […]

By Jaqueline Ramirez  Understanding the origins of life and the first evolutionary events on Earth is an integral part of our quest to find life forms on other planets. For this, and although it is a complex concept, it is important to try to establish a definition of life (or, at least, a characterization of life) and to consider the limits and physical parameters in which it can develop. Starting from a prevalent working definition of life accepted by NASA […]

By Isita Singh We are yet to encounter many of the innumerable dreadful events that occur within our galaxy. One such event that the scientists expect to turn out to be potentially dreadful for our planet is the explosion of a massive star leading to what we call a supernova. No wonder that it shall be one of the most dazzling visual sights to think of and if by chance we got to see in any form, the view shall […]

By Alyssa Eakman It’s easy to forget how much humanity is in science. Imagining science, especially on a professional level, may evoke mental images of metal instruments, white lab coats, and cold, hard calculations. Robots and screens and beakers are part of science, of course, but what often gets overlooked is humanity. Behind all the overworked computers and lines of code and chalkboard mathematics are humans.  The curiosity and cravings for company that are so innate to human nature underscore […]

By Xi Chen The history of the Neogene paleoclimate and environment are hidden in a “secret collection” written by nature in code. Scientists all over the world are explaining and reading these “secrets”, among which the three most widely read books include deep-sea sedimentation, polar ice cores, and Chinese loess. The Loess Plateau is one of the longest (about 20 million years) and most complete land paleoclimate recorders discovered so far. The Loess Plateau is composed of loess, a word […]