Quote by Martin Luther King
“When scientific power outruns moral power, we end up with guided missiles and misguided men.”
~ Martin Luther King
Quite the thought there…
Posts tagged ‘science’
Lunar Impact Site Named After Sally Ride
Lunar Impact Site Named After Sally Ride – Science@NASA
Dec. 18, 2012: NASA has named the site where twin gravity probes hit the Moon yesterday in honor of the late astronaut, Sally K. Ride, who was America’s first woman in space and a member of the probes’ mission team.
On Dec. 14th, Ebb and Flow, the two spacecraft of NASA’s GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) mission, were commanded to descend into a lower orbit and target a mountain near the Moon’s north pole. The formation-flying duo hit the lunar surface as planned at 5:28:51 p.m. EST and 5:29:21 p.m. EST on Dec. 17th at a speed of 3,760 mph. The location of the Sally K. Ride Impact Site is on the southern face of an approximately 1.5 mile-tall mountain near a crater named Goldschmidt.
“Sally Ride worked tirelessly throughout her life to remind all of us, especially girls, to keep questioning and learning,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland. “Today her passion for making students part of NASA’s science is honored by naming the impact site for her.”
Much more in the article over at Science@NASA.
It was so sad to lose Sally Ride in July 2012.
Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012) was an American physicist and astronaut. Ride joined NASA in 1978 and, at the age of 32, became the first American woman to enter into low Earth orbit in 1983.
SallyRideScience - Sally Ride Science™ is an innovative science education company. Dr. Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, founded the company to educate, engage, and inspire all students. The company brings science to life through pioneering professional development, instructional solutions, and real-science investigations for students in 4th-8th grades.
Rockefeller: Coal must ‘boldly embrace’ the future
Rockefeller: Coal must ‘boldly embrace’ the future – Coal Tattoo:
Without good health it’s difficult to hold down a job or live the American dream. Chronic illness is debilitating and impacts a family’s income, prosperity and ultimately its happiness.
The annual health benefits of the rule are enormous. EPA has relied on thousands of studies that established the serious and long term impact of these pollutants on premature deaths, heart attacks, hospitalizations, pregnant women, babies and children.
Moreover, it significantly reduces the largest remaining human-caused emissions of mercury–a potent neurotoxin with fetal impacts.
Maybe some can shrug off the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics and others but I cannot.
Amen and Amen.
Thank you, Sen. Rockefeller!
I am so happy to see this from the Senior United States Senator from West Virginia!
Maybe this will make a difference for West Virginians and also here in Hampton Roads, Virginia with the proposed 1500 MW Cypress Creek Power Station (ODEC’s proposed coal plant in Dendron, Surry County, VA).
Just one from the very interesting comment section:
Howard Swint says:
June 20, 2012 at 1:18 pmI support Sen. Rockefeller for his bold leadership in this speech. It’s been a long time coming…
EDIT: Here is the link for the poll:
http://wvgazette.com/polls/201206230087
Apparently any readers of the paper can vote, no matter where you live as purported by FriendsOfCoal.org. So please go vote your mind.
Total Eclipse of the Sun
Astronomers Studying an Eclipse painted by Antoine Caron in 1571
We wanted to nail it down, since we both saw it together in two different states together. So, I went to the NASA Solar Eclipse page and started looking in the early 60s for a Total Eclipse. Sure enough, there it was July 20, 1963 (here‘s the page where we found it).
All these years later, we both remembered quite a bit about it … and the deepest part of the eclipse only lasted about 1 minute 40 seconds.
Eclipses can be exciting, maybe even a little bit scary, or may cause some measure of anxiety for a child because they have never seen such a thing happen before in their little lives. Giving them as much information as possible, especially for a curious child, can be a great defense against such anxiety. We loved it. Both of us did, even as children. But both of us had some knowledge of what was going on. Science fascinated us both. I remember a woman from the West Indies who was with me when it happened (we stopped at a Judge’s house at the Jersey Shore on my Dad’s rounds noted earlier, and this woman and her husband worked in the house and were good friends of my Dad), and she said that this could be a once in a lifetime thing. She had only seen one once before in her life.
The next Total Eclipse of the Sun for our area in the United States won’t happen again until 2017 (August 21). Hard to say whether we both will still be here then. But I think it will be really interesting if we could share it together this time, instead of seeing it separately in two different states together like last time. Jim in Ohio and me at the Jersey Shore. We didn’t even know each other back then.
It is on my calendar for August 21, 2017 just in case. 
Solar eclipse of July 20, 1963 (Wikipedia)
According to Wikipedia, the next Total Solar Eclipse of the Sun after the one August 21, 2017, (that we could see here in the continental United States) won’t occur again until September 23, 2071.
I am pretty certain we won’t be here for that one, but our grandchildren will be.
Information on Solar Eclipses:
There are some very good external links on that page as well.
You can even listen to the article in .ogg format in two parts from Wikimedia linked on that page or click on the links below:
Solar Eclipses article in audio format from Wikimedia:
Solar Eclipses have been interpreted as all kinds of omens, portents, etc. in history; particularly related to battle.
In addition, there are some really interesting observations made including some cool scientific observations, as well as some anomalies as well, such as this from the Wikipedia article:
Gravity anomalies
There is a long history of observations of gravity-related phenomena during solar eclipses, especially around totality. In 1954 and again in 1959, Maurice Allais reported observations of strange and unexplained movement during solar eclipses. This phenomenon is now called the Allais Effect. Similarly, Saxl and Allen in 1970 observed sudden change in motion of a torsion pendulum, and this phenomenon is called the Saxl effect.
A recent published observation during the 1997 solar eclipse by Wang et al. suggested a possible gravitational shielding effect, though there is some serious debate. Later in 2002, Yang and Wang published detailed data analysis which suggested that the phenomenon still remains unexplained. More studies are being planned by NASA and ESA over the next decade.
Very interesting stuff!
Support Lyme Groups’ Decision to Withdraw from IOM Lyme Workshop
Support Lyme Groups’ Decision to Withdraw from IOM Lyme Workshop
Please let Congress know you support the move by LDA, TFL and CALDA to withdraw from the NIH/IOM State-of-the-Science Lyme Disease and Other Tick Borne Diseases Workshop by reading the statement below and completing the response form. LDA will send your reply directly to Congressman Christopher H. Smith (NJ). It will not be used for any purpose other than this project. Thank you!
Lyme Groups Withdraw from Scientific Meeting
I support the move by the national Lyme Disease Association (LDA), the California Lyme Disease Association (CALDA), and Time For Lyme (TFL) to withdraw from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored workshop. I agree that the above groups should not participate in nor submit the Institutes of Medicine’s (IOM) commissioned scientific paper to the Panel in protest of the IOM’s workshop about the state of the science regarding Lyme and tick-borne diseases. Despite the 3 groups’ repeated requests for transparency and a balance of scientific viewpoints, as delineated in Congressional Appropriations language, neither the hearing panel nor the speakers selected by the IOM satisfy the Congressional intent or objectives.
The IOM’s mission was to provide an “independent, objective and non-partisan” program and there are no scheduled speakers with opposing viewpoints of similar scientific weight to balance Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) presentations about the research gaps in Lyme disease. Many state-of-the-art scientific researchers, experienced clinicians and patient advocates have been relegated by the IOM and NIH to spectator positions. I believe that this amount of bias undermines the integrity of the scientific workshop and that its final report will reflect this lack of objectivity.
Support Lyme Groups’ Decision to Withdraw from IOM Lyme Workshop
As most who read my blog know, my hubby has been suffering with Lyme Disease for several years now including a paralyzed right side diaphragm. This particular problem (only one of many my hubby experiences), is well known to be a ‘side affect’ of Lyme Disease and documented in various places. Here’s one article about it “Diaphragmatic paralysis due to Lyme disease“.
Just for the record, confirmation articles were discovered AFTER the diagnosis. And although the doctor didn’t confirm the source of the problem (likely afraid to do so), he did confirm the paralysis during one of the two a hospital stays of 8 days on two IV antibiotics for diverticulitis, also from the Lyme Disease. NEITHER OF THESE PROBLEMS, or the high blood pressure and other issues were ever a problem until after the tick bite and the bullseye rash and subsequent ‘typical’ antibiotic treatment (doxycycline) and allergic reaction, or more likely a ‘die off’ reaction, to the massive death of the Lyme bug that nearly killed him with dangerously high blood pressure (which he never suffered with before this incident).
Am I getting through to you Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Dr. Gary Wormser of Westchester Medical Center ?! My hubby was a healthy person who was active and vibrant until Lyme Disease struck him down. It was a night and day difference. Now tell me one thing has nothing to do with the other. Anybody?….
Victory for Pet Owners! San Marcos, TX, Overturns Microchip Mandate
Victory for Pet Owners! San Marcos, TX, Overturns Microchip Mandate (KatherineAlbreicht.com)
Local animal owners no longer required to chip their pets:
The City Council of San Marcos, Texas, unanimously voted this week to rescind a mandatory pet microchipping ordinance that would have required all pets within city limits to receive an injected implant. The 7 to 0 vote was made at the City Council meeting on Tuesday night. All members were present and voted, including Mayor Susan Clifford-Narvaiz, according to San Marcos Communications Director Melissa Millecam.
The chipping ordinance was originally adopted last December and was slated to take effect on April 1st.
Way to go San Marcos!
It was great to see that once they understood the entire issue, the vote was 7-0. That’s impressive!
Katherine also has research studies on the link between microchip implants and cancer here:
www.antichips.com
New Study of Splenda and Sucralose Reveals Shocking New Information About Potential Harmful Effect on Humans
James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health, has expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from scientists outlining the dangers of the artificial sweetener Splenda (sucralose).
In animals examined for the study, Splenda reduced the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50 percent, increased the pH level in the intestines, contributed to increases in body weight and affected P-glycoprotein (P-gp) levels in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected.
The P-gp effect could result in medications used in chemotherapy, AIDS treatment and treatments for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines, rather than being absorbed by the body.
According to Turner, “The report makes it clear that the artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. Hundreds of consumers have complained to us about side effects from using Splenda and this study … confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red warning label.”
Much more in the article in Dr. Mercola’s Comments. Must read.
Here’s just a couple of Dr. Mercola’s Comments from the article:
It’s very important to realize that Splenda (sucralose) is actually NOT sugar, despite its marketing slogan “Made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar”. Rather it’s a chlorinated artificial sweetener in line with aspartame and saccharin, and with detrimental health effects to match.
Splenda was approved by the FDA in 1998 as a tabletop sweetener and for use in products such as baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, frozen dairy desserts, fruit juices, and gelatins. Sucralose is also permitted as a general-purpose sweetener for all processed foods.
The approval was given after the FDA supposedly reviewed more than 110 animal and human safety studies, but as you’ll soon find out, out of these 110 studies, only two were human studies, and the longest one was conducted for four days!
From the GlobeNewsWire article,
Turner said, “This report followed accepted policies and procedures and the results make clear the potential for disturbing side effects from the ingestion of Splenda. It is like putting a pesticide in your body. And this is at levels of intake erroneously approved by the Food and Drug Administration. A person eating two slices of cake and drinking two cups of coffee containing Splenda would ingest enough sucralose to affect the P-glycoprotein, while consuming just seven little Splenda packages reduces good bacteria.” Although the effect of consuming Splenda does not result from a one time use, the side effects do occur after accumulated use. Turner also noted unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to the claims of Johnson & Johnson.
Turner announced, “We are calling today on the FDA to immediately accept our petition filed over a year ago and initiate a review of its approval of sucralose and to require a warning label on Splenda packaging cautioning that people who take medications and/or have gastrointestinal problems avoid using Splenda. The new study makes it clear that Splenda can cause you to gain weight and lose the benefits of medications designed to improve and protect your health. The FDA should not continue to turn a blind eye to this health threat.”
Climate Catastrophe Cancelled
(video from FriendsOfScience.org)
An Inconvenient Truth or Convenient Fiction?
Just a couple things to think about.
The price of dissent on global warming
According to Wikipedia, David Belamy is an English botanist, author, broadcaster, and environmental campaigner. He is also a skeptic of anthropogenic global warming.
Bellamy first came to public prominence as an environmental consultant at the time of the 1967 Torrey Canyon disaster. He has written and presented some 400 television programmes on botany, ecology, and environmental issues. Bellamy is the originator, along with David Shreeve and the Conservation Foundation (which he also founded), of the Ford European Conservation Awards and has published over 80 scientific papers and many books.
Recently, he wrote an article, “The price of dissent on global warming (The Australian):”
WHEN I first stuck my head above the parapet to say I didn’t believe what we were being told about global warming, I had no idea what the consequences would be. I am a scientist and I have to follow the directions of science, but when I see that the truth is being covered up I have to voice my opinions.
David Belamy goes on to talk about why he says that.
If you have the time, the comment section is also quite interesting.
Thank you Mike (Staying Alive blog) for bringing to light another great article.
Back in August, I posted an article entitled, “Climatic Cycles … who’d a thunk it” where I share information from the article, “Fire and Ice – Journalists have warned of climate change for 100 years, but can’t decide weather we face an ice age or warming (BMI Special Report)” (And yes, I do think that weather instead of whether is a pun on words.)
Like David Belamy, and many others, I have been very upset about the rain forest being destroyed for many years and the loss of some of the most amazing biodiversity and indigenous culture on the planet. And like anyone with a brain, I am very concerned about pollution (at every level) and what it is doing to our world. And as long as it’s efficient and doesn’t create higher food costs, I am very much in favor of alternative energy solutions.
Recently, I saw a very good timeline on this subject over at The Old Farmer’s Almanac, “Is Global Warming on the Wane?”.
I do think it’s important to get back to basics where we can. Some are better able than others to do so. But to talk about pushing carbon taxes and buying credits to appease the ‘carbon gods’ and make people ‘feel better’ about their so called carbon footprint may be a bit over the edge when there are so many starving people around the world.
And there are real concerns about global companies, like Monsanto that provides a huge percentage of the seeds used around the world, (in 2006 they were reconsidering their 1999 statement on NOT making use of technology (read: patents) to create terminator or suicide seeds), beginning patent war with the world surrounding seeds and techniques for breeding:
Biotech Giant Monsanto Revises Pledge on ‘Suicide Seeds’:
The threat of so-called ‘suicide seeds’ being used in commercial agriculture has become greater following a change of policy by Monsanto, the world’s largest GM seed and chemicals company.
The genetic-engineering giant made a public promise in 1999 not to commercialise ‘terminator technology’ – plants that are genetically modified to produce sterile seeds. Now Monsanto says it may develop the technology after all – suggesting that it would use Terminator seeds in non-food crops such as cotton, tobacco, pharmaceutical crops and grass, and does not rule out other uses in the future. (1)
In response, Greenpeace joined over 300 organisations today to demand that the current global moratorium on terminator technology is maintained, because the use of sterile seeds threatens biodiversity and could destroy the livelihoods and cultures of the 1.4 billion people who depend on farm-saved seed.
More here and here and here and this information on wikipedia:
Throughout 2004 and 2005, Monsanto filed lawsuits against many farmers in Canada and the U.S. The lawsuits have been on the grounds of patent infringement, specifically the farmer’s sale of seed containing Monsanto’s patented genes–which require the farmer initial purchase of the seed and its technology–unknowingly sown by wind carrying the seeds from neighboring crops. These instances began in the mid to late 1990s, with one of the most significant cases being decided in Monsanto’s favor by the Canadian Supreme Court. By a 5-4 vote in late May 2004, that court ruled that “by cultivating a plant containing the patented gene and composed of the patented cells without license, the appellants (canola farmer Percy Schmeiser) deprived the respondents of the full enjoyment of the monopoly.” With this ruling, the Canadian courts followed the U.S. Supreme Court in its decision on patent issues involving plants and genes.
As of February 2005, Monsanto has patent claims on breeding techniques for pigs which would grant them ownership of any pigs born of such techniques and their related herds. Greenpeace claims Monsanto is trying to claim ownership on ordinary breeding techniques.[6] Monsanto claims that the patent is a defensive measure to track animals from its system. They furthermore claim their patented method uses a specialized insemination device that requires less sperm than is typical.[7]
In 2006, the Public Patent Foundation filed requests with the U.S. Patent Office to revoke four patents that Monsanto has used in patent lawsuits against farmers. In the first round of reexamination, claims in all four patents were rejected by the Patent Office in four separate rulings dating from February through July 2007.[8] Monsanto has since filed responses in the reexaminations.
I just think there are much more important things to worry about regarding the environment, governments squandering tax payers’ money (for generations) on a bucket with major holes in it that Ron Paul and other Austrian economists have predicted (thanks Ice – The Ice Blog), and feeding the world’s population by helping them get what’s needed to do it themselves through humanitarian ways (not through taxes at governmental levels, but through charitable/religious organizations that people voluntarily choose to donate to) — rather than worrying about carbon footprints and carbon credits so people can go on doing what they are going to do anyway (but somehow feel better about it because they paid to appease the ‘carbon gods’), and global warming/cooling cycles that are a normal occurrence since the beginning of the world.
What You Never Expected to Hear About Water Fluoridation
What You Never Expected to Hear About Water Fluoridation (Mercola.com):
Imagine a drug being prescribed to the entire U.S. population with no consent and no way to track dosage or individual reactions, and without concern for some people’s increased vulnerability to the drug. It sounds crazy, but that is exactly what is happening in the United States with water fluoridation.
Fluoride has been added to the U.S. water supply for over 50 years in order to prevent dental decay. Not only is the practice unsafe, which I will address later, it is also ineffective. Data compiled by the World Health Organization shows no difference in tooth decay in countries that use fluoridated water compared with countries that don’t use fluoridated water.
And this Fluoride Stupidity And Population Control (PropagandaMatrix.com 2005):
Controversial fluoride is one of the basic ingredients in both PROZAC (FLUoxetene Hydrochloride) and Sarin nerve gas (Isopropyl-Methyl-Phosphoryl FLUoride).
Sodium fluoride, a hazardous-waste by-product from the manufacture of aluminum, is a common ingredient in rat and cockroach poisons, anesthetics, hypnotics, psychiatric drugs, and military nerve gas. It’s historically been quite expensive to properly dispose of, until some aluminum industries with an overabundance of the stuff sold the public on the terrifically insane but highly profitable idea of buying it at a 20,000% markup, injecting it into our water supplies, and then DRINKING it.
Yes, a 20,000% markup: Fluoride– intended only for human consumption by people under 14 years of age–is injected into our drinking water supply at approx. 1 part-per-million (ppm), but since we only drink 1/2 of one percent of the total water supply, the rest literally goes down the drain as a free hazardous-waste disposal for the chemical industry, where we PAY them so that we can flush their expensive hazardous waste down our toilets. How many salesmen dream of such a deal? (Follow the money.)
This is your 12:00 AM wake up call!
