Monday, January 30, 2017

A Big Hole in the Sun's Atmosphere faces Earth


Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 30, 2017 - http://spaceweather.com

A BIG HOLE IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE: A large, canyon-shaped hole has opened in the sun's atmosphere, and it is spewing a stream of solar wind toward Earth.  Polar geomagnetic storms are likely when the fast-moving stream arrives, probably on Feb 1st. Visit today's edition of Spaceweather.com for more information.

SUNSET SKY SHOW: For the next two nights, watch the southwestern sky at sunset. Mars, Venus and the crescent Moon are converging for a beautiful gathering in the evening twilight.  Visit Spaceweather.com for sky maps and photos.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Big Picture Science for Monday January 30, 2017 - DIY Spaceflight












Big Picture Science - DIY Spaceflight

For a half-century, space has been the playground of large, government agencies.  While everyone could dream of becoming an astronaut, few could actually do so.

Things have changed.  We hear how a geeky son of immigrant parents incentivized the ground-breaking launch of SpaceShipOne, and spawned the commercial rocket industry.

And while you’re waiting for a ticket to ride, why not build your own satellite to keep tabs on the kids or just check out the back forty?  A CubeSat could be your next basement project.

And the hitherto untold story of how black women mathematicians a half-century ago helped get a man into orbit, and astronauts to the moon.

Guests:

Download postcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/diy-spaceflight

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, January 25, 2017

Sunspot Surprise


Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 25, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

SUNSPOT SURPRISE: Barely visible only 24 hours ago, a new sunspot group big enough to swallow Earth is bubbling up through the solar surface. So far the active region poses no threat for strong solar flares, but this could change if its rapid growth continues. Visit today's edition of Spaceweather.com to view a movie of sunspot genesis, and to learn how this development fits in with the recent "crash" of the sunspot cycle.

HIGH-LATITUDE AURORA WATCH: A hole in the sun's atmosphere is spewing a stream of solar wind toward Earth. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras when the stream arrives on Jan. 27-28. Monitor the realtimeaurora gallery for sightings.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Big Picture Science for Monday January 23, 2017 - Skeptic Check: Amelia Earhart












Big Picture Science - Skeptic Check: Amelia Earhart

She’s among the most famous missing persons in history.  On the eightieth anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, mystery still shrouds her fate.  What happened during the last leg of her round-the-world trek?

Theories abound.  Perhaps she ran out of fuel, and plunged into the ocean … or was captured by the Japanese.  A non-profit international organization, TIGHAR, suggests she was a castaway, and offers up a new analysis of bones found on a Pacific atoll during the time of the Second World War. Their researchers will return to this possible landing spot to seek more clues this summer.

We consider these theories and weigh the new evidence surrounding Earhart’s puzzling last flight.  Also, why are we uncomfortable with open-ended mysteries?

Guests:
  • Andrew McKenna – Researcher with TIGHAR (The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery)
  • Claire Maldarelli – Editor at Popular Science Magazine
  • Andrew Maynard – Director of the Risk Innovation Lab, Arizona State University
  • John Norberg – Journalist and former writer on air and space for Purdue University

Download podcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/skeptic-check-amelia-earhart

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.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Radiation "Clouds" Detected at Aviation Altitudes


Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 20, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

RADIATION CLOUDS AT AVIATION ALTITUDES: A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Space Weather reports the discovery of radiation "clouds" at aviation altitudes. When airplanes fly through these clouds, dose rates of cosmic radiation normally absorbed by air travelers can double or more. 

Get the full story on today's edition of Spaceweather.com

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

High-latitude Aurora Alert


Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 17, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

HIGH-LATITUDE AURORA ALERT: A large crescent-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere is facing Earth, and it is spewing a stream of high-speed solar wind. NOAA forecasters say there is a 70% chance of polar geomagnetic storms when the solar wind arrives, probably on Jan. 18th. Sky watchers around the Arctic Circle can expect bright auroras in the nights ahead. 

Learn more on today's edition of Spaceweather.com

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Big Picture Science for Monday January 16, 2017 - Geology is Destiny












Big Picture Science - Geology is Destiny

The record of the rocks is not just the history of Earth; it’s your history too.  Geologists can learn about events going back billions of years that influenced – and even made possible – our present-day existence and shaped our society.

If the last Ice Age had been a bit warmer, the rivers and lakes of the Midwest would have been much farther north and the U.S. might still be a small country of 13 states.  If some Mediterranean islands hadn’t twisted a bit, no roads would have led to Rome.

Geology is big history, and the story is on-going.  Human activity is changing the planet too, and has introduced its own geologic era, the Anthropocene.  Will Earthlings of a hundred million years from now dig up our plastic refuse and study it the way we study dinosaur bones?

Plus, the dodo had the bad luck to inhabit a small island and couldn’t adapt to human predators.  But guess what?  It wasn’t as dumb as you think.

Guests:

Download postcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/geology-destiny

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.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Sunspot Numbers Crashing in 2017


Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 12, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

SUNSPOTS VANISH: So far this year, the sun has been blank more than 90% of the time. Only one very tiny sunspot observed for a few hours on Jan. 3rd interrupted a string of spotless days from New Year's through Jan. 11th. To find a similar sequence of blank suns, we have to go back to May of 2010, almost 7 years ago. What does this mean? Visit today's edition of Spaceweather.com for the full story.

SPACE WEATHER CONTINUES: No sunspots? No problem. Observers around the Arctic Circle are still observing magnificent auroras. A new apparition is possible on Jan. 12th or 13th when a narrow stream of solar wind is expected to brush against Earth's magnetic field. NOAA forecasters estimate a 35% chance of polar geomagnetic storms. Monitor the realtime aurora gallery for sightings.

Sunday, January 08, 2017

Big Picture Science for Monday January 09, 2017 - No Face to Hide












Big Picture Science -  No Face to Hide

ENCORE: Face it – your mug is not entirely yours.  It’s routinely uploaded to social media pages and captured on CCTV cameras with – and without – your consent.  Sophisticated facial recognition technology can identify you and even make links to your personal data.  There are few places where you’re safe from scrutiny.
  
Find out how a computer analyzes the geometry of a face and why even identical twins don’t fool its discerning gaze.  Proponents say that biometrics are powerful tools to stop crime, but the lack of regulation concerns privacy groups.  Do you want to be identified – and your habits tracked – whenever you step outside? 
 
Plus, astronomy meets forensics.  How analyzing photos and paintings using weather records, sky charts, and phases of the moon help solve intriguing mysteries, including the history of an iconic V.J. Day photo.
 
Guests:
  • Donald Olson – Physicist, astronomer, Texas State University
  • Marios Savvides – Computer engineer, Director, CyLab Biometrics Center, Carnegie Mellon University
  • Alvaro Bedoya – Executive director, Center on Privacy and Technology, Georgetown Law

This encore podcast was first released on September 21, 2015

Download podcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/no-face-to-hide

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, January 01, 2017

Big Picture Science for Monday January 02, 2017 - The Light Stuff












Big Picture Science - The Light Stuff

ENCORE: The light bulb needs changing.  Edison’s incandescent bulb, virtually unaltered for more than a century, is now being eclipsed by the LED.  The creative applications for these small and efficient devices are endless: on tape, on wallpaper, even in contact lenses.  They will set the world aglow.  But is a brighter world a better one?

Discover the many ingenious applications for LEDs and the brilliance of the 19th century scientist, James Clerk Maxwell, who first discovered just what light is.  But both biologists and astronomers are alarmed by the disappearance of dark.   Find out how light pollution is making us and other animals sick and – when was the last time you saw a starry night?

Guests:
  • Ian Ferguson – Engineer, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Jay Neitz – Professor, department of ophthalmology, University of Washington
  • Martin Hendry – Professor, gravitational astrophysics and cosmology, University of Glasgow
  • John Barentine  – Program manager, International Dark Sky Association

This encore podcast was first released on August 24, 2015

Download podcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/the-light-stuff

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.