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What do Vesta and the moon have in common?
- Astronomers have found proof that both were impacted with asteroids
- Both have gone through planetary development
- Both have an iron core
- All of the above
What percent of Mercury’s radius is part of its core?
- 27%
- 55%
- 85%
- 73%
Yes!
NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft measured variations in Mercury’s gravitational pull to reveal that its core is larger than originally expected. Find out more here!
Sorry.
85%. NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft measured variations in Mercury’s gravitational pull to reveal that its core is larger than originally expected. Find out more here!
What would happen to earth if the Sun emitted a superflare?
- Damage the ozone layer
- Kill off species
- Visible change in sunlight
- All of the above
Nice work!
Superflares occur when a star has a magnetic outburst, releasing a burst of charged particles. Such events take place rarely on most stars, and probably even less often on our Sun. Check it out!
Nope.
All of the above. Superflares occur when a star has a magnetic outburst, releasing a burst of charged particles. Such events take place rarely on most stars, and probably even less often on our Sun. Check it out!
Dark matter is made up of:
- Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs)
- Brown dwarfs
- Antimatter
- We don’t know
That’s right!
We have no idea! Mysterious dark matter makes up most of the mass of the Universe. It sounds imaginary, but we know it exists because it influences us through the effect of gravity. Read more here.
Oops!
We have no idea! Mysterious dark matter makes up most of the mass of the Universe. It sounds imaginary, but we know it exists because it influences us through the effect of gravity. Read more here.
What is the force that rips a star apart as it approaches a black hole?
- Weak force
- Tidal force
- Strong force
- Electromagnetic force
Correct!
The tidal force is an effect of gravity, one of the four fundamental forces in nature—namely, the strong force, weak force, electromagnetic force, and gravity. Read more about the dangerous nature of black holes here.
Bummer!
The tidal force is an effect of gravity, one of the four fundamental forces in nature—namely, the strong force, weak force, electromagnetic force, and gravity. Read more about the dangerous nature of black holes here.
You got out of correct. The average so far is .
About Science Today
Science Today is the California Academy of Sciences’ channel for current stories on cutting-edge technologies, life, Earth, space and sustainability. Content is produced in-house and is distributed throughout the museum, on the internet and through various partners. Please share your comments on what you find important in the changing world of science.
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Top Story: April 18, 2013
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Top Story: April 23, 2013
Speed in Space
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Top Story: April 25, 2013
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Top Story: April 26, 2013
When in Rome...
Even in nature, locals are the best guides!
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Top Story: April 29, 2013
MorphoBank Projects
MorphoBank promises 21st-century solutions to studies that began centuries ago.
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Top Story: April 30, 2013
The Hunting Party
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Top Story: May 2, 2013
After the Extinction Event
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Top Story: May 3, 2013
Hibernating Primates
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Top Story: May 6, 2013
Shot (Not) Heard
What hit Commander Chris Hadfield's home last week?
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Top Story: May 7, 2013
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Top Story: May 9, 2013
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Top Story: May 10, 2013
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Two recent scientific publications on mothering to celebrate this special occasion!
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Top Story: May 13, 2013
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Top Story: May 15, 2013
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Top Story: May 16, 2013
Successful Cruelty of Spiders
Two recent publications demonstrate why spiders get a bad rap...
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Top Story: May 17, 2013
Ancient Primates
Two new primate fossils add to our family tree.
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Top Story: May 20, 2013
Tracking the Spread of Disease
Local researchers, using Academy collections, are tracking the spread of the deadly disease killing amphibians worldwide.
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