One small step, 50 years of science

To view this email as a web page, go here.

7/20/19 “After two million years, man has stepped out of this world onto another. And, by incredible fortune, we are alive at the instant he did it.” — Science News, July 26, 1969  Today marks the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. To celebrate this monumental day in science history, we take a look at the incredible research that has resulted from that small step and anticipate the discoveries yet to be made. We examine how Science News covered the Apollo 11 mission and we get as close as possible to the moon rocks that we still can't touch. And there's plenty more on our website. Thanks as always for reading! —The Editors Apollo astronauts left trash, mementos and experiments on the moon Here’s what planetary scientists are learning from the remains of Apollo outposts, and how archeologists hope to preserve it.  Read More How NASA has kept Apollo moon rocks safe from contamination for 50 years NASA wouldn’t let our reporter touch the Apollo moon rocks. Here’s why that’s a good thing. Read More Accolades, skepticism and science marked Science News’ coverage of Apollo “Ghostly they were, those two figures gliding over the surface of the moon. But, with all the world watching, it was certain. The dream of the ages had been fulfilled: Man was on the moon.” Read More Planting trees could buy more time to fight climate change than thought Earth has nearly a billion hectares suitable for new forests to start trapping carbon, a study finds.  Read More Night-shining ‘noctilucent’ clouds have crept south this summer Clouds high in the atmosphere that catch the sun’s rays even after sundown may be seen farther from the poles due to an increase in moisture in the air. Read More Manipulating nerve cells makes mice ‘see’ something that’s not there Using optogenetics to stimulate about 20 nerve cells causes mice to perceive nonexistent vertical or horizontal lines. Read More Scientists still can’t agree on the universe’s expansion rate It’s one of the most talked-about issues in physics: Two measurements of the universe’s expansion rate disagree. Read More Permanent liquid magnets have now been created in the lab Magnets that generate persistent magnetic fields are usually solid. But new little bar magnets have the mechanical properties of liquids. Read More A flexible bone that helps mammals chew dates back to the Jurassic Period A flexible bone that helps with chewing may have helped give rise to the Age of Mammals, a new fossil shows. Read More A deadly fungus gives ‘zombie’ ants a case of lockjaw Clues left on infected ant jaws may reveal how the ‘zombie-ant-fungus’ contracts ant muscles to make their death grip.  Read More Privacy policy  |  Update Profile  | Manage Subscriptions  |   Unsubscribe This email was sent by: Society for Science & the Public 1719 N Street NW Washington, DC, 20036, US