"Murphy was an optimist!"
And it streaked across the sky… February 22, 2007 2:45 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Science, SpaceLast night Tommy and I had a great pleasure. We saw a shooting star and this wasn’t one of those tiny thin lines way up in the sky. This was a streaking fireball that at first I thought it to be a low flying helicopter as the light seemed to just appear but then it grew brighter and formed a tail then burned in a green ball. It was wicked!
I have seen tiny shooting stars before but this is only the second time in my life I have seen one so close. The first time I was lying on the ground by a bonfire in south Knoxville and a smoky rock streaked from horizon to horizon so low that it seemed like I could have thrown something at it. I swear I could distinguish pockmarks as it flew overhead. Tonight’s was different and very cool.
This happened a few minutes before 9pm EST (2am UTC). Anyone else see it?
4commentsWhy do we need a moonbase? December 9, 2006 10:29 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Conspiracy, Science, Space, Technology, Touchy SubjectsNasa claims we need a moonbase to launch missions to Mars. This makes sense and would be a good staging place to initiate long range space travel. The tourist possibilities are great also.
Slate says we do not have a need for a moonbase and are going to build it then decide what to do with it.
Coming under a presidency whose slogan might be “No Price Too High To Accomplish Nothing,” the idea of a permanent, crewed moon base nevertheless takes the cake for preposterousness. [Source]
Frankly I think the real reason for the moonbase is military. No one will say that because the public would cry foul. With China planning to orbit the moon…er, in 2006 and India planning on landing on the moon by 2020, it becomes self-evident that one of the countries is going to lay a claim to the moon. Whichever country establishes a base on the moon first will control the moon because nothing else will be able to be built on the moon after that without the first country’s consent. Just imagine you have built a base on the moon, learned your lessons about decompression, managing gravity, fueling, supplying and so forth. You have a presence and a small contingent of armed soldiers. Now someone else tries to build a base from scratch. They could not possibly defend their efforts from a well trained group of soldiers intent on demolition and learn the lessons to successfully build their base. Also, current military based satellites can easily be disabled or destroyed. A moonbase would be more difficult to attack and would make a far more stable launching platform for earthbound missiles.
In 1968, Stanley Kubrick had the right vision for a moonbase.
4commentsWatch me jump over this cliff! December 5, 2006 4:09 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Science, TechnologyI’m thinking rednecks with no gravity. "Hey Jed! My foot fits inside this footprint!"
add a commentWalkin on water – this I gotta try! November 14, 2006 12:22 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Publishing, Science, Technology, VideoI think the scouts would have a blast with this but it is probably more appropriate for a frat party.
Thanks goes to Make for pointing out this great video on non-newtonian fluid.
2commentsBeep beep..around the earth it goes.. October 31, 2006 9:55 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Of Interest, Science, TechnologyThis satellite tracking program gives the impression that we have so much junk floating around the earth that it is amazing we can launch a shuttle or rocket without knocking something down.
add a commentIt’s alive! October 1, 2006 10:15 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Science, TechnologyBlood vessels and soft tissue discovered within fossil of 70 million year old t-rex. John Hammond jumping for joy. Starving student anthropologists on site said, "taste like chicken."
add a commentCool! Astronomer gets picture of shuttle leaving ISS September 19, 2006 1:31 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Cool Sites, Of Interest, ScienceFantast picture! Serendipitous Reflections has instructions on where to look. It appears he also caught a satellite at 2 oclock.
1 comment so farWhy space is good August 21, 2006 8:00 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Cool Sites, Of Interest, ScienceCheck out the pretty colors!
add a commentIn Space August 16, 2006 8:55 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Science, TechnologyMoon Crashes and distant places.
add a commentOur changing universe, er..galaxy August 16, 2006 7:36 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Science, Technology, Touchy SubjectsLiving on the head of a pin August 15, 2006 4:24 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Science, TechnologySee! Our whole universe is inside someone’s head!
add a commentCan a ripoff machine teach the children? July 28, 2006 1:18 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Cool Sites, Gadgets, Of Interest, Science, Technology, VideoEvery time we see one of those claw games the children jump and down begging to play. I disappoint them explaining that they can’t win. Maybe I am wrong. And maybe they can win in multiple ways. Apparently, they can learn patience, and some science skills as well as a prize.
2commentsIt’s because our a/c is broken June 22, 2006 3:53 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Politics, Religion / Spirituality, Science, Technology, Touchy Subjects, United StatesCNN reports: Study: Earth ‘likely’ hottest in 2,000 years
The National Academy of Sciences, reaching that conclusion in a broad review of scientific work requested by Congress, reported Thursday that the “recent warmth is unprecedented for at least the last 400 years and potentially the last several millennia.”
A panel of top climate scientists told lawmakers that the Earth is heating up and that “human activities are responsible for much of the recent warming.”
This is Bush’s fault!
Other new research Thursday showed that global warming produced about half of the extra hurricane-fueled warmth in the North Atlantic in 2005, and natural cycles were a minor factor
Or maybe Jesus’…Because, it was cool when he was around.
The Bush administration has maintained that the threat is not severe enough to warrant new pollution controls…
Yes! It’s Bush’s fault!
The National Academy of Sciences is a private organization chartered by Congress to advise the government of scientific matters.
Ok then…it’s Jesus’ fault.
3commentsExercise + Food = Strong Mind March 8, 2006 8:04 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Of Interest, ScienceBoingBoing points to another study showing exercise and proper eating being very beneficial to our brains. This complements the information in Make Smarter Children.
add a commentDIY Satellites February 16, 2006 8:11 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Gadgets, Science, TechnologyCool! Now anyone can put junk into orbit!
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