Our World: ICESat-2 Measures Ice Sheets

Our World: ICESat-2 Measures Ice Sheets

Why is NASA interested in Earth's ice? The creation of ICESat-2 is allowing NASA's scientists to make accurate maps of polar ice sheets. These maps help them make informed predictions about weather patterns, climate change, and the effects of changing ice structures. The maps are so accurate they can measure to within 3 centimeters of an ice sheet's actual thickness from a huge distance!

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.

Launchpad: Engineering Design to Support Scientific Discovery

Launchpad: Engineering Design to Support Scientific Discovery

Engineering design and technology development support scientific discovery. Learn about the roles engineers and scientists play when working together on NASA missions like the James Webb Space Telescope and how science and engineering take turns pushing each other to move exploration forward.

Launchpad: Cryogenics - The Cold Hard Facts

Launchpad: Cryogenics - The Cold Hard Facts

Discover the everyday applications of cryogenics from magnetic scans to high-tech space telescopes like the new James Webb. Learn about absolute zero and the Kelvin temperature scale.

SME²: Comets and Our History

SME²: Comets and Our History

This student-produced NASA Spotlite - Subject Matter Expert as Educator (SME²) video features Stefanie Milam, Deputy Project Scientist on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, explaining what comets are and how NASA studies them to learn about the formation of our universe. Produced by Newport News Public Schools in Newport News, Virginia.

SME²: Pressure in Outer Space

SME²: Pressure in Outer Space

This student-produced NASA Spotlite - Subject Matter Expert as Educator (SME²) video features Stefanie Milam, Deputy Project Scientist on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, explaining how pressure works in outer space. Produced by Newport News Public Schools in Newport News, Virginia.

SME²: Seeing Past Earth's Atmosphere

SME²: Seeing Past Earth's Atmosphere

This student-produced NASA Spotlite - Subject Matter Expert as Educator (SME²) video features Begona Vila, an Instrumental Systems Engineer for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), explaining how far scientists can see past Earth's atmosphere using tools like the JWST. Produced by Newport News Public Schools in Newport News, Virginia.

SME²: The Best Part of Being a Scientist

SME²: The Best Part of Being a Scientist

This student-produced NASA Spotlite - Subject Matter Expert as Educator (SME²) video features Michelle Thaller, Deputy Director of Science Communication at NASA Headquarters, explaining her favorite parts of being a scientist (learning, discovering, and exploring the unknown!). Produced by Newport News Public Schools in Newport News, Virginia.

SME²: Why did you become a scientist?

SME²: Why did you become a scientist?

This student-produced NASA Spotlite - Subject Matter Expert as Educator (SME²) video features Martha Boyer, a scientist with the Space Telescope Science Institution, talking about why and how she chose her career path. Produced by Newport News Public Schools in Newport News, Virginia.