Dawn soars over Vesta in 3D
Dawn soars over Vesta in 3D.
Dawn soars over Vesta in 3D.
Tag: science
Dawn soars over Vesta in 3D
More budget battles in Europe over $16 billion fusion reactor project
The budget battles continue in Europe over funding a $16 billion fusion reactor project.
Now the three statutory bodies of the European Union have agreed to cobble together €360 million from anticipated unspent funds in the still-to-be-decided 2013 budget. Another €840 million will be found by shifting money from 2012 and 2013 budget lines for farm and fishing subsidies, rural development, and environment, into the ones covering research. The remaining €100 million had already been allocated to ITER in the 2012 budget.
Sounds to me as if this whole thing has feet of clay, and is going to fall apart long before completion.
The budget battles continue in Europe over funding a $16 billion fusion reactor project.
Now the three statutory bodies of the European Union have agreed to cobble together €360 million from anticipated unspent funds in the still-to-be-decided 2013 budget. Another €840 million will be found by shifting money from 2012 and 2013 budget lines for farm and fishing subsidies, rural development, and environment, into the ones covering research. The remaining €100 million had already been allocated to ITER in the 2012 budget.
Sounds to me as if this whole thing has feet of clay, and is going to fall apart long before completion.
Strange red galaxies
Diederik Stapel, the Dutch social psychologist who admitted to faking data in numerous published papers, has retracted his first paper
Diederik Stapel, the Dutch social psychologist who admitted to faking data in numerous published papers, has retracted the first paper of many, with more retractions sure to follow.
A day earlier, the Dutch university committees investigating Stapel issued a preliminary report that indicated that Stapel had fabricated or manipulated data in at least several dozen publications, but the report did not name specific papers (see Report finds massive fraud at Dutch universities).
The committees, at the universities of Amsterdam, Groningen and Tilburg where Stapel studied and worked between 1994 and 2011, plan to identify tainted papers in a final report that will not be completed until mid-2012 at the earliest, says Pim Levelt, head of the Tilburg committee and director emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Why can’t the climate field do this? It would help them recover the trust they have lost resulting from the obvious research frauds uncovered by the climategate emails.
Diederik Stapel, the Dutch social psychologist who admitted to faking data in numerous published papers, has retracted the first paper of many, with more retractions sure to follow.
A day earlier, the Dutch university committees investigating Stapel issued a preliminary report that indicated that Stapel had fabricated or manipulated data in at least several dozen publications, but the report did not name specific papers (see Report finds massive fraud at Dutch universities).
The committees, at the universities of Amsterdam, Groningen and Tilburg where Stapel studied and worked between 1994 and 2011, plan to identify tainted papers in a final report that will not be completed until mid-2012 at the earliest, says Pim Levelt, head of the Tilburg committee and director emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Why can’t the climate field do this? It would help them recover the trust they have lost resulting from the obvious research frauds uncovered by the climategate emails.
The meltdown at Fukushima in Japan came within a foot of breaching the reactor
The meltdown at Fukushima in Japan came within a foot of breaching the reactor.
In other words, the engineering worked.
The meltdown at Fukushima in Japan came within a foot of breaching the reactor.
In other words, the engineering worked.
New evidence suggests the Earth’s early atmosphere was not what scientists have up-to-now expected
The uncertainty of science: New evidence now suggests that the Earth’s early atmosphere was not the “methane-filled wasteland” theorized by scientists for decades, but instead much more like today’s oxygen-filled atmosphere.
The uncertainty of science: New evidence now suggests that the Earth’s early atmosphere was not the “methane-filled wasteland” theorized by scientists for decades, but instead much more like today’s oxygen-filled atmosphere.
The first observations of a star, just prior to going supernova
Astronomers have for the first time observed the changes that took place in a binary star system in the years before one star in the system erupted as a supernova.
In the first survey of its kind, the researchers have been scanning 25 nearby galaxies for stars that brighten and dim in unusual ways, in order to catch a few that are about to meet their end. In the three years since the study began, this particular unnamed binary system in the Whirlpool Galaxy was the first among the stars they’ve cataloged to produce a supernova.
The astronomers were trying to find out if there are patterns of brightening or dimming that herald the end of a star’s life. Instead, they saw one star in this binary system dim noticeably before the other one exploded in a supernova during the summer of 2011.
Key quote: “Our underlying goal is to look for any kind of signature behavior that will enable us to identify stars before they explode,”
The supernova in question, 2011dh, was the closest supernova in decades, occurring in June 2011 in the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). See my previous posts here and here.
Astronomers have for the first time observed the changes that took place in a binary star system in the years before one star in the system erupted as a supernova.
In the first survey of its kind, the researchers have been scanning 25 nearby galaxies for stars that brighten and dim in unusual ways, in order to catch a few that are about to meet their end. In the three years since the study began, this particular unnamed binary system in the Whirlpool Galaxy was the first among the stars they’ve cataloged to produce a supernova.
The astronomers were trying to find out if there are patterns of brightening or dimming that herald the end of a star’s life. Instead, they saw one star in this binary system dim noticeably before the other one exploded in a supernova during the summer of 2011.
Key quote: “Our underlying goal is to look for any kind of signature behavior that will enable us to identify stars before they explode,”
The supernova in question, 2011dh, was the closest supernova in decades, occurring in June 2011 in the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). See my previous posts here and here.
Weather, not climate
From Walter Russell Mead: Weather, not climate.
Those Via Meadia readers old enough to remember Hurricane Katrina can no doubt remember the many moralizing predictions of smug and condescending green climate hacktivists that followed: global warming was going to mean more hurricanes and bigger ones. Our coasts were toast; it was baked in the cake. The rising sea level combined with the inexorably rising number of major hurricanes were going to knock the climate skeptics out of the park.
Well, no. Andrew Revkin has called attention to this post from Roger Pielke’s blog which shows that as of today it has been 2,226 days since the last major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) hit the US mainland. Unless a big hurricane hits this winter, it means we are on track to break a 100 year record for the longest gap between major hurricanes hitting the coast. (The last Big Calm was between 1900 and 1906.) [emphasis mine]
From Walter Russell Mead: Weather, not climate.
Those Via Meadia readers old enough to remember Hurricane Katrina can no doubt remember the many moralizing predictions of smug and condescending green climate hacktivists that followed: global warming was going to mean more hurricanes and bigger ones. Our coasts were toast; it was baked in the cake. The rising sea level combined with the inexorably rising number of major hurricanes were going to knock the climate skeptics out of the park.
Well, no. Andrew Revkin has called attention to this post from Roger Pielke’s blog which shows that as of today it has been 2,226 days since the last major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) hit the US mainland. Unless a big hurricane hits this winter, it means we are on track to break a 100 year record for the longest gap between major hurricanes hitting the coast. (The last Big Calm was between 1900 and 1906.) [emphasis mine]
Canada has joined the United States in raising objections to a planned $100-billion a year climate fund
The gravy train is ending: Canada has joined the United States in raising objections to a planned $100-billion a year climate fund.
I like this quote describing the U.S.’s objections:
Heading into the United Nations climate conference in Durban this week, the United States has made it clear it will not support the current proposals for the climate fund over concerns about how the money would be raised, lack of verification of how it is spent, and an unwillingness of major emerging countries to commit to legally binding emissions reduction. [emphasis mine]
Other than these minor points, everything about the fund is above board and legitimate.
The gravy train is ending: Canada has joined the United States in raising objections to a planned $100-billion a year climate fund.
I like this quote describing the U.S.’s objections:
Heading into the United Nations climate conference in Durban this week, the United States has made it clear it will not support the current proposals for the climate fund over concerns about how the money would be raised, lack of verification of how it is spent, and an unwillingness of major emerging countries to commit to legally binding emissions reduction. [emphasis mine]
Other than these minor points, everything about the fund is above board and legitimate.
Nanosail-D has sailed home, burning up in the atmosphere on September 17
The solar sail Nanosail-D has sailed home, burning up in the atmosphere on September 17.
The flight phase of the mission successfully demonstrated a deorbit capability that could potentially be used to bring down decommissioned satellites and space debris by re-entering and totally burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere. The team continues to analyze the orbital data to determine how future satellites can use this new technology.
The concept being tested appears to use a solar sail as a navigating tool for guiding defunct satellites back into the atmosphere.
The solar sail Nanosail-D has sailed home, burning up in the atmosphere on September 17.
The flight phase of the mission successfully demonstrated a deorbit capability that could potentially be used to bring down decommissioned satellites and space debris by re-entering and totally burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere. The team continues to analyze the orbital data to determine how future satellites can use this new technology.
The concept being tested appears to use a solar sail as a navigating tool for guiding defunct satellites back into the atmosphere.
New discoveries at Stonehenge are suggesting the site is far older than previously believed
New discoveries at Stonehenge are suggesting the site is far older than previously believed.
New discoveries at Stonehenge are suggesting the site is far older than previously believed.
Outcry over possible cuts to the European Union’s science budget
Running out of other people’s money: Shortages in the European Union’s science budget is prompting proposed cuts, which in turn is sparking outrage.
Running out of other people’s money: Shortages in the European Union’s science budget is prompting proposed cuts, which in turn is sparking outrage.
The astronomical logbooks of David H. Levy, now online
For the amateur astronomer or historian: The astronomical logbooks of David H. Levy are now online.
For the amateur astronomer or historian: The astronomical logbooks of David H. Levy are now online.
Further analysis of the climategate 2 emails: Hiding the decline by Michael Mann
Further analysis of the climategate 2 emails: Michael Mann hides the decline.
Further analysis of the climategate 2 emails: Michael Mann hides the decline.
Why Climategate 2 is important: a close look at a full email thread, and how it tried to squelch knowledge
Why Climategate 2 is important: a close look at one entire email thread, and how it proves these global warming scientists were trying to suppress knowledge.
Why Climategate 2 is important: a close look at one entire email thread, and how it proves these global warming scientists were trying to suppress knowledge.
Scientists have figured out how to make the perfect foam
Scientists have figured out how to make the perfect foam.
Scientists have figured out how to make the perfect foam.
Shilling for climate cash
The international development agency Oxfam is screaming disaster..
This year’s food shortages and famine are a sign of what’s to come if the world doesn’t get climate change under control, Oxfam is warning. The international development agency made a call for action the day before the UN kicks off its annual climate change conference in Durban, South Africa. . . .
» Read more
A searchable database of the climategate emails
I had just posted, as a comment, a link to a searchable database of the climategate emails, including both the 2009 as well as the just released emails. However, I think it makes sense to post this separately, on the main page of Behind the Black, to make sure all my readers will see it and thus have access to it. The link is here.
I had just posted, as a comment, a link to a searchable database of the climategate emails, including both the 2009 as well as the just released emails. However, I think it makes sense to post this separately, on the main page of Behind the Black, to make sure all my readers will see it and thus have access to it. The link is here.
‘Jet Man’ Flies In Formation Over Swiss Alps
‘Jet Man’ Yves Rossy flew his custom-built jet suit over the Swiss Alps in formation with two aircraft this week. Video here.
‘Jet Man’ Yves Rossy flew his custom-built jet suit over the Swiss Alps in formation with two aircraft this week. Video here.
Obama nixes UN $100 billion climate fund
The gravy train might finally be ending: The Obama administration is blocking a UN $100 billion climate fund.
The gravy train might finally be ending: The Obama administration is blocking a UN $100 billion climate fund.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev raised the prospect of criminal prosecution for recent space failures
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has raised the idea of criminal prosecution for those responsible for his country’s recent space failures.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has raised the idea of criminal prosecution for those responsible for his country’s recent space failures.
Curiousity has launched
Curiousity has successfully launched. More updates here.
Curiousity has successfully launched. More updates here.
Now the European carbon market is crashing
Now the European carbon-trading market is crashing.
Now the European carbon-trading market is crashing.
The ozone hole, in context
The ozone hole, today, recently, and in context over the past three decades.
Note that this data shows the ozone hole over Antarctica. There has never been a very significant ozone hole over the North Pole.
The ozone hole, today, recently, and in context over the past three decades.
Note that this data shows the ozone hole over Antarctica. There has never been a very significant ozone hole over the North Pole.
“Perpetuating rubbish”: a detailed analysis of one part of the new climategate emails
“Perpetuating rubbish”: a detailed analysis of one part of the new climategate emails.
I think the first comment sums up the tragedy of this situation very clearly:
So privately they said the series had a “dubious relationship to temperature”, but publicly they said it was “well calibrated”? I am just about to the point of never trusting any scientists at all.
The willingness of the climate field to whitewash the fraud and corruption revealed by the first set of climategate emails is now haunting this field badly. Why should anyone believe anything any global warming scientist ever says? It is very clear that too many of them put politics above science in their work.
“Perpetuating rubbish”: a detailed analysis of one part of the new climategate emails.
I think the first comment sums up the tragedy of this situation very clearly:
So privately they said the series had a “dubious relationship to temperature”, but publicly they said it was “well calibrated”? I am just about to the point of never trusting any scientists at all.
The willingness of the climate field to whitewash the fraud and corruption revealed by the first set of climategate emails is now haunting this field badly. Why should anyone believe anything any global warming scientist ever says? It is very clear that too many of them put politics above science in their work.
Einstein explains E=mc²
New data suggests the global climate is not as sensitive to changes in carbon dioxide as predicted by past climate models
The uncertainty of science: New data suggests the global climate is not as sensitive to changes in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as predicted by past climate models.
The uncertainty of science: New data suggests the global climate is not as sensitive to changes in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as predicted by past climate models.
Another carbon trading scheme is failing, this time in Alberta Canada
Another carbon trading scheme is failing, this time in Alberta Canada.
Another carbon trading scheme is failing, this time in Alberta Canada.
A very compelling case for life
One scientist’s perspective on the new Climategate emails
One scientist’s perspective on the new Climategate emails.
Long time readers will recall that in 2004 and 2005 (before Katrina), I led an interdisciplinary effort to review the literature on hurricanes and global warming. The effort resulted in a peer-reviewed article in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. That paper, despite being peer-reviewed and standing the test of time (as we now know), was ignored by the relevant part of the IPCC 2007 that dealt with extreme events. Thanks to the newly released emails from UEA [University of East Anglia] (hacked, stolen, donated, or whatever) we can say with certainty why that paper was excluded from the IPCC 2007 report Chapter 3 which discussed hurricanes and climate change. Those various reviews associated with the release of the UEA emails that concluded that no papers were purposely kept out of the IPCC may want to revisit that particular conclusion.
Read the whole thing. It is worth it to get a real sense about how petty and political the IPCC process is. It has little to do with science, and everything to do with forcing a conclusion down everyone’s throat.
One scientist’s perspective on the new Climategate emails.
Long time readers will recall that in 2004 and 2005 (before Katrina), I led an interdisciplinary effort to review the literature on hurricanes and global warming. The effort resulted in a peer-reviewed article in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. That paper, despite being peer-reviewed and standing the test of time (as we now know), was ignored by the relevant part of the IPCC 2007 that dealt with extreme events. Thanks to the newly released emails from UEA [University of East Anglia] (hacked, stolen, donated, or whatever) we can say with certainty why that paper was excluded from the IPCC 2007 report Chapter 3 which discussed hurricanes and climate change. Those various reviews associated with the release of the UEA emails that concluded that no papers were purposely kept out of the IPCC may want to revisit that particular conclusion.
Read the whole thing. It is worth it to get a real sense about how petty and political the IPCC process is. It has little to do with science, and everything to do with forcing a conclusion down everyone’s throat.