I’m a simple person with simple questions. Fortunately, xkcd is here to answer at least some of them. Like this, for example:
* Fascinating, and also possibly sponsored by the Dutch.
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Archive for the ‘Science!’ Category
What’s Down There, Anyway?
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, #DutchConspiracy, oceans, science, Thoughts on June 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The Solstice, Again?
Posted in Holidays, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, inspiration, nature, Thoughts on June 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Wait, today is the summer solstice already? Not quite sure how that happened but here we are, almost halfway through the year. That’s a little scary (time, it flies!) and a lot reassuring: the world keeps turning, no matter what.
So here we go again!
Summer solstice: Everything you need to know about the longest day of the year
The summer solstice is Thursday, June 20. It’s the longest day and shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s also the first official day of summer.
Happy summer!
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Planet Parade
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, astronomy, science, space on June 2, 2024| 1 Comment »
Apologies for the late notice but this is a public service announcement. Please be aware that there will be a parade in your neighborhood about twenty minutes before sunrise, on the morning of June 3rd, and everyone is invited!
Planet Parade 2024: How To See Rare Celestial Event
This rare event, often referred to as a “planet parade,” will occur on June 3, 2024, and feature Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all lining up close together.
Unfortunately, most of the planets won’t be visible to the naked eye, but it’s fun just to know that it’s happening.
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An Astronaut’s Closet
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, astronauts, NASA, space, space exploration on May 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »
What’s in an astronaut’s closet? (And seriously, how do scratch your face in one of those things?)
All this and more answers to your space-suit-related questions below!
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Better with Magic
Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, creativity, inspiration, kurt vonnegut, magic, possibility, science, Thoughts on April 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »
A phrase in a recent Storybundle promo caught my eye: “real life would be better if it had magic.”
Not that I actually think there are werewolves and vampires lurking around every corner, and I definitely believe in the power of science and all its wonders, but in general? I couldn’t agree more.
For me, magic is possibility.
Magic is the sure and certain knowledge that while we like to think we know everything the world has to offer, we do not.
I find that encouraging. You may have noticed that our world has a number of pressing issues, from the social to the political to the environmental. It would be wonderful to be able to pull out a magic wand and make those problems go away, but that’s not how our magic works.
Our magic is anchored in reality. I’ve talked about this idea before, but think it bears repeating. Just like the best fantasy, it relies on people (that’s you and that’s me) who care about their family, their friends, and their communities.
This form of magic is slower, yes, but surer. A rogue warlock can’t come along one day and upend everything we’ve worked for, just because he stole a forbidden spell from the archives of Alexandria-Under-Sea. (The Lernaean Hydra has been protecting those archives for centuries, thankfully! If you visit, tell him I sent you. And bring salmon snacks, he loves those.)
It also means that the problems and constraints we face today aren’t necessarily permanent. Not if we continue to study, to observe, to understand the world around us. (To quote Kurt Vonnegut, science is magic that works.) Not if we understand that every face is a mirror of our own humanity. Not if we are brave and focused and keep our eyes on our goals.
And if someone tells you that there is no hope? That you might as well give up?
Don’t listen to them.
So what if you’ve misplaced your magic wand. That’s ok, you can still be a hero. You can make your own magic.
Just embrace a world of possibilities. And then work to make it real.
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Earth Day: What’s Good
Posted in Holidays, Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, Earth Day 2024, fresh perspectives, genre fiction, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers on April 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Today is work work work but that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about what’s good for the planet. If you are looking for ideas on what to do and how to do it, check out the Earth Day 2024 website or this Earth Day Action Toolkit.
And for ideas on how interacting with nature can help change our perspective, here’s an article by documentary film maker and student of octopi Craig Foster:
Earth Day 2024: ‘Saving the Planet’ Is the Wrong Goal
I was gifted with a new way of seeing the day I got mugged underwater…
Note to self: do not swim with novel shiny things!
As we’re discussing octopi and how they see the world, let me also recommend Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Is it fiction? Maybe!
(And yes, my favorite character was the octopus.)
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Hoot Hoot
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, Avian Truman Show, birds, nature on April 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Despite the last-gasp storm a few days ago, spring is very much underway and nature is rising to the challenge. That means babies. One of our local bird shops set up a nesting box, complete with cameras. Curious about the family life of the barred owl? This one’s for you!
WBU Barred Owl Cam | Interior and Exterior Owl Nest Box Camera Views | Wild Birds Unlimited
Our live streaming video feeds are up and running, ready to immerse you in the enchanting world of these magnificent creatures.
The view outside the nest:
Rude but fascinating view inside the nest:
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Just Perfect
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, eclipse 2024, science, Thoughts on April 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Our eclipse experience was great. We found a terrific little nature preserve called the Cooper Marsh Conservation Area, with boardwalks, picnic tables, lawns and benches. Lunch, exploration, then a bit of chillaxation as we waited for the eclipse.
When they said that there is a significant difference between 99% and totality, they were not kidding. It was a beautiful day, but when the light faded and the stars came out? Just perfect.
If you missed it, here are highlights from NASA’s feed, along with a collection of images.
Amazing!
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It’s an Eclipse!
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, eclipse 2024, science on April 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »
If you can go outside and view the eclipse using protective glasses or an indirect method like a pinhole or disco ball, great! But even if you can’t get outside, there are many ways to watch the event online, like The Planetary Society’s live cast with Bill Nye.
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Eclipse the Storm
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, eclipse 2024, science on April 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Why care about Monday’s eclipse (aside from the fact that it’s demonstrably cool)? This physicist is working to find answers to the why, how and how bad of coronas and solar storms, and eclipses can help with that. How? Read on!
Why a solar physicist has been chasing solar eclipses for more than three decades – Vox
Despite how much damage solar storms can do to our tech on Earth, scientists are still struggling to predict them. And that’s because they don’t understand that much about how the corona works.
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