Lucid Storm Blog Name Change

LucidStorm is now Humbleplanet. I don't think anyone reads this anyway, but if you do, all the archived posts and any new posts will appear at :

humbleplanet.blogspot.com

Pictures of Now Extinct Animals

Many factors can be responsible for the obliteration of a species. Even subtle ones. While we, as humans, haven't been resposible for the extinction of even several decimals of a percent of all the past species, I would say that even one extinction is enough. Overhunting is the chief factor in many of these extinctions.

At worst it should have us evaluate our effect on the environment in both biotic and abiotic realms. At best it should prompt action now when the will and education neccessary to avert such tragedies is missing.

I still have some hope that a few Tasmanian Tigers have escaped the peril of extinction. But maybe I've been watching too much MonsterQuest.

http://ecoworldly.com/2009/04/02/11-extinct-animals-that-have-been-photographed-alive/

Roger Ebert: Quantum Mechanics & Reincarnation

Roger Ebert on quantum mechanics. Yes, that Robert Ebert. And not just quantum mechanics, but the idea of reincarnation as well. A thought experiment if you will. Because as strange as things get in the purple haze of subatomic behavior you may find yourself neither here nor there, but BOTH here and there, ... and then entirely nowhere.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/07/everymans_guide_to_quantum_the.html

Robert Anton Wilson on Quantum Mechanics (linked to in Ebert's blog)

Photo of the Day - Shuttle

One of the Space Photos of the Week from National Geographic.

Twitter: Asteroid Watch

I'm not a fan of Twitter really for the mere fact that "tweeting" isn't something I want to admit being involved with. It just seems, well, ... I don't know. That word, .. "TWEET!!". I guess I just need to get over it. Either way Twitter is terribly popular and is for the most part the ultimate time-waster. But it has room for some items of interest.

Lately I've come across a new Twitter feed from JPL:

AsteroidWatch

It gives a sigh, .. "tweet" about any space rock within 750,000 miles of Earth. So if you want to keep close tabs on neighborhood, so to speak, you might follow this. I'll keep it posted on the sidebar and add any other Twitter feeds I find relevant. Let me know if you have any you follow.

Lasers, Aluminum, and New States of Matter

How many states of matter are there??

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/scientistsclaimnewstateofmattercreated

By using lasers focusing on atoms of Aluminum scientists have made the atoms of the metal transparent. While we won't be at the helm of invisible starships any time soon, the research seems to open avenues that may lead us to better energy sources. And while we have a "we know it all" mentality sometimes concerning scientific discovery, this is just one more story that says "No, we don't know it all". Perhaps we are just at the cusp of a new practical scientific revelation.

"Transparent aluminum is just the start," Wark said. "The physical properties of the matter we are creating are relevant to the conditions inside large planets, and we also hope that by studying it we can gain a greater understanding of what is going on during the creation of 'miniature stars' created by high-power laser implosions, which may one day allow the power of nuclear fusion to be harnessed here on Earth."

Who Owns the Moon, .. we had better decide

Who owns it?? Nobody, .... and everybody. It seems the "law" concerning the moon is a bit complicated. The US has plans to go back and establish a base. Other countries have plans as well. When we drew up the Moon Treaty there were only two space faring nations, the US and Russia. But now there are more. And sooner than later these nations want to go to the moon. And do what?? I don't know.

We also have people that say the own the moon and so forth selling one acre plots of land. ASnd by the looks of it, people have made some money in the process. You can buy moon property right now at a cost of $18.95 to $37.50 an acre depending where you are. Check it out here.

But now I see this: http://moonpublicity.com/mp/


If I look up someday and see a Walmart sign in the half moon phase, I'll know that human beings have gone completely mad. Are we really about to scrape the moon in an effort of global marketing. Sigh....

40 Years and Counting, .... we goin back??

It's been 40 years now since this photo was taken. I can't begin to imagine the emotion involved in looking back onto our home planet. Everything we know, love, hate, and experience is there. Well, .. except for those moments in space. Michael Collins said that he wished all the world leaders were able to go to the moon to look back on our planet. To look back at that magnificent blue pearl without all the borders, fragmented ideologies, and tension that humans place on it. He said he thought it could have a great effect on how our leaders look at the world and perhaps provoke positive global change. This kind of experience has the power to change your worldview. I can believe it.

Ali G - Science

"Does you use a toilet or does you just drop it in a hole??" - Ali G

For reasons unknown I am finding this funny at this moment. At least Kent Hovind doesn't get to rant too much about evolution.

The Real Search for ET

Talk about searching for ET and you might get a few giggles. We have this strange duality when it concerns aliens. Usually when anyone speaks of finding ET it concerns UFO's or groups like SETI. There is still a curtain of laughter surrounding the issue for a number of reasons. But one look at a galaxy dotted Hubble image and the laughter begins to wane and a sobering question lingers. Out of the billions and billions (think Sagan) of galaxies and suitable stars is there anything else?? AnyONE else?? AnyTHING else??

I happen to think that undoubtedly there is. And with newer and more advanced techniques we come closer to finding out. We are in an era where we can utilize the vast amount of data collection to analyze the potential for life. And a this new search method should help. Keep your eyes on the skies and you bookmarks on scientists like these because before you know it, the world as we know it may change. What happens next is anyones guess.

The Search for ET just got Easier

Invisibility Cloak

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090501154143.htm

Science or magic??

The Virus Battery

I missed this story awhile back but it may turn out to be an important one. Scientists at MIT have developed a battery where the anodes and cathodes are built by specially engineered viruses. There is currently more research being done on the technology to develop higher voltages.

It may be early to say that this could cause a battery revolution, but the potential may be there. The production of these batteries uses no toxic or harmful materials. The process takes place at room temperature. And no, we can't be infected by the viruses. Did I mention they are cheaper to produce??

The only down side is that the number of times they can be charged is less than the lithium batteries. But to compensate for that they have longer charges. We'll have to wait and see but it is ideas like these that we need to cure our increasing energy needs.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/virus-battery-0402.html

Majenta is not a color.

Did you Learn about Him in School??

More information about the guy you never learned about in school than you could imagine.

Encyclopedia of Life

I can't believe I hadn't come by this site by now. Talk about a wealth of scientific knowledge.

http://www.eol.org/

"The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) is an ambitious, even audacious project to organize and make available via the Internet virtually all information about life present on Earth. At its heart lies a series of Web sites—one for each of the approximately 1.8 million known species—that provide the entry points to this vast array of knowledge. The entry-point for each site is a species page suitable for the general public, but with several linked pages aimed at more specialized users. The sites sparkle with text and images that are enticing to everyone, as well as providing deep links to specific data.

The EOL dynamically synthesizes biodiversity knowledge about all known species, including their taxonomy, geographic distribution, collections, genetics, evolutionary history, morphology, behavior, ecological relationships, and importance for human well being, and distribute this information through the Internet. It serves as a primary resource for a wide audience that includes scientists, natural resource managers, conservationists, teachers, and students around the world. We believe that the EOL's encompassing scope and innovation will have a major global impact in facilitating biodiversity research, conservation, and education.

The EOL staff is made up of scientists and non-scientists working from museums and research institutions around the world. We currently have 20 full time employees, but as this project grows, so will the EOL family."

ADAM- The Robot Scientist

We rely on machines to collect data. We rely on them to interpret the data and to construct models. We rely on machines heavily in the course of scientific advancement. But on more rung has been added to the ladder. In fact, perhaps it is altogether another ladder. For the first time, and certainly not the last, a hunk of machinery, called ADAM, has developed scientific hypotheses and tested them, ... by itself. And this methodology has lead to new scientific knowledge.

And so it goes. Enter the robot scientists. Complex pathways of wires and metal and instruments that results in new knowledge. And all this with no human input, other than the building and encoding of AI within it's circuits. This advancement may prove considerably beneficial to the scientific world.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/04/090402-robot-scientists.html

Liquid Water on Mars ,... Today

This recent photo has caused a bit of controversy. But it seems that what it is showing is liquid water on the landing legs of the Phoenix. This evidence suggests that water likely exists on the planet in liquid form in various places. And we all know that it is another piece in finding life there. The salinity of the water must be very high in order to remain a liquid. But with the recent revelation and discovery of methane accompanied with liquid water, the red planet is becoming more and more intriguing. When are we going there??

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319232438.htm

Unexpected Particle, again

Just goes to show you, the more we know the stranger it gets. The science of the very small subatomic world is far more bizzare then we ever could imagine.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090318140618.htm

Educate Yourself for Free

It may be surprising to know that you can educate yourself for free on the internet. Even from outstanding schools like MIT. But be advised, you won't recieve any credentials from the school to put towards a masters degree or anything like that. But if you find knowledge generally important and have the time, you can delve into the principles of astronomy, physics, biology, or any number of subjects.

I'll start to compile a number of sites devoted to free learning and I'll keep them in a tab on the sidebar.

For now, look here.

Transient Lunar Phenomenon

Do they really exist?? And, if so, what the heck are they??

Maybe we'll find out relatively soon.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090302-moon-flashes-missions.html