Black Hole Friday

The latest from NASA! http://ift.tt/1vZ8ERD In this artist’s illustration, turbulent winds of gas swirl around a black hole. Some of the gas is spiraling inward toward the black hole, but another part is blown away.

A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.

Because no light can get out, people can’t see black holes. They are invisible. Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes. The special tools can see how stars that are very close to black holes act differently than other stars.

How Big Are Black Holes?
Black holes can be big or small. Scientists think the smallest black holes are as small as just one atom. These black holes are very tiny but have the mass of a large mountain. Mass is the amount of matter, or “stuff,” in an object.

More information on black holes.

Artwork Credit: NASA, and M. Weiss (Chandra X -ray Center)http://ift.tt/1xZVGT3

International Space Station’s 3-D Printer

The latest from NASA! http://ift.tt/1yc0bZB The International Space Station’s 3-D printer has manufactured the first 3-D printed object in space, paving the way to future long-term space expeditions. The object, a printhead faceplate, is engraved with names of the organizations that collaborated on this space station technology demonstration: NASA and Made In Space, Inc., the space manufacturing company that worked with NASA to design, build and test the 3-D printer.

This image of the printer, with the Microgravity Science Glovebox Engineering Unit in the background, was taken in April 2014 during flight certification and acceptance testing at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, prior to its launch to the station aboard a SpaceX commercial resupply mission. The first objects built in space will be returned to Earth in 2015 for detailed analysis and comparison to the identical ground control samples made on the flight printer prior to launch. The goal of this analysis is to verify that the 3-D printing process works the same in microgravity as it does on Earth.

The printer works by extruding heated plastic, which then builds layer upon layer to create three-dimensional objects. Testing this on the station is the first step toward creating a working “machine shop” in space. This capability may decrease cost and risk on the station, which will be critical when space explorers venture far from Earth and will create an on-demand supply chain for needed tools and parts. Long-term missions would benefit greatly from onboard manufacturing capabilities. Data and experience gathered in this demonstration will improve future 3-D manufacturing technology and equipment for the space program, allowing a greater degree of autonomy and flexibility for astronauts.

Image Credit: NASA/Emmett Givenhttp://www.nasa.gov/content/international-space-station-s-3-d-printer

Which States Use Criminal Grand Juries?

The newest legal news Following last night’s announcement that a grand jury in Ferguson decided not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown, many may have questions about how grand juries operate. Grand juries are generally called on to decide whether there is probable cause to…… FindLaw News – Top Stories http://ift.tt/1zuEVNT

Ga. Supreme Court OKs Private Probation, Denies Extending Sentences

The newest legal news The Georgia Supreme Court ruled on Monday that it was constitutional for private probation companies to monitor offenders but ruled it was illegal to extend sentences once imposed. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the state’s High Court found that private probation supervision companies like Sentinel Offender Services were allowed…… FindLaw News – Top Stories http://ift.tt/1zuEVxw

When Does a Bruised Knee Become a Lawsuit?

The newest legal news Thanks to human anatomy, your knees tend to be an easy place to bruise when you fall. Also called a patellar contusion by medical professionals, a bruised knee may initially seem like nothing. But sometimes a bruised knee is the first sign of more serious medical problems following an…… FindLaw News – Top Stories http://ift.tt/1zuEXFF

‘Steve Harvey Show’ Slapped With $42.3M Music Theft Lawsuit

The newest legal news “The Steve Harvey Show” has been slapped with a $42.3 million lawsuit over allegations that the program stole music owned by the We 3 Kings. The music publishing company claims that the self-titled show of comedian Steve Harvey used its unlicensed music without its permission and without paying We…… FindLaw News – Top Stories http://ift.tt/1rjI1FZ

Should Franchises Purchase Business Insurance?

The newest legal news Turning a successful business into a franchise is a great way to turn a good idea into a great company. But that success may also create the need for additional business insurance. With the rise in lawsuits targeting chain businesses, insurers are now offering new types of business insurance…… FindLaw News – Top Stories http://ift.tt/1rjI3xs

Legal How-To: Build a Fence Around Your Property

The newest legal news A fence around your property can serve a range of purposes: marking your property line, keeping trespassers out, and/or providing privacy for your family. However, a fence can also be the source of a potential dispute with your neighbors. With that in mind, making sure that your fence does…… FindLaw News – Top Stories http://ift.tt/1zuEXpb

Being Thankful for the Simple Things at FindLaw

The newest legal news This has been a successful year for us at FindLaw as we continue to improve the user experience, update our content, and grow our audience. But without an engaged audience (that’s you), the effort and passion we pour into our work every day is all for naught. So in the…… FindLaw News – Top Stories http://ift.tt/1rjI0Sr

Supercomputer Simulation of Magnetic Field Loops on the Sun

The latest from NASA! http://ift.tt/1FodY0D Magnetic fields emerging from below the surface of the sun influence the solar wind—a stream of particles that blows continuously from the sun’s atmosphere through the solar system. Researchers at NASA and its university partners are using high-fidelity computer simulations to learn how these magnetic fields emerge, heat the sun’s outer atmosphere and produce sunspots and flares.

This visualization shows magnetic field loops in a portion of the sun, with colors representing magnetic field strength from weak (blue) to strong (red). The simulation was run on the Pleiades supercomputer at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing facility at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. 

The knowledge gained through simulation results like this one help researchers better understand the sun, its variations, and its interactions with Earth and the solar system.

Image Credit: Robert Stein, Michigan State University; Timothy Sandstrom, NASA/Ames

> Related: NASA showcased more than 35 of the agency’s exciting computational achievements at SC14, the international supercomputing conference, Nov. 16-21, 2014, in New Orleans.http://ift.tt/15nMzkC