Science! (2 Viewers)

In the last 260 million years, dinosaurs came and went, Pangea split into the continents and islands we see today, and humans have quickly and irreversibly changed the world we live in.

But through all of that, it seems Earth has been keeping time. A new study of ancient geological events suggests that our planet has a slow, steady 'heartbeat' of geological activity every 27 million years or so.

This pulse of clustered geological events - including volcanic activity, mass extinctions, plate reorganizations and sea level rises - is incredibly slow, a 27.5-million-year cycle of catastrophic ebbs and flows. But luckily for us, the research team notes we have another 20 million years before the next 'pulse'.

"Many geologists believe that geological events are random over time," said Michael Rampino, a New York University geologist and the study's lead author.

"But our study provides statistical evidence for a common cycle, suggesting that these geologic events are correlated and not random."

The team conducted new analysis on the ages of 89 well-understood geological events from the past 260 million years................

 
If you're trying to avoid airborne viruses, heading to a near vacuum might not be the worst idea.

A Florida company is planning to fly passengers to the edge of space in a high-tech version of a hot air balloon, with a pilot and up to eight travelers riding in a pressurized capsule suspended from an enormous blimp.

Human space flight company Space Perspective is now taking reservations on its Spaceship Neptune for flights in early 2024, with tickets priced firmly in the once-in-a-lifetime bracket at $125,000 per person.

The refundable reservation deposits are tiered, with higher down payments needed for Year One flights and decreasing for later bookings.

The inaugural test flight took off on June 18 from the Space Coast Spaceport in Titusville, Florida. The six hour and 39-minute flight was uncrewed, but cameras on board captured a stunning image of the Earth at sunrise............

The six-hour trips will involve a two-hour gentle ascent above 99% of the Earth's atmosphere to 100,000 feet. There'll then be another leisurely two hours for passengers to enjoy the 360-degree views from the cabin before the spaceship makes its two-hour descent to the ocean, where it will splash down safely. Voyage to shore will be completed by ship.

The spaceship was designed in collaboration with UK design studio PriestmanGoode.

"We looked at all the different elements that would make the experience not just memorable, but truly comfortable as well," Nigel Goode, designer and cofounder of PriestmanGoode said last year. "We wanted to make sure that passengers would be able to get 360-degree unobstructed views and that we created an efficient space that would enable them to move around during the journey."

The capsule is five meters in diameter, while the polyethylene balloon above has a 100-meter diameter when fully inflated, about the length of a football field...........

 
If you're trying to avoid airborne viruses, heading to a near vacuum might not be the worst idea.

A Florida company is planning to fly passengers to the edge of space in a high-tech version of a hot air balloon, with a pilot and up to eight travelers riding in a pressurized capsule suspended from an enormous blimp.

Human space flight company Space Perspective is now taking reservations on its Spaceship Neptune for flights in early 2024, with tickets priced firmly in the once-in-a-lifetime bracket at $125,000 per person.

The refundable reservation deposits are tiered, with higher down payments needed for Year One flights and decreasing for later bookings.

The inaugural test flight took off on June 18 from the Space Coast Spaceport in Titusville, Florida. The six hour and 39-minute flight was uncrewed, but cameras on board captured a stunning image of the Earth at sunrise............

The six-hour trips will involve a two-hour gentle ascent above 99% of the Earth's atmosphere to 100,000 feet. There'll then be another leisurely two hours for passengers to enjoy the 360-degree views from the cabin before the spaceship makes its two-hour descent to the ocean, where it will splash down safely. Voyage to shore will be completed by ship.

The spaceship was designed in collaboration with UK design studio PriestmanGoode.

"We looked at all the different elements that would make the experience not just memorable, but truly comfortable as well," Nigel Goode, designer and cofounder of PriestmanGoode said last year. "We wanted to make sure that passengers would be able to get 360-degree unobstructed views and that we created an efficient space that would enable them to move around during the journey."

The capsule is five meters in diameter, while the polyethylene balloon above has a 100-meter diameter when fully inflated, about the length of a football field...........

If I had the spare change, I'd definitely consider doing this. Looks like an awesome experience.
 
If I had the spare change, I'd definitely consider doing this. Looks like an awesome experience.

If they really want to clean up sell raffle tickets

$1000 a pop

They'd easily get 125 people to pay that, they maybe could get thousands of people to pay that

If the cabin holds X number of people make one of them a raffle winner
 
If they really want to clean up sell raffle tickets

$1000 a pop

They'd easily get 125 people to pay that, they maybe could get thousands of people to pay that

If the cabin holds X number of people make one of them a raffle winner

I'd rather buy an actual ticket than possibly throw $1k away on a raffle. But thats just me.
 
Cool article that also goes into the process of discovering exoplanets
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There could be as many as 29 potentially habitable worlds 'perfectly positioned' to observe the Earth if they hold an intelligence civilisation, according to a new study.

Exploring ways in which we find exoplanets, that is worlds outside the solar system, the team from Cornell University reversed the process to see which could spot us.

Working alongside the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, astronomers identified 2,034 star-systems in our galactic neighbourhood - within 326 light years of the Earth - that could watch our planet cross the sun.

Out of those stars, 1,715 could have spotted Earth since human civilisation blossomed about 5,000 years ago, and 319 will be added over the next 5,000 years.

The number of stars varies depending on their location in space relative to the solar system and changes due to the fact we live in a dynamic universe.

While exoplanets haven't been detected around all of the stars that can observe the Earth, the team estimate 29 will have a rocky world in the habitable zone that are well positioned to also detect radio waves emitted by humans over 100 years ago.............

 
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I'd rather buy an actual ticket than possibly throw $1k away on a raffle. But that's just me.




Of course I'd prefer to buy the ticket outright, who wouldn't?

I can afford a 1K ticket today. I can afford a 125K ticket....... let's just say not today, and not anytime soon
 
If you're trying to avoid airborne viruses, heading to a near vacuum might not be the worst idea.
The same can be said about hot air hand dryers. I learned this a long time ago. All they do is recirculate viruses and bacteria that love to breed on the heater core. Single serve paper towels are the best way to fully sanitize your hands.

It's a recent study, but old news
 
Cool article that also goes into the process of discovering exoplanets
================================================

There could be as many as 29 potentially habitable worlds 'perfectly positioned' to observe the Earth if they hold an intelligence civilisation, according to a new study.

Exploring ways in which we find exoplanets, that is worlds outside the solar system, the team from Cornell University reversed the process to see which could spot us.

Working alongside the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, astronomers identified 2,034 star-systems in our galactic neighbourhood - within 326 light years of the Earth - that could watch our planet cross the sun.

Out of those stars, 1,715 could have spotted Earth since human civilisation blossomed about 5,000 years ago, and 319 will be added over the next 5,000 years.

The number of stars varies depending on their location in space relative to the solar system and changes due to the fact we live in a dynamic universe.

While exoplanets haven't been detected around all of the stars that can observe the Earth, the team estimate 29 will have a rocky world in the habitable zone that are well positioned to also detect radio waves emitted by humans over 100 years ago.............

Just finished reading Extraterrestrial and it was pretty interesting.
 
The same can be said about hot air hand dryers. I learned this a long time ago. All they do is recirculate viruses and bacteria that love to breed on the heater core. Single serve paper towels are the best way to fully sanitize your hands.

It's a recent study, but old news
I hate when those are the only option. I'd rather a hand sanitizer dispenser just outside the restroom so you don't have wet or fecal hands upon leaving.
 
I hate when those are the only option. I'd rather a hand sanitizer dispenser just outside the restroom so you don't have wet or fecal hands upon leaving.
I'll see if I can find the video. Mythbusters did a segment on fecal matter in a bathroom. It easily spread to toothbrushes at the sink counter. Their advice was close the lid before you flush. I've done that for many years.
 
I'll see if I can find the video. Mythbusters did a segment on fecal matter in a bathroom. It easily spread to toothbrushes at the sink counter. Their advice was close the lid before you flush. I've done that for many years.
Not really an option in a public restroom tho.
 
If I had the spare change, I'd definitely consider doing this. Looks like an awesome experience.
Not a chance in hell you could get me on that even if it was free or I got paid the $125k.
 

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