Authors: E. Lippiello, L. de Arcangelis and C. Godano.<br />Astronomy and Astrophysics Vol. 511 , page L2<br />Published online: 09/02/2010<br />
Keywords:
Sun: flares ; methods: data analysis .
Gore vital | Bad Astronomy
I know mentioning Al Gore, let alone linking to him, is like throwing red meat into the pit of denialists, but Gore’s Op Ed in today’s New York Times is really quite good. I wonder if he reads my blog? He hits a lot of the points I have the past few days… though he doesn’t mention the troglodytes in the South Dakota and Utah legislative bodies.
The only point he makes I’m not sure about is the capping of carbon emissions, simply because I haven’t looked into the issue. One more thing on my to-do list.
Anyway, I will be much amused, I’m sure in a schadenfreudelicious sort of way, about the comments that will ensue below. I know! Let’s make it a game! Score ten points for every comment that makes fun of "Inconvenient Truth" without addressing the content of the Op Ed, 20 points for anyone who clearly didn’t read the Op Ed but comments anyway, 30 points for a comment thoroughly rebutted by science (either previously known or pointed out in a subsequent comment) but ignored by the commenter, and 100 points for someone who comments making fun of Gore’s name. First person to 1000 points wins!
What do you win? A planet 1° Fahrenheit warmer than it was a century ago! Hurray!
NCBI ROFL: Are birds smarter than mathematicians? Pigeons perform optimally on a version of the Monty Hall Dilemma. | Discoblog
“The “Monty Hall Dilemma” (MHD) is a well known probability puzzle in which a player tries to guess which of three doors conceals a desirable prize. After an initial choice is made, one of the remaining doors is opened, revealing no prize. The player is then given the option of staying with their initial guess or switching to the other unopened door. Most people opt to stay with their initial guess, despite the fact that switching doubles the probability of winning. A series of experiments investigated whether pigeons (Columba livia), like most humans, would fail to maximize their expected winnings in a version of the MHD. Birds completed multiple trials of a standard MHD, with the three response keys in an operant chamber serving as the three doors and access to mixed grain as the prize. Across experiments, the probability of gaining reinforcement for switching and staying was manipulated, and birds adjusted their probability of switching and staying to approximate the optimal strategy. Replication of the procedure with human participants showed that humans failed to adopt optimal strategies, even with extensive training.”
Thanks to Rebecca for today’s ROFL!
Image: flickr/Let_Ideas_Compete
Related content:
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Bonus double feature: pigeons vs. grad students, it’s a tie!
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Sorry Tommy, even this pigeon thinks your painting sucks
Night Business Kiss | The Intersection
This week’s addition to The Science of Kissing Gallery features the first comic book! This kiss was drawn by artist Benjamin Marra and appears in Night Business. He writes:
In this particular scene we have Leonard Masterson, boyfriend to one of the main characters and soap-opera actor, on the set of his soap “The Lives We Live,” kissing his costar, while taping an episode.
Check out more of Marra’s fantastic artwork here. My personal favorite is the fold-out featured in Rolling Stone.
Submit your photograph or artwork to the Science of Kissing Gallery and remember to include relevant links.
Light The Halls With LEDs
More than twice as efficient as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), light emitting diodes (LEDs) are steadily creating a new standard for green lighting. Once limited to traffic lights, Christmas lights, and scoreboards, LEDs are quickly becoming an attractive alternative to traditional lightin
Topeka, Kansas Changes Name in Attempt to Get Google’s Gigabit Fiber [Google]
Bill Bunten is the mayor Google, Kansas—formerly known as Topeka, Kansas. He signed a proclamation temporarily renaming the city in an effort to convince Google to make Topeka a test site for a gigabit fiber Internet connection.
According to Bunten, he hopes that changing the city's name for the entire month of March "would set Topeka apart from other cities vying for Google's attention, which include Grand Rapids, Mich., and Baton Rouge, La."
Ah well, do whatever it takes, Bunten. It's not like this is Topeka's first peculiar name change, anyway. In 1998, the city was renamed "to "ToPikachu" to honor a nationwide kickoff of the Pokemon franchise. [CJ Online]
Gizmodo’s #tips Box: Ghosts, Lego Models, and Torture Devices [Comments]
Oh, this weird box at the center top still baffles people. Is it where you search? Is it where you submit blackmail? What sort of comments go in there? Find out in this week's edition of Gizmodo's Tips Box.
Of course tips aren't the only thing you can submit through that box since it leads you to the wonderful land of tag pages, but let's focus on the hot-hot-hot tips that came in through it this week, shall we?
We got introduced to something oddly tasty looking called the BatterBlaster by mhsrebelguy06. (Warning; Some sound plays automatically on the linked site.) Speaking of mhsrebelguy06, he also taught us about how women are amazing firewalls.
We also got to see a neat infographic shared by dfp3050 that breaks down spending and religious beliefs.
Our dear otko decided to be funny and give us a $5 tip. (I haven't received a check yet, buddy!)
CrispyAardvark has found some rather neat Lego models by 15-year-old Sven Junga:
ochee_ found weird contraptions that made me want to hug all the world's children and promise them that I won't ever shove them into one of these torture devices disguised as freaky art:
Oh, and this week there were a ton of videos dropped into #tips. Here are a few amusing-yet-far-too-weird ones:
That's some of the craziness that we've sifted through this week, but we encourage you to add to it—both silly things and serious tips.
We're proud of our comment system and commenter community. In fact, many of our posts come from items submitted to our #tips box. Gizmodo's Tips Box is a regular feature to show the funny, scary, and freaky things we just couldn't post, but want to share.
Why we keep animals in captivity?
The tragedy, last week, of a killer whale dragging his trainer underwater to his dead at the SeaWorld Orlando animal "torture house" should not be a surprise to any moral and intelligent person. The tragedy – not the first one of this kind – should be an awakening to all of us who app
The iLuv Premium iMM178 Vibe Plus Alarm Clock Will Shake You Out of Bed [Docks]
Based on its name, I thought the iLuv Premium iMM178 Vibe Plus is an overpriced sex toy, but it turns out it's a rather clever iPod/iPhone-compatible alarm clock which shake-shake-shakes you awake. Just hope the headboard doesn't hit the wall.
The idea is that you shove that mouse-looking thing under your pillow and wait for your alarm to go off. When it does, everything will get a bit shaky while a speaker blares whatever sound or music you've selected. In theory, this should wake up even the deepest sleeper, but I'm more entertained about the thought that it could move beds enough to make your neighbors believe that you're having the most precisely timed sex ever. Every single morning.
iLuv Announces the Premium iMM178 Vibe Plus, A Dual Alarm Clock with Speaker Integrated Bed Shaker for iPhone & iPod Users
iLuv releases premium new Apple iPhone-certified version of bedside alarm clock that will shake the deepest of sleepers awake
PORT WASHINGTON, NY – (March 1, 2010) – iLuv Creative Technology, the leader in innovative solutions dedicated to developing unique accessories for Apple's iPhone and iPod announces the iMM178 Vibe Plus, the next generation model from their Shake & Awake alarm clock dock series originally launched last year with the iMM153 . This Apple iPhone-certified new improved version features a sleek and slim black body design with a bed shaker that includes a speaker and volume control. iPhone and iPod users now have ten ways to wake up to their favorite music and this dock provides a 7 day – 5 day – 2 day alarm option for waking at a set time everyday, weekdays only or weekends. The Vibe Plus will be available now for the suggested retail of $89.99 at http://www.i-luv.com and other retailers.
This Apple iPhone-certified alarm clock with a premium bed shaker for iPhone and iPod includes a multitude of features and functions.
Key Features:
• Bed shaker vibrates a bed or a pillow to wake up the heaviest of sleepers and includes a 3-level volume control
• Built-in speakers featuring jAura acoustic speaker technology allow you to hear your music with depth and clarity
• Dual Alarm function for 7-5-2 everyday, weekday or weekends wake options • Time-sync function that synchronizes time for your iPhone & iPod • Large easy to read digital display with 10 level LCD dimmer control • 2 Way volume control – from the main unit or from the shaker
• Integrated universal dock for your iPod plays and charges your iPhone and iPod
Digital Dual Alarm Clock Capabilities:
• Dual alarm clock function allows a couple to wake to separate alarms • 10-Way to wake up including to iPod, FM radio, buzzer, bed shaker, iPod + bed
shaker, FM radio + bed shaker, buzzer + bed shaker
Radio Functions:
• FM stereo • PLL digital tuning technology improves the radio signal clarity
• Programmable presets for 10 radio stations*Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPhone, iPod Touch 2nd generation, iPod Touch, iPod Nano 1st – 5th generation, iPod Classic, iPod with video, iPod 4th generation, iPod mini
[iLuv]
That’s One Small Two Step For Man ….
Dancing with the Stars Season 10 Cast Lineup Annoucements, Buzzy Bloggers
"The Dancing with the Stars' Season 10 Cast includes Pamela Anderson, Chad Ochocinco, Aiden Turner, Erin Andrews, Shannen Doherty, Buzz Aldrin, Niecy Nash, Nicole Scherzinger,Evan Lysacek, Kate Gosselin."
Facebook App for Zune HD Now Available for Download [Zune]
You can now feed your social media obsession even further by downloading a Facebook app onto your Zune HD. Heads up though, seems that you may need to update your Zune software first. [CrunchGear]
The Planet in “The Channel”
The 2010 Channel Partners Conference & Expo is underway, and as we finished preparing our booth for the opening of the expo hall, Kevin asked me if I could give a quick overview of The Planet’s channel program for the blog. Given the electric atmosphere on the show floor, I couldn’t resist!
We offer several ways for businesses to partner with us, so if you’ve wondered how The Planet and the channel can benefit you, take a minute to watch this crash course:
Like I said in the video, if you have any questions or want any more details about our channel partnership opportunities, leave a comment!
-Lewis
Related Posts:
This Windows Phone 7 User Interface Skin Makes Old WinMo Phones Feel Young Again [Winmo]
The mobile OS running on this old Toshiba TG01 looks like Windows Phone 7 and it mostly acts like Windows Phone 7. But in reality it's a clever user interface skin covering up Windows Mobile 6.5.
Put together by a fellow named LeSScro, this interface tweak can make older WinMo phones pretend that they can handle Windows Phone 7 and will hopefully be made available soon. [Pocket Now via Mobile Crunch]
You Can Now Get Officially Licensed Marvel Comics TVs…Wait! What? [TVs]
A virtually unknown company called RTC23 claims that—with Marvel Entertainment's blessings—they've created "the ultimate comic fan's TV," complete with character-themed splash screens and clever little cosmetic touches. We could barely believe it, but Marvel confirmed that they approved.
RTC23 is offering 22, 32, 42 and 55-inch LCD and 40 and 46-inch LED HDTV versions of these comic character TVs and they all look great in that extra dorky way:
Prices range from $339 to $1989 and you can order now, but be careful. While Marvel Entertainment has responded to us to confirm that they did indeed officially license these televisions, we really don't know much about RTC23 or the quality of their products—just that they look pretty fun. [RTC23 via Action Figure Insider via Nerd Approved]
Scientists Create Hangover-Free Booze [Science]
Bad news for weeknights! Scientists in Korea have figured out that when you oxygenate booze, it sobers you up faster and helps prevent hangovers the next day.
But it's not all good news: by oxygenating booze, you're putting, you know, oxygen in it. And I don't know about you, but I don't want a fizzy glass of Lagavulin.
Furthermore, while the O2-booze does reduce hangovers, it also cuts down on how long you're drunk for. And hell, what's the point of that? Sure, if you're 19 and don't know how to drink it's good news, but the acquisition and retention of the perfect buzz is an artform. This would destroy it.
But really, this seems like it'll be a pretty niche product. in Korea, a company called Sunyang Co is soon to sell oxygenated soju called O2 Lin. If you want soju that won't give you a hangover and has bubbles in it, there it is. But if you want good-old normal hooch that'll really punish you the next day if you go overboard? It isn't going anywhere. [Report via io9]
Cap and Trade to be Replaced
Collin Peterson -- See what this clueless Democrat is doing, below.
This is a positive development, if it’s true. Cap and Trade was never going to get us to where we need to be on climate change. If they can get something like this through the Congress it would be a better way forward than the cap and trade bills in discussion until recently. But a “radical overhaul”? I’ll believe that when I see it.
Senators to Propose Abandoning Cap-and-Trade. By Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson, WashPost, February 27, 2010. “Three key senators are engaged in a radical behind-the-scenes overhaul of climate legislation, preparing to jettison the broad ‘cap-and-trade’ approach that has defined the legislative debate for close to a decade. The sharp change of direction demonstrates the extent to which the cap-and-trade strategy — allowing facilities to buy and sell pollution credits in order to meet a national limit on greenhouse gas emissions — has become political poison. In a private meeting with several environmental leaders on Wednesday, according to participants, In a private meeting with several environmental leaders on Wednesday, according to participants, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), declared, “Cap-and-trade is dead.”
Graham and Sens. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) have worked for months to develop an alternative to cap-and-trade, which the House approved eight months ago. They plan to introduce legislation next month that would apply different carbon controls to individual sectors of the economy instead of setting a national target.
According to several sources familiar with the process, the lawmakers are looking at cutting the nation’s greenhouse gas output by targeting, in separate ways, three major sources of emissions: electric utilities, transportation and industry.
Power plants would face an overall cap on emissions that would become more stringent over time; motor fuel may be subject to a carbon tax whose proceeds could help electrify the U.S. transportation sector; and industrial facilities would be exempted from a cap on emissions for several years before it is phased in. The legislation would also expand domestic oil and gas drilling offshore and would provide federal assistance for constructing nuclear power plants and carbon sequestration and storage projects at coal-fired utilities.. . . .
“The Senate is understanding this is not a simple problem — it’s multiple problems, and it requires multiple solutions,” said Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club.”
The Sierra Club is doing some good work of its own on coal and attempting to get rid of it. They have a new program called “Beyond Coal” to try to influence people in power to give up on coal and instead create jobs with green, renewable energy.
And finally, this is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of: legally challenging the EPA’s endangerment finding on greenhouse gas emissions. These dumb dolts in the Congress who don’t “believe” in climate change, (all of them old men who’ll be dead when climate change really hits the fan) need to [...]
Paintings For Satellites: Rooftop Art Targets a Google Earth Audience [Google Earth]
Artist Molly Dilworth doesn't want to waste time showing off her work in stuffy studios. Instead, she's taking her paintings to the rooftops, with vast pieces specifically designed to be viewed by Google Earth's satellites.
There was a similar (though a smidge more lowbrow) attempt at something similar a couple of years ago, when a Canadian student tried to start a global, Google Earth-inspired game of Where's Waldo. Dilworth's images, though, will range from abstract color swipes to a type of large-scale pointillism, where pictures snap into focus only when viewed from high in the air.
As Dilworth describes it:
My work is generally concerned with human perception of current conditions; the Paintings for Satellites are specifically concerned with the effects of the digital on our physical bodies. All my work begins a series of rules derived from existing conditions. For example, the color palette for the rooftop paintings is made from the discarded paint available on a given day; the physical surface of the roof determines the shape of the painting.
She's gotten a great head start; the only hiccup is that there's no telling how long it might take for Google Earth's satellites to capture the work. But it's heartening to know that someday all of the ridiculousness found on Google Street View might be balanced out by Google Earth masterpieces. [Molly Dilworth via Inhabitat]
There Is a Rainbow in My Hands [Design]
And a party in my pants. I still have to find my pink unicorns, though. Till then, I will keep flipping this book, which makes a rainbow to appear floating in the air, without the aid of any funky pills.
It's still as wonderfully useless and pretty as when it was published in Japan, in 2007. [Utrecht]
Al Gore is Not Giving Up
Despite the inability of the U.S. Congress to get much done recently, Al Gore is still fighting for climate change legislation. What he is fighting for is what he feels is politically possible, but it’s probably not going to be adequate to stop our climate from changing. Gore says there is a new bill being drafted and a bipartisan group of senators is working on its content. Just the fact that it’s bipartisan is bad news — Republicans tend to not believe that anything needs to be done about climate change, but they want jobs to result from some type of bill.
If this is the bill that contains allowing drilling for oil and lots of money for carbon capture and sequestration technology, it’s worthless. Coal will never be clean. The use of it has to simply stop. Oil will never be clean. We need to stop drilling for it and use instead some of the many kinds of clean and really renewable energies that are available to us today, right now. Our Congress seems to be unaware of the ramifications of climate change and even unaware of the importance of renewable energy, so I have little hope they will pass anything meaningful that addresses climate change. For that reason, I’m not going to call my Congressman. (What’s the point?) Instead, I’m going to send an email to Al Gore (through his action fund) and tell him to use his influence to fight harder for a real climate bill, not one that includes the fallacy of “clean coal” and drilling for more oil.
Today Gore sent out this email:
Winston Churchill said, “Sometimes doing your best is not good enough. Sometimes you must do what is required.”
Now is that time. Our elected officials must rise to face the challenge of the climate crisis. And we must demand that they do what is required before it is too late.
That’s what I wrote yesterday in the New York Times, and today I need your help to make sure our Senators pass a strong climate bill this year. The good news is we could be very close. A bipartisan group of Senators is drafting a bill right now that could be introduced within weeks — and critical negotiations over its content are taking place right now.
So starting Tuesday, a broad coalition of climate groups is launching a massive calling campaign to build grassroots pressure for the strongest bill possible. Will you join us by pledging to call your Senator on Tuesday? Clicking here will add your name to the thousands who have already pledged to call. It would be an enormous relief if the recent attacks on the science of global warming actually indicated that we do not face an unimaginable climate calamity. But the overwhelming scientific consensus remains unchanged. Every day we dump 90 million tons of global warming pollution into the atmosphere, as if it were an open sewer.
There is still a [...]
The Origin of Force Quit [Comics]
This comic was so unabashedly nerdy that we were *forced* to post it. [College Humor and loldwell via theNextWeb]
