Anthropologist Hugh Gusterson, who self-identifies as “the Margaret Mead of the weapons labs” has written a thorough debunking of the myth that the disk-misplacing “cowboys and buttheads” (i.e., scientists) at Los Alamos National Labs live in a rarified “culture of arrogance.” (Either that, or he’s their sock puppet, as some have suggested.) What’s interesting is that he mostly blames the ham-fisted interference of the Bush administration. If you remember the series of embarrassing security-breach headlines that started with Wen Ho Lee and ended with a takeover of the lab’s management by a for-profit consortium, Gusterson’s brief three-act revisionist history is totally worth reading. (A tip of the hat to Slashdot for blogging this story in the first place.)

• Time Magazine (Carl Petersen) [ Fri Nov 11 2011 2:43 PM ]
  

The Very Large Array in action

No matter what you do or don't know about the Very Large Array, you knows it's large. Very large.

I picture ’70s-era scientists with wire-frame glasses and high-waisted bellbottoms throwing their hands in the air and proclaiming, “Screw it, I can't think of a name either. Let's just call it the Very Large Array.”

Now these scientists have another shot, with inspiration from a public contest. A decade-long restoration of the astronomical radio observatory facility is nearing completion, and it’s decided to throw out the old moniker for a newer, sleeker version worthy of 21st century technology.

Although the VLA will appear the same, the expanded capabilities will allow scientists to observe previously undetectable cosmic objects. A new radio telescope will be more sensitive and increase resolution and imaging abilities, according to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

Scientists and astronomers from around the world use the VLA to peer into the cosmos and see things such as a star exploding. While the expansion wont be completed until 2012, astronomers have already used new equipment to watch a black hole devouring a star last spring. Yes, they used the word “devouring.”

The total cost of the expansion was $97.99 million and came from the U.S., Canadian and Mexican governments as well as the National Science Foundation. Eight radio-telescope dish antennas will join the 27 existing dishes outside of Socorro.

Name suggestions will be accepted until Dec. 1 and winners will be announced on Jan. 10, 2012.

I'm hoping they go with Something Even Bigger.

More Videos

• As a roadside attraction, especially in bad weather (Nick Brown) [ Thu Oct 13 2011 4:52 PM ]
  

Fungus erectus

My geranium either has a fungal infection or it snuck out one night and attended a tacky bachelorette party. These small, yellow mushroom phalluses are another reminder of the universe’s many strange surprises, weird wonders, infinite jokes ... and scary microorganisms lurking everywhere.

Is that a mushroom in your pot, or are you just happy to see me?

Does anyone know what it is? (Um, how do you get rid of it?)

• Happy plant! (endotoxin) [ Fri Aug 5 2011 11:09 AM ]
  
• A fungus among us (Mayor McCheese) [ Fri Aug 5 2011 11:13 AM ]
  

 

It’s alive! These famous lines of Dr. Frankenstein remind me of zombie movies and sci-fi horrors. But apparently the idea of creating life from death may be jumping from the pages of sci-fi novels into actual science.

According to the New York Times four years ago at the University of Massachusetts Medical School scientists created a molecule that could replicate and evolve by its self. It was nicknamed “The Immortal Molecule.”

This molecule may be only the beginning. Biologist and chemist in a lab in San Diego are trying to create life. They are attempting to bridge the gap between inanimate and animate using modern genetics. Perhaps Mary Shelly was on the right track, but only about two centuries too early. Read more about this here.

• This may be (ChiKung) [ Fri Jul 29 2011 2:53 PM ]
  

woah

If you're as into pondering the nature of reality and pretending to understand quantum physics as I am, check out scientist Scott M. Tyson's cosmology talk at Page One bookstore on July 20 at 7 p.m.

Cosmology is the study of the universe including its beginning, growth, shape, size and future. It's not for the narrow minded.

Tyson will present a multi-media presentation explaining the mysteries of the universe in terms the rest of us can understand, as well as signing copies of his book The Unobservable Universe.

A former Sandia National Laboratory physicist, Tyson brings three decades of research to the subject of the origin of the universe. His book includes his take on questions concerning the Big Bang, the composition of dark matter and the speed of light.

Also covered are complex scientific principles regarding the inconsistencies and paradoxes of modern science without causing flashbacks to college Physics.

To figure out what this means for you attend the lecture, learn some big words to bring up at cocktail parties and try not to sink into the hole of despair that suggests nothing you believe exists.

PLANT

no parachute.

This 2011 drought-ridden Fourth let's all go with model rockets instead.

• model rocketry
• alibi
• patriotism
• nmfire
• drought
• firework

• Droughts are stupid (Madmammajamma) [ Tue Jul 5 2011 4:53 PM ]
  
• Five bucks whoever finds the rocket. (geoffreyplant) [ Tue Jul 5 2011 5:23 PM ]
  

Image from

http://www.windows2universe.org/mythology/planets/Earth/moon.html

It’s the Supermoon, so you should try and go either look at the moon or not look at the moon, which will likely amount to the same thing. The moon will be blasting through your eyelids and scouring every square inch of earth with its moonlighty glow. Enjoy the show, sinners.

Paul Rust

Pelicans in Chile.

What can I say, I have a fairly unhealthy fixation on birds the last year or two, in particular, sand hill cranes.

For the last month I have been impatiently awaiting the arrival of the ancient ones to Central New Mexico. I have seen huge flocks of birds flying high above the Rio Grande in recent weeks, coming in for the winter.

They blot out the sky. Some of them look like cranes. I love cranes.

Unfortunately, I am always going 80 mph on the freeway and can’t look too long. For this reason, I cannot confirm whether or not I’ve seen one yet. This is probably how I’m going to die, staring up at the sky trying to identify migrating bird species. I can think of worse ways to go.

I don’t want to say I’ve seen them until I’m sure I’ve seen them. Speculating will get you into trouble fast in this business. For this reason, I’m waiting until the three-foot-tall, dinosaur-like creatures are standing on the ground in a field somewhere, the crimson feathers on their heads plainly visible.

I can’t wait.

In the mean time, here is a picture of some pelicans in Chile, graciously sent by Mr. Paul Rust of Lawton, Okla. Thanks, Paul. You are tiding me over.

• Check the Open Space! (LuckyCarl) [ Sun Oct 31 2010 8:56 PM ]