Saturday, February 16, 2008

Shaquille O'Neal terrified of Phoenix Suns after learning about supernovae

From the Onion.

PS: Harvard graduates should know that the plural of supernova is supernovae, not supernovas.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Why blow up a defunct satellite?

Not every one appears to be convinced by the Pentagon's claim that they need to destroy a defunct spy satellite in space with an anti-satellite weapon in order to safe guard the public from the "dangerous" hydrazine fuel tank it contains. Read "Experts Scoff at Sat Shoot-Down Rationale" by Noah Schachtman at WIRED.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Change allows UK astronomers access to Gemini once again

The UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which oversees British astronomy funding, appears to be altering its plan of pulling out of the Gemini consortium into merely reducing its involvement, reports the BBC.

Although this does not reverse all of British astronomy's current funding problem, it is good news for UK optical/IR astronomers.