Monthly Archives: January 2011
Human Factors Engineering
Researcher and blogger Ash Donaldson joins us for a pre-recorded discussion on the fascinating field of Human Factors Engineering. This multi-disciplinary science draws on anatomy, physiology, physics, psychology and communications research, as it tries to improve the ways that humans interact with technology, and use technology to interact with each other. And health science journalist Paul Ingraham returns with a primer on the causes and treatment of repetitive strain injuries.
Jamie Hyneman’s Toolkits
Every year, at least once (for his birthday or for Christmas, depending) I give my father-in-law the same exact presents: A tape measure, a utility knife, and a pencil. This way, when we are working on something like sheet-rocking the kitchen, patching the bullet hole in the roof of the cabin, or installing the invisible surround sound system there will be a tape measure, a utility knife, and a pencil. The tape measure tells you where to cut, the pencil marks where you will cut, and the utility knife cuts it. There are lots of other tools involved in carrying out these tasks, but these three are the tools most likely to be stolen by gremlins. The table saw and the electric drill seem to lack legs, but the tape measure, knife and pencil are temporary visitors on this earth. Or so it seems.
But as it turns out, no matter how may of these items I give him, or that he picks up at the hardware store, they always disappear.
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Comet Hunting Space Robot Spots Quarry
Stardust, the NASA probe, has downloaded a snapshot of Tempel 1, a comet that the comet seeking craft will sidle up to on February 14th. Here is the picture:
On the night of encounter, the navigation camera will be used to acquire 72 high-resolution images of the comet’s surface features. Stardust-NExT mission scientists will use these images to see how surface features on comet Tempel 1 have changed over the past five-and-a-half years. (Tempel 1 had previously been visited and imaged in July of 2005 by NASA’s Deep Impact mission).
I don’t know why they call it night. Perhaps because NASA is playing up the whole romance theme. Anyway, details here.
Jupiter’s Scar Caused by Asteroid?
A huge scar formed on Jupiter in July of 2009. It’s shown here near the “bottom” of the planet:
Falsehoods: Human Universals
There are human universals. There, I said it. Now give me about a half hour to explain why this is both correct and a Falsehood. But first, some background and definition.
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The Macbook Wheel
Darwin Day is Coming Up
From the NCSE:
It’s time to dust off your Darwin costume again: less than a month remains before Darwin Day 2011! Colleges and universities, schools, libraries, museums, churches, civic groups, and just plain folks across the country — and the world — are preparing to celebrate Darwin Day, on or around February 12, in honor of the life and work of Charles Darwin. These events provide a marvelous opportunity not only to celebrate Darwin’s birthday but also to engage in public outreach about science, evolution, and the importance of evolution education — which is especially needed with assaults on evolution education currently ongoing in Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. NCSE encourages its members and friends to attend, participate in, and even organize Darwin Day events in their own communities. To find a local event, check the websites of local universities and museums and the registry of Darwin Day events maintained by the Darwin Day Celebration website. (And don’t forget to register your own event with the Darwin Day Celebration website!)
Don’t Panic!
The BBC us cosing down Douglas Adams Hitchiker’s Guide web site. But there is a plan to get off the planet before it’s too late. So have a beer and read this.
Michele Bachmann is an Unmitigated Idiot and Racist
And yes, Michele…
the Civil War was indeed fought to end slavery.
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Charity Tilleman-Dick: Singing after a double lung transplant
How often are the Mars space robots out of contact with the Earth?
A question came up in the comments on the post Mars will pass behind sun, Rover operations affected, and the answer turns out to be very interesting.
Continue reading How often are the Mars space robots out of contact with the Earth?
Things blowing up and burning
You may or may not have heard the news: There was a major explosion, or set of explosions, with suicide bombers and everything, 31 or more dead, at the Moscow Airport. The details are sketchy.
And in a totally unrelated story, but still with an explosion, then there’s this:
I See Dead People Everywhere
And most of them are boys with their toys
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I understand Bret Farve’s old team is playing today
The vikings are out of it, but it is still very important that the Packers lose. Because. Because they are cheese-heads, OK?
If you want more reasons than that, check this out:
Continue reading I understand Bret Farve’s old team is playing today