Bob Siederer
23 September 2024
Hello again Science Fans!
Did you notice a change today? Me either, but at 5:44 AM today, astronomical Autumn began in the Northern Hemisphere, the Autumnal Equinox. So happy fall.
Our calendar has gotten much more active now that schools are back in session and more seminars are on the schedules. We’re listing 94 events over the next two weeks. More will be added to our calendar as we find them, and some already listed will be updated as titles, abstracts, and speakers are provided. As always, should you want to attend an event we list, click through to the host’s website for any last minute updates or cancellations. Or peruse the online calendar for late additions and find something you are interested in attending.
Let’s start this week with Douglas Adams. I was in a conversation with some folks this week when the answer to the Life, Universe and Everything came up. According to Adams in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy novels, the answer is 42. (If you haven’t read this series, you really should).
One of the people had never read this series of books, so we attempted to explain the significance of the question, and the answer. Not as easy as it might sound. And it turns out there’s basis in real-world research on trying to come up with one equation that explains “everything”. This is a bit of a long article, but it is worth the read. Can the answer even be computed? You’ll have to read to find out. (I have to assume this story appeared in my feeds as a result of the algorithm noticing I looked up Adams on Wikipedia as I attempted to give a simple answer to a very complex question.)
Astronomy and Space
It seems every few days one of the amazing space and land-based telescopes, satellites, or rovers currently in operation produces some new piece of information that turns cosmology a little on its head. This week, a supermassive black hole named Porphyrion, wins the prize. It is shooting the largest jet structure of galactic origin we’ve ever seen out in to space. The scale of this is hard to take in.
Meanwhile, using some clever detective work, some scientists have presented evidence that the Earth once had a ring, similar to the rings found above Saturn and other planets. Can you imagine what that would have looked like in Earth’s night sky?
While the ring is theoretical, the fact that we’re about to have a second moon is real! It will only stay around for 2 months or so before heading off into space again, and it is quite small, but it is pretty cool to see such a significant event happen in real time…even just in our lifetimes! The animation in this article is pretty cool too!
Have you heard of Playing for Change? Check out the music they have created with musicians around the world, collaborating remotely. Sarah Gilles, one of the Polaris Dawn astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station, took part in a similar collaboration…with her part coming from orbit in the Space Station somewhere over earth. Literally out of this world.
Climate Change and the Environment
Another thing happening right before our eyes is going to have a significant impact on life in the near(er) future. Certainly closer in than most of us would have thought. The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is melting much faster than we thought. Even if we reversed the effects of climate change today, it is probably already too late to reverse this.
This story is a perfect example of our time horizon understanding. When scientists tell us something will happen in (insert favorite number here) years, we mostly tend to think “that’s in the future, and I don’t need to be concerned about it now because someone else will be”. Yet in just the past couple of years we’ve seen observable changes in climate and weather. 100 year events are happening with increased frequency, just years apart, not 100s of years apart. This past week, catastrophic floods affected significant portions of Eastern Europe with deadly results. The lovely city of Vienna, however, has made some efforts to prepare for such events, and this flood showed the rest of the world how they might prepare for the future.
Social Sciences
I’m sure some of you have tried to convince another person of your point of view without success. If the other person believes in some conspiracy theory, for example, it is almost impossible. Some researchers used a chatbot to try to convince subjects that their view was flawed, and many listened and changed their viewpoint! As much as I malign the flaws in artificial intelligence in this newsletter, this example shows promise.
Politics and Science
There’s little doubt that the upcoming Federal election is the most important one in our lifetimes. No less than the respected journal Scientific American agrees, endorsing a candidate, Kamala Harris, for only the second time in their 179-year history. This article presents their reasoning in a very cogent, thorough way, anticipating the differences for Science, Health, and the Environment should either side win. The contrast could not be more stark.
Health and innovations
I had my appendix removed when I was seven years old. I’ve got a 5” long scar on my abdomen from that surgery. Today, appendectomies are performed through a minimal set of small incisions, resulting in much shorter recovery time. Scores of other routine surgeries are performed using similar techniques that are possible through the innovative work of Dr. George Berci, who passed away last month at the age of 103. He’s pictured above in 2018, still at work, and his story is an amazing one. If you’ve had surgery in the past few decades, you owe a lot to this innovator.
2024 Ig Nobel Prizes
In Herb’s absence, here’s a link to the highlights of the Ig Nobel awards for this year. Research that is humorous, but has serious science behind it is a candidate for this award. This is one of Herb’s favorite things to report on and, since Dave and I are filling in for him until November, I thought I’d provide the link this time. A perfect example is the study entitled “Mammalian enteral ventilation ameliorates respiratory failure”, which, in everyday English means some mammals can breathe through their anus. Sort of.
Have a great week in Science!
Bob
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