Field Notes

Galileo ExhibitIn the event you have not heard yet, the Galileo exhibit is currently showing at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA.  This appears to be a very cool opportunity to see some of Galileo’s actual instruments.  The exhibit runs from April 4 - September 7.  Ticket prices Adults: $20.75Seniors: $19.75; Children: $14 (ages 4-11).  Advanced tickets are recommended.

Tycho Fact #1: Most people know that Tycho lost a considerable piece of his nose in a duel.  Did you know it was by the broadsword of his third cousin Manderup Parsberg and believed to be over Tycho’s announcement that an eclipse on October 28, 1566 predicted the death of Suleiman the Great, a Turkish sultan.  What Tycho did not know was Suleiman six months before.  This became an embarrassing situation for Tycho and source of levity for Parsberg.

Tycho Fact #2: Some of Tycho’s first measyrments were done by lining up a planet with two stars on a taut piece of string.

To learn more about Tycho, I recommend the book Tycho & Kepler, The Unlikely Partnership that forever changed our understanding of the heavens. Kitty Ferguson. Walker Publishing Company.

So my uber scientist Alex (9) is REALLY into genetics and DNA.  For his independant study research project he buit this very cool DNA double helix.  Its even the correct ratio for the twist.  Thank you to Eric Harshbarger for the helpful guidance.

Lego DNA Helix

Congratulations to the Kepler team.

This is totally awesome!

Kepler Launch

Thanks to The Noisy Astronomer for posting this earlier.

I'm a nerd

So is that a quote from “Revenge of the Nerds” or what I learned tonight?  It is what I learned to tonight.  My wife found a link to Nerd Test on The Mud Flats blog.  So I thought, “What the hell, I’ll take that.”  Apparently I am a MAJOR nerd.  According to the test, I scored a 97.  Only 3% of the people taking the test scored higher.  Because of this the site states “All hail the monstrous nerd. You are by far the SUPREME NERD GOD!!”  Life is good.

Well, it is finally here.  01/20/2009.  Looking forward to the hopes and dreams of a nation.  Not only is this a historic event to mark the progress America has made in its movement towards truly embracing the words on the Declaration “…that all men are created equal” but it is the a fresh beginning with a new hopeful outlook instead of the fear filled lugubrious view of the world and future that has permeated the U.S. for the last 8 years.

I am particularly encouraged by the intertwining of the past, present and future that President Elect Obama brings to the White House.  He has brought back traditions from old, such as the inauguration train ride and opening of the White House the first day in office, yet embraces the future by believing in technology and new media methods like the Internet, Twitter, and scientific research.

Best of luck Mr. President and God bless.

Change we can believe in.

Mark

National Geographic Society Logo

Author’s Comment:  Hello all.  Below is the review I wrote for National Geographic on a new publication called The Science Book. The opportunity to write this review is because of my friend Jeff Medkeff, “The Blue Collar Scientist.“  After Jeff passed away his wife asked if I would consider writing the review on this and a couple other books.  It is my honor and privilege.  Thank you Karen for this wonderful opportunity.

The Science Book:
Everything you need to know about the world and how it works
ISBN:  978-1-4262-0337-4
By National Geographic Society
$35.00 Hard Copy
Reviewed by Mark DeVito

There are countless science references available today.  With the Internet readily accessible and most people looking to “digital” sources for information, it is a difficult feat to produce a useful, up to date, and engaging science reference book.  The National Geographic Society however has continued its wonderful tradition of producing books unlike any others.  The Science Book is no exception.  This masterwork presents current theories, understandings and historical perspectives of multiple science disciplines authored by experts in each field.

In a passionate forward by Professor Marshall Brain, the founder of the website “How Stuff Works,” Mr. Brain expresses his love of science and how it touches each and every one of us in our daily lives.  As someone who is absolutely passionate about science, I found Mr. Brain’s comments to be fun and motivating.  In the 21st century science is all around us, in everything we touch and is deeply embedded in our culture, as evidenced by the number of people inseparably attached to their iPods, cell phones, GPS navigators, and laptops.  Where did all this technology come from?  What are the origins of the world we live in and universe we inhabit?  What is on the horizon of science?  If you have ever wondered about any of these questions, The Science Book is the perfect solution.

As an amateur astronomer, I am most intrigued and impressed with the section of the book devoted to the “Universe;” however, the authors do not neglect the other disciplines in the sections titled, “The Earth,” “Biology,” “Chemistry,” “Physics and Technology,” and “Mathematics.”  Within each of these amazingly illustrated sections, the authors present complex topics in clear and easy language, relatively speaking.  Each section subsequently breaks down into sub-sections covering many areas of science.  The individual topics often include historical information, such as the contributions of Galileo to astronomy, Nicholas Steno the “father of fossils” to biology, and Marie Curie to physics.  Not only do the individual topics present facts but also tell, as Fraser Cain, one of the moderators of my favorite podcast Astronomy Cast says,“What we know and how we know what we know.”

Of particular note is the exceptional organization of the information.  Immediately into the book the reader is presented with a “how to use this book” guide.  The individual sections are color coded for quick identification.  The layouts of the pages are reminiscent of a web page with colored tabs, title bars, page introductions, and informational boxes.  These boxes included milestone boxes outlining personalities and scientists related to the topic; basic boxes list key topic facts; in focus boxes provide more in depth facts about themes and subjects that enhance the main topic; issues to solve boxes identify issues and problems related to the topic that challenge science and society; and practice boxes give practical application examples.  All of this information is beautifully illustrated and emphasized with amazing photos and graphics for which National Geographic is famous.

This book is a wonderful addition to the shelves of a personal library, school classroom or library, and particularly the hands of any child with an interest in science.  To quote Mr. Brain’s forward, “Science is incredibly, unbelievably, immeasurably cool, and I hope you enjoy it.”  I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I recently saw this on the back of a vehicle.  I don’t’ really know where to begin other than to say I am SO sick of this crap.  It is hard to believe that in the 21st Century where EVERYONE, especially in the U.S., benefits so much from SCIENCE, there remains a faction within the Christian faith, and apparently a fairly large faction, who wishes to ignore fact in exchange for blind faith and philosophy.

Now, it is essential that I tell you that I am not an atheist nor agnostic.  I believe in God and have faith, but like Einstein, I have room for both faith and science.  I, like many reasonable people, are able to separate the two.

A few weeks before the Presidential Election I was speaking with a friend whom I had not seen in a couple of years.  Inevitably the conversation turned to politics and she asked me the question everyone has been asking me, “You lived in Alaska.  Do you like Sarah Palin?”  In short, no.  Why, because she is ill prepared to be the Vice President of the US and CERTAINLY NOT the President.  So what does this have to do with my blog topic?  Sarah is a creationist.  She believes that what is spelled out in Genesis is fact and literal.  This concerns me because evolution is science fact.  And, like all science, it is held up to the same rigorous evaluation and scrutiny as any experiment.  There are definable and repeatable steps and methods.  That’s why we call it the Scientific Method.   Creationism does not subscribe to this.  There are no experiments that one can conduct.  There are no eye witnesses.  (Yes, yes, I know the Bible is witness to this.  Pleeeaaase.)  So, back to my friend.  At the beginning of the conversation she stated that she believed in creation and not “all this big bang stuff.”  So, as a good science based person I asked her what she knew about the big bang.  I asked her if she understood the difference between religious philosophy and science.  As the conversation progressed it became obvious that she did not understand the scientific method nor the difference between science and philosophy.  She found this somewhat disturbing and I believe may have mentally retreated to some safe place for fear of feeling foolish for just “going with the religious right mantras.”

So why am I so disturbed by so called creation science (which does not resemble science in any way shape or form.)?  Let me explain with a story.  My family and I were at the Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. this past summer.  While wondering through the fossil section, my wife overheard a child excitedly telling his mother about what he was looking at.  The mother responded by saying that it was neat but it wasn’t true and fossils, and the Earth, are not really millions of years old.  Ok.  So it took every bit of restraint I had to not give the parent and child a lecture about science, the scientific method, and reality.  (My wife too.)  I am not one to criticize others, nor do I endorse the behavior of one religious group denouncing or killing another based on a difference of beliefs; however, it pains me to see a child’s interest and enthusiasm squashed by an belief of ignorance.

So this brings me to why I can’t stand what I have come to call “young Earthers.”  These are the people that believe the Earth to be only 6,000 years old.  I had a debate with a person of this belief sturcture.  We went round and round about the fossils and his believing that dinosours roamed the Earth with man.  When I broached the issue of light speed he countered with tired light, a term and concept which always makes me smile and giggle at that level of ignorance.  He also proceeded to tell me that God presents the universe to us in the way it is, despite the fact that it may be contradictory to the Bible.  So I asked him.  Is God the TRUTH and the light.  He said yes.  I asked if God was honest and loved us.  He empatically answered yes.  I told him that I view God as our Father.  He again energetically agreed.  So I asked, “Should a parent lie to their child?”  Silence.  I followed with “If God loves us and he is the TRUTH why should he lie to me about the universe?”  “Why should I believe anything he says (Bible).  If he was willing to lie to me once he might lie to me again.”  “To my knowledge, my Dad never lied to me, I would hope the supreme Dad would not lie to me.”  He had little to respond but simply said that the Bible is God’s word.  So I added that the Bible is the interpretation of what God said.  An interpretation by MAN.  2000 year old, science ignorant man.  Man at a time when he was suseptible to superstition and belief in magic.  So even if God did relay His word, he transmitted it through a faulty system, MAN.  How can you trust the end message.  To top it off, it is philosophical in nature, not scientific.  He simply said “With God anything is possible.” and left in a huff.  I later learned that he told a mutual friend never to have a debate with me because I have too many facts.  The key word in that sentance is FACTS, not philosophical thoughts.  Believe me, I think most of the parts of the Bible and more so the teachings of Jesus are great.  Treat people the way you want to be treated.  Don’t kill each other.  Live in peace.  Etc, etc.  (Personally, the parts of the Bible that endorse the stoneing of women and trading of people should be redacted.)  Excellent phiolosophical belief and way to live, but not SCIENCE.  Besides it sure doesn’t appear that man nor ANY religion seems to be following the worthy parts of the Bible.

As I traveled home on the commuter train tonight I had an Einstein moment.  No, I didn’t solve the grand unification theory.   Much to my and all the passengers dismay, the A/C was broken on the train.  It was 90+ degrees today so needless to say the train was a bit uncomfortable.  However, unlike the great majority of the passengers who choose to be miserable, I set out to make the best of it by reading David Levy’s The Sky.  As we traveled the 1+ hour path from Washington DC to Fredericksburg, VA I noticed something odd, there was an occasional breeze.  I thought, hmm, they must have opened the doors to get some air moving, but they had not.  Again, at each stop I noticed the breeze.  Then, BOOM!  I thought ah, physics.  I realized that we were in a closed system.  I was connected to the train via my seat.  The air around me was not.  As the train traveled and began its breaking process, I and the train shared the same negative acceleration.  (Yes, I realize there is a slight difference as my connection to the train is based on the friction and gravity holding me to my seat but the difference is negligible.)  So back to our story.  As we slowed the air around us was continuing at its constant speed until it collided with the wall of the train.  Now, I am sure there is a fluid dynamics problem in this for the turbidity of the air but long story short a breeze.  I would time leaning out of my seat at each stop to feel the pleasant cooling breeze because I stopped to think about the world around me.  It is so much fun to connect with the natural world around you.

This experience reminded me of the presentation by Neil deGrasse Tyson I attended 2 weeks ago.  He stressed the importance of understanding physics and science because it impacts our understanding of the world around us.

As I got off the train I phoned my wife and described the scenario ending the conversation with, “When I get home, tell me if you determine why I felt a breeze.”  She’s smart.  She got it.  The fun part was explaining it to our 8 year old, who also figured it out with minimal assistance.  We then took the opportunity to relate it to Einstein and Special Relativity which describes that all uniform motion is relative to an observers state of motion.  I thought that I must save this example for the next EPO or lecture I do.

GOD I LOVE PHYSICS!