Latest news with #NicholeAyers
CTV News
2 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
NASA astronaut captures aurora lights from space
Check out this timelapse video of the auroras from space that was captured by NASA astronaut Jonny Kim. NASA astronaut Jonathan Yong 'Jonny' Kim captured an aurora from space in a time-lapse video shared earlier this week. Posted to the social media platform X on Friday, the clip shows the Earth from high above the night sky, with aurora lights dancing over southeast Asia and Australia. A green haze appears halfway through the video, with red and purple coming into view soon after. The video has garnered almost 600,000 views and hundreds of reposts. 'I caught my first aurora,' Kim wrote on X. 'After seeing the result, I told (fellow astronaut Nichole Ayers) this felt like fishing. Prepping the camera, the angle, the settings, the mount, then setting your timer and coming back to hope you got a catch. And after catching my first fish, I think I'm hooked,' his post reads. Kim also thanked Ayers, for showing him how to film a time-lapse. Ayers frequently posts photos and videos of auroras from space on her X account. Kim was appointed a NASA astronaut in 2017. He arrived in space for his first mission to the International Space Station earlier this year aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket that launched on April 8. Prior to his space career, Kim has held various U.S. military positions beginning in 2002.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
You've Never Seen the Northern Lights Like This—Astronauts Share Incredible View From Space
Experiencing the northern lights is on many travelers' bucket lists. But a NASA astronaut recently scored the ultimate encounter when she captured a unique view of the natural phenomenon from the International Space Station (ISS). On May 23, Nichole Ayers shared a video showing the aurora borealis spanning the Earth's poles. "The Aurora showed up this last weekend when I wasn't expecting it!" she wrote on X. "I was trying to capture the massive storms that went through both North and South America and got a nice surprise." Ayers headed to the ISS from Florida in March as part of NASA's Crew-10 mission with SpaceX. The northern lights are created when charged particles from the sun interact with gas molecules like oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere. These collisions create vibrant colors known as the northern lights. Ayers said the lights appeared around sunset over the northern U.S. and Canada. In April, Ayers shared a spectacular time-lapse video of her view from ISS. "Tried my hand at a few aurora time-lapses, and they aren't too bad! Working on exposures still but happy with the first attempt," she wrote on X. "We have the most amazing view, and I hope to share it with you! For those of us on Earth, you might have a chance to see the northern lights tonight and tomorrow. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), they will be most visible across Canada and Alaska, with a lower likelihood forecast for parts of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, Upper Michigan, and northern Wisconsin. Areas in Wyoming, South Dakota, northern Iowa, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine may also get a glimpse of the phenomenon. The agency says that the best time to view the northern lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, adding that the best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight. Read the original article on Martha Stewart
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Pioneering Aerospace Medicine Program to Study Long-Term Effects of Space Travel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Astronauts undergo years of rigorous training to spend time on the International Space Station. Still, their bodies suffer many changes while they are in microgravity. Texas A&M University's Aerospace Medicine Program is putting long-duration spaceflight at the center of its research and education, a first-of-its-kind initiative. Astronauts are known to face multiple health challenges while in space. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) defines these risks by the acronym RIDGE, which represents conditions that spring from space radiation, isolation and confinement, distance from Earth, gravity fields and hostile/closed environments. Radiation exposure results from galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events. It is assumed that exposure to these for long periods of time can lead to an increased cancer risk, nervous system damage, degenerative tissue effects, acute radiation syndrome and other diseases. These predicted outcomes are parallel to what was experienced in the days, weeks and years after the Chernobyl disaster. Isolation and confinement can lead to mental health difficulties. Sleep, mission fatigue and communication trouble are some of the obstacles astronauts face during extended missions. Once back home, astronauts may have trouble adapting back into their families' daily routines. The distance from spacecraft to Earth does not allow astronauts to pop out to the grocery store or pharmacy if they need something. Instead, the payload they carry with them must have all the necessary medical supplies when it leaves Earth. Anticipating every possible situation, which also involves balancing cargo weight and risk, is part of the equation. Crew-10 mission astronauts NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers (C) waves to family members alongside NASA mission commander Anne McClain (R) and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi (L) before heading to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space... Crew-10 mission astronauts NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers (C) waves to family members alongside NASA mission commander Anne McClain (R) and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi (L) before heading to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Gregg Newton / AFP) (Photo by GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images) More Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images During space travel, astronauts encounter Earth's gravity and the weightlessness of space. With travel to Mars comes a third force factor: Mars has its own gravitational pull, one-third that of Earth's. Adaption and re-adaption to those circumstances is an obstacle that affects balance and bone density. Texas A&M's program is led by a doctor with keen knowledge of space travel. Dr. Jeffery Chancellor is a physicist and space radiation expert who has worked on over 10 NASA-funded flight studies. His wife, Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor, a physician with 15 years of experience as an astronaut, is an associate professor in the College of Medicine at the university. "We currently have three students in the inaugural aerospace medicine distinction track class, and we anticipate future cohorts to consist of five to 10 students annually. Considering the specialized nature of the curriculum and the hands-on learning opportunities, we strive to maintain a selective program to ensure each student receives a high-impact, personalized experience," Chancellor told Newsweek. That personalized experience includes course study specifically honed to fit the program and the future of space travel. "In addition to core content on human physiology in space and the operational principles of aerospace medicine, the track also covers topics such as environmental control and life support system (ECLSS), radiation biology, aviation safety, countermeasure development and space policy and ethics. Students engage in simulation-based training, research project design and collaborations with partners like NASA, commercial spaceflight firms and military aerospace units. The objective is to bridge the gap between clinical medicine and the operational, technical and scientific challenges of spaceflight," he said. Texas A&M isn't the only university in the U.S. with an aerospace medicine program. The University of Central Florida and University of California, Los Angeles, offer their own programs. The U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy also have aerospace medicine curricula. The Mayo Clinic offers the Mayo Aerospace Medicine Fellowship, a two-year accredited program that focuses on clinical work. "Our program aligns closely with other aerospace medicine curricula in foundational areas like flight physiology, emergency preparedness and the management of aerospace-related illnesses," Chancellor said. "Where we differentiate is our emphasis on emerging spaceflight environments—particularly long-duration missions in microgravity, lunar surface operations and commercial spaceflight. We intentionally incorporate lessons from analog missions, spaceflight simulations and current research on the biological impact of space exposure." "Additionally, distinction students will participate in immersive analog training scenarios, mirroring components of residency-level aerospace medicine programs. These include experiences such as attending specialized training at the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), shadowing flight surgeons at commercial spaceflight companies, participating in preflight medical briefings and observing launch and landing recovery operations. These activities are designed to provide early operational exposure and prepare students for the realities of clinical aerospace medicine in both governmental and commercial environments," he said. FILE - NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo enroute to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their... FILE - NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo enroute to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their liftoff on a Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) More AP/chris Texas A&M researchers are studying the effects of RIDGE as well as the practicality of certain aspects of aerospace medicine, such as the difficulties of filling a syringe in space to either inject a patient or draw blood. Aerospace medicine has been greatly impacted by assumed outcomes based on experiences on Earth. Texas A&M's program is designed to discover if those assumed outcomes are truths. "Since the beginning of the spaceflight program, there have been no documented health outcomes in crew members that have been attributed to space radiation exposure. The risk assumptions are based on outcomes on Earth, such as those observed in people who survived atomic bombs or occupational incidents like the Chernobyl disaster," the university said in a statement.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NASA Astronaut Unexpectedly Captures a Stunning Video of the Northern Lights from Space
Nichole Ayers unexpectedly captured a video of the northern lights from space The NASA astronaut shared her footage on X, explaining that she "wasn't expecting it" when she filmed and got a "nice surprise" as a result The clip featured a beautiful pan of the phenomenon that dazzled in shares of blues, greens, oranges and reds around Earth in spaceNichole Ayers was among the stars. The NASA astronaut shared a stunning shot of the northern lights from space in a video posted on X on Friday, May 23, explaining how she captured the dazzling display of the aurora borealis unexpectedly. "The Aurora showed up this last weekend when I wasn't expecting it! I was trying to capture the massive storms that went through both North and South America and got a nice surprise. The Aurora appeared right at sunset over the Northern US and Canada," Ayers wrote on X. Related: Are Solar Storms Dangerous to Humans on Earth? About the Effects, Including Possible Communication Disruption "I'm also fascinated by just how many satellites are orbiting the Earth at any given moment. There's so much to share with you all!" she concluded her caption alongside the video. Ayer's clip featured a mesmerizing pan of Earth from space, twinkling with lights and colors that perfectly contrasted the dark surroundings in the galaxy. The auroras radiated shades of greens, blues and purples — and towards the end of the video, hues of reds and oranges appeared. According to her NASA bio, Ayers, a Colorado native, was selected by the space organization to join the 2021 Astronaut Candidate Class before reporting for duty in January 2022. Ayers has flown missions both nationally and globally as an instructor in both the T-38A and F-22 Raptor since she graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in 2011 and a master's degree from Rice University in Houston. On March 14, Ayers embarked on her first spaceflight. She launched as pilot of NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission to conduct research, technology demonstrations and maintenance activities aboard the microgravity laboratory, per her bio. Related: How to Watch the Northern Lights Display from These Select States Tonight The northern lights have been visible from various parts of the United States in recent months. They form when solar activity, like solar flares or coronal mass ejections (CME), causes magnetic storms. When the storms occur, they trigger interactions between the Earth's magnetic field and charged particles from the sun. Then, a display of beautiful and often vibrant colors results and lights up the night sky. The intensity and location of these storms impact the colors produced. The planetary K index or Kp, which ranges from 0 to 9, measures geomagnetic activity. Related: Northern Lights Illuminate Skies in Rare Showings Across the Country — See the Breathtaking Photos! While the northern lights have been visible from several states across the United States in recent months, October 2024 had a memorable display due to the rare auroras' appearance in states that don't typically see them. The northern lights illuminated night skies across the eastern and southern parts of the country. Stunning purple, pink and green skies were seen in New Jersey, New York, Maine, Connecticut, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Northern Lights show surprises NASA astronaut on ISS
A Nasa astronaut on the International Space Station was recently surprised by a beautiful display of the Northern Lights while trying to photograph active storms on Earth. Astronaut Nichole Ayers shared the video above showing aurora lights dancing over the Earth's poles on May 23. "The Aurora showed up this last weekend when I wasn't expecting it!" Ayers wrote on X. "I was trying to capture the massive storms that went through both North and South America and got a nice surprise." The astronaut said the aurora lights appeared around sunset over the northern U.S. and Canada. Under the right space weather conditions, people on Earth in those areas could have seen the lights, too. At the time of the aurora lights, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a Geomagnetic Storm Warning with KP levels forecast to reach 6 out of 9. Vivid Northern Lights are created when energized particles from the Sun interact with oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's magnetic field. During these space weather reactions, different molecules create different colors of light. Ayers launched to the ISS from Florida in March as part of NASA's Crew-10 mission with SpaceX. Since arriving at the station this spring, Ayers has enjoyed sharing amazing views of the Earth from space. One of her first time-lapse videos included this display of aurora lights in late article source: Northern Lights show surprises NASA astronaut on ISS
