Inauguration from Space

We really do look like ants.

Take the time. Let this picture load. It's pretty cool

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/36000/36729/inauguration_ge1_2009020_lrg.jpg

OCO Mishap

Just about 12 hours after posting about the OCO takeoff, it seems the mission has failed. And the rocket is now probably somewhere in Antarctica. Not much help in studying CO2 from that position. Sigh.

"Preliminary indications are that the fairing on the Taurus XL launch vehicle failed to separate. The fairing is a clamshell structure that encapsulates the satellite as it travels through the atmosphere."

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/oco/main/index.html

Orbiting Carbon Observatory

This is set to launch February 24th. Tomorrow morning. And it should give us a better picture of where CO2 is coming from and where it is going. It will also help scientists predict how CO2 affects our atmosphere and how it will affect life on the planet for years and decades to come.

A Rare Earth??

Peter Ward describes some of his thoughts regarding the delicate and perhaps quite rare planet we inhabit: Earth.

The Kepler Mission - NASA

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/overview/index.html

This is one of many new and exciting missions coming up for NASA. The Kepler mission is designed to survey nearly 100,000 stars in our galaxy and identify Earth-like planets in or near what we descibe as "the habitable zone". We have only discovered, to my knowledge, one planet so far that is even close to Earth in any measureable way. Here it is. Interestingly the article states :

"Boss says we could learn a lot more if scientists launched a space telescope that is specially designed to look at faraway planets. NASA has one in development called the Terrestrial Planet Finder, but it has been delayed indefinitely by budget woes.

"Things like Terrestrial Planet Finder are no longer really in the active NASA plan," Boss says. "

Well, now we know that the search for ET continues. This telescope will help astronomers rid themselves of Earth based observation problems. And undoubtedly the answer to an enduring question may ratchet up another level.

And it all starts this year on March 5th. And then the three and a half year fixation on a point in the sky. A small portion of our galaxy , but hopefully worth the look.

The Archeology Channel

A host of informative videos concerning anthropology and archeology are found within this link.
Take a look at some of the past civilizations spread throughout time and space. I'll keep this link handy on the sidebar as well.

Global Warming Cause = Sulfur Dioxide

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Teton-Tectonics-946933.html

Honestly, I am sick of writing about Global Warming. But it is a topic of concern especially considering the upcoming legislation that will undoubtedly raise major concerns among societies, economies, and technologies, among other important areas of importance to us.

According to Dr Peter Ward (not a climatologist, but a retired geologist) global warming coincides with raised levels of sulfuric dioxide. This can be due to volcanic activity and even human caused byproducts of power plants. And the latter is why we are now seeing a rise in temperatures. Lets see if he has anything substantial here.

"Ward is holding a press conference at the Swissotel, Edelweiss Room, 323 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago on Wednesday, February 11 at 11 AM.

Ward's paper will be published in the next issue of "Thin Solid Films," a physics journal published by Elsevier Press, available online at www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00406090 (doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2009.01.005).
More details including Notes for Science Writers are found at Ward's website: www.tetontectonics.org. "

Holographic Universe, ... for real!!

More attention has been focused on the evidence presented by Craig Hogan and Cardiff University. The research may indicate new, profound breakthroughs in modern physics. We may be living in a holographic universe. Wow!!

Then again, .... can anyone explain, in normal everyday English, what that might actually mean??

For some reason I have this vision that the mighty, powerful, omnipotent R2-D2 is somehow responsible for everything we observe in our universe.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090203130708.htm

‘Teach-in’ to focus on global warming

Lets hope that this "teach -in" at the University of Louisville actually comprehensively covers this topic in its entirety. I'll look into what was presented after the seminar if information is available.

“Climate change is an issue that has as many opponents as it does supporters,” Haywood said. “It’s vital for people to become educated before they form an opinion.”

‘Teach-in’ to focus on global warming