Science Friday - August 23

Each Friday we publish a recap of the most exciting science news for the week. Enjoy!

• Chemistry - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the agency in charge of keeping the official time in the United States, has built a new atomic clock using ytterbium. This clock is approximately 10 times more precise than the best published outcomes for other atomic clocks that use cesium. Ytterbium (Yb) is a rare earth element in the lanthanide series mined in China, the United States, Brazil, and India. Check out the full article here.
• Astronomy - Astronomers have captured magnificent photos of a star in the process of being born. This star is located in the southern constellation of Vela, 1,400 light-years from Earth. Go here to see these stunning images.
• Astronomy - The Giant Magellan Telescope is well on its way to being constructed. This huge telescope will have 10 times the resolving power of NASA's famous Hubble Space Telescope. It will be up and running by 2020 in northern Chile and will be used to detect and characterize exoplanets, investigate the nature of mysterious dark matter and dark energy and study the physics of black holes. Read more here.
• Biology - A new study published in Science has shown that the loss of sea ice and a greening effect, caused by the warming climate, is altering the arctic marine food chain. Loss of sea ice means there is less sea ice algae, which sits at the bottom of the food chain. It also reduces pathways for animal migration above water while opening up new pathways for marine animals. The greening effect is visible from space and allows new vegetation to grow where it couldn't previously. The long-term effects of these findings are unknown. Read more here.
• Biology - The corpse of strange fish 13 feet long was washed ashore in Spain. While some authorities are guessing it is a thresher shark, others speculate it could be a dragon or the Loch Ness Monster. Check out the photos for yourself to decide!