April 4, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

47º | 40% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:22 a.m. | Sunset 8:09 p.m.
Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

🚀 Cardinals in space

That Cardinals logo is now in space. | Photo by NASA

Look up, LOU. Above your head, 250 miles to be exact, a nickel-plated aluminum box slightly bigger than a breadbox is traveling through the Earth’s atmosphere at 17,500 miles per hour — and it started the journey in Louisville.

The Nano Particle Haloing Suspension experiment, a University of Louisville (UofL) project aiming to make solar panel technology more efficient, is aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The science

The Nano Particle Haloing Suspension studies the behaviors of “large” microparticles (which are still microscopic) and nanoparticles, which are so small they can’t even be seen by a microscope.

Measuring the particles on Earth is hard because the reactions happen so fast even microscopes and computers have a hard time tracking them. But the microgravity environment in space keeps the particles in suspension much longer.

The experiment started on Earth with three UofL capstone mechanical engineering students, two other undergraduates, and UofL mechanical engineering professor Stuart Williams.

“I’m basically doing paperwork,” Williams said. “The students did 95% of the work.”

The self-contained, remote operated experiment is now plugged into a device called the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), which Williams described as a “glorified chemical fume hood.”

The experiment launched aboard the 30th Commercial Resupply mission to the ISS on Thursday, March 21 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Here’s what else made the journey with it:

1,201 lbs of crew supplies
198 lbs of spacewalk equipment
2,502 lbs of science investigations

But, the Nano Particle Haloing Suspension wasn’t the only Derby City project on board.

A second Derby City project

In January, a Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis research project by the LOU-based National Stem Cell Foundation was sent to the ISS on Axiom Mission 3.

a collection of red brain cells — These brain cells will spend 30 days aboard the ISS to help study primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
|
Photo by NASA

Bonus: You can sign up for alerts when the ISS passes over Derby City and wave at the Nano Particle Haloing Suspension experiment as it whizzes by.

Asked

Would you ever go to space?

A. Yes please, I want to see the stars.
B. No, I’ll keep my boots on the ground.

Ground control to Louisville

Events

Friday, April 5

Guided Hike: Bluebell Seekers | Friday, April 5 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Foxhollow Farm, 8905 Highway 329, Crestwood | $15 | Look for flowers on a 1300-acre farm on this intermediate hike.
Spring Family Day | Friday, April 5 | 1-4 p.m. | Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville | $10-$15 | Enjoy family friendly activities like scavenger hunts + arts and crafts, all themed around the museum’s exhibits.
Pre-eclipse Star Party | Friday, April 5 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd., Clermont | $12-$15 | Explore the wonders of the solar system with NASA Ambassador Dan Price and get prepped for Monday’s eclipse.

Saturday, April 6

ZooPoopyDoo Sale 2024 | Saturday, April 6-Saturday, April 27 | 7:30-11:30 a.m. | Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville | $45 | Get your garden ready with high-quality zoo-made compost — pay by the scoop.
Lou City vs. Indy Eleven | Saturday, April 6 | 4 p.m. | Lynn Family Stadium, 350 Adams St., Louisville | $19-$166 | Wear your finest Derby fits to celebrate the Run for the Roses.*
Billy Keith Solar Art Demonstration | Saturday, April 6 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Carnegie Center for Art & History, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany | Free | Learn how artist Billy Keith uses the sun to make pyrographic artwork.

Sunday, April 7

Treat Yo’Self Sundays | Sunday, April 7-Sunday, Nov. 3 | 12-9 p.m. | Hi-Wire Brewing Louisville, 642 Baxter Ave., Louisville | Price of purchase | Enjoy the warmer weather with $5 mimosas and beermosas.

Monday, April 8

Eclipse at the Science Center | Monday, April 8 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Kentucky Science Center, 727 W. Main St., Louisville | $23 | Celebrate the eclipse with special experiences + programming, free with general admission.
Solar Eclipse Viewing | Monday, April 8 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, 6220 Old Lagrange Rd., Crestwood | $5-$9 | Participate in eclipse-themed scavenger hunts and feast on cosmic-themed food, snacks + drinks from Martha Lee’s Kitchen.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Weather

The National Weather Service confirmed at least two tornadoes touched down in Louisville on Tuesday night. This week marks the 50th anniversary of a 1974 tornado outbreak in which 148 tornadoes hit 14 states, including 27 in Kentucky. Stay safe with tornado and severe thunderstorm tips from Metro Emergency Services. (WHAS11)

City

Bike Louisville and the Office of Planning are partnering with a private design firm to develop a Bikeway Implementation Plan. The study will identify parts of Louisville’s bike network that would benefit from quick-build projects. An online public meeting will be held Monday, April 15.

Festival

Poorcastle has announced its lineup for 2024. The Forecastle spinoff festival runs May 17-19 in Breslin Park and will feature FUTURE KILLER, Hot Brown Smack Down, and more. Early Bird three-day passes are on sale now. Bonus: Forecastle may be dead, but the park where it started is getting new life.

Pets

Animal Care Society will host a free vaccination clinic at their Westport Road facility for Louisville cats and dogs on Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Parvovirus and distemper vaccines for dogs and panleukopenia vaccines for cats will be available for free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Arts

Giacomo Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” will kick off the Kentucky Opera’s upcoming season in November. It will be followed by “Amahl and the Night Vistors” in December, the contemporary opera “This Little Light of Mine” in February, and “Pygmalion” in April. Tickets are on sale now.

Biz

A Novel Romance, Louisville’s romance-specific bookstore, is moving from Middletown to Jeffersontown. The new location will be 10-times bigger than the original and include room for events, a writers’ resource library, and a children’s section. The store is currently crowdfunding to cover help cover the costs of the move.

Civic

The Louisville Metro Government is seeking proposals for a new 10-year public art plan. The new roadmap will replace one that began in 2010 and ended in 2020. The request for proposals ends tomorrow and the city hopes to release the plan to the public within one year. (Louisville Public Media)

Sports

The Final Four is set for this weekend. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from college basketball experts with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Drink

Inspire host-envy at your next spring party, bridal shower, or weekend brunch — see our four tips for hosting an at-home Mimosa Bar, wine + recipe recs and all.*

Arts

Louisville statues are getting a facelift

Concrete statue with a small statue on top.

The Pan statue at Hogan’s Fountain will be getting some touch ups. | Photo by LOUtoday

Ten pieces of public art around Louisville will be receiving professional conservation treatment throughout next week.

Louisville Metro Public Art has contracted with Denver-based Pacific Coast Conservation to repair the works. This is the first year the city has designated substantial funds to the conservation of public art.

Several of the artworks being treated are over a century old, including the 118-year-old Daniel Boone statue at the edge of Cherokee Park, the 125-year-old statue of Thomas Jefferson in front of Metro Hall, and the 127-year-old Wheelman’s Bench in Wayside Park.

Other pieces receiving attention include the WWII Memorial outside Metro Hall, the Benjamin Franklin statue outside the Main Library, and the Pan Statue + Hogan’s Fountain in Cherokee Park.

See the full list of artwork being repaired.

The Buy

A bicycle phone holder that fits on bikes, e-bikes, and exercise bikes. The phone holder mounts right onto handlebars, letting you use navigation apps and keep your phone secure during rides.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Declan

From the editor

I had a lot of fun talking to Dr. Stuart Williams about the UofL experiment now in orbit. He was a huge help in making the Electrokinetic Assembly of Stable Nanoparticle Haloing Suspensions make sense to us non-scientists.

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