Textile Art + Science = Crocheted Chemistry

LIFE WELL SPENT

I have watched 2:40 hours of pingu so far.

I am creating a compilation of every NOOT NOOT in the entire series.

I am destroying myself.

This is it so far.

What is a Supermoon Lunar Eclipse?

We’ve told you that on Sept. 27 a supermoon lunar eclipse will occur in the U.S. And much of the world, but what does that mean?

One important note, is that this event can be referred to in many different ways: 

Supermoon Lunar Eclipse

Super Blood Moon

Harvest Moon Eclipse

Supermoon Eclipse

All slightly different names, but apply to the same spectacular event that will occur this weekend. 

Since it’s rare that both a supermoon and an lunar eclipse occur at the same time, let’s break it down. 

1) Supermoon

A supermoon is a full or new moon that falls closest to the fall equinox, and is at its closest approach to the Earth. This results in the moon appearing up to 14% larger in diameter.

2) Lunar Eclipse 

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly behind the Earth into its shadow. This can give the moon a red tint.

3) A Supermoon Lunar Eclipse!

The combination of these two events does not happen very often. In fact, since 1900 a supermoon lunar eclipse has only happened 5 times! The last time this occurred was 1982, and if you miss the event this year, your next opportunity won’t come until 2033.

This year, the event will be visible from the Americas, Europe and Africa on the night of Sept. 27. Here’s a full schedule of the supermoon eclipse:

If it’s cloudy in your area on Sept. 27, don’t worry! NASA Television will be providing a live stream of the event, so you can tune in and enjoy the show. 

For more information and resources on the supermoon lunar eclipse, visit our page on NASA.gov.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

Reblog If You Can Take Off Your Bra Without Taking Your Shirt Off.

A brontosaurus was carved out of pumpkins. 

name one difference between birds and children

Sea otters—gardeners of the eel grass

Photo: Ron Eby

In the 1970s, researchers discovered that kelp forests are healthier and home to many more species with otters than without them. By keeping kelp-devouring sea urchins in check, otters promote kelp growth, which in turn supports a diverse community of algae, fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals.

If otter abundance is up, so is the kelp’s; if urchin abundance is up, the otter and kelp abundance will be down. This domino effect is called a three-step trophic cascade.

But wait, there’s more!

Photo: Ron Eby

Researchers from UC Santa Cruz monitoring sea otters living in Elkhorn Slough, an estuary in Monterey Bay, noticed something incredible: after otters moved into the area, the eel grass beds became healthier.  They took a closer look and discovered that otters are also a keystone species in the eel grass community!

We’ve been studying sea otters for over 30 years, and they continue to impress us every day. 

Simple actions—like protecting sea otters—can have drastic, surprising, and positive impacts throughout the environment. To find out how you—yep, you, right there—can help us continue our research, take a look at our Sea Otter Program page. 

Here’s to the next 30 years of sea otter research!

Sturlesi Design creates modern lamps that are simultaneously practical home decor and art objects. Their minimalist design reimagines animals as angular, geometric shapes, with LED lights hidden in their concrete bases. When not in use, these devices look like tiny statues—you’d never realize they’re powerful lamps. See more in the Sturlesi Design Etsy shop.