Posts by Jane Taylor
Physics and Gravity on the Ice at the Olympic Games
Few things celebrate and display our dance with gravity more viscerally than the Olympic Games. “This month in Pyeongchang, elite teams of physics and materials science experts from all over the world will dazzle us with ostentatious displays of grace and power. We commonly refer to these experts as athletes.” Is the delightful first line…
Read MoreSomething we all share – besides Gravity
Gravity effects us equally and without agenda. Because topics such as religion, politics, and ethnicity are so incredibly divisive, the Gravity and You Project seeks to create unity through the exploration of something we all share: gravity. Not only does it keep our feet on the ground (usually) and the wine in our glass (for…
Read MoreCars in Space: Falcon Heavy
It has finally happened! What we thought was just the fantasy of Hanna-Barbera, the animation studios behind vintage cartoons like The Jestons and the Flintstones, has become a reality and right now a red sports car is orbiting the sun. “Screams and cheers erupted at Cape Canaveral, Florida, as the massive rocket fired its engines…
Read MoreUnity and Lunch
Though my understanding of gravity hovers somewhere slightly below that of a high-school psychics student (make that junior high), I have joined the Gravity Guys, Lee Minkler and John Hadden, in their uplifting adventure because Gravity and You is about more than gravity. The goal of Gravity and You is healing divisiveness by acknowledging and…
Read MoreGravity and the Wind
Nature is brilliant. This time of year, the winds rise just as the seeds of plants are ready for airborne distribution. Is it gravity related? Of course! Gravity holds our atmosphere to the planet. Our atmosphere is filled with air molecules in constant motion (moving so fast they clock up to 1100 miles per hour).…
Read MoreCrossFit and Gravity: An Interview with Ian Marquis
Without gravity, life as we know it would not be possible. Without gravity, fitness as we know it would not be possible. In this interview with fitness instructor Ian Marquis at Champlain Valley CrossFit, we explore gravity’s role in strength training. “Gravity definitely plays a role in our work…it is not something that we are…
Read MoreWhy is Autumn called Fall?
As a fan of gravity and the outdoors, I have been enjoying both as I watch the leaves fall from the trees. That autumn is also called fall seems obviously related to what I’m witnessing. But what is obvious is not always accurate. Why is Autumn called Fall? I consulted my favorite professor. According to…
Read More“I am not a scientist” and The Scientific Method
I am not a scientist. I used this sentence just the other day in reference to something I did not quite understand about gravity. I was immediately corrected. “We’re all scientists. We all use the scientific method every single day in everythng we do.” Lee Minkler insisted. Though I have not actively pursued science since…
Read MoreThe Impact of Gravity on Life: What happens to life when gravity changes? Ecosystems
This is the sixth post in our series The Impact of Gravity on Life, a paper written by Dr. Emily R. Morey-Holton, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California. Read the series in its entirety here in blog posts tagged Impact of Gravity on Life. Algal mats and protists are fascinating! If orientation and stratification…
Read MoreThe Impact of Gravity on Life: Does Gravity play a role in evolution?
This is the final post in our series The Impact of Gravity on Life, a paper written by Dr. Emily R. Morey-Holton, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California. Read the series in its entirety here in blog posts tagged Impact of Gravity on Life. Gravity affects the environment. Its attractive force gives weight to…
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