Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
What’s the Earth really made of?
“Mr Kouzaris has written to President Obama on three separate occasions and is yet to even receive the courtesy of a reply.”
And in related news: “Has Obama called David and Elaine McClain to make sure they’re holding up okay?”
And in related news: “Has Obama called David and Elaine McClain to make sure they’re holding up okay?”
The House today rejected Obama’s proposed budget 414 to 0.
The House today rejected Obama’s proposed budget for 2013 by a vote of 414 to 0.
We must all remember this vote when the Democrats demonize any future budget proposals by the Republicans. The above vote was very bipartisan. Even the Democrats rejected Obama’s proposal.
The House today rejected Obama’s proposed budget for 2013 by a vote of 414 to 0.
We must all remember this vote when the Democrats demonize any future budget proposals by the Republicans. The above vote was very bipartisan. Even the Democrats rejected Obama’s proposal.
A solar tornado five times the size of the Earth.
A solar tornado five times the size of the Earth.
A solar tornado five times the size of the Earth.
The Russians are building nuclear powered engines for long range space travel, and announced today that they expect to have the first engine ready by 2017.
The Russians are building nuclear powered engines for long range space travel, and announced today that they expect to have the first engine ready by 2017.
The Russians are building nuclear powered engines for long range space travel, and announced today that they expect to have the first engine ready by 2017.
Europe’s ATV freighter has successfully docked with ISS.
Europe’s ATV freighter has successfully docked with ISS.
Europe’s ATV freighter has successfully docked with ISS.
An expedition financed by Jeff Bezos, the founder of amazon.com, has found the rocket engines of the Apollo 11 Saturn 5 rocket.
An expedition financed by Jeff Bezos, the founder of amazon.com, has found the rocket engines of the Apollo 11 Saturn 5 rocket at the bottom of the Atlantic.
An expedition financed by Jeff Bezos, the founder of amazon.com, has found the rocket engines of the Apollo 11 Saturn 5 rocket at the bottom of the Atlantic.
“It may also be a plane wreck.”
An incandescent light bulb, stored in a time capsule for one hundred years, still worked
An incandescent light bulb, stored in a time capsule for one hundred years, still worked!
I wonder: Did the EPA try to arrest anyone for using it?
An incandescent light bulb, stored in a time capsule for one hundred years, still worked!
I wonder: Did the EPA try to arrest anyone for using it?
Based on discoveries already made, astronomers now estimate there are probably more than a hundred habitable superEarths within 30 light years of the Sun.
Based on discoveries already made, astronomers now estimate there are probably more than a hundred habitable superEarths within 30 light years of the Sun.
Based on discoveries already made, astronomers now estimate there are probably more than a hundred habitable superEarths within 30 light years of the Sun.
Ringed clouds at the edge of space.
“I’m very disappointed in the growing trend of students and others unwilling to engage in meaningful discussion,”
The EPA loses another court case, badly.
The Obama administration’s EPA loses another court case, badly.
The Obama administration’s EPA loses another court case, badly.
The Obama administration today announced strict new limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
We’re here to help you: The Obama administration today announced strict new limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
See this post for some perspective and context.
We’re here to help you: The Obama administration today announced strict new limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
See this post for some perspective and context.
A computer simulation suggests that the Earth normally has several asteroid-sized smaller moons in temporary orbit around it.
Fly me to the other moons! A computer simulation suggests that the Earth normally has several asteroid-sized smaller moons in temporary orbit around it.
Fly me to the other moons! A computer simulation suggests that the Earth normally has several asteroid-sized smaller moons in temporary orbit around it.
The first look at the ocean’s deepest bottom.
The first look at the ocean’s deepest bottom.
Cameron’s video reminds me of the surface of Venus as photographed by the Soviet Union’s Venera spacecraft in the 1970s and 1980s, flat and crushed by the heavy surface pressure.
The first look at the ocean’s deepest bottom.
Cameron’s video reminds me of the surface of Venus as photographed by the Soviet Union’s Venera spacecraft in the 1970s and 1980s, flat and crushed by the heavy surface pressure.
Two new skyscrapers being built in Milan are designed to allow trees to grow on the outside of every floor.
A vertical forest: Two new skyscrapers being built in Milan are designed to allow trees to grow on the outside of every floor.
A vertical forest: Two new skyscrapers being built in Milan are designed to allow trees to grow on the outside of every floor.
Win an Ipad by delving into the Hubble archive to discover a “hidden treasure.”
Win an Ipad by delving into the Hubble archive to discover a “hidden treasure.”
Win an Ipad by delving into the Hubble archive to discover a “hidden treasure.”
Global warming models wrong again
This is getting repetitive: Global warming models wrong again.
This is getting repetitive: Global warming models wrong again.
“a train wreck for the Obama administration.”
“A train wreck for the Obama administration.”
Trying to determine what the Supreme Court will rule on any issue by analyzing the questions they ask beforehand has generally been a poor predictor of their final decision. Sadly, we really won’t know what the Supreme Court will do until they do it.
Moreover, from my perspective it would be far better for Congress to repeal the law rather than have the court rule it unconstitutional. In the former it will be done by legislative action, backed by the voters. In the latter it would be the decision of nine unelected individuals, essentially expressing their personal opinions. In a true democracy the former is definitely preferred.
“A train wreck for the Obama administration.”
Trying to determine what the Supreme Court will rule on any issue by analyzing the questions they ask beforehand has generally been a poor predictor of their final decision. Sadly, we really won’t know what the Supreme Court will do until they do it.
Moreover, from my perspective it would be far better for Congress to repeal the law rather than have the court rule it unconstitutional. In the former it will be done by legislative action, backed by the voters. In the latter it would be the decision of nine unelected individuals, essentially expressing their personal opinions. In a true democracy the former is definitely preferred.
A toy company has designed building blocks that make it possible to combine multiple brands, from Legos to Tinkertoys.
A toy company has designed building blocks that make it possible to combine multiple building block brands, from Legos to Tinkertoys.
By downloading free designs and using a 3D printer, you could have your very own pieces to connect ten different brands of building toys to each other and construct even more elaborate contraptions and structures.
As the first commenter on the webpage noted, “This is the next singularity.”
A toy company has designed building blocks that make it possible to combine multiple building block brands, from Legos to Tinkertoys.
By downloading free designs and using a 3D printer, you could have your very own pieces to connect ten different brands of building toys to each other and construct even more elaborate contraptions and structures.
As the first commenter on the webpage noted, “This is the next singularity.”
The first Russian weather satellite, launched in 1969, is about to burn up in the atmosphere.
Some history comes to Earth: The first Russian weather satellite, launched in 1969, is about to burn up in the atmosphere.
Not only that, but the U.S. research satellite Explorer 8, launched in 1960, is also about to come down.
Some history comes to Earth: The first Russian weather satellite, launched in 1969, is about to burn up in the atmosphere.
Not only that, but the U.S. research satellite Explorer 8, launched in 1960, is also about to come down.
Want a job designing and building spaceships? Scaled Composites is holding a jobs fair and open house at the Mohave Air and Space Port.
Want a job designing and building spaceships? Scaled Composites is holding a jobs fair and open house at the Mohave Air and Space Port.
Want a job designing and building spaceships? Scaled Composites is holding a jobs fair and open house at the Mohave Air and Space Port.
“This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”
Guess who said it, and to whom: “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”
Guess who said it, and to whom: “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”
Liveblogging the Supreme Court’s Obamacare hearings.
Liveblogging the Supreme Court’s Obamacare hearings.
You can read the transcript of the hearing or listen to the audio here.
Liveblogging the Supreme Court’s Obamacare hearings.
You can read the transcript of the hearing or listen to the audio here.
Cameron has safely returned to the surface
James Cameron has safely returned to the surface after completing the world’s deepest solo dive.
James Cameron has safely returned to the surface after completing the world’s deepest solo dive.
Boeing vs Boeing.
The story describes how Boeing is considering upgrading the X-37B to become a manned ferry to ISS, thus putting it in direct competition with the company’s other manned capsule, the CST-100.
At the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’s Space 2011 conference in November, Boeing’s Arthur Grantz revealed that the company is studying a new derivative of the Boeing/USAF X-37B. The new X-37C would be 65-80% larger than the current B version. Launched by an Atlas V rocket, X-37C could carry pressurized or unpressurized cargo or 5-6 astronauts. Grantz is chief engineer in charge of X-37 at the Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems Experimental Systems Group .
Hat tip to Clark Lindsey.
The story describes how Boeing is considering upgrading the X-37B to become a manned ferry to ISS, thus putting it in direct competition with the company’s other manned capsule, the CST-100.
At the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’s Space 2011 conference in November, Boeing’s Arthur Grantz revealed that the company is studying a new derivative of the Boeing/USAF X-37B. The new X-37C would be 65-80% larger than the current B version. Launched by an Atlas V rocket, X-37C could carry pressurized or unpressurized cargo or 5-6 astronauts. Grantz is chief engineer in charge of X-37 at the Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems Experimental Systems Group .
Hat tip to Clark Lindsey.
James Cameron has set a new record for the deepest solo dive, a depth of 35,756 feet.1James Cameron has set a new record for the deepest solo dive, a depth of 35,756 feet.
James Cameron has set a new record for the deepest solo dive, a depth of 35,756 feet.
And he is still down there at this moment.
Hovering in what he’s called a vertical torpedo, Cameron is likely collecting data, specimens, and imagery unthinkable in 1960, when the only other explorers to reach Challenger Deep returned after seeing little more than the silt stirred up by their bathyscaphe. After as long as six hours in the trench, Cameron—best known for creating fictional worlds on film (Avatar, Titanic, The Abyss)—is to jettison steel weights attached to the sub and shoot back to the surface. Meanwhile, the expedition’s scientific support team awaits his return aboard the research ships Mermaid Sapphire and Barakuda, 7 miles (11 kilometers) up.
James Cameron has set a new record for the deepest solo dive, a depth of 35,756 feet.
And he is still down there at this moment.
Hovering in what he’s called a vertical torpedo, Cameron is likely collecting data, specimens, and imagery unthinkable in 1960, when the only other explorers to reach Challenger Deep returned after seeing little more than the silt stirred up by their bathyscaphe. After as long as six hours in the trench, Cameron—best known for creating fictional worlds on film (Avatar, Titanic, The Abyss)—is to jettison steel weights attached to the sub and shoot back to the surface. Meanwhile, the expedition’s scientific support team awaits his return aboard the research ships Mermaid Sapphire and Barakuda, 7 miles (11 kilometers) up.
A new chemical analysis of lunar rocks from the Apollo missions has cast doubt on the theory that the Moon was formed when the Earth was hit by a Mars-sized object about 4.5 billion years ago.
The uncertainty of science: A new chemical analysis of lunar rocks from the Apollo missions has cast doubt on the consensus theory that the Moon was formed when the Earth was hit by a Mars-sized object about 4.5 billion years ago.
The uncertainty of science: A new chemical analysis of lunar rocks from the Apollo missions has cast doubt on the consensus theory that the Moon was formed when the Earth was hit by a Mars-sized object about 4.5 billion years ago.
The effort of a private company to salvage a communications satellite stranded in the wrong orbit has been rejected by the company that owns it. Instead, the satellite will be de-orbted today, buring up over the Pacific.
The effort of a private company to salvage a communications satellite stranded in the wrong orbit has been rejected by the company that owns it. Instead, the satellite will be de-orbted today, burning up over the Pacific.
The effort of a private company to salvage a communications satellite stranded in the wrong orbit has been rejected by the company that owns it. Instead, the satellite will be de-orbted today, burning up over the Pacific.