As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Science

U=(N/T)M*G: Debris

by
Earth surrounded by debris.

The announcement of the mission extension for the ISS gives me mixed feelings. I mean, I love the Station. Wrote about it here a few times. Hell, wrote a whole trilogy on board the “little” thing. I’m such a nerd about it that I’ve got the Haynes manual. It’s a thing I plow through regularly. I’m pretty concerned about it though. Not the drama over Russia’s will they, won’t they attitude in regards to continuing with the Station’s mission. I always knew they’d keep on with the ISS. I’m talking about all the little bits and bobs of debris up … Read more

U=N/T(M*G): Paper

by
Black book with the word productivity on the front in gold letters.

I’ve started writing a new book! So stoked. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been able to really write anything and I have really missed it. It’s a spy romance and it has a whole lot, but I’m not here to talk about all that today. Sorta. See, the love interest has a paper productivity planner. He’s an assistant to the protagonist, kind of, and most assistants have some type of journal or planner they use to keep track of their boss’ schedule. More or less. And, of course, it got me thinking. I use a planner my own … Read more

U=N/T(M*G): Core

by
Planet in the light of the Galactic Core.

Once every couple of years, I get the wild hair to reread C. S. Friedman’s Coldfire trilogy. I love this story, no lie. It’s one of the best I’ve ever read and has some of the most complex characters I’ve ever seen. And the premise is amazing. In fact, it’s the premise that brings up this post. See, Coldfire trilogy is set on a planet called Erna close to the Galactic Core. Humans came and settled it a long time before the story starts (though you see pieces of what happened to the original settlers at the start of various … Read more

U=(N/T)M*G: Strands

by
Rainbow collection of threads on a black field.

Like something out of Star Trek, or Star Trek fanfiction, this is one of those stranger than fiction moments. In fact, I think I’ve read this ST fanfiction. So, there’s cosmic threads cutting through the heart of our galaxy. A whole lot of other galaxies too. The fun part is no one knows what the hell they are. Galactic heartstrings? Road to Hell? Connections to a parallel dimension? No clue. Scientists think it might be from the black hole blowing out radiation, maybe. Honestly though, I think that’s the fun part. That point in time when we find a new … Read more

U=(N/T)M*G: Pandora

by
A big red globe, with a black starburst in the center, surrounded by red spines.

Ah, climate change. A host of chaos in the near future because of it, no matter what we do now. Intensified storms, higher seawater levels, habitat destruction. Lots of stuff to keep us busy for years. We can throw one more middle finger on top of that pile. Ancient viruses. Yep. You read that right. Scientists are already pulling samples out of the increasingly warm Siberian permafrost, and quite a few of these viruses are still viable. No, there’s no need to panic, yet. It’s that yet which is the problem. First, these viruses are the super big ones and … Read more

Science: Scientists Make Mice With Two Dads

by
baby mouse - deposit photos

Scientists have managed to create mice with two biological fathers, which could lead to implications for same-sex reproduction in the future. Researchers at Kyushu University, in Japan, were able to create lab-grown egg cells by using the skin cells of male mice. While creating mice with two biological fathers was technically possible prior to the achievement, it involved a series of elaborate steps, including genetic engineering. After creating stem cells from eight-week-old male mice, scientists manipulated the genetic code of the cell to create a mature egg. After successful cultivation, the eggs were fertilised and implanted into a surrogate mouse, … Read more

U=(N/T)M*G: Unearthed

by
tardigrade - deposit photos

Any time I can talk about Tardigrades, you can bet good money I’m going to do exactly that. These little “bears” have so much potential in science. They do all the things, and it’s my personal belief that trans-human modification will start with enhancements from gene-splicing with Tardigrades. Especially with the problems we’re still trying to solve with deep space exploration. Macrobiotus naginae are a soil type Tardigrade. At this rate, there will be more types of these suckers than Pokemon. The specialty of these ones is the ability to live in arid conditions. Deserts. Cold ones too. If humans … Read more

U=(N/T)M*G: Snow

by
Tubular model for fluid dynamics.

Physics is weird. Of course, I mean that in the most respectful way possible, but physics is weird. Weak forces and strong forces and thermodynamics. Fluid dynamics. Quantum mechanics. I sort of understand most of it, but did science, as a whole field, really have to make the whole thing as opaque and esoteric as possible? For instance, I was reading articles on the probability of snow falling upwards under the ice sheets covering Europa. Super cool stuff. I had to crawl through about six articles packed full of the science lingo before I figured out what was going on. … Read more

U=(N/T)M*G: Meltdown

by
Computer chip

I guess Google had a meltdown? It lasted long enough for people to notice? I must have been at the day job when that happened and missed it. It’s pretty funny how weird that sounds. I first jumped online as a wee teenager back when AOL and Netscape were the major players, when dial up was the only way to get online. When the first Diablo game was super popular. If something like Google crashed back then, we’d collectively shrug and find a different search engine. No big deal. Not to get political about this, but this is why monopolies … Read more

U=(N/T)M*G: White

by
Great White Shark with his nose poked out of the water, grinning.

Something that can eat an orca just blows my mind, but the Megalodon is something vastly different from the standard shark. Scientists call this giant water beast a super-apex predator. Leaving that ridiculous and terrifying thought aside, because seriously I love the ocean and everything in it, and anything that could eat me and not even notice it pretty damned wild, Megalodons are basically sharks on steroids. I love sharks, not gonna lie. Had a baby leopard shark almost bite my finger off when I was a kidlet and I’ve loved these too curious giant babies ever since. Just another … Read more