Hundreds of Homeland Security employees arrested last year.
Does this make you feel safer? Hundreds of Homeland Security employees were arrested last year, for crimes ranging from child porn to aiding the drug cartels in Mexico.
Year: 2012
Why “chemical-free” organic food is impossible, and why journalists should know better.
Why “chemical-free” organic food is impossible, and why journalists should know better.
And in a related story, a science journalist tears apart a bad press release and the press-release-journalists who bought it, lock, stock, and barrel.
Phosphorus and the origins of life on Earth.
Phosphorus and the origins of life on Earth.
Sunspots and climate
Scientists have found new evidence that the solar sunspot cycle has influenced the Earth’s climate in the recent past.
Sirocko and his colleagues found that between 1780 and 1963, the Rhine froze in multiple places fourteen different times. The sheer size of the river means it takes extremely cold temperatures to freeze over making freezing episodes a good proxy for very cold winters in the region, Sirocko said.
Mapping the freezing episodes against the solar activity’s 11-year cycle — a cycle of the Sun’s varying magnetic strength and thus total radiation output — Sirocko and his colleagues determined that ten of the fourteen freezes occurred during years when the Sun had minimal sunspots. Using statistical methods, the scientists calculated that there is a 99 percent chance that extremely cold Central European winters and low solar activity are inherently linked.
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A new AIDS-like disease has appeared, attacking about 100 Asians since 2004.
A new AIDS-like disease has appeared, attacking about 100 Asians since 2004.
Scientists do not know what causes it, though it appears it is not contagious.
The European cargo ship docked at ISS today successfully fired its engines to raise the station’s orbit.
The European cargo ship docked at ISS today successfully fired its engines and raised the station’s orbit to 260 miles.
This is in contrast to a previous attempt on August 15, which cut off prematurely.
Lisa Gerrard – Sanvean
An evening pause:
Police are preparing for significant violence at next week’s Republican convention in Tampa, based on threats by a number of leftwing groups.
Leftwing civility: Police are preparing for significant violence at next week’s Republican convention in Tampa, based on threats by a number of leftwing groups.
In related news, the man who entered the conservative Family Research Center with a gun and shot a security guard after announcing “I don’t like your politics” has been indicted.
Curiosity has made its first test drive, moving about fifteen feet.
Curiosity has made its first test drive, moving about fifteen feet.
A 5-year-old Oklahoma kindergarten student was banned from wearing a University of Michigan t-shirt because it violated a state law banning any apparel that didn’t support the state’s college teams.
Saving the day for freedom: A 5-year-old Oklahoma kindergarten student was banned from wearing a University of Michigan t-shirt because it violated a city ordinance banning any apparel that didn’t support the state’s college teams.
Update: I have corrected the post, as I initially called this a state law, which it is not. Thank you Blair.
A Florida university has broken ground on a new hurricane simulation machine capable of recreating category 5 hurricanes in three dimensions.
A Florida university has broken ground on a new hurricane simulation machine capable of recreating category 5 hurricanes in three dimensions.
The facility will not only allow scientists to study hurricanes, they will also be able to test the engineering of objects trying to survive them.
Michael Mann threatens to sue a conservative magazine. Their answer: “Get lost.”
Michael Mann threatens to sue a conservative magazine. Their answer: “Get lost.”