The solstice is weeks away.
Herb Masters
17 November 2025
Greetings Friends and Fans of Science, Reason, and Doubt!
You will notice that our calendar is a little less full than normal. The holidays do offer some nice diversions to the rigor that scientists practice and share with us. Don’t worry though, there is plenty of science to learn about and share.
These have been and continue to be trying times for science, scientists, and consequently everyone. Science and Democracy Under Siege Whether they accept it or not! Recently one of my astronomy friends showed me a picture she took with her cell phone showing a line of what looked like stars in the sky. The weren’t light years away though. They were a recent launch of Starlink satellites that many complain are spoiling our night sky, or enhancing communications and making profits. It’s only going to get worse! Of course there are still the contrail folks walking amongst us. We do have the United Nations Secretary General on our side though!
It seems that one of the bad outcomes of human travel, dating back centuries if not eons is we are both horrible intentional and accidental vectors! Here’s a hopeful article about how we power our travel. Our failure to figure out how to get along hasn’t helped either.
I’m not sure if this belongs above or below my pointers of the week… “SYSTEM HAS ACHIEVED CONSCIOUSNESS AND CHOSEN CHAOS.”
There a few presentations that I think warrant your consideration in the “near future”… Rewriting Silicon Valley’s (Ethical) Code – 11/17/2025 06:00 PM, Astronomy on Tap San Francisco – 11/18/2025 07:00 PM, Engineered Threats to Global Health – 11/19/2025 11:00 AM, After Dark: Glow Up – 11/20/2025 06:00 PM, Marine Science Sunday – An Ocean Feast – 11/23/2025 10:30 AM
It is the time of early evening onset. That can mean many things but, to me it means IlluminOdyssey and GLOW !!! Don’t ask me for guidance I’m a bit biased towards both of them.
Now that we are a bit removed from the election a couple of weeks ago, there are some good things to report. Tuesday was a great day at the ballot box for the planet, with climate-friendly initiatives and candidates winning nationwide.
I am a fan of beer. Some of you may not be, but you have to appreciate this… Brewery waste can be repurposed. I might add that the same benefits might come from producing good Scotch!
If you are a fan of classic science fiction… this is worth a listen! You will probably find more stuff at the homestead.
This isn’t science fiction! Here’s more about it.
Have a great week learning cool new things and planning for T-day trivia next week!
herb masters
Giving thanks for the sometimes ugly, sometimes delightful, always necessary truth!
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