Category Archives: science

Broken Hearts, Repaired

Earlier this year, I visited Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to report a story for US News & World Report’s Best Hospitals issue. My assignment: meet heart patients, talk to surgeons, observe operations, and then write about it. The first procedure I … Continue reading →

Posted in science, technology, video | Tagged aortic valve, beating heart, cardiology, heart, heart transplant, mitral valve, open-heart surgery, operating room, photographs, surgery, us news & world report, video | Comments Off

Meals in Space

Some years ago, I found NASA footage of the urine-recycling system on the International Space Station. I edited it down to keep the good bits and posted the ~2 minute video on YouTube. The part that I really loved about … Continue reading →

Posted in science, Space, technology | Tagged astronauts, food, iss, nasa, recycled urine, shrimp cocktail, Space, water | Comments Off

Good Data

Our goal as HI-SEAS crew is to get good data about food during the mission. So in addition to rehydrating food, cooking meals for six, and cleaning dishes, we will keep tabs on the ingredients we choose, the time it … Continue reading →

Posted in science, Space | Tagged data, food, hi-seas, lighting design, mars, science, sleep | Comments Off

Why Study Food?

Fast Company has a nice write-up about the HI-SEAS mission and why food matters in space exploration. Jean Hunter, principle investigator for our food study and Cornell professor, explains it well: “When you eat the same thing over and over … Continue reading →

Posted in projects, science, Space | Tagged food, hi-seas, human space exploration, long-term missions, mars, simulated Mars mission, space exploration | Comments Off

Yes, Mars

Well, mock Mars. On the side of a volcano in Hawaii. I am officially a member of the in-habitat crew for the HI-SEAS analog Mars Mission in 2013. Here’s an excerpt from the L.A. Times take on it: Thursday’s announcement … Continue reading →

Posted in projects, science, Space | Tagged cooking on mars, food, hawaii, hi-seas, mars, Space | Comments Off