NASA Releases Curiosity’s Hi-Res Images of Mountains on Mars

See also: NASA Releases Curiosity’s First “True Color” Image of Mars This week, scientists at NASA gave the world a look at mountains on Mars, taken by the Curiosity Rover. Mount Sharp is near the rover’s landing spot, and was captured here with Curiosity’s 100-millimeter telephoto lens and the 34-milllimeter…

We’re Doomed: Scientists Discover Spiders with Claws

See also: We’re Doomed: Scientists Create “Supersoldier” Ants with Jaws See also: We’re Doomed: Scientists Set Record for Hottest Temperature Ever in Experiment Dubbed “PHENIX” See also: We’re Doomed: Scientists Discover Jumping Cockroach If you have plans to go spelunking in Oregon, you might want to pack a few tissues,…

Laurie Notaro’s Five Reasons Why Haboobs Are Awesome

Laurie Notaro is an author, crafter, and expert at finding a good cocktail. She grew up in Phoenix, but is currently based in Eugene, Oregon. Each week, she’ll be joining us to share a crafting adventure, draw a flowchart, or remember a few of her favorite things about Phoenix. Today,…

LOLympics: Dreams of the London 2012 Olympics

See also: Seven Summer Olympic Sports That, Yes, Really Are Olympic Sports See also: Arizonans are London-bound for the 2012 Olympics See also: 2012 Olympic Fashion: The Good, The Bad, and The Glorious The London 2012 Olympics kick off tonight with an opening ceremony that’s guaranteed to be full of…

The Five Best Fireworks Shows in the World

What are your plans this July 4? If you’re like us, you’ll stay the hell inside and maybe catch a replay of the fireworks show on Channel 5 or something. We know, we know — not as exciting. So in case you’re a lover of the patriotic spectacle, but can’t…

Cowtown Gears up for this Week’s International Go Skateboarding Day

June’s host to more than 30 “national holidays,” including the ever-important National Doughnut Day, Hug Your Cat Day, and today’s very fitting International Panic Day. Fortunately, if you’re a skater, there’s no need for panic. In fact, this week’s going to be pretty sweet thanks to Cowtown Skateboards and a…

Google Street View “Trekker” Program Hits the Hiking Trails

Mapping the roadways of the world isn’t enough for Google, which announced its Street View program is headed for wilderness hiking trails. Like much about the Internet, this sounds like both a blessing and a curse. After all, Google Street View can be accessed equally by lost motorists and burglars…

LIVE: Footage of Venus Transit (Plus Space Jams)

No need to break a sweat or severely damage your vision this afternoon, members of The Exploratorium are hosting a live webcast of Venus’ transit across the Sun from Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory. The webcast has a live telescope feed to the tune of audio commentary every 30 minutes and…

Tomorrow: Watch Venus Transit the Sun

Tomorrow afternoon, Venus will be visible from Earth for several hours as it transits the Sun. Venus’ orbit differs from Earth’s a mere 3.4 degrees, which is enough to usually keep the planet out of sight. The event is a once-in-a-lifetime event — as the next transits are slated for…

We’re Doomed: Scientists Discover Sweat-Licking Bees

Just in time for the forecasts to hit triple digits and for us all to stock up on deodorant and tank tops, scientists say they’ve discovered and are now analyzing the Lasioglossum gotham, casually called the “sweat bee.” Yes, instead of flowers or melty popsicles, the sweat bee is attracted…

NASA Films Solar Eruption (VIDEO)

Mercury’s not in retrograde and all seems normal on the astronomical charts, but through the lenses of highly specialized cameras, astronomers caught something slightly unusual on the Sun’s surface over the weekend. Described by NASA as “a beautiful prominence eruption producing a coronal mass ejection (CME),” a chunk of matter shot…

10 Favorite Hikes in the Valley

As spring makes a quick appearance in Arizona, the days for camping and hiking are perfect (and numbered). Luckily, there are tons of places in the Valley where you can take advantage of the natural beauty, gorgeous weather, and off-the-beaten path hikes. Here are just 10 of our favorites: 10…

Five Things to Know Before Heading to Mexico for Spring Break

Another Spring Break, another round of warnings from the State Department, your mom, and your agoraphobic friends: Don’t go to Mexico. Lo que sea. You’re going anyway (blame our flowchart). And that’s awesome.Whether this is your first time to Rocky Point or you remember what it was like to camp…