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Friday, January 23, 2015

Review of What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions



Excellent! Randall (online comic artist behind XKCD) writes a fantastic book on hypothetical scenarios, fleshing it out with hard science.  Take a look at it in the link above!

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Major Radio Burst Detected Outside Solar System

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26813-epic-cosmic-radio-burst-finally-seen-in-real-time.html#.VMCy-izaKld



Scientists believe the source of the burst was the deterioration of a neutron star, but mainly remains largely a mystery.  I'm inclined to lean more towards the scientists on this one.  The more fringe groups side with aliens, but this seems unlikely.  A burst of this magnitude, if it was a signal, would probably have a more distinct pattern conforming more towards the cryptographical than the random, which this seems to be.  

The source is 5.5 billions light years away.  In addition to this, nine other radio bursts have been detected since 2007.  

If you're worried, don't be.  These bursts are no threat to life on earth and probably won't even be picked up on your car radio.