Exploring the fringes of science and history. Caveat lector!

News Briefs 21-01-2011

Posted by G.C at 09:52, 21 Jan 2011

“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. ”

Mass extinctions and the loss of ocean diversity.
USAF launches huge, secret rocket with secret payload.
Two suns in 2012?
Missing galaxies… located.
The Swiss can make it rain , at will.
The Italians claim to have proof of cold fusion.
The Orion Nebula, up close.
Mercury, rising?
The mystery of Epsilon Aurigae
NASA’s Stardust gets second glimpse at comet impact crater.
More on antimatter and thunderstorms.
New data shows a warming world.
Amoeba farmers.
Chameleon tanks? Great-- just what war needed.
The female pterosaur, revealed.
Hidden messages… in bird nests?
Are quantum computers just around the corner?
Dive *into* the Marianas Trench.
Tennessee’s giant crayfish is new.
Snakes give piggy-backs in Australia.
Lost chunk of proto-planet, found.
Sonic black hole, created.
Interstellar propulsion, by way of Tau Zero.
Measuring waves and staying dry.
Speaking of-- Do waves contain fusion plasma?
Controlling your iPhone with brain power.
One step closer to synthetic blood.
The Amazon’s ancient civilizations.
Palenque pyramid, restored.
This week’s news of the looming robot uprising… ’Bot astronomers.

Danke Schöen to Greg, Kat, RPJ and RMG!

Quote of the Day:

“I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only thing one can be sure of changing is oneself. ”

A. Huxley

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Betelgeuse! Betelgeuse! Betelgeuse!

#1

Member since:
14 July 2008

Last activity:
50 weeks 1 day

Posted by Redoubt on 21 Jan 2011 at about 13:38.

It's showtime!

From today's Daily Briefs: Two suns in 2012?

-Two Suns? Twin Stars Could Be Visible From Earth By 2012
*
Dr. Brad Carter, Senior Lecturer of Physics at the University of Southern Queensland, outlined the scenario to news.com.au. Betelgeuse, one of the night sky's brightest stars, is losing mass, indicating it is collapsing. It could run out of fuel and go super-nova at any time.
...
The Star Wars-esque scenario could happen by 2012, Carter says... or it could take longer. The explosion could also cause a neutron star or result in the formation of a black hole 1300 light years from Earth, reports news.com.au.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/20...

Now, taking notice that this comes from the Puffington Huff and the Great Political Bluff website, you might be inclined to dismiss a story dealing with reality. But the source; Brad Carter and the University of Southern Queensland, do seem worthy and the concept of such a stellar event is damned sure an attention grabber.

So, there you are about to email this article to family and friends when you notice another headline while browsing the Google news pages...

-DON'T PANIC! BETELGEUSE WON'T EXPLODE IN 2012
*
Betelgeuse is a dying star. It's reached the end of the line and currently in the terminal throes of shedding vast bubbles of gas into space. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star and it's so massive that it will detonate as a supernova.
With all this drama happening 640 light-years away in the constellation of Orion, there's little wonder that this tumultuous star is easy headline bait.
...
On reading a few sentences from the Australian News.com.au article, one would think the journalist had found the story of the decade. NEWS FLASH: An exploding Betelgeuse is one of the most over-used sensationalist stellar events to appear in the tabloid press in recent years. There's no scoop here, move along.
http://news.discovery.com/space/dont-pan...

Well now, here we have another mostly useless website that says this won't be happening. That's right; a statement of unyielding decision: no supernova in 2012!

I mean, talk about "headline bait"! All those CAPS are there for something.

Next step... what is with the distance thing? Is it 1300 light years or 640?

In one story, there is the effort to engage the public in what could be a once-in-a-lifetime event. In the other, there's a bucket of cold water and a bout of severe journalistic cynicism.

As far as 'how far' exactly? The web is loaded with would-be astronomers who range this star from 1450 light years distant, to 180. But most agree that 'about' 640 is correct.

I guess it's no wonder why professions that link to the term, 'Mainscream'... er, make that, 'Mainstream', demand so little respect these days.

—

"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it."

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snake and frog

#2

Member since:
6 April 2010

Last activity:
9 hours 50 min

Posted by LastLoup on 22 Jan 2011 at about 01:05.

somehow, i think if the snake wasn't so focused on swimming to safety, he would eat the frog.

—

...I forgot how I got here but everyone seems to be heading off in that direction. I hope someone brought food. I have a feeling this is going to be a long journey................

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Two suns in 2012?

#3

Member since:
9 May 2008

Last activity:
1 year 49 weeks

Posted by millsb on 27 Jan 2011 at about 21:55.

Um, I hate to question this whole thing, but ...

1. If Betelgeuse is 1300 light years from earth, wouldn't it take 1300 years for the visible light to reach earth?

2. Since we have telescopes that can currently see Betelgeuse 1300 light years away, wouldn't we know EXACTLY when the visible light from any supernova involving that star would finally reach us?

Just askin" ...