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Bad Astronomy News

Bad Universe: The TV Program That Will Obliterate All Space Myths [Astronomy] Friday, July 30, 2010 @ 1:10PM# astronomy Discovery Channel and Phil Plait—of Bad Astronomy fame —are on a mission to destroy wrong astronomy factoids this fall. The TV program will be called Bad Universe and, from the sneak peek, it looks fun. More »
Study finds black carbon implicated in global warming Thursday, July 29, 2010 @ 1:37PMIncreasing the ratio of black carbon to sulfate in the atmosphere increases climate warming, suggests a study conducted by a University of Iowa professor and his colleagues and published in the July 25 issue of the journal Nature Geoscience.
Japan experts call for robot expedition to moon Thursday, July 29, 2010 @ 11:07AMAn expert panel advising the Japanese government called in a report approved on Thursday for the nation to send a wheeled robot to the moon in five years and to build the first lunar base by 2020.
Could an Aqua-Net Bring Water to the Desert? Thursday, July 29, 2010 @ 10:22AM(PhysOrg.com) -- Challenges of the future include energy use and continued population growth. And, while there are millions of square miles of land available in the world, not all of it is considered fit for human habitation. Shimizu Corporation, the company contemplating the Luna Ring, has another interesting project in the "just coming up with an idea" stage: The Desert Aqua-Net.
Big Island is bleeding jobs Wednesday, July 28, 2010 @ 3:12PMHawaii County is receiving $115 million in federal economic stimulus dollars, but you wouldn't know it by the 1,150 jobs that various industries shed on the Big Island so far this year.
Pack's Wentz a smart fit at center Thursday, July 22, 2010 @ 10:00PMSophomore center Camden Wentz said his N.C. State teammates call him a treasure trove of useless facts, so the temptation to test him was great.
Terilynn's Trek: Comic-Con 2010 Wednesday, July 21, 2010 @ 2:41PMFinally losing my convention virginity read more
Astronomer explains why you'll probably never meet an alien Monday, July 19, 2010 @ 10:17AMAstronomer, lecturer and author Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy , spent 10 years working on Hubble Space Telescope, followed by six more working on astronomy education. But now he's a full-time writer explaining the uses (and misuses) of science, which he'll be doing regularly here at Blastr . You wake up, still in your fighting gear. You're in a jungle filled with strange noises ...
Launch Pad for Quantum Physics [Uncertain Principles] Monday, July 19, 2010 @ 9:02AMOver at Jeff Vandemeer's blog, Rachel Swirsky has a series ofm guest posts (start here if you prefer direct post links) about the recently completed Launch Pad workshop . this is a NASA funded workshop bringing a group of writers together for six days of lectures on modern astronomy from working astronomers. From the workshop web site: Launch Pad is a NASA-funded education/public outreach effort ...
Report reveals dramatic decline in illegal logging in tropical forest nations Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 8:45AMThe most thorough assessment to date of the global fight against illegal logging, released by Chatham House today, finds that a decade of international effort to tackle the problem is having a dramatic and beneficial effect both on forest dependent communities and on the global climate. According to the report, "Illegal Logging and Related Trade: Indicators of the Global Response", total global ...
Leak forces new delay to BP oil cap test Thursday, July 15, 2010 @ 4:00AMOil giant BP detected a leak Thursday in equipment to seal the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico gusher, forcing another delay to the start of crucial tests on a new tighter-fitting cap.
Terilynn's Trek: Comic-Con 2010 Wednesday, July 14, 2010 @ 11:44AMFinally losing my convention virginity read more
Fiji censorship like dark matter: impossible to see, but still there Monday, July 12, 2010 @ 10:13PMCensorship is an almost all pervading thing; anything even slightly critical is blue-pencilled out of existence. But it's what's not there that's most important, writes Michael Field .
Total solar eclipse fans chase a moment in the sun Friday, July 9, 2010 @ 5:06PMThey travel thousands of miles to catch the celestial intersection of sun and moon, which some describe as a spiritual high. On Sunday, it happens again. When the moon blots out the sun's blinding rays on Sunday, a sliver of the Earth's surface will be plunged into eerie darkness.
Darkness is precious to Bryce Canyon ranger Wednesday, July 7, 2010 @ 10:25PMBRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK — No, he doesn't leap hoodoos in a single bound. Kevin Poe isn't fond of tights either, but you will find him leading tourists on a quick trip across the galaxy three nights a week.
Wrigley Agrees to Settle Eclipse Lawsuit Tuesday, July 6, 2010 @ 6:13PMWrigley agrees to settle lawsuit over ads for Eclipse gum Eclipse - Eclipses Occultations and Transits - Astronomy - Chicago Cubs - Wrigley Field
Saturn's Rings in Profile [Pic Of The Night] Tuesday, July 6, 2010 @ 3:32AM# picofthenight [ That's Janus and Prometheus, two of Saturn's moons, passing through the planet's rings. The pic was taken by the Cassini orbiter, which is currently just illing near Saturn. Via Bad Astronomy . ] More »
Frbiz Report: Chinese Garlic Prices Soaring Again Monday, July 5, 2010 @ 9:00AMFrbiz.com, one of China's leading B2B search platforms, reports on the price of garlic in China.
Public Record Friday, July 2, 2010 @ 12:28AMDocket
Old Buhl Planetarium's projector still draws fans Thursday, July 1, 2010 @ 8:16PMOn the first floor of Carnegie Science Center, families swarmed around an exhibition Thursday showcasing a piece of Pittsburgh history for more than 50 years.
Music Calendar Thursday, July 1, 2010 @ 7:04PMAbstract Rude's most enduring characteristic is how intentionally out of time he is. Though he came up in the underground hip-hop era that valued abstraction and headiness over rocking parties, Abstract Rude has always been more of a traditionalist, taking things back to hip-hop's rudiments.
Venus, Clijsters ousted; Serena wins Tuesday, June 29, 2010 @ 9:46AMFive-time champ Venus ousted in Wimbledon stunner. The Championships Wimbledon - Venus Williams - Wimbledon - Astronomy - Venus
'Eclipse' movie goes deep into obsessions of those living in 'Twilight' Monday, June 28, 2010 @ 11:00PMTeam Edward or Team Jacob? For anyone who has a ready answer to that question, the arrival of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" is as welcome as a northwestern breeze in the middle of a torrid heat wave. And they will most likely feel well rewarded by this respectful, unfussy installment of their belo... Twilight - Eclipse - Eclipses Occultations and Transits - Astronomy - Twilight Saga: Eclipse
BP removes oil cap after submarine crash Wednesday, June 23, 2010 @ 1:22PMOil gushed unchecked Wednesday from the leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico after BP's containment system was removed for repairs following a submarine crash, US officials said.
Feng shui adjusted to attract luck Monday, June 21, 2010 @ 12:09PMAccording to Chinese geomancy beliefs, Government House has been redecorated to attract luck, prosperity and peace.
Thailand Reset Feng Shui For More Luck, Prosperity At Government House Monday, June 21, 2010 @ 1:59AMBANGKOK, June 21 (Bernama) -- The Thai government has reset its feng shui at Government House by placing sit potted plants of one species to enhance luck and prosperity as well as to create peacefulness, Thai News Agency reported Monday.
Feng Shui at Government House adjusted Monday, June 21, 2010 @ 1:40AMThe government has readjusted its feng shui at Government House according to Chinese cosmological understandings to enhance luck and prosperity.
Researchers develop ultra-simple method for creating nanoscale gold coatings (w/ Video) Wednesday, June 16, 2010 @ 1:07PMResearchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new, ultra-simple method for making layers of gold that measure only billionths of a meter thick. The process, which requires no sophisticated equipment and works on nearly any surface including silicon wafers, could have important implications for nanoelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing.
New Worlds to Explore? Kepler Spacecraft Finds 750 Exoplanet Candidates Tuesday, June 15, 2010 @ 12:34PMThe Kepler spacecraft has found over 750 candidates for extrasolar planets, and that is just from data collected in the first 43 days of the spacecraft's observations. "This is the biggest release of candidate planets that has ever happened," said William Borucki, Kepler's lead scientist. "The number of candidate planets is actually greater than all [...]
Solar power helps reinvent Toledo Monday, June 14, 2010 @ 8:13PMAn unusual partnership of academia and government is helping Toledo swap its Rust Belt image for a new one as a hub of solar-energy innovation.
More Active Sun Means Nasty Solar Storms Ahead Friday, June 11, 2010 @ 8:22AMThe sun is about to get a lot more active, which could have ill effects on Earth. So to prepare, top sun scientists met Tuesday to discuss the best ways to protect Earth's satellites and other vital systems from the coming solar storms.
Gluckman: Integrity in Science - Climate Debate Wednesday, June 9, 2010 @ 7:26PMI will be analysing matters that have engendered heat from multiple quarters and where intense, and not always polite, debate is ongoing. It is not my intention to exacerbate that heat, rather to explore why it exists and understand its implications ...
Another Sky Spiral Appears, This Time Over Australia [Science] Monday, June 7, 2010 @ 5:12PM# science Sure, at this point we know what these things are , but they're still pretty insane to see up in the sky. More »
Woman dresses baby as Klingon, draws forehead ridges on him Monday, June 7, 2010 @ 1:02PMWhen we first saw this Klingon-ized baby sporting a wig and drawn-on forehead ridges, we couldn't quite decide whether the effect was creepy or cool. But after watching the clip a few more times, we've made up our minds that the kid must have the most awesome mom ever.
Spelling bee run ends for Seneca Falls girl Friday, June 4, 2010 @ 8:05PMWASHINGTON -- The stars weren't aligned for Neetu Chandak in her quest to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Friday.
Canadian girl in finals at U.S. spelling bee Friday, June 4, 2010 @ 3:28PMWASHINGTON - Canada could only afford to send one competitor to the U.S. national spelling bee — but so far one is enough.
Impact Observed in Jupiter's Atmosphere [UPDATE] Thursday, June 3, 2010 @ 9:45PMOn the day Hubble releases further analysis of the impact that scarred Jupiter in 2009, the same discoverer, Anthony Wesley, witnesses a second impact fireball in the Jovian atmosphere.
More midnight college classes Thursday, June 3, 2010 @ 11:35AMSpikes in enrollment are causing community colleges to schedule classes at midnight
Supergiant star sparks doomsday debate Wednesday, June 2, 2010 @ 8:13PMScience editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Is the red supergiant star Betelgeuse about to erupt into a panic-inducing supernova? Not likely, says Phil Plait, the good guy behind the Bad Astronomy website. Phil Plait - Betelgeuse - Astronomy - Red supergiant - Supergiant
Letters: Perspectives on science Wednesday, June 2, 2010 @ 6:19PMYasmin Alibhai-Brown ("Scientists don't always know best", 31 May) is entitled to her views, but she clearly has no understanding of the scientific method, which has time and again proved to be our best – probably our only – way of getting at the truth.
Japanese firm wants to transform the Moon into a giant solar power plant Wednesday, June 2, 2010 @ 1:25PM(PhysOrg.com) -- The Shimizu Corporation, a Japanese construction firm, has recently proposed a plan to harness solar energy on a larger scale than almost any previously proposed concept. Their ambitious plan involves building a belt of solar cells around the Moon`s 6,800-mile (11,000-kilometer) equator, converting the electricity to powerful microwaves and lasers to be beamed at Earth, and ...
Marshall Fine: HuffPost Interview: Rachel Weisz and Agora Tuesday, June 1, 2010 @ 7:17AMTall and willowy in a summery off-white ensemble, Rachel Weisz allows that she has a certain ignorance of science and astronomy. "I'm so bad at...
Kiwanis Club recognizes seniors who turn their lives around Monday, May 31, 2010 @ 10:39PMHigh school isn't easy for a student with kidney disease, or for students who have been homeless, or for those who have overcome drug and alcohol addiction. But they managed to succeed, and on May 20 those students and others like them were recognized by the Los Gatos Kiwanis Club with Turnaround Scholarships.
Battling Bots in Saturn's Biggest Ring Sunday, May 30, 2010 @ 9:18PMIn an entertaining effort to communicate why Saturn's outermost ring can only be seen in the infrared, NASA's Spitzer team have released a video of battling robots trying to gain the secrets of this "cloaked" ring.
Digital Digest: 31/05/2010 Sunday, May 30, 2010 @ 6:36PMSex Blogspot.com After the swathes of sex bloggers, comes a new wave: the bad sex blogger. Men I Wish I Hadn't Slept With relates the woe and the wisdom of a fashion-conscious single young woman in London, feeling her way (so to speak) around the dating scene. Make no mistake, this isn't just ITV3 fodder – it's wicked, witty and straight from the heart. Ind.pn/aHF0fK
Race is on for museums to host retired space shuttles Thursday, May 27, 2010 @ 5:40AMUS museums are wasting no time in jostling to showcase the three retiring space shuttles after Atlantis touched down on Earth this week, capping the last scheduled mission of its 25-year career.
The Astronomer's Enemy Wednesday, May 26, 2010 @ 6:00PMThere's one problem with Urban astronomy, and it's a big one. It is the reason so many historical observatories, places where great discoveries were made and the foundations of modern astronomy were set down, have been shut down and even demolished. That problem is light.
Space shuttle crew head back to Earth Wednesday, May 26, 2010 @ 5:03AMThe crew of the shuttle Atlantis made their final preparations for a return to Earth Wednesday after a 12-day resupply mission to the International Space Station.
Alford: Why We Need a New Macroeconomics Wednesday, May 26, 2010 @ 2:15AMBy Richard Alford, a former economist at the New York Fed. Since then, he has worked in the financial industry as a trading floor economist and strategist on both the sell side and the buy side. We are in the midst of severe economic and financial crises. These crises have led to reappraisals of received [...]
Daily dose of science on the Web Monday, May 24, 2010 @ 6:28PMBad Astronomy: Lunar boulder hits a hole in one Independent: Peru pyramid linked to copper industry Popular Science: Cyber-map charts top Twitterati The New Yorker: Oil shocks ...( read more )