Daily science stuff

[Entilzha]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090514162327.htm Let the planet hunt begin

[Escriba]

This is silly, but I like that they've called it "Kepler"

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

The World's Best Illusion: The Secret of the Curve Ball

[Alelou]

Oooh, that's neat!

[Entilzha]

'Missing Link': Revealing Fast-spinning Pulsar Mysteries http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090521141159.htm

[Entilzha]

New Memory Material May Hold Data For One Billion Years http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090525105418.htm. When we are long gone the aliens can see what a punch of morons the humans were.

[Linda]

Only 10 to 30 years retention for data (and photos?) on a memory card? And I was thinking that might be a long term solution to storing years of family photos! How long on a CD? How long as slides or prints? How long as negatives? Do negatives and prints have a longer shelf life than digital storage at this time? A billion years would be nice if that technology becomes available, but how soon and what would be the cost? I have so many questions but so few answers right now.

[Entilzha]

If you want data to last on CDs you need to use special CDs meant for archiving. Those are the only ones that last and for even that you must keep them in the right environment

[Entilzha]

Stretched neutrinos could span the universe http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227115.800-stretched-neutrinos-could-span-the-universe.html

[justTripn]

I'm catching up on my daily science stuff. As for the spun up pulsars, isn't it fun when theory predicts the evidence that is later observed? And it's always fun if you can actually catch anything changing out there in the stars over a short period of time.

As for the data storage. Yes, it's so discouraging. Yesterday, I was cleaning house, and I tossed my video cassete version of "Generations" because, I don't believe we own a video cassete player anymore. Then I immediately paniced because I have all this kids' soccer footage and vacation footage stored on video cassete. HELP! I realize I will have to save the camera I recorded it on to be able to play it. A similar thing happened recently with old Appolo moon footage. Someone was about to dump it because there was no player left to play that format. A librarian saved it and found two antique players neither of which worked, but through a special project they salvaged parts from two broken players to make one working player and were able to save all that footage, including a much higher resolution version of the iconic "Earthrise" photo. Scary . . .

As for the stretched neutrinos, I have no comment . . . But I'll keep that filed away, so when someone eventually brings it up, I can say. Oh, of course . . .

[Alelou]

I bought a combo VCR/DVD player just so that I can transfer the tapes we want to DVD, especially the ones of Alejandro back when we actually videotaped the little squirt.

Of course, have I ACTUALLY DONE any of that yet? .....NO

You can still buy pretty cheap VCR players, though. And I can tell you thrift stores are just overloaded with videotapes these days as people dump theirs. You never know what you're getting in terms of quality, unfortunately. But my stepdaughter appreciates me scooping up Disney videos that are currently 'in the vault.'

[Entilzha]

SpaceShipTwo's rocket motor test-fired for first time http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17221-spaceshiptwos-rocket-motor-testfired-for-first-time.html. One step closer to mass space tourism.
Lost in space: The science of Battlestar Galactica http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17253-lost-in-space-the-science-of-battlestar-galactica.html
Stem Cells Cultured On Contact Lens Restore Sight In Patients With Blinding Corneal Disease http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090605081151.htm. I'm still waiting the time I can buy new eyes that are grown from my DNA. Either way fixing my eyesight is gonna cost a lot.
Physicists Demonstrate Quantum Entanglement In Mechanical System http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090603131429.htm .

[Aquarius]

New Type of Clouds

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Warp Drive Engine Could Suck Earth Into Black Hole

[Alelou]

That's fascinating.