The Homely Scientist

I just heard on the radio that there is a total lunar eclipse tonight (this morning, technically).  I looked around and found a special page from NASA on it:

A total eclipse of the Moon occurs during the early morning of Tuesday, August 28, 2007. The event is widely visible from the United States and Canada as well as South America, the Pacific Ocean, western Asia and Australia. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon’s disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and (rarely) very dark gray. Source: NASA - Total Lunar Eclipse: August 28, 2007

Here is a diagram with transit times:

You know I was wondering if an eclipse was coming up because they only happen when sunset and moonrise are in sync.  I was up on Mt. Doug here in Victoria taking some sunset pictures and noticed that a) the moon was nearly full (and looking awesome) and b) the Sun was setting at the same time.

While not a “once in a life time” experience by any stretch, a lunar eclipse is very cool to watch.  Also you don’t need to worry about special glasses, observing boxes, or anything to observe them.

The NASA page has times for other timezones as well so set your alarm and check out the eclipse tonight.

Share This

 Here’s a great example of science and engineering looking to nature for new and innovative ways to solve problems.  Look at that robot!  It’s tiny!  It hops!  It finds pollution!

Umberto Scarfogliero, one of the men behind the University of Lucca project, says that the team focused on fleas and frogs in particular when researching the ‘bot. “Robots like these are far more efficient than larger ones in scouring vast areas of land in a shorter time,” he explained. The little critters are now being equipped with sensors that will allow them to locate sources of mercury poisoning. Source: Leaping Lizards: Robot that Jumps Like a Flea Can Sniff out Pollution - Gizmodo

If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years of looking at the natural world, it’s that nature has some great ideas.  Lots of inspiration to be had.  Like … Velcro from burrs (the plant kind), the chain saw from beetle grubs (this is true).  Just sit, watch, and learn.  You never know what you might come up with.

Share This

 Now this is what I’m talkin’ about!

Built on just 3 acres of land, (most single-story storage facilities need ten times that amount) Portland City Storage will be the largest solar facility in the Northwest. Excess power will be sold on to Portland General Electric, and there is a rainwater collection area on the roof. Source: Eco: Portland’s Solar-Powered, 22-Story Storage Facility - Gizmodo

Really what we have to do is build this kind of facility in order to satisfy our energy thirst.  Is it easy?  Of course not, but also fears that something like this has to be ugly…well just look at that picture!

Share This

When looking at the world of infectious diseases, once of the huge questions is how fast it spreads and lethal it is (both in terms of number of people who die and how quickly).  The Spanish Flu of 1918, there hasn’t been a flu that deadly since, why?  Ebola, pretty much 100% lethal, very infectious, but because people die so quickly (not to mention horribly) it tends to burn out quickly.  Scientists looking at West Nile Virus have found that a minor change in the amino acids of the virus can have profound effects:

The amino acid change in question alters the sequence of a protein called a helicase that’s involved in the process of making copies of the virus. A scan of WNV sequences from around the world show that this appears to be the only site in the entire viral genome that’s under positive selective pressure. As a result, the amino acid change found in the North American strain appears to have arisen at least three times in the virus’ history.

Typically, viruses that rapidly kill their host have a very short history, as they rapidly run out of places to reproduce. The authors suggest that the Kenyan WNV strain is actually at a reproductive disadvantage, however, in that the amount of circulating virus in the blood is so low that it is unlikely to be picked up by the mosquitos that spread it. In contrast, the lethal strain not only hits levels in the blood that are five orders of magnitude higher, but it causes its victims to become feverish and lethargic, making them easy targets for mosquitos. These mosquitos then help the virus hop to species where it is less deadly, such as blue jays, sparrows, and humans, which can act as reservoirs for WNV. Source: Single amino acid change turns West Nile Virus into a killer

Applying this knowledge gives epidemiologists another way to both track viruses and potentially a way to combat them as well.

I keep putting Germs, Guns, and Steel on my reading list, but if this post interests you, this book might as well:

Share This

 Okay raise your hand, who hates bugs?  Yeah I figure everyone’s hands went up.  I’m not fearful of bugs (much), and am often called on for insect removal duty, but mosquitoes, yellow jackets, and flies are certainly pests we all would like to keep at bay.  In the segment below talks about Ultrafobos which is supposed to emit sounds from your computer speakers that will repell bugs (and other animals as well)…more after the jump..

 Seems like this could work.  Sound is a very powerful thing.  Sound waves can destroy buildings, glass, and if your a parent of teenagers, drive you batty.  I’ve downloaded it and will give it a try.

The principle is sound, the question is just the application.  What’s interesting is that if you follow the link above to download the program the screenshot shows a preset for teenagers.  I wonder what that plays?  Lawrence Welk?

Hat tip to Bill at the Repell-em Blog (disclosure, Repell-em is a client of mine, but the post is still cool).

Share This

What do you think happens to a species when some kind of pathogen targets it and is extremely successful at killing it off?  Extinction is pretty much what will happen.  If not extinction, decimation is likely.  Well a tropical butterfly beat the odds and set a new record of evolutionary adaptation:

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley and elsewhere have documented the super-swift recovery of tropical Hypolimnas bolina butterflies, also called blue moon or great eggfly butterflies, from the onslaught of a bacteria that killed only males. The bacteria had reduced the male population to about 1 percent of the overall species, but within 10 generations over less than a year in 2006, the males had recovered to 39 percent of the population, according to the researchers. Source: Male butterflies swiftly out-evolve killer bacteria | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

Generally evolution of a species takes years.  Like tens or hundreds of them, not one (less actually).  While this might be a fluke or a rarity in the natural world, since it’s happened once, it can happen again and has likely happened before.  This rapid change gives credence to the punctuated equilibrium theory that evolution happens in fast bursts followed by long plateaus.  This butterfly, because they can obviously reproduce quickly, can evolve faster than a person since it takes at least a decade and a bit before a human female can pass on her genetic code to offspring.  Regardless, this is pretty exciting stuff.

Share This

What do you think of this?

This creature, apparently a half-squid, half-octopus, was found off Hawaii’s Big Island. Possibly a newly-discovered species, it was accidentally sucked up into a deep-sea water pipeline from a depth of 3,000 feet. Researchers at the Natural Energy Laboratory, where the pipeline leads, found the animal trapped in a filter. From the Honolulu Star Bulletin: Source: Boing Boing: Possible “octosquid” discovered

Unfortunately it turned out that it was just a rare squid short two tentacles

Share This

It’s summer. which in this neck of the woods means wasp and hornet season (they are different, btw).  Well I’m glad these buggers aren’t around here:

A few interesting notes on Vespa mandarinia’s venom and stinger:
* The venom contains at least eight distinct chemicals, some of which damage tissue, some of which cause pain, and at least one which has an odor that attracts more hornets to the victim.
* The venom contains 5% acetylcholine, a greater concentration than is present in bee or other wasp venoms. Acetylcholine stimulates the pain nerve fibres, intensifying the pain of the sting.
* Vespa mandarinia uses its large crushing mandibles, rather than its sting, to kill prey.
* The venom of the Asian giant hornet is more toxic than that of most other bees or wasps, giving this species one of the greatest lethal capacities per colony.
* Like all hornets, V. mandarinia possesses a barbless stinger, allowing it to sting repeatedly. Source: IgwanaRob

Oh that’s not enough?  Check out the picture:

As the author of the post said, see these coming your way, running and screaming like a little girl is not only acceptable but probably encouraged.

Share This

Creepy crustaceans Batman!  Those bugs are destroying that island!

HIGASHIHIROSHIMA, Hiroshima — An island off the coast of Higashihiroshima is crumbling away due to countless crustaceans that have made holes in its rocks and caused its highest peak to completely disappear.

The rocky Hoboro Island has become a breeding ground for huge numbers of creatures known in Japanese as nanatsuba-kotsubumushi, a type of isopod. The surging number of insects has caught the attention of local researchers. Source: Crustaceans eating away island off Hiroshima - MSN-Mainichi Daily News

Amazing huh? Isopods are a type of crustacean more commonly known as pill bugs or wood bugs that generally burrow to lay their eggs in soil, logs, or other organic debris.  Scientists think that the soil/rock on this little volcanic island must be easy to dig through because, well you can see why:

Before (1955-1965):

After (present day):

Little buggers in action:

Pretty amazing huh?  This is an extremely rare occurrence, but so cool nonetheless.

Hat tip to Boing Boing

Share This

 Nope, not kidding.  Cataclysm of Biblical proportions here.  Here’s the info from CNET:

We have 10 years, folks. And then it’s man the lifeboats, or head for the hills. That’s the conclusion of James Hansen and five other scientists. They’ve just published a paper with the Royal Society in England. It says melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctic could soon reach a point of no return. The team even says the recent reports from the United Nations’ global warming conferences are too conservative in their projections of what could happen. Source: Possible cataclysm due to melting ice | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

I’m not going to get into why I think this is true, or what I think can be done, I want to look at why we reach a point of no return.

The reason is that temperature is only part of the picture for ice melt.  Once the ice starts melting the ice front begins weakening and more ocean water gets in.  It’s like when you start pushing something downhill, it takes a good bit of effort to get it going, but once it is going, it takes more effort to stop it.  The more ice that falls the more surface area exposed, which begins to melt faster …

The scary thing is if (when?) the Ross Ice Shelf, which is grounded below sea level, loses its protective barrier..imagine dropping a large ice cube from about a foot high into a full glass of pop.

So … let’s start to take this seriously, eh?

Share This