Questions that crop up in unexpected places, too. I'm sure any question I can ask is answered in a dozen places by a dozen knowledgeable people- my forays into the field are at the most basic "For Dummies" level that you can imagine. But, at any rate,it is all fascinating and illustrates just how little we really know about the big picture. It's amazing that, with all the things we've learned, there is a seemingly infinite number of things we are still learning. The latest bout of this realization was prompted by something I discussed with my 13 year old daughter while we were out looking at the sky one night. I asked her if she could spot Mars and point it out, which she did (from our viewpoint, it was almost directly beneath the moon and very bright on that night). I asked her how she picked it out so easily, and the cascade of questions started. It went something like this:
"It's right there, under the moon."
"Right! Good job. How did you spot it so easily?"
"Well, it's red, isn't it? There aren't many red things to look for. Except that one there (pointing at Betelgeuse). What's that? Another planet?"
"No, that's Betelgeuse. It's a star, and a huge one at that. But you're right, it's pretty red, too."
"Oh, OK. How far away is that?"
"About 400 or so light years (after digging frantically in my head to come up with a number that wasn't completely wrong). Not far by interstellar standards, really, but it's a long way."
"400 light years....what does that really mean?"
"It means a big number. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. So, take that figure and multiply it by how many seconds are in a year. Then times 400 years. That's how far away it is, and the light we're seeing right now left Betelgeuse 400 years ago. You're seeing the past when you look at it."
".....how are we ever going to manage to go there? How fast can we travel?"
At that point is where things kind of tip over into inescapable territory. It's like walking across a seesaw- you reach a point where it tips from going up to going down, and no matter how far out you walk the far end stays down there. I don't have answers for the things that are unwrapped and presented for consideration past that point. That dive into the unsure waters of pure theory and speculation can be scary.
It does make for an enjoyable evening of mulling over, though. How will we ever manage to visit distant (by our Earthly standard) places? I want to believe we will- but there are problems, Herr Einstein's E=MC^2 being only one of them. We know that as velocity increases, so does the effective mass of the object being accelerated, until it reaches a point of diminishing returns and we run out of possible energy to drive it any closer to light speed. So, under the rules of our universe as we now understand it, near light speed travel may be possible- but we aren't going to leap past it. Even if the energy was available, could we engineer any craft able to withstand the forces and pressures that would be applied at those speeds? I think we'd need a little more than a carbon fibre and aluminum honeycomb at that point. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
One of the things about faster than light travel that always gets my brain in a knot is the possible paradoxes. I know that the time dilation effect addresses this, but I can't help but think about it- it's one of those things that hurts your mind to think about, but keeps coming back to visit. if I left here, travelled to a planet 5 light years away at 1.1C, could I then, 6 months after landing, go back to the pad and see myself arrive? No, of course not. But could I, with a powerful enough visual aid, look back and see the launch that started my voyage? Isn't that still very paradoxical? maybe not- particles do it. We know that a single particle can exist in two locations at the same observed time, so what's stopping us from exhibiting the same behaviour? Is it just that we can't move fast enough?
That darn seesaw just keeps tipping downward.
28 December, 2007
27 December, 2007
THOSE questions.
We've all been presented with them, either in person, on line, in a letter or e-mail. The ones that are supposed to provoke deep thoughts and existentialist musings, I suppose, as we ponder the importance or necessity of various objects in our lives. I've answered them- and be honest, you have, too. But do we really think them through? Example:
"What is the ONE THING that you could not live without?" I really can't answer that and be truthful. None of us can. There are at a bare minimum THREE things I can't live without, those being a breathable atmosphere, water, and a food source. So from this point, the question becomes nothing but an exercise in sentimentality, and I really doubt it's ever answered in a way that has been thought out and clearly determined as correct. Ask me today, when it's twenty degrees and snowing, and I'd be pretty stupid to not answer by saying I need clothing. If I had chronic asthma, I would have to honestly include my inhaler, or insulin if I was diabetic. I truthfully think we're facing a question here that can't be answered- but it is continually asked. I think next time, I'll answer with "the power to critically and logically dissect questions". That might cover the bases.
There's also the variant: "If you were stranded on a deserted island (if I was there, it wouldn't be deserted, would it?) what 5 things would you take with you?"
I tend to cheat on this one. My answers run along the lines of "A Zodiac inflatable raft, an outboard engine, a large refinery storage tank of gas, a fully stocked grocery store, and Jessica Alba". Very illogical, all in all, because with the boat the grocery store would be pretty much not needed. And I suppose I'd have to hope that Jessica was a great navigator. And that the grocery store was one with self-checkout lanes, since I didn't include employees in my list- I don't want to raise the crime rate on the island to 50% or more.
I know, I'm missing the point, and these are just fun thought experiment-like questions. But sometimes I can't help but turn the burning eye of logic on things and see what it sees, which usually results in the realization that even when I try to apply every logical and objective standard to something, I can't resist having a little bit of fun with it. And with the world full of bad news (well, not full of, but it does sometimes seem that way, even to an eternal optimist) a little distraction might not be an unhealthy thing. Look around, find the humour and lighter side in things. You don't even have to share. The laughs we keep to ourselves are sometimes the best ones, and it's never worsened a situation or hurt anyone.
Maybe I should consider trading the boat, motor, and fuel in for a volleyball set, a library, and a nice chessboard.....
"What is the ONE THING that you could not live without?" I really can't answer that and be truthful. None of us can. There are at a bare minimum THREE things I can't live without, those being a breathable atmosphere, water, and a food source. So from this point, the question becomes nothing but an exercise in sentimentality, and I really doubt it's ever answered in a way that has been thought out and clearly determined as correct. Ask me today, when it's twenty degrees and snowing, and I'd be pretty stupid to not answer by saying I need clothing. If I had chronic asthma, I would have to honestly include my inhaler, or insulin if I was diabetic. I truthfully think we're facing a question here that can't be answered- but it is continually asked. I think next time, I'll answer with "the power to critically and logically dissect questions". That might cover the bases.
There's also the variant: "If you were stranded on a deserted island (if I was there, it wouldn't be deserted, would it?) what 5 things would you take with you?"
I tend to cheat on this one. My answers run along the lines of "A Zodiac inflatable raft, an outboard engine, a large refinery storage tank of gas, a fully stocked grocery store, and Jessica Alba". Very illogical, all in all, because with the boat the grocery store would be pretty much not needed. And I suppose I'd have to hope that Jessica was a great navigator. And that the grocery store was one with self-checkout lanes, since I didn't include employees in my list- I don't want to raise the crime rate on the island to 50% or more.
I know, I'm missing the point, and these are just fun thought experiment-like questions. But sometimes I can't help but turn the burning eye of logic on things and see what it sees, which usually results in the realization that even when I try to apply every logical and objective standard to something, I can't resist having a little bit of fun with it. And with the world full of bad news (well, not full of, but it does sometimes seem that way, even to an eternal optimist) a little distraction might not be an unhealthy thing. Look around, find the humour and lighter side in things. You don't even have to share. The laughs we keep to ourselves are sometimes the best ones, and it's never worsened a situation or hurt anyone.
Maybe I should consider trading the boat, motor, and fuel in for a volleyball set, a library, and a nice chessboard.....
26 December, 2007
Well, that's over
I'll be the first to admit to not really caring much for the holiday season. I don't hate it- and I'm not the Grinch personified- but I just don't actually like it. All the goodwill and cheer and such doesn't inspire me, doesn't give me a warm feeling at all, mainly because it's countered by the fact that Christmas and the shopping frenzy it incites tends to bring out the absolute worst in everyone, disguised beneath a very thin patina of false humanity and charity. Maybe I am the Grinch. I don't honestly know, but I do I'm very glad when it's over each year and people can go back to being themselves.
With that said, I'll also confess that I use the season as an excuse to spend some money on myself. This year was no exception, and I went out and bought my long- watched copy of Rock Band for my trusty PS2. Talk about delusions of grandeur- now not only can I hold a plastic guitar and dream of being David Gilmour or Eddie Van Halen, but I can also play at the fantasy of being Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, or Courtney Love (wait a second here...no cracking wise. One of the songs featured on the new game is by Hole, and that was the first vocalist I thought of. Shut up.). All in all, it's a lot of fun. I do have to repress a laugh, though, when 'Don't Fear the Reaper' starts, and all I can think of is Will Farrell and his cowbell. I think that song is spoiled for me forever.
Between that, slogging through The Witcher, and working on my little 1/90th scale DC-3, it'll be pleasantly busy. Whether I'm the Grinch or not, I hope everyone had a pleasant and peaceful holiday- and that the new year brings more of the same.
With that said, I'll also confess that I use the season as an excuse to spend some money on myself. This year was no exception, and I went out and bought my long- watched copy of Rock Band for my trusty PS2. Talk about delusions of grandeur- now not only can I hold a plastic guitar and dream of being David Gilmour or Eddie Van Halen, but I can also play at the fantasy of being Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, or Courtney Love (wait a second here...no cracking wise. One of the songs featured on the new game is by Hole, and that was the first vocalist I thought of. Shut up.). All in all, it's a lot of fun. I do have to repress a laugh, though, when 'Don't Fear the Reaper' starts, and all I can think of is Will Farrell and his cowbell. I think that song is spoiled for me forever.
Between that, slogging through The Witcher, and working on my little 1/90th scale DC-3, it'll be pleasantly busy. Whether I'm the Grinch or not, I hope everyone had a pleasant and peaceful holiday- and that the new year brings more of the same.
19 December, 2007
Nothing original here
Just my favourite piece of work from the mind, pen, and instruments of Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson. I've been on a Hemispheres binge lately, and just can't kick it. Has there ever been a song written that holds more pure truth than this?
I. Prelude
When our weary world was young
The struggle of the ancients first began
The gods of love and reason
Sought alone to rule the fate of man
They battled through the ages
But still neither force would yield
The people were divided
Every soul a battlefield
II. Apollo / Dionysus
Apollo: Bringer Of Wisdom
'I bring truth and understanding
I bring wit and wisdom fair
Precious gifts beyond compare
We can build a world of wonder
I can make you all aware
I will find you food and shelter
Show you fire to keep you warm
Through the endless winter storm
You can live in grace and comfort
In the world that you transform'
The people were delighted
Coming forth to claim their prize
They ran to build their cities
And converse among the wise
But one day the streets fell silent
Yet they knew not what was wrong
The urge to build these fine things
Seemed not to be so strong
The wise men were consulted
And the Bridge of Death was crossed
In quest of Dionysus
To find out what they had lost
Dionysus: Bringer Of Love
'I bring love to give you solace
In the darkness of the night
In the Heart's eternal light
You need only trust your feelings
Only love can steer you right
I bring laughter, I bring music
I bring joy and I bring tears
I will soothe your primal fears
Throw off those chains of reason
And your prison disappears'
The cities were abandoned
And the forests echoed song
They danced and lived as brothers
They knew love could not be wrong
Food and wine they had aplenty
And they slept beneath the stars
The people were contented
And the gods watched from afar
But the winter fell upon them
And it caught them unprepared
Bringing wolves and cold starvation
And the hearts of men despaired
III. Armageddon: The Battle Of Heart and Mind
The universe divided
As the heart and mind collided
With the people left unguided
For so many troubled years
In a cloud of doubts and fears
Their world was torn asunder into hollow
Hemispheres
Some fought themselves, some fought each other
Most just followed one another
Lost and aimless like their brothers
For their hearts were so unclear
And the truth could not appear
Their spirits were divided into blinded
Hemispheres
Some who did not fight
Brought tales of old to light
'My Rocinante sailed by night
On her final flight'
To the heart of Cygnus' fearsome force
We set our course
Spiralled through that timeless space
To this immortal place
IV. Cygnus: Bringer Of Balance
I have memory and awareness
But I have no shape or form
As a disembodied spirit
I am dead and yet unborn
I have passed into Olympus
As was told in tales of old
To the city of Immortals
Marble white and purest gold...
I see the gods in battle rage on high...
Thunderbolts across the sky...
I cannot move, I cannot hide...
I feel a silent scream begin inside...
Then all at once the chaos ceased
A stillness fell, a sudden peace
The warriors felt my silent cry
And stayed their struggle, mystified
Apollo was atonished
Dionysus thought me mad
But they heard my story further
And they wondered, and were sad
Looking down from Olympus
On a world of doubt and fear
Its surface splintered
Into sorry Hemispheres
They sat a while in silence
Then they turned at last to me
'We will call you Cygnus
The god of Balance you shall be'
V. The Sphere: A Kind Of Dream
We can walk our road together
If our goals are all the same
We can run alone and free
If we pursue a different aim
Let the truth of love be lighted
Let the love of truth shine clear
Sensibility
Armed with sense and liberty
With the heart and mind united in a single
Perfect
Sphere
I. Prelude
When our weary world was young
The struggle of the ancients first began
The gods of love and reason
Sought alone to rule the fate of man
They battled through the ages
But still neither force would yield
The people were divided
Every soul a battlefield
II. Apollo / Dionysus
Apollo: Bringer Of Wisdom
'I bring truth and understanding
I bring wit and wisdom fair
Precious gifts beyond compare
We can build a world of wonder
I can make you all aware
I will find you food and shelter
Show you fire to keep you warm
Through the endless winter storm
You can live in grace and comfort
In the world that you transform'
The people were delighted
Coming forth to claim their prize
They ran to build their cities
And converse among the wise
But one day the streets fell silent
Yet they knew not what was wrong
The urge to build these fine things
Seemed not to be so strong
The wise men were consulted
And the Bridge of Death was crossed
In quest of Dionysus
To find out what they had lost
Dionysus: Bringer Of Love
'I bring love to give you solace
In the darkness of the night
In the Heart's eternal light
You need only trust your feelings
Only love can steer you right
I bring laughter, I bring music
I bring joy and I bring tears
I will soothe your primal fears
Throw off those chains of reason
And your prison disappears'
The cities were abandoned
And the forests echoed song
They danced and lived as brothers
They knew love could not be wrong
Food and wine they had aplenty
And they slept beneath the stars
The people were contented
And the gods watched from afar
But the winter fell upon them
And it caught them unprepared
Bringing wolves and cold starvation
And the hearts of men despaired
III. Armageddon: The Battle Of Heart and Mind
The universe divided
As the heart and mind collided
With the people left unguided
For so many troubled years
In a cloud of doubts and fears
Their world was torn asunder into hollow
Hemispheres
Some fought themselves, some fought each other
Most just followed one another
Lost and aimless like their brothers
For their hearts were so unclear
And the truth could not appear
Their spirits were divided into blinded
Hemispheres
Some who did not fight
Brought tales of old to light
'My Rocinante sailed by night
On her final flight'
To the heart of Cygnus' fearsome force
We set our course
Spiralled through that timeless space
To this immortal place
IV. Cygnus: Bringer Of Balance
I have memory and awareness
But I have no shape or form
As a disembodied spirit
I am dead and yet unborn
I have passed into Olympus
As was told in tales of old
To the city of Immortals
Marble white and purest gold...
I see the gods in battle rage on high...
Thunderbolts across the sky...
I cannot move, I cannot hide...
I feel a silent scream begin inside...
Then all at once the chaos ceased
A stillness fell, a sudden peace
The warriors felt my silent cry
And stayed their struggle, mystified
Apollo was atonished
Dionysus thought me mad
But they heard my story further
And they wondered, and were sad
Looking down from Olympus
On a world of doubt and fear
Its surface splintered
Into sorry Hemispheres
They sat a while in silence
Then they turned at last to me
'We will call you Cygnus
The god of Balance you shall be'
V. The Sphere: A Kind Of Dream
We can walk our road together
If our goals are all the same
We can run alone and free
If we pursue a different aim
Let the truth of love be lighted
Let the love of truth shine clear
Sensibility
Armed with sense and liberty
With the heart and mind united in a single
Perfect
Sphere
17 December, 2007
Life is all about balance
It really is. I was thinking of the reasons why today isn't a good day- it's cold (temperatures at night are hitting the single digits, which really offends my desert dweller sensibilities), my cat tried to claw my eye out** and it hurts, and there's a coating of oddly cold and crystalline white stuff all over the ground. Stuff that I believe belongs 15 miles away, up on top of the mountains.
(** To clarify- she didn't really TRY to claw my eye out, I was just in the way of a mad cat game of some sort and she kind of stepped on my left eye area. Regardless, a cat wound that close to your optical gear isn't much fun.)
But with the cold comes a couple nice things- the air is exceptionally clean and clear, and the sky at night is amazing. Last night at about eleven, I took the dog out and just studied the sky, unaided, and nearly let the poor guy freeze. I'm always impressed with these clear nights- being able to not only pick out Orion's brightest points (Rigel, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix) but having all of the Ori cluster so clear and bright....well, it's truly and distinctly beautiful. Try it yourself- find Rigel (Orion's left knee) and draw a line up across the Oris (his belt) and through Betelgeuse. Extend that line a ways, and look for the bright red glow of Mars. Go left about the width of your hand held at arm's length, and you can make out Jupiter hanging around the constellation Gemini. It's awe-inspiring when you take it all in.
Yes, I am a complete geek. But I'm a happy one.
(** To clarify- she didn't really TRY to claw my eye out, I was just in the way of a mad cat game of some sort and she kind of stepped on my left eye area. Regardless, a cat wound that close to your optical gear isn't much fun.)
But with the cold comes a couple nice things- the air is exceptionally clean and clear, and the sky at night is amazing. Last night at about eleven, I took the dog out and just studied the sky, unaided, and nearly let the poor guy freeze. I'm always impressed with these clear nights- being able to not only pick out Orion's brightest points (Rigel, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix) but having all of the Ori cluster so clear and bright....well, it's truly and distinctly beautiful. Try it yourself- find Rigel (Orion's left knee) and draw a line up across the Oris (his belt) and through Betelgeuse. Extend that line a ways, and look for the bright red glow of Mars. Go left about the width of your hand held at arm's length, and you can make out Jupiter hanging around the constellation Gemini. It's awe-inspiring when you take it all in.
Yes, I am a complete geek. But I'm a happy one.
11 December, 2007
Support Sciencedebate 2008
It's simple- go here and sign the petition to get our presidential candidates to agree to a topical, in depth debate on science and the issues facing our nation in that realm. It doesn't take long, and it's well worth the effort. The list of people already supporting this debate reads like a Who's Who of American science, but every signature helps.
A listing on the website outlines some subjects that would be included:
A listing on the website outlines some subjects that would be included:
The Environment
- » Climate Change
- » Conservation and Species Loss
- » The Future of The Oceans
- » Fresh Water: Drought, Pollution, Ownership
- » Population Growth and Its Effect on Environment
- » Renewable Energy Research
Health and Medicine
- » Global Diseases and Pandemics
- » Stem Cell Research
- » Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
- » Drug Patents, Generic Drugs
- » The Genome
- » Bioethics
Science and Technology Policy
- » Scientific Innovation and Economic Growth
- » Improving Science Education
- » Space Exploration
- » Preserving Scientific Integrity in Government
- » Energy Policy
Hubble Holiday Cards
Say "Happy Holidays" in a unique way with cards courtesy of our friends at Hubble Site. Printable, free, and best of all, Hubble images! Find them here.
10 December, 2007
If this movie doesn't have EVERYTHING.....
I'm having issues with the silly embedded player, so I'll redirect you to this link. I will also neither confirm nor deny my real feelings, and leave it up to you to decide if I'm kidding or not.
06 December, 2007
Advancements in robotics
It is simply amazing how quickly the field has grown, and the incredible levels of precision engineers have reached. As an example, I give you the following video, courtesy of Reuters:
Just....wow. How long before we have these little guys doing surgery? These are some very interesting and exciting days we live in, folks. Enjoy it. Read more about the Toyota-built robot in the video here.
Just....wow. How long before we have these little guys doing surgery? These are some very interesting and exciting days we live in, folks. Enjoy it. Read more about the Toyota-built robot in the video here.
05 December, 2007
Fascinating posting on plasma and it's practical uses
Or one of them, anyhow. This isn't a new article, but I'm finally getting around to mentioning it. Jennifer Oullette over at Cocktail Party Physics (see links to the right) wrote this very interesting piece on a use for plasma- specifically, plasma as an antenna. It was something I was completely ignorant of before reading that, and is in her usual style- smart, witty, and as entertaining as a blog can possibly be. Take a look and tell me I'm wrong.
03 December, 2007
This will be a rarity, but.....
I really can't go without saying something. I won't say anything about sports here at all. There are 5 million other places that specialize in that subject, and frankly, it's not important enough to spend a lot of time writing about. I am, however, someone who follows 3 sports pretty closely- those being baseball, English Premier League soccer, and college football. The latter is once again proven to be an utter and complete farce, and that is simply saddening.
Anyone familiar with the BCS knows what I mean. This system was supposed to eliminate the yearly disputes over which school was the national champion, and has failed beyond all comprehension. I can, in all honesty, remember one or two times that it produced a champion that just about everyone could agree on- and this year will NOT be one of them. In fact, they're matching up 2 teams (supposedly numbers one and two) that are neither deserving of better than a number 8 or 9 ranking. Louisiana State has 2 losses, both in overtime. That shows without much question that they can't produce when the chips are down and the pressure is highest. Then we have Ohio State, a team who muddled through the easiest schedule in the history of number 1 teams with a barely concealed incompetence, dispatching such powerhouses as Youngstown State, Akron, and Minnesota on their way to getting handily crushed by Illinois (the score was close, the game wasn't even a contest). Beyond that, we have a Kansas team who was beaten throroughly by Missouri being chosen ahead of the Tigers for a BCS bowl. We have an undefeated team in Hawaii who is relegated to playing for about 6th or 7th place in the Sugar Bowl- and this is the main issue I have. it has happened 4 times in recent years (Hawaii this year, Boise State twice, Utah once) and it is simply unacceptable.
Did Hawaii play a killer schedule? No. Neither did Ohio State- the Big Ten is no better than the WAC or MWC this year, and is very likely one of the 2 or 3 weakest conferences in the country. The majority of the teams are just barely mediocre, and the major conference argument doesn't hold water. What the Warriors did, that NO ONE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY CAN CLAIM, is won every game. So what if it took some gritty comebacks and overtime heroics to get it done? 12-0 is 12-0, and to be cut out of playing for a championship because the system is too stupid to realize that means something is just not acceptable. Every other team in the nation choked and should have that chance taken away from them, and that didn't happen- the system does NOT work, it never has, and it never will. I give up, and just finally have to admit it's all pointless and illegitimate, leaving one question to be answered: Why bother?
I don't think I will any more.
Anyone familiar with the BCS knows what I mean. This system was supposed to eliminate the yearly disputes over which school was the national champion, and has failed beyond all comprehension. I can, in all honesty, remember one or two times that it produced a champion that just about everyone could agree on- and this year will NOT be one of them. In fact, they're matching up 2 teams (supposedly numbers one and two) that are neither deserving of better than a number 8 or 9 ranking. Louisiana State has 2 losses, both in overtime. That shows without much question that they can't produce when the chips are down and the pressure is highest. Then we have Ohio State, a team who muddled through the easiest schedule in the history of number 1 teams with a barely concealed incompetence, dispatching such powerhouses as Youngstown State, Akron, and Minnesota on their way to getting handily crushed by Illinois (the score was close, the game wasn't even a contest). Beyond that, we have a Kansas team who was beaten throroughly by Missouri being chosen ahead of the Tigers for a BCS bowl. We have an undefeated team in Hawaii who is relegated to playing for about 6th or 7th place in the Sugar Bowl- and this is the main issue I have. it has happened 4 times in recent years (Hawaii this year, Boise State twice, Utah once) and it is simply unacceptable.
Did Hawaii play a killer schedule? No. Neither did Ohio State- the Big Ten is no better than the WAC or MWC this year, and is very likely one of the 2 or 3 weakest conferences in the country. The majority of the teams are just barely mediocre, and the major conference argument doesn't hold water. What the Warriors did, that NO ONE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY CAN CLAIM, is won every game. So what if it took some gritty comebacks and overtime heroics to get it done? 12-0 is 12-0, and to be cut out of playing for a championship because the system is too stupid to realize that means something is just not acceptable. Every other team in the nation choked and should have that chance taken away from them, and that didn't happen- the system does NOT work, it never has, and it never will. I give up, and just finally have to admit it's all pointless and illegitimate, leaving one question to be answered: Why bother?
I don't think I will any more.
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