Throughput: The Year in Science
We are in a golden age of science. The vast majority of scientists who have ever lived are alive and working today. Here’s hoping they kick 2022’s butt as hard as they kicked 2021’s.
Author: Michael Siegel
Tomorrow Finally Comes For James Webb
This morning, JWST finally got its moment to shine. The spacecraft had a successful launch and deployment. It is now drawing its own power from the solar panels.
Thursday Throughput: Peter McCullough, Omicron, and Space Telescopes
Omicron will go through the population very fast. By the end of February, everyone will either be vaccinated or have had omicron.
Video Throughput: The Science of Forbidden Planet
In today’s video throughput, I review one of the most influential movies in science fiction: the 1956 classic Forbidden Planet.
Thursday Throughput: Binary Planet Edition
One of the point I made in my recent Dune video was that the fervid imaginations of sci-fi visionaries like Herbert seem to only scratch the surface of what’s out there. The more information we get, the wilder the planets get
Mini-Throughput: Omicron Edition
The TL;DR version on Omicron is: we don’t know yet and anyone making definitive claims should be viewed with suspicion. The long version is…
A COVID Statistic That is Beyond Meaningless
There have not, in fact, been more COVID-19 deaths under Joe Biden than under Donald Trump. Eventually, we will pass that grim milestone
Turkeys of the Year and Golden Drumsticks for 2021
This year has been a veritable feast of turkeys. A games of clowns. A clash of klutzes. A storm of stupid. A dance with dunces.
Video Throughput: An Astronomer Reacts to Dune
I take off my critic hat and put on my scientist hat to see how the science of Dune holds up. And…it’s not too bad.
Thursday Throughput: The Dark Matter Is Still Missing Edition
The case for dark matter’s existence has grown stronger with each passing year. But we have yet to detect one single particle.
Video Throughput: Astronomy Unsolved Mysteries
This week, I talk about the mystery of Astronomy and Fast Radio Bursts
The Curse Lifts, At Least For A Moment
I’ve seen great Braves teams that died in the first round. And I’ve now seen a Howl’s Moving Castle of a team crush their way to glory
The Lincoln Project Takes a Trip to the Theater
For an outfit like the Lincoln Project to pull a stunt like this, evoking the memories of that day for a political prank, is appalling
Thursday Throughput: Tensor Calculus Edition
The intricacies of tensor calculus equations for General Relativity. If you check out equation, you’ll find…no, wait…don’t go away! This is cool.
Going to the Dogs Over Anthony Fauci
I am in an odd and lonely place on Anthony Fauci. I am not in Camp Saint Fauci, but neither am I in Camp Adolph Fauci
Dune: What I’d Wanted For Almost 35 Years, Finally Here
Now the film is here. And as someone who has been waiting for this a long time, I can say … Dune delivers.
Thursday Throughput: Substitute Teacher Jocelyn Bell Burnell Edition
Rather than subjecting you to my semi-coherent inaudible ramblings, here’s a substitute teacher: Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell on her discovery of Pulsars
Considering The Entire Life of Colin Powell
I understand those who blame Colin Powell for mistakes/misdeeds. But when you consider the man’s entire life, we were lucky to have him.
Thursday Throughputs: Captains in Ships Columbus Edition
People didn’t think Columbus was nuts because the Earth was flat. They thought he was nuts because … well, Columbus *was* nuts.
Video Throughput: Doctor Who, or Why Space Telescopes are Smarter Than Giant Slugs
I take on the classic Doctor Who episode “The Twin Dilemma” which gives me a chance to talk about orbits, Kepler, Lagrange points and space eggs.
