The reason why NASA’s planetary probes still use black and white photography.
The reason why NASA’s planetary probes still use black and white photography.
The reason why NASA’s planetary probes still use black and white photography.
Tag: science
The reason why NASA’s planetary probes still use black and white photography.
New radar data of Apophis now indicates that its chances of the asteroid hitting the Earth in 2036 is zero.
The sky is not failing: New radar data of Apophis now indicates that its chances of the asteroid hitting the Earth in 2036 is zero.
This data doesn’t eliminate the chance of a collision, only postpones it much farther into the future.
The sky is not failing: New radar data of Apophis now indicates that its chances of the asteroid hitting the Earth in 2036 is zero.
This data doesn’t eliminate the chance of a collision, only postpones it much farther into the future.
New data from the Herschel Space Telescope suggests that the asteroid Apophis is bigger and less reflective than previous believed.
More Apophis news: New data from the Herschel Space Telescope suggests that the asteroid is bigger and less reflective than previous believed.
Instead of 900 feet across, they now estimate it has a diameter of about 1070 feet. And knowing that the asteroid has a lower albedo means that astronomers will be better able to gauge the effect of solar radiation on Apophis’s orbit.
More Apophis news: New data from the Herschel Space Telescope suggests that the asteroid is bigger and less reflective than previous believed.
Instead of 900 feet across, they now estimate it has a diameter of about 1070 feet. And knowing that the asteroid has a lower albedo means that astronomers will be better able to gauge the effect of solar radiation on Apophis’s orbit.
A new National Research Council report honestly admits the possibility that the Sun might be an important factor in climate change.
Pigs fly! A new National Research Council report honestly admits the possibility that the Sun might be an important factor in climate change.
The article, from NASA, itself is a remarkably fair assessment of the field’s state of knowledge (which in truth is quite spotty since we really do not yet understand what is going on with the climate). This, as far as I can remember, is the first time in years, since the early 1990s before the global warming advocates took over the climate field and shut down debate, that an official article from a government organization like NASA has been so open about these issues and not toed the politically correct line that “fossil fuels and carbon dioxide are causing global warming and don’t you dare say anything different!”
Pigs fly! A new National Research Council report honestly admits the possibility that the Sun might be an important factor in climate change.
The article, from NASA, itself is a remarkably fair assessment of the field’s state of knowledge (which in truth is quite spotty since we really do not yet understand what is going on with the climate). This, as far as I can remember, is the first time in years, since the early 1990s before the global warming advocates took over the climate field and shut down debate, that an official article from a government organization like NASA has been so open about these issues and not toed the politically correct line that “fossil fuels and carbon dioxide are causing global warming and don’t you dare say anything different!”
Tracking the orbit of the exoplanet in Fomalhaut’s debris disk
Tracking the orbit of the exoplanet in Fomalhaut’s debris disk.
Tracking the orbit of the exoplanet in Fomalhaut’s debris disk.
Want to learn something of the geology of the Grand Canyon?
Want to learn something of the geology of the Grand Canyon? The Geological Society of America has just published a special volume of papers, with the introductory and afterword [pdf] chapters available online.
Those two chapters provide a very good layman’s summary of the geological state-of-the-art of the Grand Canyon. Very worthwhile reading if you plan to hike down in the near future.
Want to learn something of the geology of the Grand Canyon? The Geological Society of America has just published a special volume of papers, with the introductory and afterword [pdf] chapters available online.
Those two chapters provide a very good layman’s summary of the geological state-of-the-art of the Grand Canyon. Very worthwhile reading if you plan to hike down in the near future.
Scientists now think it is possible for there to be floating methane ice on the lakes of Titan.
Scientists now think it is possible for there to be floating methane ice on the lakes of Titan.
Up to this point, Cassini scientists assumed that Titan lakes would not have floating ice, because solid methane is denser than liquid methane and would sink. But the new model considers the interaction between the lakes and the atmosphere, resulting in different mixtures of compositions, pockets of nitrogen gas, and changes in temperature. The result, scientists found, is that winter ice will float in Titan’s methane-and-ethane-rich lakes and seas if the temperature is below the freezing point of methane — minus 297 degrees Fahrenheit (90.4 kelvins). The scientists realized all the varieties of ice they considered would float if they were composed of at least 5 percent “air,” which is an average composition for young sea ice on Earth. (“Air” on Titan has significantly more nitrogen than Earth air and almost no oxygen.)
Scientists now think it is possible for there to be floating methane ice on the lakes of Titan.
Up to this point, Cassini scientists assumed that Titan lakes would not have floating ice, because solid methane is denser than liquid methane and would sink. But the new model considers the interaction between the lakes and the atmosphere, resulting in different mixtures of compositions, pockets of nitrogen gas, and changes in temperature. The result, scientists found, is that winter ice will float in Titan’s methane-and-ethane-rich lakes and seas if the temperature is below the freezing point of methane — minus 297 degrees Fahrenheit (90.4 kelvins). The scientists realized all the varieties of ice they considered would float if they were composed of at least 5 percent “air,” which is an average composition for young sea ice on Earth. (“Air” on Titan has significantly more nitrogen than Earth air and almost no oxygen.)
The Kepler science team today revealed an additional 461 candidate exoplanets, with four being less than twice Earth’s size and in the habitable zone.
Worlds without end: The Kepler science team today revealed an additional 461 candidate exoplanets, with four being less than twice Earth’s size and in the habitable zone.
Since the last Kepler catalog was released in February 2012, the number of candidates discovered in the Kepler data has increased by 20 percent and now totals 2,740 potential planets orbiting 2,036 stars. The most dramatic increases are seen in the number of Earth-size and super Earth-size candidates discovered, which grew by 43 and 21 percent respectively. The new data increases the number of stars discovered to have more than one planet candidate from 365 to 467. Today, 43 percent of Kepler’s planet candidates are observed to have neighbor planets.
Of these candidates, 105 have so far been confirmed to be exoplanets by other methods.
Note that these Kepler planets are in addition to the fifteen new exoplanets noted in my previous post.
Worlds without end: The Kepler science team today revealed an additional 461 candidate exoplanets, with four being less than twice Earth’s size and in the habitable zone.
Since the last Kepler catalog was released in February 2012, the number of candidates discovered in the Kepler data has increased by 20 percent and now totals 2,740 potential planets orbiting 2,036 stars. The most dramatic increases are seen in the number of Earth-size and super Earth-size candidates discovered, which grew by 43 and 21 percent respectively. The new data increases the number of stars discovered to have more than one planet candidate from 365 to 467. Today, 43 percent of Kepler’s planet candidates are observed to have neighbor planets.
Of these candidates, 105 have so far been confirmed to be exoplanets by other methods.
Note that these Kepler planets are in addition to the fifteen new exoplanets noted in my previous post.
Fifteen more exoplanets found orbiting their stars in the habitable zone.
Fifteen more exoplanets have been found, orbiting their stars in the habitable zone.
Fifteen more exoplanets have been found, orbiting their stars in the habitable zone.
The Sun crashes
NOAA today released its newest monthly update of the Sun’s sunspot cycle and, as I do every month, I have posted the latest graph, with annotation, below the fold.
The sunspot numbers for December were not only startlingly low, they actually plunged to levels not seen since May 2011, at a time when the Sun is supposed to be approaching sunspot maximum and the number of sunspots is supposed to be increasing.
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How to make an indestructible snow fort.
How to make an indestructible snow fort.
How to make an indestructible snow fort.
On Wednesday Apophis will pass the Earth at a distance of 9 million miles, allowing astronomers to gather more data about this asteroid’s orbit and composition.
On Wednesday Apophis will pass the Earth at a distance of 9 million miles, allowing astronomers to gather more data about this asteroid’s orbit and composition.
Having crossed outside Earth’s orbit, Apophis will appear briefly in the night-time sky. Wednesday 9 January will afford astronomers the rare opportunity to bring a battery of telescopes to bear: from optical telescopes to radio telescopes to the European Space Agency’s Infrared Space Observatory Herschel. Two of the biggest unknowns that remain to be established are the asteroid’s mass and the way it is spinning. Both of these affect the asteroid’s orbit and without them, precise calculations cannot be made.
On Wednesday Apophis will pass the Earth at a distance of 9 million miles, allowing astronomers to gather more data about this asteroid’s orbit and composition.
Having crossed outside Earth’s orbit, Apophis will appear briefly in the night-time sky. Wednesday 9 January will afford astronomers the rare opportunity to bring a battery of telescopes to bear: from optical telescopes to radio telescopes to the European Space Agency’s Infrared Space Observatory Herschel. Two of the biggest unknowns that remain to be established are the asteroid’s mass and the way it is spinning. Both of these affect the asteroid’s orbit and without them, precise calculations cannot be made.
What happens when you set fire to 2,500 ping pong balls?
Curiosity spots a Martian “flower.”
Curiosity spots a Martian “flower.”
Actually, Ian O’Neill notes, it isn’t really a flower but a very interesting geological formation embedded in the rock.
Curiosity spots a Martian “flower.”
Actually, Ian O’Neill notes, it isn’t really a flower but a very interesting geological formation embedded in the rock.
Swift demonstrates what a small 11-inch telescope can do in space with an spectacular gallery of images.
Swift demonstrates what a small 11-inch telescope can do in space with an spectacular gallery of images. The complete gallery can be seen here.
Swift demonstrates what a small 11-inch telescope can do in space with an spectacular gallery of images. The complete gallery can be seen here.
The origin of the dark material on Vesta.
The origin of the dark material on Vesta.
I actually reported on this research result in detail back in August.
The origin of the dark material on Vesta.
I actually reported on this research result in detail back in August.
New research suggests that the high radiation experienced by astronauts on interplanetary journeys could accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s.
New research suggests that the high radiation experienced by astronauts on interplanetary journeys could accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Some caveats: This research was done on Earth with mice. It also assumes that it will be impossible to protect astronauts from all types of radiation while on their journey.
New research suggests that the high radiation experienced by astronauts on interplanetary journeys could accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Some caveats: This research was done on Earth with mice. It also assumes that it will be impossible to protect astronauts from all types of radiation while on their journey.
Is the recently discovered Imperial tomb in China too dangerous to enter?
Is the recently discovered Imperial tomb in China too dangerous to enter?
After discovering a secret palace hidden in China’s first emperor massive burial complex, Chinese technicians are nervous. Not because Qin Shi Huang’s tomb is the most important archeological discovery since Tutankhamun, but because they believe his burial place is full of deadly traps that will kill any trespassers. Not to talk about deadly quantities of mercury.
The secret courtyard-style palace tomb is a mind-numbing discovery. Situated in the heart of the Emperor’s 22-square-mile (56-square-kilometer) mortuary compound guarded by more than 6,000 (and counting) full-size statues of warriors, musicians and acrobats, the buried palace is 2,263 by 820 feet (690 by 250 meters). It includes 18 courtyard houses overlooked by one main building, where the emperor is supposed to be. The palace—which has already been partially mapped in 3D using volumetric scanners—occupied a space of 6,003,490 cubic feet (170,000 cubic meters). That’s one fourth the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing—for just one tomb.
Experts believe that the 249-foot-high (76-meter) structure covered with soil and kept dry thanks to a complex draining system, hides the body of the emperor and his courtiers. Nobody knows what’s the state of their bodies, but one of the leading archeologists believes that they are most likely destroyed by now.
Is the recently discovered Imperial tomb in China too dangerous to enter?
After discovering a secret palace hidden in China’s first emperor massive burial complex, Chinese technicians are nervous. Not because Qin Shi Huang’s tomb is the most important archeological discovery since Tutankhamun, but because they believe his burial place is full of deadly traps that will kill any trespassers. Not to talk about deadly quantities of mercury.
The secret courtyard-style palace tomb is a mind-numbing discovery. Situated in the heart of the Emperor’s 22-square-mile (56-square-kilometer) mortuary compound guarded by more than 6,000 (and counting) full-size statues of warriors, musicians and acrobats, the buried palace is 2,263 by 820 feet (690 by 250 meters). It includes 18 courtyard houses overlooked by one main building, where the emperor is supposed to be. The palace—which has already been partially mapped in 3D using volumetric scanners—occupied a space of 6,003,490 cubic feet (170,000 cubic meters). That’s one fourth the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing—for just one tomb.
Experts believe that the 249-foot-high (76-meter) structure covered with soil and kept dry thanks to a complex draining system, hides the body of the emperor and his courtiers. Nobody knows what’s the state of their bodies, but one of the leading archeologists believes that they are most likely destroyed by now.
The twelve most useless research papers of 2012.
Science discovers the obvious: The twelve most useless research papers of 2012.
I especially like #10: Driving when drunk is unsafe. Who wudda known?
Science discovers the obvious: The twelve most useless research papers of 2012.
I especially like #10: Driving when drunk is unsafe. Who wudda known?
A United Kingdom effort to drill down almost two miles to reach buired Lake Ellsworth in Antarctica has been abandoned.
A United Kingdom effort to drill down almost two miles to reach buired Lake Ellsworth in Antarctica has been abandoned.
The article doesn’t mention the failure of a boiler two weeks ago, which from their website apparently delayed drilling until this week.
A United Kingdom effort to drill down almost two miles to reach buired Lake Ellsworth in Antarctica has been abandoned.
The article doesn’t mention the failure of a boiler two weeks ago, which from their website apparently delayed drilling until this week.
Half the facts you know are wrong.
The uncertainty of science: Half the facts you know are wrong.
Facts are being manufactured all of the time, and, as Arbesman shows, many of them turn out to be wrong. Checking each one is how the scientific process is supposed to work; experimental results need to be replicated by other researchers. So how many of the findings in 845,175 articles published in 2009 and recorded in PubMed, the free online medical database, were actually replicated? Not all that many. In 2011, a disquieting study in Nature reported that a team of researchers over 10 years was able to reproduce the results of only six out of 53 landmark papers in preclinical cancer research.
In 2005, the physician and statistician John Ioannides published “Why Most Published Research Findings Are False” in the journal PLoS Medicine. Ioannides cataloged the flaws of much biomedical research, pointing out that reported studies are less likely to be true when they are small, the postulated effect is likely to be weak, research designs and endpoints are flexible, financial and nonfinancial conflicts of interest are common, and competition in the field is fierce. Ioannides concluded that “for many current scientific fields, claimed research findings may often be simply accurate measures of the prevailing bias.”
Or in other words, anyone who claims the “science is settled” on any major scientific issue that other scientists are hotly debating is lying to you.
The uncertainty of science: Half the facts you know are wrong.
Facts are being manufactured all of the time, and, as Arbesman shows, many of them turn out to be wrong. Checking each one is how the scientific process is supposed to work; experimental results need to be replicated by other researchers. So how many of the findings in 845,175 articles published in 2009 and recorded in PubMed, the free online medical database, were actually replicated? Not all that many. In 2011, a disquieting study in Nature reported that a team of researchers over 10 years was able to reproduce the results of only six out of 53 landmark papers in preclinical cancer research.
In 2005, the physician and statistician John Ioannides published “Why Most Published Research Findings Are False” in the journal PLoS Medicine. Ioannides cataloged the flaws of much biomedical research, pointing out that reported studies are less likely to be true when they are small, the postulated effect is likely to be weak, research designs and endpoints are flexible, financial and nonfinancial conflicts of interest are common, and competition in the field is fierce. Ioannides concluded that “for many current scientific fields, claimed research findings may often be simply accurate measures of the prevailing bias.”
Or in other words, anyone who claims the “science is settled” on any major scientific issue that other scientists are hotly debating is lying to you.
What the future was supposed to be like
What the future was supposed to be like.
What the future was supposed to be like.
The twelve best solar events in 2012
An evening pause: Below is a compilation of the twelve most spectacular solar flares of 2012, in chronological order. A detailed explanation of each can be found here.
Though the Sun continues to go through the weakest sunspot maximums in more than a hundred years, we now have some very sophisticated instruments in space that are able to observe whatever happens. And the Sun is still a raging inferno of billions of hydrogen bombs, all going off at once and continuously. Even during a weak minimum it still is more powerful than we can imagine. Consider: The Earth would be nothing mores than a small dot in each of these flares.
New data has confirmed that asteroid 2011 AG5 will not hit the Earth in 2040.
You can relax: New data has confirmed that asteroid 2011 AG5 will not hit the Earth in 2040.
You can relax: New data has confirmed that asteroid 2011 AG5 will not hit the Earth in 2040.
A new dataset of global hurricanes since 1970 shows absolutely no trend, up or down.
More bad news for Al Gore: A new dataset of global hurricanes since 1970 shows absolutely no trend, up or down.
More bad news for Al Gore: A new dataset of global hurricanes since 1970 shows absolutely no trend, up or down.
An meteorite that crashed in the Sierra Nevadas in April was traveling at the fastest speed on record, almost 18 miles per second.
An meteorite that crashed in the Sierra Nevada mountains in April was traveling at the fastest speed on record for an meteorite, almost 18 miles per second.
An meteorite that crashed in the Sierra Nevada mountains in April was traveling at the fastest speed on record for an meteorite, almost 18 miles per second.
The recent youtube video showing an eagle swooping down to grab a toddler was faked.
The uncertainty of imagery: The recent youtube viral video showing an eagle swooping down to grab a toddler was faked.
Based on this example alone, it is becoming increasingly possible to fake a news story. You better have multiple sources on any strange event or else take it with a grain of salt.
The uncertainty of imagery: The recent youtube viral video showing an eagle swooping down to grab a toddler was faked.
Based on this example alone, it is becoming increasingly possible to fake a news story. You better have multiple sources on any strange event or else take it with a grain of salt.
The bar at the center of the Milky Way.
The bar at the center of the Milky Way.
The bar at the center of the Milky Way.
Another Earth just twelve light years away?
Another Earth just twelve light years away?
Another Earth just twelve light years away?
The science team for Cassini has released a spectacular mosiac of Saturn and its rings, backlit by the Sun.
The science team for Cassini has released a spectacular mosiac of Saturn and its rings, backlit by the Sun.
The science team for Cassini has released a spectacular mosiac of Saturn and its rings, backlit by the Sun.