TSUBAME3.01 Set To Be Japan’s Largest Supercomputer – Asian Scientist Magazine

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Equipped with over 2,000 of the latest NVIDIA GPUs, TSUBAME3.0 will give Japan an additional 47.2 petaFLOPS of supercomputing power.

Asian Scientist Newsroom | March 1, 2017 | Top News

AsianScientist (Mar. 1, 2017) - The Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) Global Scientific Information and Computing Center (GSIC) has begun development and construction of a next-generation supercomputer called TSUBAME3.0. When it begins operations in the summer of 2017, TSUBAME3.01 will be Japan's most powerful supercomputer.

The theoretical performance of the TSUBAME3.0 is 47.2 petaFLOPS in 16-bit half precision mode or above, and once the new TSUBAME3.0 is operating alongside the current TSUBAME2.5, Tokyo Tech GSIC will be able to provide a total computation performance of 64.3 petaFLOPS in half precision mode or above, making it the largest supercomputer center in Japan.

The majority of scientific calculation requires 64-bit double precision, however, artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data processing can be performed at 16-bit half precision, and the TSUBAME3.0 is expected to be widely used in these fields where demand is continuing to increase.

Since the TSUBAME2.0 and 2.5 started operations in November 2010 as the fastest supercomputers in Japan, these computers have become supercomputers for everyone and have significantly contributed to industry-academia-government research and development both in Japan and overseas. These research results and the experience gained through operating TSUBAME2.0 and 2.5, and the energy-saving supercomputer TSUBAME-KFC2 were all applied in the design process for TSUBAME3.0.

As a result of Japanese government procurement for the development of TSUBAME3.0, SGI Japan, Ltd. (SGI) was awarded the contract to work on the project. Tokyo Tech is developing TSUBAME3.0 in partnership with SGI and NVIDIA, as well as other companies.

The TSUBAME series feature the most recent NVIDIA GPUs available at the time, namely Tesla for TSUBAME1.2, Fermi for TSUBAME2.0, and Kepler for TSUBAME2.5. The upcoming TSUBAME3.0 will feature the fourth-generation Pascal GPU to ensure high compatibility. TSUBAME3.0 will contain 2,160 GPUs, making a total of 6,720 GPUs in operation at GSIC once operating alongside TSUBAME2.5 and TSUBAME-KFC.

Using the latest GPUs enables improved performance and energy efficiency as well as higher speed and larger capacity storage. The overall computation speed and capacity has also been improved through the NVMe-compatible, high-speed 1.08 PB SSDs on the computation nodes; resulting in significant advances in high-speed processing for big data applications. TSUBAME3.0 also incorporates a variety of cloud technologies, including virtualization, and is expected to become the most advanced science cloud in Japan.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a key application for supercomputing, said Mr. Ian Buck, vice president and general manager of Accelerated Computing at NVIDIA. NVIDIA's GPU computing platform merges AI with HPC, accelerating computation so that scientists and researchers can tackle once unsolvable problems.

TSUBAME3.0 has the theoretical performance of 12.15 petaFLOPS in double precision mode (enabling calculation of 12,150 trillion floating point numbers/second); performance that is set to exceed the K supercomputer. In single precision mode, the TSUBAME3.0 performs at 24.3 petaFLOPS, and in half precision mode this increases to 47.2 petaFLOPS.

The computational power of TSUBAME3.0 will not only be used for education and cutting-edge research within the TokyoTech but will continue to serve as supercomputing for everyone through the Joint Usage/Research Center for Interdisciplinary Large-scale Information Infrastructures (JHPCN) and the High Performance Computing Infrastructure (HPCI), two leading information bases for Japan's top universities, and GSIC's own TSUBAME Joint Usage Service.

Source: Tokyo Institute of Technology. Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

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TSUBAME3.01 Set To Be Japan's Largest Supercomputer - Asian Scientist Magazine

University of Texas supercomputer speeds real-time MRI analysis – Health Data Management

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Researchers from the Texas Advanced Computing Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center and Philips Healthcare have developed a new, automated platform capable of real-time analyses of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in minutes, rather than hours or even days.

By leveraging the Stampede supercomputer at the University of Texas-Austins TACC, imaging capabilities of a Philips MRI scanner, as well as the TACC-developed Agave application programming interface, researchers were able to demonstrate the system's effectiveness in using a T1 mapping process, which converts raw data into useful imagery.

The full circuitfrom MRI scan to Linux-based supercomputer and backtook about five minutes to complete and was accomplished without any additional inputs or interventions, says William Allen, technical lead for the effort and research associate in TACCs Life Sciences Computing Group.

Its really about the speed and flexibility. The whole point of this is to analyze the data faster, adds Allen, who notes that Philips Healthcare modified the MRI scanner software to accommodate the pipeline to enable fast, accurate image processing. The platform that we developed gives us the ability to link the scanner to a remote supercomputing resource.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, Stampede open science computing resource is one of worlds fastest supercomputers and is comprised of a Dell PowerEdge cluster equipped with Intel Xeon Phi coprocessors in an effort to push the envelope of computational capabilities by enabling breakthroughs in advancing computational biology and bioinformatics.

Also See: Fighting ZikaThe global computing effort to stop the virus

Allen describes the Agave API as a science-as-a-service platform designed to capture different kinds of biomedical data in real time and turn them into actionable insights for providers. Its the same analysis you would normally do with MRI, except now its all automated, he says. The way weve set it up is weve removed all need for human intervention.

According to Allen, the Agave API ensures that there is seamless communication between the MRI scanner and the Stampede supercomputer. The real benefit here is the Agave platform, which grabs the data automatically as it comes off the scanner, pushing it and then quickly starting the job, and then pulling the data back once the analysis is complete.

At the same time, Allen acknowledges that the test cases that the research team has conducted so far are relatively lightweight, using about 16 processing cores and up to 20 megabytes of RAM. Were at the proof-of-concept stage, he concludes. Once we get to more complicated analyses, with automated image segmentation and registration, well use easily up to 200 cores.

Allen is quick to make the point that the platform with the Agave API is not limited to MRI and could conceivably be done for any medical device or instrument that gathers some sort of data and pushes it to a computer.

Researchers presented the platform at last weeks International Conference on Biomedical and Health Informatics in Orlando, Fla., which was co-located with the HIMSS17 conference and exhibition.

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University of Texas supercomputer speeds real-time MRI analysis - Health Data Management

Stem cell therapy can help treat diabetic heart disease – The … – Economic Times

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KARAIKAL: Recent advancements in stem cells research have given hope for successfully treating diabetic heart disease (DHD), renowned New Zealand-based researcher in cardiovascular diseases Dr Rajesh Katare said today.

DHD affected the muscular tissues of the heart leading to complications and it had been demonstrated that resident stem cells of myocardium can be stimulated to repair and replace e degenerated cardiac myocytes resulting in a novel therapeutic effect and ultimately cardiac regeneration, he said.

Katare, Director of Cardiovascular Research Division in the University of Otago, New Zealand, was delivering the keynote address at the continuing medical education programme on "Role of Micro-RNAs and stem cells in cardiac regeneration in diabetic heart disease" at the Karaikal campus of premier health institute JIPMER.

Presenting clinical evidences, Katare said stem cell therapy certainly presented a new hope for successfully treating DHD.

Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education (JIPMER) Director Dr Subash Chandra Parija pointed out that it was the first such programme on the role of stem cells in cardiac regeneration in the whole of the country.

He said as diabetes was highly prevalent in the country, providing treatment for DHD had become a big challenge. Patients suffering from the condition have to undergo lifelong treatment and medications. "In this backdrop, advancements in stem cell therapy assume significance," he said.

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Stem cell therapy can help treat diabetic heart disease - The ... - Economic Times

Stem cell treatment changed the life of one guest at Trump’s speech … – CNN

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She credits an experimental stem cell treatment with giving her new hope for her health and her future -- a newfound hope that also caught attention of Republican Rep. Pete Olson.

"She is the face of the 21st Century Cures Act because of what she's gone through in her life," he said Tuesday.

"It became pretty clear to me that ... I (have) got to tell her story," he said. "That's why she's here: She's awesome."

Immediately after the House vote, Hughes said, Olson called her at home to invite her to be his guest of honor.

"I still cannot believe I will be in the same room as our President and lawmakers," she added.

Hughes spent most of her adolescence hospitalized, as she became so sick that she could barely walk and suffered immense pain. Her body was evaluated, treated and studied at the National Institutes of Health in collaboration with her doctors from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Yet relief came in 2014, when Hughes received a high-dose adult stem cell treatment that was not approved in the United States.

For the procedure, Hughes had her own healthy stem cells cultured at the FDA-registered biotechnology company Celltex Therapeutics in Houston. Then she traveled to Cancun, Mexico, to have the cells infused back into her body.

Each infusion involved about 200 million stem cells, and Hughes received some 22 infusions over almost two years. The cells could help normalize her immune system, which was overactive due to her autoimmune disease.

Before the stem cell therapy, Hughes said, she was taking 23 medications a day. Now, she is on eight medications at lower doses.

"If not for the help of high-dose autologous mesenchymal stem cell therapy, I would not be here today," Hughes said at the hearing.

"I was running out of time, but I was willing to put my life at risk to get on an airplane. My quality of life had become so dismal, even one small improvement from my own stem cells would have been enough for me," she said in her speech. "What happened in the days, weeks and years following my first infusion has changed my outlook. It's hard to believe, in my sick body, I had a wealth of healthy adult stem cells with the ability to so significantly improve my quality of life."

"My hope is that our new President will spend time looking at how to help all Americans have access to new therapies like the one I had," she said.

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Stem cell treatment changed the life of one guest at Trump's speech ... - CNN

Local man fundraising for Stem Cell Transplant Therapy – Sequim Gazette

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Spaghetti dinner fundraiser

Proceeds benefit stem cell transplant for Sean McKeown

When: 4-8 p.m. Saturday, March 4

Where: Sequim Boys & Girls Club, 400 West Fir St., Sequim

Admission: $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 10 and under

For more: Contact Karen McKeown at karenlmckeown@gmail.com or visit https://www.gofundme.com/seans-stem-cell-therapy

Sean McKeown has been living with multiple sclerosis for 17 years.

After trying every medication available to stop the progression of the disease, McKeown finally was approved for stem cell transplant therapy that could significantly help improve his condition.

It has been a 17-year journey for the McKeowns, as Sean and his wife Karen describe it. The two met in a Human Relations class at college in Bellingham and got married six months after Sean was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

They now have two young children, Madison, 13, and Dylan, 12, that attend Sequim Middle School.

Sean was born and raised in Port Angeles. The McKeowns have been living in Sequim for five years and work for the family owned business called All Weather Heating and Cooling, Inc. located off Kemp Street in Port Angeles.

Seans parents Tom and Ida McKeown opened the business in the 1980s and later sold it to Seans sister Jeanne Sparks and her business partner Dustin Halverson. Karen currently works as the office manager and Sean also worked at the business until 2009 when he could no longer work.

Sean was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000 after experiencing double vision. He is no longer able to take the previous medication he was using for 10 years. Last September, he got a call from the University of Washington that notified him he tested positive for the JC Anti-virus for most people it would be similar to the common cold but when Sean contracts the virus it means half of the multiple sclerosis drugs can cause a second disease called PML or brain cancer.

It was a huge wake up call for us, said Karen.

Multiple sclerosis causes Seans legs to constantly shake and he must walk with the assistance of a cane every day. He also has a lack of energy and at one point was in a wheelchair for several months because he did not have the energy to walk short distances.

The McKeowns said they did a lot of research about stem cell transplant therapy for treating multiple sclerosis and Sean was approved for the procedure after he applied. His approval only lasts for 10 weeks but his insurance does not cover the procedure so the McKeowns must raise $16,000 to cover the cost.

The idea behind the treatment is to take Seans stem cells out of his fat areas, such as the stomach, put the cells through a machine that cleans it and creates new stem cells. Doctors will then inject the cells back into his body where they will attach to blood cells and start the healing process.

For multiple sclerosis, stem cell transplant therapy could help with Seans movement and Karen added that doctors want to put some stem cells in his brain.

Sean explained that the bodys nerve endings are almost like a wire, when talking about the process. He explained his T-cells are attacking the fatty tissue surrounding the nerve endings and when these cells get down to the wire or nerve endings the wires snap and short out, he said.

In theory, those stem cells will re-attach those wires, Karen explained.

StemGenex is the San Diego, Calif.-based facility where the McKeowns will travel to have the procedure done. Karen said the facility has been performing stem cell transplant therapy for nine years to treat other diseases such as Parkinsons. The treatment could be done within three days but if the McKeowns do not raise the money for the procedure within 10 weeks, they will have to reapply.

The McKeowns said they are hoping this procedure will allow Sean to have more energy.

For him, mainly it will be his energy level, Karen said. That would be a huge step in the right direction for him.

Karen explained there were days where Sean could barely walk out to the mailbox and back and would need to rest shortly after.

The McKeowns have been trying to raise money for the procedure through a GoFundMe account and a bank account through First Federal under Benefit for Sean McKeown.

The family also is hosting a fundraiser at the Boys &Girls club in Sequim this Saturday, March 4, where there will be a spaghetti dinner and raffle items. So far the McKeowns have raised an estimated $3,000 and the deadline to reach their goal amount is April 24.

For more information about Sean, you can visit https://www.gofundme.com/seans-stem-cell-therapy.

The spaghetti fundraiser will be held from 4-8 p.m. at the Sequim Boys &Girls Club, 400 West Fir St. in Sequim. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 10 and under. Contact Karen McKeown at karenlmckeown@gmail.com.

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Local man fundraising for Stem Cell Transplant Therapy - Sequim Gazette

Religion and Spirituality Events: 3/1 – Cecil Whig

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Low-cost, local events happening this week. To be included, your event must be family friendly, cost less than $25 per person and take place in Cecil County as well as adjoining areas within a 20-minute drive. Please submit the event title, time, address to accent@cecilwhig.com. Once approved by an editor, the event will be listed until its completion date. It will run in the print edition as space allows. You can also submit to a separate online calendar at cecildaily.com.

YOGA, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Ongoing $15 drop-in. Multi-level for everyone. Call instructor Laura Hannan at 1-540-421-0296.

CLUTTERERS ANONYMOUS, 6 to 7 p.m. at Janes United Methodist Church, 213 N. Walnut St., Rising Sun. Clutterers Anonymous is a 12-step program to help people solve their problems with clutter/hoarding. There are no dues or fees. Contact Martha H. 443-350-1483.

YOGA, 7 p.m. weekly classes at Cecil County Arts Council, 135 E. Main St., Elkton. Intro class is free. Then pay $10 per class or buy five classes for $45. Classes are designed for new and experienced yogis. Contact class instructor Sarah Mester at smester@comcast.net.

IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, 7 p.m. at 229 E. Main St., Elkton. Panic, fear, anxiety, depression. Attend a free weekly meeting with Recovery International.

FREE LUNCH, 12 to 1 p.m. every Friday at Elkton Presbyterian Church, 209 E. Main St. provided by Elkton Community Kitchen. All are welcome. For more information contact elktoncommunitykitchen@gmail.com.

YOGA, 9 a.m. every Saturday at Gracies, 213 North St., Elkton. $5 per class. Community Yoga Class. For more info call 443-257-0743.

SMART RECOVERY, 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Janes UMC in Rising Sun. This meeting is for those recovering from the disease of addiction. This is an open support group that meets every Saturday.

4TH ANNUAL CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL, 1 to 4 p.m. at Oxford United Methodist Church, 18 Addison St., Oxford, Pa. Hosted by the Oxford United Methodist Women. Call 610-932-9698 for more information. Tickets cost $5. Non-recurring.

SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE, 5 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 105 N. Bridge St., Elkton. Will recur every week at this time.

GOSPEL SINGING, 6 to 8 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church on Singerly Road in Elkton.

EASTER EGG DEADLINE, for Oxford United Methodist Church half pound, decorated, individually boxed eggs. Choice of peanut butter, coconut cream, butter cream or chocolate nut. Call 610-932-4556 to order the eggs can be picked up at the Church Fellowship Hall in Oxford, Pa., on April 5, between 3 and 5:30 p.m. Non-recurring.

BALDWIN UMC, 9:15 a.m. service and Sunday school at Singerly Fire Hall in Elkton. Each Sunday until further notice.

PARISH SUNDAY SCHOOL, 9:45 a.m. at Zion UMC in Cecilton. Recurs weekly.

LOVE YOUR LIFE WORKSHOP, 10:30 a.m. at Gracies 213 North St., Elkton. Free. Every Sunday. An alternative to traditional Sunday morning churches, an open honest discussion of life and faith. Come to listen or participate and share your story. facebook.com/theloveyourlifeworkshop or 443-257-0743.

DEBTORS ANONYMOUS, 6 to 7 p.m. at Janes United Methodist Church, 213 N. Walnut St., Rising Sun. Debtors Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who help each other solve their problems with debt. DA is a 12-step program. There are no dues or fees. Contact Martha H. 443-350-1483.

NARANON MEETING, 7 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, North East. Hope and Peace every Monday. Contact Lorri: 443-250-0909.

WOMENS NA MEETING, 7 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, North East.

YOGA 4 SENIORS, 9 to 10 a.m. at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Pre-registration is required. Call instructor Laura Hannan at 1-540-421-0296. $12 per class if all six are pre-paid or $15 drop-in.

SENIOR MEETING, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday at St. Stephens Church in Earleville. Anyone 50 or older is invited to attend. No registration or member fee. Lunch is served for $5. Come for the fellowship, speaker, see what events we are planning. Questions call 443-207-2011.

MENS YOGA CLASS, 11 a.m. at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Pre-registration is required. Call instructor Laura Hannan at 1-540-421-0296. $12 per class if all six are pre-paid or $15 drop-in.

COMMUNITY ARTS AND CRAFTS, 1 p.m. free instruction at St. Stephens Church, 10 Glebe Road, Earleville. Ongoing drawing and painting classes for beginner or serious artists. bspelled123@gmail.com. http://www.communityartandcrafts.com. Call Jerry at 410-275-2945.

TOPS, 5:30 p.m. at Rosebank UMC, Rising Sun. Nonprofit weight-loss support group, meets weekly. $6 monthly fee. First meeting free. topsrosebank@gmail.com.

NARANON, 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Church of God, 1121 Singerly Road, Elkton. A Nar-Anon adult support meeting for those with addicts in the family.

MEDITATION, 7 p.m. every Tuesday with Three Roots Wellness at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Learn basics of meditation practices and how to make it useful in your everyday life. Donation based. Registration is required email to angela@threerootswellness.com.

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Religion and Spirituality Events: 3/1 - Cecil Whig

Spirituality & Practice Jewish Theology, Pt. V – Patheos (blog)

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Many Christians first (and sometimes only) encounter with Judaism is through the Gospels and Christian theology. However, the Gospels largely present a form of Judaism that largely no longer exists.

Additionally, the Gospels present the Pharisees as Jesus Jewish foil, and therefore, many of the descriptions and stories have a somewhat polemical purpose. Much of Jesus ministry focused on a genuine spirituality that transcended legalism and ritual purity concerns and often the legalism of the Pharisees was exaggerated as a literary device.

Modern Liberal Jewish Practice

Judaism properly understood is a path of love, not the blind and cold obeyence of law. Reform Judaism, in particular, deemphasizes religious purity and legalism and focuses instead on self-improvement, the opening of heart, love and compassion, mercy, serving others, and working toward a society of peace and justice.

The Reform approach urges that one selectively engage those ceremonies and practices from Jewish tradition and custom that elevate his or her life. No spiritual practice fulfills its meaning unless it make one a better, more loving person and adds meaning to ones life.

The Reform approach is to root oneself in authentic tradition, while responding to a world in need of hope by raising our moral sights and practice instead of accepting ethical chaos or immoral behavior. Reform Judaism urges one to do what is just and right, based on our ancient teachings interpreted through modern insights.

A Personal Spirituality

Each individual must decide for himself or herself what constitutes a meaningful spiritual path no one can force meaning onto another person. Part of ones task in life is to wrestle with profound questions and formulate answers that satisfy. Therefore, there is a legitimate and indispensable aspect of subjectivity and individuality to any theology and spiritual path. For Jewish spirituality to be mature, it must be fully integrated into subjectivity.As such, there is ample room within Judaism for diversity of thought, variance in practice, and personal expression.

Common Practices

Humans experience the capacity of being called/commanded by something beyond ourselves, something that both speaks to our nature and is yet embedded there. In moments of quiet honesty, we find ourselves with a given orientation and that orientation offers itself up as an approach to God. We understand this command of our own nature as the foundation of mitzvot. The following are some examples of the components of a modern Jewish spiritual practice.

Mindfulness (Zehirut) cultivating an awareness of presence, a focus on the present moment and living it to the fullest. In practicing mindfulness, we may find we also cultivate awe and gratitude.

Prayer (TeFillah) we find value in expressing our highest intentions in sacred language, in silence, and focusing on them in private and communal situations. Prayer is the language of the heart sanctified. There is power in focused human intention, even if that power is simply inner transformation.

Sabbath (Shabbat) we honor and observe the Sabbath. We understand the value of rest and renewal. We grasp the importance of slowing down and spending time with loved ones. We value the sacred rhythm that Shabbat brings to our lives.

Loving Kindness (Hesed)- the ancient rabbis taught that the perfect sacrifice is acts of loving kindness. We therefore understand that our Covenant commitment to the Source of Goodness and Life is most profoundly expressed in acts of love and kindness.

Study (Chinukh) Judaism places a strong emphasis on education, and in particular, the study of Jewish texts, practices, philosophy, ethics, and tradition.

Turning (Teshuvah) self-examination and reflection on our lives is vital if we desire to grow in kindness and holiness. Much of our spirituality is an exercise in orientation our task is to continually turn back to the Source of Goodness and the path of life.

Restoration (Tikkun) Jews are called to heal the world. Our fundamental attitude should be one of restoring the world to the divine vision of wholeness, interconnectedness, and harmony establishing right relationships between people and between people and nature.

Peace (Shalom) -striving toward wholeness broadly understood a thriving of of the entire person body and soul and harmony among all.

Justice (Tzedakah) maintaining proper relationships by giving to others their due and respecting fundamental human rights. Tzedakah also includes what Christians refer to as charity the care of the needy, the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized.

Kosher (Kashrut) -The original intent of the dietary laws were likely to reinforce an emerging cultural identity. Today, Jewish dietary practices are, for many, an exercise in self mastery and a daily reminder of the need for kindness, the humane treatment of animals, and increased awareness of food and the ethical issues involved in its production. The traditional prohibitions involving pork, shellfish, and the humane slaughter of animals is often now blended with concerns over organic farming, fair trade sources, and health effects.

Sustainability (Mekayem) Torah contains multiple commandments to respect the environment and nature. Jewish spirituality involves a commitment to live lightly on the earth, protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.

Simplicity (Histapkut bmeut) to focus on what is truly important and not allow lesser concerns from detracting from lifes primary values and goods. Simplicity is recognizing what is vital and what is extraneous.

Celebration & Cycles (Simcha) the central myths, values, and teachings of Judaism are reinforced through the celebration of the Jewish holidays.Following the rhythm of the Jewish holidays through the seasons offers a way of attuning to both the mythic narrative and the cycles and rhythms of the natural world, thereby helping us deepen our Judaism while recognizing the interconnectedness of reality and our place in the world.

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Spirituality & Practice Jewish Theology, Pt. V - Patheos (blog)

5 Ways to reject unhealthy anger this Lent – Aleteia EN

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Aleteia EN
5 Ways to reject unhealthy anger this Lent
Aleteia EN
Anger is all around us these days. The emotion of anger in itself is not a bad thing. Thomas Aquinas went so far as to say that not responding to something with anger can be a vice because sometimes reason demands anger at injustice and sin. But anger ...

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5 Ways to reject unhealthy anger this Lent - Aleteia EN

What’s your position? Spirituality and sexuality | CisternYard Media – Cistern Yard

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Religion and sexuality two topics that may not seem like they mesh very smoothly. However, at the College many religious organizations find ways to embrace those whose sexual differences may otherwise feel unwelcome. Every religious organization on campus, about 15, were contacted in hopes of talking to them about their stance on sexuality and same-sex relationships. Unfortunately, only four agreed to the interview. CisternYard News sat down with the Unitarian Universalist Club advisor, the student president of the Lutheran Campus Ministry, the campus advisor for Journey and the Catholic Student Association advisor.*

Lisa Ross works as the campus advisor for the Unitarian Universalist Club at the College of Charleston. While the club does not have any current members, Ross is on the Religious Life Council and hopes to start the organization up again soon. She is involved with the Unitarian Church in Charleston, which is the only one within 100 miles, and teaches sex education to middle schoolers.

Within the Unitarian Universalist Church, Youve got Christians, youve got atheists and agnostics. Youve got people who are Jewish but dont feel at home in a synagogue. Or perhaps theyve married someone whos not Jewish, and now they have kids, and where do they take their kids thats not my religion or your religion, but something thats more basic or foundational that applies to just being good people. With such a mix of people, one would think it would be hard to nail down a specific stance on sexuality. However, when the topic of same-sex relationships came up the position was very clear. No prohibitions. Love is love, was Rosss response. Representing the Unitarian Universalist Club, I strongly believe as a social scientist, that we have our types. Were attracted to a type of person. And very often that type is one gender or the other. And its not always what fits in with mainstream society, she said.

With 80 members, Journey is the second largest religious community on campus. The group is interdenominational Christian but primarily sponsored by the Presbyterian Church USA. Colin Kerr, the campus advisor and a published author, started the organization six years ago with the intention of doing something different. He wanted to attract three different types of people that were not normally targeted in the religious community: those who question Christianity, those who may have had negative past experiences with religion, and those in the LGBTQ community. These bedrock principles alone give a good picture of how the organization addresses sexuality in relation to Christianity.

When asked about same-sex relationships, Kerr responded We would affirm the validity of same-sex relationships on parity with heterosexual relationship and call same-sex couples to the same standards of living as any Christian in our community. Kerrs reasoning for his support lies in thelifelong covenants of love and fidelity found in marriage.

Kerr does not see same-sex relationships as a sin, stating Of the five passages in the Bible some Christians use to condemn same-sex relationships, every one of these verses is in the context of either cult prostitution, rape or extreme promiscuity. There [are] no condemnations of monogamous same-sex relationships. Zero.

However, Kerr said that not all his staff are LGBTQ inclusive, nor is every member of his congregation. But he has found that the diversity and even disagreement among those in Journey brings them closer together as a community. If Christians really believe what they say they believe about unity and Jesus, we should be able to disagree on this issue as faithful Christians and trust that the Holy Spirit can work things out.

Rachelle Lindstrom, student president of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at the College, gave her organizations input on the subject. Funded and run by St. Matthews Church in Charleston, the organization is small in members but works with other colleges on the peninsula. Though Lutheran Campus Ministry does not outwardly support same sex relationships, they do seek to include everyone regardless of sexual orientation.

Its in our bylaws that we welcome everyone. We kind of take the stance that everyone is Gods creatures. Since the organization works through St. Matthews, they have less interaction with other religious communities on campus, but Lindstrom maintains that another part of our bylaws is that you dont even have to be Lutheran to join us. You dont have to have any religious background whatsoever. Your opinions are your own. So were very all-inclusive.

The Catholic Student Association, which meets at St. Patricks for worship every Sunday, has a more complex view on this topic. When discussing the topic of marriage, Jim Grove, the campus advisor, defined it as a relationship between two people that not only support each other, but also recognize their sacrament to God and uphold His image.

Same-sex relationships were a more fraught topic. Grove saw it as finding a balance between the traditions of the Catholic church and the newer definitions of sexuality. Grove was the first to point out that some ministers in the Catholic Church may strictly uphold the traditional no same-sex relationships stance, while others yet may have a more progressive outlook. As for the Catholic Student Association at the College, they are a certified College of Charleston Safe Zone that welcomes all. They try to be inclusive because they recognize that as long as same-sex couples are in healthy, beneficial, God-seeking relationships, they should be addressed with the same attention and ministry as other couples. Grove elaborated on the stance of the Catholic Church at large.

The Catholic Church cannot neglect the important reality that in the marriage of a man and woman, a new life can be created. And so the Church sees in this union the sacrament. At the same time, people see that a truly loving, lifelong committed relationship, regardless of gender, can be life-giving in many personal and communal ways. So, the church struggles to describe, respect and include both realities, being faithful to its tradition and to what it now sees.

He also mentioned Pope Francis, whose papacy began in March 2013 and whose focus has been on love and acceptance in the Catholic Church. While not challenging the doctrine of the Church, he has had a different, more compassionate tone toward the LGBTQ community than his predecessors.

Grove thinks that there needs to be more discussion on the topic of sexuality in the Church, as it is a part of our everyday lives, whether we actively acknowledge it or not. Grove also believes in welcoming everyone into the organization who wishes to take part in it and working with them regardless of their beliefs or practices.

The Catholic Churchs precise stance on gay marriage will doubtlessly have to reflect their evolving view of marriage as both a spiritual and functional institution. For now, Grove hopes to develop students in the Catholic Student Association through service, retreats, worship and working with other religious organizations on campus.

The religious organizations at the College reflect the liberal environment of the campus, as well as the changing attitudes of the nation. Liberal Christians and Progressive Catholics are becoming more and more common. Sexuality is a heavy topic, but one that religious groups on campus are addressing head on.

* The statements from the above interviews reflect their respective religious organization on campus but not their religion as a whole.

*This article first appeared in the February 2017 issue of The Yard.

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Goddard’s IceCube SmallSat Ready for Launch, Space Station Deployment – Space Daily

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Less is more, and that's not just a buzz phrase. Good things are coming in smaller packages (again, not just another buzz phrase). Here's one that's 'on the rocks' coming soon to a launch near you; NASA has an IceCube that will be out of this world.

IceCube, which will measure cloud ice levels using a radiometer, is the first small satellite project managed by Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility. After two years in the making, the 10-pound, breadloaf-sized satellite is poised to take flight on Orbital ATK's seventh contracted commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station, scheduled to launch March 19, 2017, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

"Bringing IceCube from concept to operational satellite ready for launch is a remarkable achievement by an incredibly talented, diverse science and engineering team," said Bill Wrobel, Wallops Flight Facility director. "Goddard Space Flight Center's expertise in engineering and project management at its Wallops campus coupled with the scientific muscle at Goddard's Greenbelt campus makes us a natural fit for small satellite work."

IceCube is a type of smallsat known as a cubesat, and more specifically, it's a 3U cubesat. Each "U" is a cubic of 10 centimeters in size; as a 3U cubesat, IceCube measures 10 by 10 by 30 centimeters. Despite its relatively small size, IceCube is a bonafide spacecraft complete with three-axis attitude control, deployable solar arrays and a deployable UHF communications antenna.

"The technologies to make these small satellites is constantly evolving, getting increasingly smaller and lighter without sacrificing capability," said Tom Johnson, Goddard Space Flight Center's Small Satellite manager. Johnson, who's stationed at Wallops, led mission management activities for the project.

Once launched and deployed from the ISS, the IceCube team will spend about two weeks conducting various check-outs on the satellite before starting the spacecraft's operational mission, which is to perform cloud ice measurements using an 883-Gigahertz radiometer. Cloud ice properties are key variables used in weather and climate models. Currently, there's a large uncertainty in measuring cloud ice in the atmosphere at altitudes between 5 to 15 kilometers. IceCube will collect the first global map of cloud-induced radiances at 883-Gigahertz.

The overall objective of IceCube is to raise the technology readiness level (TRL) of the radiometer to measure cloud ice levels. NASA uses nine TRLs to assess the maturity level of a particular technology ranging from TRL 1, meaning basic principles have been observed, expanding up to TRL 9, which means a particular technology or system is flight-proven and successful. The radiometer capability for intermediate altitude cloud ice measurements is currently at TRL 6; the goal is to get to TRL 9 with IceCube, said Johnson.

The Goddard team faced a number of challenges during the design, integration and testing of the spacecraft. Notably, to keep costs down for the project, the team used commercial off-the-shelf components to build the spacecraft. The components, coming from multiple commercial providers, didn't always "plug and play" together, said Johnson, creating significant engineering challenges.

The team persevered, integrating the radiometer to the spacecraft, building the spacecraft support systems, and conducting thermal-vacuum, vibration, and antenna testing all at Goddard and Wallops facilities.

"The team had to overcome so many challenges and they worked hard to meet the delivery date prior to the holidays," said Johnson. "I am very proud of the engineering team that worked so hard to achieve this milestone."

In addition to IceCube, Goddard's small satellite office at Wallops is providing mission management for a number of other missions, such as HaloSat and the Time-Resolved Obeservations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS). The office is also supporting 23 university cubesat missions flying as part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate's Undergraduate Student Instrument Program (USIP).

"It's a growth market," said Wrobel. "With cost and size coming down combined with increasing capabilities, good things are coming in these smaller packages, which is having a positive impact for science, technology and growing the workforce."

NASA's Science Mission Directorate selected the IceCube mission as part of its CubeSat Initiative and funded the project jointly with NASA's Earth Science Technology Office. Goddard Space Flight Center's Dong Wu is IceCube's principal investigator. Goddard's Microwave Instruments and Technology Branch built the primary instrument and Wallops provided all mission management, integration and testing of the spacecraft. Kennedy Space Center's Launch Services Program (LSP) is providing the launch opportunity through NASA's Cubesat Launch Initiative (CSLI).

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Trump May Call for More US Human Spaceflight in Speech Tonight: Report – Space.com

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Update for 11:24 p.m. EST: President Trump mentioned space exploration only fleetingly in his first speech before Congress. You can read our full story here:Trump: Sending Astronauts to Distant Worlds Is 'Not Too Big a Dream'

President Donald Trump may make a call for a more robust approach to U.S. human spaceflight during his speech to the Joint Session of Congress tonight (Feb. 28),according to a PBS NewsHourreport that cites an unnamed senior administration official.

The report, from PBS NewsHour's John Yang, states only that Trump's speech "will call for [a] return of manned space exploration."

Trump's speech tonight comes one day after the private spaceflight company SpaceX unveiled an ambitious planto fly two passengers on a private trip around the moon by the end of 2018. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told reporters Monday (Feb. 27) that the company had received a "significant deposit" from two private individuals for the space tourist moon flight. The mission will send two people on a five-day trip around the moon aboard SpaceX's Dragon crew capsule, using the company's large Falcon Heavy rocket to launch the craft. The Dragon crew capsule and Falcon Heavy rocket are both expected to make their first test flights later this year.

#breakingnews: tonight @realDonaldTrump will call for return of manned space exploration -- senior administration official

Yang's report also comes less than a week after NASA officials announced that the space agencyis studying a plan to fly astronauts in 2019 on the first flight of the new megarocket, the Space Launch System. If NASA approves the plan, it would be the agency's first test flight to carry a crew since the first space shuttle launch in 1981.

"This is still pushing the envelope in some areas, but it's not as big a step technology-wise as what we actually did in the case of the shuttle," Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations,told reporters in a teleconference Friday (Feb. 24). "We will be very cautious about what we go do. We will do the right thing."

The United States has maintained a continuous human presence in space with astronauts on the International Space Station since 2000. But NASA has not launched astronauts from U.S. soil since 2011, when the agency retired its space shuttle fleet.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him@tariqjmalikandGoogle+.Follow us@Spacedotcom,FacebookandGoogle+.

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Lasers to boost communication across space – SpaceFlight Insider

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Paul Knightly

February 28th, 2017

Several upcoming NASA missions will use lasers to increase data transmission from space. Image & Caption Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center / Amber Jacobson, producer

The slow download speeds associated with dial-up Internet are a distant memory for many people;however, slow download speeds are still a reality for scientists and engineers operating spacecraft many millions of miles from the Earth. For the last 60 years, the only way to communicate with spacecraft has been via radio. That could be changing soon as NASA prepares to test out new technologies using lasers for communications that, if successful, would greatly expand the capabilities of spacecraft both near and far.

So-called optical communication, which would carry information over laser light, could yield an increase in data-carrying capacity as much as 10 to 100 times what is possible via radio communication. These higher data rates would allow for scientists to collect data faster and to study sudden events such as dust storms, cryovolcanoes, or spacecraft landings and even enable the broadcast of video from the surface of other planets.

An animated concept of Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) depicting a satellite using lasers to relay data from Mars to Earth. Credits: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center

Laser technology is ideal for boosting downlink communications from deep space, said Abi Biswas, the supervisor of the Optical Communications Systems group at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. It will eventually allow for applications like giving each astronaut his or her own video feed, or sending back higher-resolution, data-rich images faster.

Radio waves and lasers travel at the speed of light, but lasers travel in a higher-frequency bandwidth that enables them to carry more information. Having a means of sending more information across space in less time is an important advancement in lockstep with the increasing complexity of interplanetary missions.

NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which by itself is set to eclipse the total amount of data returned by all other interplanetary missions combined later this year, transmits data at speeds up to 6 Mbps. Biswas estimates that MRO could transmit data up to 250 Mbps if it was equipped with a laser communications system.

That data rate might still seem slow, but it would represent a huge leap forward in deep space communications. NASA has planned two upcoming missions to test the technology in space for the first time.

In 2019, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) will be launched to a geostationary orbit 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) from Earth and relay laser communications between two different ground stations in California. Among other things, it will seek to understand how atmospheric phenomenon, such as clouds and dust, can interfere with space-based laser communications.

The Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment is scheduled to launch in 2023 as a part of the upcoming NASA Discovery mission to the asteroid Psyche. While also testing laser communications at a greater distance than with LCRD, it will have the added challenge of accounting for the Earths rotation as it sends information embedded in its laser beams across the Solar System. For all the challenges ahead, successfully demonstrating deep space laser communications would be a game changer for how researchers communicate with spacecraft in the decades ahead.

Video Courtesy of NASA.gov Video

Tagged: Deep Space Optical Communications Laser Communications Relay Demonstration NASA The Range

Paul is currently a graduate student in Space and Planetary Sciences at the University of Akransas in Fayetteville. He grew up in the Kansas City area and developed an interest in space at a young age at the start of the twin Mars Exploration Rover missions in 2003. He began his studies in aerospace engineering before switching over to geology at Wichita State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in 2013. After working as an environmental geologist for a civil engineering firm, he began his graduate studies in 2016 and is actively working towards a PhD that will focus on the surficial processes of Mars. He also participated in a 2-week simluation at The Mars Society's Mars Desert Research Station in 2014 and remains involved in analogue mission studies today. Paul has been interested in science outreach and communication over the years which in the past included maintaining a personal blog on space exploration from high school through his undergraduate career and in recent years he has given talks at schools and other organizations over the topics of geology and space. He is excited to bring his experience as a geologist and scientist to the Spaceflight Insider team writing primarily on space science topics.

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Trump should get a clue on spaceflight from ‘Hidden Figures’ – Orlando Sentinel

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Quite simply, the movie Hidden Figures should be required viewing in the Trump White House, in Congress, throughout the federal government, in every corporate boardroom, and in every school and university in the nation.

While the film understandably takes certain liberties a few composite characters and the compression of time to tell the remarkable and beyond-inspirational stories of African-American Computers Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson in the 1960s, it is destined to touch people from all walks of life in truly meaningful ways for years to come.

No matter that"Hidden Figures" was nominated for three Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay) and won none at Sunday nights 89th Academy Awards.

When my wife and I saw the filmtwo months into its run, the theater was still full. As I looked around, it was filled with an incredibly diverse audience. From the elderly, to teenagers, to couples, to people of color. The one thing all had in common was that when the film ended, everyone broke into spontaneous applause with a number of people giving the film a standing ovation.

President Trump should screen the film in the White House for a number of important reasons, not the least of which being the subject of human spaceflight. For within the film, Trumpwould see a confident and forward-looking President Kennedy articulating exactly why the United States of America had to be the pre-eminent space-faring nation on Earth and why the moon was the next logical step for the country.

For decades now, NASA has been rudderless and adrift. It has been that way because there has been little or no leadership from the president on down. No direction. Just a succession of presidents who truly did not see the value in the United States maintaining its pre-eminence in space, and who looked at NASA at bestas a third-tier priority, or at worstas an annoyance.

Hidden Figures reminds us all that for at least one full decade, the American people were united as one in their support of a space program instilling national pride with a clearly defined and logical mission thatwas in the best interests of our country.

Next, on a human level, the president and Congress should screen the film to, first, be reminded of the racism and inequality that existed during that time, and, second, to then ponder what real progress has been made with regard to race relations and equality for women and all who might be discriminated against.

As a child, I grew up in abject poverty and often lived in black and minority neighborhoods. I witnessed racism up-close and personal, and afterwatching the film, I sat in my seat as the credits rolled, wondering what really was better in 2017 and what Hidden Figures with regard to racism were still being papered over?

Last, and quite wonderfully, Hidden Figures actually succeeds in removing the color of ones skin from the equation. As you watch the film, at the beginning you are called to notice that Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughanand Mary Jacksonare African-American women dealing with racism in 1961,coupled with inequality for women. Butas the film progresses, you see them simply as three incredibly strong women.You see a single mom raising her three daughters with the help of her mom as she teaches her children right from wrong. You see a wonderful nuclear family where the husband and wife support each other, and you see a loving couple.

Instead of color, you see human dignity, courage, compassion, empathy and the will to go on against all odds.

Hidden Figures should be seen by all because it reminds us of what unites us as human beings and inspires us to reach for the stars and the next goal in life.

DouglasMacKinnonof Boca Raton is a former White House and Pentagon official and served as a space consultant to the U.S. government and the private sector.

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Andromeda is acting weird, and it could mean dark matter – Blastr

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Something strange is going on in the Andromeda galaxy, and it could mean something even stranger.

NASAs Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope recently observed a super-powered gamma ray signal of indeterminate origin at the center of Andromeda (aka M31). While emissions of these penetrating high-energy beams often occur in galaxies and are typically scattered throughout, the gamma radiation issuing from Andromeda is unusually strong and concentrated at its core. Pulsars clustered in the middle of Andromeda could be one explanation for the mysterious surge of energy. So could dark matter.

Astrophysicist and research team lead Pierrick Martin of the National Center for Scientific Research and the Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology in Toulouse, France, is optimistic about what this find could reveal about the unknown.

"We expect dark matter to accumulate in the innermost regions of the Milky Way and other galaxies, which is why finding such a compact signal is very exciting, said Martin. M31 will be a key to understanding what this means for both Andromeda and the Milky Way."

Dark matter is a scientific conundrum. Invisible because it is non-luminous and does not interact with any form of light, it can still have its presence inferred from its gravitational influence on its surroundings. Hypothetical particles of dark matter otherwise known as WIMPs (Weakly-Interacting Massive Particles) supposedly go kamikaze and release bursts of gamma radiation when they crash into each other and self-annihilate. High concentrations of gamma rays therefore could indicate dense dark matter. Enter Fermi.

What Fermi, which can see photons with up to hundreds of billions of times more energy than anything visible to the naked human eye, captured in Andromeda reflects similar (though not as intense) emissions in the Milky Way. Mirrors between the two galaxies mean that what is already known about phenomena in the Milky Way especially pulsars can be applied to X-ray and radio observations of Andromeda when testing to determine where the gamma rays originate. Fermi is also able to observe Andromeda from a point of view impossible to attain within the Milky Way, and vice versa.

Illuminating an answer to the question of where exactly Andromeda's gamma rays emerge from is still problematic. Our neighboring galaxy is 2.5 million light years away, which will make it difficult to single out individual pulsars from its perceived cluster if that is confirmed to the source. Not to mention that for all the theorizing about its existence, anything definite about dark matter still eludes science. The mystery can only continue to unravel with more observations.

"We still have a lot to learn about the gamma-ray sky," said Regina Caputo, research scientist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. "The more information we have, the more information we can put into models of our own galaxy."

(via Space.com)

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SpaceX Could Beat NASA Back to the Moon – Space.com

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SpaceX's planto fly two private citizens around the moon would put the company ahead of NASA's planned crewed flight with its Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket.

Yesterday, SpaceX announced its intention to send passengers on a crewed Dragon spacecraft, launched with a Falcon Heavy rocket, around the moon near the end of 2018. This would follow on the heels of the company's robotic andcrewed flights to the International Space Station, and an uncrewed Falcon Heavy moon trip.

NASA's own mission, which would be the first crewed flight using the SLS and its new Orion spacecraft, is scheduled for 2021. NASA recently began an investigation into whether it could put astronauts on SLS and Orion's first launch, scheduled for 2018 but officials have said that a crewed version of that launch wouldn't fly until 2019. Assuming SpaceX is on schedule, its fly-around would come first. [SpaceX Falcon Heavy to Be Reusable (Video)]

SpaceX going first "might change the acceptable-risk discussions NASA has with the ASAP [Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel]," Scott Hubbard, researcher in the Stanford University Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told Space.com. "I could imagine that if this independent entrepreneur has done it, and successfully identified the risk factors, it would be real information, not speculation."

"Others might then ask about [the] need for SLS and Orion but two suppliers are always better from a competition/cost POV," he added via email. Hubbard worked at NASA for 20 years and ultimately led its Ames Research Center, and he currently chairs SpaceX's independent Safety Advisory Panel for Commercial Crew, which focuses specifically on the design and risks of their program to carry astronauts to the International Space Station.

SpaceX could not do this without NASA. Can't express enough appreciation. https://t.co/uQpI60zAV7

During Elon Musk's teleconference yesterday, the SpaceX CEO said that NASA astronauts would "take priority" if the agency wanted to be the first to fly that type of mission. NASA released a statement sayingthe agency would work closely with SpaceX to ensure the company met all safety requirements and continued to fulfill its space station delivery contract.

As for SpaceX's ambitious time frame, Hubbard said it should be feasible in principle, purely considering the company's transportation capabilities, but that technical questions remain.

"The key technical issue will be demonstrating life support in the Dragon for two people for the duration of the mission," he said. "With reasonable margins, the length of mission will be longer than planned for commercial crew. The key programmatic issue is level of risk: Is it understood? Has it been mitigated sufficiently?"

If SpaceX can address those issues, it will be on track to launch a moon mission on the 50th anniversary of Apollo 8, NASA's first mission to orbit the moon. That could certainly serve to spur other commercial spaceflight companies, and NASA, into action. Hubbard pointed to when he held a workshop with The Planetary Society that said astronauts could orbit Mars by 2033, and not long after Lockheed Martin came out with a Mars Base Camp plan for 2028 and SpaceX came out with their Red Dragon Mars mission now scheduled for 2020.

This moon announcement "sets a bold new goal," Hubbard said. "There are people that are out there moving the goalposts with some significant technical credibility behind them, and this goal of two paying customers and an Apollo 8 loop around the moon in 2018 could well stimulate others to join in."

"The more groups you have trying this, the better off we are as a spacefaring nation or a spacefaring species," he added.

Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

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See the sand on Mars move under NASA’s Curiosity rover – CNET

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The shifting sands of Mars.

It's a familiar sight on Earth: Wind rakes over sand dunes, pushing the grains into distorted patterns. The landscape on Mars sometimes mimics conditions on our Blue Marble. A NASA image shared on Monday gives a close-up of the Curiosity rover's view of shifting wind-blown sands on the Red Planet.

The GIF covers the span of a day on Mars, with the first image snapped on January 23 and the second on January 24. NASA notes the pictures were taken as a part of an investigation into wind's effects during the Martian summer, which NASA notes is the windiest time of year in Gale Crater, an ancient meteor impact site. The image covers a patch of ground about 3 feet (1 meter) wide.

One of Curiosity's wheels is visible in the upper left corner of the image and the wheel track in the sand extends along the left side. Those tracks go from clearly defined to blurry as the image shifts.

The Curiosity rover hitched a ride to Mars back in 2011 and landed in the Gale Crater in 2012. Since then, it has driven nearly 10 miles (16 kilometers). The shifting-sands images were taken with a downward-facing camera during a non-driving day when the rover remained stationary.

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20 weird objects seen on Mars, explained (pictures)

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Lego launching set featuring women stars of NASA – CNET – CNET

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Welcome these NASA women to your toy shelf soon.

Lego fans want to see brick versions of women in the sciences, and the toy company has heard them.

In 2016, 10,000 supporters on the Lego Ideas fan-created projects site backed a Women of NASA set. Lego announced on Tuesday it will produce the set, which was proposed by Lego fan and science writer and editor Maia Weinstock.

The approval of the set comes on the heels of popular 2016 movie "Hidden Figures," which explores the contributions of black women to the space agency and the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit in the early 1960s. Katherine Johnson, one of the scientists featured in the film, appears in the Lego minifig set.

The project also includes computer scientist Margaret Hamilton, astronaut Sally Ride, astronomer Nancy Grace Roman and astronaut Mae Jemison.

Weinstock's vision for the set includes minifig representations of each woman and a group of vignettes that feature mini versions of the space shuttle and the Hubble Space Telescope.

Lego previously delved into the world of NASA with the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover set, which is now retired.

Lego fans also threw their support behind a set of groundbreaking women scientists, which came out in 2014. That set has also been retired, so Lego enthusiasts will likely be excited about having a new group of women-scientists minifigs available.

The Women of NASA set is still awaiting final product design. Pricing and availability information should be revealed late this year or in early 2018.

Solving for XX: The industry seeks to overcome outdated ideas about "women in tech."

Crowd Control: A crowdsourced science fiction novel written by CNET readers.

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NASA buys two more seats to the International Space Station on Russia’s Soyuz rocket – The Verge

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NASA has agreed to fly at least two more astronauts on upcoming Russian Soyuz missions to the International Space Station, the space agency announced in a press release. The news comes in the wake of delays to NASAs Commercial Crew Program, an initiative where two American companies SpaceX and Boeing are being paid to create spacecraft that can ferry astronauts to the ISS. Those flights were originally supposed to happen this year, but are now estimated to take place no earlier than 2019.

The additional seats are being worked into an existing contract with Boeing, which helps operate the ISS. The agreement extension covers two seats on Soyuz flights this year and next year, and includes options for seats on three Soyuz flights in 2019. Boeing acquired theses seats from Russian aerospace company RSC Energia, and has been trying to sell them to NASA since January. The total cost of all five seats is $373.5 million, or $74.7 million per seat a touch short of the $81.7 million NASA has been paying Roscosmos.

Flights with SpaceX and Boeing should be cheaper than Russia when they happen

The US hasnt had the capability to send its own astronauts to space (or bring them back) since the Space Shuttle program was discontinued in 2011. Private US spaceflight companies were growing at a rapid pace then, so NASA decided to fund these companies so they could become a sort of space taxi service for American astronauts. The Commercial Crew Program was intended to give NASA a cheaper alternative to Russia, but the program has been hampered by delays and cost issues. The space agency is also planning to fly astronauts on its own Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) maybe as early as 2019, but that program has also been delayed.

In 2015, NASA spent $490 million on six more Soyuz seats as a hedge against the possibility that the SpaceX and Boeing spacecraft wouldnt be ready in time. Seats on the Soyuz are typically sorted out three years in advance when dealing directly with Roscosmos. (NASA was able to book the two new seats with less time since they had already been accounted for when they were bought by RSC Energia.)

It was a prescient move because Boeing delayed twice the first crewed flight of its spacecraft, Starliner, in 2016. And SpaceX followed suit at the end of the year, saying in December that the human-rated version of its Dragon spacecraft wouldnt fly with a crew until at least 2018.

This is not the first time NASA has extended the contract with Russia

Two weeks ago, the Government Accountability Office a federal agency that performs audits for Congress released a report that estimated SpaceX and Boeing wont be ready to fly humans to space until 2019. The GAO cited concerns about a particular defect in SpaceXs engine turbines, as well as Boeings reliance on Russian rocket engines as some of the reasons.

NASA addressed the GAO report implicitly in the press release about the contract extension with Russia. NASAs Commercial crew transportation providers Boeing and SpaceX have made significant progress toward returning crew launches to the US, but external review groups have recommended an option to protect for delays or problems in certification, the agency wrote.

The contract extension with Russia was actually announced a week ago, and it was first spotted by SpaceNews, which points out the curious nature of how NASA quietly published the news. The agency is currently in a transitional phase as it waits for President Donald Trump to name a new NASA administrator.

NASA is waiting for Trump to name a new administrator

Robert Lightfoot, who is serving as acting administrator, recently sent a memo to NASA employees explaining his interest in accelerating NASAs plans for human spaceflight. He asked for NASA and Lockheed Martin, which makes Orion and SLS, to evaluate whether it would be possible to put a crew on the first flight of that spaceship / rocket combination in 2018 instead of 2021. Its a bold idea for a space agency that is known for caution, but it aligns with what we know the Trump administration wants out of NASA: an increased emphasis on human spaceflight and space exploration in general.

President Trump said in his inaugural address that we will unlock the mysteries of space, Lightfoot wrote. The SLS and Orion missions, coupled with those promised from record levels of private investment in space, will help put NASA and America in a position to unlock those mysteries and to ensure this nations world preeminence in exploring the cosmos.

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NASA releases telescope’s first solar images of sun – fox8.com

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NASA releases telescope's first solar images of sun
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We're getting our first look at the sun through the lens of the solar ultraviolet imager. NASA released the images Tuesday. It shows what's called a coronal hole in the sun's southern hemisphere. Such holes are in areas where the sun's corona appears ...

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NASA shares mind-bending new photos of Jupiter – AOL News

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By: Nathan Rousseau Smith, Buzz60

It's an exciting time for space travel!

With President Trump's plan to focus on exploration and Elon Musk's announcement to send two people to the moon by next year we really couldn't ask for anything more.

But now, NASA is feeding our hunger for the unknown with stunning images of Jupiter's atmosphere.

However, it's not the raw images of the swirling atmosphere that has people talking, it's the user-submitted remixes NASA is calling Jovian art.

An image of Jupiter's eye looks almost like a painting out of the Renaissance! User Roman Tkachenko adjusted the color to highlight the ammonia-and-water clouds.

Others have also joined in on the fun, creating whimsical art out of the gaseous planet.

One user even created her own "Starry Night."

NASA's solar-powered probe Juno has been exploring our solar system's largest planet and its moons since July.

See photos from Juno's landing:

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NASA's Juno spacecraft lands on Jupiter

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An artist's rendering depicts NASA's Juno spacecraft above Jupiter's north pole in this undated handout image. Launched in 2011, the Juno spacecraft will arrive at Jupiter in 2016 to study the giant planet from an elliptical, polar orbit. Juno will repeatedly dive between the planet and its intense belts of charged particle radiation. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Members of the Juno team celebrate at a press conference after they received confirmation from the Juno spacecraft that it had completed the engine burn and successfully entered into orbit around Jupiter,at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, U.S. in this July 4, 2016 handout photo. The Juno mission launched August 5, 2011 and will orbit the planet for 20 months to collect data on the planetary core, map the magnetic field, and measure the amount of water and ammonia in the atmosphere. NASA/Aubrey Gemignani/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

(L-R) Dr. Jim Green, Planetary Science Division Director, NASA; Scott Bolton, Juno principal investigator, Southwest Research Institute; Geoff Yoder, acting Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, NASA; Michael Watkins, director, NASA?s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); and Rick Nybakken, Juno project manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); celebrate with others on the Juno team after they received confirmation from the spacecraft that it had successfully completed the engine burn and entered orbit of Jupiter, in mission control of the Space Flight Operations Facility at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, U.S. in this July 4, 2016 handout photo. The Juno mission launched August 5, 2011 and will orbit the planet for 20 months to collect data on the planetary core, map the magnetic field, and measure the amount of water and ammonia in the atmosphere. NASA/Aubrey Gemignani/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A 1/4 scale model of NASA's Juno Spacecraft is seen in front of an image of Jupiter, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, July 3, 2016. NASA's solar-powered Juno spacecraft is scheduled to enter into orbit around Jupiter on July 4 to begin an in-depth study of the planet's formation, evolution and structure. The key event on July 4 is a 35-minute engine burn at 11:18 p.m. EDT (0318 GMT on Tuesday), which is designed to slow Juno down enough to be captured by Jupiter's powerful gravity. / AFP / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

NASA's Juno Mission Principal Investigator Scott Bolton (L) and Robert Kondrk (R), Apple vice president for Content and Media Apps, speak at a press conference at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, June 30, 2016 to announce 'Destination: Juno,' a collaboration between NASA and Apple to bring 'exploratory' music inspired by space from artists such as Brad Paisley, Corinne Bailey Rae, GZA, Jim James featuring Lydia Tyrell, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Weezer and Zo to Apple Music and iTunes listeners. The Juno spacecraft is scheduled to enter Jupiter's orbit on July 4, 2016 after a five years voyage to the fifth planet from the sun. / AFP / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

NASA Program Executive Diane Brown (L), Juno Mission Principal Investigator Scott Bolton (C) and Robert Kondrk (R), Apple vice president for Content and Media Apps, attend a press conference at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, June 30, 2016 to announce 'Destination: Juno,' a collaboration between NASA and Apple to bring 'exploratory' music inspired by space from artists such as Brad Paisley, Corinne Bailey Rae, GZA, Jim James featuring Lydia Tyrell, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Weezer and Zo to Apple Music and iTunes listeners. The Juno spacecraft is scheduled to enter Jupiter's orbit on July 4, 2016 after a five years voyage to the fifth planet from the sun. / AFP / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

PASADENA, CA - JUNE 30: A scientist works at the Deep Space Network desk in the mission control room of the JPL Space Flight Operations Facility at JPL as NASA officials and the public look forward to the Independence Day arrival of the the Juno spacecraft to Jupiter, at JPL on June 30, 2016 in Pasadena, California. After having traveling nearly 1.8 billion miles over the past five years, the NASA Juno spacecraft will arrival to Jupiter on the Fourth of July to go enter orbit and gather data to study the enigmas beneath the cloud tops of Jupiter. The risky $1.1 billion mission will fail if it does not enter orbit on the first try and overshoots the planet. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

PASADENA, CA - JUNE 30: Cassini Ace Bill Mogensen works at his desk in the mission control room of the JPL Space Flight Operations Facility at JPL as NASA officials and the public look forward to the Independence Day arrival of the the Juno spacecraft to Jupiter, at JPL on June 30, 2016 in Pasadena, California. After having traveling nearly 1.8 billion miles over the past five years, the NASA Juno spacecraft will arrival to Jupiter on the Fourth of July to go enter orbit and gather data to study the enigmas beneath the cloud tops of Jupiter. The risky $1.1 billion mission will fail if it does not enter orbit on the first try and overshoots the planet. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - (From R) Rick Nybakken, Juno project manager, Scott Bolton, NASA principal investigator for the Juno mission to Jupiter and Jim Green, NASA director of Planetary Science, react as the Juno spacecraft successfully enters Jupiter's orbit on July 4, 2016, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on August 5, 2011 on a five-year voyage to its mission to study the planet's formation, evolution and structure. / AFP / POOL / Ringo Chiu (Photo credit should read RINGO CHIU/AFP/Getty Images)

Scott Bolton (L), NASA principal investigator for the Juno mission to Jupiter, reacts as the Juno spacecraft successfully enters Jupiter's orbit on July 4, 2016, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on August 5, 2011 on a five-year voyage to its mission to study the planet's formation, evolution and structure. / AFP / POOL / Ringo Chiu (Photo credit should read RINGO CHIU/AFP/Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Juno Project Manager Rick Nybakken (C) celebrates as the solar-powered Juno spacecraft goes into orbit around Jupiter, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California on July 4, 2016. Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on August 5, 2011 on a five-year voyage to its mission to study the planet's formation, evolution and structure. / AFP / POOL / Ringo Chiu (Photo credit should read RINGO CHIU/AFP/Getty Images)

Staff members watch on before the solar-powered Juno spacecraft went into orbit around Jupiter, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California on July 4, 2016. Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on August 5, 2011 on a five-year voyage to its mission to study the planet's formation, evolution and structure. / AFP / POOL / Ringo Chiu (Photo credit should read RINGO CHIU/AFP/Getty Images)

Diane Brown (L), NASA Juno program executive, Scott Bolton (C), Juno principal investigator and Rick Nybakken, Juno project manager, celebrate at a press conference after the Juno spacecraft was successfully placed into Jupiter's orbit, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California on July 4, 2016. Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on August 5, 2011 on a five-year voyage to its mission to study the planet's formation, evolution and structure. / AFP / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Juno Project Manager Rick Nybakken (L) and principal investigator Scott Bolton (R) celebrate as the solar-powered Juno spacecraft goes into orbit around Jupiter, at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California on July 4, 2016. Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on August 5, 2011 on a five-year voyage to its mission to study the planet's formation, evolution and structure. / AFP / POOL / Ringo Chiu (Photo credit should read RINGO CHIU/AFP/Getty Images)

PASADENA, CA - JULY 4: Juno team members celebrate in mission control of the Space Flight Operations Facility at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory after receiving confirmation from the spacecraft that it has successfully entered orbit of Jupiter, July 4, 2016 in Pasadena, CA. The Juno mission launched August 5, 2011 and will orbit the planet for 20 months to collect data on the planetary core, map the magnetic field, and measure the amount of water and ammonia in the atmosphere. (Photo by Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via Getty Images)

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