Information Overload

STS-135

There are plenty of pragmatic reasons why the successful conclusion of NASA STS-135 was also the final STS mission. However, it's still a bit disappointing from a pure "coolness" perspective that the USA doesn't have an awesomer immediate successor to our 30-year-old shuttle program. On the plus side, it's cool that there's no longer a Cold War.

New substances added to HHS Report on Carcinogens

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services added eight substances to its Report on Carcinogens, a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may put people at increased risk for cancer:

1. aristolochic acids – found in herbal remedies for arthritis, gout, and inflammation
2. captafol – a fungicide
3. certain inhalable glass wool fibers – used for insulation
4. cobalt-tungsten carbide powders and hard metals – used for cutting tools
5. formaldehyde – found in pressed wood, hair straighteners, and more
6. ortho-Nitrotoluene – used in dyes
7. riddelliine – found in herbal remedies for hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
8. styrene – found in styrofoam, tobacco smoke, and a whole lot more (PDF)

CDC Zombie Apocalypse PSA

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emergency Preparedness and Response team have devised a clever public service announcement to educate everyone about being prepared for real emergencies. Conspicuously absent from the CDC's recommendations are the types of weapons that would be most effective to fend off zombies.

Power Balance Placebo

Power Balance admits that there is no science behind their wristbands, which seem to provide a beneficial placebo effect for suckers people who wear them. If you believe that a $10 mylar sticker will react well with your "body's natural energy flow" then please click on this Amazon affiliate link to buy some snake oil wristbands, which are endorsed by professional athletes such as the lovely Victoria Azarenka.

2010 Total Lunar Eclipse

The San Francisco Bay Area weather forecast does not bode well for observers of tonight's total lunar eclipse. The Chabot Space & Science Center observatory will be open tonight for those who are particularly excited that this year's eclipse happens to concur with the winter solstice. (This sun dweller is just happy that the days will be growing longer again!) Chabot will also have a simulation of the eclipse in their planetarium.

2009 Leonid Meteor Shower

So sleepy... Probably going to bed before the peak of this year's Leonid meteor shower, which is predicted to be pretty awesome over Asia. (Bonus for President Obama who is visiting China!) One assumes STS-129 is safely out of harms way. It's amazing that it's Atlantis' second-to-last mission with only 5 left (PDF) before the entire space shuttle fleet is retired.

Flu Shot

Decided to get a flu shot this year after catching something nasty last year. Don't want to get sick for Macworld, or Inauguration Day.

Google launched an interesting Flu Trends map that actually indicates flu activity based on search activity two weeks ahead of CDC data.

Memristor

It's cool when scientific theory becomes reality! Memristors join resistors, capacitors, and inductors as the fourth fundamental circuit element. i.e. The iPhone of the future is seriously going to kick ass!

Happy Darwin Day

Hooray!

It's Darwin Day!

Plastic bags are killing us

Crap.

P.S. Happy Blog Action Day!