DIY Ethos & Magnetometers

DIY Ethos & Magnetometers

Vitamin Store = Cheap Lab Gear? One part of assembly is making sure all my circuits are properly shielded and not sending out interfering signals.  A decent magnetometer-- a meter to measure…
Mayans, Global Warming, NASA & 2012

Mayans, Global Warming, NASA & 2012

This is not about a Mayan 2012 apocalypse.  This is about the 9th century Mayan apocalypse, as documented by NASA.  It's also about modern global warming.  So there's plenty of doom to…
Redrawing The Shape Of The Solar System

Redrawing The Shape Of The Solar System

The 'heliosphere', the name given to the region of the sun's influence, may not have the comet-like shape predicted by existing models, say researchers. As the solar wind flows from the sun, it…
MSL: Mars Action Hero

MSL: Mars Action Hero

You know, I'm tired of hearing about how the Mars Exploration Rovers are so cute, and spunky, but their successor Mars Science Lab is big and ugly. MSL isn't supposed to be cute, it's supposed to be…
Mayans Upset at Blame for 2012.

Mayans Upset at Blame for 2012.

Okay, the world is not going to end in 2012.  The source of this info?  The Mayans.  The living Mayans.  You didn't think all that's left is stone tablets, did you?  In that…
The Future Of International Astronomy

The Future Of International Astronomy

I'm sitting at "Beyond the Decade: The Future of International Astronomy", a conference today at the National Academies.  The conference is small (53 people so far) but rich in material,…
I now own half a satellite

I now own half a satellite

I now own half a satellite... and in a way, you do to.  The Scientific Blogging "Project Calliope" satellite order has been placed!  Thanks to Hank's SB contribution, we have the 'science'…
Moon Crash

Moon Crash

Want a chance to see the water on the moon in real life? Wake up early Friday morning (if you live in the Americas), and get out your telescope. NASA’s Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite…
The International Space Station-- Gone By 2016?

The International Space Station-- Gone By 2016?

Just why do we have a space station, anyway? That's a question of relevance, because it turns out we might not have one after 2015. The International Space Science Station (ISS) is a football-field…
Dark Matter: The Plot Thickens

Dark Matter: The Plot Thickens

An article in this week's edition of Nature adds to the mysteries surrounding 'dark matter'. Should we abandon this enigmatic concept of invisible matter that exerts gravitational attraction but is…