by Editor’s Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, register for free here.
As I stood alongside my colleagues as we watched the total solar eclipse, I was struck by the way we all share a sense of wonder.
We were among the more than 16,000 people who gathered at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland to watch the celestial spectacle.
People struck up friendships on the lawn, a short distance from the expanse of Lake Erie, hoping to share a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Nothing prepared me for the intense emotions I felt as Baily’s beads and the “diamond ring” effect managed to achieve it all. The temperatures dropped as the sunset fell 360 degrees in a stormy sky, and the sun released pink ribbons of light that danced in its crown.
For four minutes, the spellbound crowds witnessed an event experienced by ancient mankind as well. And the beauty is, we spent those unforgettable moments together.
Solar update
Speaking of the joy of shared experiences, thank you, dear readers, for sharing your eclipse photos and stories with us!
Michael Goldstein, 12, of Toronto and his friends Ilan Kagedan, Michael “Misha” Vishnever and Brady Sonshine launched a weather balloon from Vaughan, Ontario, before traveling to Burlington to get a glimpse of the whole thing.
The balloon, carrying two cameras and two trackers, floated 552 miles (888 kilometers) and landed in Green Hills Preserve in North Conway, New Hampshire, before being recovered on Wednesday, he said.
See Goldstein’s stunning image of the eclipse in our Wonder Theory reader image gallery.
Keen to chase the next eclipse? We’ve rounded up a list of the next ones, which might inspire you to travel for real stellar views – and don’t forget to hold on to your eclipse glasses.
Amazing creatures
Parrots are intelligent creatures, and now researchers are testing how deep those cognitive skills go.
The birds have problem-solving skills on a par with young children. When presented with a balloon popping game on a tablet, parrots showed signs of mental stimulation.
But the game was difficult for the feathered creatures because of their anatomy – and the research could lead to a new design for tablets more focused on use by the brainy birds.
Explorations
On January 28, 2003, Evelyn Husband and her husband, Rick, celebrated their dating anniversary by making a video call while in command of the space shuttle Columbia. Neither knew it would be their last conversation, and the shuttle broke apart on re-entry on February 1.
More than 21 years later, family members such as Evelyn and her daughter, Laura Husband, continue the legacy of their loved ones.
Evelyn is a board member of a ministry that provides mentorship to fatherless boys, and Laura is pursuing creative passions she shared with her father.
The Columbia tragedy also changed the way NASA approached spaceflight in five key ways after the disaster to make exploration safer.
Watch the final two episodes of CNN’s Original Series “Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight” Sunday at 9 pm ET/PT.
We are a family
Since his 5,300-year-old frozen remains were discovered in 1991 in the Tyrone Alps, Ötzi the Iceman has fascinated scientists.
The authors of a new study suggest that a single-point piercing tool was likely used to make the 61 tattoos on his body, and the markings may have been considered an ancient form of medicine.
Separately, an ancient grave in what is now Patagonia, Argentina has been discovered including a person buried with a fox, suggesting that canine relatives were once people’s best friends.
Long long ago
About 1,000 meteorites are found in the icy white desert of Antarctica every year.
The fragmented space rocks tell the story of the formation of our solar system, helping astronomers piece together the history of this corner of the universe.
But global warming due to the climate crisis is sending meteorites into the melting ice. About 5,000 of the space rocks could be consumed every year, according to new research.
Inquiries
Bookmark these stories to share with your friends:
— Archaeologists working at Pompeii in southern Italy have uncovered the remains of a banquet hall decorated with magnificent frescoes of mythological characters.
— Rangers in Western Australia have captured an image of an extremely rare and strange blind mole – and it’s the second sighting in six months.
— Rock carvings called petroglyphs found near dinosaur footprints in the Brazilian state of Paraíba were probably created by prehistoric people, and the tracks may have made sense, according to a new study.
Like what you’ve read? Oh, but there is more. Register here to get the next issue of Wonder Theory in your inbox, brought to you by the writers of CNN Space and Science Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt. They discover the wonders of planets outside our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.
For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
