Earth Atmosphere Archive

  • An asteroid almost smashed into Earth, and we only knew about it 15 hours before it happened

    An asteroid almost smashed into Earth, and we only knew about it 15 hours before it happened

    Posted on November 12, 2009 | No Comments
    Did you hear the news? An asteroid passed within 8,700 miles of the planet on Friday. The craziest thing is that scientists only knew about it 15 hours before it flew by. So if you have any confidence that this planet is safe from giant space objects smashing into the surface, possibly destroying all life in the process, well, think again.

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  • World’s largest laser opens for business in California

    World’s largest laser opens for business in California

    Posted on May 29, 2009 | No Comments
    Another day, another laser... well, not so fast. This particular laser just so happens to officially carry the "world's largest title." Built at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, and housed in the National Ignition Facility -- or NIF -- it was completed at the end of March, and has just now been officially dedicated and opened for business. The laser inside the three-football field-sized building will aim to create a "star" on earth by focusing 192 beams at a pea-sized target, generating temperatures over 100 million degrees and pressure over 100 billion times the earth's atmosphere. The process will create nuclear fusion -- the reaction that powers the sun and the stars. it sounds pretty complicated, and we'd hate to be in town if something goes awry, but we're crossing our fingers for the team! Hit the read link for much, much more information about the project.

    [Via Physorg]

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    World's largest laser opens for business in California originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 21:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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