Last Viewed Science Blogs (319)

First off, I have to thank Jim for bringing this to my attention. In fact, other than from Jim, I have not heard a single thing about this comet. It was discovered in late December....for whatever that means.

I have been kinda watching things on a daily basis as more and more information becomes available about it. What they say about it, as it become closer and closer to our sun, it is melting more and more. This is a comet, it is ice. So, as it heats up, it melts. Scientists say that the more it melts, the more light it will reflect, being easier to see in space.

The ancients feared comets...claiming they bring disease and destruction.

Now, this is where I start wondering a bit...because, I am no scientist and I am no astrologer.

But, the way I read about this comet, it will becoming near Earth.

Even if there is no physical collision from the hard physical form of the comet, is it possible the Earth could pass through the plume that is being melted off it? If so, is the Earth going to just pass through water vapors (because comets are reported to be frozen ice)...or....is there a possibility that some microbes may exist in this plume?

From what I understand, asteroids are somewhat able to be detected where it comes from...because we have a asteroid belt around us. But comets on the other hand come from deep space...and from what I understand, scientists don't know where they come from. Like I mentioned earlier, this comet was reported to be just discovered in December.

Anyway....just some thoughts here.

Thanks Jim.

Happy Saturday all.

This temple was built in North Cambodia in the 12th century. One thing that stands out on the decorative panels is a design of what appears to be a prehistoric animal. A stegosaurus. How could people of that time have known about such a creature? It is not until 200 years ago that any such animals could be identified.

If this reaction could be achieved and sustained, it could save humanity from climate change. It would produce limitless energy and no greenhouse gases or long life radio active waste.
Two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing a massive amount of energy. The fuels needed are deuterium and tritium ( hydrogen gases), heated to 100 million degrees. The gas becomes a plasma and the nuclei combine to form a helium nucleus and a neutron. A tiny fraction of the mass is converted to fusion energy.
This energy is the same as produced by stars and the sun.

On Thursday morning, the 2nd of February, Punxsutawney Phil will declare an early spring or six more weeks of winter depending on the visibility of his shadow.
I don't know about the rest of the country, but the weather in South Florida was in the 80's with lots of sunshine and warm winds.



Wanna see it live?
This link should become active at 6am:

... sure, some may have heard of them. But as in much of real science, they have their own interesting stories.
They've been noticed for a century, since the optics of light microscopes became much more able to resolve tiny cellular components. In many chromosomes, these would be the little distinguishable bulbs on both ends of these little pieces of compacted, histone wrapped, genetic bodies. A little of these get lost at each cell division, and when no longer present, the cell enters a final cycle, this one of programmed cell death. One of many functions of this system is to protect chromosomes during the beautiful process of Mitosis (meiosis), whereby microtubules attached to a sister bulb at the center of each chromosome, oddly named Centromeres, help to line the little buggers all up, and as cables, to tow them apart. First really peeked in on with scanning electron microscopes. Really, this is all so that a copy of each genetic plan can be sent to each daughter cell (why not son cell?) , after cell division is completed. In the absence of Telomeres, things between/among chromosomes seem to get a little too sticky in the process.
An enzyme system, known as the Telomerases, is main actor here. An integral part of a separate genetic system, with its own complemennt of Ribonucleic "acids", energy, etc., for control of the consumption of telomerase length. And, oh my CS homies, ---what shrinks can also grow. As gnomoid Runts like the Vierk should know. But I digress, TWICE?!?!.
Well, as in much of biology at these tiny levels, there's lots of redundancy, which isn't always a good thing. These now well known chromosomal parts can also be involved in LENGTHENING themselves, thereby contributing to LONGER cell life. As in the initial rapid multiplication of cancer cell lines, stems cells, and so on, where rapid division is important..
But here's the redundancy kicker. Seems that these Telomeric subsystems can also control nearby genes for other vital cellular functions. Introns and extrons. And who knows what else? So totally 'Efing slick, it brings the shakes to these shrimpy small man's little legs. Thrice?
Of course, thousands of hard working scientists gave humanity this information. But perhaps three were judged, fairly or not, as most central. Work done at the Karolinska Institutet, a cousin of the famous Vierk Institutet (for the study of political syndromes).
All hail: Carol Greider (while still a doctoral student!), Jack Szostak and lab leader, Eliz. Blackburn. Frice?
WTF? And twice as many women lab creatures as men get the prize? What's wrong with this Nobel Prize picture, I ask you?

Best evidence, from a number of lines of inquiry, confirm that the universe is expanding. Individual galaxies remain relatively tight, helped by internal gravity. But the distance between them is increasing, and the more distant these are from each other, the faster they go. Like raisins in rising bread dough. Dark energy ( ? matter) is doing the pushing, we're told, but noone knows at all what this is. Freaking out here over all this. Aa-V.

Before you say, "The same place I am in 2016, of course!"
Watch this...

YOUTUBE Impending Pole Shift - Future Location of the North and South Poles



Some claim this will occur very shortly, when Planet Nibiru makes it's pass through our solar system.

If I have it figured right...

...The Great Lakes will be at about Bermuda/Bahamas latitude.
Maybe in time for my birthday.

I have a snow blower I'll let go cheap.
I won't need it at the Bermuda/Bahamas latitude.

Y'all South Africans & Hawaiians might want to take me up on it.
PDQ!
Just sayin'.

We would all like to think that there is a form of life after death; There have always been stories of people who have died and come back to life after an accident or during surgery, however recent studies by a Dr. Robert Lanza suggests that our consciousness moves to another state after death.

His research has been based on the use of stem cells to develop technology to prevent the extinction of endangered animals. The research uses the principle of quantum physics, atoms are predictable according to Einstein’s theory of relativity but at a subatomic level they are not, if particles can exist in more than one place are there alternative universes?

I always have very bizarre dreams and wonder if it’s my consciousness telling me something, I can hear and see during my dreams and to a certain extent feel, So when I do become worm food will my consciousness continue? I am certainly not religious and this is not about religion, more about Scientific facts and would this explain people’s experiences of reincarnation?

We are a worldly bunch of people here, what are your thoughts?

"Darwin's Doubt"


& "The Return Of The God Hypothesis"

I went for a few months without flying drones. The model I purchased a few years ago, uses GPS guidance with the ability to shoot high quality 4K video. My intent was to study and pass the FAA Part 107 test and be certified to fly drones commercially... as in making money legally doing aerial photography. While it's on my list, other things keep getting in the way!

Three weeks ago, I connected with friends who fly for sport in a huge public park with a section off to one side for us to enjoy model aircraft. I did 10 minutes of flying but for some unknown reason, the video I recorded had a green tint. I suspect there could be some corrosion on the connector to the camera that needs attention.

Checking YouTube to see if anyone else had the same trouble, I came across a video with a drone that uses a ducted fan design instead of the conventional propellers.
While ducted fan technology isn't new to airplanes or drones, the inventor believes his design and shape of the propulsion tubes is unique. Therefore, he has applied for a patent.

His idea came about for safety as drones can be dangerous if they strike someone. The development of large scale quadcopters (drones) used to carry people also shares the same drawback. Some of the prototype designs I've seen all have blades in locations that could be strike someone nearing the airship.