A NASA satelÂlite caught Alaska’s Mount CleveÂland in the act. An amazÂing image. For more brilÂliant volÂcano action phoÂtos, have a look here.
Michael Crichton (RIP) on the Environment
Michael CrichÂton has died of canÂcer. You know him best as the author of JurasÂsic Park and The AndromÂeÂda Strain. But some will rememÂber him for the conÂtroÂverÂsy that surÂroundÂed his latÂer career. CrichÂton’s 2004 novÂel, State of Fear launched a litÂerÂary assault on enviÂronÂmenÂtalÂism and the conÂcept of globÂal warmÂing. And the next thing you know, CrichÂton tesÂtiÂfied before the US SenÂate at the inviÂtaÂtion of SenÂaÂtor James M. Inhofe, who called globÂal warmÂing “the greatÂest hoax ever perÂpeÂtratÂed on the AmerÂiÂcan peoÂple.” (Inhofe also made State of Fear — a novÂel, mind you — required readÂing for the SenÂate ComÂmitÂtee on EnviÂronÂment and PubÂlic Works.) Below, we feaÂture CrichÂton offerÂing his thoughts on why enviÂronÂmenÂtalÂism is “one of the most powÂerÂful reliÂgions in the WestÂern world.”
Darwin’s Legacy
For weeks, it’s been one of the most popÂuÂlar podÂcasts on iTunes: CreÂatÂed by the CasÂsiopeia Project, “EvoÂluÂtion” (iTuneÂsU) offers a series of video podÂcasts that explains what sciÂenÂtists know about evoÂluÂtion in a visuÂalÂly appealÂing forÂmat. (If you don’t have an iPod, you can always watch the series on your comÂputÂer by downÂloadÂing iTunes here.)
This all gives me a good excuse to highÂlight anothÂer podÂcast comÂing out of my proÂgram at StanÂford. To comÂmemÂoÂrate the 200th anniverÂsary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniverÂsary of the pubÂliÂcaÂtion of On the OriÂgin of Species, we’re preÂsentÂing a course called DarÂwin’s LegaÂcy. (Access for free on iTunes here.) Led by Bill Durham, a MacArthur (“genius grant”) Prize WinÂner and ProÂfesÂsor of AnthroÂpolÂoÂgy, the course brings togethÂer leadÂing DarÂwin scholÂars from around the counÂtry and explores Darwin’s legaÂcy in fields as diverse as anthroÂpolÂoÂgy, reliÂgion, medÂiÂcine, psyÂcholÂoÂgy, phiÂlosÂoÂphy, litÂerÂaÂture, and biolÂoÂgy. Among othÂers, you will find here talks (capÂtured in video) by Daniel DenÂnett and Janet Browne (author of the definÂiÂtive two-volÂume DarÂwin biogÂraÂphy.) To access the comÂplete course via iTunes, which is being rolled out in weekÂly installÂments, simÂply click here. Down the road, we will also be makÂing the course availÂable on YouTube. For many othÂer free uniÂverÂsiÂty coursÂes, click here.
The Sun and Its Magnetic Beauty
In case you missed them, I wantÂed to flag some phoÂtos that made their way around the bloÂgosÂphere yesÂterÂday, thanks in part to BoingÂBoÂing. The Swedish 1‑m Solar TeleÂscope, operÂatÂed by the InstiÂtute for Solar Physics, has capÂtured images that let you see the sun in an entireÂly new way. Below, you’ll find a detailed view of the magÂnetÂic strucÂture of the Sun’s surÂface. Rather beauÂtiÂful. For more phoÂtos, defÂiÂniteÂly have a look here.
via BoingÂBoÂing
China’s Space Walk: Fresh Footage
As US stock declines, ChiÂna’s stock keeps going up. It’s the stoÂry of the decade, realÂly. Here’s footage from ChiÂna’s first space walk this past week …
What Happens on Mars
From The DaiÂly Dish:
“Clouds move across the sky on Mars. The sun risÂes. Snow falls — but nevÂer touchÂes the ground.”
Solar Eclipse Seen From Outer Space
The NASA STEREO spaceÂcraft sees the disk of the Moon pass in front of the Sun in a view nevÂer seen before by human eyes.” For more videos, see The Bad AstronÂoÂmy chanÂnel on YouTube, which we’ve added to our colÂlecÂtion: IntelÂliÂgent Life at YouTube: 70 EduÂcaÂtionÂal Video ColÂlecÂtions.
What It Feels Like To Have a Stroke (And More About Your Brain)
From the TedTalks conÂferÂence. FasÂciÂnatÂing talk. Here’s a sumÂmaÂry that introÂduces the clip below …
“NeuÂroanatomist Jill Bolte TayÂlor had an opporÂtuÂniÂty few brain sciÂenÂtists would wish for: One mornÂing, she realÂized she was havÂing a masÂsive stroke. As it hapÂpened — as she felt her brain funcÂtions slip away one by one, speech, moveÂment, underÂstandÂing — she studÂied and rememÂbered every moment. This is a powÂerÂful stoÂry about how our brains define us and conÂnect us to the world and to one anothÂer.” Added to our YouTube playlist.
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