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Bob Siederer

Bob Siederer
Oct 14, 2024

Aurora Borealis in Maine from this past week

Hello again Science Fans!

It has been a busy few weeks, so let’s get right into it.

As you may have heard, there’s a lot going on up in the night sky. The Aurora Borealis has been seen quite far south again, including some sightings in the Bay Area. Alex Filippenko, famed UC Berkeley astronomer, sent this update:

The Sun has been very active the past few weeks, with many big sunspots visible (e.g., 

The first SciSchmooze of Fall

Bob Siederer
23 September 2024

Dr. George Berci, 1921 - 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 

Loonie Days of the SciSchmooze Summer

BOB SIEDERER
12 August 2024

Fe, with her mate and two chicks

Hello again Science fans!

These past few years have put us all through a bit of a wringer. Prior to the pandemic, 11% of Americans reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to the Household Pulse Survey, a tool of the Census Bureau. Then came COVID, and that number increased to 42.6%. Today, it is down to 20.7%, but that is still almost double pre-pandemic numbers. The political climate certainly contributes to this, I’m sure. But the biggest component seems to be young adults. According to “The Morning” newsletter from the New York Times on August 8, the percentage of young adults reporting symptoms had been rising for around a decade before COVID. Uncertainty about their future, inflatio


Summer and the SciSchmooze

BOB SIEDERER
29 July 2024

This rotating spiral galaxy, NGC 1512, is located only 30 million light-years away, and is highlighted by a core of old stars, a central ring of hot, star-forming material, and then wispy, thin spiral arms connect it to a more ring-like, star-rich region in the outskirts. This Hubble/JWST composite image showcases the stark differences between what

A follow-up SciSchmooze

Bob Siederer
24 June 2024

Hello again science fans!

This is the first SciSchmooze of the astronomical summer, what with the solstice having occurred this past Thursday. Different countries refer to the start of summer at different times, some May 1, Some June 1. In the US, we tend to say it starts on Memorial Day. The astronomical start is celebrated by some as Midsummer’s Day.

Last Wednesday was Juneteenth. What seems like a recent holiday has roots going back to 1865. Heather Cox Richardson explains the history, as well as efforts since then to get around the freedom Juneteenth represents.

I want to follow up on two stories I’ve writen about in the past.

The Memorial Day Weekend SciSchmooze

Bob Siederer
27 May 2024

May 20, 2013 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. Credit: Vincent Deligny/AFP/Getty Images

Hello again Science Fans! It is a 3-day holiday weekend for most of us, so enjoy the unofficial beginning of summer. The astronomical start of summer, the summer solstice, occurs on Thursday, June 20 this year. If you want to know more about the solstice, check out this article from the Farmers’ Almanac.


Archeology

Way back in 1930, the


A little bit of everything – SciSchmooze

Bob Siederer
29 April 2024

M76. Credit: NASA, ESA, STScl, A.Pagan (STScl)

Hello again Science fans!

If you are one of those people who, like me, is interested in how things work, you may enjoy this video. It is about Olympic Curling Stones, how they are made, and why they cost so much. The process is fascinating. The granite only comes from one place on earth, Ailsa Craig off the Scotish coast. Two types of granite are used in each stone.

Curling can only be described as an odd sport. It is sort of like shuffleb


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