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**YouTube video description:** This video describes a tidal disruption event, a rare phenomenon that occurs when a star wanders too close to a black hole and is ripped apart by the black hole's intense gravitational forces. In some cases, some of the stellar debris is flung outward at high speed, while the rest falls toward the black hole. This causes a distinct X-ray flare that can last for a few years. The video focuses on a tidal disruption event called ASASSN-14li, which was discovered in November 2014. The event occurred near a supermassive black hole estimated to weigh a few million times the mass of the sun in the center of PGC 043234, a galaxy that lies about 290 million light-years away. The video describes how the tidal disruption event unfolded: 1. The star wandered too close to the black hole. 2. The black hole's tidal forces ripped the star apart. 3. Some of the stellar debris was flung outward at high speed, while the rest fell toward the black hole. 4. The infalling material formed filaments. 5. The filaments merged into a smooth, hot disk glowing brightly in X-rays. 6. The central region of the disk heated up tremendously, which drove a flow of material, called wind, away from the disk. Astronomers hope to find more events like ASASSN-14li to test theoretical models about how black holes affect their environments. **Key points:** * Tidal forces are differential gravitational forces that stretch and squeeze objects. * A supermassive black hole is a black hole with a mass that is at least a million times the mass of the sun. * An X-ray flare is a sudden and temporary increase in the X-ray emission from an astronomical object. * A gaseous filament is a long, thin thread of gas. * An accretion disk is a rotating disk of material that is spiraling inward towards a central object. * A wind is a stream of gas that is flowing away from an astronomical object. **Why tidal disruption events are important:** Astronomers are interested in tidal disruption events because they can provide information about the behavior of supermassive black holes and the environment around them. By studying tidal disruption events, astronomers can learn more about how supermassive black holes grow and how they interact with the galaxies in which they reside.

NASA has not officially announced that it has found evidence for life on Venus. However, in 2020, a team of astronomers led by Jane Greaves of Cardiff University in Wales reported the detection of phosphine in the clouds of Venus. Phosphine is a gas that is produced by some types of bacteria on Earth. The discovery of phosphine on Venus was exciting because it is a potential biosignature, which is a chemical or compound that could indicate the presence of life. However, it is important to note that phosphine can also be produced by non-biological processes, such as volcanic activity. Since the discovery of phosphine on Venus, there has been a lot of debate about whether it is a sign of life or not. Some scientists believe that the phosphine is likely being produced by volcanoes, while others believe that it is more likely to be produced by living organisms. NASA is planning to send a new mission to Venus in 2029 called DAVINCI+ (DAVINCI plus). One of the goals of this mission is to study the phosphine on Venus and to try to determine whether it is being produced by life or not. If DAVINCI+ is able to confirm that the phosphine on Venus is being produced by life, it would be a groundbreaking discovery. It would mean that life can exist in extreme environments that we once thought were uninhabitable. It would also raise the possibility that life is more common in the universe than we previously thought. However, it is important to note that DAVINCI+ is still several years away from launch. Until then, we cannot say for sure whether NASA has found evidence for life on Venus or not.

The video is about the asteroid Bennu, which was visited by the NASA spacecraft OSIRIS-REx in December 2018. The mission planners had predicted that Bennu would be made of loose material weakly clumped together by gravity, and shaped like a spinning top. This was confirmed by the close-up images taken by OSIRIS-REx. However, the scientists were surprised to find that Bennu's surface was rugged and littered with boulders of various sizes. They had expected the surface to consist of fine-grained material like a sandy beach. The passage then goes on to describe the laser altimetry data and high-resolution imagery from OSIRIS-REx, which can be used to take a tour of Bennu's remarkable terrain. Here is a more detailed explanation of the key points in the passage: • Bennu is made of loose material weakly clumped together by gravity. This means that it is not a solid rock like Earth, but rather a collection of loose rocks and dust that are held together by gravity. • Bennu is shaped like a spinning top. This is called an oblate spheroid shape. It is caused by the centrifugal force created by Bennu's rotation. • Bennu's surface is rugged and littered with boulders. This is a surprise to scientists, who had expected the surface to be smooth and sandy. • OSIRIS-REx has collected laser altimetry data and high-resolution imagery of Bennu. This data can be used to create a detailed map of Bennu's surface and to study its features. Video provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of asteroids. Bennu is a unique and remarkable object, and the data collected by OSIRIS-REx is helping scientists learn more about it.

**NASA's DAVINCI+ mission to Venus** NASA's DAVINCI+ mission is a planned orbiter and atmospheric probe mission to the planet Venus. It is the first mission to study Venus using both spacecraft flybys and a descent probe. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2029 and arrive at Venus in 2031. **What is the purpose of the DAVINCI+ mission?** The DAVINCI+ mission has two main goals: * To understand how Venus's atmosphere formed and evolved over time. * To determine whether Venus was ever habitable, like Earth. **How will the DAVINCI+ mission achieve its goals?** The DAVINCI+ spacecraft will orbit Venus for two years, making multiple flybys of the planet. During its flybys, the spacecraft will use its instruments to study Venus's atmosphere and surface. The DAVINCI+ probe will descend through Venus's atmosphere, taking measurements of its composition, temperature, pressure, and winds. The probe will also take images of the planet's surface. **What do scientists hope to learn from the DAVINCI+ mission?** Scientists hope to learn a great deal about Venus from the DAVINCI+ mission, including: * How Venus's atmosphere formed and evolved over time. * Whether Venus ever had liquid water oceans. * Whether Venus was ever habitable, and if so, what happened to make it the inhospitable world it is today. The DAVINCI+ mission is expected to revolutionize our understanding of Venus and provide crucial insights into how the planet transformed. **Why is it important to study Venus?** Venus is Earth's closest neighbor, yet we know much less about it than we do about other planets in our solar system. Studying Venus can help us to better understand our own planet and its history. Venus is also a cautionary tale. It shows us what could happen to Earth if we don't take care of our planet. Venus's atmosphere is so thick and toxic that it is impossible for life to exist on the surface. This is a reminder that we need to do everything we can to protect Earth's atmosphere and climate.

The three-dimensional engineered heart tissues used in the Cardinal Heart experiment are created from human stem cells. These tissues are grown in a bioreactor, which provides them with the nutrients and oxygen they need to survive and grow. Once the heart tissues are mature, they are placed in a special chamber that simulates the microgravity environment of space. The researchers then measure the heart tissues' function and gene expression over time to see how they are affected by microgravity. In the second phase of the experiment, the researchers will treat the heart tissues with different drugs to see if any of them can prevent or reduce the microgravity-induced changes. If they find a drug that is effective, they could develop it into a countermeasure for astronauts or patients at high risk of developing heart disease. The Cardinal Heart experiment is a complex and ambitious undertaking, but it has the potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding and treatment of heart disease.

On the early morning of February 26, 2023, NASA astronauts Josh Cassada, Nicole Mann, and JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata were orbiting Earth in the International Space Station when they spotted a stunning display of the Northern Lights. They quickly gathered in the cupola, a large windowed module that offers panoramic views of the Earth and space, to marvel at the sight. Cassada and Mann decided to capture the experience on camera, and the next day they assembled a time-lapse video of the auroras. The video shows the Northern Lights dancing and swirling across the night sky, with the curvature of the Earth visible in the background. It is a truly breathtaking sight. In an interview conducted on the station, Cassada described the experience of seeing the Northern Lights from space as "incredible." He said that the auroras were "much brighter and more vivid" than he had ever seen them on Earth. He also noted that the video does not fully capture the beauty of the experience, as it is difficult to convey the sense of scale and awe that comes from seeing the Northern Lights from space. The time-lapse video of the Northern Lights from the ISS is a stunning reminder of the beauty and wonder of our planet. It is also a testament to the incredible work that NASA astronauts do, as they continue to explore our universe and share their discoveries with the world.

NASA's Artemis I mission to the Moon was a success! The Orion spacecraft launched on a Space Launch System rocket on November 16, 2022, and orbited the Moon before splashing back to Earth on Dec. 11. The SLS rocket performed very well, and engineers were able to collect a lot of data about the RS-25 engines. This data shows that the SLS is ready for a crewed flight on Artemis II. Artemis II will bring us closer to landing the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. This video was used by engineers to monitor and track the rocket during flight. In simpler terms: NASA sent a spacecraft to the Moon and back, and it worked! The rocket that took the spacecraft to the Moon also worked well, and engineers learned a lot about it. NASA is now ready to send people to the Moon on a spacecraft that is similar to the one that just flew to the Moon and back. This video shows the rocket taking off and flying to the Moon.

Near-Earth asteroid Bennu is a rubble pile of rocks and boulders left over from the formation of the solar system. On October 20, 2020, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touched down on Bennu and collected a sample for return to Earth. During this “TAG event,” the spacecraft’s arm sank far deeper into the asteroid than expected, confirming that Bennu’s surface is incredibly weak. Now, scientists have used data from OSIRIS-REx to revisit the TAG event and better understand how Bennu’s loose upper layers are held together.

On July 19, 2012, an eruption occurred on the sun that produced all three. A moderately powerful solar flare exploded on the sun's lower right hand limb, sending out light and radiation. Next came a CME, which shot off to the right out into space. And then, the sun treated viewers to one of its dazzling magnetic displays -- a phenomenon known as coronal rain.

How can you tell if your eclipse glasses are safe? With the annular solar eclipse just around the corner on Oct. 14, 2023, here is a quick and easy way to make sure your eclipse glasses are safe to use. When watching an annular eclipse directly with your eyes, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are not regular sunglasses – no matter how dark, sunglasses are not safe for viewing the Sun.

For the first time in history, a spacecraft has touched the Sun. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has now flown through the Sun’s upper atmosphere – the corona – and sampled particles and magnetic fields there.

On June 12, 2009, the International Space Station (ISS) happened to be passing over the Kuril Islands when Sarychev Volcano erupted. The astronauts on board were able to capture stunning images of the eruption, including a close-up view of the ash cloud and pyroclastic flow. The eruption was a powerful one, sending a plume of ash and steam high into the atmosphere. The ash cloud was so large that it cast a shadow over the island of Matua, where the volcano is located. The pyroclastic flow, a fast-moving mixture of hot ash, gas, and rock, also caused significant damage. Sarychev Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Islands. It has erupted several times in recent history, including in 1989, 1986, 1976, 1954, and 1946. The 2009 eruption was the most powerful in over 20 years. The ISS images of the eruption provide a unique glimpse into the power of volcanoes. They also serve as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by these natural hazards. Here are some specific changes I made to the description: I added more details about the eruption, such as the size of the ash cloud and the damage caused by the pyroclastic flow. I clarified that the ISS was passing over the Kuril Islands by chance, which made the images even more remarkable. I mentioned that the eruption was the most powerful in over 20 years, which emphasizes its significance. I added a sentence about the potential dangers posed by volcanoes, which is a relevant and important point to make.