Our World: Systems to Grow Plants in Space

Our World: Systems to Grow Plants in Space

No matter where plants grow, they have the same basic needs: water, nutrients, light, temperature, and atmosphere. No matter where humans may live, they need plants. Dr. Gioia Massa explains how NASA grows plants on the International Space Station in preparation for growing plants beyond Earth and, someday, on the Moon and Mars. Jacob Torres describes the hardware needed to provide open and closed systems for plant growth in space. This video shows how NASA scientists and engineers work together to learn more about ways plants live, grow, and adapt to live in varying environments.

Our World: Where Do Crops Grow?

Our World: Where Do Crops Grow?

Have you ever wondered where food comes from? Learn how Dr. Catherine Nakalembe uses NASA satellite data to show the health and location of crops around Our World. Maps created from these data help people become more food secure. You can help, too. Using the GLOBE Observer App, you can help scientists validate satellite data by describing land covering through the Adopt a Pixel program.

Our World: Fire Safety - Here and In Space

Our World: Fire Safety - Here and In Space

Fire needs fuel, oxygen, and heat - no matter where the fire may be housed. Review fire safety rules while you learn more about research NASA is conducting to keep astronauts safe during space explorations.

Our World: The Moon's Impact on Earth

Our World: The Moon's Impact on Earth

The Moon impacts Earth through tides and moonlight. NASA missions to the Moon continue to help us discover more about our nearest neighbor. Learn more about Moon mapping and resources.

Our World: What Is Soil?

Our World: What Is Soil?

Learn about soil and how different kinds of soil hold moisture. See how NASA plans to use measurements from the Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission, or SMAP, to make Our World a better place to live.

Our World: ICESat-2 - What Is Ice?

Our World: ICESat-2 - What Is Ice?

Water has some very unique properties, but what are they? What do they mean for us? Water, unlike other types of matter, is less dense as a solid than as a liquid. This means more than simply floating cubes in a cold drink. The various forms of water allow life on our world to thrive!

Our World: Recycling on the International Space Station

Our World: Recycling on the International Space Station

Join engineers at NASA and astronauts on board the International Space Station to learn about the importance of recycling. Find out how NASA is solving the challenge of giving astronauts water to use without wasting any with the new Water Recovery System.

Our World: Careers at NASA - More than Just Astronauts!

Our World: Careers at NASA - More than Just Astronauts!

Explore some of the unique career opportunities at NASA. Learn how NASA internships and co-op programs influenced scientists and engineers working on exploration projects today. Find out how you can be part of NASA, too!

Our World: Snowflakes

Our World: Snowflakes

Snowflakes are actually a history of what was happening in the atmosphere as the snowflake formed and fell to the ground. Find out how you can help NASA scientists study different types of snowflakes to learn about the atmosphere and changes in climate.

Our World: Investigating Mars with the Phoenix Lander

Our World: Investigating Mars with the Phoenix Lander

Find out about the amazing discoveries made on Mars with the Phoenix Lander. See how Phoenix uncovered water ice on Mars. Learn about habitability and the difference between a day on Earth and a sol on Mars. Since the production of this video, NASA has learned more about Mars through these missions: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity), Mars Orbiter Mission, and MAVEN.

Our World: Life on Other Worlds

Our World: Life on Other Worlds

Explore the possibility of finding life on other planets. See how NASA's search for water on Mars proved successful with the Phoenix Lander. Find out about extremophiles and what makes a habitable zone for life as we know it. Since the production of this video, NASA has learned more about Mars through these missions: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity), Mars Orbiter Mission, and MAVEN.

Real World: Using Math and New Tech to Study Lunar Rocks

Real World: Using Math and New Tech to Study Lunar Rocks

Lunar rock samples, gathered more than 50 years ago, continue to reveal mysteries about our nearest neighbor, the Moon. This Real World video explores techniques used to protect and preserve the Moon rock samples, and showcases the role mathematics plays in this process.

Real World: Food Security - Monitoring Crops From Space

Real World: Food Security - Monitoring Crops From Space

Discover how NASA's Earth-observing satellites gather data to monitor food growth. Dr. Inbal Becker-Reshef describes how mathematics is used to interpret satellite data and describe vegetation and crop yield. Dr. Hannah Kerner shares how algorithms and models use NASA data to describe and predict food supply and food shortages. This work through NASA Harvest provides tools for farmers and governments to describe and predict food security worldwide.

Real World: What Is Soil Moisture?

Real World: What Is Soil Moisture?

What is the connection between water, soil, and carbon cycles? The answer may be in the soil beneath your feet. See how NASA plans to measure soil moisture from space with the Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission, or SMAP. Learn to calculate soil moisture in your own backyard and discover the real world applications for this data.

Real World: ICESat-2 and Earth's Cryosphere

Real World: ICESat-2 and Earth's Cryosphere

Earth's cryosphere, one of Earth's six spheres, is composed of all its frozen structures including sea ice, ice caps, and permafrost. Understanding changes in the cryosphere provides scientists with valuable information about the past, present, and future of the planet. Amazingly, 99% of Earth's fresh water is held in two massive ice sheets. ICESat-2 is a satellite designed to help scientists learn more about Earth's ice and the role ice plays in climate.

Real World: Analog Testing in Extreme Environments

Real World: Analog Testing in Extreme Environments

See how NASA uses analog testing to simulate space exploration. Explore extreme environments like the Aquarius underwater laboratory in Key Largo, Florida. Find out how scientists use mathematical equations to determine an astronaut's center of gravity.

Real World: NASA and the Chesapeake Bay

Real World: NASA and the Chesapeake Bay

Learn how NASA uses Earth observing satellites to monitor conditions in the Chesapeake Bay over time. Information about pollution, eutrophication, land cover and watershed runoff helps water managers enact policies to improve the health of the Bay.

Real World: History of Winter - Abiotic Conditions

Real World: History of Winter - Abiotic Conditions

Join scientists and teachers as they learn how to measure some of the abiotic conditions of winter. Find out about latent heat, low thermochrons can be used to collect data points and the importance of snow:water equivalents.

Real World: Global Cloud Observation Day

Real World: Global Cloud Observation Day

Learn about precipitation and how clouds are formed. Find out why scientists study clouds and how you can help NASA collect cloud observation data as part of the Students' Cloud Observation OnLine, or S'COOL, Project.

Real World: NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission [Archived]

Real World: NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission [Archived]

This video describes NASA's plans to launch the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Since this production, LRO was successfully launched and continues to gather data increasing our knowledge about the moon. For more information about LRO, visit: http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html Other plans to return to the moon discussed in this video never materialized, but the ideas and innovations considered for lunar exploration advanced technology. [Archived 2014 - Not all missions make it from design to launch. These archived videos describe missions that that would have taken humans back to the moon and unmanned aerial vehicles to Mars. While the actual missions were aborted, the technology and science behind the missions pushed innovation to new levels.]

Real World: Environmental Control on the International Space Station

Real World: Environmental Control on the International Space Station

Learn how engineers turn perspiration into innovation on the International Space Station so astronauts can live and work comfortably. The Environmental Control and Life Support System, or ECLSS, regulates the environment, including temperature, humidity and breathable air.

Real World: Using Lunar Reactors [Archived]

Real World: Using Lunar Reactors [Archived]

Find out how NASA scientists, like explorers of old, plan to use the natural resources of new worlds to provide life-sustaining materials for the astronauts. During tests in Hawaii, scientists practice extracting oxygen from the lunar-like soil. [Archived 2014 - Not all missions make it from design to launch. These archived videos describe missions that that would have taken humans back to the moon and unmanned aerial vehicles to Mars. While the actual missions were aborted, the technology and science behind the missions pushed innovation to new levels.]

Real World: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Resources [Archived]

Real World: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Resources [Archived]

NASA's plans to return to the moon never materialized, but the ideas and innovations considered for lunar exploration advanced technology. Get a new perspective on moon resources with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Since this production, LRO was successfully launched and continues to gather data increasing our knowledge about the moon. For more information about LRO, visit: https://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/ [Archived 2014 - Not all missions make it from design to launch. These archived videos describe missions that that would have taken humans back to the moon and unmanned aerial vehicles to Mars. While the actual missions were aborted, the technology and science behind the missions pushed innovation to new levels.]

Real World: Farewell to the Mars Phoenix Lander

Real World: Farewell to the Mars Phoenix Lander

See what tools were sent to Mars onboard the Phoenix Lander. Find out what scientists now know about Mars at the Phoenix Mars Lander website: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/main.php

Launchpad: Space Age Technologies Measure Soil Moisture

Launchpad: Space Age Technologies Measure Soil Moisture

Learn how NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission, or SMAP, will use new technologies to help answer questions raised in the National Research Councils' Decadal Survey. See what kind of modeling and forecasting applications the data from this mission will provide as it measures the soil moisture that cools Earth's surface and provides water to the atmosphere and plants.

Launchpad: SAGE III Goes to the International Space Station

Launchpad: SAGE III Goes to the International Space Station

NASA's third generation science instrument, SAGE III, sheds light on how aerosols, water vapor and other gases interact with and affect our atmosphere. See how a unique hexapod helps the instrument stay oriented on the International Space Station and how NASA plans to use moonrise and moonset to double measurement capabilities, helping us truly understand the chemical balance in our atmosphere.

Launchpad: Surface Tension On-Board the International Space Station

Launchpad: Surface Tension On-Board the International Space Station

Join the Teaching From Space Team on-orbit to learn about surface tension. Learn why water drops form perfect spheres and how the mutual attraction of water molecules forms a tight skin on water surfaces.

Launchpad: Methane on Mars

Launchpad: Methane on Mars

Is Mars a living planet, either geologically or biologically? See how NASA scientists are investigating the recent discovery of water ice and methane plumes on Mars to test their hypotheses about the similarities between Earth and Mars. Since the production of this video, Curiosity is now exploring the surface of Mars.

Launchpad: Phase Diagrams and Why You Cannot Make a Snowball on Mars

Launchpad: Phase Diagrams and Why You Cannot Make a Snowball on Mars

Join NASA scientists who study the History of Winter to learn about phase changes and the unique properties of water. Find out why ice floats and why this is important to life on Earth. See what pressure and temperature have to do with making snowballs.

Launchpad: Cohesion and Adhesion On-Board the International Space Station

Launchpad: Cohesion and Adhesion On-Board the International Space Station

Join the Teaching From Space Team on-orbit to learn about special properties of water. Use a simple eyedropper to examine the strong cohesive bond of water. See how adhesion helps the astronaut on the International Space Station form a glove of water around his hand.

Launchpad: LCROSS Finding Water on the Moon Music Video [Archived]

Launchpad: LCROSS Finding Water on the Moon Music Video [Archived]

Learn about NASA's exciting LCROSS mission in this music video. Find out why finding water on the moon is so important to future missions.

[Archived 2014 - Not all missions make it from design to launch. These archived videos describe missions that that would have taken humans back to the moon. While the actual missions were aborted, the technology and science behind the missions pushed innovation to new levels.]

Launchpad: Using Technology to Make Discoveries on Mars

Launchpad: Using Technology to Make Discoveries on Mars

Find out about the technology on the Mars Phoenix Lander that helps NASA remotely explore the distant planet. Learn about the filters that are used to obtain color images and the high-tech oven that proved the existence of water ice on Mars.

Launchpad: Contrails

Launchpad: Contrails

What is a contrail? How is it made? Learn all about these special clouds and how you can help NASA study clouds in your geographic location.

NASA Spotlite: Clouds (NNPS)

NASA Spotlite: Clouds (NNPS)

A student-created NASA Spotlites video from Newport News Public Schools that confront and correct the misconception that a cloud's only purpose is to produce precipitation.

Project Manager - Dr. Gary Ruff

Project Manager - Dr. Gary Ruff

In this close-up video, Dr. Gary Ruff, Saffire Project Manager at NASA's Glenn Research Center, shares his love for saltwater aquaria and his curiosity and drive to learn more about fire.