Posts Tagged ‘holidays’

Thanksgiving Dinner in Space!

turkeyTomorrow, most of America will gather in front of a table to ingest massive quantities of carb- and fat-driven foodstuffs. But what about the few Americans currently in space? Not to worry: Lest the seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour go without their requisite servings of turkey, stuffing, and candied yams, NASA is providing a Thanksgiving meal.

The six Americans on board and one Russian—who, in the spirit of inclusion, is also joining the meal—will float through their feast (literally), eating their feast from individual pouches with Velcro tags, which they can affix to metal trays that can be attached to their laps or the wall. Each tray is equipped with a tethered spoon, fork, knife, and pair of scissors for cutting open the food pouches.

While the flavor ranges in space are somewhat limited, NASA works hard to engineer a varied menu. Of course, the results aren’t always so successful, according to reports:

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November 26th, 2008 Tags: , ,
by Melissa Lafsky in Space & Aliens Therefrom | 0 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >

The Best Reader Science Halloween Costume, Revealed!

cute

Last week we revealed our Top Ten Science Halloween Costumes and asked you to send in your entries. By far the best was from Linda, who writes:

“Since my 3 year old daughter insisted that she had to be an anglerfish, I had to make her one. All the bioluminescence glows in the dark and the eyes glow as well. The light on her head blinks and bobs just like the real thing!!”

The female anglerfish is a natural trick-or-treater. It uses the bioluminescent esca dangling from its head like a fishing pole to lure other fish to its giant jaws. But just as the other fish think they’re in for a treat, the anglerfish reveals its trick and swallows them whole!

This is without a doubt the most adorable deep sea creature we’ve ever seen. Thanks Linda!


Related Content:
DISCOVER: It’s Not the Size of the Fish
Discoblog: DISCOVER’s Top Ten Science Halloween Costumes, Part I
Discoblog: DISCOVER’s Top Ten Science Halloween Costumes, Part II

November 3rd, 2008 Tags: ,
by Nina Bai in The Ocean & All Its (Endangered) Wonders | 0 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >

Weekly Science Blog Roundup…Halloween Edition

Yee-haw! It’s the blog roundup.• They love these in Alaska: “A warty, sometimes spotted, reddish, forearm-long fellow with meaty muscles.”

• Don’t feel guilty: There’s a scientifically good reason to gorge yourself on Halloween candy.

• You think being stuck in a cubicle is bad? NASA builds a computer therapist for depressed astronauts.

• Halloween Costumes + Animal Sex = Green Porno (totally safe for work!)

• Just one look from Sir David Attenborough makes carnivorous frogs want to have babies.

• Yet another nutty animal recue mission: Polar bear falls into a dry moat and refuses to use the stairs.

October 31st, 2008 Tags: ,
by Nina Bai in Blog Roundup, Food, Nutrition, & More Food, Sex & Mating, The Wide (& Strange) World of Animals | 0 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >