Particle physicists plan to build a “neutrino factory” in the UK. I almost spent a summer in high school searching for neutrinos in a Spanish mine (as part of a mandatory science thesis), until at the last minute I switched to an astrophysics project instead. Examining cosmic background radiation for fractal patterns…very trendy at the time.
Category: Space
Quaor from afar.
Astronomers discover a large planetoid in the Kuiper Belt, suggesting it might be time to downgrade Pluto.
Hardball.
Is Lance Bass’s space trip over? Not quite yet, according to his spokesperson, but the Russians seem to be sizing up a cargo unit in his stead. Perhaps he should take up a collection from N’Sync fans the world over.
Star Power.
NASA finally goes ga-ga over Lance Bass. “What’s exciting about this is getting a creative person up there,” said Duane Carey, a space shuttle pilot and father of two teens. “Maybe some songs or some poetry or some type of inspiration can come out of it.” Um, I think it’s great that Bass is getting a chance to pursue his dream, but let’s not get ridiculous here. We’re not sending W.H. Auden or Bob Dylan into space…heck, we’re not even sending John Tesh. Expecting anything more than “Girl, you knock me outta this world!” from Bass is just wishful thinking.
Phew.
The asteroid noted here last update will miss Earth in 2019, although it may be coming back circa 2060.
It’s the size of Texas, Mr. President.
Astronomers find a possible collision course asteroid hurtling toward us. Target date: 2.1.2019.
Didn’t they see Outland?
A three-day conference in Houston argues for a return to the Moon as an integral first step in Martian exploration.
NSync Nspace.
Apparently NSyncer Lance Bass has negotiated a deal to become the youngest person ever in space. As I’ve said before, if I had that kind of disposable income, I’d probably be trying to do what he’s doing. Bully for him.
He Blinded Me With Science.
Mathematics professor Jordan Ellenberg explains why the media is so taken with Stephen Wolfram’s recent tome.
Mars or Bust.
Russia proposes to NASA and the European Space Agency that we send humans to Mars by 2015. Great idea…and let’s get the Chinese involved as well.