Tausi Insider

If you’ve ever wanted to travel to a galaxy far, far away, now’s your chance to get at least a peak at some on a map—around 200,000 galaxies, to be more specific. But this isn’t just any interactive map of the universe : It’s the first to display “the span of the entire known cosmos with pinpoint accuracy,” according to a release from Johns Hopkins University . Astronomers at the university created the map using data collected over a 20-year period via a telescope in New Mexico. It’s the first time this information is available to the general public. Here’s how to use the map to explore the universe. What’s on the map of the universe The interactive map visualizes a slice of the universe, depicting the actual position and colors of approximately 200,000 galaxies—each of which (including the Milky Way) is represented by a dot on the map, and contains billions of stars and planets. “In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our ...

Photo : Suzanne Tucker ( Shutterstock ) Black ice is a thin, barely visible layer of ice that often masquerades as water and can really ruin your day if you come across some unexpectedly. It usually shows up when there’s moisture in the air and the temperature drops below freezing quickly, creating an ice slick across the coldest surfaces. While black ice is a menace, it can be both avoided and dealt with when it does form. How to prevent black ice from forming Keeping an eye on the temperature outside is the first step to keeping black ice in check. If the temperature will be above freezing by the time you need to use your walks or driveway, you might not need to de-ice at all—y ou can just wait for the sun to do the work. As long as the surfaces you’re concerned about warm up above 32 degrees, you shouldn’t need to worry. One way to proactively keep black ice at bay is to s hovel regularly to prevent melting snow from running onto surfaces and refreezing. Of course, mel...