...and no I'm not talking about people reporting tremors, although you should.
An experiment shows that it's possible to send a certain signal down a fiber-optic cable that turns the cable into a seismic detector. The next step is to see if doing it on cables that are actually in use (lit) will work without interfering with your streaming.
If this works, it will give us unprecedented knowledge of undersea seismic activity, which is very hard to measure.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Happy Thanksgiving
For everyone who celebrates. Please do remember the true origins of the holiday and that we should not just be thankful, but treat everyone with respect and acknowledge their contributions.
For those who don't, happy Thursday.
For those who don't, happy Thursday.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
2I/Borisov
It's a comet from another solar system. And it may tell us a lot more than 'Oumuamua did. Why?
Because 2I/Borisov has a tail.
Yes, that's the Earth for scale...the tail is huge. The comet's closest approach to us will be about 190 million miles...in the next couple of weeks. Telescopes trained on the tail may be able to tell things about the building blocks of another solar system, and thus about planetary formation. Just like with comets from our Oort cloud, we can use spectroscopes to identify what the tail is made of. Most likely we'll see the same things we see in local comets - things like water (yes, water, that's why science fiction writers like to crash comets into planets), carbon monoxide, cyanogen, etc. Also a lot of dust.
But we may still learn something.
2I Borisov will make its closest approach to the sun on December 8 (at which point its tail will be at peak) and to the Earth on December 28. Look for it in the constellations Crater and Hydra. For typical US latitudes, this will be fairly low and to the south two hours before sunrise. It's not naked-eye visible, though...you'll need a good scope.
The comet is not predicted to be captured by the sun, and will undergo only a minor course change as it passes through our solar system to parts as yet unknown. (Yes, it is theoretically possible for an interstellar comet to be captured and pulled into a solar system orbit and indeed possible that some of our local comets came from somewhere else, but this is the first time we've known for sure.
Because 2I/Borisov has a tail.
Yes, that's the Earth for scale...the tail is huge. The comet's closest approach to us will be about 190 million miles...in the next couple of weeks. Telescopes trained on the tail may be able to tell things about the building blocks of another solar system, and thus about planetary formation. Just like with comets from our Oort cloud, we can use spectroscopes to identify what the tail is made of. Most likely we'll see the same things we see in local comets - things like water (yes, water, that's why science fiction writers like to crash comets into planets), carbon monoxide, cyanogen, etc. Also a lot of dust.
But we may still learn something.
2I Borisov will make its closest approach to the sun on December 8 (at which point its tail will be at peak) and to the Earth on December 28. Look for it in the constellations Crater and Hydra. For typical US latitudes, this will be fairly low and to the south two hours before sunrise. It's not naked-eye visible, though...you'll need a good scope.
The comet is not predicted to be captured by the sun, and will undergo only a minor course change as it passes through our solar system to parts as yet unknown. (Yes, it is theoretically possible for an interstellar comet to be captured and pulled into a solar system orbit and indeed possible that some of our local comets came from somewhere else, but this is the first time we've known for sure.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Bow Ties Are Cool
So, the trailer for the next season of Doctor Who dropped over the weekend...and you get a bow tie, you get a bow tie, you get a bow tie!
There's a scene of the entire squad dressed up for a swanky party. Guess who's the only one who doesn't look perfectly put together. (And yes, the women are in menswear, it's awesome). It may be a Bond homage (which would be ironic, because the Flash is doing one of those too...)
I really want to know why.
And Cybermen!
It also implies there may be more of an arc this season, but we'll see.
And we have to wait until early 2020. However, season 13 is already in the works, so hopefully we've sorted out the filming schedule issues (for which I blame Bradley Walsh).
I just want Thirteen in a crooked bow tie.
There's a scene of the entire squad dressed up for a swanky party. Guess who's the only one who doesn't look perfectly put together. (And yes, the women are in menswear, it's awesome). It may be a Bond homage (which would be ironic, because the Flash is doing one of those too...)
I really want to know why.
And Cybermen!
It also implies there may be more of an arc this season, but we'll see.
And we have to wait until early 2020. However, season 13 is already in the works, so hopefully we've sorted out the filming schedule issues (for which I blame Bradley Walsh).
I just want Thirteen in a crooked bow tie.
Monday, November 25, 2019
So...
...is it possible for planets to form in the accretion disk of a black hole.
The math says: Yes.
Supermassive black holes have huge accretion disks that contain far, far more dust and debris than the much smaller accretion disks that form around stars.
Any such planets would have very interesting orbits indeed: They could be as far as ten light years from the primary. Needless to say there would be no life, at least not of any time we would recognize, on such a world. There would not be enough energy.
At least as far as we know.
But there could be huge numbers of these planets orbiting, say, the black hole at the center of the galaxy. With current technology we can't detect them.
Could they be useful? Perhaps...
The math says: Yes.
Supermassive black holes have huge accretion disks that contain far, far more dust and debris than the much smaller accretion disks that form around stars.
Any such planets would have very interesting orbits indeed: They could be as far as ten light years from the primary. Needless to say there would be no life, at least not of any time we would recognize, on such a world. There would not be enough energy.
At least as far as we know.
But there could be huge numbers of these planets orbiting, say, the black hole at the center of the galaxy. With current technology we can't detect them.
Could they be useful? Perhaps...
Friday, November 22, 2019
Cover Reveal: Arana
So, here it is!
The Mars War is years over. Earth lost. And Earth's first starship has gone out into the black. José Marin is crew on the second, a war veteran seeking a place to belong away from a world which has not welcomed him home. But when the Atlantis sends a distress call, the Endeavour must go to their aid, and discover a tangled web that Marin will be drawn into the very heart of. Now he must help find a way to save a world while his own world crumbles...''
Arana will be released just in time for Christmas on December 14, 2019.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Oops
Yup, SpaceX had a rocket blow up during a pressurization test again.
Here's the thing. SpaceX understands that when you are designing new stuff, especially for space, you have to accept that you are going to blow up a few prototypes. (And possibly kill a test pilot, although you do try to avoid that).
Their design philosophy of testing and improving rather than trying to anticipate every possible failure profile before building is what's going to get us there. It's faster, it's cheaper, and it's more efficient.
We just have to accept a few explosions along the way, and make sure there aren't any people in them. (Which is why SpaceX IS doing tons of testing on, say, launch abort and human escape systems).
Here's the thing. SpaceX understands that when you are designing new stuff, especially for space, you have to accept that you are going to blow up a few prototypes. (And possibly kill a test pilot, although you do try to avoid that).
Their design philosophy of testing and improving rather than trying to anticipate every possible failure profile before building is what's going to get us there. It's faster, it's cheaper, and it's more efficient.
We just have to accept a few explosions along the way, and make sure there aren't any people in them. (Which is why SpaceX IS doing tons of testing on, say, launch abort and human escape systems).
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Or Maybe We'll Just Freeze People
And right as we start speculating about hibernation, somebody manages to cryogenically freeze...and safely revive...a human.
The technique has nothing to do with space travel. The idea is to give ER doctors more time to save a dying patient...a couple of hours rather than a few minutes. It's possible that the time limit will be too short for a trip to Saturn.
But it's a proof of concept. (And, even more important, will save lives here on Earth).
The technique has nothing to do with space travel. The idea is to give ER doctors more time to save a dying patient...a couple of hours rather than a few minutes. It's possible that the time limit will be too short for a trip to Saturn.
But it's a proof of concept. (And, even more important, will save lives here on Earth).
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Sleeping to Mars
A science fiction staple – human hibernation is now being seriously studied.
Hibernating astronauts would need a much smaller spaceship, which would be easier to shield from radiation. They would not need to carry as much food. Sleeping through it would also reduce the risk of psychological issues causing inter-crew conflicts that are also a science fiction staple, but a very real risk when you have a small group of people that isolated.
We don't have a reliable way to induce long-term hibernation in humans yet, but we're looking into it.
The astronauts would, like bears, have to store body fat for the trip. In fact it might even be that the first Mars crew to be sent using this would be selected for being what livestock people call "easy keepers." In other words, people who put on weight at a drop of a hat would have a higher chance of surviving long-term hibernation in good condition.
They're predicting that it would take 2 to 3 weeks for the astronauts to recover (muscles not used for five months are going to be weak, for example). But that mission cost would be overwhelmed by the advantages.
What do you think? Should we sleep our way to Mars?
Hibernating astronauts would need a much smaller spaceship, which would be easier to shield from radiation. They would not need to carry as much food. Sleeping through it would also reduce the risk of psychological issues causing inter-crew conflicts that are also a science fiction staple, but a very real risk when you have a small group of people that isolated.
We don't have a reliable way to induce long-term hibernation in humans yet, but we're looking into it.
The astronauts would, like bears, have to store body fat for the trip. In fact it might even be that the first Mars crew to be sent using this would be selected for being what livestock people call "easy keepers." In other words, people who put on weight at a drop of a hat would have a higher chance of surviving long-term hibernation in good condition.
They're predicting that it would take 2 to 3 weeks for the astronauts to recover (muscles not used for five months are going to be weak, for example). But that mission cost would be overwhelmed by the advantages.
What do you think? Should we sleep our way to Mars?
Monday, November 18, 2019
Sigh...space rocks
So, are we all going to die? The alarmist headlines are back.
The latest ones talk about a rock named 2009JF1, which according to the alarmists has a 1 in 3,800 chance of hitting Earth on May 6, 2022.
So, should we all be preparing for the worst?
According to both NASA and ESA, 2009JF1 does indeed show a close approach risk on that day.
But! The alarmists are saying this rock has a 420 ft diameter.
Nope.
It has a 43 ft diameter. Still bad, yes, but it makes me skeptical about whatever else they have to say.
(I'm also seeing 52 ft, so we're probably not 100% sure on the exact size, but it's def. not 420 ft!)
So, what would actually happen if 2009JF1 hit us?
Let's assume 50 ft as a reasonable size for this beastie.
Let's make the reasonable assumption it's dense rock, being a rogue asteroid.
Let's assume a typical impact speed.
2009JF1 hits us.
It breaks up in the upper atmosphere into lots of tiny fragments. Unless one lands on your head, you'll be fine. And if you're directly under it and standing near a window, you might be in trouble (Pro tip: See a fireball, get away from windows).
We already know what an impact of this size does if it "hits" a city. It's called Chelyabinsk.
In other words, somebody added a 0 to the size of an asteroid and panicked and now it's spreading.
(Out of interest, what would happen if it was 420 ft? I ran that too. Nice big crater, and you wouldn't want to be under it, but not by any means a planet killer).
Sigh.
Look, I get it. We need planetary defense. But inaccurate alarmism is not how we get it.
The latest ones talk about a rock named 2009JF1, which according to the alarmists has a 1 in 3,800 chance of hitting Earth on May 6, 2022.
So, should we all be preparing for the worst?
According to both NASA and ESA, 2009JF1 does indeed show a close approach risk on that day.
But! The alarmists are saying this rock has a 420 ft diameter.
Nope.
It has a 43 ft diameter. Still bad, yes, but it makes me skeptical about whatever else they have to say.
(I'm also seeing 52 ft, so we're probably not 100% sure on the exact size, but it's def. not 420 ft!)
So, what would actually happen if 2009JF1 hit us?
Let's assume 50 ft as a reasonable size for this beastie.
Let's make the reasonable assumption it's dense rock, being a rogue asteroid.
Let's assume a typical impact speed.
2009JF1 hits us.
It breaks up in the upper atmosphere into lots of tiny fragments. Unless one lands on your head, you'll be fine. And if you're directly under it and standing near a window, you might be in trouble (Pro tip: See a fireball, get away from windows).
We already know what an impact of this size does if it "hits" a city. It's called Chelyabinsk.
In other words, somebody added a 0 to the size of an asteroid and panicked and now it's spreading.
(Out of interest, what would happen if it was 420 ft? I ran that too. Nice big crater, and you wouldn't want to be under it, but not by any means a planet killer).
Sigh.
Look, I get it. We need planetary defense. But inaccurate alarmism is not how we get it.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Weekly Updates
Okay, so news is:
Edits are back on Araña. I've started going through them and expect to be contacting my cover artist some time next week. This is a companion book to Transpecial and should appeal to people who liked that one. It's better, too.
The Secret History of Victor Prince first draft is at about 15,000 words, before I stopped to worry about getting Araña out there.
I still don't have a formal release date, but it should be within the next few weeks. After last year, I intend to avoid a Black Friday release. I've been advised that it's a bad idea to do Black Friday releases and promotions because people are tired of advertising. I am already!
Edits are back on Araña. I've started going through them and expect to be contacting my cover artist some time next week. This is a companion book to Transpecial and should appeal to people who liked that one. It's better, too.
The Secret History of Victor Prince first draft is at about 15,000 words, before I stopped to worry about getting Araña out there.
I still don't have a formal release date, but it should be within the next few weeks. After last year, I intend to avoid a Black Friday release. I've been advised that it's a bad idea to do Black Friday releases and promotions because people are tired of advertising. I am already!
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Got an old pooch?
The Dog Aging Project is looking for 10,000 aged canines to participate in a massive study about aging. They may be trying an anti-aging drug on some dogs. But mostly it just means they want vet records.
If you have an older dog and would like to help study aging in dogs (and eventually humans), you can nominate them here.
If you have an older dog and would like to help study aging in dogs (and eventually humans), you can nominate them here.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Fluctuating Oxygen On Mars
So, this is real interesting.
Mars does have seasons.
And the oxygen level is showing seasonal fluctuations.
Which are not stable or what we predicted.
What creates oxygen? All kinds of chemical processes, but we just can't explain this.
Mars may still be, barely, a living world. Do we hope for that or not?
(And how do I use this in a story).
Mars does have seasons.
And the oxygen level is showing seasonal fluctuations.
Which are not stable or what we predicted.
What creates oxygen? All kinds of chemical processes, but we just can't explain this.
Mars may still be, barely, a living world. Do we hope for that or not?
(And how do I use this in a story).
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Interstellar Probes
The Voyager probes have taught us a lot about the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space. We weren't expecting there to be a "wall" at the heliopause.
So, maybe it's time to send a proper interstellar probe. Voyager 1 and 2 took 40 years to leave the solar system, but we know a good bit more about building probes now. Using gravity assist, we might be able to get a probe to the heliopause in a much more reasonable decade or so. Solar gravity assist would be faster, Jovian assist would allow more science on the way. (My suggestion would be to actually do both).
We need to take good measurements of true interstellar space. It's colder, it's denser. What else is different? We don't know yet.
And we don't know why the boundary is so sudden. Why the solar system is encased in a bubble. Understanding that could tell us many things about everything from how life is nurtured to the base structure of the universe. (How much is our view of space skewed by being inside our bubble).
We don't know yet, and it's time to find out.
So, maybe it's time to send a proper interstellar probe. Voyager 1 and 2 took 40 years to leave the solar system, but we know a good bit more about building probes now. Using gravity assist, we might be able to get a probe to the heliopause in a much more reasonable decade or so. Solar gravity assist would be faster, Jovian assist would allow more science on the way. (My suggestion would be to actually do both).
We need to take good measurements of true interstellar space. It's colder, it's denser. What else is different? We don't know yet.
And we don't know why the boundary is so sudden. Why the solar system is encased in a bubble. Understanding that could tell us many things about everything from how life is nurtured to the base structure of the universe. (How much is our view of space skewed by being inside our bubble).
We don't know yet, and it's time to find out.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Philcon Roundup
I didn't get to any programming except for the wonderful improv people that are Steamfunk. (Cosplay Night Court is a blast if you can manage to stay reasonably reliably in character for an hour. And sometimes even more hilarious if you can't).
Thanks to everyone who bought books.
No thanks to the hotel for the lack of heat (this was resolved to my satisfaction, but I hear some jobsworth was telling disabled attendees that they could not have heat in their rooms because it wasn't December yet. Communication would have resolved the entire problem before the mass complaints).
Got to hang out with some wonderful and amazing people, as usual.
Thanks to everyone who bought books.
No thanks to the hotel for the lack of heat (this was resolved to my satisfaction, but I hear some jobsworth was telling disabled attendees that they could not have heat in their rooms because it wasn't December yet. Communication would have resolved the entire problem before the mass complaints).
Got to hang out with some wonderful and amazing people, as usual.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Updates and Philcon
Updates early because I'll be leaving for Philcon pretty early in the morning.
I'll be in the dealer room selling books and in the bar celebrating sales (hopefully!).
So, updates:
The puppy finally let go of Arana this week. I am currently a bit over halfway through on this round of edits. Then I'll be contacting my editor.
Needless to say the edits have priority this week and likely next (If you want them done faster, buy my books so I don't have to spend as much time on client work ;)).
Which makes that pretty much it for this week. No post tomorrow, likely, but will post on Monday.
I'll be in the dealer room selling books and in the bar celebrating sales (hopefully!).
So, updates:
The puppy finally let go of Arana this week. I am currently a bit over halfway through on this round of edits. Then I'll be contacting my editor.
Needless to say the edits have priority this week and likely next (If you want them done faster, buy my books so I don't have to spend as much time on client work ;)).
Which makes that pretty much it for this week. No post tomorrow, likely, but will post on Monday.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Here be Dragons
Somebody just dug up a 33 foot long sea serpent (plesiosaur) in eastern Poland. Imagine if the person who dug it up had been a peasant who didn't know about dinosaurs?
I'm guessing they would have found a dead "dragon" and the stories would have, well, spread.
(Then again, what the heck is the difference? It's a sea dragon for all intents and purposes).
I'm guessing they would have found a dead "dragon" and the stories would have, well, spread.
(Then again, what the heck is the difference? It's a sea dragon for all intents and purposes).
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Review: The Collected Short Fiction of C.J. Cherryh
Cherryh is an author who works best in longer forms. In fact, often in very long forms - her Foreigner series is pretty much science fiction's Wheel of Time.
This curated collection of the best of her short fiction, though, does contain some true gems. My favorite was probably "Of Law and Magic," a novelette originally published in Moonsinger's Friends. I also liked "Gwydion and the Dragon," a novella that earned a World Fantasy award.
And even her bad stories are better than a lot of people's good ones. You can see how she earned her place as a Grand Master.
I did find the science error in the Sunfall stories somewhat egregious. I won't say what it is, but read for it and see if you can find it.
Even if you already own Sunfall and Visible Light you might find this worth getting as the best stories are the ones not from those collections.
Her novels are still better, but this collection is worth a read.
This curated collection of the best of her short fiction, though, does contain some true gems. My favorite was probably "Of Law and Magic," a novelette originally published in Moonsinger's Friends. I also liked "Gwydion and the Dragon," a novella that earned a World Fantasy award.
And even her bad stories are better than a lot of people's good ones. You can see how she earned her place as a Grand Master.
I did find the science error in the Sunfall stories somewhat egregious. I won't say what it is, but read for it and see if you can find it.
Even if you already own Sunfall and Visible Light you might find this worth getting as the best stories are the ones not from those collections.
Her novels are still better, but this collection is worth a read.
Monday, November 4, 2019
Care Package to the ISS
...okay, so the astronaut resupply mission contains something I know I would want if I was an astronaut:
An oven. And cookie dough.
They're going to find out if you can bake cookies in microgravity, something that future space colonists everywhere sure want to know.
(Also on the slate for experiments, some carbon fiber that may be used in medical implants in the future for a space exposure experiment, and new anti-radiation gear).
An oven. And cookie dough.
They're going to find out if you can bake cookies in microgravity, something that future space colonists everywhere sure want to know.
(Also on the slate for experiments, some carbon fiber that may be used in medical implants in the future for a space exposure experiment, and new anti-radiation gear).
Friday, November 1, 2019
New release and Updates
Be warned, this is not a nice story.
Miniatures
I've started work on the first draft of The Secret History of Victor Prince, which is a prequel book to the Lost Guardians series.
Arana is coming, but somebody gave my last remaining beta reader a puppy. A very adorable, very active and very distracting puppy. He's gonna get written into something scathing ;).
Miniatures
I've started work on the first draft of The Secret History of Victor Prince, which is a prequel book to the Lost Guardians series.
Arana is coming, but somebody gave my last remaining beta reader a puppy. A very adorable, very active and very distracting puppy. He's gonna get written into something scathing ;).
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