Sixth Issue

• cover

• Our Crew

  People of Something

  
  

  Gabriel

  Editor-in-chief

  How does it work

  
  

  Lucie

  Writer

  Travel with me

  
  

  Adéla

  Writer

  Once upon a time in Fashion...

  
  

  Karolina

  Writer

  Netflix Tips

  
  

  Kevin

  Writer

  Physical health

  
  

  Michal

  Writer

  Sports

  Elen

  Writer

  From A to Z with guests

  
  

  Tereza

  Illustrator

  
  

  Tomáš

  Designer

  
  

  
  

• Introduction

  Hello readers!

  
  

  Written by Gabe

  
  

  
  

  This issue deals with our universe and the exploration there of, which was prompted by the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope three months ago, when we started preparing this publication. You will find out about how the stars first formed and more about the telescope itself in my own article. Furthermore, you will be able to find out how astronauts deal with exercise in Kevin’s article and Adel will show you their world of “fashion” - i.e. their spacesuits. Finally, we have the regular teacher interview from Elen and Kaja’s TV recommendations.

  
  

  The now probably much more relevant situation in Ukraine has our deepest condolences, and you will more than likely be able to read about it in our upcoming issue.

  
  

• Travel with me

  Travel With Me - The Best Places To Stargaze

  
  

  Written by Lucie

  
  

  What associations do you make when you hear the phrase “space exploration”? Do you think of astronauts floating around their spaceship, NASA scientists testing a newly-built rocket, or just stargazing with a group of friends? If the last option comes  to your mind even for a second, you are in the right place, because I will introduce you to the best places in the Czech Republic to stargaze.

  
  

  
  

  First, let's find out how to choose an ideal observation site

  
  

  
  

  Look for a place with an open horizon 

  The paradox is that the less you see around you (buildings, lamps…), the more you see in the sky. Atmospheric transparency is exactly what you need to make the best out of your experience! (This does not apply to trees, which on the contrary shade the light from illuminated areas.)

  
  

  
  

  Always check the weather conditions 

  Since the best observation sites in the Czech Republic are found mostly in the mountains, you should think twice about the weather. Nobody wants to run down muddy and slippery hills when it's raining in the dark!

  
  

  
  

  No lamps and lights! 

  Here comes light pollution, the greatest enemy of all astronomers. This phenomenon causes light particles to significantly decrease or block visibility up to the point when nearly all stars are covered in a huge luminous cloud. Therefore, if you want 

  to make the best out of your experience, you ought to avoid illuminated spaces. 

  
  

  
  

  Image: “Comparison: The dark sky far from the city and a light-polluted sky”

  Author: Miroslav Znášik

  
  

  
  

  Now that you know how to evaluate the important factors, let's dive right into the selection of the best picks.

  
  

  
  

  Hřeben Gruň

  CHKO Beskydy

  
  

  
  

  This crest is located in one of the darkest parts of Moravian-Silesian Beskydy near the  village of Staré Hamry. Due to the near-perfect visibility this spot provides, it is referred to as “the most stellar place in the Czech Republic”. Since 2014, anyone can pay a visit to the Dark Sky Beskydy (Park Tmavé Oblohy), which offers, for example, planetary and stellar observations (at night but also during the day), photo workshops or “relaxation under the stars”.

  
  

  
  

  Photo: darkbeskydy.cz

  
  

  
  

  Jizerka

  Jizerské hory

  
  

  
  

  Jizerka is the highest village in the Czech Republic. Since there is a minimum of light sources around this hamlet, it provides great conditions for stargazing and is rated very high among the observatory spots in this country.

  
  

  
  

  Photo: Instagram, Author: jizerkylove

  
  

  
  

  Brdy

  CHKO Brdy

  
  

  
  

  Minimum light pollution and maximum stargazing experience. This is what defines Brdy, a paradise for (not only) astrophotographers. Plus, it's not only the shining sky that catches your attention, but also the astonishing nature within.

  
  

  ​​

  Photo: Instagram, Author: mishan37

  
  

  
  

  Visalaje

  Moravian-Silesian Beskydy

  
  

  
  

  It's possible that you've already heard of Visalaje, because it's just behind the corner, near Lysá hora. Although it's not located as high as some of the other spots, the sky there still shines with the brightest stars.

  
  

  
  

  Photo: Pavel Špurek

  
  

  SOURCES

  
  

  Bartáková, Věra. “Pozorovací stanoviště.” https://www.astro.cz/rady/pozorovani-oblohy/pozorovaci-stanoviste.html 

  
  

  Jupigo.com. “TOP 9 míst, kde můžete pozorovat hvězdnou oblohu a přenést se na okamžik do jiné galaxie” https://jupigo.com/kam-na-vylet/top-9-mist-kde-muzete-pozorovat-hvezdnou-oblohu-a-prenest-se-na-okamzik-do-jine-galaxie/ 

  
  

  Dark Sky Beskydy. https://www.darkskybeskydy.cz 

  
  

  Jizerka.ceskehory.cz. https://jizerka.ceskehory.cz

• Once upon a time in fashion

  (Space)Suits

  
  

  Written by Adél

  
  

  There are many tools and special equipment astronauts have to carry with them on their journey to space. One of them is the spacesuit. As I focus on fashion in my articles, I was wondering about the bridge connecting this industry with the topic of “Space exploration”. I looked at pictures of astronauts and I realized that I would like to know more about what their suits are made of, and how they actually protect the people inside. So in this article, we are going to look at the curiosities about this garment. 

  
  

  
  

  These suits are a very helpful tool that enables  space travellers to survive in this unexplored environment. As we know, the universe is full of wonders and unexpected things. If you have watched any movies that concern space, you probably noticed that it was full of sudden difficulties and struggles. The conditions might become  extreme, such as plus or minus 95 degrees Celsius. This leads to one of the main tasks of the suit, which is protection, and has many forms. From extreme temperatures, getting hurt by space dust, or from the vacuum.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  What is very interesting about this piece of clothing is its multifunctionality. It can actually also serve as a “minibar”. It supplies astronauts with oxygen to breathe and holds water to drink at the same time. 

  
  

  
  

  Image: Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 Spacesuit, Jim Preston, AirAndSpace.si.edu

  
  

  
  

  Secondly, let's talk about the composition of this mysterious garment. As we may notice, the structure is truly complex. The most noticeable part is the helmet, which covers their whole head, yet can  still be  seen through. Then there are plenty of flexible and removable parts such as gloves, a big part that covers the chest, arm, and leg covers. Underneath the spacesuit, there are actually a couple of more layers. A tight jumpsuit with many small tubes attached, filled with water, which is meant to cool the astronaut's body. Lastly, they wear a backpack containing oxygen, electricity, and which removes carbon dioxide. 

  
  

  
  

  The spacesuit is an extremely elaborate, and multifunctional piece of clothing. I recommend diving deep into the details of that, especially on the official NASA website. If it was considered  a fashionable suit, it would definitely fall under stern Haute Couture! 

  
  

  
  

  Image: Astronaut, Tereza Zdancewicz

  SOURCES

  
  

  NASA, “What Is a Spacesuit?”, https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-a-spacesuit-58.html

  
  

  Smithsonian Magazine, Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 Spacesuit

  https://airandspace.si.edu/multimedia-gallery/a19730040000-nasm2018-02096jpg

• From A to Z

  From A to Z with Mrs. Sykora

  
  

  Written by Elen

  
  

  In this month's From A to Z, I have interviewed our math and physics teacher Mrs. Sykora. Be sure to read this article and find out what she has to say about SPACE.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Apollo

  I recall the last US moon landing in 1972, Apollo 17. I was five and knew someone who worked on the moon buggy. Tang! We drank a lot of that then. Check out the astronaut connection.

  
  

  
  

  Big Bang

  Young Sheldon….great spin-off from TBBT

  
  

  
  

  Climate change

  Most serious threat and challenge facing humanity

  
  

  
  

  Dark Matter

  Climate change is a dark and disturbing matter.

  
  

  
  

  Extinction

  A far too common tragedy corporate decision makers could often prevent.

  
  

  
  

  Flat Earthers

  Grifters and dupes. Maybe some are just having fun with an absurd idea.

  
  

  
  

  Gravity

  Bohužel, NASA does not have an anti-gravity room. Instead, they use the “Vomit Comet'' to train astronauts.

  
  

  
  

  Hoax

  QAnon. The new integer discovered between three and four.

  
  

  
  

  Invention

  A Rube Goldberg machine (look it up)

  
  

  
  

  Jump

  Van Halen, 1984. Good song. US daredevil Evel Knievel jumping over the Snake River Canyon in a rocket in 1974.

  
  

  
  

  "Karma

  Chameleon” by Boy George with Culture Club, 1980s. Great song. “Instant Karma,” a John Lennon classic. We all shine on.

  
  

  
  

  Leonardo da Vinci

  He painted “The Last Supper,” but he never got a dinner. If anyone gets this reference, please let me know. I am betting against it.

  
  

  
  

  Mars

  “Boys go to Mars to get more candy bars.

   Girls go to Jupiter to get more stupider.”

  A third grade Texas early 1970s playground taunt by boys. More stupider? Really?

  
  

  
  

  NASA

  I lived about a mile from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA. It was cool to see the giant Saturn V rockets, as well as touch a moon rock.

  
  

  
  

  Orbit

  We are orbiting the galactic center point. It takes around 225 to 250 million years, far longer than homo sapiens have existed.

  
  

  
  

  Prediction for 2023

  It will likely occur. Spacetime seems stable enough for that eventuality.

  
  

  
  

  Quarter

  A US coin worth 25 cents, still more than Amazon paid in taxes.

  
  

  
  

  Rockets

  I built them as a kid using homemade gunpowder and paper tubes. Never metal. Too dangerous. Brilliant flames, but they never went anywhere. Still, a lot of fun.

  
  

  
  

  Sun rays

  Good name for a surfing team.

  
  

  
  

  Telescopes

  Watch for new discoveries from the new James Webb telescope.

  
  

  
  

  U.F.O.

  I visited Roswell, near the site of the famous crash in New Mexico, in 2012. Saw no aliens. Even so….live long, and prosper. Nanu nanu.

  
  

  
  

  Venus

  Second rock from the sun.

  
  

  
  

  Welcome

  Selamat Datang. Indonesian phrase for “welcome'.' Often seen at the entrances to villages or wedding parties.

  
  

  
  

  Xenon

  The dog of the warrior princess, truly elemental in her career.

  
  

  
  

  Yin-yong

  “Da Da Da” by Trio (absurdist 1980s song, partly in German) Have a listen: Da Da Da.

  
  

  
  

  Zenith

  The brand of our first color TV. No remote control, and six channels. We enjoyed it.

  
  

  
  

  SOMETHING

  A good song, written by George Harrison, on the Beatles’ album “Abbey Road,” 1969

  
  

• Excercise

  Exercise in space

  
  

  Written by Kevin

  
  

  Have you ever heard the sentence: “The world is your gym.”? Well, astronauts take this to extreme measures and today I'd like to share with you how they work out even in low gravity with weights and other forms of exercise.

  
  

  
  

  It is widely known that there is a lack of  gravity in space, yet it is not really known that astronauts work for two and a half hours a day to keep themselves fit in their weightless environment each day. They are required to exercise in order to prevent loss of muscle and bone-density. As the estimated time to lose muscle is four weeks, astronauts exercise their lower and upper body by doing exercises such as deadlifts, squats and the overhead press. 

  
  

  
  

  Photo: Astronaut Chris Hadfield: How To Lift Weights While Weightless, Businessinsider.com

  
  

  
  

  They also work on  stationary bikes and treadmills to work on their cardiovascular health. You may ask yourself “How can they lift and do cardio in low gravity?” By using the COLBERT (Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill) and the ARED also known as Advanced Resistive Exercise Device they are able to replicate exercise that simulates a normal gym without a weightless environment. The ARED is a piston-driven vacuum cylinder and a flywheel system used as the weight for traditional barbell exercises while the COLBERT, which was named after Stephen Colbert, is a treadmill where astronauts must be harnessed in place. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  You may now be asking yourself “So exercise in space is just like regular exercise?” Not exactly, because without gravity blood doesn't pull down to your toes and legs, the majority of blood is mostly in your head and heart. This means that astronauts have less plasma and red blood cells, thus less oxygen to their muscles. This causes a problem with dizziness which hinders performance. And despite working out more than the average human on special equipment, an astronaut's body decreases in strength and muscle strength, endurance and bone density. Scientists are still working on improving exercise in space to diminish the negative health effects of working in this unique environment. 

  
  

  SOURCES

  
  

  theverge.com, “How do astronauts exercise in space” https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/29/16217348/nasa-iss-how-do-astronauts-exercise-in-space

  
  

  youtube.com, “How Astronauts Exercise in Space” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUEwakYSrTE

  
  

  npr.org “NASA Names Space Station Treadmill After Colbert” https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103119972&t=1645343107879

• Netflix tips

  Catching space movies on Netflix that'll whisk you off to the stars

  
  

  Written by Kája

  
  

  
  

  Space themed movies, podcasts and books are rapidly becoming more and more popular due to our advanced technology which helps us understand more about space. Exploring space is an opportunity not only to discover new worlds and build advanced technologies, but to work together toward a larger goal irrespective of nationality, race, or gender. 

  
  

  
  

  Space Sweepers

  Space Sweepers is a Korean sci- fi movie set in the year 2092. There has been a crash of a space shuttle and the crew members of a spaceship find a small girl. After a while they realize that she is unusual. She is a human-like robot. She is wanted by the space guards and the crew members realize they might get a ransom if they give her back. It would be boring if it was that simple, however. There are some plot twists that will shock your mind. This is a great choice for Korean cinema lovers. I would say it has some similarities with the Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy. The effects seemed very realistic which added even more to the space theme. The rescue story is a little bit basic and predictable but you won't regret spending time watching this South Korean space action-adventure. 

  
  

  
  

  Photo: Space Sweepers, IMDB.com

  
  

  
  

  Stowaway

  Stowaway is a German movie released in 2021. A crew consisting of 3 people face a difficult conundrum when an unexpected and unplanned passenger appears  on board and starts to menace the crew during their two-year trip to Mars. The stowaway  passenger accidentally damages the basic life support systems of the spacecraft flying to Mars. Supplies are running low, the consequences for the mission can be fatal. Four occupants cannot survive even getting to the planet. This plot immediately drags you in and makes you question yourself on what would you do in their position, how would you act and how would you react. This is a perfect movie for you if you like simple stories with space settings. 

  
  

  
  

  Photo: Stowaway, IMDB.com

  
  

  
  

  There is a massive choice of similar space-themed movies on Netflix. Not only fictional movies but also very interesting  documentaries. This theme is so diverse that you can never choose wrong or be bored by a similar plot.

  
  

  SOURCE

  
  

  IMDB.com, “Stowaway”, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12838766/

  
  

  IMBD.com, ''Space Sweepers'', https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9203694/?ref_=tt_urv

  
  

  Extremetech.com, ''5 Reasons Space Exploration Is More Important Than Ever'', https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/268062-5-reasons-space-exploration-is-more-important-than-ever

• backstory of existence

  The backstory to existence

  
  

  Written by Gabe

  
  

  Blink. If you’ve done so, congratulations - you were briefly able to look at a pretty accurate picture of our universe shortly after its creation. Or, at least, of how it would have looked to human eyes. The period the universe entered shortly after its creation is known today as the dark ages, rather aptly named, as visible light didn’t exist yet. There simply wasn’t anything to produce light. All that existed was a “fog” of sorts, composed of hydrogen, helium and extremely small amounts of lithium. This period is thought to have lasted from roughly 400 000 years after the formation of our universe during the big bang until about half a billion years later. 

  
  

  
  

  Image: Star-forming region S106 (captured by the Hubble Space Telescope), Techexplorist.com

  
  

  
  

  Eventually, the clouds which filled the universe started to collapse, forming the first stars. The (simplified) process of star-formation is as follows: motion and  turbulence inside clouds of gas (or dust) create knots, which, when they have enough mass, attain enough gravitational attraction to cause them to collapse into themselves. Due to this collapse, the material at the center of these “knots” heats up and becomes the core of a star.

  
  

  
  

  Because the universe at that point only contained helium, hydrogen and traces of lithium, the first stars only contained those elements. We call these first stars Population III stars because of exactly that - the comparatively less ancient Population II stars contain more metals and the even younger Population Is contain even larger amounts thereof. To create more elements than the three already mentioned, one needs them to be fused inside the cores of stars, and over time this happens more and more, leading to newer stars having more metals.

  
  

  
  

  An interesting detail is that everything we know about the first stars is only based on deduction and speculation - none have been observed yet, and hence it is thought that most of them are already dead. This would mean that they were much more massive than our sun, since the larger a star is, the shorter it lasts. Our sun has been shining for billions of years and is far from dying, whereas the first stars’ lifespans are probably measurable in the millions (which is quite a short amount of time on the cosmic scale, despite the fact that one million years is much more than human civilization itself has lasted).

  
  

  
  

  The first stars are relevant not only because they were the first ever source of visible light in the universe, but also because they were the forges for all matter other than hydrogen, helium and lithium - a very important element that wouldn’t exist without them is carbon, the key to all life. Without carbon, I wouldn’t be here writing this article, and neither would you, reading it. Because they indirectly caused most of the physical universe to exist, they are of interest to scientists - observing them could garner much valuable insight into how the universe itself actually formed.

  
  

  
  

  How does one observe something that died billions of years in the past, though? The answer to this question is twofold. Firstly, the instrument through which we intend to do that is the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a colossus of a space observatory (in fact it is the largest space telescope yet) currently rocketing 1.5 million kilometers away from the earth, which launched on December 25th 2021. Observing the first stars is one of its purposes.

  
  

  
  

  Image: James Webb Space Telescope, TheVerge.com

  
  

  
  

  The second part of the answer pertains to the method rather than the tool. When we look at things, we do not really see the things themselves but instead light that is reflected off of them. Since light needs to travel through space, we really see objects how they looked in the very recent past. This may not be obvious in everyday life, as the time it takes light to reflect off of a pen you’re holding, or the face of a person standing right in front of you, for example, is extremely short, and as such it is almost as if the object in question were observed in real time. However, distance in space is much larger, and light can take millions or even billions of years to cross. Hence, if one were to look at a point that is thirteen billion light years away, they would actually be looking at a snapshot of how that point looked thirteen billion years ago. The JWST is made in such a way that it can be used to observe points distant enough to show us the first stars, despite them not technically existing anymore.

  
  

  
  

  While journalists often refer to the telescope as successor to the older Hubble telescope, which has been very important in many ways - such as discovering new moons orbiting Pluto - over the past few years, it actually differs from it in various ways.

  It is much further away from the earth - 1.5 million kilometres as compared to Hubble’s 550 km, which may seem rather humble in comparison. The second, much more important, distinction is that it is focused on infrared light rather than on visible light.

  
  

  
  

  Infrared light is outside of the visible spectrum, and as such we cannot see it. The reason this frequency of electromagnetic rays is preferred over detection of visible light is because the universe expands. The frequency of light waves becomes distorted by this expansion, and as such very distant galaxies are only visible to us in the infrared spectrum.

  
  

  
  

  JWST is a potential breakthrough, as it will allow astronomers to see things that may clarify how matter and life formed in the universe, which has only been answerable by calculations and speculation up to this point. If it discovers the right things, it could bring many revolutionary findings to humanity.

  
  

  SOURCES

  
  

  Amos, J., “James Webb: A $10bn machine in search of the end of darkness,” BBC.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59476869.

  
  

  Hughes A., “James Webb Space Telescope: everything you need to know about Hubble’s successor,” Sciencefocus.com, https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/james-webb-space-telescope/

  
  

  Nasa Science, “Stars,” https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/how-do-stars-form-and-evolve

  
  

  Rhett, A., “The physics of the James Webb Space Telescope,” WIRED.com, https://www.wired.com/story/the-physics-of-the-james-webb-space-telescope/

  
  

  Stark, G., “Light,” Britannica.com, https://www.britannica.com/science/light

  
  

  Webbtelescope.org, “What were the first stars like?,” https://webbtelescope.org/resource-gallery/articles/pagecontent/filter-articles/what-were-the-first-stars-like?filterUUID=a776e097-0c60-421c-baec-1d8ad049bfb0

  
  

  Zimmerman Jones, A., “Stellar nucleosynthesis: how stars make all of the elements,” ThoughtCo, https://www.thoughtco.com/stellar-nucleosynthesis-2699311

  
  

  Hicks, J., “NASA Unveils the James Webb Telescope’s first images,” The Verge, https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/11/22929054/nasa-james-webb-space-telescope-first-images

  
  

  Malewar A., “The most realistic, highest-resolution 3D simulation of star formation to date,” Tech Explorist, https://www.techexplorist.com/realistic-highest-resolution-3d-simulation-star-formation-to-date/39105/ 

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