Betelgeuse is not going to explode right now. The star's unusually extreme dimming period is over and it is returning to normal magnitude precisely on schedule.
Astronomers are not entirely sure why it dimmed so much, but possible explanations include sunspots or a cloud of dust that happened to pass between us and Betelgeuse when it was dimming anyway.
It's also possible that oscillations in a luminous red supergiant start to increase slowly before a supernova, and while this is not a sign Betelgeuse will blow tomorrow, it could be a "sign of aging" that means the nova is imminent.
Unfortunately for us, imminent could mean "in the next hundred thousand years."
Friday, February 28, 2020
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Why do whales swim up beaches?
We've never been quite sure why whales sometimes become lost, ground themselves on a beach, and die.
Until now.
We finally have enough data to see a pattern. Whale strandings occur...
...at the time of major solar storms.
The theory now is that these huge animals are so sensitive to the earth's magnetic field that when a CME or solar flare disrupts it, they become effectively blind and may accidentally swim into the shore.
This may be proof that whales navigate by the magnetic field but, unfortunately, doesn't give us any options to help the poor whales other than trying to push them back into the water.
Until now.
We finally have enough data to see a pattern. Whale strandings occur...
...at the time of major solar storms.
The theory now is that these huge animals are so sensitive to the earth's magnetic field that when a CME or solar flare disrupts it, they become effectively blind and may accidentally swim into the shore.
This may be proof that whales navigate by the magnetic field but, unfortunately, doesn't give us any options to help the poor whales other than trying to push them back into the water.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
When Computers Were Women - RIP Katherine Johnson 1918-2020
None of us knew who Katherine Johnson was – until Hidden Figures hit theaters. (Okay, none of us other than true space history geeks).
In fact, most people now think of a "computer" as that thing with a monitor and a keyboard you sit in front of.
The first computers were people. And most of them were women. These women were highly-skilled mathematicians who could do calculations in their head in seconds that would daunt an average person.
Johnson stood out from this crowd. She helped put men in orbit and then on the moon. Nowadays, we use AI to do these calculations.
She did them unassisted, and so well that the astronauts asked for her by name. In fact, when electronic computers were added to mission control, a skeptical John Glenn asked her to double check the figures.
Over more than three decades at NASA she authored or coauthored 26 research reports – this woman was no mere clerk but a scientist in her own right. In fact, all indications were that she was a mathematical genius. She skipped several grades in school, but was held back by her gender and race.
Her first career? Schoolteacher. Until NACA, NASA's predecessor created the all-black West Area Computing section and she saw a chance to truly spread her wings (although I would bet her students did well).
She has a NASA facility named after her - the home of the Independent Verification and Validation facility, which is where they...
...double check that the computers are doing the numbers right. Just as she did for Glenn all those years ago.
(A picture from NASA of Katherine Johnson at work).
She had a long life and a good innings and now the stars have called her home.
In fact, most people now think of a "computer" as that thing with a monitor and a keyboard you sit in front of.
The first computers were people. And most of them were women. These women were highly-skilled mathematicians who could do calculations in their head in seconds that would daunt an average person.
Johnson stood out from this crowd. She helped put men in orbit and then on the moon. Nowadays, we use AI to do these calculations.
She did them unassisted, and so well that the astronauts asked for her by name. In fact, when electronic computers were added to mission control, a skeptical John Glenn asked her to double check the figures.
Over more than three decades at NASA she authored or coauthored 26 research reports – this woman was no mere clerk but a scientist in her own right. In fact, all indications were that she was a mathematical genius. She skipped several grades in school, but was held back by her gender and race.
Her first career? Schoolteacher. Until NACA, NASA's predecessor created the all-black West Area Computing section and she saw a chance to truly spread her wings (although I would bet her students did well).
She has a NASA facility named after her - the home of the Independent Verification and Validation facility, which is where they...
...double check that the computers are doing the numbers right. Just as she did for Glenn all those years ago.
(A picture from NASA of Katherine Johnson at work).
She had a long life and a good innings and now the stars have called her home.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Farpoint Roundup
I would have posted yesterday, but I had a trip home that involved malfunctioning light rail doors, an ADA violation (Which was also a problem for people with, ya know, luggage) and an accident on the elevators at Penn (No, I wasn't hurt, but somebody else was, and I'm very glad I was there to hit the emergency stop button when everyone else was the other end of the platform).
Farpoint went very well. Including the masquerade (although sorry, Stephanie Kiss, I did not mean to jinx you!)
I honestly never thought Farpoint would be the first con at which I would see a drag queen perform - shout out to the brilliant D'Manda Martini.
The Star Trek and Contemporary Science Fiction, Conflict and Utopia, and Doctor Who panels went very well. Chibnall gave us way too much to argue about. Star Trek and Contemporary Fiction spawned at least one panel idea.
The Woke Media panel had some issues. We were all tired, and there was one particular attendee who wouldn't stay on topic (and not in a good way at all). I would like to do a similar panel again, but please not in the last shot of the con. Last panel needs to be something much lighter and less controversial, in my opinion. Not a criticism of my fellow panelists.
Special shout out to the hotel; they did a really good job this year with pretty much everything.
And, of course, shout out to the Farpoint committee and volunteers.
Farpoint went very well. Including the masquerade (although sorry, Stephanie Kiss, I did not mean to jinx you!)
I honestly never thought Farpoint would be the first con at which I would see a drag queen perform - shout out to the brilliant D'Manda Martini.
The Star Trek and Contemporary Science Fiction, Conflict and Utopia, and Doctor Who panels went very well. Chibnall gave us way too much to argue about. Star Trek and Contemporary Fiction spawned at least one panel idea.
The Woke Media panel had some issues. We were all tired, and there was one particular attendee who wouldn't stay on topic (and not in a good way at all). I would like to do a similar panel again, but please not in the last shot of the con. Last panel needs to be something much lighter and less controversial, in my opinion. Not a criticism of my fellow panelists.
Special shout out to the hotel; they did a really good job this year with pretty much everything.
And, of course, shout out to the Farpoint committee and volunteers.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Farpoint Reminder!
This is a reminder that I'll be at Farpoint Convention (I may not have time to post tomorrow) this weekend.
The con runs Friday through Sunday, and I'll have books for sale at the book fair on Friday at 10pm. I have copies of all of my novels including Araña. Copies are obviously limited (too far for me to come home and get more ;)).
This is also a great opportunity to corner me and talk about stuff. Please corner me and talk about stuff!
The con runs Friday through Sunday, and I'll have books for sale at the book fair on Friday at 10pm. I have copies of all of my novels including Araña. Copies are obviously limited (too far for me to come home and get more ;)).
This is also a great opportunity to corner me and talk about stuff. Please corner me and talk about stuff!
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Electricity from Thin Air?
Step aside, Tesla.
Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a device that can generate electricity from moisture in the air.
(They claim it even works in deserts).
It doesn't generate a lot of electricity, but it can "power small electronics." And it's basically a film of protein.
This may be the most promising lead yet for a cellphone that you never have to charge. It could also allow for further miniaturization of wearables by replacing batteries.
And it's biological. You literally grow it. (Because nature comes up with everything).
I want the cellphone that doesn't need to be charged, dang it.
Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a device that can generate electricity from moisture in the air.
(They claim it even works in deserts).
It doesn't generate a lot of electricity, but it can "power small electronics." And it's basically a film of protein.
This may be the most promising lead yet for a cellphone that you never have to charge. It could also allow for further miniaturization of wearables by replacing batteries.
And it's biological. You literally grow it. (Because nature comes up with everything).
I want the cellphone that doesn't need to be charged, dang it.
Monday, February 17, 2020
Betrayal At House on the Who (Doctor Who SPOILERS)
So, Betrayal at House on the Hill may be my favorite board game of all time.
For those of you who haven't played it, it's a semi-cooperative tile-based horror game with so many variants you will never get through them all. It also has a Legacy (campaign) version.
You explore the house by drawing tiles, then eventually somebody will trigger the Haunt, at which point (in most, but not all modules), somebody becomes the traitor and has to play against the rest of the group.
In this week's Doctor Who:
The party find themselves in a house.
Said house turns out to be non-euclidean and keeps changing...almost as if people were drawing tiles.
One member of the party is missing. He turns out to be possessed and in partial control of the house (the Traitor).
The house is outwardly stated to be "evil."
And there are two very direct references to the game. The coal chute tile is notorious for being a one way route to the basement.
And the phrase "You know these things to be true" is how the read aloud text for the heroes starts for every haunt.
So, fess up...
...just who gave Chris Chibnall a copy of Betrayal? Or maybe it was new writer Maxine Alderton to blame, although judging by what I can find out about her it seems more likely she was asked to write the ep because she's good at this particular kind of weird.
Either way?
I feel personally fanserviced. Like, did Chibnall read my mind and give me everything I didn't know I wanted?
For those of you who haven't played it, it's a semi-cooperative tile-based horror game with so many variants you will never get through them all. It also has a Legacy (campaign) version.
You explore the house by drawing tiles, then eventually somebody will trigger the Haunt, at which point (in most, but not all modules), somebody becomes the traitor and has to play against the rest of the group.
In this week's Doctor Who:
The party find themselves in a house.
Said house turns out to be non-euclidean and keeps changing...almost as if people were drawing tiles.
One member of the party is missing. He turns out to be possessed and in partial control of the house (the Traitor).
The house is outwardly stated to be "evil."
And there are two very direct references to the game. The coal chute tile is notorious for being a one way route to the basement.
And the phrase "You know these things to be true" is how the read aloud text for the heroes starts for every haunt.
So, fess up...
...just who gave Chris Chibnall a copy of Betrayal? Or maybe it was new writer Maxine Alderton to blame, although judging by what I can find out about her it seems more likely she was asked to write the ep because she's good at this particular kind of weird.
Either way?
I feel personally fanserviced. Like, did Chibnall read my mind and give me everything I didn't know I wanted?
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