I've dropped the price on Falling Dusk to .99 for the indefinite future.
New review for Araña - short but sweet!
The Men Who Go Under The Ground is a featured story on Curious Fictions!
Friday, January 31, 2020
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Hello, Sunshine
The Daniel K. Inouye solar telescope is open for business.
I have serious mixed feelings about this; it probably should not have been built where it was built, but I want the science.
(Some notable concessions were made including greatly improved soundproofing to reduce noise pollution).
It just gave us this:
(Image is on Syfy.com).
It looks more like an insect's wing than the surface of the sun.
I have serious mixed feelings about this; it probably should not have been built where it was built, but I want the science.
(Some notable concessions were made including greatly improved soundproofing to reduce noise pollution).
It just gave us this:
(Image is on Syfy.com).
It looks more like an insect's wing than the surface of the sun.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Trash to Treasure
We might make a lot of trash, but we're trying to reduce it.
Or recycle it.
James Tour at Rice University just came up with an amazing way to deal with trash.
He's developed a process that can turn anything with carbon in it to graphene flakes. Graphene could be used to strengthen concrete if we could make enough of it.
If this scales up, now we can.
Flash graphene can convert coal, plastic, food waste, wood chippings, yard waste, tires... It might be a good way to use food that has gone bad. You don't even have to separate this stuff out.
As little as 0.1% in cement could lessen the overall environmental impact of cement production by a third. And it traps carbon.
Let's keep an eye on this one.
Or recycle it.
James Tour at Rice University just came up with an amazing way to deal with trash.
He's developed a process that can turn anything with carbon in it to graphene flakes. Graphene could be used to strengthen concrete if we could make enough of it.
If this scales up, now we can.
Flash graphene can convert coal, plastic, food waste, wood chippings, yard waste, tires... It might be a good way to use food that has gone bad. You don't even have to separate this stuff out.
As little as 0.1% in cement could lessen the overall environmental impact of cement production by a third. And it traps carbon.
Let's keep an eye on this one.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Can Horses Save the Arctic?
Apparently, we could significantly reduce the impact of global warming by releasing large numbers of horses (and bison) in the arctic tundra.
Could this be a solution to Mustang overpopulation? (Or maybe it will be too cold for them).
The theory is that large herbivores actually increase the albedo by trampling down woody vegetation. This would reflect more light back into space, lower the temperature, and slow thawing.
(Of course, mammoths would be even better if we had any lying around...maybe that mammoth cloning idea isn't as stupid as we thought).
Could this be a solution to Mustang overpopulation? (Or maybe it will be too cold for them).
The theory is that large herbivores actually increase the albedo by trampling down woody vegetation. This would reflect more light back into space, lower the temperature, and slow thawing.
(Of course, mammoths would be even better if we had any lying around...maybe that mammoth cloning idea isn't as stupid as we thought).
Monday, January 27, 2020
What the...Chibnall (Doctor Who SPOILERS. Do not read if you haven't seen Fugitive of the Judoon)
Double you tee...you get the picture. This week's episode was by far the best Chibnall/Whitaker episode.
It also hurt my brain. Spoilers below.
It also hurt my brain. Spoilers below.
Friday, January 24, 2020
Space Cookies
The astronauts baked cookies on the ISS.
And apparently, cookies take a loong time to bake in zero G. Even worse, the astronauts weren't allowed to sample.
(Seriously, it took well over two hours to bake pretty ordinary cookies. So, now we have to work out how gravity affects heat transference, because apparently...)
And apparently, cookies take a loong time to bake in zero G. Even worse, the astronauts weren't allowed to sample.
(Seriously, it took well over two hours to bake pretty ordinary cookies. So, now we have to work out how gravity affects heat transference, because apparently...)
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Looking at the Far Side
China has released a veritable slew of scientific data from Chang'e 4. Including lots and lots of pictures.
The images are, of course, labeled in some form of Chinese (People who know, what language is typically used there for science?)
If you don't want to wade through it, a wonderful guy from NASA named Doug Ellison has already done part of the job for you and dropped a wonderful slide show right here.
Enough to get you excited about the moon again!
The images are, of course, labeled in some form of Chinese (People who know, what language is typically used there for science?)
If you don't want to wade through it, a wonderful guy from NASA named Doug Ellison has already done part of the job for you and dropped a wonderful slide show right here.
Enough to get you excited about the moon again!
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Always Look on the Bright Side...of Death
Terry Jones, the founder of Monty Python, died today at the age of 77, after a long struggle with fronto temporal dementia.
I'm always going to have fond memories of Flying Circus (and, of course, The Holy Grail, which is the best King Arthur movie ever in its own way). Of watching the farewell tour in a cinema (and being the only two people in the theater willing to sing "Always look on the bright side of death.")
Comedy is a fine art, a subjective art, and Jones was brilliant. He was also a brilliant director and author, a lover of Medieval history, and an outsized figure who will likely be remembered even by people who can't quite place his name.
I won't say RIP, because that doesn't seem quite right.
Find the Holy Grail, Terry.
I'm always going to have fond memories of Flying Circus (and, of course, The Holy Grail, which is the best King Arthur movie ever in its own way). Of watching the farewell tour in a cinema (and being the only two people in the theater willing to sing "Always look on the bright side of death.")
Comedy is a fine art, a subjective art, and Jones was brilliant. He was also a brilliant director and author, a lover of Medieval history, and an outsized figure who will likely be remembered even by people who can't quite place his name.
I won't say RIP, because that doesn't seem quite right.
Find the Holy Grail, Terry.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Life on the Moon
...just became a lot more possible.
The ESA just created a device that when applied to (simulated) moon dust creates two things:
1. Oxygen
2. Metal
Oxygen is, of course, the key, but the metal byproduct could also be useful for construction. It uses a form of electrolysis.
If a lunar colony can make its own oxygen, then a lunar colony can be potentially sustainable. Food will be the next big question...
The ESA just created a device that when applied to (simulated) moon dust creates two things:
1. Oxygen
2. Metal
Oxygen is, of course, the key, but the metal byproduct could also be useful for construction. It uses a form of electrolysis.
If a lunar colony can make its own oxygen, then a lunar colony can be potentially sustainable. Food will be the next big question...
Monday, January 20, 2020
Blowing things up
I've said before that to make progress, we have to be willing to blow up prototypes.
SpaceX just blew up a full sized Dragon rocket. The purpose was to test the crew escape system, designed to ensure nothing like the Challenger accident happens with the crewed Dragon.
The test was successful; the crew capsule neatly splashed down and was recovered intact by a specialist recovery vessel (which has a fully equipped medical bay, just in case).
Proper in flight abort systems are something that NASA has been very keen to test, and hopefully the test brings the Dragon one step closer to being human rated.
By blowing it up.
SpaceX just blew up a full sized Dragon rocket. The purpose was to test the crew escape system, designed to ensure nothing like the Challenger accident happens with the crewed Dragon.
The test was successful; the crew capsule neatly splashed down and was recovered intact by a specialist recovery vessel (which has a fully equipped medical bay, just in case).
Proper in flight abort systems are something that NASA has been very keen to test, and hopefully the test brings the Dragon one step closer to being human rated.
By blowing it up.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Time After Time
(With apologies to my husband. He knows why).
So, we finally had the chance to watch the second season of the short-lived NBC time travel show Timeless.
This show had a steampunk aesthetic that was a lot of fun, but the second season was not as good as the first. The writers didn't have enough space to do everything they needed to do, and the defeat of the bad guys ended up, as a result, being too pat.
At the end of season one, Rittenhouse was everywhere. In season two, as my husband put it, Rittenhouse was "Mom."
But something rather interesting happened at the ending. They ended with the annoying trope of the found family just...kind of going their separate (with a side of toxic monogamy) ways...
...and then abruptly brought them back together. With the very end implying they were still needed.
It was actually a better ending than most TV shows, and it almost worked. They needed one more season, though, so badly.
Also, I finally got Time After Time out of my head.
So, we finally had the chance to watch the second season of the short-lived NBC time travel show Timeless.
This show had a steampunk aesthetic that was a lot of fun, but the second season was not as good as the first. The writers didn't have enough space to do everything they needed to do, and the defeat of the bad guys ended up, as a result, being too pat.
At the end of season one, Rittenhouse was everywhere. In season two, as my husband put it, Rittenhouse was "Mom."
But something rather interesting happened at the ending. They ended with the annoying trope of the found family just...kind of going their separate (with a side of toxic monogamy) ways...
...and then abruptly brought them back together. With the very end implying they were still needed.
It was actually a better ending than most TV shows, and it almost worked. They needed one more season, though, so badly.
Also, I finally got Time After Time out of my head.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Gotta Love the Asteroid Alarmism
Do we need a space defense system? Yes.
Do we need to be going on and on about meteorites that might present a danger in 10 million years? Not really.
Ahem.
Like I said, I want us to be aware of the threat, but I think it's being overdone, and people are just going to roll their eyes and make like an ostrich at this rate.
Do we need to be going on and on about meteorites that might present a danger in 10 million years? Not really.
Ahem.
Like I said, I want us to be aware of the threat, but I think it's being overdone, and people are just going to roll their eyes and make like an ostrich at this rate.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
We've Seen This Movie
Look, people. We know how this ends.
If you're going to use frog cells to make living robots that can work together and heal themselves.
You. Don't. Call. Them. Xenobots.
Like.
Seriously.
This is just asking for some interesting headlines.
(The reason is that the cells come from Xenopus laevis but really, did nobody involved in this project ever watch a creature sci fi movie).
(They can't reproduce, die in a few days, and they're looking at putting them in people to deliver cancer drugs and the like. But. Really. That name).
If you're going to use frog cells to make living robots that can work together and heal themselves.
You. Don't. Call. Them. Xenobots.
Like.
Seriously.
This is just asking for some interesting headlines.
(The reason is that the cells come from Xenopus laevis but really, did nobody involved in this project ever watch a creature sci fi movie).
(They can't reproduce, die in a few days, and they're looking at putting them in people to deliver cancer drugs and the like. But. Really. That name).
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
We are stardust
...and we just found the oldest yet.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/13/stardust-older-than-earth-and-sun-found-meteorite-australia
The grains of so-called stardust...solid material cast off by dying stars...are a billion years or so older than the sun. They were found in a meteorite that landed in Australia.
It's believed that they're connected to a boom in star formation triggered by a galactic collision with Gaia-Enceladus, about 7 billion years ago. We now know that galactic collisions trigger the birth of new stars.
And stardust is probably incorporated into the ground below our feet. Into us.
It's all part of a vast cycle of life in which we are temporally insignificant. It's all amazing.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/13/stardust-older-than-earth-and-sun-found-meteorite-australia
The grains of so-called stardust...solid material cast off by dying stars...are a billion years or so older than the sun. They were found in a meteorite that landed in Australia.
It's believed that they're connected to a boom in star formation triggered by a galactic collision with Gaia-Enceladus, about 7 billion years ago. We now know that galactic collisions trigger the birth of new stars.
And stardust is probably incorporated into the ground below our feet. Into us.
It's all part of a vast cycle of life in which we are temporally insignificant. It's all amazing.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Oscar Nominations
...and surprise, surprise, the only genre movie on the Best Picture slate is Joker. Joaquin Phoenix earns another nomination for Best Actor, and Todd Phillips for Best Director. Oh and, yup, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Film Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Original Score, Makeup and Hair, Costume Design...
Surprisingly, Frozen II is not on the animated movie slate.
The Rise of Skywalker is on the list for Sound Editing, Original Score and Visual Effects.
Maleficent II, which I had no interest in, gets a nod for Makeup and Hair.
And of course End Game is in there for Visual Effects.
No surprises except the snub to Frozen. It's not them not liking sequels, either, because the newest Toy Story is in there (they're going to beat that franchise to Fast and Furious aren't they...)
Surprisingly, Frozen II is not on the animated movie slate.
The Rise of Skywalker is on the list for Sound Editing, Original Score and Visual Effects.
Maleficent II, which I had no interest in, gets a nod for Makeup and Hair.
And of course End Game is in there for Visual Effects.
No surprises except the snub to Frozen. It's not them not liking sequels, either, because the newest Toy Story is in there (they're going to beat that franchise to Fast and Furious aren't they...)
Friday, January 10, 2020
Cuttlefish in VR
As in, we put 3D glasses on cuttlefish and tricked them into attacking fake shrimp. This potentially slightly mean experiment demonstrated that cuttlefish may have better depth perception than we do.
It might help us understand how we combine images to create depth perception. It also resulted in some unbelievable cuteness - just follow the link.
It might help us understand how we combine images to create depth perception. It also resulted in some unbelievable cuteness - just follow the link.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
BAFTA Nominations
...and scandal. Because, welp, every single nominated actor is white. Every. Single. One. Okay, no, not entirely true. There are some actors of color on the list for Rising Stars (Awkwafina, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Micheal Ward - that's not a typo unless it's their typo ;)).
The award committee is blaming the industry.
Joker has a Best Picture nomination. Part of me wants to watch it to see why people think it's high art. The larger part holds to the fact that it sounds awful and stigmatizes mental illness. Todd Phillips is nominated for Best Director and Joaquin Phoenix for Best Actor (I will say, I hear his performance is brilliant and it's not his fault I avoided it). It also gets a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Score, Casting, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Make Up & Hair, Sound
Readers might be interested that Apollo 11 is nominated for Best Documentary.
Unsurprisigly, Rise of the Skywalker got a Best Score nomination and one for Sound and Visual Effects.
Avengers: Endgame is nominated for Visual Effects. So, for some bizarre reason, is The Lion King.
Mostly I'm irritated that a movie that boils down to Mentally Ill People Are Dangerous And Need Help Or To Be Locked Up is winning everything. Sigh.
The award committee is blaming the industry.
Joker has a Best Picture nomination. Part of me wants to watch it to see why people think it's high art. The larger part holds to the fact that it sounds awful and stigmatizes mental illness. Todd Phillips is nominated for Best Director and Joaquin Phoenix for Best Actor (I will say, I hear his performance is brilliant and it's not his fault I avoided it). It also gets a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Score, Casting, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Make Up & Hair, Sound
Readers might be interested that Apollo 11 is nominated for Best Documentary.
Unsurprisigly, Rise of the Skywalker got a Best Score nomination and one for Sound and Visual Effects.
Avengers: Endgame is nominated for Visual Effects. So, for some bizarre reason, is The Lion King.
Mostly I'm irritated that a movie that boils down to Mentally Ill People Are Dangerous And Need Help Or To Be Locked Up is winning everything. Sigh.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
CW Renewals
As usual, the CW has pretty much renewed everything they hadn't already said was ending (like Arrow).
All of the other Arrowverse shows have been renewed, including Batwoman. However, there is no more news on Superman and Lois Lane, which appears to still be a rumor.
(Now, I'm still salty about the Crisis cliffhanger...but I have to say that as massive crossovers go, this one has actually been pretty decent).
All of the other Arrowverse shows have been renewed, including Batwoman. However, there is no more news on Superman and Lois Lane, which appears to still be a rumor.
(Now, I'm still salty about the Crisis cliffhanger...but I have to say that as massive crossovers go, this one has actually been pretty decent).
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Spyfall Reactions (Spoilers)
So, first let's get this out of the way.
Spyfall was the best Jodie Whitaker story so far, and the best story written by Chris Chibnall.
It reminded me of Russell C. Davies' work - the same sense of painting on a grand canvas. Whitaker was absolutely fantastic. So was...okay, and we're straight into spoiler territory. Hopefully the cut works properly.
Spyfall was the best Jodie Whitaker story so far, and the best story written by Chris Chibnall.
It reminded me of Russell C. Davies' work - the same sense of painting on a grand canvas. Whitaker was absolutely fantastic. So was...okay, and we're straight into spoiler territory. Hopefully the cut works properly.
Monday, January 6, 2020
Golden Globes
Running through the genre nods here.
Best Actor Drama - Joaquin Phoenix for Joker. Okay, I do hear it was a good performance, but I am done talking about that movie.
And...that's about it. It was a slow year for genre, and it showed. The up and coming genre may be historical? I dunno.
Or it may just be a slow year, with Doctor Who on hiatus and most of the genre work being popcorn level (which I enjoy, but...)
At least Cats didn't win anything.
Best Actor Drama - Joaquin Phoenix for Joker. Okay, I do hear it was a good performance, but I am done talking about that movie.
And...that's about it. It was a slow year for genre, and it showed. The up and coming genre may be historical? I dunno.
Or it may just be a slow year, with Doctor Who on hiatus and most of the genre work being popcorn level (which I enjoy, but...)
At least Cats didn't win anything.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Friday updates
Not much news this week, but I want to stay in the habit of giving weekly updates.
Tangent Online added Temple of Children to their 2019 recommended reading list with one star. This is a pretty solid achievement for a story that was published way back in January and I had forgotten was this year ;).
Other than that, things are trucking along much as usual.
Tangent Online added Temple of Children to their 2019 recommended reading list with one star. This is a pretty solid achievement for a story that was published way back in January and I had forgotten was this year ;).
Other than that, things are trucking along much as usual.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Apparently, We Need to Start Mapping Orbital Hardware
...because people are calling in SpaceX satellites as UFOs.
To avoid being one of them, you probably need a satellite tracker app. There's several out there, but given I live in Light Pollution Central I haven't personally tested any of them.
But really, people.
(We also need to work on techniques to keep satellites from interfering with visible light astronomy...)
To avoid being one of them, you probably need a satellite tracker app. There's several out there, but given I live in Light Pollution Central I haven't personally tested any of them.
But really, people.
(We also need to work on techniques to keep satellites from interfering with visible light astronomy...)
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Happy New Year!
About to head off to celebrate New Year's Day, but in the interim.
May 2020 be better in all ways than 2019 - in your career, in your relationships, in your level of personal wellbeing and success however you define it.
May 2020 be better in all ways than 2019 - in your career, in your relationships, in your level of personal wellbeing and success however you define it.
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