WORMHOLES
Reason #145 I want to go to MIT
An MIT team has designed a sleek spacesuit that relies on mechanical counter-pressure instead of using gas pressurization.
A bold new book tackles the ultimate thought experiment: what if there were no humans left?
Walter Haut, the now-deceased former PR representative at the Roswell Air Force base, issued an affadavit to be opened after his death, the text of which has just been released. It concludes: "I am convinced that what I personally observed was some kind of craft and its crew from outer space".
"We're kind of a big deal"
Giant Penguins Once Roamed the Earth
Researchers report in this week's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that they have found remains of two types of penguin in Peru that date to 40 million years ago. One of them was a 5-foot giant with a long sharp beak.
The Robotarium X in Jardim Central, Portugal, is the first zoo for artificial life. It houses a revolving cast of creatures powered by photovoltaic energy. Unlike with a real zoo, the Robotarium is the ideal environment for its residents, with plenty of sun, smoothness, tranquility and attention. There are no fights or aggression and the only competition is to assure a place under the sunlight.
Lake Dissapears in Central Chile
One casual theory is that an earthquake opened up a fissure in the ground, allowing the lake's water to drain through.
Bacteria Could Help Steady Buildings
Soil bacteria could be used to help steady buildings against earthquakes, according to researchers at UC Davis. The microbes can literally convert loose, sandy soil into rock. And men TO STONE!
I never thought such a thing was possible. Thanks N. Gitomer for the enlightening link.
Check out this joker's spacecraft
As private companies rush to the space travel industry's big bucks, we begin to enounter shitty spaceship design. Thanks Rosten Woo for the link.
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Pluto's OK, We're OK
Archived From August 20, 2006
A lot of people, sweetly, have been asking for the Universe(TM) perspective on this "new planets" issue. I've written about itonce before, of course, around the time that the latest new planet discovery really brought the question out into the astronomical limelight. This is, however, a long-standing issue.
For those of you who aren't abreast on this development: the increasingly frequent discovery of astronomical objects larger than Pluto (most of which reside in a belt of icy rocks outside Neptune called the Kuiper Belt) has put into serious question the status of Pluto as a planet. The International Astronomical Union, which convenes regularly to discuss nerd space issues, has, in the midst of its 26th General Assembly, proposed a new definition of the word "planet" which would open up the 9-buddy system to a whole new crew of planets. The new definition is as follows:
A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet.
Immediately, this would mean that Pluto's "moon," Charon, would be granted planet status, establishing the pair as the first ever (nominal) double-planet system. The asteroid Ceres and something called UB313 will also join the ranks if this new definition, slated for the General Assembly's vote on the 24th, is approved. Although most astronomers are relieved by this definition, it's probably going rattle everyone a whole lot.
I am, of course, thrilled. Why?
A) A non-governmental, autonomous body of brilliant astronomers convening in one place to discuss and vote on the issue of planets seems to be both kind of "old world" and very progressive.
B) The Solar System -- which has long been just that, a system -- is purely a symbolic entity designed to give us humans a feeling of mastery over the alienating cosmos. It's about time we grew up and dealt with how horrible and huge the universe is. It's totally scary not have the "old boys club" of nine planets around anymore, but it's also exciting. Dr. Stern, of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, pointed in a recent NY Times article on the subject that "nature is much richer than our imagination. Life is tough, life is complicated. Get over it."
C) People have always thought of the planets as being somehow separate from Earth, something that I find maddening. Perhaps with this widening of planetary standards we will come to realize our place within the definition. The stars in our night sky are just other suns with other planets around them -- from the point of view of rocks light years away, our sun is just a star. I know everyone knows this, but really: think about it.
D) What an epic time for astrology.
<< | Posted on August 20, 2006 at 1:34 PM | >>
Comments (2):
I'm just choked that my first grade model of the solar system was for naught.
Posted by dalas v @ August 21, 2006 12:12 AM
all's I know is, when UB313 is ascendant with Mercury in retrograde, MY shit is going to hit the FAN.
Posted by ritchey @ August 20, 2006 5:12 PM