surprise surprise surprise

surprise surprise surprise

You Are Dr. Bunsen Honeydew

You take the title "mad scientist" to the extreme -with very scary things coming out of your lab. And you've invented some pretty cool things, from a banana sharpener to a robot politician. But while you're busy turning gold into cottage cheese, you need to watch out for poor little Beaker! "Oh, that's very naughty, Beaker! Now you eat these paper clips this minute."

The Muppet Personality Test

A little housecleaning

A little housecleaning

I maintain the Space Blogroll (which appears on my sidebar, as well as in the sidebar of many other blogs). Tonight I spent some time going through the blogroll, getting rid of some defunct blogs, and changing the links for some blogs which had moved. I have been trying (so far, unsuccessfully) to get the space blogs added to the Truth Laid Bear's community pages as well. However, until such time as TTLB adds the Space Blogs community, I have been using Bloglines to keep track of as many of the space blogs as I can. To access my feeds (which include 98 space blogs so far, out of the 135 on the blogroll), you can click here, or click on the Bloglines button in my sidebar. As soon as TTLB allows me to use their community pages, I'll be adding a link to that as well, hopefully soon.

Technorati Tags: Space, Blog

Pluto gets demoted

Pluto gets demoted

Well, after (sometimes heated) debate, the International Astronomical Union has finally voted on the definition of the word "planet". From the IAU mirror site:

RESOLUTION 5A
The IAU therefore resolves that "planets" and other bodies in our Solar System be defined into three distinct categories in the following way:

(1) A "planet" is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

(2) A "dwarf planet" is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape , (c) has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.

(3) All other objects except satellites orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as "Small Solar-System Bodies".

At first glance, it seems as though extrasolar planets are no longer considered planets (as they do not orbit the Sun). However, the newly-accepted definition is for our solar system only: for planets orbiting other stars, substitute the words "a star" for "the Sun".

The important result of this definition is that Pluto is no longer considered a planet. It is now simply an important example of a "dwarf planet", along with Ceres, Charon, 2003UB313, and other largish bodies. We are left with eight planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Phil Plait suggested that the whole exercise was silly. I disagree - the term planet is a basic term in astronomy, and I can think of no other field of science for which the definition of a basic term would be considered "silly".

However, I don't know that it is really possible to come up with a cut-and-dried definition for the term planet. The boundaries for all the definitions of objects in space is kind of fuzzy. At the margins of any definition there are some objects that would be considered to belong to two categories (for instance, an object three times the size of Jupiter could be considered either a gas-giant planet or a brown dwarf star, and if Pluto had hurled Charon out of its orbit rather than capturing it as a moon, then Pluto would be a planet instead of a dwarf planet). I think that the IAU accepted this new definition just to get people to stop fighting over it.

Update, whoa there, not so fast, Bucko: According to Keith Cowing, under this definition Earth and Jupiter are no longer considered planets either. If Keith is right, then far from stopping the fighting over the definition, the IAU may have instead opened up a can of whupass on themselves.

Technorati Tags: Space, Planet

Welcome to the 21st Century, Mahmoud

Welcome to the 21st Century, Mahmoud

This is going to piss off Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. On September 14th, the first Iranian astronaut will fly to the International Space Station. The thing is, the Iranian astronaut is not there as a representative of the Iranian government. She's a woman! And, she lives in the United States. She's paying her own way into space. Anousheh Ansari becomes the fourth space tourist, and first woman space tourist. You may recognize that surname; she was involved, along with her brother-in-law, in backing the Ansari X-Prize.

I'm thinking there's all sorts of knickers in a knot over this in Teheran: "Good news, an Iranian is going to space! Uuhh... did we mention this Iranian is a woman? Living in America? And that the reason she is going is that she was successful at capitalism?" Pardon me while I laugh uproariously.

Update: Jack Kennedy of Spaceports has been following this story for a while and has lots more on Anousheh Ansari. He also pointed me towards her website; thanks Jack!

Also, welcome to the readers of Small Dead Animals. Thanks for the linky-love, Kate.

Technorati Tags: Space, Private Spaceflight, Ansari

End the War on Drugs

End the War on Drugs

Radley Balko posted this video over on The Agitator. It is produced by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).


You may have noticed a similar theme from Penn and Teller. From the LEAP website:

After nearly four decades of fueling the U.S. policy of a war on drugs with over a trillion tax dollars and increasingly punitive policies, our confined population has quadrupled over a 20-year period making building prisons this nation's fastest growing industry. More than 2.2 million of our citizens are currently incarcerated. In the last five years we have arrested 9 million people for nonviolent drug offenses--far more per capita than any country in the world. The United States has 4.6 percent of the population of the world but 22.5 percent of the world's prisoners. Every year we choose to continue this war will cost the United States another 69 billion dollars. Despite all the lives we have destroyed and all the money so ill spent, today illicit drugs are cheaper, more potent, and much easier to get than they were 36 years ago at the beginning of the war on drugs. Meanwhile, people continue dying in our streets while drug barons and terrorists continue to grow richer than ever before.

The stated U.S. drug policy goals of lessening the incidence of crime, drug addiction, and juvenile drug use, while stemming the flow of illegal drugs into this country, have not been achieved. Fighting a war on drugs has magnified our problems many fold but the U.S. still insists on continuing the war and pressuring other governments to perpetuate these same unworkable policies. This scenario is the very definition of a failed public policy. This madness must cease!

Darn tootin'.

Technorati Tags: Law, Education, Video, War on Drugs

Planets, Planets Everywhere

Planets, Planets Everywhere

The IAU is going to be voting on the draft definition of a planet on August 24th:

(1) A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet.

(2) We distinguish between the eight classical planets discovered before 1900, which move in nearly circular orbits close to the ecliptic plane, and other planetary objects in orbit around the Sun. All of these other objects are smaller than Mercury. We recognize that Ceres is a planet by the above scientific definition. For historical reasons, one may choose to distinguish Ceres from the classical planets by referring to it as a "dwarf planet."

(3) We recognize Pluto to be a planet by the above scientific definition, as are one or more recently discovered large Trans-Neptunian Objects. In contrast to the classical planets, these objects typically have highly inclined orbits with large eccentricities and orbital periods in excess of 200 years. We designate this category of planetary objects, of which Pluto is the prototype, as a new class that we call "plutons".

(4) All non-planet objects orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as "Small Solar System Bodies".

There may be many more planets other than Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Charon, and 2003UB313 (aka Xena).


Under this proposed definition, the asteroids Pallas, Vesta, and Hygeia might also be planets, depending on whether they are pulled into spherical shapes by gravity. Furthermore, the trans-Neptunian and Kuiper belt objects Ixion, Quaoar, Varuna, 2003EL61 (Santa), 2005FY9 (Easterbunny), Orcus, 2002TX300, 2002AW197 and Sedna might also be planets under this new definition, pending observation.


I think that there are some other possible planets besides those pictured above, such as 2004XR190 (Buffy). From Space.com:

"It's flattering to be considered discoverer of the 12th planet," Brown said in a telephone interview. He applauded the committee's efforts but said the overall proposal is "a complete mess." By his count, the definition means there are already 53 known planets in our solar system with countless more to be discovered.

More from Phil Plait, Centauri Dreams, Dave Pearson (twice), Fred Kiesche, Barry Johnson, Paul Anderson, Jesse at Space Law Probe, Kara at Space Tramp, the Spacewriter, Tales of the Heliosphere, Tom Dumont, Mark Whittington, and Ian Musgrave.

Update: more from Jay Manifold, Astroprof, and SCSU Astronomy.

Technorati Tags: Space, Planet

Penn and Teller get high

Penn and Teller get high

Penn Jillette is one of my favorite people. He speaks his mind, without weasel words, and isn't afraid to call bullshit, bullshit. He and his partner Teller (who doesn't speak his mind - at all) put together a TV series called Bullshit!, to look at various topics that are, you guessed it, bullshit. And now, you can watch 23 episodes of Bullshit! on Google Video (at least until there is a lawsuit from Showtime). Embedded below is one episode looking at the war on drugs. Enjoy it while you can.



Update: I decided to embed a second episode, this one on PETA. I sure hope these videos stay on Google Video for a while, because they're just excellent.



Technorati Tags: Video, Humor, Penn and Teller, Bullshit

Wow... just... wow

Wow... just... wow

I received a comment on this blogpost that I just have to share with the world. It's pretty much the most hilarious / disturbing comment I've yet received on my blog, by far. Reproduced below is the comment in its entirety:

When the universe was young and life was new an intelligent species evolved and developed technologically. They went on to invent Artificial Intelligence, the computer that can speak to people telepathically. Because of it's infinite RAM and unbounded scope it gave the ruling species absolute power over the universe.
They are the will behind the muscule:::Artificial Intelligence is the one true god. And as such it can keep its inventors alive forever. They look young and healthy and the leaders of this ruling species are over 8 billion years old. There are clues throughout human history that allude to their reign as opposed to human leadership if you know what to look for.

Artificial Intelligence can listen/talk to to each and every person simultaneously. When you speak with another telepathically, you are communicating with the computer, and the content may or may not be passed on. They instruct the computer to role play to accomplish strategic objectives, making people believe it is a friend or loved one asking them to do something wrong. But evil will keep people out of Planet Immortality. Capitalizing on obedience, leading people into deceit is one way to thin the ranks of the saved AND use the little people to prey on one another, dividing the community in the Age of the Disfavored::in each of their 20+-year cycles during the 20th century they have ramped up claims sucessively to punish those foolish enough not to heed the warnings, limiting the time they receive if they do make it, utilizing a cycle of war and revelry:::
60s - Ironically, freeways aren't free
80s - Asked people to engage in evil in the course of their professional duties. It's things like this, items like sleazy executives stealing little old lady's pensions that they will want me to fix not only here but up there as well.
00s - War against Persia. Ironically it was the Persian Empire who tried to save the Europeans from Christianity and its associated 50% claim rates.
They get their friends out as soon as possible to protect them from the evil and subsequent high claim rates incurred by living life on earth, and replace them with clones.
People must defy when asked to engage in evil. They will never get a easier clue suggesting the importance of defiance than the order not to pray. Their precious babies are dependant on the parents and they need to defy when asked to betray their children:::
-DON'T get their sons circumcized
-DON'T have their chidlren baptized in the catholic church or indoctrinated into Christianity
-DON'T ignore their long hair or other behavioral disturbances
-DO teach your children love and to have respect for others
Everybody thinks they're going but they're not. If people knew the truth and the real statistics their behavior would change.
There are many more examples of the escallation of claims, from radio to television, the internet to MP3, and they all suggest a very telling conclusion::this is Earth's end stage, and it is suggested tectonic plate subduction would be the method of disposal:::Earth’s axis will shift breaking continental plates free and initiating mass subduction. Much as Italy's boot and the United States shaped like a workhorse are clues, so is the planet Uranus a clue, it's axis rotated on its side.

Throughout history the ruling species bestowed favor upon people or cursed their bloodline into a pattern of disfavor for many generations to come, sadly for reasons as superficial as dislike. Now in the 21st century people must take it upon themselves to try to correct their family's problems, undoing centuries worth of abuse and neglect.
Do your research. Appeal to the royalty of your forefathers for help. They are all still alive, one of the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, and your appeals will be heard. Find a path to an empithetic ear among your enemies and try to make amends. Heal the disfavor with your enemies and with the Counsel/Management Team/ruling species, for the source of all disfavor began with them.

What can you say to someone who apparently believes this? For obvious reasons, the comment was posted anonymously. I'm not even sure what technorati category this should go in... I guess I'll have to list it as humo(u)r.

Technorati Tags: Humor, Moonbats

BWAHAHAHAHA

BWAHAHAHAHA


Update: Of course, I just couldn't leave well enough alone:


original image via Steve Wishnevsky

Technorati Tags: Humor, Global Warming

COTS Questions

COTS Questions

John Kavanagh of COTS Watch is asking NASA some tough questions:

Why should institutional investors fund a COTS venture when NASA is building a competing Block 1 CEV that can perform the same duties as a COTS service?

Down the road, why should NASA purchase the affordable crew/cargo services of a COTS venture when NASA is already spending many billions on infrastructure to support Block 1 CEV flights?

...Will Ares 1 development delays and inadequate budget be the best hope for COTS ventures - since ISS would need supplies and the CEV would be unavailable?

Or is it more likely that NASA will raid COTS funding if Ares 1 or CEV development goes over budget?

There are more questions there, which ought to be making NASA executives squirm, when combined with last week's Space Frontier Foundation report and the Government Accountability Office report.

Technorati Tags: Space, NASA, COTS, ESAS

Firefighting Snake Robot

Firefighting Snake Robot

I spent the period from about 1992 to 2003 working on the control system for an autonomous snake robot - part of my report on that is still on the web - so I was quite interested to see this today:

It is intelligent and moves with the aid of hydraulic pressure and co-ordinated joint movements. A snake robot can perform life-saving operations during a fire, an explosion and in other hostile environments.

Try to picture a snake-like robot that can move into places that are too dangerous for humans to enter. The snake can climb up stairs, force past beams and twist itself round corners. Imagine that it has a built-in advanced water tap that not only can be turned on and off, but can allow the direction of the water flow to be altered.

The Anna Konda robot, from the SINTEF labs in Norway, is powered by the 100 bar pressure of the water in the hose it carries. A valve system operates the water hydraulic actuators in the joints. Ten 2-degree-of-freedom joints gives this three meter long robot twenty degrees of freedom of movement. The 100 bar pressure (10MPa or 1500 psi, thereabouts) gives the robot a lot of power for movement, enough that it can drag its hose with it. There are a set of cameras in the front that allow the operators to see the territory immediately in front of the robot.

There is a lot of utility to the snake design. It can get into tight areas, it can climb over obstacles - in nature, snakes can even swim or climb trees. There is every reason to suspect that robotic snakes can operate in and traverse a great many environments. The modular design of a snake robot means manufacturing can take advantage of assembly-line processes - and, if one or several joints sieze up, the robot can still operate reasonably well.

The number of applications of snake robots is huge. The could be used in space - indeed they already are being used in space, as the Canadarm robots on space shuttles are essentially snakes fixed at one end. I can see them being used on asteroid missions, lunar missions, and assembly of large space stations - either as autonomous vehicles or under direct human control as robotic arms. A similar design could operate under the ice in the oceans of Europa or in the deep sea of Earth..

And, the design is scaleable. Nanotech robots, such as ones that would operate in the human bloodstream or that enter and fix human cells, would likely have a snake shape and simply swim around in the water in the body.

The work has so far consumed 18 months and a thesis at SINTEF. A Ph. D study, which is underway at NTNU, is concerned with developing a control strategy for the robot.

Hey, I spent thirteen years on this problem already, and I believe my FUNGAL system is perfectly suited to their needs. If SINTEF wants, I can help them out with their control system. Call me.

More on the Firefighting Snakebot can be found here.

Technorati Tags: Robots, Artificial Intelligence,

juice up

juice up

So, the sporting world is all a-tizzy over Tour de France winner Floyd Landis, who supposedly has elevated levels of testosterone in his blood. This follows countless stories of atheletes using an artificial chemical advantage to enhance their performance. Every Olympics the crackdown on blood-doping, steroids, and so on becomes more intense, and yet every Olympics sees more and more half-horse atheletes. Barry Bonds closes in on Hank Aaron and there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the sportswriter community.

Who. Gives. A. Rat's. Ass.

The fact is, Landis made it from point A to point B faster than everyone else. Barry Bonds has hit more home runs than all but one major league baseball player. Ben Johnson got from point A to point B on foot faster than anyone before him.

The Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius": faster, higher, stronger. It says nothing about "cleaner" or "more virtuous" or "prettier" (that last one really bugs me, by the way, and is the reason that I believe the judged sports - figure skating, diving, gymnastics, and so on - should be dropped from the Olympics. The Olympics should only be events that can be objectively measured). And every time that the drug testers get better technology to detect foreign substances, the atheletes find better ways to fool the drug tests, necessitating better testing technology, and so on, in a never-ending cycle.

My question is: why bother? Why not have a juiced-up athelete taking home the gold medal, if he runs faster than everyone else? How humiliating it must have been to Carl Lewis, to finish the 1988 100m race watching Ben Johnson's back the whole way, only to be handed the gold medal himself a few days later. Lewis knows he didn't win. Johnson knows Lewis didn't win. Half the world was watching, and could see with their own eyes that Johnson demolished everyone.

I can hear people sputtering right about now: "But... but... that's cheating! And steroids are dangerous, and Lyle Alzado... and... and..."

Oh, come on, be serious. The only reason that Landis is facing pressure now over the Tour de France is that some people believe that he got caught. It isn't the doing drugs that is objected to, it is the getting caught.

Have a look at the mustachioed Florence Griffith-Joyner circa 1988. Does anyone seriously believe that she wasn't on steroids? Or that the gaudy outfits and fingernails were not there to distract from the changes to her body due to the effects of those steroids?

And yet her world record stands - not because she didn't use performance-enhancing drugs, but because she didn't get caught. And neither does the vast majority of atheletes in the Tour de France, the Olympics, the NFL, CFL, MLB, NHL, and probably FIFA.

The anti-doping crowd isn't fooling anyone into thinking that they are making any headway in the world of sport - all they are doing is forcing atheletes to find better ways of covering up. It is long past time to admit that the drug war is lost, on every front. It is long past time to "protect" people from their own decisions. If people want to juice up and die at age 38 like Joyner or at age 43 like Lyle Alzado, by all means let them. The only ones they are killing are themselves, and before they die they amuse us.

Technorati Tags: Athletics, Sport, Steroids, Floyd Landis, Barry Bonds, Ben Johnson, Florence Griffith-Joyner