One of the feature articles in the February issue of Wired magazine is "What We Don't Know About . . ." One of the things we don't know about just happens to be one of things that I have pondered many times over the years . . . what's at the earth's core?
As the article stated, we know that a solid ball of iron about the size of the moon sits at the center of the earth, about 4,000 miles below our feet. We also know that we are standing (or sitting, or running, or lying) on about 1,800 miles of rock, known as the crust and mantle. What we aren't sure of, is exactly what lies between the mantle and the inner core. We know that it is a hot, churning, liquid ocean of some sort, but we don't know exactly what it is made of and how it reacts to all the stuff around it. We are pretty sure that the outer core (the liquid part) contains a lot of iron, but what else? Based on all the pressure, temperature and density research that has been conducted thusfar, scientists ascertain that there must be lots of hydrogen and sulfur down there as well. There's probably an oxygen component since the rocks bordering the outer core contain oxygen.
If we knew more about the core, we could know more about how the earth formed and how the hot, molten ocean of the outer core affects plate techtonics (that might be a topic for a later post) on the surface. Some researchers feel that the outer core is growing, which raises more questions. One such question: how will the expanding molten outer core affect the earth's magnetic field?
By the way, the inner core (the part that is a solid iron ball) is even hotter than the outer core (the molten, churning ocean part), so why is the inner core solid and not liquid. The short answer is, there is so much pressure at the earth's center that the molecules of the inner core are packed so close together they cannot move like the ones in the outer core. Therefore, the molecules of iron at the center of the earth only have room to vibrate (like the hands of one of my former fellow employees who drank 14 cups of coffee a day). If I were to travel to the inner core of the earth, the pressure exerted on me would compact my body mass to the size of a marble. That's a lot of pressure.
I wish I know more about the interior of this great planet we live on.
2007-02-26
a most embarassing moment
First, let me ask if you remember the Mary Tyler Moore Show? Now, do you remember the "Chuckles the Clown" episode? If you do, then this story might remind you of that episode.
We celebrated the Lord's Supper yesterday at our church. In times past, during the Lord's Supper, a tray of unleavened bread was passed down each row, and each participant would take a piece and pass the tray on. Then, a tray of little glasses of grape juice would be passed down each row, and each participant would take a glass and pass the tray on. Recently, our church has grown substantially, so our Lord's Supper procedures have changed a bit. The bits of unleavened bread are placed in little glasses, then the little glasses of grape juice are placed on top of the bread ones, so when you take yours from the tray, you get two glasses at once.
During the service yesterday, our pastor spoke eliquently about the symbolism of the Lord's Supper. The observance of the Lord's Supper and the meaning of each part is a time of quiet self-examination. As our pastor began to speak about the bread . . . "take eat, this is My body", he asked us to look at the bread we held in our hands. I looked down and realized that I only had one glass (not two), and that my unleavened bread was floating in the little glass of grape juice. I must have had a somewhat surprised look on my face as I tipped my glass toward my wife to show her. Her first reaction was a chuckle, which prompted my to chuckle, then we looked at each other and couldn't control our chortling. So, during the most reverent time of the service, here sit my wife and I snickering and chuckling to the point of tears.
Even the three third or fourth grade boys sitting in the pew in front of us and the younger boy sitting beside me with his mother noticed our chuckling . . . so much so that they turned toward us with a look which could have been interpretted as ". . . we're in church, can't you act your age?" I hate it when something like this happens at just the wrong time! We are normally not disrepectful or irreverent, and I certainly hope that the pastor and the vast majority of the people around us did not hear (or see) our embarassing moment yesterday.
We celebrated the Lord's Supper yesterday at our church. In times past, during the Lord's Supper, a tray of unleavened bread was passed down each row, and each participant would take a piece and pass the tray on. Then, a tray of little glasses of grape juice would be passed down each row, and each participant would take a glass and pass the tray on. Recently, our church has grown substantially, so our Lord's Supper procedures have changed a bit. The bits of unleavened bread are placed in little glasses, then the little glasses of grape juice are placed on top of the bread ones, so when you take yours from the tray, you get two glasses at once.
During the service yesterday, our pastor spoke eliquently about the symbolism of the Lord's Supper. The observance of the Lord's Supper and the meaning of each part is a time of quiet self-examination. As our pastor began to speak about the bread . . . "take eat, this is My body", he asked us to look at the bread we held in our hands. I looked down and realized that I only had one glass (not two), and that my unleavened bread was floating in the little glass of grape juice. I must have had a somewhat surprised look on my face as I tipped my glass toward my wife to show her. Her first reaction was a chuckle, which prompted my to chuckle, then we looked at each other and couldn't control our chortling. So, during the most reverent time of the service, here sit my wife and I snickering and chuckling to the point of tears.
Even the three third or fourth grade boys sitting in the pew in front of us and the younger boy sitting beside me with his mother noticed our chuckling . . . so much so that they turned toward us with a look which could have been interpretted as ". . . we're in church, can't you act your age?" I hate it when something like this happens at just the wrong time! We are normally not disrepectful or irreverent, and I certainly hope that the pastor and the vast majority of the people around us did not hear (or see) our embarassing moment yesterday.
2007-02-23
friday the 13th not such a bad day afterall
While driving home today, I heard a great story on Science Friday (NPR). It was about an asteroid on a near-collision course with earth. Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid that had been predicted to have a large probability of striking earh on Friday, April 13, 2029. After being observed at length for some time, improved predictions indicate that the asteroid will not strike the earth or the moon in 2029. There remains a slight possibility that the asteroid will pass through a "gravitational keyhole" as it travels near earth on April 13, 2029, thus bending its orbit and setting up an impact possibility for April 13, 2036. Careful observations of the trajectory of Apophis show that it will most likely miss the "keyhole". Right now the impact possibility is estimated at 1 in 45,000. Apophis will pass near earth again in 2037, with an impact possibility set at 1 in 12.3 million.
What would happen if Apophis, or another asteroid sometime in the future, were to hit earth? NASA estimated the energy that Apophis would release if it impacted Earth as the equivalent of 880 megatons of TNT. The impact which created the Barringer Crater in Arizona is estimated to have been in the 10-20 megaton range. The exact effects of any impact would vary based on the asteroid's composition, and the location and angle of impact. Any impact would be extremely destructive to an area of thousands of square miles (perhaps an area the size of Texas), but would be unlikely to have long-lasting global effects, such as the initiation of an impact winter.
An event such as this one would effect the entire population of the earth, therefore, I think we need a contengency plan of global magnitude. I think all the space agencies around the globe should work together to formulate such a plan. We have the technology and the capability to change the orbit of near-Earth objects such as Apophis. Blowing an asteroid up is not the best plan of interception. That would only create hundreds of smaller objects, headed our way. Changing the angle of the trajectory of the asteroid is the most feasible way to divert it away from earth. If we catch it in time (years before the assumed impact), we could launch a device to intercept the asteroid, attach to it's side and gently nudge the asteroid into a new orbit.
What do you think? Do you have any ideas on how we could change the course of an asteroid? Do you have any thoughts on how we could get space agencies and governments around the globe to participate in a project such as this? 2036 is not that far into the future . . . 29 years from now.
What would happen if Apophis, or another asteroid sometime in the future, were to hit earth? NASA estimated the energy that Apophis would release if it impacted Earth as the equivalent of 880 megatons of TNT. The impact which created the Barringer Crater in Arizona is estimated to have been in the 10-20 megaton range. The exact effects of any impact would vary based on the asteroid's composition, and the location and angle of impact. Any impact would be extremely destructive to an area of thousands of square miles (perhaps an area the size of Texas), but would be unlikely to have long-lasting global effects, such as the initiation of an impact winter.
An event such as this one would effect the entire population of the earth, therefore, I think we need a contengency plan of global magnitude. I think all the space agencies around the globe should work together to formulate such a plan. We have the technology and the capability to change the orbit of near-Earth objects such as Apophis. Blowing an asteroid up is not the best plan of interception. That would only create hundreds of smaller objects, headed our way. Changing the angle of the trajectory of the asteroid is the most feasible way to divert it away from earth. If we catch it in time (years before the assumed impact), we could launch a device to intercept the asteroid, attach to it's side and gently nudge the asteroid into a new orbit.
What do you think? Do you have any ideas on how we could change the course of an asteroid? Do you have any thoughts on how we could get space agencies and governments around the globe to participate in a project such as this? 2036 is not that far into the future . . . 29 years from now.
three bars
"Woah! Now that's just weird." That was my daughter's comment when she opened the front door and stepped out this morning as we were heading off to school and work. Two doors down, a high school senior was just about at his truck, parked on the street. Next door, a high school freshman was halfway down his driveway, on his way to catch his ride to school. And my daughter, a high school junior was just stepping out of her door.
"I feel like I'm in a cell phone commercial," she said. "Only there's just three bars instead of five."
On another note, when we arrived at school this morning, my daughter and I both observed that this year's freshmen are the smallest bunch of freshmen yet . . . not numbers-wise . . . height-wise. They are little. The guy getting out of the car in front of us looked like he should be in like the fourth grade. My daughter said that most of the freshmen are that small. It's amazing how much kids grow from the time they enter high school until the time they graduate. As I think back on my own high school experience, I was small. I mean, VERY small. I started elementary school when I was 5 (back in the days when there wasn't pre-school and kindergarden; you just started school in the first grade). Then I combined seventh and eighth grade into one year, so I actually started high school a couple of years younger than most of the people there. Talk about intimidating!
"I feel like I'm in a cell phone commercial," she said. "Only there's just three bars instead of five."
On another note, when we arrived at school this morning, my daughter and I both observed that this year's freshmen are the smallest bunch of freshmen yet . . . not numbers-wise . . . height-wise. They are little. The guy getting out of the car in front of us looked like he should be in like the fourth grade. My daughter said that most of the freshmen are that small. It's amazing how much kids grow from the time they enter high school until the time they graduate. As I think back on my own high school experience, I was small. I mean, VERY small. I started elementary school when I was 5 (back in the days when there wasn't pre-school and kindergarden; you just started school in the first grade). Then I combined seventh and eighth grade into one year, so I actually started high school a couple of years younger than most of the people there. Talk about intimidating!
2007-02-20
above it all
On February 20, 1962 (45 years ago today) John Glenn became the first American to ever orbit the earth. He piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 spacecraft (nicknamed "Friendship 7"). Launched from Cape Canaveral (now the Kennedy Space Center), Glenn successfully completed his three-orbit mission reaching a maximum altitude of about 162 miles and an orbital velocity of about 17,500 miles per hour. Glenn splashed down near the Grand Turk Island. From launch to splashdown, his mission lasted 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds.
In the early days of spaceflight, the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions all ended with a watery recovery. Only with the Space Shuttle missions have we used a glidepath landing. I miss the Mercury days. It was almost a religious experience, watching the manned launches and sitting on the edge of your seat as the spacecraft splashed down at the end of the mission. I think I was in the fourth grade when Glenn made his first space flight. I thought that was so cool. I still think it was cool. It took a brave man to venture into space in those days. The equipment was "experimental", the territory was uncharted, and we were right in the middle of a space race. I am grateful to men like Alan Shepard and John Glenn for blazing the trail. Without them we would still be bound to earth.
Many men and women have followed in the footsteps of the first astronauts, but there have been very few that have their names burned into our memories . . . astronauts like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Gus Grissom, Ed White, Jim Lovell. Every generation needs heroes. These astronauts are definitely heroes in my book.
In the early days of spaceflight, the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions all ended with a watery recovery. Only with the Space Shuttle missions have we used a glidepath landing. I miss the Mercury days. It was almost a religious experience, watching the manned launches and sitting on the edge of your seat as the spacecraft splashed down at the end of the mission. I think I was in the fourth grade when Glenn made his first space flight. I thought that was so cool. I still think it was cool. It took a brave man to venture into space in those days. The equipment was "experimental", the territory was uncharted, and we were right in the middle of a space race. I am grateful to men like Alan Shepard and John Glenn for blazing the trail. Without them we would still be bound to earth.
Many men and women have followed in the footsteps of the first astronauts, but there have been very few that have their names burned into our memories . . . astronauts like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Gus Grissom, Ed White, Jim Lovell. Every generation needs heroes. These astronauts are definitely heroes in my book.
2007-02-19
self portrait in flat colors
To get this picture, I took a digital self portrait in an area that cast deep dark shadows over half of my face. Then I took the picture into PhotoShop and converted it to black and white and used the lightness adjustment to lighten up the left side of the picture. Next, I applied the poster edges filter, adjusting the contrast until I got it just like I wanted, then I added flat color back to the picture. If you are not familiar with the term "flat color", it is color that is not blended, but rather solid blocks of color laid next to each other (like on a silk-screened t-shirt).
If you have PhotoShop or any other photo-manipulation software, give it a try. You can also use drawing software, like Illustrator or Corel Draw.
2007-02-16
peanut butter
Salmonella is one of the most common intestinal infections in the United States. Over 40,000 cases are reported every year, and there are countless other milder cases of salmonella which go unreported I am sure. The symptoms of salmonella include; sudden nausea, abdominal cramping, and bloody diarrhea. Normally, you will know you have it within 6 to 72 hours after you eat the tainted food. There is not a real cure for salmonella, but you should take something to relieve the symptoms. The infection usually disappears after five to seven days. So, if you get salmonella food poisoning, you are going to be miserable for a few days. Make sure you stay hydrated if you do get sick.
All that being said, peanut butter is the cause of the latest salmonella outbreak. I checked our pantry night before last and we had three jars of the targeted peanut butter: two unopened and one almost empty. Oops! We have had it for a while and none of us have had peanut butter in the past two weeks, so I think we have avoided this one.
Last night I remembered buying our oldest daughter a jar of peanut butter a couple of weeks ago to take back to the dorm with her. I called her and left a message on her cell phone and in about a half hour she called me back. The jar had the dreaded 2111 serial number on the lid, but she had a great story to tell.
When she first took the jar of peanut butter to her dorm, she was craving peanut butter and almost opened it that day. She got busy and forgot about it. A couple of days went by and she again wanted peanut butter; maybe a peanut butter sandwich, but alas the bread freshness date had expired so she chose not to eat it. After class a couple of days later she wanted peanut butter but decided that she should probably finish off the left-over pizza in her frig. One night while studying, she wanted peanut butter and Ritz and finally decided that Ritz would be just as good without the peanut butter. So . . . as of last night she had not opened the jar of peanut butter that she has had sitting in her dorm for two weeks. Coincidence or devine intervention . . . you be the judge!
All that being said, peanut butter is the cause of the latest salmonella outbreak. I checked our pantry night before last and we had three jars of the targeted peanut butter: two unopened and one almost empty. Oops! We have had it for a while and none of us have had peanut butter in the past two weeks, so I think we have avoided this one.
Last night I remembered buying our oldest daughter a jar of peanut butter a couple of weeks ago to take back to the dorm with her. I called her and left a message on her cell phone and in about a half hour she called me back. The jar had the dreaded 2111 serial number on the lid, but she had a great story to tell.
When she first took the jar of peanut butter to her dorm, she was craving peanut butter and almost opened it that day. She got busy and forgot about it. A couple of days went by and she again wanted peanut butter; maybe a peanut butter sandwich, but alas the bread freshness date had expired so she chose not to eat it. After class a couple of days later she wanted peanut butter but decided that she should probably finish off the left-over pizza in her frig. One night while studying, she wanted peanut butter and Ritz and finally decided that Ritz would be just as good without the peanut butter. So . . . as of last night she had not opened the jar of peanut butter that she has had sitting in her dorm for two weeks. Coincidence or devine intervention . . . you be the judge!
2007-02-15
figure it out
First, let me say that it doesn't matter whether I am for or against the war. I just feel that it is ill-advised to be debating whether or not we should abide by the decisions of our President. I was in the military for four years during the Viet Nam era. What "Viet Nam Era" means is that I was in the military but not in the war. By the time I was old enough to join the service, the Viet Nam War was winding down and all that was left was Operation New Life, in which we assisted those people who wished to leave Viet Nam by transporting them to the United States. Viet Nam was a terrible war. My brother served 13 months in Viet Nam in 1967-68. He has nightmarish memories of the war. When he got out of the military, he and all the other soldiers who had fought and defended the cause of freedom were shunned and blamed for Viet Nam and made to feel like second-rate citizens. He was a proud soldier, but not an honored soldier. It was not my brother and his buddies who caused the war. It was not my brother who made the decisions to limit funding to the troops or made political decisions which led to us LOSING the war. It was not my brother who caused the fall of South Viet Nam. But he was treated like it was.
We should not bring about debates and eventually cut off funds for our troops (which will be the political result if all goes the way it appears to be going) and cause them to retreat. We are in another terrible war, but we should learn from our recent history and figure out a better way. You don't have to support the war in order to support the troops. Those men and women are there because they volunteered. They were not drafted. They chose to join. We should choose to support them and make sure they have all they need, when they need it (and that includes equipment, supplies, leadership, political will and diplomacy). We need to figure this situation out and come up with a solution which is best for everyone in this country and the countries we are engaged in. Don't cut and run. Figure it out. We're there. Let's get the job done without debating whether we should be there.
We should not bring about debates and eventually cut off funds for our troops (which will be the political result if all goes the way it appears to be going) and cause them to retreat. We are in another terrible war, but we should learn from our recent history and figure out a better way. You don't have to support the war in order to support the troops. Those men and women are there because they volunteered. They were not drafted. They chose to join. We should choose to support them and make sure they have all they need, when they need it (and that includes equipment, supplies, leadership, political will and diplomacy). We need to figure this situation out and come up with a solution which is best for everyone in this country and the countries we are engaged in. Don't cut and run. Figure it out. We're there. Let's get the job done without debating whether we should be there.
2007-02-12
beadscape
This is Monday, following an incredibly busy weekend . . . but lots of fun. The Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society February meeting was Friday. The adult program for the night was tips and techniques for cleaning minerals and fossils found in the mid-south. Our presenter has been collecting minerals and fossils since the mid-seventies and is very experienced at cleaning material such as quartz crystals, druzy quartz, petrified wood and fossils. He made it look and sound so easy. My wife and I play at cleaning minerals, but now we have some really good tips on how to have some very attractive quartz clusters.
Saturday my wife and I joined several geology club members on a field trip to a bead warehouse. I'm not into beading, but my wife is, so while she sorted through tens of thousands of beads, I took pictures. The picture above is one from Saturday. It looks rather like a landscape to me, complete with a flowing, purple river and clay riverbanks. The river is made of beads and the banks are bags full of beads on a shelf.
Saturday night we attended a sweetheart banquet and thoroughly enjoyed it. There were about 30 couples there and our guest speakers were are a fantastic couple who have been married for 59 years. What a treat. They shared their life's journey with us and left us with some great tips on how to keep the romance in our marriage for as many years as they have and beyond.
To top off the weekend, some of our best friends invited us to "Second Sunday" at their home for lunch. On the second Sunday of every month, they invite friends over for homemade soup and dessert . . . great food and great fellowship.
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