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To kick off our special summer series about data, we interviewed 2006 Nobel Laureate John Mather about the importance of imagery in communicating science and sharing data with the public. More than just “pretty pictures,” data can be used to tell a story and explain the mysteries of the cosmos. Not every piece of data would be considered a work of art, but the information contained is at the very heart of NASA science.
Working with COBE and the James Webb Space Telescope, Dr. Mather is no stranger to the power of data and the importance of scientific imagery. We got the scoop on how data is used in communication and why every bit of data is beautiful in its own way.
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Some people just have a knack for building things, or taking things apart to make them work better. My grandfather is one of these people – he looks at the stuff he uses everyday and tinkers with it to make it better suit his needs. As a kid, I laughed at his toaster tongs (so you don’t burn your fingers), his long-reach grasping device (so you can reach things beyond arm’s length), and his half-sized roll of paper towels (so you get exactly how much you want). As an adult, I recognize the sheer practicality of each of these items. And I’ve also seen very similar items pop up on the shelves of the supermarket or on late-night infomercials.
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In astrophysics, the development of innovative technology is crucial to answering scientific questions about the Universe around us. The types of technology invented are determined, at least in part, by the answers we are seeking. At the heart of this science-technology cycle are “professional tinkerers,” scientists and engineers that balance the needs of the astrophysics field and the opportunities afforded by an impressive palette of tools.
In this episode, we interviewed Dr. Harvey Moseley, one of the “tinkerers” here at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He gave Blueshift some advice on how to take inventions from the drawing board to reality.
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Welcome to the December 2007 episode of Blueshift, from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. We’re celebrating the new year with a look at the typical life cycle of NASA missions and the typical day of our science staff.
We’ll start with a look back at the FUSE mission, which ceased operations earlier this year. Then we’ll give you an inside look at what it takes to make a mission happen – from the birth of ideas to the day-to-day operation of a satellite after launch.
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Welcome to a special episode of Blueshift! As we approach another year of Nobel Prizes, we are releasing our full-length interview with NASA’s own Nobel Laureate, John Mather (an edited version appeared in Episode 4). Learn more about cosmology, Dr. Mather’s new position at NASA Headquarters, the importance of small missions, and the exciting future of the James Webb Space Telescope.
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Welcome to the first episode of Blueshift, from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This episode will tell you a little about what we do here, and features the inventions and innovations of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
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Podcasts | Sara Mitchell | 
June 18, 2009 7:54 pm | 
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