Author: Robert Zimmerman
Why Are Taxpayers Paying for Wine Tasting?
IPCC in trouble again over using Greenpeace employee for energy report
The IPCC is in trouble again for using a Greenpeace activist to help write one of its recent energy reports.
The IPCC is in trouble again for using a Greenpeace activist to help write one of its recent energy reports.
Republicans refuse to cut farm and ethanol subsidies, cut international food aid instead
Some pigs win, some lose: Republicans refuse to cut farm and ethanol subsidies, but cut international food aid instead.
The cowardice of politicians from both parties to honestly face the federal deficit problem sadly continues.
Some pigs win, some lose: Republicans refuse to cut farm and ethanol subsidies, but cut international food aid instead.
The cowardice of politicians from both parties to honestly face the federal deficit problem sadly continues.
National Speleological Society responds to the demand that all caves be closed to protect bats
The National Speleological Society has responded in strong opposition [pdf] to the demand by the Center for Biological Diversity that all caves on public land be closed to protect bats.
Calling for blanket cave closures across the U.S. is unnecessary, unenforceable, and counterproductive. While cave closures on some federal lands have been implemented, particularly in the eastern U. S., there is no evidence that this action has done anything to contain [white nose syndrome] (WNS). Most people working on WNS understand that bat to bat transmission is overwhelmingly the primary method of transmission, and administrative closing of caves and mines does nothing to prevent that.
The National Speleological Society has responded in strong opposition [pdf] to the demand by the Center for Biological Diversity that all caves on public land be closed to protect bats.
Calling for blanket cave closures across the U.S. is unnecessary, unenforceable, and counterproductive. While cave closures on some federal lands have been implemented, particularly in the eastern U. S., there is no evidence that this action has done anything to contain [white nose syndrome] (WNS). Most people working on WNS understand that bat to bat transmission is overwhelmingly the primary method of transmission, and administrative closing of caves and mines does nothing to prevent that.
Vandals who spray-painted an historic cave in Oregon in April have been caught
Vandals who spray-painted an historic cave in Oregon in April have been caught. A video of the vandalism can be seen here.
Vandals who spray-painted an historic cave in Oregon in April have been caught. A video of the vandalism can be seen here.
San Francisco’s Animal Control and Welfare Commission is recommending that the City ban the sale of goldfish, tropical fish and guppies in its borders
Busybodies forever at work: San Francisco’s Animal Control and Welfare Commission has recommended the city ban the sale of goldfish, tropical fish and guppies in its borders.
Busybodies forever at work: San Francisco’s Animal Control and Welfare Commission has recommended the city ban the sale of goldfish, tropical fish and guppies in its borders.
How pasta became the world’s favourite food
How pasta became the world’s favourite food.
How pasta became the world’s favourite food.
ESA controllers buy time to solve problems on comet probe Rosetta
This ain’t good. One of the reasons ESA controllers recently put the comet probe Rosetta into hibernation for two and a half years was in order to buy time to solve a serious technical problem.
Mission managers said the hibernation will permit Rosetta to rest its four reaction wheels, two of which have shown signs of degradation. The satellite needs three to function, and one of the two problem wheels will be used only as a spare when the satellite is awakened in January 2014 in preparation for its approach to a comet.
This ain’t good. One of the reasons ESA controllers recently put the comet probe Rosetta into hibernation for two and a half years was in order to buy time to solve a serious technical problem.
Mission managers said the hibernation will permit Rosetta to rest its four reaction wheels, two of which have shown signs of degradation. The satellite needs three to function, and one of the two problem wheels will be used only as a spare when the satellite is awakened in January 2014 in preparation for its approach to a comet.
Iran launched a satellite into orbit today
Iran launched its own home-built satellite into orbit today, according to its state-run news service.
Iran launched its own home-built satellite into orbit today, according to its state-run news service.
A tanking test for the last shuttle flight encounters problems
During a tanking test of the space shuttle Atlantis today a valve to the main engines leaked, requiring replacement and raising questions whether the July 8 launch date can be met.
During a tanking test of the space shuttle Atlantis today a valve to the main engines leaked, requiring replacement and raising questions whether the July 8 launch date can be met.
Second X-51 hypersonic flight crashes prematurely
Second X-51 hypersonic flight crashes prematurely.
After what the US Air Force described as a ‘flawless’ flight to the launch point aboard a Boeing B-52 mothership, the X-51 was successfully boosted to Mach 5.0 by a rocket booster. The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne scramjet engine successfully ignited using its initial fuel, ethylene. During the immediate transition to JP-7, the conventional fuel that makes the X-51 unique, an inlet unstart occurred. A subsequent attempt to restart and reorient to optimal conditions was unsuccessful.
Second X-51 hypersonic flight crashes prematurely.
After what the US Air Force described as a ‘flawless’ flight to the launch point aboard a Boeing B-52 mothership, the X-51 was successfully boosted to Mach 5.0 by a rocket booster. The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne scramjet engine successfully ignited using its initial fuel, ethylene. During the immediate transition to JP-7, the conventional fuel that makes the X-51 unique, an inlet unstart occurred. A subsequent attempt to restart and reorient to optimal conditions was unsuccessful.
SDO – March 30, 2010 Solar Eruption
An evening pause: As it appears these events are likely going to become less and less likely, let’s enjoy them while we can.
Note that the height of this eruption was almost twenty times the diameter of the Earth.
TSA blocks private airport screeners
It’s all about power and control, not safety: The TSA has decided to block any further private companies from providing airport screening.
It’s all about power and control, not safety: The TSA has decided to block any further private companies from providing airport screening.
Ten congressmen and a law professor sue to stop the war in Libya
Ten congressmen (from both parties) and a law professor are suing the Obama administration to stop the war in Libya.
Ten congressmen (from both parties) and a law professor are suing the Obama administration to stop the war in Libya.
SpaceShipTwo completes two glide test flights within twenty-four hours
SpaceShipTwo completes two glide test flights within twenty-four hours.
SpaceShipTwo completes two glide test flights within twenty-four hours.
An X-ray deep field over six weeks by Chandra finds massive black holes common in early universe
An X-ray deep field image taken over a six week period by Chandra had found that massive black holes are common in early universe.
These results imply that between 30% and 100% of the distant galaxies contain growing supermassive black holes. Extrapolating these results from the relatively small field of view that was observed to the full sky, there are at least 30 million supermassive black holes in the early Universe. This is a factor of 10,000 larger than the estimated number of quasars in the early Universe.
An X-ray deep field image taken over a six week period by Chandra had found that massive black holes are common in early universe.
These results imply that between 30% and 100% of the distant galaxies contain growing supermassive black holes. Extrapolating these results from the relatively small field of view that was observed to the full sky, there are at least 30 million supermassive black holes in the early Universe. This is a factor of 10,000 larger than the estimated number of quasars in the early Universe.
The progenitor of the May supernova in M51 identified
The progenitor star that produced the May supernovae in the Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as M51) has been identified, and it isn’t what scientists predicted.
In a preprint paper published today on the Los Alamos astro-ph website, astronomers describe the star that exploded as a yellow supergiant, not a red supergiant or Wolf-Rayet star, as predicted by the theory explaining this particular type of supernova. Moreover, though theory also favors the star being a member of a binary system, the progenitor of 2011dh appears to be a lone star, not even a member of a cluster.
» Read more
The world’s oldest functioning light bulb: 110 years old
The world’s oldest functioning light bulb: 110 years old.
The world’s oldest functioning light bulb: 110 years old.
Negotiations over debt limit and budget still appear deadlocked
Though some progress has been made, the negotiations over the debt limit and the budget still appear deadlocked.
Though some progress has been made, the negotiations over the debt limit and the budget still appear deadlocked.
Shuttle’s end leaves NASA with a half billion dollar pension bill
The pork goes on: The shuttle’s end has still left NASA with a half billion dollar pension bill.
The pork goes on: The shuttle’s end has still left NASA with a half billion dollar pension bill.
Hezbollah takes over Lebanon’s government
The end of the Cedar Revolution: The terrorist group Hezbollah took over Lebanon’s government this week.
The end of the Cedar Revolution: The terrorist group Hezbollah took over Lebanon’s government this week.
Probe clears five SWAT-raid officers in Arizona
Getting away with murder: An internal probe today cleared five SWAT-raid officers in Arizona for the killing of ex-Marine Jose Guerena.
Getting away with murder: An internal probe today cleared five SWAT-raid officers in Arizona for the killing of ex-Marine Jose Guerena.
Wisconsin courts rule union law legal
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled today that the union law passed earlier this year is legal.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled today that the union law passed earlier this year is legal.
Loretta Lynn and the Muppets – One’s on the way
Europe Downscales Monster Telescope to Save Money
Europe has decided to shrink the design of the gigantic Extremely Large Telescope (yes, that’s really its name) by 13% to save money.
Europe has decided to shrink the design of the gigantic Extremely Large Telescope (yes, that’s really its name) by 13% to save money.
Memo Marks Official End of Constellation
Don’t bet on it: A memo signed today by a senior NASA official marks the end of the Constellation program.
All this does is make the name change of the program-formerly-called-Constellation official. The pork continues nonetheless!
Don’t bet on it: A memo signed today by a senior NASA official marks the end of the Constellation program.
All this does is make the name change of the program-formerly-called-Constellation official. The pork continues nonetheless!
Fire at Carlsbad Caverns National Park causes its closure
More southwest wildfires: A quickly growing fire at Carlsbad Caverns National Park has caused its closure.
More southwest wildfires: A quickly growing fire at Carlsbad Caverns National Park has caused its closure.
Solar scientists predict a major decline in sunspot activity
At a press conference today at the 2011 meeting of the Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Las Cruces, New Mexico, solar scientists predicted that not only will the next solar maximum in 2013 be the weakest in centuries, it is very likely that it will be followed by another long Maunder Minimum, a period of decades without sunspots. “The sun may be going into hiatus,” says Dr. Frank Hill, associate director of the NSO’s Solar Synoptic Network. You can read the press releases for this announcement here and here.
These conclusions are based on three lines of evidence:
- There has been a long term weakening in the magnetic strength that produces sunspots themselves. The declining trend suggests that by 2022 it will no longer be strong enough to produce sunspots. The graph above shows this decline.
» Read more
Obamacare doesn’t stop Medigap providers, AARP partners from discriminating against seniors
Surprise, surprise! Obamacare doesn’t stop Medigap providers and AARP from discriminating against seniors with preexisting conditions, as had been promised.
This story is just more evidence that the law is a mess, it should never have been passed, and in the future our so-called lawmakers should read the goddamn legislation before they vote on it.
I should add that I think it a very big mistake for the government to forbid insurance companies from denying new coverage to sick individuals. If insurance companies are forced to accept everyone as a new customer, even those who are ill, why bother paying for insurance when you are healthy? Everyone can simply wait until they are sick, and then buy the coverage, thereby getting a lot of insurance for very little investment. The result: insurance companies go bankrupt, as the whole concept of insurance depends on a lot of healthy customers paying the cost, at a low rate, for those who are sick.
Surprise, surprise! Obamacare doesn’t stop Medigap providers and AARP from discriminating against seniors with preexisting conditions, as had been promised.
This story is just more evidence that the law is a mess, it should never have been passed, and in the future our so-called lawmakers should read the goddamn legislation before they vote on it.
I should add that I think it a very big mistake for the government to forbid insurance companies from denying new coverage to sick individuals. If insurance companies are forced to accept everyone as a new customer, even those who are ill, why bother paying for insurance when you are healthy? Everyone can simply wait until they are sick, and then buy the coverage, thereby getting a lot of insurance for very little investment. The result: insurance companies go bankrupt, as the whole concept of insurance depends on a lot of healthy customers paying the cost, at a low rate, for those who are sick.
Republican presidential candidates debate space program’s future at New Hampshire debate
The Republican presidential candidates discussed the space program’s future at the New Hampshire debate last night.
The Republican presidential candidates discussed the space program’s future at the New Hampshire debate last night.