Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Subterranean worms from hell
You could have heard a pin drop
Russian greenhouse on ISS ungoes upgrade
The Russian greenhouse on ISS underwent an upgrade today.
The onboard greenhouse was dismantled in April last year, as a need arose to replace the outdated control unit, recalled head of the Rasteniya-2 (Plants-2) experiment, chief of the laboratory of the Institute of Medico-Biological Problems (IMBP) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) Vladimir Sychev. In early 2010, the crop area of the orbital garden was extended twice – the second leaf chamber was delivered to the ISS in which the crew managed to harvest the Mizuna lettuce, before the greenhouse was dismantled. Now, the cosmonauts will plant in these two chambers different cultures – super-dwarf wheat and dwarf tomatoes.
As I described in detail in Leaving Earth, the Russians have decades of experience in growing plants in space, with the goal of not only providing a natural system to recycle the station’s atmosphere, but also giving the astronauts a morale-boosting activity (gardening) that also gives them something tasty to eat. Though the engineering has still not made it possible to germinate seeds in weightlessness and then have grow there, this will be an absolute requirement if humans are ever to travel to the planets and beyond to the stars.
The Russian greenhouse on ISS underwent an upgrade today.
The onboard greenhouse was dismantled in April last year, as a need arose to replace the outdated control unit, recalled head of the Rasteniya-2 (Plants-2) experiment, chief of the laboratory of the Institute of Medico-Biological Problems (IMBP) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) Vladimir Sychev. In early 2010, the crop area of the orbital garden was extended twice – the second leaf chamber was delivered to the ISS in which the crew managed to harvest the Mizuna lettuce, before the greenhouse was dismantled. Now, the cosmonauts will plant in these two chambers different cultures – super-dwarf wheat and dwarf tomatoes.
As I described in detail in Leaving Earth, the Russians have decades of experience in growing plants in space, with the goal of not only providing a natural system to recycle the station’s atmosphere, but also giving the astronauts a morale-boosting activity (gardening) that also gives them something tasty to eat. Though the engineering has still not made it possible to germinate seeds in weightlessness and then have grow there, this will be an absolute requirement if humans are ever to travel to the planets and beyond to the stars.
Atlantis is rolled out to the launchpad
The last shuttle mission: Atlantis has now begun its journey to the launchpad.
The last shuttle mission: Atlantis has now begun its journey to the launchpad.
Bigelow expands its space station factory
Bigelow expands its space station factory. Via Clark Lindsey.
Bigelow expands its space station factory. Via Clark Lindsey.
Endeavour lands safely
Endeavour lands safely, for the last time.
Endeavour lands safely, for the last time.
Fossil fuels to the rescue
Fossil fuels to the rescue! A liberal discovers the value of natural gas and fracking.
The arguments for converting the U.S. economy to wind, solar and biomass energy have collapsed. The date of depletion of fossil fuels has been pushed back into the future by centuries — or millennia. The abundance and geographic diversity of fossil fuels made possible by technology in time will reduce the dependence of the U.S. on particular foreign energy exporters, eliminating the national security argument for renewable energy. And if the worst-case scenarios for climate change were plausible, then the most effective way to avert catastrophic global warming would be the rapid expansion of nuclear power, not over-complicated schemes worthy of Rube Goldberg or Wile E. Coyote to carpet the world’s deserts and prairies with solar panels and wind farms that would provide only intermittent energy from weak and diffuse sources.
Fossil fuels to the rescue! A liberal discovers the value of natural gas and fracking.
The arguments for converting the U.S. economy to wind, solar and biomass energy have collapsed. The date of depletion of fossil fuels has been pushed back into the future by centuries — or millennia. The abundance and geographic diversity of fossil fuels made possible by technology in time will reduce the dependence of the U.S. on particular foreign energy exporters, eliminating the national security argument for renewable energy. And if the worst-case scenarios for climate change were plausible, then the most effective way to avert catastrophic global warming would be the rapid expansion of nuclear power, not over-complicated schemes worthy of Rube Goldberg or Wile E. Coyote to carpet the world’s deserts and prairies with solar panels and wind farms that would provide only intermittent energy from weak and diffuse sources.
House torpedoes unconditional hike to $14.3 trillion debt ceiling
Good news indeed: The House tonight overwhelmingly voted down an unconditional hike to $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.
The vote was 318-97, with 82 Democrats joining every Republican in rejecting legislation that would have authorized $2.4 trillion in additional borrowing by the federal government. Seven Democrats voted present on the legislation.
Now comes the business of tying the increase in the debt ceiling to some real spending reduction.
Good news indeed: The House tonight overwhelmingly voted down an unconditional hike to $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.
The vote was 318-97, with 82 Democrats joining every Republican in rejecting legislation that would have authorized $2.4 trillion in additional borrowing by the federal government. Seven Democrats voted present on the legislation.
Now comes the business of tying the increase in the debt ceiling to some real spending reduction.
The scientific battle over arsenic life goes on
The scientific battle over arsenic life goes on.
The scientific battle over arsenic life goes on.
Planetary scientists push for Enceladus mission to search for alien life
Planetary scientists push for Enceladus mission to search for alien life.
Planetary scientists push for Enceladus mission to search for alien life.
A Southern California high school has banned frog dissections in biology classrooms, using software instead
A Southern California high school has banned frog dissections in biology classrooms, switching to software instead.
Next, virtual surgeries on humans: you just make believe the doctor operates on you. It is certainly more humane than forcing someone to actually use a scalpel on a real body!
A Southern California high school has banned frog dissections in biology classrooms, switching to software instead.
Next, virtual surgeries on humans: you just make believe the doctor operates on you. It is certainly more humane than forcing someone to actually use a scalpel on a real body!
Vote on “clean” debt ceiling increase set for tonight
The next budget battle begins: A vote on a “clean” debt ceiling increase has been set for tonight by the House Republican leadership.
More than 100 House Democrats recently signed a letter demanding that Speaker John Boehner bring forward a vote for an increase in federal debt levels without any conditions for cuts or future spending curbs. Imagine their surprise when Boehner agreed and will serve up a bill that would provide enough borrowing to cover all of president Obama’s spending requests for next year without any preconditions.
It is expected that the legislation will be defeated soundly in a very bipartisan vote. To quote the article again:
The political reality is that increasing the nation’s swollen $14.3 trillion debt is a political loser. Voters hate it and lawmakers don’t even get anything new to give away since the money is going to cover existing obligations.
If the bill is defeated as predicted, it will be very good news, as that defeat will bolster the efforts of those who want big cuts in spending to go with any debt ceiling increase.
The next budget battle begins: A vote on a “clean” debt ceiling increase has been set for tonight by the House Republican leadership.
More than 100 House Democrats recently signed a letter demanding that Speaker John Boehner bring forward a vote for an increase in federal debt levels without any conditions for cuts or future spending curbs. Imagine their surprise when Boehner agreed and will serve up a bill that would provide enough borrowing to cover all of president Obama’s spending requests for next year without any preconditions.
It is expected that the legislation will be defeated soundly in a very bipartisan vote. To quote the article again:
The political reality is that increasing the nation’s swollen $14.3 trillion debt is a political loser. Voters hate it and lawmakers don’t even get anything new to give away since the money is going to cover existing obligations.
If the bill is defeated as predicted, it will be very good news, as that defeat will bolster the efforts of those who want big cuts in spending to go with any debt ceiling increase.
New York Metropolitan Opera stars, fearing radiation, skip Japan tour
Cowards: Two New York Metropolitan Opera stars, fearing radiation, have backed out of a Japanese tour in the cities of Tokyo and Nagoya. This, despite the documented lack of radiation:
Tokyo briefly registered nominally higher radiation levels in its air and water, but they have subsided to pre-tsunami levels. There was never any scientific concern of a radiation impact on Nagoya, which is much farther away.
Meanwhile, the efforts to stabilize the reactors in Fukushima are proceeding.
Cowards: Two New York Metropolitan Opera stars, fearing radiation, have backed out of a Japanese tour in the cities of Tokyo and Nagoya. This, despite the documented lack of radiation:
Tokyo briefly registered nominally higher radiation levels in its air and water, but they have subsided to pre-tsunami levels. There was never any scientific concern of a radiation impact on Nagoya, which is much farther away.
Meanwhile, the efforts to stabilize the reactors in Fukushima are proceeding.
China’s largest inland lake has disappeared in the worst drought in more than half a century.
China’s largest inland lake has disappeared in the worst drought in more than half a century.
China’s largest inland lake has disappeared in the worst drought in more than half a century.
USDA ‘Rabbit Police’ Stalking Magicians
More government stupidity: The USDA is now going after magicians for using rabbits in their shows.
Finally, it was time for the inspection at the Hahne’s home. Marty [the magician] decided to ask some questions.
“My friend has a snake,” he said. The [USDA] inspector quickly told him they don’t regulate snakes.
“No,” Marty said, “I mean he feeds his snake rabbits. He breaks their necks and drops them in the cage for the snake’s food. Does he have to have a permit for that?” Again, she told him there’s no regulation for that.
“So I could break my rabbit’s neck and feed him to my friend’s snake and I wouldn’t need a license?” Marty asked.
“Correct,” she said, “But you need a license to use him in your magic show.”
More government stupidity: The USDA is now going after magicians for using rabbits in their shows.
Finally, it was time for the inspection at the Hahne’s home. Marty [the magician] decided to ask some questions.
“My friend has a snake,” he said. The [USDA] inspector quickly told him they don’t regulate snakes.
“No,” Marty said, “I mean he feeds his snake rabbits. He breaks their necks and drops them in the cage for the snake’s food. Does he have to have a permit for that?” Again, she told him there’s no regulation for that.
“So I could break my rabbit’s neck and feed him to my friend’s snake and I wouldn’t need a license?” Marty asked.
“Correct,” she said, “But you need a license to use him in your magic show.”
Four spectacular waterspouts off the coast of Australia today
Four spectacular waterspouts were seen off the coast of Australia today. With images!
Four spectacular waterspouts were seen off the coast of Australia today. With images!
The underground city beneath Jerusalem
Republicans still firmly against raising debt ceiling without big cuts
I hope they mean it: Republicans still firmly against raising debt ceiling without big cuts.
I hope they mean it: Republicans still firmly against raising debt ceiling without big cuts.
Five People Arrested in D.C. for Dancing At U.S. Monument
What would Jefferson say? Five people arrested this weekend in D.C. for dancing at the Jefferson memorial monument.
What would Jefferson say? Five people arrested this weekend in D.C. for dancing at the Jefferson memorial monument.
Robot exploration in the Great Pyramid at Giza
Robot exploration in the Great Pyramid at Giza.
The robot explorer that took the images is named Djedi, after the magician whom Pharaoh Khufu consulted when planning the layout of the Great Pyramid. It was designed and built by engineers at the University of Leeds, in collaboration with Scoutek UK and Dassault Systemes, France.
Robot exploration in the Great Pyramid at Giza.
The robot explorer that took the images is named Djedi, after the magician whom Pharaoh Khufu consulted when planning the layout of the Great Pyramid. It was designed and built by engineers at the University of Leeds, in collaboration with Scoutek UK and Dassault Systemes, France.
Pharmacist fired by Walgreens for using his gun to defend himself and customers from robbers
Let no good deed go unpunished: Walgreens has fired one of their pharmacists for using his gun to defend himself and his customers from armed robbers.
Let no good deed go unpunished: Walgreens has fired one of their pharmacists for using his gun to defend himself and his customers from armed robbers.
Opportunity spots an outcrop
Opportunity’s journey across the deserts of Mars continues; with pictures.
Opportunity’s journey across the deserts of Mars continues; with pictures.
Fincke Sets New U.S. Space Endurance Record
Astronaut Mike Fincke sets a new U.S. space endurance record.
Astronaut Mike Fincke sets a new U.S. space endurance record.
Riding a Soyuz back to Earth
Rough and fast: Riding a Soyuz back to Earth.
Rough and fast: Riding a Soyuz back to Earth.
Court throws out Dearborn leaflet ban
A victory for freedom: The court has thrown out the ban on Christian leafleting in Dearborn, Michigan.
A victory for freedom: The court has thrown out the ban on Christian leafleting in Dearborn, Michigan.
The world’s worst PowerPoint slides
New data suggests the water content of lunar magma is 100 times higher than previously thought
A new analysis of a moon rock brought back by Apollo 17 has suggested that the water content of lunar magma is 100 times higher than previously thought.
A new analysis of a moon rock brought back by Apollo 17 has suggested that the water content of lunar magma is 100 times higher than previously thought.
The secret lives of cats
The un-owned feral cats had larger territories than the house cats, but both had larger territories than expected. One of the male feral cats had a home range of 1,351 acres, while the pet cats had a mean home range of about 5 acres.
The un-owned feral cats had larger territories than the house cats, but both had larger territories than expected. One of the male feral cats had a home range of 1,351 acres, while the pet cats had a mean home range of about 5 acres.
GOP Senators to WH: Better start planning for a $2.6 trillion budget
GOP Senators to the White House: Better start planning for no debt ceiling increase and making do on a $2.6 trillion budget.
GOP Senators to the White House: Better start planning for no debt ceiling increase and making do on a $2.6 trillion budget.
Astronomical Deficit Forces Downsizing of U.S. Telescope Projects
Budget deficits signal a decline in spending for astronomy telescopes, both on the ground and in space, for the next decade.
Budget deficits signal a decline in spending for astronomy telescopes, both on the ground and in space, for the next decade.