A CURATED COLLECTION OF SCIENCE FACTS AND DELICIOUS FICTIONS !
7/1/14
6/28/14
6/24/14
IS THERE AN UNDERWATER CITY 6 MILES OFF THE COAST OF MALIBU?
HUFF POST: TRUTH MALIBU UNDERWATER ALIEN BASE
An excellent article by Lee Speigel explores a large strange formation like an undersea plateau that was discovered by viewers of Google Earth. Are Aliens living under there in a city or does science explain best?
An excerpt: "
"I didn't see anything special about it. I think it's because it looks like there's a flat surface and then, below it, it looks like there are these vertical columns, so somebody can say, 'Oh, this is the entryway to something special,'" said earthquake geologist David Schwartz of the U.S. Geological Survey.
"I think it's natural and is a part of the continental shelf," Schwartz told HuffPost. "It's just a complicated part of what's now offshore that has seen some erosion and, maybe, slumping when perhaps this was partially exposed when sea level was lower. This is a really major earthquake area and perhaps some of these features are a result of slope failures, due to shaking..."
An excellent article by Lee Speigel explores a large strange formation like an undersea plateau that was discovered by viewers of Google Earth. Are Aliens living under there in a city or does science explain best?
An excerpt: "
"I didn't see anything special about it. I think it's because it looks like there's a flat surface and then, below it, it looks like there are these vertical columns, so somebody can say, 'Oh, this is the entryway to something special,'" said earthquake geologist David Schwartz of the U.S. Geological Survey.
"I think it's natural and is a part of the continental shelf," Schwartz told HuffPost. "It's just a complicated part of what's now offshore that has seen some erosion and, maybe, slumping when perhaps this was partially exposed when sea level was lower. This is a really major earthquake area and perhaps some of these features are a result of slope failures, due to shaking..."
6/21/14
6/5/14
HISTORICAL FEMALE PIRATES and THE "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS" FILM
I first learned that women had been pirates in 1998. Of course I knew that women probably dreamed of being pirates but I just didn't think women were ALLOWED to become pirates. It was a feminist issue. Then I began to read about women pirates, in particular the Chinese women pirates, and I realized that the pirate mentality was that NO ONE WAS ASKING ANY PERMISSION.
Some of the women pirates I learned about dressed as men at the time they were pirating. Women's clothing was too cumbersome or limiting to move in. These women pirates had to have a lot of daring and courage but they were just as dangerous, cunning, and criminal as the men.
I learned that the idea of the law that we have now, as being a rule of society that everyone was to respect, was not in place in most cultures where these historical pirates operated. Back then the attitude was more like "May the smarter or stronger person win." Some pirates were respected, some were hired to pirate by a business person's enemy, and some quit while they were still alive and used their fortunes to settle down into a land-based normal life! Basically, if they got away with pirating then it was considered fair enough!
So recently when I saw the actor Tom Hank's recent film about the Somali pirates, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, which is based on a true story, I also learned that warlords and other authorities can order other people to pirate to make them rich or to enrich the local economy.
I enjoyed the movie. Have you seen it?
Siren
Some of the women pirates I learned about dressed as men at the time they were pirating. Women's clothing was too cumbersome or limiting to move in. These women pirates had to have a lot of daring and courage but they were just as dangerous, cunning, and criminal as the men.
I learned that the idea of the law that we have now, as being a rule of society that everyone was to respect, was not in place in most cultures where these historical pirates operated. Back then the attitude was more like "May the smarter or stronger person win." Some pirates were respected, some were hired to pirate by a business person's enemy, and some quit while they were still alive and used their fortunes to settle down into a land-based normal life! Basically, if they got away with pirating then it was considered fair enough!
So recently when I saw the actor Tom Hank's recent film about the Somali pirates, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, which is based on a true story, I also learned that warlords and other authorities can order other people to pirate to make them rich or to enrich the local economy.
I enjoyed the movie. Have you seen it?
Siren
6/4/14
SEA LEVELS ARE RISING! WILL YOUR CITY BE 10 FEET UNDER WATER? CHECK THIS SITE MAP!
SEALEVEL - CLIMATECENTRAL- MAP go to the map and see how deep under your city will be.
"Global warming has raised global sea level about 8 inches since 1880, and the rate of rise is accelerating. Rising seas dramatically increase the odds of damaging floods from storm surges. A Climate Central analysis finds the odds of “century” or worse floods occurring by 2030 are on track to double or more, over widespread areas of the U.S. These increases threaten an enormous amount of damage. Across the country, nearly 5 million people live in 2.6 million homes at less than 4 feet above high tide — a level lower than the century flood line for most locations analyzed. And compounding this risk, scientists expect roughly 2 to 7 more feet of sea level rise this century — a lot depending upon how much more heat-trapping pollution humanity puts into the sky."
"Global warming has raised global sea level about 8 inches since 1880, and the rate of rise is accelerating. Rising seas dramatically increase the odds of damaging floods from storm surges. A Climate Central analysis finds the odds of “century” or worse floods occurring by 2030 are on track to double or more, over widespread areas of the U.S. These increases threaten an enormous amount of damage. Across the country, nearly 5 million people live in 2.6 million homes at less than 4 feet above high tide — a level lower than the century flood line for most locations analyzed. And compounding this risk, scientists expect roughly 2 to 7 more feet of sea level rise this century — a lot depending upon how much more heat-trapping pollution humanity puts into the sky."
5/24/14
HAS COLUMBUS' SHIP THE SANTA MARIA WRECK FOUND OFF HAITI?
WASHINGTON POST : SHIPWRECK OFF HAITI - SANTA MARIA inc video
Off the northern coast of Haiti and in only 10 to 15 feet of water...1492...a 15th century cannon.
"Explorer Barry Clifford said evidence that the wreck is the Santa Maria, which struck a reef and foundered on Christmas Day in 1492, includes ballast stones that appear to have come from Spain or Portugal and what looks like a 15th century cannon that was at the site during an initial inspection but has since disappeared." ... "Kevin Crisman, director of the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University, said many Spanish ships sunk off Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and it will be difficult to confirm that this is the Santa Maria. The ship sank slowly in 1492 and the crew had time to strip it and remove valuable items that would help document the identity of the vessel."
Off the northern coast of Haiti and in only 10 to 15 feet of water...1492...a 15th century cannon.
"Explorer Barry Clifford said evidence that the wreck is the Santa Maria, which struck a reef and foundered on Christmas Day in 1492, includes ballast stones that appear to have come from Spain or Portugal and what looks like a 15th century cannon that was at the site during an initial inspection but has since disappeared." ... "Kevin Crisman, director of the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University, said many Spanish ships sunk off Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and it will be difficult to confirm that this is the Santa Maria. The ship sank slowly in 1492 and the crew had time to strip it and remove valuable items that would help document the identity of the vessel."
5/17/14
COULD THIS GRANNY WHALE BE BORN THE YEAR THE TITANIC SANK?
SCIENCE RECORDER : KILLER WHALE TITANIC
Most killer whales die at 60 to 80 years of age. GRANNY may be 103!
"And she’s quite mobile for her advanced years. This week, she turned up this in the Strait of Georgia, a waterway that cuts between Vancouver and British Columbia. She would have to have travelled 800 miles to reach this point from southern California, where she was originally spotted.
Granny runs in a 25-whale group that researchers call the “J-Pod,” or the “Southern Resident Killer Whales.” And longevity runs strong in this group. Two other members, females dubbed “Ocean Sun” and “Lummi,” died at ages 85 and 98, respectively. Granny is the oldest in this group, however. More than that, in fact: She is, as of now, the oldest known killer whale on the planet."
Most killer whales die at 60 to 80 years of age. GRANNY may be 103!
"And she’s quite mobile for her advanced years. This week, she turned up this in the Strait of Georgia, a waterway that cuts between Vancouver and British Columbia. She would have to have travelled 800 miles to reach this point from southern California, where she was originally spotted.
Granny runs in a 25-whale group that researchers call the “J-Pod,” or the “Southern Resident Killer Whales.” And longevity runs strong in this group. Two other members, females dubbed “Ocean Sun” and “Lummi,” died at ages 85 and 98, respectively. Granny is the oldest in this group, however. More than that, in fact: She is, as of now, the oldest known killer whale on the planet."
5/15/14
REAL PIRATES EXHIBIT AT THE SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
SDNHM : REAL PIRATES
"The year was 1717. Valuable cargos were being shipped across the Atlantic. Piracy was at an all-time high. Sam Bellamy and his fearsome flotilla had just captured the slave ship Whydah on her way to England, laden with gold and silver. But before the crew had a chance to divvy up the abundant spoils, a storm would send the ship, its treasure, and 143 men to the bottom of the sea. Discover the perils and privileges of 18th century pirate life as you explore more than 200 authentic artifacts recovered from her wreck."
Siren here! I'm hoping to see this before summer's end. It sounds exciting. The ship sunk off Cape Cod. I want to learn more about the Golden Age of Piracy
"The year was 1717. Valuable cargos were being shipped across the Atlantic. Piracy was at an all-time high. Sam Bellamy and his fearsome flotilla had just captured the slave ship Whydah on her way to England, laden with gold and silver. But before the crew had a chance to divvy up the abundant spoils, a storm would send the ship, its treasure, and 143 men to the bottom of the sea. Discover the perils and privileges of 18th century pirate life as you explore more than 200 authentic artifacts recovered from her wreck."
Siren here! I'm hoping to see this before summer's end. It sounds exciting. The ship sunk off Cape Cod. I want to learn more about the Golden Age of Piracy
5/12/14
DEEP SEA ROBOT IMPLODES 6 MILES DOWN
YAHOO NEWS - DEEP SEA ROBOT IMPLODES 6 MILES BENEATH THE SEA
And no humans aboard...
EXCERPT:
Part of the ROV, diving in the Kermadec Trench, may have imploded under pressures reaching a seam-bursting 16,000 lbs. per square inch (psi). (On Earth, humans are exposed to pressures of nearly 15 psi.)
And no humans aboard...
EXCERPT:
Part of the ROV, diving in the Kermadec Trench, may have imploded under pressures reaching a seam-bursting 16,000 lbs. per square inch (psi). (On Earth, humans are exposed to pressures of nearly 15 psi.)
The Kermadec Trench is the world's second-deepest trench, plunging 32,963 feet (10,047 meters) below the sea surface, second only to the Mariana Trench, which reaches 36,201 feet (11,034 m) beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
The deep-diving vehicle, which operates remotely via an optical fiber tether and also as a free-swimming autonomous vehicle, was 30 days into a 40-day expedition to explore the deep-ocean trench aboard the research vessel Thomas G. Thompson.
5/9/14
TINY PLASTIC BEAD POLLUTION MIGHT BE THE MOST DIFFICULT TO FIX
WASHINGTON POST : GREAT LAKES and TINY PLASTIC BEADS POLLUTION
Already ravaged by toxic algae, invasive mussels and industrial pollution, the Great Lakes now confront another potential threat that few had even imagined until recently: untold millions of plastic litter bits, some visible only through a microscope. Scientists who have studied gigantic masses of floating plastic in the world’s oceans are now reporting similar discoveries in the lakes that make up nearly one-fifth of the world’s fresh water. They retrieved the particles from Lakes Superior, Huron and Erie last year. This summer, they’re widening the search to Lakes Michigan and Ontario, skimming the surface with finely meshed netting dragged behind sailing vessels.
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