Author: Robert Zimmerman
Russians say “Nyet” to Dragon docking on its next flight
The competition plays hardball: The Russians say “Nyet” to letting SpaceX’s Dragon capsule dock with ISS on its next flight.
The competition plays hardball: The Russians say “Nyet” to letting SpaceX’s Dragon capsule dock with ISS on its next flight.
Harvard Researcher Banned From Teaching Next Year
A Harvard researcher, under investigation for research misconduct, has been banned from teaching next year.
A Harvard researcher, under investigation for research misconduct, has been banned from teaching next year.
SDO’S best Images from its first year
The best images from Solar Dynamics Observatory’s first year in space.
The best images from Solar Dynamics Observatory’s first year in space.
Pachelbel’s Canon in D played at 3 am
An evening pause What good musicians do in their spare time, play Pachelbel’s Canon in D at 3 am in the morning, without rehearsal. Or as they themselves describe it, “The Most Juicy Canon On YouTube!!!”
The violin players (l to r): Marie Samuelsen, Andrey Rozendent, and Alexander Gilman.
Scientists find previously unknown deposits of CO2 on Mars
Scientists find a gigantic and previously unknown deposit of CO2 at Mars’ south pole.
“We already knew there is a small perennial cap of carbon-dioxide ice on top of the water ice there, but this buried deposit has about 30 times more dry ice than previously estimated,” said Roger Phillips of Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. Phillips is deputy team leader for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Shallow Radar instrument and lead author of the report. . . . “When you include this buried deposit, Martian carbon dioxide right now is roughly half frozen and half in the atmosphere, but at other times it can be nearly all frozen or nearly all in the atmosphere,” Phillips said.
What this discovery means is that, depending on Mars’ orbital circumstances, its atmosphere can sometimes be dense enough for liquid water to flow on its surface.
Scientists find a gigantic and previously unknown deposit of CO2 at Mars’ south pole.
“We already knew there is a small perennial cap of carbon-dioxide ice on top of the water ice there, but this buried deposit has about 30 times more dry ice than previously estimated,” said Roger Phillips of Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. Phillips is deputy team leader for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Shallow Radar instrument and lead author of the report. . . . “When you include this buried deposit, Martian carbon dioxide right now is roughly half frozen and half in the atmosphere, but at other times it can be nearly all frozen or nearly all in the atmosphere,” Phillips said.
What this discovery means is that, depending on Mars’ orbital circumstances, its atmosphere can sometimes be dense enough for liquid water to flow on its surface.
Des Moines paper publishes over 5,000 names of gun permit holders
The Des Moines CityView newspaper has published the names of over 5,000 legal gun permit holders.
A newspaper which goes after law-abiding citizens like this should simply go out of business.
The Des Moines CityView newspaper has published the names of over 5,000 legal gun permit holders.
A newspaper which goes after law-abiding citizens like this should simply go out of business.
More Democrats Join Threat to Hold Up Debt Ceiling Vote Without Spending Cuts
This is hopeful news: More Democrats are threatening to hold up the debt ceiling vote unless there are more spending cuts.
This is hopeful news: More Democrats are threatening to hold up the debt ceiling vote unless there are more spending cuts.
Funding for final shuttle flight assured
Funding for the final shuttle flight this summer is now assured.
Funding for the final shuttle flight this summer is now assured.
Some details behind Blue Origin’s manned spacecraft
Some details behind Blue Origin’s manned spacecraft.
Some details behind Blue Origin’s manned spacecraft.
“Our conclusion was there is no benefit to the environment of oxo-degradable plastics.”
“Our conclusion was there is no benefit to the environment of oxo-degradable plastics.”
Instead, they say burn them!
“Our conclusion was there is no benefit to the environment of oxo-degradable plastics.”
Instead, they say burn them!
Federal Borrowing on Pace to Hit Debt Limit in Less Than Week
Time is running out: Federal borrowing is on a pace to reach the debt limit in less than a week.
Time is running out: Federal borrowing is on a pace to reach the debt limit in less than a week.
Investigation of doctors who issued fake sick notes in Wisconsin goes forward
The investigation of doctors who issued fake sick notes to union protesters in Wisconsin goes forward.
The investigation of doctors who issued fake sick notes to union protesters in Wisconsin goes forward.
NLRB dictates Boeing operational plans
Government gone wild: The National Labor Relations Board wants to shut down a Boeing plant because it happens to be in a right-to-work state.
Government gone wild: The National Labor Relations Board wants to shut down a Boeing plant because it happens to be in a right-to-work state.
Dearborn denies permit, says Quran-burning minister could face arrest
Freedom of speech in Michigan: Dearborn denies permit, says Terry Jones could face arrest if he protests.
Freedom of speech in Michigan: Dearborn denies permit, says Terry Jones could face arrest if he protests.
“We need to protect our authority.”
O really? “We need to protect our authority.”
O really? “We need to protect our authority.”
“Space beer,” one giant leap for mankind
“For example, many metals burn more easily in reduced gravity, liquids behave differently, both of which have important implications for safety and the way machinery and equipment operate in spacecraft and space stations. The beer experiments assisted in determining the correct level of carbonation, so that it can in the future be appropriately enjoyed by humans in reduced gravity,”
“For example, many metals burn more easily in reduced gravity, liquids behave differently, both of which have important implications for safety and the way machinery and equipment operate in spacecraft and space stations. The beer experiments assisted in determining the correct level of carbonation, so that it can in the future be appropriately enjoyed by humans in reduced gravity,”
Obama will attend last Endeavour launch; Rep. Giffords also expected
Politicians go sightseeing: Obama will attend the last Endeavour launch; Rep. Giffords is also expected to attend.
Giffords makes sense, as her husband will be on the flight. Obama is merely taking another of his numerous breaks from work to get a last look at a program he helped kill.
Politicians go sightseeing: Obama will attend the last Endeavour launch; Rep. Giffords is also expected to attend.
Giffords makes sense, as her husband will be on the flight. Obama is merely taking another of his numerous breaks from work to get a last look at a program he helped kill.
Government Cash Handouts Now Top Tax Revenues
Time is truly running out: The federal government’s cash handouts to all households now exceed what those households pay in tax.
Time is truly running out: The federal government’s cash handouts to all households now exceed what those households pay in tax.
Budget chaos at NASA causes ESA to halt work on its own Mars orbiter and rover
Sounds crazy, but it’s true: The budget chaos at NASA has caused the ESA to halt work on its own Mars orbiter and rover.
Sounds crazy, but it’s true: The budget chaos at NASA has caused the ESA to halt work on its own Mars orbiter and rover.
Flute duet on Earth and in Space
An evening pause: Though this took place last week, on the fiftieth anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s flight, I can’t let it go by, especially because it is so nicely done. Trust me, for two flute players to play a duet with one several hundred miles up in space and traveling more than 17,500 miles per hour while the other is safely on Earth is not easy.
Saturn and Enceladus linked by electricity
Saturn and Enceladus linked by electricity.
Saturn and Enceladus linked by electricity.
India launches three satellites on single rocket
India has successfully launched three satellites using its low-Earth-orbit rocket.
The launch could not have come at a more apt time than now. The old reliable workhorse vehicle was last used in a July 2010 launch. ISRO’s next two launches of the indigenous higher-powered GSLV failed.
India has successfully launched three satellites using its low-Earth-orbit rocket.
The launch could not have come at a more apt time than now. The old reliable workhorse vehicle was last used in a July 2010 launch. ISRO’s next two launches of the indigenous higher-powered GSLV failed.
University of Iowa Professor Tells College Republicans to “F” Off
Leftwing civility: A University of Iowa professor tells college Republicans to “F” off.
Leftwing civility: A University of Iowa professor tells college Republicans to “F” off.
Barack Obama at the Pearly Gates
Barack Obama at the pearly gates.
Having arrived at the Gates of Heaven, Barrack Obama meets a man with a beard. ‘Are you Mohammed?’ he asks. “No my son, I am St. Peter; Mohammed is higher up.” Peter then points to a ladder that rises into the clouds. . . .
Barack Obama at the pearly gates.
Having arrived at the Gates of Heaven, Barrack Obama meets a man with a beard. ‘Are you Mohammed?’ he asks. “No my son, I am St. Peter; Mohammed is higher up.” Peter then points to a ladder that rises into the clouds. . . .
Global warming advocate discovers that anti-nuclear activists lie!
Confusion in the environmentalism movement: A global warming activist discovers that anti-nuclear activists lie!
Confusion in the environmentalism movement: A global warming activist discovers that anti-nuclear activists lie!
Sift through Kepler data and find exoplanets
Got some spare time for original science? Volunteers wanted to sift through the Kepler data to find exoplanets.
Got some spare time for original science? Volunteers wanted to sift through the Kepler data to find exoplanets.
Stop action video of the painting of photo realistic cat
Pluto’s atmosphere is expanding, and scientists don’t know why
Pluto’s atmosphere is expanding, and scientists don’t know why.
Pluto travels along a highly elliptical path and last passed closest to the sun in 1989. Many planetary scientists expected the atmosphere to shrink as the icy orb began receding from the sun’s warmth. The unanticipated expansion may be related to changes in the darkness of the orb’s surface a decade or so ago, which may have caused the surface ices to absorb more solar radiation and more efficiently evaporate. Or, Greaves suggests, long-term variations in the sun’s ultraviolet output, changes linked to the roughly 11-year cycle of solar activity, may be playing a role.
Pluto’s atmosphere is expanding, and scientists don’t know why.
Pluto travels along a highly elliptical path and last passed closest to the sun in 1989. Many planetary scientists expected the atmosphere to shrink as the icy orb began receding from the sun’s warmth. The unanticipated expansion may be related to changes in the darkness of the orb’s surface a decade or so ago, which may have caused the surface ices to absorb more solar radiation and more efficiently evaporate. Or, Greaves suggests, long-term variations in the sun’s ultraviolet output, changes linked to the roughly 11-year cycle of solar activity, may be playing a role.
Met Office chief says he has received death threats from climate change skeptics
This is wrong, if true: The chief of the UK’s Met Office said yesterday that he has received death threats from climate change skeptics.
A Met Office spokesman confirmed Mr Hirst had received death threats made in a number of ”unsavoury emails”, but said they were ”isolated incidents” and the organisation had not felt it necessary to involve the police.
This is wrong, if true: The chief of the UK’s Met Office said yesterday that he has received death threats from climate change skeptics.
A Met Office spokesman confirmed Mr Hirst had received death threats made in a number of ”unsavoury emails”, but said they were ”isolated incidents” and the organisation had not felt it necessary to involve the police.