Contributor Posts

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

It was the first time ever. At least, the first time this photographer had ever seen aurora from his home mountains. And what a spectacular aurora it was. The Karkonosze Mountains in Poland are usually too far south to see any auroras. But on the amazing night of May 10 - 11, purple and green colors lit up much of the night sky, a surprising spectacle that also appeared over many mid-latitude locations around the Earth. The featured image is a composite of six vertical exposures taken during the auroral peak. The futuristic buildings on the right are part of a meteorological observatory located on the highest peak of the Karkonosze Mountains. The purple color is primarily due to Sun-triggered, high-energy electrons impacting nitrogen molecules in Earth's atmosphere. Our Sun is reaching its maximum surface activity over the next two years, and although many more auroras are predicted, most will occur over regions closer to the Earth's poles.

Photo by Daniel Koszela

I need time,
to be alone,
yet, I need people,
one on one.

A good dilemma,
not in my book,
for as I speak,
let me have one look.

A someone who,
who could love me too,
the way I would
love to do.

It's a quarter to four,
in the morning.
Why am I not
in my bed?

Probably because I have
all this work in my head.
Does that make sense,
when I want to cry instead?

Lonely is the night,
when I think of you.
your no longer here,
what am I supposed to do.

You were my rock,
my inner soul.
You gave me love,
you gave me your all.

A sadness overwhelms,
most waking moment.
I pray to God
to hear my lament.

 "Titanium dioxide is a potentially harmful food coloring additive found in thousands of foods, where it makes foods look whiter and more opaque.... it is used solely for superficial purposes, and can potentially damage DNA, CSPI recommends avoiding titanium dioxide altogether." Found in chewing gums, hard-shell candies, coffee creamers, baked goods, puddings, frostings, dressings, and sauces... More at CSPI ➜

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Why is the sky near Antares and Rho Ophiuchi so colorful, yet dusty? The colors result from a mixture of objects and processes. Fine dust -- illuminated by starlight -- produces blue reflection nebulae. Gaseous clouds whose atoms are excited by ultraviolet starlight produce reddish emission nebulae. Backlit dust clouds block starlight and so appear dark. Antares, a red supergiant and one of the brighter stars in the night sky, lights up the yellow-red clouds on the upper right of the featured image. The Rho Ophiuchi star system lies at the center of the blue reflection nebula on the left, while a different reflection nebula, IC 4605, lies just below and right of the image center. These star clouds are even more colorful than humans can see, emitting light across the electromagnetic spectrum. Open Science: Browse 3,400+ codes in the Astrophysics Source Code Library

Photo by Craig Stocks

I feel so alone,
right now.
I need someone to talk to,
but how.

Life's mystery after the loss of a
loved one.
Who do I reach out to,
no one.

No one to care,
for me.
She is gone and I am
in misery.

Dragging my blanket,
I see,
the sad tale of woe,
is me.

Apothecary jar,
bones, by the bag,
with eye of newt.
This recipe is a drag.

Moonlight streaming,
through mottled light,
if we are to survive,
we must fight.

Of trolls and ogres,
who live in the dark,
dare I go alone,
to play in the park?

Shadows move,
branches will sway,
wind blowing,
there I'll stay.

Never, will I
again, in life,
will I be whole.
I miss my wife.

A short tour
in the South Pacific.
I believe I may have
been twenty years old.