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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Category Archives: Imported from Livejournal
Dark blunder
So, you know when you accidentally misplace 83% of the mass of the Universe? Wait… what? Ok, let me backtrack a minute. Do you remember last month there was a press release from ESO saying how it a study had … Continue reading
Science Calling
I’m rather happy to say that I have a guest blog post on Science Calling all about the search for life in the Universe! Science Calling is a quite wonderful blog all about public engagement and science in Ireland, and … Continue reading
Model spaceships
This, my friends, is an image showing several of the most notable spacecraft we plucky human beings have created (and are busily creating) to date. The past, the present, and the ones that never quite made it. All spacecraft shown … Continue reading
*lick*
I hope you’re having a good caturday!
Grown, not built
The International Space Station, usually known as the ISS, is probably the most expensive single structure the human race has ever constructed. The reason being that each new module of it has to be first made here on Earth and … Continue reading
“Abort on engine 5. Chamber pressure high.”
Today was to be the launch day for the Dragon capsule. SpaceX’s manned space vehicle, and the only manned craft ever to travel into orbit which was completely built by a private company as opposed to a government funded corporation. … Continue reading
Posted in Imported from Livejournal
Tagged rocket science, spaceflight
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Giga hexagon!
Well, while I’m on the subject of hexagons, I might as well do what I do best and leap from the imperceptibly tiny to the immensely huge. There’s one hexagonal structure which is naturally formed and large enough to easily … Continue reading
Quite hexagonal
I’m of the personal opinion that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules, often known as PAHs, are one of the finest proofs that the Universe is beautiful. Carbon, at the molecular level, organises itself into geometrically perfect hexagons. It doesn’t even need … Continue reading
Posted in chemistry, Imported from Livejournal
Tagged molecules, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
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Of myth and wonder
❝ Today the function of the artist is to bring imagination to science and science to imagination, where they meet, in the myth. ❞ – Cyril Connolly While I like this quote, and I love the imagery it conjures, I … Continue reading
Posted in art, Imported from Livejournal
Tagged art, philosophy of science
Comments Off on Of myth and wonder
Academia ex machina
Academia is a harsh mistress. If you’re not careful, it has a habit of spitting you out into the real world to fend for yourself when you’d really rather have other plans. So currently, being all out of funding, I’m … Continue reading