When I first launched this blog a couple of years ago, I began by compiling daily science/tech/future/space/medical news and summarizing them here. Then I discovered that there were other blogs that were doing the same thing, often better. So I shifted the focus of this blog to have fewer, higher-quality (in my mind) posts of original, often educational, content.
But over the past several months, a couple of the blogs that were aggregating the latest cool news seem to have disappeared. I keep waiting for them to come back, but they haven't. So I'm wondering, should I start doing that again, or is that a service that's even in demand? Is it beneficial to you to go to a blog that aggregates that kind of stuff so you don't have to go look for it in a hundred places yourself?
Please let me know your opinion as to what you think this blog should focus on going forward.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
WorldWide Telescope
In case you missed it, Microsoft released its WorldWide Telescope software for free yesterday. This is an application that combines their Photosynth technology with astronomy images and data to create an interactive view of the universe around us.
It's a pretty cool application, and even cooler that they released it for free. Check it out.
It's a pretty cool application, and even cooler that they released it for free. Check it out.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Answering Fermi
In a post last year, I talked about the Drake Equation (for predicting the number of intelligent species in the galaxy). In that post, I also mentioned the Fermi paradox, which begs the question, if there are as many intelligent species in the galaxy as the Drake Equation seems to predict, then where are they all?
Theoretical answers to the question have been proposed and, in many cases, explored through science fiction, and I'm going to discuss them further here. Really, the possible answers to the Fermi paradox fall into one of two categories:
Each of these two categories has several sub-examples that might be applicable. In the first case, the most obvious answer might be that we are, in fact, the only intelligent life in the universe. Scientifically this answer is both unplausible and unpalatable. We know that conditions in our universe are right for the formation of life, and for that life to reach intelligence. After all, we exist (though some might argue about our "intelligence"). The scale of the universe is so incredibly vast that it's impossible to believe that intelligent life would form in one and only one location.
But maybe intelligent life develops and doesn't flourish, for one reason or another. Perhaps it gets wiped out by some natural catastrophe, such as asteroid impacts, gamma ray bursts, supernovae, or other natural disaster. Or maybe it wipes itself out through catastrophic climate change, nuclear war, engineered pathogens, self-replicating nano-machines, or through other means we haven't been clever enough to come up with yet ourselves.
Maybe they are out there, though, and we just haven't found them yet. Maybe they have such advanced technology that they could be watching us silently right now. Or maybe we're so beneath their notice that they don't attempt to communicate with us anymore than we attempt to communicate with cockroaches. It's likely that they're communication systems are so advanced that we would not detect their signals.
The final possibility I'm going to mention falls under the first category, but I saved it for last: maybe the first intelligent species to expand out into the universe has gone on a rampage and destroyed every other species that has attempted to expand off its home planet. This possibility has been thoroughly explored in science fiction, from swarms of self-replicating nanites to ginormous robotic destroyers to swarms of human-eating critters. And maybe they just haven't gotten here yet, or maybe they sweep through each sector of space every ten thousand years or so, and they'll be returning soon.
Which of these do I believe? Lacking any scientific evidence, I have to remain skeptical. The one that seems most likely to me is that they're out there, but we're not smart enough to notice. Maybe they're waiting for us to find them.
What do you think?
Theoretical answers to the question have been proposed and, in many cases, explored through science fiction, and I'm going to discuss them further here. Really, the possible answers to the Fermi paradox fall into one of two categories:
- There is no other intelligent life in the universe
- They're out there, but we haven't found them yet
Each of these two categories has several sub-examples that might be applicable. In the first case, the most obvious answer might be that we are, in fact, the only intelligent life in the universe. Scientifically this answer is both unplausible and unpalatable. We know that conditions in our universe are right for the formation of life, and for that life to reach intelligence. After all, we exist (though some might argue about our "intelligence"). The scale of the universe is so incredibly vast that it's impossible to believe that intelligent life would form in one and only one location.
But maybe intelligent life develops and doesn't flourish, for one reason or another. Perhaps it gets wiped out by some natural catastrophe, such as asteroid impacts, gamma ray bursts, supernovae, or other natural disaster. Or maybe it wipes itself out through catastrophic climate change, nuclear war, engineered pathogens, self-replicating nano-machines, or through other means we haven't been clever enough to come up with yet ourselves.
Maybe they are out there, though, and we just haven't found them yet. Maybe they have such advanced technology that they could be watching us silently right now. Or maybe we're so beneath their notice that they don't attempt to communicate with us anymore than we attempt to communicate with cockroaches. It's likely that they're communication systems are so advanced that we would not detect their signals.
The final possibility I'm going to mention falls under the first category, but I saved it for last: maybe the first intelligent species to expand out into the universe has gone on a rampage and destroyed every other species that has attempted to expand off its home planet. This possibility has been thoroughly explored in science fiction, from swarms of self-replicating nanites to ginormous robotic destroyers to swarms of human-eating critters. And maybe they just haven't gotten here yet, or maybe they sweep through each sector of space every ten thousand years or so, and they'll be returning soon.
Which of these do I believe? Lacking any scientific evidence, I have to remain skeptical. The one that seems most likely to me is that they're out there, but we're not smart enough to notice. Maybe they're waiting for us to find them.
What do you think?
Friday, April 18, 2008
Dd the Earth Move for You, Baby?
When I woke up at 4:37 CDT this morning, I knew instantly what was going on in spite of the facts that (a) I had just woken up from a deep sleep; (b) We don't get a lot of earthquakes in Indiana; and (c) that was the strongest earthquake I've ever personally experienced.
So I hopped out of bed while the doors were still rattling and went downstairs to my computer, where I immediately went to the USGS' Earthquakes site. It took a while for their data and map to catch up, but I eventually got confirmation of a 5.2 earthquake, the strongest we've had in this area in about 40 years.
If you've read this blog in the past or if you look back through the archives, you'll know that I spend a lot of time harping on people to contribute to science in whatever way they can. Well, I had forgotten about this until today, but the USGS has a way you can contribute in events like this.
On the Earthquakes site, there is a link called "Did You Feel It?" which you can click on to report how you experienced the earthquake. This information makes it into their database and is aggregated by ZIP code to help the scientists gauge the intensity of the quake and figure out how it affects areas differently.
So I hopped out of bed while the doors were still rattling and went downstairs to my computer, where I immediately went to the USGS' Earthquakes site. It took a while for their data and map to catch up, but I eventually got confirmation of a 5.2 earthquake, the strongest we've had in this area in about 40 years.
If you've read this blog in the past or if you look back through the archives, you'll know that I spend a lot of time harping on people to contribute to science in whatever way they can. Well, I had forgotten about this until today, but the USGS has a way you can contribute in events like this.
On the Earthquakes site, there is a link called "Did You Feel It?" which you can click on to report how you experienced the earthquake. This information makes it into their database and is aggregated by ZIP code to help the scientists gauge the intensity of the quake and figure out how it affects areas differently.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Virgle
Every year on April's Fools Day, there are a number of great jokes that appear on the internet, but Google usually has some of the best. And this year was no exception.
In case you missed it, one of their "announcements" yesterday involved a joint venture with Richard Branson's Virgin Group called Virgle. Virgle's goal? The colonization of Mars!
It's pretty entertaining. My favorite part is the application to be a "Virgle Pioneer."
In case you missed it, one of their "announcements" yesterday involved a joint venture with Richard Branson's Virgin Group called Virgle. Virgle's goal? The colonization of Mars!
It's pretty entertaining. My favorite part is the application to be a "Virgle Pioneer."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
A Giant Loss
The world lost one if its true giants today. I'm talking, of course, about Arthur C. Clarke: author, futurist, scientist, and inventor. And it's safe to say that he will be not only missed but celebrated for his contributions to our modern world.
After World War II, Clarke authored a series of scientific articles proposing the use of geosynchronous orbit (GEO = 36,000 km above the equator) for telecommunications satellites. As a result, this orbit is commonly called the "Clarke Orbit," and the communications satellites there have allowed such things as international calling, satellite television, and satellite radio. Without those satellites (still the most profitable business in space) the Internet would be a very different place.
Best known for his writings
, Clarke believed that his true legacy would be popularizing the concept of the space elevator.
And, of course, the title of this blog comes from one of his sayings (see above). His contributions to society were great, and his loss is tragic.
After World War II, Clarke authored a series of scientific articles proposing the use of geosynchronous orbit (GEO = 36,000 km above the equator) for telecommunications satellites. As a result, this orbit is commonly called the "Clarke Orbit," and the communications satellites there have allowed such things as international calling, satellite television, and satellite radio. Without those satellites (still the most profitable business in space) the Internet would be a very different place.
Best known for his writings
, Clarke believed that his true legacy would be popularizing the concept of the space elevator.And, of course, the title of this blog comes from one of his sayings (see above). His contributions to society were great, and his loss is tragic.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Endeavour Launches Tonight
Space Shuttle Endeavour launches tonight or early tomorrow morning, depending on what time zone you live in. The launch is scheduled for 2:28 AM EDT (1:28 AM here in the Central time zone) which means this will be the first launch in quite a while I have not watched live online.
This is a major mission, the longest duration flight to the ISS so far at 16 days. Over the course of the mission, the Japanese Kibo laboratory module will be added to the space station, along with a newer, improved robotic arm system (with two arms and fine manipulator "hands") from the Canadian Space Agency.
Additionally, Endeavour will be delivering Garrett Reisman for a stay aboard the ISS as part of Expedition 16 and will bring European astronaut Leopold Eyharts home from the space station.
Forecasters are projecting a ninety percent chance of good weather, and no problems have been indicated as of now, nine hours before the launch.
This is a major mission, the longest duration flight to the ISS so far at 16 days. Over the course of the mission, the Japanese Kibo laboratory module will be added to the space station, along with a newer, improved robotic arm system (with two arms and fine manipulator "hands") from the Canadian Space Agency.
Additionally, Endeavour will be delivering Garrett Reisman for a stay aboard the ISS as part of Expedition 16 and will bring European astronaut Leopold Eyharts home from the space station.
Forecasters are projecting a ninety percent chance of good weather, and no problems have been indicated as of now, nine hours before the launch.
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