Science Etcetera Jupiterday, 20071213

December 13th, 2007

ISS

dit dit dit dah dah dah dit dit dit. Zoom!!! Ping!!! dit dit dit dah dah dah dit dit dit. Amature Radio Fans Bounce Morse Code off ISS.

An energy bill that would increase fuel standards and removed tax-breaks for the oil industry that are crippling alternative-energy innovation has stalled in the Senate because of a G.O.P. Filibuster. Gee. I bet they’re really glad they didn’t pass the legislative Nuclear Option in 2004, huh? Nice to see Republicans have some prescience, even if it’s only for maintaining political power.

Right-wing bloggers will believe anything, including the urban legend that Hummers are more eco-friendly than hybrids, well they can suck it.

Mammographers miss an average of 2 in 10 positives for breast cancer, but, depending on the doctor, this can be as high as 7 in 10.

We leave DNA everywhere we go, and the Supreme Court has ruled that the DNA you leave behind is “discarded,” and therefore subject to anyone’s use. This still leaves the Ethics of DNA use pretty gray.

Discover Magazine has 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Snow. Like that thing about no two snowflakes being identical? Total B.S. Are you reading this Mrs. Brown, my third grade teacher??? Liar! Liar! Pants on fire! Go stand in the corner and wear the dunce cap! Nyah!!!

w00t! Crowned word of the year! w00t!

Kav has an insider’s view of the £80m UK Physics research shortfall (See also here).

Pregnant women can thank natural selection for evolving backs that Don’t Tip Over.

An online poll successfully named Greenpeace’s whale “Mr. Splashy Pants.” The organization is now asking supporters to save it.