Kepler data now available for anyone to study
Want to discover an exoplanet? A portion of the data being gathered by Kepler is now available online for anyone to peruse.
Tag: science
Scientist makes the first measurements of the magnetic field at the Earth’s core
A scientist has made the first measurements of the strength at the Earth’s core of its magnetic field. What’s most fascinating is that he used the Moon and distant quasars to do it! First he used radio observations of the quasars to get very precise measurements of the Earth’s rotation axis and how the Moon was tugging at that axis and thus affecting its magnetic field. Then,
By calculating the effect of the moon on the spinning inner core, Buffett discovered that the precession makes the slightly out-of-round inner core generate shear waves in the liquid outer core. These waves of molten iron and nickel move within a tight cone only 30 to 40 meters thick, interacting with the magnetic field to produce an electric current that heats the liquid. This serves to damp the precession of the rotation axis. The damping causes the precession to lag behind the moon as it orbits the earth. A measurement of the lag allowed Buffett to calculate the magnitude of the damping and thus of the magnetic field inside the outer core.
EPA Document Shows It Knowingly Allowed Pesticide That Kills Honey Bees
Want to know what’s been killing our honeybees? It appears the EPA has known all along and looked the other way: A leaked EPA document shows that it knowingly allowed use a pesticide, despite warnings from its own scientists that it would kill honeybees.
Amino acids found on meteorite that crashed in the Sudan
Dead alien life arrives on Earth! Not really but still exciting anyway: Scientists have found the remains of space-born amino acids — essential to life — in the meteorite that crashed in the Sudan in 2008. Key quote:
“This meteorite formed when two asteroids collided,” said Daniel Glavin of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. “The shock of the collision heated it to more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit [1,093 degrees Celsius], hot enough that all complex organic molecules like amino acids should have been destroyed, but we found them anyway.”
The discovery is further evidence that the basic elements of life can form in even the most hostile of environments.
Air Force agrees to Share data on the Meteorites its surveillance satellites detect
The Air Force has agreed to share the meteorite data its surveillance satellites detect.
Though the article above makes it sound like this data includes a lot of Earth-destroying asteriods, almost all of these detections are of smaller rocks burning up in the atmosphere, information researchers need to produce a more complete census of the solar system.
Kepler glitch stops science observations for 13 hours
A software glitch prevented Kepler from making science observations for 13 hours this week.
Cyclone lasting more than 5 years is detected on Saturn
A cyclone on Saturn has now lasted more than five years, since scientists started tracking it closely in 2004 with the arrival of Cassini in orbit around Saturn.
First inspection of Hayabusa’s inner chamber reveals no asteroid particles
The first inspection of Hayabusa’s inner chamber revealed no visible asteroid particles. A microscopic search will follow however, as was done for the outer chamber, where 1500 asteroid particles were found.
Cassini Spots Potential Ice Volcano on Saturn Moon
Scientists have used data from Cassini to identify what they think are ice volcanoes on Titan. The two volcanoes, each about 3000 feet high, are located near the equator and appear to resemble the volcanoes on Earth, with a central crater on top of cone-like peak and finger-like flows coming down the sides from the crater. The lava here, however, is not molten rock, but water.
Study shows post-9/11 security zones blight landscape
Science discovers the obvious! Researchers at the University of Colorado have found that the post-9/11 security efforts — such as the TSA — do little to increase security and much to turn society into a police state.
Earthquake swarm in Arkansas puzzles scientists
Why Arkansas? Since September 20, the small town of Guy, Arkansa, has experienced a swarm of 487 measurable earthquakes.
Global Eruption Rocks the Sun
Archaeologists find 2,400 year-old bowl of soup in China
Archaeologists have found a 2,400 year-old bowl of soup in China. Key quote:
The liquid and bones in the vessel had turned green due to the oxidation of the bronze, it said. Scientists were expected to conduct further tests to confirm the liquid was indeed soup and to identify the ingredients.
NASA Picks New Chief Scientist
Today’s announcement by the Obama administration of their choice for NASA’s new chief scientist, Waleed Abdalati, reveals once again how much climate research guides their thinking, not space exploration. Key quote:
His research has focused on the study of polar ice cover using satellite and airborne instruments. He has led or participated in nine field and airborne campaigns in the Arctic and the Antarctic.
This is not a criticism of Dr. Abdalati. His research interests, however, make very clear where the Obama administration really wants NASA to look: down at the Earth instead of up beyond Earth orbit.
8 Observations From The Cancun Climate Conference
Eight observations from the Cancun climate conference. I like this quote the best:
“The enterprise is pompously and risibly dedicated in equal parts to wealth redistribution and self-perpetuation, as a platform for, and along the way, engaging in visceral anti-Americanism.”
Read the whole thing. Very entertaining, in a depressing sort of way.
the violent origin of Saturn’s rings
Scientists have created a computer simulation describing the violent origin of Saturn’s rings, with moons being stripped of their ice as they death spiral into Saturn.
Note that this is only a theory, illustrated by a computer model. Though it is fascinating however!
Recent volcanism on Venus
In a paper published today in Geophysical Research Letters, scientists think they have detected evidence of volcanic activity on Venus that took place sometime in the past two decades.
Caterpillars Can Whistle
Venus Has a Moon?
Venus has a Moon?
Cancun blog
Want to follow the Cancun climate summit come to an end, for good or ill, on this its final day? Check out this blog.