I Sure Hope That I Can Get Some Certain IRobot Automated Household Cleaners Someday!  

We Found the Universe’s First Type of Molecule

For decades, astronomers searched the cosmos for what is thought to be the first kind of molecule to have formed after the Big Bang. Now, it has finally been found. The molecule is called helium hydride. It’s made of a combination of hydrogen and helium. Astronomers think the molecule appeared more than 13 billion years ago and was the beginning step in the evolution of the universe. Only a few kinds of atoms existed when the universe was very young. Over time, the universe transformed from a primordial soup of simple molecules to the complex place it is today — filled with a seemingly infinite number of planets, stars and galaxies. Using SOFIA, the world’s largest airborne observatory, scientists detected newly formed helium hydride in a planetary nebula 3,000 light-years away. It was the first ever detection of the molecule in the modern universe. Learn more about the discovery:

Helium hydride is created when hydrogen and helium combine. 

Since the 1970s, scientists thought planetary nebula NGC 7027—a giant cloud of gas and dust in the constellation Cygnus—had the right environment for helium hydride to exist. 

But space telescopes could not pick out its chemical signal from a medley of molecules. 

Enter SOFIA, the world’s largest flying observatory! 

By pointing the aircraft’s 106-inch telescope at the planetary nebula and using a tool that works like a radio receiver to tune in to the “frequency” of helium hydride, similar to tuning a radio to a favorite station…

…the molecule’s chemical signal came through loud and clear, bringing a decades-long search to a happy end.

The discovery serves as proof that helium hydride can, in fact, exist in space. This confirms a key part of our basic understanding of the chemistry of the early universe. SOFIA is a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft that allows astronomers to study the solar system and beyond in ways that are not possible with ground-based telescopes. Find out more about the mission at www.nasa.gov/SOFIA

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

I sure can’t wait until Asteroid and Lunar Mining become real_industries someday! 

Driving Policy and Driverless Vehicles.

Here is an FAQ Page about:  Dyson Spheres. 

Nice Scenery!  

Blanes, Catalunya -S Amazing World beautiful things

the Guardian

Farewell to the Guardian's science blog network

After eight brilliant years, the Guardian’s science blog network comes to a close today

Farewell to The Science Blog Network!

'Puffed up planet' orbiting small star HATS-6 found

A huge planet "too big for its star" orbiting a faint star has been discovered by Australian researchers -- with the help of a backyard astronomer.

A Huge_Planet that’s "too big for its Host_Star" has been spotted orbiting a Faint Red_Dwarf Star by some Australian Researchers - with the help of a Backyard Astronomer.  

Snow covered House in Winter

For One Last Night, Make It a Blockbuster Night.

Here’s are some Websites to Explore.  

These websites could change your life

I asked Kottke.org readers if they had ever seen, heard, or read something on the web that literally changed their lives.

Fourteen people said no. Sixteen said maybe. Thirty-eight people said yes. These are some of their answers. Everyone is anonymous. Some said more than others.

Four different people listed pages from Metafilter:

Ask MetaFilter

;Where’s My Cut? –: On Unpaid Emotional Labor

For the person who’s got everything: “I read this post, applied, and had a play made for me.”

[creepy filter] Is it normal to become this distracted from seeing an attractive person in public?: This reader pointed to a comment in this thread “that describes the grinding reality of daily low-grade sexual harassment.”

Five readers listed works of journalism.

The Lilly Suicides by Richard DeGrandpre.

The Overprotected Kid by Hanna Rosin “persuaded me to be a far less uptight parent.”

Is This Working? on discipline and punishment in the school system.

The Blissfully Slow World of Internet Newsletters. (I hope this person now does something with newsletters.)

Don’t report sexual harassment (in most cases) by Penelope Trunk.

Five listed personal essays or advice.

Ten Things I Have Learned by Milton Glaser [PDF]

Mindfulness in Plain English by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana.

Encountering the Gifted Self Again, For the First Time “made me realise that I’m not just a weirdo, but all of my "quirks” actually fit together under a label, and that has made me understand myself about 10000x better.“

Pixel Poppers: Awesome By Proxy: Addicted to Fake Achievement: "an essay on performance orientation vs. mastery orientation, as applied to videogame genres.”

DEAR SUGAR, The Rumpus Advice Column #77: The Truth That Lives There.

Five listed videos or video series.

“Almost any woodworking video by Matthias Wandel.”

Vsauce.

The School of Life

The power of vulnerability by Bren Brown.

Kid President’s Letter To A Person On Their First Day Here:

And ten listed entire websites.

“Josh Davis’s www.dreamless.org message board, now defunct.”

“Violet Blue’s writing, which lead to me realizing sex is a much deeper and more interesting topic than mainstream news coverage would have me believe.”

“The website MathPuzzle. It was the first time a website caught my attention and I corresponded with the owner/webmaster, and it opened me up to the online and offline community of puzzlers around the world. Working as a puzzle author got me through college and helped me establish a name for myself.”

Bullet Journal.

YearCompass.

“Jeph Jacques’s Questionable Content, particularly how he dealt with suicide, depression, and the concept of people from different backgrounds so elegantly. I like to think it increased (and continues to increase) my empathy in the world.”

National Novel Writing Month

“Radiolab made me want to be a journalist.”

l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi: “In 2005 I was trying to get information on how to study abroad for a year. Everything I read was on the Internet, and I then spent 9 months between 2006 and 2007 in Chicoutimi, Quebec.”

Pixel Envy. “Not pandering. Started reading Kottke, DF, and Metafilter, and realized that I could try doing the same thing. I’ve had a modicum of success since, and met a bunch of really cool people as a result.”

Now pick up your instruments, and go start a band.