Science Saturday: 02/02

February 2, 2019

Hello everyone, welcome to Science Saturday. Here’s what we’ve learned this week:

A team of scientists studing supernova 1987a, the closest and most recent supernova to Earth since the invention of the telescope, are now using x-rays to observe the dying star’s emissions. The result? Supernovas are really cool. Not in a literal sense, because they’re really hot, but you get the idea.

A photograph of Supernova 1987a, taken by Hubble.

UPI: Bee Mites

Several studies have suggested parasitic mites both spread and worsen the effects of Deformed Wing Virus among honey bees. But new research shows that this may not actually be the case. A new study has found that though the mites do transmit the virus, it’s really the mites themselves that are more damaging to the bee’s health. Eliminating the parasites will be imperative for the survival of honey bees.

ScienceNews: Antarctica Hasn’t Been Flossing

Researchers studying glacial Ice in antarctica have discovered an enormous cavity under the Thwaites Glacier. The alarming size of the void spells doom for the glacier, and will likely change climate scientists’ predictions for the rate of sea level rise, should this phenomenon affect other glaciers. The larger a cavity like this is, the faster it grows.

ScienceAlert: Universe measurement

Astronomers have measured the expansion of the universe using the oldest known black holes. The resulting value was significantly larger than the rate of expansion that was previously accepted. This means that what we think we know about dark energy may be incorrect. Time to change physics again.

Inverse: Great Unconformity

Geologists have a new theory to explain the Great Unconformity, the large portion of the fossil record that is entirely missing worldwide. Scientists believe that glaciers may have crushed evidence of everything that existed immediately before the Cambrian period, during an intense Ice Age known as the “Snowball Earth” which occurred 700 million years ago.