Leaky Whale | Sun Max | ChopstiX

It happened last Sunday, but I’m still getting goosebumps watching highlights from the 3rd story this week.

Did you see it?!

-Steve

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Leaky Whale

A blue whale skeleton is leaking on visitors. KOBO slowly drips oil in New Bedford’s Whaling Museum, 26 years after his death.

• KOBO = King of the Blue Ocean

• Blue whale bone marrow holds oil as an energy reserve

• Oil catchers collected ~40 ounces since 2010

Leaky oil isn’t typically a concern as whales decompose on the ocean floor. However, KOBO is suspended above museum visitors and occasionally stains their clothes with stray drops. Ponchos not included w/ admission.

Drip drop

Sun Max

Don’t look now, but our sun is peaking. It has reached its solar maximum phase, according to NASA and NOAA.

• Increased sunspots and solar activity

• Leading to more auroras visible further from the poles

• Most active part of an 11-year solar cycle

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will gather valuable data during its closest approach to the sun this December. Studying the source of space weather will improve forecasting for future Artemis moon missions. And tell us when to see pretty sky colors.

Shine bright

ChopstiX

SpaceX used “chopsticks” to perform magic. “Mechazilla“ caught their 23-story tall Super Heavy booster from a near free fall.

• Mechazilla = launch tower w/ mechanical arms

• Starship + booster = 397’ tall (Statue of Liberty = 305’)

• Over 2x more powerful than Saturn V (Apollo missions)

This was the first attempt to catch the ~600k lbs. booster as part of a plan to reuse larger rockets for lunar and Martian missions. Next up: catching Starship, too, as early as next year. Meanwhile, I drop everything with chopsticks.

Tim Urban’s first-hand viewing experience
(check out Clickables for video highlights! 👇️)

For your “toolbox”

Why are you seeing this ad? st3v and I need to buy a ticket aboard Starship!

So I personally review all ads for potential value to you. Plus, checking them out helps support the cost of running casualSTEM 🤓 

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Unnatural Selection

Last week: “Which is your dominant trunk side?”

Whether your right or left trunked, ambi-trunk-rous, or happen to be human, remember: wrinkles = strength  💪 

st3v on site

Catching Rockets

As soon as he heard they were catching Starship next year, st3v started testing his hug diameter. We got a few months until tryouts!

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