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A Day in the Life at a Laser Lab
9:00 AM – I walk up to the lab with my backpack full of my books and laptop. Not gonna lie, I'm still waking up. 9:05 AM – Before I can even think about entering the main lab, I have to check the cameras to ensure no one is working. We have a whole security system because, to put it simply, lasers are dangerous. 9:10 AM – I check the pressure gauge outside the door: negative pressure. Good. That means air is pulled into the lab, not pushed out, helping keep possible contam
Colin Benaissa
Jan 6


Virgil: Jekyll-and-Hyde galaxy
Virgil belongs to a mysterious group known as “Little Red Dots,” early galaxies that appear unusually red and compact
Colin Benaissa
Jan 6


The Humble Telescope: How to Make One at Home
You don’t need a Hubble Telescope to observe the stars, just a humble one.
Colin Benaissa
Nov 2, 2025


If I could travel anywhere…it would be Europa
If you’re curious about the existence of extraterrestrial life, you may want to take a deeper look at Europa.
Colin Benaissa
Oct 27, 2025


Spooky Skies in San Diego
This Halloween, after the trick-or-treating and downing a pound of candy, when the sun sets over the glistening ocean, take a minute to look up.
Colin Benaissa
Oct 13, 2025


Dark Skies: What They Are and Where to Find Them in San Diego
Have you ever looked up at the night sky from your backyard?
Colin Benaissa
Sep 2, 2025


Shen: Orion’s Belt in China
When we look at Orion’s bright stars, we may see it as a belt if you’re Greek, a string of pearls if you’re Arab, or something else altogether if you’re Chinese.
Colin Benaissa
Jul 2, 2025


Al-Jabbar, the Arabic story of Orion
We know Orion to be a skilled hunter in Greek myths, but in Arabic astronomy, Orion is called “Al-Jabbar”, which means “The Giant”.
Colin Benaissa
Jun 15, 2025


Saturn: The Lord of The Rings
Growing up, I was mesmerized by Saturn's seemingly perfect symmetrical rings. It made me wonder why none of the other planets had rings. What makes Saturn special?
Colin Benaissa
Apr 7, 2025


What are Technosignatures? Searching for Signs of Alien Life
Another method scientists have started using to look for alien life is by looking for technosignatures, signs of alien technology.
Colin Benaissa
Mar 28, 2025


Moon's Glow
How does the moon change color? Well, it doesn’t.
Colin Benaissa
Mar 1, 2025


Gamers and Astronomers
What do video gamers and astronomers have in common? At first glance, you’d be hard pressed to find a connection.
Colin Benaissa
Feb 17, 2025


Could Mars Be Our Second Home?
Given Mars’ current environment, why do scientists believe that this planet could be our second home?
Colin Benaissa
Feb 10, 2025


Quasars and Answers
Somewhere in the universe, a black hole is powering a light so intense its output is as much as a thousand times that of an entire galaxy containing a hundred billion stars.
Colin Benaissa
Jan 13, 2025
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