Earth ~ The Big Blue Marble
Just because…We sometimes need a reminder…
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NASA captures 3 years of our sun’s peak activity in a 3 minute video
Ra, the Sun God, has moods. Shot at NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), this fascinating 3 minute time-lapse video captures 3 years of our sun’s peak activity during it’s “normal” 11 year cycle.
Watching it, I felt quite vulnerable… …
“A fascinatingly disturbing thought” ~ Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson’s disturbing thought: That there is about a one percent difference between human DNA and the DNA of our nearest genetic relatives the chimpanzee. You could say that whatever it is that makes us human is somehow contained in that one percent difference. Think of what those differences are: simple tools vs. rockets, gestured “language” vs. poetry and the language of mathematics.
So imagine if we encountered a life form that is one percent “more advanced” than humans, in the same way that humans are one percent more advanced than chimpanzees. Imagine what that might look like–keeping in mind how we treat those one percent “inferior” to us.
It’s a “fascinatingly disturbing thought.”
Do view the video below…It’s Neil deGrasse Tyson at his best.
What happens when the stars disappear? ~ Brian Greene
In his TED talk, Brian Greene makes a startling point. In addition to the fascinating idea that there may be many more universes than just ours, he notes that at some point in the future, the stars are going to disappear. …
Robotic grippers ~ Brilliant “granular” method for picking up objects of all shapes
Robotic grippers ~ What a simple, brilliant idea for solving an difficult problem: How to enable robot “hands” to pick up objects as easily as human hands do. I would love to hear the story behind this insight. …
A Biologist’s Mother’s Day Song ~ Music & Lyrics by Adam Cole
As a bio major in college, this got me laughing…then thinking…then laughing some more.
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REAL Stephen Colbert interviews Neil deGrasse Tyson ~ Montclair Kimberley Academy
Stephen Colbert (out of character, as himself) interviews astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson at the prep school MontClair Kimberley Academy. The topics are far ranging, but orbit around science, culture, truth, and Tyson’s enthusiasm for learning–all wrapped in good, biting humor and mutual respect.
Neil deGrasse Tyson ~ We Stopped Dreaming
This collection of Neil deGrasse Tyson clips (assembled by Scrunchthethird on YouTube) are inspiring. I’m old enough to remember when we landed on the moon and the excitement that generated in me as a child. It was a great way to grow scientists. It was a great way to keep us dreaming. We’ve lost our vision of what space means to us on so many levels: spiritually, economically, intellectually.
The impact of NASA is not easily estimated, so it’s often easily dismissed. The opportunities lost by failing to dream are also not easily estimated and easily dismissed. What a shame.
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Arrogance of science and religion ~ Being thick as a brick
The entire video is fascinating, but this bit about the arrogance of scientists and the religious is particularly interesting.
How to Smash Glass Bottles Bare-Handed
The secret is to fill the bottle with non-carbonated liquid (water) AND leave some space at the top for air. Than slam your hand over the top (as in the video). If you do it right, the compression of the air will create enough pressure to break the bottom of the glass bottle.
This guy (William Beaty) is fun!
