RC Cars for the Beginner to the Hobbyist by Halen Holes

So you might have seen my previous articles on rc cars and want to learn more about them. This is the place to read up on how to work on them, maintain them, fix them, and what car to buy.

What is an RC Car?

To start off RC stands for Remote controlled or Radio controlled. What is the difference between the two? A remote is a controller with a wire attached to the car and is almost always a low quality or toy grade vehicle and slow.  A radio controlled vehicle uses radio signals to communicate to the car. An RC car is a car scaled down to a smaller size, usually unrealistic but sometimes is very scaled, meaning it looks realistic or drives realistically. 

How do they work?

So an RC car works like this: you have a motor that connects to the drivetrain and creates torque. Another part is the ESC "Electronic speed controller", the heart of the car it gets power from a battery and sends it to other electronics. Next is the receiver, it is like the brain. It gets the signals from the remote and tells the ESC where to send power and how much. Another part is the steering servo. It steers the wheels. You can get all kinds of all of these parts. You might be wondering what different kinds of those parts there are so for motors there are different KV (Kilo volt) ratings KV stands for RPM per volt there is also turn ratings too which can be converted but it's almost impossible to actually get within 500 KV of that rating.

Motors 

Now that you know that the types of motors are brushed and brushless to put it simply brushed has brushes that contact a part in the motor to create power. The nice part is it is really really smooth and has no cogging and the price is much cheaper than the next type. Next is brushless motors. They are the "good ones" as  a lot of people will say it, which makes sense because they have more torque, rpm, speed and can be 100% waterproof. They have some slight downsides being the price which is much more expensive and cogging.  What is cogging you might ask? Well, it is when the ESC doesn't know what direction to spin the motor or under high pressure they can cog. There is a fix for this. In a  sensored motor, the ESC knows where the motor is positioned so no cogging or very little, but they are even more expensive.  Some of these for a 1/10 scale vehicle can run you upwards or 250$ usd for a sensored system but they are the best of the best.

Electronic speed controllers   

So these are very important parts to the car and cost the most.  Usually there are brushed brushless and brushless sensored versions of these too but they control the motor and rpm of the motor. There are some technical things with esc's like punch, throttle curve, drag brake, brake force, some have a BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit) and much more for tuning. ESC's have another rating 45a, 60a, 80a, 100a, 120a, etc this stands for how many amps it can handle for a long amount of time but there is also burst which is the max it can take before hitting a safety shut off or if they don't have a cut off explode. Obviously, you want to get one with a lipo/ li ion cut off and one that can handle a high amount of amps.

Batteries 

There are 3 common types of batteries Lipo (lithium polymer) Li ion (Lithium ion) and NIMH (Nickel metal hydride). First is nimh they are okay batteries, usually something that will come with a car to get you started they have a lot of cells with 1.2 volts per cell but a low discharge rate (this means not much torque or acceleration) and it drops voltage during the run so it will get slower as you drive. All batteries drop voltage during running but nimh loses more speed and acceleration when this happens. Next is li ion they have 3.7 volts per cell but much less than the nimh they are a big step up in acceleration and top speed than the nimh type. Lipos they are the best batteries to use but are the most dangerous explosive wise when not taken care of they have 3.7 volts per cell usually and they have the most punch most top speed and the lowest loss in speed and power over a run they have many different cell counts for rc use 1 to 6 cell usually but then it gets better there are hv (high voltage) lipos that supply slightly more speed and power. Lipos in general also usually have the most run time and can be charged pretty fast. Lipos do cost the most of the three usually though performance has a cost usually. I do not recommend you charge any battery above what the manufacturer says it can be charged at and let them cool down if warm after a run. 

Radios and receivers 

These also are quite expensive depending on what you want. Cars now mainly run 2.4G (gigahertz) , a radio signal that can go really far and has quick response to the car. Radios and receivers also have some cool features sometimes such as gyros pretty much they sense where the car is when it's going straight but when the rear end slips or gets out of control it can change steering to keep you going straight some also control the motor like if it is really bad it slows down so it can keep going straight. Another cool thing is real time telemetry. Some cars have speed, rpm, heat and GPS sensors. Some high end radios have screens with "apps" that you can go into to set endpoints epa and some other things that are interesting. But most rtr (Ready to run) radios have just enough to get you started like end points epa and gyros sometimes.

Maintenance

This is very important to know because some people (including myself) don't clean your car you don't necessarily have to but I highly recommend at least drying metal parts like bearings or any steel so they don't rust because it looks bad and can mess up performance especially the bearings. Another thing is just every once in a while check if your car has anything loose. Do your bearings have a little too much play? Does something have more slop than it should? If any of these things are issues you have to check what the problem is and get a replacement part if needed. Another thing is shocks you will have to replace the oil after running for a while doesn't matter as much for bashers and will usually take a while until you have to replace it but it can make a massive difference in tuning the same goes for the differential to replace the grease or oil when low. maintenance does have a lot to do with where you drive and what car too. 

What car is for me?

Now that you know what a car is and how it works you might ask what car should I get? I want to start by saying it doesn't matter, get the car you think is best and don't get taken away from a different type of vehicle because I can say it took me 3 years before I got a crawler and is now one of my favorite cars to drive. In my opinion, get the car that puts the biggest smile on your face. Have fun, don't get pushed around because "Your car isn't good enough" just do what you want.

Types of vehicles

Buggy

These are some of the best handling low slung vehicles many people design these to race off road go as fast as possible and usually are the best driving to just have some fun with without flipping or rolling but can be held back on rocky or harsh terrain.

Monster truck

These are the best for going fast off road they are usually really tall with some big tires. For off road these can be quite fast and torquey but have big shocks and can be driven about anywhere but do have a tendency to roll, flip or wheelie more than other cars.

Stadium truck 

These are really fun truck they are in between monster trucks and buggies they usually are the best for all road fun with wider tires that are larger than buggy but lower profile than monster trucks and they usually handle really well about anywhere and are great for getting high speeds like 70 to 80 mph 

Short course truck (SCT)

These are pretty fun to just run around they are definitely really fun to race and drive about anywhere the fun part is they have more body roll than the other cars which make the driving experience more realistic some do have a issue or parcuting the body is so large it catches air and can cause unexpected flipping or wheelies the also don't have as much air control as the monster truck or stadium truck but are really fun all around trucks.

On Road Sedan 

These are super fun to drive in parking lots or open space as long as it isn't super rough or off road they are pretty much the best for hitting ridiculous speeds like 160 to 190mph like an arrma limitless for a touring style 1/10 scale car more like 70 to 100 mph range. They can also be turned into 4wd drift cars although it is not considered drifting. It is still really fun to do because you usually just need to swap to hard rubber or plastic wheels.

Rally Cars 

depending on the type of rally car and the size they are a ton of fun they have a lot of body roll and handle pretty similar to the real thing and usually the body is an suv type and really large meaning your car is really well protected. I think they are the most fun on loose dirt with some jumps but depending on the size just about any off-roading is possible within reason at least.

Crawlers/Trail trucks 

If you are looking to get over stuff or pull stuff with a ton of torque or even just looking for a car for beginners or scale stuff this is where to look you can get a very wide variety of bodies, tires, wheels, shocks, and scale accessories. These trucks are  designed to get over large obstacles fairly slowly and usually have a top speed of less than 10mph unless it has a high kv brushless system or high gearing/2 speed transmission. They also tend to be over built and extremely durable like the scx10iii or the Traxxas TRX4 the down sides are they are sometimes really expensive they are slow and can be boring but I can say from experience just try one out a lot of people don't like them until they are able to drive them.

After reading this you should look into what might be best for you looking into the hobby.

I can't tell you what car is best for you. I recommend watching videos and reviews to see what is best for you. I hope you have fun with your new hobby if you choose to try it out.

An Anker Tale: The Story of How a Clock Went From a Tiny Island in Denmark to State College by Camilla Thorsen

Imagine it is two hundred years ago. A British ship is sailing in the Hammer waters near Bornholm. The ship is stranded and all the crew members drown in the rough waters. Karl Anker, a man who lives in Bornholm, comes across a clock made of brass. It has washed up on shore and it’s little destroyed, but still assembled enough for Anker to sketch a quick drawing of the mechanics of the clock. He then went home to build three clocks, all very similar to the one he found on the ship. Anker’s son, also named Karl Anker, made a factory for the Ankers to build clocks.

Now we will skip through time to 1883, when William Thorsen was born. He married Thora Vest Thorsen, who gave birth to Holger Thorsen. Holger Thorsen married Mildith Kamilla Hansen Thorsen in 1937. Holger and Mildith bought a big, beautiful farm. In 1940, German Nazis invaded Denmark, and they stayed there for five years. In 1945, Germany collapsed and the world was free of Hitler. Denmark celebrated freedom! But Bornholm wasn't liberated. Then Karl Anker got information that Russia was planning to bomb cities in Bornholm. Holger and Mildith invited Anker, his wife, and his nine kids to take refuge at their farm just outside the city. Then it happened. On May 11, 1945, Bornholm got bombed by the Russians. The Soviet Army sent in some troops, and they stayed there for one year. Karl Anker was very grateful to Mildith and Holger for caring for his family while the Russians were bombing. Every year on May 11, he sent Mildith blood-red roses to thank her for her help.

Holger and Mildith had a child named Ralf Thorsen in 1947. When Ralf was 14 years old he went to work at Gronbeck for two months, but it wasn’t for him. His father went to Karl Anker and asked if he could find a job for Ralf. Ralf became an apprentice to Anker as a blacksmith, and he worked for four years in that job. Then he came to America in 1974 after finishing his schooling. The day after he got to New Jersey he met Frances Irene Flynn. They got married in 1976, and had a son named Jens Holger Thorsen in 1978. Then in 1980, they had another son named Andreas Holger Thorsen. Ralf began to miss his hometown, so he took Jens, Andreas, and Frances and they went to Denmark over the summer.

They stayed with Mildith, and Ralf took Jens to see where he used to work and to meet Karl Anker. At the time, Anker was 99 and had retired. After his retirement he had built 14 clocks, all hanging in his room. When he met Jens, he liked him a lot, so he decided to bring Ralf and Jens to his house. It was the first time Ralf had ever been in the Anker house, and it was like a castle. Anker let them up steps and steps of stairs until they finally reached the attic. They followed him into a little room, with 14 clocks hanging on the wall. As Jens and Ralf were admiring the clocks on the wall, Anker offered one to them. This was a large surprise because Anker clocks were never given to people outside the family! Ralf was overjoyed, and they accepted. They took it home, proud to have an Anker clock.

In 2006, Jens Thorsen married Rebecca Pangborn, and in 2009 they had a child named Camilla Thorsen. Then in 2013 they had a little boy named Holger Thorsen. The clock Jens and Ralf took home was given to Jens and Becca in 2006. They had to get a wooden case, paint it, and assemble all the pieces, but now it is a beautiful grandfather clock.

The clock in Rebecca and Jens’s house is one of the last remaining Anker clocks. After Karl Anker retired, his sons were unable to pick up the business. The Ankers had made clocks for 200 years, but no one would ever do it like they did.

Thanks to Ralph Thorsen for sharing this story with me!!

Messages to Aliens by Kale Cunningham

Aliens…That's what people think all the time when they see something floating around in the sky. And many people think that aliens are kidnapping people. Flying around in UFOs. Some people think that they are microscopic. Not little green guys with bug-like eyes unseen life forms hidden on Mars or some place. 

Messages to life forms 

NASA and other space agencies have been able to send spacecrafts into deep space to explore the outer solar system and the gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) 

And when their missions were over to send a message as it traveled throughout the Milkyway. Hoping one day that something would find it and see Earth. 

Voyagers 

NASAs Voyager 1 and 2 probes have been in space for over 40 years. And traveled to the outer planets. In August 2012 Voyager 1 became the first manmade object to escape the Sun's heliosphere. 

After leaving the solar system Voyager 1 counted to study interstellar space. Voyager 2 followed in 2018. 

Both probes carry small metal plaques identifying their time and place of origin. NASA placed an ambitious message aboard Voyager 1 and 2, a kind of time capsule, intended to communicate a story of our world to aliens. The Voyager message is carried by a phonograph record, a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk containing sounds and images to show life and culture on Earth.

Space Time Capsule

KEO is the name of a space time capsule which was to have been launched in 2003 carrying messages from the citizens of present Earth. 

The European Space Agency (ESA) didn’t launch it due to its budget. 

KEO could be launched into space in the 2030s but with ESA budget plans it is uncertain.

Quotes To Aliens

Lucy is a NASA space probe on a twelve-year journey to eight different asteroids, visiting a main belt asteroid as well as seven Jupiter Trojans, asteroids which share Jupiter's orbit around the Sun. 

NASA put in the Lucy Plaque and it features messages to possible aliens or future humans.

It contains quotes from some of famous people: 

Carl Sagan, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., guitarist Brian May of the band Queen, Kazuo Ishiguro, Rita Dove, Juan Felipe Herrera, Billy Collins and the Beatles. 

The Lucy time capsule also includes the day of the spacecraft’s launch.

Signals 

In 1960 the USA and Soviet Union started sending messages to aliens from a radio antenna.

In the 1960s the USA sent several messages to Mars and Venus. But no answer. Then in the 1970s they started sending the messages to stars. A few times people thought that they had gotten an answer. But in the end it was just a satellite or the solar winds made by the Sun. 

Image Source: NASA (The Golden Record)

Today many messages are still sent to the stars. For some of them it will take 9,700 years to get where they're going. 

NASA says that it is unlikely that aliens flying around in UFOs are very unlikely. If there's anything out there it would be microscopic or Plantae (Plants) But you never know what could happen… 

Top 5 Best US Military Aircraft by Micahel Mazurak

The U.S. military has always been at the forefront of creating the best fighting Air Force in the world.  Below is a list of the military’s top five aircraft in ascending order:

5. F-14 Tomcat 

It is capable of carrying 20,000 ponds And can go 563 meters per second (MPS).

4.  F-18 Super Hornet

The F-18 Can fly 1300 miles per hour (MPH). It is amazing at dog fighting and is one of the best aircraft in the U.S. military.

3.  Lockheed F-35 

The F-35 can reach Mach 1 (1200 MPH). It is amazing at dog fighting and with its advanced tracking technology, it can detect other aircraft from very far away.

2.  F-117 Nighthawk 

The F-117 Nighthawk is a stealth bomber that cannot be detected by radar. It can carry over 5,000 lbs. of weapons, and it can reach speeds of 684 MPH. 

1.  A-10 Warthog 

The A-10 Warthog, otherwise known as the “Tank Buster,” can travel over 800 miles without being refueled.  The Warthog has very advanced weaponry, including the ability to carry over 1,000 bombs. 

Honorable Mention: 

C-17 Cargo Plane

C-130 Hercules 

SR-71 Blackbird (The fastest plane in the world!)

B-2 Stealth Bomber 

SR-72 (currently being manufactured - coming soon!)

The Problem With Space Junk by Kale Cunningham

Space junk is one of earth's biggest problems. 

And now NASA is saying that there is too much up there. After a Russian satellite almost hit the International Space Station earlier this month, space agencies rushed to save the ISS. 

 The European Space Agency (ESA) decided on a catching mission.  

The e.DeOrbit mission – first proposed publicly in 2014, would seek out satellite debris in a polar orbit at an altitude between 800 and 1,000 kilometers (500 to 620 miles). To pick up the debris, using nets to catch. The spacecraft is to be launched in 2023 

NASA wants to make sure that spacecrafts burn up in Earth's atmosphere. NASA also has a plan to track the junk carefully. NASA later stated, “All nations have a responsibility to prevent the purposeful creation of space debris from ASATs and to foster a safe, sustainable space environment.” 

Dolphin! Shark....by Nora Poole

Do you think sharks are scary? But do you still want a favorite sea animal to love in the ocean? Well, dolphins are spectacular creatures! One reason why  dolphins are amazing is the size of their brains. Did you know that a dolphin's brain is bigger than a human brain! Another way dolphins are amazing creatures is their echolocation! Using echolocation a dolphin can hunt for food and find their way around in murky water! Lastly, dolphins are fantastic creatures because they work as a pod! As a pod dolphins can hunt better and care for young better! So choose a dolphin because they have a big brain, use echolocation, and work as a pod! Are you going to let those sharks eat you? Or are you going to learn to swim with dolphins? 

Space Of 2022 by Kale Cunningham

It's almost 2022!  And not only is 2022 a new year, here’s some stuff happening in space!

First Planetary Defense 

DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) launched in November of 2021 is the first ever planetary defense system. Its goal is to smash an asteroid to move it off its orbit by two centimeters-per-second. NASA will use this data just in case an asteroid threat comes near us.

DART’s impact date is set for the end of 2022. 

GOES-T  

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-T (GOES-T) will provide advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s weather, oceans and environment, real-time mapping of total lightning activity, and improved monitoring of solar activity and space weather.

Due for launch on January 8, 2022  

Artemis 1 

NASA is returning to the moon. 

Artemis I will be the first test of NASA’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will be an uncrewed flight test that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration. 

Due for launch in February 2022 

CAPSTONE 

CAPSTONE will validate new navigation technologies by orbiting the moon.

Due for launch in March 2022 

NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 Mission to the International Space Station 

NASA and SpaceX will launch their fourth crewed mission to the  International Space Station (ISS). Missions teams are targeting no earlier than April 15, 2022, for the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the space station for a six-month science mission aboard the microgravity laboratory.

Backup date is May 2022 

SWOT

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission is a  satellite altimeter jointly developed by NASA and CNES, the French space agency, in partnership with the Canadian Space Agency and UK Space Agency

Due for launch in Spring of 2022 

ExoMars Rover Mission 

Rosalind Franklin, previously known as the ExoMars rover, is a planned robotic Mars rover, part of the ExoMars program, led by the European Space Agency and the Russian Roscosmon. The mission was scheduled to launch in July 2020, but was postponed to 2022.

Due for Launch on September 20, 2022 

Due for landing in summer of 2023

Jupiter Icy Moon Moons Explorer

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer is an interplanetary spacecraft in development by the European Space Agency with Airbus Defence and Space as the main contractor.

Due for launch in summer of 2022

Psyche

The NASA Psyche mission is a journey to a unique metal asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. What makes the asteroid Psyche unique is that it appears to be the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet, one of the building blocks of our solar system. 

Due for launch in August 2022

EMIT

The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) is an Earth Ventures-Instrument (EVI-4) mission to map the mineral composition of arid dust source regions. 

The maps of the source regions will be used to improve forecasts of the role of mineral dust in the radiative forcing (warming or cooling) of the atmosphere.

Launching in Sometime 2022 

Euclid 

Euclid, a planned mission to investigate the profound cosmic mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, This clears the way for construction to begin. Euclid is a European Space Agency mission with important contributions from NASA, including infrared detectors for one instrument and science and data analysis.

Due for launch July-December 2022 

MAIA 

MAIA will make radiometric and polarimetric measurements needed to characterize the sizes, compositions and quantities of particulate matter in air pollution. As part of the MAIA investigation, researchers will combine MAIA measurements with population health records to better understand the connections between aerosol pollutants and health problems. 

Due for launch in late 2022 

INSPIRE 

The Interplanetary NanoSpacecraft Pathfinder In Relevant Environment (INSPIRE) project will demonstrate the revolutionary capability of deep space CubeSats by placing a nano spacecraft in Earth-escape orbit. CubeSats must demonstrate that they can operate, communicate, and be navigated far from Earth - these are the primary objectives of INSPIRE.

Due for launch in mid to late 2022 

NEA Scout 

NEA Scout is a new mission that was recently selected by NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) by a team from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Marshall Space Flight Center.

Due for launch in February 2022   

That's what’s coming up in space for 2022!

For more information please visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/launchschedule/

https://www.esa.int

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions?mission_status=future

"Erratas", The Word you Should Never Search For by Dante McLaughlin

2015. 25th of November. An anonymous 4chan* user posted a paragraph by paragraph story about a “very interesting woman,” they describe. They add additional information on the woman, explaining she’s homeless and in a rock band. They explain that she worked for a well-known “shady” company, supposedly shutting down their locations & warehouses and laying off people who on the surface, did nothing wrong. An assignment arose for this woman, package and tape boxes-- during which she found a cardboard box labeled in marker: ”Erratas.” The supervisor constantly reminded her to not mention or speak of the box because he apparently coded a system where, if Erratas or other security threats were searched on an Internet browser, it would flag you and get you fired.

*4chan, a forum-like social networking site notorious/infamous for Shooters, Arsonists, and ARGs posting.

The poster described what the system did besides flagging, it would apparently tell the employees to do “weird and useless things” he described. The Erratas pothole was docile until another Anon user on 4chan brought it back up. He asked if anyone had worked Software IT jobs on the east coast of America in between 2000 and 2010. He claims that he wanted to find out about Erratas, a “sketchy HR-related program” he stated.

Another 4chan user (also anonymous) replied to the post mentioned above. They provided information on the term, stating that it was “an algorithm that allowed some specific third party access to employee information”. The user even named some companies using the program, UPS, Unilever, and Ecolab. 

Our story’s plot grows with the addition of a Youtube channel, ChronosForLife Jurassic Park, which was mentioned in a reply on 4chan. The video linked was Chronos’ “Youtube is MONITORING and controlling my life” She argued that Youtube was controlling his maternal figure. She (supposedly) found secrets on the Jurassic Park Trilogy (specifically The Lost World), which would put Universal Pictures and the Trilogy in jeopardy. The video’s quality is absolutely pitiful, in means to hide it from the “Erratas Algorithm”.  Chronos’ next video, “Here goes nothing”, they say in the description to “Test if it gets detected by the E***atas algorithm”. The video, to everyone’s knowledge, wasn’t flagged or taken down; however, it’s closed captions were the highlight of the show. As most know, Youtube’s CC is generated by AI and cannot be edited unless the whole video’s captions are.

At 12 seconds, the AI says: “are far from over 200 Corbin KY 40219”

At 2 minutes 17 seconds, “Overthrow the Government”

The caption 200 Corbin Kentucky isn’t an actual address, It is mentioned on a Bandcamp page for a rock band named KFC Murder Chicks. They specialize in Electro-Horror music. 4chan users found out that all the members were homeless, and the producer was a person named DJ Rozwell. The 4chan users even found out that the girls were working in a warehouse... but it goes deeper. 

The KFC Murder Chicks released their first song before the first 4chan post, not only that, but in the description, it contained the term. The dots connect even more at a breakneck pace when looking at twitter.

The first full-length album for the KFCMC was uploaded by a Youtube account named ‘Tod Ellsworth’. Mr. Ellsworth also had a Twitter* account, by the same name. Tod posted three tweets in his entirety of being on the platform. The most confusing and frightening was a police sketch of a Hawaiian serial criminal. Some speculate it to be the Honolulu Strangler*, some think it’s a random Chinese man who committed a petty crime.

*Twitter, the 2nd most popular social media platform infamous for cancel culture and bigotry.

The image barely links to the story itself, but since it’s the only image, it made the most sense to associate it with the mystery. 

Tod Ellsworth is also an anagram for “The Lost World”, which is also the name of a Jurassic Park movie a certain Chronos couldn’t stop posting about and got herself in legal trouble. It gets even better/worse, the KFCMC also have a song called Get Stuff Straight, where they mention Mr. Ellsworth. A distorted voice says:

“if you are Tod Ellsworth or a relative, heir, or descendant of Tod Ellsworth, please immediately contact the bank to reclaim over $5000 belonging to Tod Ellsworth”.

Our Journey ends here, no more ties, so people started speculating.

1. Erratas is a Algorithm tool used on a corporate level.

Unless it's all a joke, this is the most plausible answer.

2. Erratas is an Advertisement scheme by KFC Murder Chicks.

If so, these girls are pretty smart, it brought them a lot of traction and was way more interesting than most stuff like this on the Internet.

3. Erratas is an ARG*

If so, then kudos to the genius behind it. They made me write a paper on it, SOG and Nexpo make videos on it, and many confused internet users search for an answer. 

*ARG, an Alternate Reality Game, an internet conspiracy game.

Planet Outside Milky Way Galaxy by Kale Cunningham

NASA claims that they have discovered a possible planet out of the galaxy which could be the first planet of its kind.

The planet is claimed to be the size of Saturn, the second biggest planet in our solar system. 

NASA discovered the planet earlier this week by the spacecraft Chandra X-ray Observatory which observes supernovas or hot explosions. The spacecraft detected a star in the galaxy known as whirlpool dimming in for a few days then returned to normal. 

Scientists knew that this could mean a planet could have been orbiting by and blocked out some of the star's lightness,  like a solar eclipse. 

NASA however says that it could be about 70 years to confirm the planet's existence, due to its orbiting path. 

 NASA claimed that it was rare that the Chandra X-ray Observatory would make this discovery; they explained that the Hubble Space Telescope or possibly the James Webb Telescope would make this discovery. “Such methods could be used in the future to discover other new planets in distant galaxies,” Di Stefano said 

NASA can not send a mission to the planet because it would take over 100 million years to reach the planet. In the meantime NASA will continue looking for planets like the one they may have found.  

For more Information visit these sites:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/images/chandra-sees-evidence-for-possible-planet-in-another-galaxy.html

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/nasa-shares-first-evidence-of-planet-outside-our-galaxy/6290411.html

Image Source; Skynews

Orcas by Lucia Harte

Orcas are extremely popular for being the most widely distributed marine mammal in the world (other than humans).  Orcas are actually dolphins! They are the largest member of the dolphin family! 

If you didn't know, Orcinus Orca is the scientific name for “Killer Whales.” This type of species aren’t typically known for killing humans, but people chose their name to be “Killer Whales” for their power to take down large marine mammals. 

Image Source: NOAA

Hunting for food

Orcas enjoy feeding on seabirds, squid, octopuses, sea turtles, sharks, rays, fish, seals, and many more. The only exceptions for orcas are manatees and river dolphins. A report indicates that orcas can eat moose, too. 

Luckily, orcas don't fear predators because they have none! They are placed on the top of the food chain, making them almost fearless.

With all of these different kinds of foods for orcas, most of them are picky! Once an orca finds out what their family eats, it’s very unlikely for them to change diets.

Orcas have many techniques on hunting their prey. They would hunt in pods, using echolocation. Orcas use echolocation to hunt and communicate with each other. The orcas will make a sound wave that travels through the water until it hits an object. Then, the sound wave will bounce back to the orca, telling the exact location and size of the object.

Sleeping Beauty

Did you know that orcas sleep in a very different way from humans? As you may know, when a human goes to sleep, their breathing will continue automatically. 

Though, if an orca sleeps, they will stop breathing and soon suffocate or drown. So, in order to sleep and still be conscious at the same time, an orca rests half of their brain and closes one of their eyes. 

Orcas will alternate which side is sleeping so that they can get the rest that they need and not lose consciousness. When an orca is sleeping, they swim very slowly, close to the surface.

Habitat

Orcas can adapt to any type of environment and climate. They can live in the icy cold seas or nice and warm oceans near the equator. Orcas never stay in one place, they are constantly moving places. An orca is known for traveling long distances. 

Orcas also travel in pods too. There are two types of pods; A resident pod is more gentle and prefers fish. Transient pods are a more fierce and aggressive pod, similar to wolf packs. Transient pods can take down big marine mammals together. 

An Orcas Body

Orcas have fascinating bodies. A long, cylindrical body with black and white color. Orcas also have razor sharp teeth that can grow up to 4 inches long! 

These giant creatures weich 6 tons, and their length is 23 to 32 feet. That’s almost as long as a school bus! The most humongous orca ever recorded was about 32 feet.

An orca is usually known for their dorsal fin (the fin on top of the animal).  When an orca is born, their dorsal fin is flexible. Though, as the calf (the baby orca) ages, it stiffens. 

 Though, right behind the dorsal fin, there’s a fin patch of grey called the “saddle,” because it looks like a riding saddle!

Did you know that orcas are black and white for a reason? Their colors help camouflauge them by concealing their outline in the water. 

Threats

Even though orcas are at the top of the food chain, they have a major threat: humans. People kill orcas for various reasons, except for food. Though, fisherman see them as a competition that must be killed to protect the fishes population. Chemicals, oil, and so on also are a massive threat to orcas. 

Conclusion

Orcas are incredible creatures. Their ability to take down marine mammals is incredible. I hope that you have learned a lot more about orcas!  

Citations

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Europa’s Water by Kale Cunningham

Europa is the moon of Jupiter. Its surface is beautifully covered in different colors. But Europa also has a hidden ocean under the crust of a thick shell of ice. NASA says that it is a rare opportunity to see something like this so far out into the solar system that may have a chance for life. 

Spacecraft Discoveries

NASA (National Aeronautics Space Administration) so far is the only space agency that has sent probes to Jupiter. But none of them have been to study Europa. Pioneer 10 was the first to fly past Jupiter returning the first bury photo of the moon. Pioneer 11 was next to Jupiter and returned better close up photos. And did the first studies of the moon. But with its poor camera view, Europa looked like the sun. NASA later sent the Voyager probes to Jupiter, the space probes successfully took up close photos and made accurate measurements. The Voyager team later came out with their findings saying that Europa had possible ice on its surface. The next spacecraft was different; it was made to orbit Jupiter. The Galileo probe was made to explore Jupiter's moons and the planet itself. Galileo was able to study Europa with many more instruments. Europa's water was found under the surface. NASA shared their findings with the public and Galileo’s findings opened a window to Europa. Juno is in current orbit around Jupiter and has made observations of the moon.

Finding Life

NASA has two planned missions to discover life. The Europa lander is a mission that would go down onto Europa and sample its surface. Then an onboard laboratory would scan the soil for water and test the sample for days. NASA’s other planned mission is known as the Europa Clipper. The probe is due for launch in 2024 its goal will be to orbit Jupiter and make flybys of the moon slowly stripping away the moon's layers. Both missions would be over 300 million dollars but NASA thinks that a mission to this moon could help people find life on another world. ESA (European Space Agency) also has a planned mission called Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer. The probe would try and detect water from orbit. 

People really want to know about this moon and if there is a change that life is on it.                                   

Photo credit: NASA/JPL 

For more information visit these article links

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/jupiter-moons/europa/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-lander

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/juice/in-depth/

Sources: NASA,JPL,ESA 

Global Jellyfish Overpopulation by Rachel Hott

Today you look on the sandy beach and you see the shallows lined with small plastic bags. You take a closer look. What you’re seeing is not at all plastic bags but jellyfish! Scientists believe this is due to humans. See how this is caused, what you can do to help, and statistics. 

Why is this happening?

Jellyfish are starting to move inland, scientists believe this to be caused by global warming and fishing. Both of these causes are due to humans. This could later create our downfall. Jellyfish are starting to rule the world.

Global warming 

You have probably heard about global warming, maybe from a friend,a teacher, or a documentary. It’s a huge topic and it affects the world, its fauna and flaura, terrain, and us in many different ways, like the jellyfish invaders.

So how could this be our fault? Of course we are the leading source to most of global warming, but why does it cause the jellyfish overpopulation? Well most jellyfish cannot survive in temperatures below around 21°F, but they tend to prefer temps about 40°F.  Because of global warming, the rising temperatures allow the jellyfish to move inland without dying. This results in more painful or possibly lethal stings to some beachgoers. A recent article from 2019 by The Washington Post exhibits that about 150 million people were stung that year. This results in more jellyfish washing up on the coast or just close to shallow waters. Just remember your actions can affect millions.

What can we do to fix this?

1. Decrease greenhouse gasses 

Greenhouse gasses are the number one leading cause of global warming. Greenhouse gasses trap heat in the atmosphere of the earth causing global warming. This gas is mostly caused by burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used for things like electricity. One of the best things you can do is try to reduce electricity in your home, pass the news on, and try to find a renewable energy source.

2. Stop Overfishing

Fishing doesn’t help. Many fish are pulled out of the water daily due to the demand. This means that of course the jellyfish are coming. What can you do to help this? Stop eating fish!

FAQs

• How many people are stung a year by jellyfish?

About 150 million are stung yearly.

• How many jellyfish stings are lethal yearly?

50-100 at minimum.

• How does this affect local swimmers? 

Definitely. Some beaches are closing up and if you are at a beach, still you might get stung.

• Are there any animals that eat jellyfish?

Yes, living things such as anemones, sea turtles, birds, and more.

James Webb Telescope Moves To Europe by Kale Cunningham

In September 2021  the James Webb Telescope left America and went on a cruise to Europe. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) recently said that after many years James Webb is ready to see the universe and has met all the requirements needed to launch.   

Way Overdue

NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) were supposed to launch the probe in 2007, but due to technical difficulties, it was constantly delayed. NASA and ESA decided that it would be made in America and launched in Europe. The space agency CSA (Canadian Space Agency) also decided to be a part of the mission by shipping supplies. Overall, the mission was just slowed down. NASA and ESA had other things to work on. NASA had to make the Curiosity Mars rover which cut their budget. ESA had to train astronauts to work on the ISS (International Space Station). NASA now says that they're going to launch it before the year is over. 

An Important Cargo 

James Webb is delicate. So NASA had to be very careful transporting it. NASA had to lift the spacecraft up and fold it like paper. Then put it in a cargo box and ship it on a boat to Europe. ESA will launch it in French Guiana. The current launch date is December 18, 2021. It will then see farther back into the universe than we have ever seen.   

Observing Galaxies by Kale Cunningham

How do Humans see what they see trillions of miles away?

Galaxies are seen in clear view light years away. How? 

The answer is technology, we have been able to observe stars from our own eyes for as long as we can remember. But once the telescopes came in we were able to see farther out. And when we start sending robots into space to see the stars we started to try to answer questions that we are wondering. 

Basic Star Watching 

The first documented records of a star dates back around 1000 BCE (Before Common Era) in Mesopotamia. Then in ancient China they started to name the stars and record them. The Greeks studied them and made constellations out of them. In Rome the people also looked at the stars and named some of the original planets that we know of today. The names were: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. (Uranus and Neptune were not discovered yet). Just with basic star watching they were able to find 5 planets in our solar system and observe stars. 

Telescopes Are In

To this day it is still unknown who made the telescope. But the telescope was a big break in space observation. People could see planets and moons up close, and discover or predict better. Telescopes help astronomers like Giovanni Cassini, Galileo Galilei and Christiaan Huygens. As the more telescopes advanced the more we saw. In 1846 Neptune was found and then in 1781 Uranus was discovered. (Uranus was discovered after Neptune) 

In 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 into space revealing a whole new view to space. Bigger telescopes were made that could see billions of years back and scientists discovered that telescopes can see things that our eyes can’t. Radio telescopes were made that could detect radiation from the sun. X Ray and Gamma telescopes soon followed.                  

Space Telescopes 

Telescopes on Earth are helpful but still the atmosphere blocked our view, giving only 40% of what could be seen with visible light even with the most powerful ground based telescopes. So NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) And ESA (European Space Agency) decided to make a telescope out in space. The program was called the Great Observatories. The first space probe was named Hubble after a famous astronomer named Edwin Hubble. Hubble was made to go out in Earth's orbit and see all visible light. (The light we can identify with our own eyes) Hubble was launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery. After its release Hubble was able to start learning about Galaxies far from us. NASA and ESA launched 3 more space probes named Compton, Chandra and Spitzer. They were able to help us see a better lens in the Universe and helped us with unlocking hidden secrets. Some of the space probes still live today. 

Into The Future 

What's next? In December the James Webb Telescope will be launched by NASA. Also the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be launched in the mid 2020s by NASA. ESA, China, Russia, NASA and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) will all launch new telescopes into space in the 2030s. People want to see farther back in time and possibly see what started the Universe. And to see if we can find a possible Alien planet. 

Image Source: Getty Images

The Moon’s Hidden Secrets by Kale Cunningham

The Moon is no doubt a pretty sight and we seem to love it. It's the thing that gave hunters light during the dark nights, Something that man has walked on. 

But the moon has hidden secrets on its sacred surface… 

Ice and water are below the dusty surface. This discovery was made almost a year ago in October. After almost 12 whole years of searching NASA confirmed their discovery of water on the moon. The first clue was found in 2008 with India's Chandrayaan-1. Finding water molecules on the moon. Then NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) looked into the polar caps of the moon and found possible ice. Telescopes on Earth searched the moon, NASA flew airplanes with powerful scanners that could scan the moon, China sent a rover to the moon (but the mission was shut down after a few months).  Everyone wanted to find out the Moon’s hidden secrets. 

Why Does It Matter

NASA finds it helpful to have water on the moon because of their plan to return humans onto the moon by 2024. The Artemis program will help NASA and other small space agencies to test out new technologies for future missions to Mars. NASA is also looking to see if they can filter water on the moon so they can be sure to drink clean water on Mars. Also NASA will test the water on the moon to see if they can grow plants with the lunar soil.

Studying The Water

NASA plans to send a rover named VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) in 2023 to study the moon's polar caps. NASA, China and Russia will return samples to study the soil back on Earth. India and ESA (European Space Agency) will launch orbiters to the moon. Water will be an important part of living on the moon. We must understand what it is and how to use it correctly.

Image source: NASA 

Sources: NASA.gov and JPL.NASA.gov 

To learn more visit these articles:

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-sofia-discovers-water-on-sunlit-surface-of-moon

https://moon.nasa.gov/news/155/theres-water-on-the-moon/

Unlocking The Secrets Of The Tardigrade by Kale Cunningham

The Tardigrade is a strange animal of nature; it has the capability to survive the harshness of things on Earth. It is almost microscopic but can be seen with the human eye. Scientists still do not know what this weird “thing” is. Many people think of it as alien. It comes from another world and it does look a little creepy. But still it can live without food or water for a decade, survive in the vacuum of space without a spacesuit, get blasted with 10 times the radiation that a normal human can deal with and still live. It can deal with the coldest and hottest weather and still walk around like nothing happened. What makes it like this? No one really knows the Tardigrade’s secrets.  Scientists think that the Tardigrade skin cells are like a piece of armor. Unlocking the secrets could help humans explore space and the ocean or help rescue people from the harshest conditions by making a suit that works like a Tardigrade. But for now the Tardigrade’s secret is hidden from mankind.  

Image Source: EYE OF SCIENCE, SCIENCE SOURCE via National Geographic

Solar Conjunction Affects NASA’s Mars Missions by Kale Cunningham

A solar conjunction with Mars and Earth is where Mars will be on the exact opposite side of the sun as Earth. This happens every few years and is normal to see Mars disappear from the night sky. So why does this matter to NASA and the other space agencies? They have a mission orbiting Mars and they can’t send messages to the mission when the sun is blocking Mars. Or else some parts of the message may be destroyed leaving the spacecraft to try to figure out the code and destroy itself. The Solar conjunction will be from October 2-14 NASA has made their spacecrafts lay low until they can communicate again. 

Image Source: NASA JPL

Surprising Truth About Beautiful Seahorses by Chei Kang

Humans have created this world to benefit humans in various ways. But what did they sacrifice to do this?

As you may know, humans are destroying natural habitats and geographical features by the day. This is to create buildings and factories, mostly. One of the things that humans came up with to help with fishing is something called bottom trawling. This is when people in boats use huge nets to grab sea creatures, and it is very effective at catching crabs and shrimp. But when they do this, they catch other things as well. Turtles get caught in these nets and can become injured, beautiful sea coral may get damaged and killed, and seahorses are being harmed as well. 

These sea creatures are amazing little animals that look truly majestic. 

And it’s not just their appearance that makes them special. With more than 25 different species and their size varying from under an inch to almost 15 inches (and their scientific name Hippocampus, meaning ‘Horse sea monster’), seahorses are very unique creatures. Additionally, their flexible tails can be used to grasp objects, such as Mysis Shrimp, their main diet. They are also among the rare group where the male gives birth to the babies.

Most seahorse types are endangered or critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List. (The Red List is a list of animals that are endangered or vulnerable to becoming extinct. This list also includes animals that are extinct already.) Bottom trawling makes it worse. By pulling a giant net across the floor of the sea, the whole ecosystem gets damaged. Seahorses are one of the many victims of this destructive method of catching fish. 

So what can we do to help? “If you can avoid eating anything connected with bottom trawling, you will have done a great service to the ocean,” says seahorse expert Amanda Vincent, on Call to Earth, a show by CNN.

Spreading awareness can also help. Talk to your friends about bottom trawling and how it is destroying the ocean. Tell your parents about it. Raise money for the ocean creatures. Your voice matters. Let’s help save this wonderful animal.

Image Source: https://www.newportaquarium.com/

Why Does NASA Want To Return Mars Samples To Earth? by Kale Cunningham

Why Does NASA Want To Return Mars Samples To Earth? 

 NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) plans to return samples from Mars back to Earth by 2031. , This is making many people say why? Mars is the closest planet to Earth that may have had a really good chance of life. NASA and other space agencies have sent missions to Mars to uncover the secret we have been asking for the last century: Is there life on Mars?

Robotic explorers/ How will they return samples?

NASA has sent many missions to Mars, almost all of them have shown water once flowed on Mars. Right now NASA has 4 active missions on the surface… Curiosity, Insight, Perseverance and Ingenuity. 

Curiosity has been exploring the planet since 2012 it has driven almost 16 miles (16.39 kKilometers) on the red planet and is still active. Curiosity has found many pieces of evidence indicating for life and water on the red planet. 

Perseverance is the newest rover on Mars. It landed on February 18th, 2021 Perseverance has a mission of taking Mars samples, putting them in tubes and dropping them on the ground. Later NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) will return the samples back to Earth by picking them up and launching them and then an orbiter will collect the samples and will start heading to Earth. Then drop the samples in a mini capsule that will return them safely to Earth.

What does NASA hope to find?

NASA hopes to find out if there is life in the samples simply Microbs. 

Or possibly water-like aliens like the Tardigrade that is not microscopic but is hard to see with from the Human eye.

For more information visit these sites: 

• https://www.nasa.gov/

• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) - Robotic Space Exploration   

•  https://www.esa.int/ 

Source: Collected Images NASA