Monday, April 30, 2012

In Time

Summary: The human population of planet Earth will top 9 billion by the year 2050, and new projections suggest it may reach a peak of 11 billion by 2070.

Why it's a Mind Blow: Simply put, that's a lot of people! The population of Asia alone will be about 5.3 billion by 2050, which is more than all the people on planet Earth in 1990. And when my father was born in 1942, the population of our world was just over 2 billion. Dad's healthy as a horse, and we just passed 7 billion, so I expect we'll see at least a four fold increase in population in the span of his lifetime alone. 2 billion to 8 or 9 billion in one lifetime, and it took us 10,000 generations to get to 1 billion in the first place!

It's very difficult, if not impossible, to perceive what a billion of anything actually is. The Earth, for example, is about 4.5 billion years old. But what does that really mean? The best our minds can do with that figure is convert it to "really, r-e-a-l-l-y old".

So allow me to try and put it all in a framework we can perceive, using a little proportional math, (now you know what I did this weekend). Let's say the planet Earth is actually a circa 1912 Model-T Ford. In other words, we're imagining 4.5 billion years of Earth history as the 100 year lifespan of the car. Let us also assume that for every 1 billion people living on the planet, the Model-T must accelerate 10 miles per hour.

Still with me? Good. Now, modern humans appeared around 150,000 years ago, give or take. That means the Model-T was stationary for a very long time. It would have started moving only yesterday morning. If Earth has been around about 100 years, humans showed up about 29 hours ago.

So, assuming the engine turns over after 99+ years, the Model-T begins rolling. It has a leisurely time accelerating to 10 mph, reaching that speed about 2.4 minutes ago (1 billion people in the year 1804). It has about a minute more to push the engines to 20 mph. From there, our buggy would have about 25 seconds to achieve it's top speed of 45 miles per hour.

Now, assuming some mysterious force could propel the car faster, things would quickly get out of hand. The Model-T would have about 15 more seconds to accelerate to 60 mph (6 billion in 1999), and an additional 8.4 seconds to reach it's present speed of 70 mph (7 billion).

What happens next? Well, obviously, the car falls apart. After sitting still for almost 100 years, the car will be forced to start up and accelerate from 60 mph to 110 mph in under 50 seconds. An impossible burden on any system and, from the Earth's perspective, an equally ludicrous and unsustainable pace.

My brain is leaking out my ear, so I'll leave it there. Needless to say, our engines need some love and care.


Sunday, April 29, 2012

What Did You Do This Weekend? (4/29/12)

Summary: This post is the second in our series, "What Did You Do This Weekend?" Steve Kamb of nerd fitness travels to sixteen countries, moving all the way!

Why it's a Mind Blow: Steve Kamb's self-funded adventure reminds us of the scale, scope, and diversity of our planet. More importantly, it encourages us to get up off the couch and move through it.

That's it! As I've said before, move. Just move, because the path to joy is a path, not a thought process.

Have a beautiful week!

Source:

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Saturday's Simple Beauties 2

Summary: This photo, the second offering in our series of Saturday's Simple Beauties, is another mind-blow that speaks for itself.





Note to reader: Thanks to all of you who've been making Daily Mind Blow a part of your day! Sharing my sense of wonder has been a great source of joy for me, and I'm so grateful that you've helped me create a space for it. In the coming weeks, please help me grow this community by commenting here on the blog site, "liking" the Daily Mind Blow Facebook Page, following on Twitter @dailymindblow, and of course, sharing with friends!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Fast and Furious

Summary:

Fact: Pigeons have a sixth sense which allows them to detect the Earth's magnetic field.
                       
 Fact: Increased blood flow to the brain causes "ice-cream headaches".

Why it's a Mind Blow: Normally on Daily Mind Blow, I share one discovery, revelation, or incite per day. Today, you'll note two facts in the summary. Why?

Well, today is sort of a double mind blow. Both discoveries, in their own right, are pretty cool. Who among us hasn't grabbed our head after gulping a slushy and said in frustration, "why does that happen?" Likewise, I'm sure you've gazed at a flock of migrating geese in the fall and wondered just how they know where to go every year.

In the first instance, scientists have discovered that increased blood flow and dilation in the anterior cerebral artery is the culprit behind brain freeze. The body, detecting a temperature threat to the brain, sends in the blood. This, in turn, increases pressure in the blood vessels. Hence the pain.

In the second case, scientists have actually mapped the specific neurons in the brains of pigeons that fire in response to fluctuating magnetic fields. This magnetic sense is not present in humans, but may be present in several other species and families of animals. Using the Earth's magnetic field, these creatures are most likely able to find and "map" specific locations.

Amazing! Just two examples of those baffling "why is the sky blue" questions answered just this week. And although they are unrelated, the fact that science is revealing so much so quickly is the real mind blow of the day. So many answers, every hour it seems, and we are here to see it all! What a treat!

Sources:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=blood-flow-fingered-in-ice-cream-he-12-04-25

http://news.discovery.com/animals/pigeons-gps-120426.html

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Universal Mind

Summary: Physicist Neil Degrasse Tyson shares what he thinks is the most astounding fact in the Universe.

Why it's a Mind Blow: Tyson reminds us of that old adage, "we are all star dust." It's a scientific fact that every atom in our body, every atom in the world around us, originated in the nuclear furnace of a star. This fact, in-and-of-itself, is mind-blowing, and worthy of deep reflection.

Over the years, that consideration has led me to a particular view that I'd like to share with you now. Throughout history, major religions have pointed to a unifying force that exists in all of us, within everything. Christians call it the Holy Spirit. Buddhists, Buddha Nature. In science, it's known as the singularity - the boundless potential that existed at the moment of the big bang.

After that explosion of creation, this "universality" began doing what nature does; it began a process of diversification. What was once a single and unifying force, the stuff of the universe, began to change. "The one" began to express itself in new and awesome ways and (as Tyson points out) stars formed and eventually, us. In this way, we are all an example of that original potential, expressed.

Human consciousness and the birth of the ego leads us to believe that we are separate from the world around us. This is a necessary stage in the evolution of the universe because without self identity, we would lack the will to survive.

But in a very real and scientifically verifiable way, we are one with the universe. We are the stuff of the universe, manifested in a new way.

Enter the human imagination, and this is where it gets really mind-blowing. As we are the universe expressed, our consciousness is, in essence, the universe becoming aware of itself. This universal self-awareness, of which humanity is in the early stages of participation, is an amazing moment in the history of everything, because the universe now has the opportunity to imagine itself and to shape the nature of its own unfurling.

If your head is spinning, don't worry, so's mine! The important thing to take away is this. Your imagination is an integral part of creation, and your participation in the creative process has great meaning, because it is shaping the destiny of our universe; the destiny of us.

Source:

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A Big Pizza Pie!

Summary: On May 5th at 11:36 PM (est) the full moon will achieve perigee. Making a close pass to Earth, it will appear 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than normal.

Why it's a Mind Blow: As the full moon comes closer to Earth, there will be some interesting scientific results. For example, tidal fluctuations in the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia may range as much as 55 feet!

But for all you lunatics who find yourself restless when the moon waxes full, this will be a special occasion to howl. The moon won't be this big and bright again until 2014. That's why I'm giving you plenty of notice. This Cinco de Mayo, grab someone you love and make it an evening to remember, cause it promises to be a marvelous night for a moon dance!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Remedy Mine!

Summary: A consortium of billionaires, including Google's Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, and filmmaker/explorer James Cameron, have announced a new venture to mine near Earth asteroids!

Why it's a Mind Blow: I'm so excited about this, I don't know where to begin! Sending robots to mine asteroids seems like serious science fiction. But the necessary technology exists, at least theoretically. And if anyone can get the job done, I'd put my money behind the Google boys.

This is not a pipe dream. The money has been invested, telescopes are being deployed next year, and actual surveys could begin within seven years! They're doing this!

Now you may be saying to yourself, "great, we've exploited the Earth and now we're going to let our greed run wild on the solar system." Well, allow me to turn that frown upside down. I am no fan of unchecked capitalism, and if the Chinese government were behind this project, I'd be worried. But the group of investors who are planning this undertaking are visionaries. Yes, there's a healthy profit to be made, but the benefits to mankind as a whole may be equally as rich.

The plan would be to focus on the extraction of platinum-group metals and water. The rare-earth metals are used in batteries, medical devices, and have several applications for renewable energy sources, like fuel-cell vehicles. An effective harvest in space could pour trillions of dollars into the global economy. This is a revenue stream that simply doesn't exist on Earth. It's new money, and it could be one of the key factors in eliminating deep poverty once and for all!

Now, about the water, and this is truly thrilling. Why water? Well, the water can be split into liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and refined into, you guessed it, rocket fuel. This can all be done in space, and the rocket fuel can supply "orbital fuel stations". Manned missions to Mars and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn in our lifetimes would be difficult for a number of reasons, but one of the chief hurdles is the amount of fuel it requires. Liquid fuel is heavy on Earth (thanks gravity) and lifting it into space is expensive and inefficient. Having fuel waiting in orbit opens up an whole new realm of possibility for the exploration of our solar system. And that, my friends, is mind-blowing!

Source: The first link is to the article from The Guardian newspaper, and the second is a nice interactive graphic that explains what the mining operation might actually look like.

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/apr/24/tech-tycoons-asteroid-mining-venture?INTCMP=SRCH

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/interactive/2012/apr/24/asteroid-mining-how-work-interactive?INTCMP=SRCH

Monday, April 23, 2012

Captain Caveman!

Summary: Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have discovered that one to four percent of the human genome (for humans of non-African decent) is derived from Neanderthals!

Why it's a Mind Blow: In this day and age, we tend to take for granted facts from the distant past. We know that the dinosaurs were wiped out by a comet 65 million years ago and that the first humans came from Africa. These facts, like so many in our geological and evolutionary history, are commonly known, and elicit little more than a yawn. Hardly breaking news.

But every once in a while, a story comes along that reminds us just how much we still have to learn about our origins. Today's mind blow, courtesy of the New York Times, is just such an occasion. Scientists have mapped the human genome, and they are now well on their way to completing a genetic map for Neanderthals. It turns out we interbred, and there's a little caveman in many of us.

So that's cool. But what's truly amazing is how we come to know these things. Mapping a genome is a herculean task. The Human Genome Project took thirteen years and is considered one of the most ambitious scientific endeavours of all time. And the bit about the comet that got the dinosaurs? Well, it took decades of searching and the combined discoveries of scientists from several disciplines to verify that theory.

When we hear these tidbits of truth about the deep past, it's important to stop and consider not only the information, but the extraordinary devotion and ingenuity it took to reveal it. The real mind blow here is human curiosity, and the great lengths we're willing to travel to satisfy it.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/science/07neanderthal.html?_r=1

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Get High!

Summary: A stunning view of planet Earth from the International Space Station.

Why it's a Mind Blow: No, this is not a post for 4/20, it's a post for 4/22 - Earth Day. The video below, shot from the International Space Station (ISS) two hundred and thirty miles above our world, is mind-blowing in more ways than one.

In this day and age, it is easy to take space travel for granted. But stop and think about it for a minute. No, seriously. Stop and take it in. Really digest it. This video is shot from space. Space! And what's more, it's shot from the ISS, a permanent human settlement in space.

It's a permanent human foothold in space!

Did I mention...it's in space?

This video also gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the impact seven billion people are having on the Earth. The cities alight like the neurons of some mega-brain, and the thin layer of atmosphere that protects us from the harsh universe looks more fragile than ever.

Nonetheless, it is beautiful. And on this Earth Day, as we soar through the heavens, I hope you'll pause to consider where we're going, where we've been, and most importantly, how blessed we are to be here at all.

Gratitude. Genuine gratitude. Therein lies peace.

Source:

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Saturday's Simple Beauties 1

Summary: Some of the most heartwarming discoveries don't require commentary. With this in mind, we're gonna try something a little different with today's mind blow. Every Saturday, I'll post something beautiful that speaks for itself. This is your first Simple Saturdays. Enjoy!



Friday, April 20, 2012

Love!

Summary: Tara the elephant finds the love of her life, a dog named Bella.

Why it's a Mind Blow: For all of us dog lovers, it might come as no surprise that our canine friends have the capacity for rich emotions. Likewise, elephants are among the most deeply feeling creatures on planet Earth. They live in matriarchal family units, and their selfless devotion to each other can teach humans a great deal about what love is. I've often been brought to tears over a story about the herd mourning a friend, or a mother elephant sacrificing herself to save her child. 

The complex minds and hearts of our fellow earthly inhabitants is a mind-blow in it's own right, but the story of Tara and Bella is truly overwhelming. The video piece below, produced by CBS News, does a great job of telling their story, so I won't rehash it here. Suffice it to say, I hope you'll take a moment to share in the beauty and limitless power of love. It really can heal all pains and bridge all divides. If Tara and Bella can save each other from this conflict ridden world then surely, so can we.

Source:

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Ra, Ra, Ra!

Summary: On April 16th, the Sun released a coronal mass ejection with the power of one billion hydrogen bombs! This video from NASA Explorer (below) shows the awesome power and beauty of our mother star.

Why It's a Mind Blow: Coronal Mass Ejection: it sounds like a good name for a militant punk rock band. Analogously, these stellar phenomena rage against the status quo on the surface of the Sun with relative frequency, and Monday's blast was part of a recent flare up of activity, consistent with an eleven year cycle of solar weather.

Beyond the raw power of these bursts lies a deep beauty, in more ways than one. Here on Earth, as the radiation of a coronal mass ejection bombards our atmosphere, it is transformed from certain death into celestial delight in the form of auroras (northern lights).

These displays are not only visually stunning. They are also a gentle and quiet reminder of how fortunate we really are. The improbable course of events that led to us simply being here, that formed magnetic fields to protect us from the violent universe, that gave us a mind and a heart to take it all in; it's all truly mind-blowing.

Finally, you may remember my post Matters of Size (April 12). I mentioned it would take seventeen years to fly a jet plane to the Sun. It's really far away, and yet this footage looks as though it was shot on the back lot at Warner Brothers or from the bridge of the star ship Enterprise. I think it's important to remember just how incredible this is. Our ability to observe and comprehend the universe is moving so quickly, and we are lucky to be along for the ride!

Source: 


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

A Whale of a Tale

pr7123-D. Gray Whale calf, and happy female whale-watcher. Vertical portrait
Summary: A mother Gray Whale, known for her affection toward human visitors, is found with a 125 year old harpoon in her back.


Why It's a Mind Blow: Humans usually assume that we are the most intelligent species on planet Earth and yes, we do have the highest capacity for cognitive reasoning. But dictionary.com defines intelligence more broadly, as the "capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc." 

"Aptitude for grasping truths"; this phrase resonates with me. For what deeper truth has history taught us than the necessity of forgiveness as a cornerstone of progress and ultimately, survival. 

And yet, even as we may realize this intellectually, our track record as a species seems to suggest that we lack the deeper intelligence necessary to put that knowledge into practice. Humans hold grudges. As societies, we go to war on the basis of millenia old transgressions and, as individuals, we often go to our graves with bitterness in our hearts.

So we have a lot to learn from Gray Whales. Before the end of commercial whaling in North America, these gentle giants were actually known as "devil fish". They were easy targets in the shallow waters off the coast of Mexico, and in order to protect their newborn calves, mother Grays would often ram whaling boats head on.

Now under protection, these birthing grounds are visited by thousands of "eco-tourists" every year. The whales, young and old, often swim right up to small craft and allow people to pet them.

One such mother Gray, famous for her generous and playful interactions with human visitors, recently passed away. In her back, scientists discovered a 125 year old harpoon head. This creature, once labeled a devil fish for her defensive attacks against human aggressors, was now one of our most trusting friends.

"Aptitude for grasping truths; capacity for understanding." I'll let you decide where intelligence truly lies in our world.

Sources:
http://janegoodallhopeforanimals.com/exclusive-content/saved-in-the-eleventh-hour/thane%E2%80%99s-field-notes/pacific-gray-whale-eschrichtius-robustus/


http://video.pbs.org/video/2203913542

www.brandoncole.com

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Changing the Game


Summary: World of Warcraft users have played the online game for a total of 285,000 years!

Why it's a Mind Blow: In his book Tipping Point, social scientist Malcolm Gladwell explores how long it takes for one to become an expert in a particular discipline or activity. His research suggests it takes about ten thousand hours to become a true master, which is about how long we're in a classroom from the fifth grade through high school graduation. Incidentally, this is also the average number of hours an American kid will play video games before they turn eighteen.

Now I was pretty good at Duck Hunt, but game play at this scale is hard to comprehend. What does this level of commitment really mean, why does it happen, and how will it effect the future?

The why part is fascinating, and researchers believe it has to do with positive rewards. The developers of World of Warcraft, for example, have made a science out of understanding and leveraging human motivation. They've collected, on average, over a billion points of data on each of their users, and complex algorithms determine exactly how hard people will work before receiving some positive reinforcement - leveling up or receiving a new power, for example. The more time people spend with the game, the longer these intervals become. The data is applied in order to cultivate a user's willingness to work harder and harder. It's incredibly effective, and it's changing the function and structure of the human brain.

So what does all this mean? Well, that depends. It's thrilling to think what millions of people working for 285,000 years might accomplish together in pursuit of a common goal, but what good is it when it's all only virtual, only a game? 

Then again, what if the results of that game had a real world impact? What if the fruits of our labors in Farmville actually fed people in the developing world or Warcraft's motivational algorithms were applied to our educational paradigms. The potential is limitless, and I believe the games we play can change the world - the real one. All we have to do is find that warp zone and walk through!


Monday, April 16, 2012

Slumdog Found Them Where?

Summary: Two decades after being separated from his family at age 5, an Indian man finds them using Google Earth.

Why It's a Mind Blow: Besides being an incredibly moving story, this piece has a lot to say about the interplay between technology and memory.

This weekend I attended my niece's college musical. The tickets cost $28, and when we handed the box office girl two twenties, she pulled out her i-phone to do the math. For me, forty minus twenty-eight isn't a figure, it's just something I see and understand - an encoded memory of sorts. But for this young woman, whose brain developed fully in the age of integrated technology, it was a problem, and so she leaned on technology for a solution.

In this way, I have often thought, technology is hurting the natural potential of the human brain. But the story of a man finding his family after so many years illuminates a different perspective. Like all of us, he had his memories; a waterfall, a fourteen hour train ride out of Calcutta. From these impressions, he created a radius around the city. From his adopted home in Australia, he began to look for the waterfall of his youth. Using Google Earth, the man narrowed it down to a single village, traveled to India, and found his childhood home. His family had moved but with the help of neighbors, he found them soon after.

So I guess "technology as brain" isn't necessarily bad, or good for that matter. It's all in the application, and this story is a great example of how it can be used to enhance our capacity. My one disclaimer: proceed with caution!

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57414337-93/man-uses-google-earth-to-find-long-lost-mother/?tag=mncol;1n

Sunday, April 15, 2012

What Did You Do This Weekend?

Summary: This five minute video from Donolinio Studios utilizes time lapse photography and brilliant camera work to capture humans exploring the most breathtaking frontiers on planet Earth.

Why It's a Mind Blow: I think this video speaks for itself in the jaw dropping and death-defying departments. But beyond the obvious technical prowess of the filmmakers and subjects, there is a deeper mind blow here as well.

On Friday, I encouraged you all to "look up" as Saturn visited the night sky and, in a way, this video carries the same message. So much joy and adventure awaits us in the world, and this video invites us to get off the couch and move. That's it. Just move. It's what we're built to do.

In nature lies human nature. So let's go!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Quantum Possibilities

Summary: The quantum internet was born on April 12, 2012!

Why it's a Mind Blow: To understand quantum mechanics, you have to be a lot smarter than me! For years now, I've been making my best layman's effort to grasp the nature of this field of physics. It's thrilling, mind-boggling, and rife with possibilities that may change our understanding of the universe.

Quantum computing and quantum communications hold tremendous promise. Up until two days ago, it was all theoretical. But on April 12, scientists took the first physical step towards a quantum future. A quantum internet would be unimaginably fast, completely secure, and carry more data than we can conceive, and all in an instant. Information is shared between two "entangled" atoms. They are separated by distance, but they exist in the same state at the same time. Don't ask me how, but they do it! It's a reality, and it's absolutely mind-blowing!

Source: http://news.discovery.com/tech/quantum-internet-120412.html


Friday, April 13, 2012

Look Up!

Summary: The ringed world Saturn will be in opposition to the sun this weekend, rising in the east as the sun sets, and setting with the break of dawn.

Why it's a Mind Blow: There are a thousand reasons to be blown away by our solar system's second largest planet. For example, did you know that Saturn's moon Titan has liquid oceans? They're made of methane, but we've recently learned that life exists here on Earth in methane rich liquid environments, so who knows what's out there!

Or you might marvel at this video of solar storms dancing around the poles of the gas giant.

So I hope you'll pause to look up this weekend (and as often as you can). At 800 million miles, Saturn is as close and bright as it gets. You can even see the rings with a simple magnification of 20 to 25 times! Saturn will rise with the constellation Virgo and traverse the sky all night. If you have an Apple Device, Skyview is a great app to help you locate and track Saturn, and all your heavenly curiosities. Enjoy!

Source: Astronomy.com


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Matters of Size

Summary: The universe is unimaginably huge, and inconceivable small. This amazing graphic helps us get our mind around a two-directional reality that is all together amazing. Make sure you have the latest Adobe Flash Player installed. The graphic may take a minute to load, but it's well worth it!

Why It's a Mind Blow: I absolutely love trying to comprehend the size of our universe. Try these figures on for size!

- An airplane traveling 700 miles per hour could travel from New York to Chicago in about an hour. It would take the same plane about 17 years to travel from the Earth to the Sun.

- Our fastest space vessel, Voyager One, is moving through space at 35,000 miles per hour. At that speed, it would take a little more than a minute to go from New York to Chicago. It would also take about fifty thousand years to reach Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Sun.

Combine these numbers with the fact that there are more stars in the known universe than there are grains of sand on every beach on Earth, and you may start to grasp the awesome scale of things. And for all it's size, our universe exists on the micro-level in equally impressive proportions. That's what makes this graphic one of my favorite mind blows to date. Enjoy, and thanks to Brian for sharing it!

Source: http://htwins.net/scale2/

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

It's Written on the Wind

Summary: Using real time data from the National Digital Forecast Database, artists Fernanda ViƩgas and Martin Wattenberg have created a composite living graphic of wind patterns over the United States.

Why It's a Mind Blow: Data can be abstract and, dare I say it, boring. But how we visualize data, how we transform it into digestible and meaningful chunks, can change everything. This project, from Hint.fm, is a leap forward for our awareness of the Earth as a dynamic, integrated, and interdependent system.

As I watch these complex wind patterns flow over the continent, I am reminded of the first image of Earth taken by the Apollo 8 astronauts. That was an extraordinary, even spiritual experience for millions of people, because it was the first time we had real evidence of our fragile and isolated position in the cosmos. What had once been an abstract notion became an observable truth, and this wind map is another example of that reality. Through the power of science, we are able to see the nature of our world unfolding before our eyes . It's not a dream or an imagined possibility. It's our Earth as she actually is; breathing, living, cradling us on our journey through the heavens.

Source: http://hint.fm/wind/

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Oh Let Me Fly!

Summary: Who among us hasn't had that dream? You know the one. For me, it always begins with some human act - I'm long jumping at a track meet or trying to leap over a wide stream, something like that. Suddenly, in mid-air, I realize, "hey, I don't have to put my feet down!" I begin paddling through the air with my legs, rising higher and higher into the air. I'm flying!

Unaided human flight is something we've all longed for, and this guy, Yves Rossy, has taken us one step closer. "The Jet Man", as he's called, soars through the air at speeds approaching two hundred miles per hour, and his passion has taken us all one step closer to the dream.

Why it's a Mind-Blow: Humans have been flying solo for some time now. But airplanes, hot-air balloons, even para-gliders and hang-gliders differ from the Jet Man in one important way: the actual control of flight is dependent on external technology. Granted, Mr. Rossy relies on thrust provided by his "Batmanesque" jet pack, but his movement through the air is controlled by his body alone. His wings are fixed, but he rises, falls, turns and soars by the movement of his own person. In all other forms of flight, one must steer something. But as the Jet Man arches his back, turns his head, or adjusts his arms, human flight takes on a whole new dimension. He isn't steering anything but himself. He is, in fact, flying, and I for one can't wait for my turn!


Monday, April 9, 2012

They're Here!

Summary: Ten Billion Earth-Like Planets May Exist in Our Galaxy!

Source: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/ten-billion-earths/


Why It's A Mind Blow: We've known there are planets outside our solar system for a while now, but the true scale of planetary proliferation is only now coming into view. Using statistical extrapolation of available data, scientists have determined that exo-planets, and what's more, other Earth-like worlds are most likely everywhere. Add that to what we're learning about the resilient and hearty nature of life on our world, and a picture begins to take shape.

Life exists in the most unbelievable places on planet Earth; in the absence of light, in crazy hot temperatures, even deep in the Earth's crust. Life continues to prove it's ability to slip into the cracks of creation, and with this new and compelling evidence of Earth-like worlds dotting the heavens in numbers we can't comprehend, is there really any question about what's out there?

So what's next? Well, now we have to find it! On that front, here's more good news. Even if life doesn't thrive under the ice of Saturn's moons (which it probably does, based on where we find it here on Earth), there is still a good chance we'll be able to "see" life outside our solar system, and in our lifetime! Telescopes are on the drawing board that might be able to interpret the atmospheric content of distant worlds, and they could reveal the telltale signs of life.

So get ready! ET is out there, and although the smart ones may be too far away to reach, there is a good chance that you and I will have real, verifiable evidence of life in the universe before we leave its ranks!