超新星コンデンセート
Supernova Condensate is a blog about our place in the Universe. Of astronomy, chemistry and life in the big bad bubble of academia.-
Invader Xan is a molecular astrophysicist and part-time alien invader, who spends life looking at very small things on very large scales, and trying to better understand the chemistry of interstellar space.
DFTBA ♥
すべての我々は星で作られています。
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Monthly Archives: October 2010
Carbonaceous Wonderland
The most abundant element on Earth’s surface is oxygen. Seriously, oxygen is everywhere. Most of the mass of water comes from oxygen. Plants and animals incorporate oxygen into their tissues; there’s almost as much oxygen in the cellulose that makes … Continue reading
Idiot box
Well, this is intriguing. Apparently, the TV licensing people are being a bit draconian with new students, going so far as sending out threatening sounding letters. So I’m told, they claim that they “know that students watch TV on laptops” … Continue reading
Darkness?
Sometimes, I lament living in the inner city. And when I say sometimes, I mean frequently. I stumbled upon this graphic recently on the internet, illustrating the Bortle scale. Originally published in Sky & Telescope magazine, the Bortle scale is … Continue reading
Science is Vital
I’m really quite dismayed that the UK government seem determined to cut funding from scientific research. Dismayed and, frankly, disappointed. After all the times in the past when funding has been mercilessly slashed, you’d think they’d be running out of … Continue reading
Posted in academia, Imported from Livejournal
Tagged politics, scientists
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Cuddly molecules
Just what you’ve always wanted! A nice big caffeine molecule to cuddle to sleep. Or… cuddle into wakefulness? Even if you’re a person sensitive to caffeine, there are a host of lovely crocheted molecules for sale at the Prim and … Continue reading
Sunshine: Could you survive a vacuum…?
I’ll make no secret of the fact that I have, in the past, poured scorn on the concept behind the movie Sunshine. I’ll be honest. The central concept of using some kind of a bomb to reignite the dying Sun … Continue reading
A world between fire and ice
This really is an exciting time for planet hunters. A few weeks ago, the discovery of a system with as many as 7 planets was announced around HD 10180. Now, it’s been announced that a planet around another star, Gliese … Continue reading