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What it is: The Gemini North telescope When it was published: Feb. 7, 2024 Where it is: The Gemini Observatory at the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii Why it's so special: Stars twinkle — and that isn't good if you want to study them using large telescopes. The twinkling comes from light passing through different layers of Earth's turbulent atmosphere, which leads to a blurry, jumpy image in a telescope. Astronomers call this effect poor "seeing," and it can interrupt Astronomy for many nights — or, at least, it used to. On the Gemini North telescope, as on many modern ground-based telescopes, astronomers now use adaptive optics, which allows the telescope to correct for the distortions created by Earth's atmosphere. From the top of Gemini North, a yellow laser called TOPTICA is used to make an artificial star on traces of sodium gas in the atmosphere about 50 miles (80 kilometers) over Earth. Computers then deform the telescope's mirrors slightly ...

Several acres of 3D-printed artificial reefs are currently being planted in coastal North Carolina to bolster the region's biodiversity. Several acres of 3D-printed artificial reefs are currently being planted in coastal North Carolina to bolster the region's biodiversity and promote new growth of natural reef. The reefs, 3-foot concrete cubes called "Exoforms" that contain a lot of void space to allow marine life to thrive, are being planted in the Palmico River, a large estuary system on North Carolina's Atlantic Coast, Tad Schwendler, COO of environmental solutions firm Natrx, told ABC News. MORE: Hawaii's coral reefs are in peril. What researchers are doing to restore coral ecosystems and preserve biodiversity The roughness and irregularities of the structures leaves room for species at the bottom of the food chain, such as algae and other microorganisms, to grow, which then attract the larger species, Schwendler said. The 15-acre installation is part o...