Tag: science
Seeing the Planets for the Trees
A storm ten times bigger than Earth
New data provides further confirmation of dark energy
New data provides further confirmation of the existence of dark energy.
New data provides further confirmation of the existence of dark energy.
NOAA predicts an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season
NOAA today announced its prediction for 2011, calling for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season.
NOAA today announced its prediction for 2011, calling for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season.
Archaeologists uncover oldest mine in the Americas
Archaeologists have uncovered the oldest evidence of organized mining in the Americas.
Archaeologists have uncovered the oldest evidence of organized mining in the Americas.
A 135-year-old scab launches a smallpox scare at a Virginia museum
A 135-year-old scab launches a smallpox scare at a Virginia museum.
A 135-year-old scab launches a smallpox scare at a Virginia museum.
Using a black hole as your starship engine
Testing beer in zero gravity
Video and images from the zero gravity beer test Plus some results!
Video and images from the zero gravity beer test Plus some results!
Astronomers, Kepler, and SETI@home team up to find exoplanets
Astronomers, Kepler, and SETI@home team up to find exoplanets.
Astronomers, Kepler, and SETI@home team up to find exoplanets.
Is Gliese 581d habitable? Maybe
Is the extrasolar planet Gliese 581d habitable? Maybe.
Is the extrasolar planet Gliese 581d habitable? Maybe.
Private citizen commits $25 million for Giant Magellan Telescope
Private citizen has just donated $25 million for the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope.
This is how it used to be done all the time: All the early giant telescopes built in the United States before World War II were financed by individuals or private foundations, with no or little government investment.
Private citizen has just donated $25 million for the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope.
This is how it used to be done all the time: All the early giant telescopes built in the United States before World War II were financed by individuals or private foundations, with no or little government investment.
Replacements for 100 watt incandescent bulbs cost $50 each
The proposed green replacements for the banned 100 watt incandescent bulbs, LEDs, cost $50 each.
The proposed green replacements for the banned 100 watt incandescent bulbs, LEDs, cost $50 each.
How The Year 2000 Was Envisioned in 1910
AIDS cured?
Former “alarmist” scientist says human-caused global warming is based on false science
Former “alarmist” scientist says human-caused global warming is based on false science.
Former “alarmist” scientist says human-caused global warming is based on false science.
The strange egg-shaped dwarf planet Haumea is apparently also covered with ice
Truly alien: The strange egg-shaped dwarf planet Haumea is apparently also covered with crystallised ice.
“Since solar radiation constantly destroys the crystalline structure of ice on the surface, energy sources are required to keep it organized. The two that we have taken into consideration are that able to generate radiogenic elements (potassium-40, thorium-232 and uranium-238) from the inside, and the tidal forces between Haumea and its satellites,” [explained] Benoit Carry, co-author of the study and a researcher at the ESAC Centre of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Madrid (Spain).
Truly alien: The strange egg-shaped dwarf planet Haumea is apparently also covered with crystallised ice.
“Since solar radiation constantly destroys the crystalline structure of ice on the surface, energy sources are required to keep it organized. The two that we have taken into consideration are that able to generate radiogenic elements (potassium-40, thorium-232 and uranium-238) from the inside, and the tidal forces between Haumea and its satellites,” [explained] Benoit Carry, co-author of the study and a researcher at the ESAC Centre of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Madrid (Spain).
Climate scientist banned from Saudi Arabia for showing picture of dog with Saudi dress
Climate science meets Islam! A climate scientist was immediately banned from Saudi Arabia when he showed a picture of dog with Saudi dress during a lecture there.
Climate science meets Islam! A climate scientist was immediately banned from Saudi Arabia when he showed a picture of dog with Saudi dress during a lecture there.
The science remains uncertain
Two papers published this week by the American Geophysical Union once again indicate that the science of climate change remains exceedingly uncertain. More significantly, the models that try to predict the future of the Earth’s climate continue to appear unreliable, with such large margins of error that it is at this time foolish to make any policy based on their predictions.
The first paper took a close look at the deep water currents in the Atlantic to see if it could track changes to what the authors’ call the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), more generally referred to as the Atlantic conveyor belt. This conveyor belt begins with the sinking of salty dense water in the northeast Atlantic off of Europe and Africa. The deep water current then travels south and into the Indian and Pacific Oceans where it comes to the surface only to flow back to the Atlantic, traveling north along the coast of North America as the Gulf Stream, bringing with it the warm temperatures that make Europe’s climate much warmer than its latitude would normally suggest.
According to most global warming models, higher temperatures should cause the glaciers in the Arctic and Greenland to melt, thereby pouring an increased amount of fresh water into the North Atlantic. This infusion of fresh water is then expected to lower the salinity and density of the Atlantic water, thus preventing it from sinking and thus acting to slow the conveyor belt, and possibly even causing it to shut down. The consequence would be no more Gulf Stream to warm the climate of Europe.
In other words: Disaster! Death! Destruction! All caused by global warming!
Unfortunately for these global warming models, the paper above found no trend at all. The conveyor belt is not slowing, as predicted. To quote the paper’s abstract:
» Read more
The Crab Nebula erupts with flares six days
In mid-April the Crab Nebula erupted for six days, repeatedly emitting the most powerful flares ever recorded from the supernova remnant.
Scientists think the flares occur as the intense magnetic field near the pulsar undergoes sudden restructuring. Such changes can accelerate particles like electrons to velocities near the speed of light. As these high-speed electrons interact with the magnetic field, they emit gamma rays.
To account for the observed emission, scientists say the electrons must have energies 100 times greater than can be achieved in any particle accelerator on Earth. This makes them the highest-energy electrons known to be associated with any galactic source. Based on the rise and fall of gamma rays during the April outbursts, scientists estimate that the size of the emitting region must be comparable in size to the solar system.
In mid-April the Crab Nebula erupted for six days, repeatedly emitting the most powerful flares ever recorded from the supernova remnant.
Scientists think the flares occur as the intense magnetic field near the pulsar undergoes sudden restructuring. Such changes can accelerate particles like electrons to velocities near the speed of light. As these high-speed electrons interact with the magnetic field, they emit gamma rays.
To account for the observed emission, scientists say the electrons must have energies 100 times greater than can be achieved in any particle accelerator on Earth. This makes them the highest-energy electrons known to be associated with any galactic source. Based on the rise and fall of gamma rays during the April outbursts, scientists estimate that the size of the emitting region must be comparable in size to the solar system.
Vesuvius: Europe’s ticking volcano time bomb
Vesuvius: Europe’s ticking volcano time bomb.
Vesuvius: Europe’s ticking volcano time bomb.
Nine Androids You Can Actually Own
Did a fungal infection kill forty percent of the world’s amphibians?
Did a fungal infection kill forty percent of the world’s amphibians?
The above article outlines an intriguing solution to this mysterious die-off. Sadly, the article also makes a silly effort to link everything to climate change, without justification. Pay attention to the former and ignore the latter.
Did a fungal infection kill forty percent of the world’s amphibians?
The above article outlines an intriguing solution to this mysterious die-off. Sadly, the article also makes a silly effort to link everything to climate change, without justification. Pay attention to the former and ignore the latter.
We don’t know.
After 100 orbits, an overview of Messenger’s survey of Mercury
After 100 orbits, an overview of Messenger’s survey of Mercury.
After 100 orbits, an overview of Messenger’s survey of Mercury.
Stardust’s images show that Deep Impact burst underground bubbles on Comet Tempel 1
Pop! Analysis of the images that Stardust took of Comet Tempel 1 strongly suggest that when Deep Impact hit the comet’s surface it broke open several underground cavities that then burst like balloons.
Pop! Analysis of the images that Stardust took of Comet Tempel 1 strongly suggest that when Deep Impact hit the comet’s surface it broke open several underground cavities that then burst like balloons.
Data leaks from particle hunters raise questions about controlling scientific secrecy
Recent data leaks from particle hunters is now raising questions among physicists about the question of controlling scientific secrecy. To me, the most significant quote from the article was this:
“Should leakers or bloggers be punished for making early findings public?
That this question is even asked by someone in the science field is disturbing. Though the leaks might be annoying and counter to the agreements the scientists signed when they joined these various projects, I wonder how the author expects such punishment to be administrated. And who would do it? And should such punishment apply to everyone, or just to the participating scientists?
Recent data leaks from particle hunters is now raising questions among physicists about the question of controlling scientific secrecy. To me, the most significant quote from the article was this:
“Should leakers or bloggers be punished for making early findings public?
That this question is even asked by someone in the science field is disturbing. Though the leaks might be annoying and counter to the agreements the scientists signed when they joined these various projects, I wonder how the author expects such punishment to be administrated. And who would do it? And should such punishment apply to everyone, or just to the participating scientists?
Path of destruction
Since 2003, the sea level ceased rising
An inconvenient truth: New data now shows that since 2003, the rate of sea level rise has stablized, and since 2007, the rate of increase has actually slowed.
An inconvenient truth: New data now shows that since 2003, the rate of sea level rise has stablized, and since 2007, the rate of increase has actually slowed.