random thinks

Science Photo of the week

(Click to enlarge)

I get a weekly email from Science Photo Library, a stock photo place for science images. A lot of time they are somewhat boring, but I founf this one of the orion nebula pretty amazing. Thought you might like it.

How Many Nanobots...

...can dance on the head of a pin? I've always wondered about that...

I get a weekly email from the folks at Science Photo Library, and this is one of the cooler ones I've viewed in a while. A computer generated pic obviously, but a neat concept. I'd be willing to bet cash that the surfaces we see on the pin are from a real electron micrograph of one.

Very Cool.

Random Cool Science Photo

(Click to Enlarge) A cool X-ray pic of an incandescent lightbulb. From the folks at Science Photo Library.

Murphy's Law Represented Mathematically

from News.com.au, via Slashdot:

Murphy's law (also known as Sod's Law) states that when things can go wrong, they will, and at the worst possible moment. Thanks to a team commissioned by British Gas, this law has finally been represented mathematically.

((U+C+I) x (10-S))/20 x A x 1/(1-sin(F/10))

where:
U = Urgency
C = Complexity
I = Importance
S = Skill
F = Frequency
A = Aggravation

each variable has a range from 1 to 9 except for A, which was assigned a value of 0.7.

The researchers' give this advice to those seeking to minimize the effects:

"So, if you haven't got the skill to do something important, leave it alone. If something is urgent or complex, find a simple way to do it. If something going wrong will particularly aggravate you, make certain you know how to do it."

Science Image of the Week

(Click to Enlarge)

I get an email every week from SciencePhotoLibrary. This is a British company specializing in science stock photography. Always interesting and visually appealing, this weeks image is a pic of the Milky Way, taken on a Summer's night in the Northern Hemisphere.

I'm Blowin' This Popstand...

I am packing and cleaning and getting ready to get out of town for a week. Travel? yes. Vacation? no. I am heading down to Clemson SC to meet up with about 125 other chemistry teacher geeks to read (grade) the 2004 Advanced Placement Chemistry Exam. Do I lead an exciting life or what?

I will spend seven 8 hour days, reading thousands of exams, grading one question over and over (and over and over). More fun than one man should be allowed to have you say? Actually, it is not that bad. The money is always good, and I have made some good friends among the chemistry geek-erati.

After a full reading day, there will be such things as golf, minor league baseball, the new Harry Potter movie, and if I find the time and a connection, blogging.

I am taking Beaker the wonder Element for her first big road trip, and leaving Shrunken Stuffed Patrick in charge of the house/dog sitter and the pooches whilst I am away. We'll see if fun and hilarity ensue in either place.

Cool Workshop Today

I am down (over?) in Dearborn today at the Ritz-Carlton for a workshop by Edward Tufte. Tufte is an emeritus professor from Yale U, where he taught courses in statistical evidence, information design, and interface design. The New York Times calls him "The Leonardo da Vinci of data." In my opinion, he has written the definitive work on the subject, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information".

Most recently he has been on a crusade about the mangling of information by the use of PowerPoint. I am looking forward to seeing what he has to say about that.

I first picked up one of his books 4 or 5 years ago and have always marvelled at the beautiful design and presentation of the books. I have been looking forward to this workshop for months. I'll let you know how it was when I get back.

Popcorn Science

Scientific evidence for something I believed all along: Stove-top popped popcorn is better than microwave popcorn. (via GeekPress)

I'm Getting Tired of Winter, But...

...isn't this snowflake awesome? (Click photo to enlarge)

I was reading my daily email from the Chronicle of Higher Education, and came upon this article about snowflake (snow crystal) research being done at Cal Tech. The researchers have a great website (Your online guide to snowflakes, snow crystals, and other ice phenomena) filled with lots of photos and even a book that they've published (The Snowflake - Winter's Secret Beauty).

Check out the site for more photos, video of individual snowflakes growing in the lab, and lots of cool scientific info on crystal formation in water.

On Dogs as Human Companions

Found via: GeekPress.

The Economist has printed a wonderfully interesting article on canine behavior: Sensitive Souls: How Dogs Became Man's Best Friend.

No one, not even cat owners would (or should) dispute that no other species on the face of the Earth has made the same sympathetic/empathetic [and copacetic :)] connection with humankind as the canine. Yes, I know I am leaning strongly towards anthropomorphizing (sp?) the relationship, but hey, I've known several dogs who were/are friendlier and more interesting characters than a lot of people I know.

Back to the point, the article reports on a study that shows evidence that dogs understand and/or interpret social cues from humans more readily than other species, including chimps, who are thought to be much smarter. The article (not necessarily the author of the study) makes the connection that because of this, man has readily adopted the dog as a live-in companion. Read the article for more info on the study.

I think this is very interesting, and from having lived most of my life with dogs as pets, I have much anecdotal evidence to support the assertion.

My two current canine pals, Judy and Watson, are very good at understanding my cues. Especially Judy, my 13 y.o. female Black Lab, who has grown considerably deaf over the last year. She can no longer interpret verbal commands (unless I yell, which is extremely rare) or even any verbal inflection, but she and I have worked out quite a set of hand cues, and other signals. She knows to come to the door when it is dark outside if I flicker the back door light. She comes when I flex both hands, retreats to the bedroom when I make a "shoo" motion with my left hand, and knows tha clapping means "Good Girl", as her whole body wags.

Watson, my 12 y.o. Yellow Lab will follow hand signals when we are outside playing fetch. If I throw the dummy and he does not see it fly, I can direct him. If it is in tall grass, he'll look to me for a "hint". He certainly understands the words "suppertime", "cookie", "walk", and "Go get a baby", which is his command to find one of his stuffed plush toys for the two of us to play with.

Not exactly the same verbal cues the researcher looked at, but they work for me.