NASA team heads for Chile
A four person team of NASA scientists are heading to Chile to aid in the mine rescue efforts.
Author: Robert Zimmerman
Active volcanoes on Venus?
Evidence continues to build that volcanic activity on Venus has occurred in the very recent past, and might even be going on today.
India announces instruments for its second Moon probe
India announced today the scientific instruments it plans for its second lunar probe, scheduled for launch in 2013. India is building the orbiter and Russia is building the lander/rover.
SpaceX sets Oct 23 as next Falcon 9 launch date
SpaceX has requested from the launch range Oct 23 as its next Falcon 9 test launch date. In this test they will give their Dragon capsule its first test flight.
“Going Home” from The Snake Pit
An evening pause: The Snake Pit (1948). The story of the rescue of an insane woman (played by Olivia de Havilland). This scene expresses the longing for sanity by all the patients in the insane asylum.
Stars Wars as told with lego
An evening pause: The Star Wars trilogy, told in a little over two minutes.
The Columbia River Gorge
We’ve moved on from Mt. St. Helens to the Columbia River Gorge. Below is a shot of Vista House at Crown Point, looking east into the gorge. In the distance you can see Beacon Rock.
Today’s hike was short, a six mile loop starting at Multnomah Falls (620 feet total).
The falls and hike are probably among the most popular tourist attractions close to Portland. And since today was Saturday, there were a lot of people around. Nonetheless, the numbers quickly dropped as we worked our way up the trail, dropping to only a handful of people once we climbed past the top of the falls. The hike itself included a lot of waterfalls and babbling streams, but it also weaved its way through some impressive evergreen forests.
I find it sad how few people are willing to do the little extra work necessary to reach these beautiful places. At one point on our way down, we passed a family that was clearly discussing whether to continue. They had already climbed about 80 percent of the way up, but the father and mother were tired and seemed willing to stop. When the son (about 12) asked me how much farther it was to the top and I said it was only about 20 to 30 minutes, he was off like a shot, with the parents forced to follow, albeit reluctantly. My immediate thought was, “Go, kid, go!”
Angel Falls
An evening pause: Angel Falls in Venezuela, as filmed by the BBC, with music by John Williams.
Japan and Europe consider cargo/crew return capabilities
Japan and Europe are both considering an upgrade to their unmanned cargo carriers so that each can also return cargo from ISS.
Living underground for months
Though this article outlines succinctly the physical and mental difficulties faced by the 33 trapped Chilean miners, it also tends to overemphasize the worst case scenerios, none of which are likely to happen. I can state from personal experience — having spent numerous weekends underground during cave exploration trips — that though their situation is very unpleasant, I have no doubt these miners will survive. Because they have contact with the surface, and therefore a regular supply of food and information, they will simply demonstrate the limitless range of human endurance, and hold on until rescue arrives.
EPA backs down on ammo ban
That was quick! EPA backs down on the ammo ban that I noted Wednesday night.
Laura Petrie and Alan Brady – the toupee
An evening pause: From the 1960s Dick van Dyke Show, Laura Petrie (played by Mary Tyler Moore) has revealed to the world the fact that her husband’s boss, television star Alan Brady (played by Carl Reiner), is bald and wears a toupee. The scene in which she tries to apologize to Brady is probably one of television’s funniest scenes.