u/TheMuseumOfScience

Artemis II has left Earth’s orbit and is headed to the Moon! 🚀

With its trans-lunar injection burn, Orion fired its engine to leave Earth orbit and enter the precise path that will carry the crew toward a lunar flyby. This is the first time humans have traveled beyond Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972, marking a major milestone for deep space exploration. The burn also places the spacecraft on a free-return trajectory, meaning the Moon’s gravity will help bend Orion’s path and send the crew back toward Earth after looping around the Moon.

Artemis II has left Earth’s orbit and is headed to the Moon! 🚀

With its trans-lunar injection burn, Orion fired its engine to leave Earth orbit and enter the precise path that will carry the crew toward a lunar flyby. This is the first time humans have traveled beyond Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972, marking a major milestone for deep space exploration. The burn also places the spacecraft on a free-return trajectory, meaning the Moon’s gravity will help bend Orion’s path and send the crew back toward Earth after looping around the Moon.

Artemis II has left Earth’s orbit and is headed to the Moon! 🚀

With its trans-lunar injection burn, Orion fired its engine to leave Earth orbit and enter the precise path that will carry the crew toward a lunar flyby. This is the first time humans have traveled beyond Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972, marking a major milestone for deep space exploration. The burn also places the spacecraft on a free-return trajectory, meaning the Moon’s gravity will help bend Orion’s path and send the crew back toward Earth after looping around the Moon.

We’re remembering the trailblazing Jane Goodall on her birthday today. Happy birthday to Jane Goodall! 🐒🌱

Her message to us was clear. Protecting our planet takes courage, persistence, and action. Her call to action is rooted in science and hope: when people stand up for the future, change is possible.

We’re remembering the trailblazing Jane Goodall on her birthday today. Happy birthday to Jane Goodall! 🐒🌱

Her message to us was clear. Protecting our planet takes courage, persistence, and action. Her call to action is rooted in science and hope: when people stand up for the future, change is possible.

We’re remembering the trailblazing Jane Goodall on her birthday today. Happy birthday to Jane Goodall! 🐒🌱

Her message to us was clear. Protecting our planet takes courage, persistence, and action. Her call to action is rooted in science and hope: when people stand up for the future, change is possible.

The Artemis II crew are now orbiting Earth! 🚀

NASA’s Artemis II crew is currently orbiting Earth, kicking off a full day of critical tests aboard their Orion spacecraft. The team is checking every major system while also performing a proximity operations demo, using their rocket’s upper stage as a target to test how the spacecraft handles with astronauts at the controls. This marks the first time Orion has flown with a crew onboard, making these tests a major milestone. If everything checks out, the next step is the one everyone is waiting for: firing the engine for trans-lunar injection, the moment the spacecraft will leave Earth orbit and begin its journey to the Moon.

The Artemis II crew are now orbiting Earth! 🚀

NASA’s Artemis II crew is currently orbiting Earth, kicking off a full day of critical tests aboard their Orion spacecraft. The team is checking every major system while also performing a proximity operations demo, using their rocket’s upper stage as a target to test how the spacecraft handles with astronauts at the controls. This marks the first time Orion has flown with a crew onboard, making these tests a major milestone. If everything checks out, the next step is the one everyone is waiting for: firing the engine for trans-lunar injection, the moment the spacecraft will leave Earth orbit and begin its journey to the Moon.

Why do pineapples make your mouth itchy? 🍍 🍍 

​Chloe (Tardibabe) brings us into the microscopic world this iconic tropical fruit. Pineapples contain tiny needle-like structures called raphides. These are made of calcium oxalate crystals and can irritate your mouth when you eat them. As you chew, the crystals are released from specialized plant cells (idioblasts) and can poke into the soft tissues inside your mouth.

Pineapples also bring two more factors to the mix: they’re naturally acidic, and they contain bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins. Together, the acidity, enzymes, and sharp crystals can create that familiar tingling or itchy feeling.

Calcium oxalate crystals aren’t unique to pineapples. They show up across a huge range of photosynthetic organisms, from microscopic algae to flowering plants. Plants use them to store calcium and  deter herbivores. These crystals can be found in many plant parts, including leaves, roots, stems, and fruits, and they appear in hundreds of plant families.

These crystals have fascinated scientists for centuries. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, often called the father of microscopy, was among the first to observe them in the 1600s. Since then, they’ve been identified not just in plants, but also in soil, rocks, and a wide range of living organisms.

Citations

• Franceschi, V. R., & Nakata, P. A. (2005). Calcium oxalate in plants: Formation and function. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 56, 41–71. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.arplant.56.032604.144106
• Doaigey, A. R., & El-Zohri, M. (2017). Calcium oxalate crystals in plants: Structure and biological roles. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 138, 1–10.
• Paiva, E. A. S., & Machado, S. R. (2008). The formation of calcium oxalate crystals in plants and their biological functions. Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology, 20(4), 313–325.
• Hudgins, J. W., & Franceschi, V. R. (1994). Calcium oxalate crystals in plants: Morphology and distribution. Canadian Journal of Botany, 72(10), 1540–1556.
• Libert, B., & Franceschi, V. R. (1987). Oxalate in crop plants. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 35(6), 926–938.
• Taussig, S. J., & Batkin, S. (1988). Bromelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its clinical application. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 22(2), 191–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(88)90127-4
• Hale, L. P., Greer, P. K., Sempowski, G. D., & Sheffield, M. V. (2005). Bromelain treatment alters T cell signaling and reduces allergic airway disease. Journal of Immunology, 173(10), 6308–6317.
• Ketnawa, S., Chaiwut, P., & Rawdkuen, S. (2012). Pineapple wastes: A potential source for bromelain extraction. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 90(3), 385–391.
• Kumar, S., & Pandey, A. K. (2013). Chemistry and biological activities of flavonoids: An overview. The Scientific World Journal, 2013, 162750.
• Leeuwenhoek, A. van. (1675/1676). Observations, communicated to the publisher by Mr. Antony van Leeuwenhoek, concerning little animals. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

Why do pineapples make your mouth itchy? 🍍 🍍 

​Chloe (Tardibabe) brings us into the microscopic world this iconic tropical fruit. Pineapples contain tiny needle-like structures called raphides. These are made of calcium oxalate crystals and can irritate your mouth when you eat them. As you chew, the crystals are released from specialized plant cells (idioblasts) and can poke into the soft tissues inside your mouth.

Pineapples also bring two more factors to the mix: they’re naturally acidic, and they contain bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins. Together, the acidity, enzymes, and sharp crystals can create that familiar tingling or itchy feeling.

Calcium oxalate crystals aren’t unique to pineapples. They show up across a huge range of photosynthetic organisms, from microscopic algae to flowering plants. Plants use them to store calcium and  deter herbivores. These crystals can be found in many plant parts, including leaves, roots, stems, and fruits, and they appear in hundreds of plant families.

These crystals have fascinated scientists for centuries. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, often called the father of microscopy, was among the first to observe them in the 1600s. Since then, they’ve been identified not just in plants, but also in soil, rocks, and a wide range of living organisms.

Citations

• Franceschi, V. R., & Nakata, P. A. (2005). Calcium oxalate in plants: Formation and function. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 56, 41–71. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.arplant.56.032604.144106
• Doaigey, A. R., & El-Zohri, M. (2017). Calcium oxalate crystals in plants: Structure and biological roles. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 138, 1–10.
• Paiva, E. A. S., & Machado, S. R. (2008). The formation of calcium oxalate crystals in plants and their biological functions. Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology, 20(4), 313–325.
• Hudgins, J. W., & Franceschi, V. R. (1994). Calcium oxalate crystals in plants: Morphology and distribution. Canadian Journal of Botany, 72(10), 1540–1556.
• Libert, B., & Franceschi, V. R. (1987). Oxalate in crop plants. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 35(6), 926–938.
• Taussig, S. J., & Batkin, S. (1988). Bromelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its clinical application. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 22(2), 191–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(88)90127-4
• Hale, L. P., Greer, P. K., Sempowski, G. D., & Sheffield, M. V. (2005). Bromelain treatment alters T cell signaling and reduces allergic airway disease. Journal of Immunology, 173(10), 6308–6317.
• Ketnawa, S., Chaiwut, P., & Rawdkuen, S. (2012). Pineapple wastes: A potential source for bromelain extraction. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 90(3), 385–391.
• Kumar, S., & Pandey, A. K. (2013). Chemistry and biological activities of flavonoids: An overview. The Scientific World Journal, 2013, 162750.
• Leeuwenhoek, A. van. (1675/1676). Observations, communicated to the publisher by Mr. Antony van Leeuwenhoek, concerning little animals. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

Why do pineapples make your mouth itchy? 🍍 🍍 

​Chloe (Tardibabe) brings us into the microscopic world this iconic tropical fruit. Pineapples contain tiny needle-like structures called raphides. These are made of calcium oxalate crystals and can irritate your mouth when you eat them. As you chew, the crystals are released from specialized plant cells (idioblasts) and can poke into the soft tissues inside your mouth.

Pineapples also bring two more factors to the mix: they’re naturally acidic, and they contain bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins. Together, the acidity, enzymes, and sharp crystals can create that familiar tingling or itchy feeling.

Calcium oxalate crystals aren’t unique to pineapples. They show up across a huge range of photosynthetic organisms, from microscopic algae to flowering plants. Plants use them to store calcium and  deter herbivores. These crystals can be found in many plant parts, including leaves, roots, stems, and fruits, and they appear in hundreds of plant families.

These crystals have fascinated scientists for centuries. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, often called the father of microscopy, was among the first to observe them in the 1600s. Since then, they’ve been identified not just in plants, but also in soil, rocks, and a wide range of living organisms.

Citations

• Franceschi, V. R., & Nakata, P. A. (2005). Calcium oxalate in plants: Formation and function. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 56, 41–71. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.arplant.56.032604.144106
• Doaigey, A. R., & El-Zohri, M. (2017). Calcium oxalate crystals in plants: Structure and biological roles. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 138, 1–10.
• Paiva, E. A. S., & Machado, S. R. (2008). The formation of calcium oxalate crystals in plants and their biological functions. Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology, 20(4), 313–325.
• Hudgins, J. W., & Franceschi, V. R. (1994). Calcium oxalate crystals in plants: Morphology and distribution. Canadian Journal of Botany, 72(10), 1540–1556.
• Libert, B., & Franceschi, V. R. (1987). Oxalate in crop plants. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 35(6), 926–938.
• Taussig, S. J., & Batkin, S. (1988). Bromelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its clinical application. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 22(2), 191–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(88)90127-4
• Hale, L. P., Greer, P. K., Sempowski, G. D., & Sheffield, M. V. (2005). Bromelain treatment alters T cell signaling and reduces allergic airway disease. Journal of Immunology, 173(10), 6308–6317.
• Ketnawa, S., Chaiwut, P., & Rawdkuen, S. (2012). Pineapple wastes: A potential source for bromelain extraction. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 90(3), 385–391.
• Kumar, S., & Pandey, A. K. (2013). Chemistry and biological activities of flavonoids: An overview. The Scientific World Journal, 2013, 162750.
• Leeuwenhoek, A. van. (1675/1676). Observations, communicated to the publisher by Mr. Antony van Leeuwenhoek, concerning little animals. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

Artemis II is on its way back to the Moon. 🚀

NASA officially launched the first crewed mission of the Artemis program. Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen are beginning a deep-space journey that will test how Orion performs with humans on board beyond low Earth orbit. Over the mission, the crew will help evaluate critical systems including navigation, communications, and life support as they travel around the Moon. Those tests will help scientists and engineers understand how to safely send astronauts farther from Earth for longer missions. It’s a major milestone for lunar exploration and an important step toward future missions to the Moon and beyond.

Artemis II is on its way back to the Moon. 🚀

NASA officially launched the first crewed mission of the Artemis program. Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen are beginning a deep-space journey that will test how Orion performs with humans on board beyond low Earth orbit. Over the mission, the crew will help evaluate critical systems including navigation, communications, and life support as they travel around the Moon. Those tests will help scientists and engineers understand how to safely send astronauts farther from Earth for longer missions. It’s a major milestone for lunar exploration and an important step toward future missions to the Moon and beyond.

Meta just released TRIBE v2 and says it acts like a digital twin of the human brain. 🧠

Dr. Jazlyn Nketia cuts through the hype to explain what Meta’s TRIBE v2 really is, what it can do, and what it was built for. TRIBE v2 is a predictive model designed to estimate how humans respond to images, sounds, and language, giving brain scientists a tool to test theories without needing human subjects. Rather than acting as a replacement for the brain, it serves as a computational model that can help researchers study cognition more efficiently, improve brain-inspired systems, and support progress toward treatments for neurological disorders. At the same time, human cognition and the individual differences that make every mind unique remain far richer than any model.

Meta just released TRIBE v2 and says it acts like a digital twin of the human brain. 🧠

Dr. Jazlyn Nketia cuts through the hype to explain what Meta’s TRIBE v2 really is, what it can do, and what it was built for. TRIBE v2 is a predictive model designed to estimate how humans respond to images, sounds, and language, giving brain scientists a tool to test theories without needing human subjects. Rather than acting as a replacement for the brain, it serves as a computational model that can help researchers study cognition more efficiently, improve brain-inspired systems, and support progress toward treatments for neurological disorders. At the same time, human cognition and the individual differences that make every mind unique remain far richer than any model.

Did you know the Sun is hurtling through space around a supermassive black hole?

Amanda Peake, a PhD candidate at the MIT Kavli Institute, breaks down the surprising physics behind Earth’s motion through the galaxy. The Sun moves around the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, and Earth travels with it as part of that enormous orbit. In physics, an orbit is a form of free fall, which means gravity is constantly pulling an object inward while its sideways motion keeps it from falling straight in. That is the same reason the International Space Station stays in orbit around Earth. It is a powerful reminder that gravity and motion are shaping our place in the universe at every moment.

Did you know the Sun is hurtling through space around a supermassive black hole?

Amanda Peake, a PhD candidate at the MIT Kavli Institute, breaks down the surprising physics behind Earth’s motion through the galaxy. The Sun moves around the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, and Earth travels with it as part of that enormous orbit. In physics, an orbit is a form of free fall, which means gravity is constantly pulling an object inward while its sideways motion keeps it from falling straight in. That is the same reason the International Space Station stays in orbit around Earth. It is a powerful reminder that gravity and motion are shaping our place in the universe at every moment.

Your phone screen is made of microscopic lights. 📱✨

Quinten Geldhof, also known as Microhobbyist, explains what’s really happening beneath your fingertips when you look at your phone screen. Most displays pack between 300 and 500 pixels into every inch, and each pixel is made of three subpixels: red, green, and blue. By adjusting the brightness of these tiny components, your screen can produce millions of colors, bringing images, videos, and text to life. In modern OLED displays, each subpixel is its own microscopic light source, turning on and off independently without a backlight. Up close, what looks like a smooth surface is actually a tightly packed grid of glowing dots, all working together to create the visuals you see every day.

What if the flu affects more than your lungs?

In this short video with Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, he examines how influenza may be linked to effects that last well beyond the initial infection, including a significant increase in cardiovascular disease after an outbreak. Scientists are studying how infections can trigger inflammation, disrupt immune responses, and place added stress on the body, which may help explain why heart-related illness can rise in the months that follow. This research points to a bigger question in infectious disease science: how can one pathogen influence multiple systems across the body? By exploring the connection between infection and chronic illness, this video highlights how infectious diseases may shape overall human health in surprising ways. It’s a strong reminder that the science of infection reaches far beyond a single diagnosis.

Did you know whale songs have changed over the years? 🐋🎶

A newly rediscovered 1949 recording from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution captures the oldest known humpback whale song on record and offers a rare snapshot of how these animals once sounded. Humpback whales use song to communicate across vast underwater distances, where sound travels farther than light and hearing plays a critical role in navigation and social connection. But the ocean of 1949 was far quieter than the one whales move through today, before the rise of constant ship traffic, sonar, and offshore industrial noise.