WASHINGTON – While Republicans and Democrats battle in Wisconsin over a bill to reduce the collective bargaining power of state employee unions as a means of balancing their budget, Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle points out that the problem lies with government control of activities it has no business running. Hinkle comments, “Libertarians are neither [...]
Should the Indiana Republican Party Lose Ballot Access?
Jim Shella of WISH-TV is reporting that Secretary of State Charlie White’s votes could be thrown out if convicted of his felony charges. In Indiana, automatic ballot access is gained by hitting the 2% mark in the Secretary of State race ONLY. According to some legal experts the validity of White’s votes could be challenged, [...]
Fuck Tha Police!
NASA News
This is so cool! If you’re on NASA’s mailing list, you’ve already seen this:
From NASA's website - available from NASA as a wallpaper
Jupiter Spacecraft Nearing Completion
NASA’s fully assembled Juno spacecraft is currently undergoing testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems near Denver. Technicians are inspecting some of the spacecraft’s components. All three solar array wings can be seen installed and stowed, and the spacecraft’s large high-gain antenna in place on top. Juno is scheduled to ship from Lockheed Martin’s facility to Kennedy Space Center in April, where it will undergo final preparations for launch in August 2011. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter’s poles to find out more about the gas giant’s origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere.
Here’s a link to NASA’s Juno information. I’d highly recommend spending some time at the website.
Another Winner From National Geographic Kids
I’ve just had the pleasure of reviewing National Geographic’s latest on the Kids list, 13 Planets by David A. Aguilar.
Image shamelessly lifted from National Geographic Kids website
Stuffed full of amazing, photo-realistic artwork, images, and up-to-the-minute facts, this book presents our solar system in an interesting, engaging manner that manages to completely escape patronization. Including a look at the Sun, comets, and how the solar system formed (among other related topics), 13 Planets is a brilliantly balanced work. Included in each planet’s information is the mythology behind its namesake, and there’s even a bit on fun astronomy-related activities you can enjoy with your children (without having to take out a loan or risk blowing up the house).
David Aguilar is the author of three other children’s astronomy books, including Superstars and Planets, Stars, and Galaxies. His artwork has been featured on The History Channel and CNN along with magazines such as Time, USA Today, and our beloved National Geographic.
I have to admit, I have never been more impressed with a children’s book.
National Geographic is one of the world’s largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions. Inspiring us since 1888, NatGeo is a leader in exploration, conservation, and discovery.
National Geographic Kids – great site for the kids.
Landing Day
UPDATE: Deorbit burn has been completed on time. Discovery is on her way home.
Discovery is home safely and this puts an end to an amazing spacecraft. WELCOME HOME!
It is a pity the mission was marred by the comments from a high political figure but I guess we should be used to that by now.
Click here to view the embedded video.
STS-133 Landing (Discovery)
Current Status (1st opportunity): Orbit 202 11:57 EST @ KSC with a deorbit burn at about 10:52
Next Attempt if necessary: Orbit 203 (~Orbit 202 + 90 mins)
Landing on Runway 15 Note: winds are an issue but are within limits at this time.
NASA TV Stills reload page to refresh image Webcam Image courtesy: NASA/Kennedy Space Center
NOAA’s Forecast:
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Windy, with a southeast wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
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To keep current with the news about the landing, I recommend you go to NASA-TV. The Landing Blog will be live at about 8:30 am EST.
Image Credits: NASA / NOAA
Last Chance
ISS and Shuttle paired up in the night sky. Click for larger. Image by Dr. Marco Langbroek Location: Leiden, Netherlands SatTrackCam Leiden station (b)log
Ok folks this is your last chance to see the ISS and Discovery fly through the night sky.
Discovery is scheduled to land tomorrow ending a magnificent run for science. NASA doesn’t even have to double-count the accomplishments to pretend they did a great stroke of business, because Discovery’s accomplishments are indeed real and outstanding.
I hope to have clear skies and hope you do as well to be able to see the pair pass over head, quite a sight.
To find out when a pass will occur at your location you have a few options (don’t forget to enter your location as necessary!):
Want to see more pictures from SatTrackCam Leiden station (b)log? Click here.
Reaching For The Stars?
When we think of space exploration, many of us think about interstellar travel. That’s travel from one star to another. The logical choice for a first try would be to send a manned probe to the Alpha Centauri system, or to Proxima Centauri, since these are the closest stars to ours. After all, Proxima Centauri is only 4.24 light years from the sun, and when you’re used to dealing with distances in the millions of light years, 4.24 sounds doable. It sounds easy.
NOAA image, Alpha Centauri
Let’s stop a minute and think about that. We’re currently at the stage of sending unmanned probes into space for interplanetary exploration, and if we were to continue with it, we might be ready to send a manned probe to Mars in a few years. We know that we are approaching the level where that will be possible, so why not interstellar travel?
First off, because of the distance to be covered, a manned interstellar craft would have to be generational. That means that YOU won’t make it to the next star, but your descendants (born on the trip) might get there. We’re no where near capable of traveling at, or close to, the speed of light. Just the fuel needed to make the trip is unbelievable. In fact, at our current technology (even projecting a bit into the future), it would take 100 times the energy output of the entire planet to fuel a voyage to Proxima Centauri. We just don’t have the resources available on this planet. But let’s pretend we’ve discovered a great, new source of energy which allows us to make the trip, plus maintain life on the ship, plus lets us slow down as we reach our target. Are we getting there?
No. Look at Voyager I for a minute; it’s currently traveling the fastest of any space craft out there, and it wouldn’t even reach Proxima Centauri for another 72,000 years. Granted, we could do better than Voyager now, with our current technology; but not so you would really notice a difference. If we could build a generational ship capable of making the trip (and manage to solve the other myriad physical, social, and psychological problems), think of how many generations it would take to make the trip. With that much time in space, and the unfortunately restricted gene pool, would we even recognize what would eventually crawl off that ship? Let’s face it; that would cause some definite speciation… and speciation is the process by which new species are formed. You can’t argue with that; it’s just the way it works.
Many scientists now believe that we will be forever restricted to our own solar system. That interstellar travel will be forever beyond our reach. Somehow, I don’t think so. The entire history of our species has been spent beating our heads aggressively against brick walls. I think we’ll get there some day. Our species never has known when to quit. If we stopped picking at a problem just because it was “impossible”, we’d still be floating around in the primordial ooze.
We’ll get there.
I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. This reminds me so much of Homo sapiens
NCBI ROFL: Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? | Discoblog
Effects of Solicitor Sex and Attractiveness on Receptivity to Sexual Offers: A Field Study.
“Gender differences in receptivity to sexual offers have been found in previous studies conducted in the United States. However, this effect has never been replicated in another culture, and the impact of the attractiveness of the solicitor remains in question. An experiment was conducted in France in which male and female confederates of average versus high attractiveness approached potential partners of the opposite sex (120 males and 120 females) and asked them: “Will you come to my apartment to have a drink?” or “Would you go to bed with me?” The great majority of the men were willing to have a sexual liaison with a woman, especially when she was physically attractive. Women were more disinclined to have a drink, and none but one accepted the male’s sexual request. Such results confirm that men are apparently more eager for sexual activity than women are.”
Photo: flickr/jbcurio
Related content:
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: I’m pretty sure this is how the Civil War started…
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Women’s bust size ...
Danny Hillis on Richard Feynman | Cosmic Variance
One more video from TEDxCaltech. Danny Hillis is the founder of Thinking Machines, the Long Now Foundation, and Applied Minds. Touching and inspirational.
See also Lenny Susskind’s reminiscences.
Japan earthquake info | Bad Astronomy
The magnitude 8.9 earthquake that hit Japan last night has done a vast amount of damage. I’m seeing lots of information scattered around the web, and figured a post listing them might help.
First, if you need info about the quake, CNET has a long list of links for finding lost loved ones, information on the quake in general, and more.
Second, our own Discover Magazine has an excellent article with the science behind what happened. The article notes that science and engineering prevented this disaster from being a lot worse.
There are many charitable, non-profit organizations that may or will be providing aid and relief. I asked on Twitter which ones people liked, and here are a few. I do not necessarily endorse these groups, but provide this for your information.
Oxfam
The Red Cross has info, and also a page where you can contribute directly to quake relief
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
Red Cross through WePay
Global Giving
ShelterBox
Before you donate, please watch this video of the tsunami crashing through Japan:
Yes, those are buildings on fire as they are being swept ...
The Science of Japan’s Earthquake, Illustrated by Harrowing Video | 80beats
Oil refineries aflame. Train tracks twisted like string. Buildings ripped from their foundations. Japan’s 8.9-magnitude earthquake has left its mark, especially in the expected death toll of over 1,000 people. This video roundup shows the science behind what happened today in Japan.
Why (Most) Buildings Didn’t Crumble
The death toll is estimated around 1,000, which is bad enough, but it would have been much higher without good engineering, mandated by strict building codes. But these codes haven’t been strict for long. In the 7.3-magnitude Kobe earthquake in 1995, 6,500 Japanese people died, and engineers looked on in horror as many buildings came crashing down; the most deadly ones were built before 1981, when building standards were still lower.
The Kobe tragedy, says The Telegraph‘s Peter Foster, compelled Japanese officials to tighten building regulations for residential offices and transportation infrastructure. Engineers made buildings “earthquake proof” by outfitting them with “deep foundation and massive shock absorbers that dampen seismic energy,” and by enabling the bases of buildings to move “semi-independently to its superstructure, reducing the shaking caused by a quake.” Skyscrapers now sway during an earthquake but don’t collapse, Foster says, ...
What Happened in the Japanese Earthquake—and Why It Could’ve Been Worse | 80beats
Japan’s massive earthquake today may be over, but we’re still feeling the effects, from nuclear reactor scares in Japan to tsunami warnings along the entire west coast of North America, from Mexico to Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Much is still unknown about this earthquake, including official destruction assessments and total death tolls, but here’s what we do know:
Two preliminary earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 6.3 struck off the coast of Honshu, Japan, the day before the major blow: This 8.9-magnitude quake—the largest in Japan’s recorded history—struck at 2:46 pm local time on Friday, its epicenter located about 231 miles northeast of Tokyo at a depth of 15 miles. Even after this large one, over thirty aftershocks—the strongest measuring 7.1 in magnitude—continued to batter the island nation.
The Immediate Effects
Fires and collapsed buildings were the main cause of injuries and death early on, from conflagrations sweeping an oil refinery in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo to the roof collapsing during a graduation ceremony in Tokyo. But fears soon centered on Japan’s nuclear facilities: Four power plants successfully shut down, but one experienced problems:
According to Nature’s Tokyo correspondent, David Cyranoski, Japanese media ...
Propagating Waves | Cosmic Variance
A devastating earthquake, 8.9 on the Richter scale, hit Japan today, causing extensive damage and a large tsunami. I can’t imagine what it would be like to look out your window and see something like this headed your way. Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the disaster.
A force this big propagates around the world, so beaches here in Southern California were expecting heightened wave activity — nothing very serious, but certainly noticeable. Scientists of course immediately leapt into action to estimate what kind of effects should be expected. The National Weather Service circulated this map of predicted wave heights. Click to embiggen.
Naturally, the House of Representatives is trying to cut funding for tsunami warning centers.
How a pit viper saved millions of lives: Snakes as drug factories | The Loom
If you’ve just been bitten by a venomous snake and your flesh is starting to rot and you can’t breathe, you may not be in the mood to hear how beautiful snake venom can be. But from a safe distance, it really is a marvel to behold.
Snake venom is a blend of molecules, many of which are exquisitely adapted for wreaking havoc. Some are enzymes that slice muscles apart. Some grab onto proteins that normally form clots, so that a snake’s victim can’t stop bleeding. Many snake venoms attack the nervous system with molecular precision that’s so good that neuroscientists have snakes to thank for some of their biggest discoveries.
In the 1950s, two researchers in Taiwan–CY Lee and CC Chang–decided to study the venom of the banded krait. A bite from the snake, native to Taiwan, caused paralysis and shallow breathing–suggesting to the scientists that the snake’s venom must interfere in an interesting way with the nervous system’s control of muscles.
Nerves trigger muscles to contract by releasing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. At first Lee and Chang assumed that the snake venom must cut acetylcholine apart, but they found it had ...
Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami | The Intersection
Our thoughts are with Japan today after an 8.9 magnitude earthquake–the seventh largest in history–struck the Pacific Ocean near Northeastern Japan, triggering a tsunami. Google has created an information page on the earthquake with tools to help find missing persons. UN Dispatch has also posted a list of Twitter accounts reporting on the disaster.
No, the “supermoon” didn’t cause the Japanese earthquake | Bad Astronomy
[UPDATE: I have posted an article with more info on the earthquake and where you can donate money toward the relief efforts.]
Japan suffered a massive earthquake last night, measuring nearly magnitude 9. This is one of the largest quakes in its history, causing widespread and severe damage. Before I say anything else, I’m greatly saddened by the loss of life in Japan, and I’ll be donating to disaster relief organizations to help them get in there and do what they can to give aid to those in need.
While there isn’t much I can do to directly help the situation in Japan, I do hope I can help mitigate the panic and worry that can happen due to people blaming this earthquake on the so-called "supermoon" — a date when the Moon is especially close to the Earth at the same time it’s full. So let me be extremely clear:
Despite what a lot of people are saying, there is no way this earthquake was caused by the Moon.
The idea of the Moon affecting us on Earth isn’t total nonsense, but it cannot be behind this earthquake, and almost certainly won’t have any actual, measurable effect on ...
My Playboy Article on Spiritual Scientists Wins a 2011 Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council | The Intersection
The Wilbur Awards are given annually by the Religion Communicators Council to “individuals in secular media who communicate religious issues, values and themes with the utmost professionalism, fairness and honesty.”
This year, my recent article in Playboy, “Born Again Scientists,” has won the award in the “editorial” category.
The piece is about scientists who don’t believe in God but still refer to themselves as spiritual. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any official version of the article on the web that I can share with you. I’ll see about whether I can post it here.
I’m honored to be recognized, though I can’t attend the awards ceremony in Little Rock next month. I’ve just recorded an acceptance video and will see about posting that online.
The Panic Virus | Bad Astronomy
As I write this, I just got back from hearing author Seth Mnookin give a talk here in Boulder about his book, The Panic Virus (the talk was sponsored by my friends at the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition — I love those folks). It’s an excellent book about the rise and power of the antivax movement. I recommend reading it. That is, if your stomach doesn’t get upset over the events it describes. Mine did.
The talk was quite good, with him going over the basics of the people who fight against vaccinations. The most interesting part was during the Q&A, when a woman sitting right behind me starting soapboxing about how vaccines weren’t tested enough, and there weren’t enough studies showing their safety, and so on. It was clear after she said just a few words that she was from some antivax organization, and I found out afterward she was from Safeminds — a group that tried to get really awful ads placed in movie theaters but which was fought tooth and nail by Skepchicks.
The woman’s tactics were pretty simple: sow doubt, and use bad ...
Crazy Futures From the Past: Tank Operated by Phonograph, a Bike for the Whole Family, Etc | Discoblog
All inventors have their ups and downs.
Thomas Edison wanted to make pianos out of cement and Henry Ford tried to invent a nuclear car. Popular Science recently went through their 138 years of archives to find the insanest inventions on its pages, and now they grace us in gallery form on their website.
For every airplane, computer or chemical weapon appearing in our archives, there are a ton of other inventions that are, to put it bluntly, rather pointless. At best, they’re well-intentioned but a little impractical. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Don’t miss the magic of the combo piano-vacuum, because really, everyone likes a mash-up and the only way to improve a vacuum is to make it stationary. But I guess you could always use it to clean the piano itself.
Some of the others are more reasonable, like a dog-wheel powered bike (don’t say you haven’t thought about it), which PopSci explains in the gallery:
The so-called “Poochmobile,” invented by eighty year-old dog trainer Z. Wiggs, applied the squirrel cage principle to its primary ...
