http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/ Speculations on astronomy, astrophysics, news I find interesting, theoretical issues, science and science policy. I will digress into computational physics, science fiction and general issues and basically whatever I feel like whenever. And, of course, cats. en Copyright 2009 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:14:40 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.261 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss DynamicsOfCatshttp://feedburner.google.com <p><br /> There is a radical proposal in Iceland to restore the economy and rescue the nation from bankruptcy: expand the tax base to recover revenue from the extensive underground economy.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/taxing_the_hidden_economy.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/taxing_the_hidden_economy.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/GdPVEGasiDo" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/GdPVEGasiDo/taxing_the_hidden_economy.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/taxing_the_hidden_economy.php Iceland Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:14:40 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/taxing_the_hidden_economy.php <p>Ethan at Starts With A Bang did a <A HREF="http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2009/11/the_physics_of_touching_your_t.php">nice post the other day on an old chestnut</A> - why you can't touch your toes if you're backed against a wall.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/lateral_thinking_on_your_toes.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/lateral_thinking_on_your_toes.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/vGjgdOda9yo" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/vGjgdOda9yo/lateral_thinking_on_your_toes.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/lateral_thinking_on_your_toes.php science Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:33:13 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/lateral_thinking_on_your_toes.php <p><br /> Hubble multicycle large proposals were due today...<br /> <A HREF="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/11/17/predicting-the-number-of-hubble-proposals/">Julianne tests the conjecture of proposal number invariance</A> under simple scaling.</p> <p>Looks to be annoyingly close to correct with about 40 proposals in by the deadline.</p> <p>I still think we need to check the proposal success probability as a function of proposal rank number.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/proposal_invariance.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/6mMeNeQ_Dh0" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/6mMeNeQ_Dh0/proposal_invariance.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/proposal_invariance.php astro Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:26:10 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/proposal_invariance.php <p><br /> <A HREF="http://decode.com">deCode</A>, the genetics startup that genotyped the entire population of Iceland and reconstructed the Book of Icelanders is going down</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/decode_defunct.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/decode_defunct.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/lE4S4z0zxzw" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/lE4S4z0zxzw/decode_defunct.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/decode_defunct.php science Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:36:21 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/decode_defunct.php <p><br /> NASA's planet hunter mission ought to be announcing something at the American Astronomical Society in january, 2010. <br /> But what?</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/kepler_live_pool.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/kepler_live_pool.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/e6EgLEhWPwA" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/e6EgLEhWPwA/kepler_live_pool.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/kepler_live_pool.php astro Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:06:35 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/kepler_live_pool.php <p><br /> Yup, the LCROSS crash did kick up some water.<br /> NASA shows proof.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/water_on_the_moon.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/water_on_the_moon.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/Ivlufp9uMoc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/Ivlufp9uMoc/water_on_the_moon.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/water_on_the_moon.php astro Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:58:12 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/water_on_the_moon.php <p><br /> A couple of years ago, a group of California theorists came up with a whacky theory for a new kind of thermonuclear supernova. </p> <p>It would be just like regular type Ia supernovae, but fainter and faster, and a bit more mixed up, as evidenced by its new label: the 0.Ia supernova, a perfect mallogos of a neologism.</p> <p>So now someone had to go and find one, with plenty more to come.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/sn_0ia.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/sn_0ia.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/jWb1oEV7kOY" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/jWb1oEV7kOY/sn_0ia.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/sn_0ia.php astro Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:10:34 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/sn_0ia.php <p>Cash for Grades?<br /> In Middle School?<br /> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/cash_for_grades_scandal.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/cash_for_grades_scandal.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/zQHQ9tfoPPs" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/zQHQ9tfoPPs/cash_for_grades_scandal.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/cash_for_grades_scandal.php academia Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:59:09 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/cash_for_grades_scandal.php <p><br /> Awesome combined image from Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra, showing deep view of the centre of the Milky Way, in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/great_observatories_view_of_th.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/great_observatories_view_of_th.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/Nu0p-_ziihQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/Nu0p-_ziihQ/great_observatories_view_of_th.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/great_observatories_view_of_th.php astro Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:09:04 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/great_observatories_view_of_th.php <p><br /> Checking.<br /> Nope, <A HREF="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2008/11/1111.php">still</A> haven't learned. <br /> Much.<br /> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/1111_1.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/1111_1.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/o3P2xNHbD_o" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/o3P2xNHbD_o/1111_1.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/1111_1.php random Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:16:32 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/1111_1.php <p><br /> Sagan vs Sigur R&oacute;s </p> <p>Mash-up</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/pale_blue_dot.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/pale_blue_dot.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/nMoiMuyUFeM" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/nMoiMuyUFeM/pale_blue_dot.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/pale_blue_dot.php astro Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:45:27 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/pale_blue_dot.php <p><br /> statistical reminder<br /> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/ub40_-_u3.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/ub40_-_u3.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/jUfR5rV_SfE" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/jUfR5rV_SfE/ub40_-_u3.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/ub40_-_u3.php random Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:58:30 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/ub40_-_u3.php <p><br /> Plot complexity is not, in and of itself, a measure of the quality of a work of communication, but it is surely a measure of something:</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/plot_threads.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/plot_threads.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/Xyrksuj8kq4" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/Xyrksuj8kq4/plot_threads.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/plot_threads.php random Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:50:20 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/plot_threads.php <p><br /> LHC started overheating when a cooling unit cut out<br /> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/lhc_toast.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/lhc_toast.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/55SHDs3fxMk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/55SHDs3fxMk/lhc_toast.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/lhc_toast.php astro Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:37:09 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/lhc_toast.php <p>A long time ago, a massive star about 10,000 light years from Earth went kaboom.<br /> 329 years ago, we think, in 1680, the light from the supernova explosion reached Earth and was recorded as a new star by the Flamsteed, then the Astronomer Royal, looking relatively dim as nearby supernove go, due to the layers of dust in the galaxy between us and the site of the explosion.</p> <p>Now, digging into archival x-ray data, a couple of astronomers may finally have figured out what is going on in Cass A.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/diamond_encrusted_degenerate_s.php">Read the rest of this post...</a> | <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/diamond_encrusted_degenerate_s.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~4/har8UyOc72Q" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DynamicsOfCats/~3/har8UyOc72Q/diamond_encrusted_degenerate_s.php http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/diamond_encrusted_degenerate_s.php astro Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:22:59 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2009/11/diamond_encrusted_degenerate_s.php