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Comets vs. Asteroids vs. Meteors: Synonymous or Different?

Our universe is unimaginably vast and contains hundreds of thousands of objects. Some of these can be very easily mistaken as another because a lot of them overlap traits. A very common example of this is comets, asteroids, and meteors. A lot of people use these terms synonymously, which is a mistake considering their distinct differences. This post will discuss these differences and hopefully clear up common misconceptions. Comets Comets, by definition, are small, icy, solar system bodies that make the sad mistake of getting too close to the gigantic ball of gas and plasma that we call our sun. When comets pass too close, they start heating up, releasing gases, which scientists refer to as 'outgassing' (no, for real). This creates a 'gravitationally unbound atmosphere', or a coma. The dust, gas, and ice particles start streaming behind the comet, creating the symbolic tail. Fun Facts: The name comet comes from Kometes, which means long hair. In this case, the 'hair
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8 Questions You May Have About Black Holes

A lot of people have heard the term 'black hole'. But like most things in space, there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Humans have a tendency to assume the unknown, so here are 8 questions that are often asked by the general public. 1. What is a black hole? A black hole is a region of space where gravity is so strong, anything that gets in, even light, can’t get out. The gravity of a black hole is this strong because a large quantity of matter has been compressed into a small space. Black holes form when a star dies. Due to the fact that light cant bounce back out of a black hole, we can’t see them. Special tools that are used to identify black holes have special features that enable the user to identify how certain stars, which are closer to black holes, act differently compared to other stars. 2. How can black holes be studied when they are black? Nothing, as in even x-rays and other forms of light, can escape from the inside of the event horizon of a black hol

Turkey's Deadly Earthquake: What, Why, and How to Help

     Earthquakes have been a natural force feared by human beings since they were initially encountered. On February 6, 2023, a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook the Turkey/Syria area. Turkey, which sits on a major active fault line (the North Anatolian fault), is prone to earthquakes. according to  Global News . Earthquakes are caused when two tectonic plates interact or push against each other. On February 6 th , the African, Anatolian (where Turkey sits), Arabian and Eurasian plates all interacted on the North Anatolian Fault, causing the disastrous earthquake.   Data derived by  USA Today  says that “authorities say the death toll has surpassed 11,000 and probably will keep climbing. An estimated 6,000 buildings were toppled”. Hundreds are still believed to be buried under the rubble. According to Brian Olson, who’s Twitter conversation was displayed by  USA Today,  “Yesterday's M7.8 earthquake in southern Turkey ruptured along segments of the East Anatolian Fault zone tha

How the Universe Began: 7 (Of the Many) Theories

     Have you ever wondered how it all began? How our universe itself was formed? I know I have. People have tried to contemplate the answer to this mind-bending question since the beginning of time itself. And after years of wondering, they came up with 7 popular theories in response to one of humanities greatest mysteries. ** Note: These are in no shape or form all known theories, but merely the widespread or most popular ones 1. White Holes In order to understand a white hole, you need to know how a black hole works. Black holes are created by a star that died. This star then creates a hole that sucks all light and matter into itself, where it cannot escape. A white hole does the opposite thing; It spits out the matter. So, a white hole lives in the hypothetical region in spacetime, where it can’t take any material in, but only expel it. But white holes haven’t yet been proven to exist, and are a hypothesis created by Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. 2. Mirage of the Black H

Radio Astronomy – Listening to Space

     It is said that there is no sound in space. But radio astronomy allows people to literally listen to it. “Radio astronomy is the study of celestial objects that give off radio waves” (NSF). It is a branch of astronomy solely focused on the ‘radio’ part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Using this, scientists’ study celestial objects which give off radio waves. Radio astronomy helps people analyze cosmic happenings that are invisible on the electromagnetic spectrum. It’s the study of the universe using radio emissions.  History      Radio astronomy started in 1932, when Karl G. Jansky, engineer, solved a puzzling problem: there was noisy static that was interfering with the short-wave radio for the transatlantic voice communications. After trying to find the source for moths, he discovered that it was moving across the sky. After discussing with some astronomers, he found that some radio waves from outside the solar system – in the center of the Milky Way – were the cause of the pro

Top 15 Places to Go in Washington

When you're looking for a little bit of everything, Washington State is your place to go. It has everything from snow to sun, with activities for both people who love the great outdoors, and those who prefer to stay inside. This post will contain the top 15 places to visit in Washington State. Olympic Game Farm If you love animals, but would rather just stay in your car, then The Olympic Game Farm was made just for you. It is a drive-through wildlife exhibit, where animals come right up to your vehicle. The most exciting part is that you can feed the animals, they eat right out of your hand! It is fun for the entire family.   Hoh Rainforest Located on the Olympic Peninsula in western Washington, the Hoh Rainforest is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the United States. It contains abundant wildlife and has beautiful trails for hikers. It is considered the ‘most well-preserved temperate rainforest’ and is home to some of Earth’s largest trees. And to add to the s

About Me

Hey, I'm Ananya Denduluri, one of the authors of denduluri.com.  I live with my parents, my little sister, and my little brother, in Washington, United States. I love all arts (painting, drawing, crafting, and even things like animating or 3D art). I also really love reading, traveling, kitties, and eating donuts, one of the perfect-est foods ever.  In addition to this, I love being in nature and enjoy hiking, biking, and swimming. I love to learn new things, and to share all of the things I learn with everybody. I believe that you give what you get (or as I like to say, Newton's 3rd Law of Motion)., and that if you teach what you know, you will only get more knowledge. I love science in general, especially things people don't know a lot about, like space, or the ocean.  I also love to spend time with my family and go on trips with them. We love to watch movies, binge watch tv, and play board games .  A sketch of my family & me