Experimenting With String Theory?

February 17, 2009

What if you had a great idea to explain how the universe works on a fundamental level, but couldn't really test your idea?

Symmetry breaking -- the official symmetry magazine blog -- beat me to the news on string theory that arose during the 2009 AAAS meeting this past weekend: String theory might actually contribute real-life experiments.

Experiments so real, in fact, that you can physically see one of them through a little glass window (a subject for another blog post). No pie-in-the-sky thought experiments that have earned string theory an often critical rep in the physics community.

This could be a pretty big deal.

Why? String theory has the potential to combine the weirdness of the universe's tiny aspects (aka quantum physics) to the very big aspects (aka general relativity, which includes gravity). The term all the cool kids use these days for such an idea is a "theory of everything."

Don't misunderstand me: What's going on here is not proof of string theory.

That said, to see string theory making some headway in the form of testable predictions about this incredibly mysterious universe we live in is fascinating.

The news came out of a session I went to that was put together by the folks at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY. How I'd sum it up:

The short version:

Carnival of Space 89: The Lunar Edition

February 08, 2009

How dare Darnell Clayton of the Moon Society Blog deem the 89th Carnival of Space -- a weekly collection of the best space blog posts from around the Web -- as "Carnival of the Space Geeks."

Ok, so maybe we are geeks.

But even if you're not a geek, you should check out Darnell's post -- click here.

I threw in my post about COROT-Exo-7b, a small and rocky exoplanet about 450 light-years from our little nook in the cosmos.

Enjoy!

Photo: Moon Society Blog

'Super' Neptune, NASA in Obama's Parade, IYA 2009 Art, Simonyi's Second Flight

January 27, 2009

For some reason, I completely forgot to mention the Discovery Channel's new Cosmic Collisions show in this video post. D'oh. Be sure to visit the Wide Angle we put together here.

That being said, this week's video:

Methane on Mars, Penny for a Star, NASA's New Boss?

January 19, 2009

Rounding up last week's space news, and a sneak peek at Discovery Space this week:

Collaborative Art For Space Nerds

January 09, 2009

Today was a glorious Friday -- I'll keep the words to a minimum:

My Vote for NASA Administrator

January 08, 2009

If you haven't heard by now, the present NASA administrator -- Michael "Gruff" Griffin -- will soon wave the peace sign and retreat into his proverbial helicopter. (I mean "gruff" as in "surly," and don't take the irrelevant Nixon analogy seriously. Just for fun.)

As might be expected, space nerds across the country are gossiping away about who President-elect Barack Obama will tap for Mike's spot.

You can add one more space nerd to the list with this post.

At any rate, if you're looking for a good sense of what's going on:
Keith Cowing at NASA Watch is keeping a pretty even keel on the secretive and rather drama-less (from Obama's end -- notsomuch from Griffin's) transition at the U.S. space agency. Jeff Foust at Space Politics is also putting a non-kool-aid-stained finger to the pulse of what's precipitating.

I'm a fan of mixing things up, so if Griffin wants to bow out I'll shed no tears. So who would I pick?

Contrary to what the headline of this post teases you with... I have no idea. And I don't envy being in Obama's shoes.

The people have spoken, however, and their choice *coughPhilPlaitcough* seems to be crystal clear. Here's the list in order of most-to-least votes for the top 25 thus far (note #9):

1. Phil Plait
2. Wil Wheaton
3. Pete Worden
4. Neil deGrass Tyson
5. Andy Ihnatko
6. Lori Garver
7. Stephen Colbert
8. Alan Stern
9. Rick Astley
10. Mike Griffin
11. Sally Ride
12. Charles Bolden
13. Peter Diamandis
14. Seth Shostak
15. Scott Hubbard
16. Steve Squyres
17. Mike Heney
18. Rick Tumlinson
19. Ariel Waldman
20. John C. Mankins
21. George Whitesides
22. Chris Boden
23. Miles O'Brien
24. Wesley Huntress
25. Andrea Seastrand

Who would you pick?

Photo: AP

Astronomy = Live

January 07, 2009

If you want incredible astronomy news straight from the source, this is it my friends:

Astronomical video action brought to you by Ustream.TV

It's AstronomyCast's live video feed -- complete with chatroom -- of the American Astronomical Society's 213th annual meeting.

Chained to a Desk for 72 Hours in the Name of Dark Energy

December 16, 2008

Here's the deal. I haven't left my apartment for close to 72 hours, and it's about the size of a walk-in closet. Maybe.

Not even kidding -- I feel like I'm just about ready for a long-duration mission to Mars, though my experience is surely no match for John Bohannon's recent "gonzonaut" feat of glory.

Why, you ask, would I do such a thing? And what does it have to do with space?

Here's your answer: The Wide Angle: Dark Energy. We take the news, stick a few pieces of dynamite into it, and blow it up for your reading, watching and listening pleasure...

Take a look at this package we've put together for you, which centers around this fascinating little story over at Discovery News:

• Top 10: Things You Didn't Know About Dark Energy
  If you thought you knew everything about dark energy, think again. Cosmologist Michael Turner shares 10 things you didn't know.
• Video: Study Sheds Light On Dark Energy
  New findings bolster the argument that dark energy is the reason our universe is expanding. James Williams explores the evidence.
• IM Interview: How To Hunt For Dark Energy
  Ever wonder how we know dark energy exists if we can't even see the stuff? We interview an X-ray astronomer.
• My Take: Exciting Times Ahead for Dark Energy Search
  Where is dark energy research headed in the future? An astronomer gives her take.
• Blog: The Dark Energy Doubters
  Some armchair astronomers simply don't believe all of this dark "stuff" exists. Find out why.
• Blog: Far Future Forecast: Deep Darkness
  How is dark energy going to shape the universe in the (really) far future?
• Blog: The Big Yawn
  What it's like to live with a cosmologist who's crazy about the biggest mysteries in the cosmos.
• HowStuffWorks: How The Fate Of The Universe Works

I'd like to especially point out the blog posts about dark energy above -- there's some really excellent stuff to be found in there.

Of all the work done on this little project, which we'll do for other big upcoming stories, I have to say chatting with Michael Turner was my favorite. Not because he's one of the best-known cosmologists these days, but because his excitement to chat with me about dark energy was palpable.

Here's a rough paraphrase of our chat to give you an idea:

Me: Hi Michael, I'd like to ask for your help in coming up with a list the top 10 things you didn't know about dark energy.

Michael Turner: Oh! That's so much fun. I have two other phone calls lined up -- the next any minute -- but they can wait.

Me: Are you sure? You can call me back if needed...

*phone rings on his end*

MT: Hold on one moment.

*muzak*

MT: Ok, Iet's do this thing.

Me: Was that the phone call you're expecting?

MT: Yes, but this one is going to be a lot more fun.

This is the same man who will do phone interviews while he's driving down the highway in a complete downpour. He hearts science. A lot.

At any rate, do me a big favor: Tell your grandmas and grandpas, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, kids, grandkids, great grandkids, great great grandkids, and cats/dogs/gerbils/zebras to check out what we put together for you!

Google 'Mystery Team' Evidence Decoded - Can You Name This Man?

December 11, 2008

UPDATE: It's official -- this mystery man is Mike Joyce! Via Twitter, users Snibble, QuarkSpin, cariann and myself (Disco_Dave) put the pieces together a day before the official announcement. The "Mystery Team" is now known as "Next Giant Leap" and you can visit their site here.

The official Google Lunar X PRIZE blog, aka the Launch Pad, highlighted this mysterious video today:

Mysterious, indeed! (Personally, I enjoyed the part where GLXP asks "what is your name?" and the mystery man says "If I told you, I'd have to kill you." A required line in such a situation.)

Anywho, this is the first second visual, physical evidence for the "Mystery Team" competing for Google's $20-30 million to send a video camera-packed spacecraft to the moon on private money (see here for first piece).

I interviewed the leader recently -- click here for our chat -- and asked why the team has been maintaining anonymity. It's for several reasons, but mainly so they could build a crack team amid disbelief and bureaucracy. In other words, the mystery protects perfectly great scientists and engineers from being warded off by their colleagues before the "super team" is assembled.

Apparently the team is now fully assembled, however, and they're set to reveal themselves soon. Check out this chunk of a press release I just received:

Wednesday, Dec. 17th: The stealth team (AKA "The Mystery Team") whose members' identities have thus far remained a secret, will reveal their true identities in person, at NASA Ames.

I have a hunch. I think the person in the video is the same one I interviewed. I happen to know a thing or two about Photoshop, so let's work some magic on this bad boy...

Discovery Space This Week: Phoenix Freezes, Science Cuts, Guest Bloggin'

November 03, 2008

I humbly offer this week's Discovery Space preview and wrap-up:

Have questions, comments, concerns, etc.? Leave a comment below or shoot an e-mail to DiscoverySpace@Discovery.com!

As usual, some further distractions:

• Blog Post: Phoenix is Dying
• My Take: Presidential Space Race
• Video: Hubble Trouble
• Disco Space Slideshows
• Disco Space IM Interviews
• Disco Space My Takes
• About Discovery Space