Space Trees | Hidden Moon | ChopstiX

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Welcome to the first annual Casual Awards! 🥳

For the next 3 weeks we’ll relive the top stories of 2024. Here’s what to expect…

• This week: Celestial Sweatpants (space)

• Next week: Healing Hoodie (medical)

• In 2 weeks: Genome Joggers (biology)

Fun fact: You can browse these categories in the Archive here!

-Steve

Get the weekly email that explains science in sweatpants. Stay smart for free.

Space Trees

Trees will soon be orbiting Earth. LignoSat, a satellite built primarily from wood, will test sustainable alternatives to traditional satellites that often leave metallic particles in our atmosphere.

• Size: 4” per side

• Made of magnolia wood

• September launch to ISS

LignoSat will then launch into a ~6 month orbit before burning to biodegradable ash upon reentry. Understanding wood’s durability in space could lead to more sustainable space exploration. Now hiring: Space Carpenter!

It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s a, magnolia?

Hidden Moon

The moon’s hidden side is now on Earth. China’s Chang'e-6 mission brought back our first ever samples from the lunar far side.

• Chang’e = Chinese moon goddess

• 53 days from launch to return landing

• 4.4 lbs. of samples were drilled, scooped, and sent back

Both the US and China hope to establish a base on our celestial satellite. China’s 2nd landing on the far side will shed light on the moon’s origins and terrain variety. Still no word on its cheese content…

Moon dust > home dust

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

Why are you seeing this ad? Cuz going to space is expensive 😅 

I personally review all ads, checking them out helps support the cost of running casualSTEM 🤓 

Solving a Silent Threat to Your Health

Chemical pesticides are being used in our food, homes, and offices. But Med-X has developed a 100% chemical-free pesticide that outperforms traditional solutions. It’s one of the fastest-growing products in professional pest control, with operators using it coast to coast across the USA. E-commerce partnerships with brands like Amazon, Walmart, and Kroger are now helping Med-X reach 41 new global markets in the next five years. For a limited time, you can become a shareholder as they make these moves.

Invest in Med-X Now

Unnatural Selection

Last week: “What’s your favorite cat sound?”

While we enjoy purring, there’s no need to get purrtentious about it. 😹 

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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