Saturday, December 31, 2016

Rare Clouds Forming in the Stratosphere


Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 1, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

POLAR STRATOSPHERIC CLOUDS: Earth's stratosphere is normally free of clouds. Not this weekend, though. Observers around the Arctic Circle are reporting an outbreak of brilliantly-colored polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). Some PSCs are associated with the destruction of ozone and can even cause regional ozone holes. The clouds observers are seeing now are so beautiful, they rival the auroras as must-see wonders of the Arctic.

Learn more on today's edition of Spaceweather.com

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Strange Sounds from Auroras Recorded in Sweden


Source -Space Weather News for Dec. 30, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

AURORA SOUNDS IN SWEDEN: The idea that auroras make noise has long been controversial.  However, whole groups of listeners in northern Sweden have recently heard strange sounds during magnetic storms.  On Christmas night, an aurora tour guide recorded the audio using his iPhone--and it sounds like Star Wars blaster fire. 

Visit today's edition of Spaceweather.com for the full story.

HERE COMES THE SOLAR WIND (AGAIN): 2016 might get one more blast of Arctic auroras before the year is over.  Another stream of solar wind is heading for Earth, and it could arrive before New Year's Eve. Monitor the realtime aurora gallery for sightings.

Monday, December 26, 2016

Spotless Sun Sparks Unusual Pink Auroras


Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 26, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

SPOTLESS SUN SPARKS PINK AURORAS: For the past three days and nights, sky watchers around the Arctic Circle have witnessed a strange display of pink and white auroras. Many veteran observers say they've never seen anything quite like it.  Stranger still, the display was ignited by a completely blank sun. No sunspots were involved. What's going on? 

Pictures and an explanation are highlighted on today's edition of Spaceweather.com

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Big Picture Science for Monday December 26, 2016 - The Fix is In












Big Picture Science - The Fix is In

ENCORE: The moon jellyfish has remarkable approach to self-repair.  If it loses a limb, it rearranges its remaining body parts to once again become radially symmetric.  Humans can’t do that, but a new approach that combines biology with nanotechnology could give our immune systems a boost.  Would you drink a beaker of nanobots if they could help you fight cancer?

Also, materials science gets into self-healing with a novel concrete that fixes its own cracks.

Plus, why even the most adaptive systems can be stretched to their limit.  New research suggests that the oceans will take a millennium to recover from climate change. 
 
Guests:

This encore podcast was first released on August 03, 2015

Download this podcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/fixisin

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Solstice Geomagnetic Storm


Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 21, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

SOLSTICE GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Around the Arctic Circle, the longest night of the year has arrived with perfect timing. A high-speed stream of solar wind hit Earth's magnetic field on Dec. 21st (the northern winter solstice) filling the long hours of darkness with Northern Lights. At the time of this alert, a moderately strong G2-class geomagnetic storm is underway, and more storms are in the offing. Flowing from a huge hole in the sun's atmosphere, this solar wind stream is broad. Earth could take days to cross it.

Check Spaceweather.com for updates.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Auroras for Christmas?


Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 19, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

AURORAS FOR CHRISTMAS? Earth is about to enter a solar wind stream flowing from a large hole in the sun's atmosphere. Polar G1-class geomagnetic storms are expected to begin on Dec. 21st with magnetic unrest continuing through Dec. 25th as Earth slowly crosses the broad stream of solar wind. Santa, be alert for Northern Lights!

Updates and aurora sightings may be found on Spaceweather.com

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Big Picture Science for Monday December 19, 2016 - Skeptic Check: Fear Itself












Big Picture Science - Skeptic Check: Fear Itself

ENCORE: Shhh.  Is someone coming? Okay, we’ll make this quick.  There are a lot of scary things going on in the world.  Naturally you’re fearful.  But sometimes fear has a sister emotion: suspicion.  A nagging worry about what’s really going on. You know, the stuff they aren’t telling you.  Don’t share this, but we have evidence that both our fear response and our tendency to believe conspiracy theories are evolutionarily adaptive.

A sociologist who studies fear tells us why we’re addicted to its thrill when we control the situation, and how the media exploit our fear of losing control to keep us on edge.  Plus, we examine some alien “cover-ups” and discover why it’s not just the tinfoil hat crowd that falls for outrageous plots.

It’s Skeptic Check …. but you didn’t hear it from us!

Guests:

This encore podcast was first released on December 21, 2015

Download podcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/skeptic-check-fear-itself

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Big Picture Science for Monday December 12, 2016 - Are Animals Really That Smart?












Big Picture Science - Are Animals Really That Smart?

You own a cat, or is it vice versa?  Family friendly felines have trained their owners to do their bidding.  Thanks to a successful evolutionary adaptation, they rule your house.

Find out how your cat has you wrapped around its paw.  And it’s not the only animal to outwit us.  Primatologist Frans de Waal shares the surprising intellectual capabilities of chimps, elephants, and bats.  In fact, could it be that we’re simply not smart enough to see how smart animals are?

Plus, the discovery of a fossilized dinosaur brain.  Were those lumbering lizards more clever than we thought?

Guests:

Download podcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/are-animals-really-smart

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

The Geminid Meteor Shower is Underway


Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 11, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

THE GEMINID METEOR SHOWER IS UNDERWAY: Earth is entering a stream of gravelly debris from "rock comet" 3200 Phaethon, source of the annual Geminid meteor shower.  Although the shower's peak is not expected until Dec. 13-14, observers are already seeing fireballs fly out of the constellation Gemini as early-arriving meteoroids hit Earth's atmosphere traveling ~35 km/s (78,000 mph).

More information and observing tips may be found on today's edition of Spaceweather.com.

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Minor Geomagnetic Storms Likely Dec. 7-10


Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 7, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are likely for the next three to four days as Earth passes through a stream of high-speed solar wind. A type of shock wave at the leading edge of the stream called a "co-rotating interaction region" (CIR) could spark a display of bright Arctic auroras as early as Dec. 7-8.

Visit Spaceweather.com for updates about the coming storms.

Sunday, December 04, 2016

Big Picture Science for Monday December 5, 2016 - Brain Dust












Big Picture Science - Brain Dust

Know your brain?  Think again.  Driven by a hidden agenda, powered by an indecipherable web of neurons, and influenced by other brains, your grey matter is a black box.

To "know thyself" may be a challenge, and free will nonexistent, but maybe more technology can shed light on the goings on in your noggin, and the rest of your body.

Find out how tiny implanted sensors called “brain dust” may reveal what really going on.

Plus, the day when your brain is uploaded into a computer as ones and zeros.  Will you still be you?

Guests:

Download podcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/brain-dust

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Saturday, December 03, 2016

What is the "Da Vinci Glow"? You can see it this weekend...


Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 3, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

WHAT IS THE DA VINCI GLOW?  Five hundred years ago, Leonardo da Vinci proposed an outlandish theory explaining why the Moon's surface glows during the lunar night. Turns out, his idea was correct. This weekend is a great time to see the "Da Vinci Glow" for yourself. Observing tips and the full story of da Vinci's imaginative leap are highlighted on today's edition of Spaceweather.com.

LARGE CORONAL HOLE TURNING TOWARD EARTH:  A large hole in the sun's atmosphere has formed and it is turning toward Earth.  Solar wind emerging from the opening could reach Earth as early as Dec. 6-7 and influence the space environment of our planet for several days.

Visit Spaceweather.com for more information and updates.