Category Archives: Science/Engineering

Life is tenacious

Posted on August 31, 2007 | Comments Off on Life is tenacious

At least one of the molecules–polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon–that may have played a chemical role in genesis. Heck, it can even survive a supernova. No wonder life is so durable, and may be prolific.

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The web on the Web

Posted on August 30, 2007 | Comments Off on The web on the Web

It’s a chilling reminder of Aragog, the giant, man-threatening spider of Hogwarts, but entomologists say the giant web on a nature trail at Lake Tawakoni State Park in northeast Texas is more likely the communal effort of ordinary-sized spiders. But who knew ordinary spiders were into communal efforts?

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Posted in Science/Engineering, Texana

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Dreams

Posted on August 30, 2007 | Comments Off on Dreams

I awoke earlier than usual this morning, after several vivid dreams. The usual silly stuff, such as walking across town to class (!?), then realizing I forgot to wear shoes. For some reason, vivid dreaming seems to make me feel more rested than when I don’t dream. I seem not to need as much sleep, as I do seem to need when I don’t dream. Sleep researchers, however, don’t agree. Although they say REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep correlates with deep sleep which is the most restful, and REM often correlates with dreams, you can have REM without dreams. Science is still trying to figure out what part of the brain produces dreams, and why. What dreams mean, if anything, is still in the realm of superstition, however. Commerce, meanwhile, purports to offer pills to encourage dreams, though they seem to be no more useful than the ones that claim to enlarge a certain male organ

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Posted in Rancho Roly Poly, Science/Engineering, Scribbles

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Today’s pretty picture

Posted on August 30, 2007 | Comments Off on Today’s pretty picture

Endeavor.jpg

Its’ a good thing NASA takes its own photos in space and displays them on the Internet. If we had to rely solely on the MSM, as we did before the Web, we’d never see them. 

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Posted in Science/Engineering, Space

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Night owl’s eclipse

Posted on August 27, 2007 | Comments Off on Night owl’s eclipse

Total eclipse, yes, but, here in Central Daylight Time, beginning at 4:52 a.m. tomorrow, and ending at 6:22 a.m. Wish I could join you, but I have a child to help get off to school, so I need my sleep. Thankfully. So I’ll just have to miss the exciting part.

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Posted in Science/Engineering, Space

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Texel terminates

Posted on August 22, 2007 | Comments Off on Texel terminates

Armadillo Aerospace, the Mesquite contender for the X Prize suffered a set back when its mock Lunar Lander, Texel, was destroyed last weekend:

"Texel burst into flames after it crash landed during a test. Its fuel and liquid oxygen tanks were so damaged in the impact that it would be easier to build a new vehicle from scratch than to repair Texel, says Armadillo test team member Phil Eaton."

But company officials say they still can be ready to compete in October. That’s a relief. 

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Posted in Science/Engineering, Space, Texana

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Dean-o

Posted on August 18, 2007 | Comments Off on Dean-o

All eyes are still on Dean, as it gets ready to clobber Jamaica tomorrow. Inevitably, someone has put up a page of nothing but hurricane and Gulf of Mexico graphics (some of them in motion) to facilitate the Dean watchers. Stare at them long and hard. Repeat after me: "Dean will stay away from the Texas coast. He will stay away from the Texas coast."

UPDATE: Be a voyeur. Read the "Pleas for Help" bulletin board at stormCARIB, the Caribbean Hurricane Network. Be glad you’re not there.

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Posted in Science/Engineering, South of the Border, Texana, Weather/Climate

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