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The True Science of Parallel Universes
Sep. 14th, 2015 07:56 amAmazing video from MinutePhysics - it at least simplifies a very complex subject (well, at least get a general idea of 'branes', and 'string theory' before you start).
Amazing video from MinutePhysics - it at least simplifies a very complex subject (well, at least get a general idea of 'branes', and 'string theory' before you start).
Space Duck - Organic Molecules Detected
Nov. 21st, 2014 12:19 am
The Philae lander has detected organic molecules on the surface of its comet, scientists have confirmed.
Carbon-containing "organics" are the basis of life on Earth and may give clues to chemical ingredients delivered to our planet early in its history.
The compounds were picked up by a German-built instrument designed to "sniff" the comet's thin atmosphere.
Other analyses suggest the comet's surface is largely water-ice covered with a thin dust layer.
Click on this link or photo for full story
First Picture From The Space Duck
Nov. 14th, 2014 04:24 pm
Oh Noes!!! What has happened to the Philae Lander? It has fallen short of its landing target by 1km and it's battery power is compromised, due to the fact that it is shaded by a high ridge. It is trying to bore holes into the space duck and take samples to its onboard before everything fails. More details here
Here is the very first picture - Major Clanger is hoping everything is back in control or there will be no soup tonight!
Intelligent Design?
Sep. 2nd, 2014 08:03 amI just love these images. On the left, you have the brain cell, which is has three neurons and their connections to one another; the other is a snap shot of our present-day universe with its own yellow galaxies and surrounded by "stars and dark matter" (Source: http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/ - Accessed 02/09/14). There have been suggestions about the universe being a giant brain for years, mostly in far-fetched sci-fi novels, but it appears that scientists are warming to this idea.
Computer simulation has shown that the universe "may grow like a giant brain" and that "previously undiscovered fundamental laws govern systems both large and small, from the growth of brains [...] to the expansion of galaxies" (Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/ - Accessed 02/09/14). Now, none of this is new - the data has been available for at least two years, but I think it is something that Dawkins and his crew should stop short and chew on. It could be a contributory factor to the possibility of 'Intelligent Design,' rather than just 'Natural Selection.' It is not concrete proof, but it does have fascinating possibilities.
Links
http://pickover.com/
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/49971212/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.VATn98VdWSp
Computer simulation has shown that the universe "may grow like a giant brain" and that "previously undiscovered fundamental laws govern systems both large and small, from the growth of brains [...] to the expansion of galaxies" (Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/ - Accessed 02/09/14). Now, none of this is new - the data has been available for at least two years, but I think it is something that Dawkins and his crew should stop short and chew on. It could be a contributory factor to the possibility of 'Intelligent Design,' rather than just 'Natural Selection.' It is not concrete proof, but it does have fascinating possibilities.
Links
http://pickover.com/
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/49971212/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.VATn98VdWSp
What the Duck?
Aug. 6th, 2014 08:17 am
(Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk - Accessed 06/08/14)
The Rosetta probe and Comet 67P are back in the news. The probe is set to rendezvous within 100km (62 miles) of the comet around about Wednesday and will perform a triangular movement around the object, whilst it is hurtling through space at a nifty 55.000km per hour (34,000 mph). It will collect information, before jettisoning a fridge-sized lander named Philae, thus heralding scientists at the European Space Agency (ESA) as "the sexiest, most fantastic mission possible" (Source -http://www.bbc.co.uk/ - Accessed 06/08/14).
Sorry ESA - whereas I see all of the metaphors lined up to give the 'excitable' attributes, it is clearly the wrong adjective. I am all for finding out the building blocks of life etc, but let's face it - it is a giant techno dragonfly trying to mount a space duck. Fascinating it is - sexy it is not. Or is that how technerds get their rocks off - by harpooning a comet?
I can hear the Gunther Ding Dong Song song as I type...
Full Duck and video ------------------------------------> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28659783
Is it just me, or is this a VERY random set of passengers on a Russian FOTON-M4 satellite? According to Russian officials, the satellite has currently "stopped responding to ground control" (Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk - Accessed 26/07/14) and could come hurtling back down to terrafirma. They confirm that the six tonne satellite "could stay in space for as long as 12 months" but what is more worrying is that the spokesman currently observing the situation us from Russia's "Institute of Medico-Biological Problems" (Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk - Accessed 26/07/14). The experiment was to record the sex life of geckos and the biological studies of plant seeds etc.
Like WTF?? Seen from two different directions, this can be seen as worrying or comical: worrying to think that this is gonna come back down pretty fast and pretty soon on a totally random place, killing life on the ground and on board, or (my personal favourite) that somehow the geckos have overthrown their captors and are gunning the satellite towards another planet vis-a-vis Star Trek.
Full story - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28490744
The Reincarnation of the Space Duck
Jul. 21st, 2014 08:19 am
(Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk - Accessed 21/07/14)
Missing -
This little yellow beauty has escaped its moorings and has been swept away by torrential rain. According to the Chinese press, the 59ft sculpture, which has gained popularity by popping up in places such as "Sydney and Sao Paolo," broke free of its "10 tonne metal platform [after being] dislodged by the storm" (Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk - Accessed 21/07/14). It has seemingly disappeared without trace; it is likely it has deflated once again - allegedly, it "exploded [whilst] on display at Taiwan" a few months ago (Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk - Accessed 21/07/14).
Ironically, the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko contact binary that I commented on a few days ago, has mysteriously changed from its duel-edged 'spud-in-space' form, to that of a giant 'space duck'. Are they one and the same thing?
( Rosetta Space Duck )
Full Rubber Duck Story ---------------------> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-28364613
Full Comet Story -----------------------------> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28351234
Another Comet Cometh
Jul. 17th, 2014 11:32 am
(Source - http://news.softpedia.com/ - Accessed 17/07/14)
There is a comet the size of an ice mountain hurtling through space. Originally thought to be peanut-shaped, the lyrically-named 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has now been identified as a “contact binary” (Source – Accessed 17/07/14), a possible combination of two different parts( Comet under cut )
The Rosetta probe will be firing up its thrusters sometime in early August and will hope to be riding on the 'ice bronco' (calculated to be about 4km wide) around early November. The mission is to "return some remarkable insights on the behaviour and chemical make-up of its ice quarry" (Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27517090 - Accessed 17/07/14).
Full story and past articles ---------------> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27110882
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Interesting news this week, where astronomers have found new isotopic evidence to support that the moon is the result of a collision between the Earth and another Mars-like planet Theia. Measurements of oxygen, titanium and sillicon, amongst others has been the center of interest. Charles Darwin had already concluded that the moon was just an off-cut from our planet, however, further scientists had formed a theory that actually it had been in collision with another planetary body (possibly the last one of many whilst the planet was created 4.5 billion years ago), rather than being created by centrifugal force.
( Full Story Under Cut )
Nothing can be conclusively proved as yet, but is more likely than not. The Independent had claimed that 70-90% of the moon is likely to be comprised of Theia.
Links
Original news article with video ---------------> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27688511
Science Daily -------------------------------------> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140605141503.htm
A Moon Called Peggy and Earth 2.0
Apr. 22nd, 2014 09:21 am
Hot news from the heavens this past week - the Cassini spacecraft has witnessed the birth of a new Saturn offspring. It is the proud parent of tiny ice moon, named 'Peggy' and is measured as being half a mile across. If it thrives, it will be one of Saturn's 63 known moons, but is at risk of cannoning off its older sisters and turning into a giant lunar slushpuppy. Still, it is an interesting event and the full extent of Peggy's fate will not be known til 2016.
Full story - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27056698
Another piece of starlight news, is that another possible 'Goldilocks' planet has turned up on the radar - the not-so-catchy Kepler 186f (or 'Earth 2.0', as one wag astronomer joked. How we laughed o_O). It is rumoured to be rocky,10% bigger than Earth and has the capacity to hold water, potentially to sustain life. It doesn't appear that we can visit it anytime soon, because it is 500 light years away, but at least for now it can stay out of
Anyway, success is due to the Kepler Scope, which has been responsible for nearly 1,000 new planet discoveries.
Full Story - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27054366
