So far, the BP oil spill has remained fairÂly abstract. We’ve seen it depictÂed in graphs and satelÂlite images. Now we get to see it right up close. These phoÂtos show in bruÂtal detail exactÂly what’s hapÂpenÂing to the wildlife in the Gulf of MexÂiÂco. ConÂsidÂer the phoÂtos a very quick glimpse into the largÂer enviÂronÂmenÂtal disÂasÂter caused by this spill. Spread these picÂtures far and wide. BP doesÂn’t deserve to keep this mess a disÂtant idea.
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: 35 Days From Space
From Our UniÂverse VisuÂalÂized on YouTube:
The MODIS instruÂment, on board NASA’s TerÂra and Aqua satelÂlites, is capÂturÂing images of the oil spill in the Gulf of MexÂiÂco. The spill began on April 20, 2010 with the exploÂsion of the DeepÂwaÂter HoriÂzon oil rig. This short video reveals a space-based view of the burnÂing oil rig and, latÂer, the ensuÂing oil spill through May 24, 2010. The oil slick appears grayÂish-beige in the images and changes due to changÂing weathÂer, ocean curÂrents, and the use of oil disÂpersÂing chemÂiÂcals. Images in the video time series were selectÂed that show the spill most clearÂly. The full image archive is availÂable on the MODIS Rapid Response Web site at https://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/
via MothÂerÂJones
The Greek Crisis Explained
On a lighter note, and while we’re on the subÂject of ecoÂnomÂic criÂsis, we offer you an aniÂmatÂed (and not so seriÂous) explaÂnaÂtion of the finanÂcial criÂsis in Greece. The saga conÂtinÂues with Episode 2.
Thanks Eren, aka @Gulfi
Economic Crisis and Globalization
The news isn’t good. The Euro is losÂing valÂue daiÂly. CounÂtries are slipÂping into “sovÂerÂeign debt crises” – meanÂing they’re going broke. And the marÂkets are swoonÂing once again. We’re watchÂing the proverÂbial othÂer shoe drop.
ThroughÂout this criÂsis, many AmerÂiÂcans have directÂed their anger at Wall Street (and deservedÂly so). But few have wonÂdered whether there’s anyÂthing basiÂcalÂly wrong with AmerÂiÂcan-style capÂiÂtalÂism. And, if anyÂthing, the only orgaÂnized protest moveÂment (The Tea ParÂty) has assertÂed that we need more capÂiÂtalÂism in our lives, not less.
In some rare quarÂters of acadÂeme, capÂiÂtalÂism still doesÂn’t get off so easy. And that brings us to three new online coursÂes taught by the econÂoÂmist Richard D. Wolff at The New School in NYC. Above, we feaÂture the first lecÂture from EcoÂnomÂic CriÂsis and GlobÂalÂizaÂtion, a course that takes a less orthoÂdox view of how we’re manÂagÂing the Great RecesÂsion. (Find the othÂer sevÂen lecÂtures here.) His othÂer coursÂes, both on MarxÂiÂan ecoÂnomÂics, appear in our colÂlecÂtion of Free Online CoursÂes under EcoÂnomÂics.
Bill Gates Holds Office Hours; Talks about Giving Back
The Bill Gates colÂlege tour rolled through StanÂford UniÂverÂsiÂty in late April. And Gates brought with him a mesÂsage for stuÂdents: PhilÂanÂthropy counts. No matÂter how young you are, you can start thinkÂing about givÂing back.
His visÂit feaÂtured a large pubÂlic talk where he drove home this point. (Get the full talk in video or audio here.) Then, like any good teacher, he held office hours and answered stuÂdent quesÂtions posed through FaceÂbook. Watch his responsÂes above.
Michael Pollan on Sustainable Food
If you’re lookÂing for some quick insight into Michael PolÂlan’s bestÂselling work on food and “our nationÂal eatÂing disÂorÂder” (The OmniÂvore’s DilemÂma, In Defense of Food, Food Rules, etc.), then you’ll want to spend some time with his 15 minute talk preÂsentÂed at Pop! Tech 2009. The talk gets down to a timeÂly set of quesÂtions. How can we, as indiÂvidÂuÂals, eat betÂter? How can we improve our health? And how can we make our food supÂply more “green” and susÂtainÂable. PolÂlan gives you a quick taste of his thinkÂing here and offers five takeÂaway tips. Watch above, or downÂload his talk in video or audio from this page.
David Remnick on Obama
David RemÂnick won a Pulitzer in 1994 for Lenin’s Tomb: The Last Days of the SoviÂet Empire. Then, in 1998, he began his sucÂcessÂful run as ediÂtor-in-chief of the New YorkÂer magÂaÂzine. Now, he gives you a long biogÂraÂphy (672 pages) of Barack ObaÂma, the first African-AmerÂiÂcan presÂiÂdent of the UnitÂed States. ObaÂma’s perÂsonÂal stoÂry is well known, thanks in part to ObaÂma’s own autoÂbiÂoÂgraphÂiÂcal account. But, RemÂnickÂ’s work (which debuted as the #3 bestÂseller on The New York Times non-ficÂtion list) nonetheÂless has someÂthing new to say. It is exhausÂtiveÂly researched and denseÂly detailed, and adds colÂor in areas missÂing from othÂer accounts. It also places ObaÂma a bit more squareÂly withÂin the conÂtext of AmerÂiÂca’s black freeÂdom strugÂgle.
To get a glimpse inside this new work, you’ll want to lisÂten to this interÂview with David RemÂnick. It was conÂductÂed by Michael KrasÂny in San FranÂcisÂco last week. DownÂload the mp3 or grab the iTunes verÂsion here. Or simÂply stream it below. The book, by the way, is availÂable in audio forÂmat via Audible.com, and if you try out their 14 day free triÂal, you can even downÂload the audioÂbook for free. More info on that here.
Why Volcanic Ash Wreaks Havoc on Airplane Engines
That metÂtleÂsome IceÂlandic volÂcano (watch it spew) has groundÂed thouÂsands of planes and pasÂsenÂgers worldÂwide. But why exactÂly? Here, an aeroÂspace expert explains why volÂcaÂnoes and airÂplane engines aren’t a good mix. In a quick five minÂutes, you get it. BetÂter groundÂed than sorÂry. Gary and Nats, hang in there in Tokyo…
via Mike via SciÂenceÂDump
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