Science Chat Thread

[Blueobelisk]

Well...it's engineering sort of.

The way NASA does it is you fill out an application and submit your letters of recommendations, personal info, transcript, GPA, all that junk and put the preference of which site you want to intern at, and they decide which project is best suited to you, or which project they can take you on, or whatever.

So while most of their internships involve engineering, some computer stuff, a few deal with chemistry, I saw one with biology, I don't really get to choose which I'd get to join.

[Politicus]

Well...it's engineering sort of.

The way NASA does it is you fill out an application and submit your letters of recommendations, personal info, transcript, GPA, all that junk and put the preference of which site you want to intern at, and they decide which project is best suited to you, or which project they can take you on, or whatever.

So while most of their internships involve engineering, some computer stuff, a few deal with chemistry, I saw one with biology, I don't really get to choose which I'd get to join.

Ah ok.

Well still, if you get the position, should be a very valuable experience regardless, NASA is amazing!

Good luck.

[Blueobelisk]

Meh to be honest with you the NASA internship is worse than doing research at a college, because those college research programs are designed to help you for graduate school too, the NASA thing is more of a regular internship that happens to be with a big name place.

Thanks though, back to science discussion! Start discussing that solar flux ropes or whatever the fuck it was, I never read the article on that and I'm curious.

[breadisfunny]

Bill Nye the Science Guy.



BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL!

whatever happened to that show?

[Politicus]

Flowers Communicate With Electricity

Article is worth the read (it's pretty short, but, interesting).

[Blueobelisk]

Oh ya guys. I'm going to the American Physics Society meeting in March and giving a poster presentation.

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/MAR13/Event/187341

That's the subject of the topic I'm giving. I'm not gonna quote the writing before I get fucking sued for a copyright infringement or something.

[AcrobaticMegalodon]

I have this big thing for scientists, sitting and having a discussion/conversation about science. Here are some examples:

String Theory - with Lawrence Krauss and Brian Greene.


The Poetry of Science - Richard Dawkins and Neil deGrasse Tyson.


Something from nothing? - Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss.


Now, religion is occasionally brought up, so be warned.

Anyone have any others?

[Politicus]

I've watched the Poetry of Science one you linked, it was a great vid.

Have you seen the one of Neil deGrasse Tyson testifying before a Senate science committee.


*Warning* religious discussion


I know this one is an interview by Stephen Colbert, but, I found it interesting/entertaining.



I watch a lot of Dr. Tyson's stuff.


Also, neat:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/high...-1226583761275

[AcrobaticMegalodon]

I've watched the Poetry of Science one you linked, it was a great vid.

Have you seen the one of Neil deGrasse Tyson testifying before a Senate science committee.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmKlA_UnX8c

*Warning* religious discussion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7rR8stuQfk

I know this one is an interview by Stephen Colbert, but, I found it interesting/entertaining.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXh9RQCvxmg


I watch a lot of Dr. Tyson's stuff.


Also, neat:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/high...-1226583761275

I love Tyson, he explains stuff in such an interesting manner.

It's unfortunate that this forum don't allow religious discussion, because there's alot of cool videos out there in that format. YouTube "The Four Horsemen" if you're interested.

Anyway, here's another video:

2011 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: The Theory of Everything.

[Drihan]

Tyson is a great lecturer. He manages to explain highly complex physical and mathematical theories and evidence in a way that many people can understand. He's also very eccentric which is always hilarious.

[Sydänyö]

Here's my 2 cents on a couple of scientific people...

Brian Cox

Ex britpopper, professor at a young age. In any of the series does, such as the three "Wonders of" series (Solar System, Universe, Life), he performs like a minute, two minute long monologues straight at the camera, no cue cards or prompters, without losing his train of thought. This is because he's not (just) reading from a script, but actually teaching people.

True professional.

BBC puts it's immense wealth behind these series, and that in part makes them the best in the world. They're factual, concise, and entertaining beyond anyone's imagination.

Neil deGrasse Tyson

A true professional as well. Not quite as hip and mainstream as Cox, but definitely towards that end. Knows what he's talking about, and doesn't talk about pointless shit. America's response to the "Rock'n'Roll Physicist" that is Brian Cox. Nerfed Pluto, and is the director of the Hayden Planetarium.

Those two I consider good representatives of the scientific world to the mainstream.

Michio Kaku

Based on the shows he does, and the theoretical futuristic shit he talks about, sometimes I feel like calling him Michio Cuckoo. Very much in the media, but does all the wrong shows, and for all the wrong reasons. A detriment to science in the mainstream. Sorry to say but it's true.

[Politicus]

I sort of agree Sydänyö, I prefer to watch something by Dr. Tyson a lot more than watching something by Dr. Kaku.

Never heard of Brian Cox though, I'll have to check some of his stuff.

[Blueobelisk]

I always liked Michio Kaku...

Well not really. He's quite popular but I never liked his style of presenting.

[Sayl]

Thought I'd float this out there just for grins. For those in the northern hemisphere, there's still time to try and spot comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) over the next week or so. It's not the easiest target for the naked eye in twilight (and being relatively low on the western horizon), but even a simple pair of binoculars can help bring it into view if you know where to look. Here's a viewing guide.





There's also a growing collection of photos on spaceweather.com.

[/astronerd]

[Fuzzzie]

Pi day? How about Tau day? June 28th

[Blueobelisk]

Okay Fuzzie now we're gonna have to have an MMO-C movie night where we show those two nerd college professors argue over whether e or pi are more important.

[Politicus]

I think I prefer Tau over Pi....It's just..nicer

But tbh, both are quite easily usable, just have to state which one.

[Don Vito Corleone]

Also, neat:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/high...-1226583761275

can't you give us an article about that which ISN'T behind a paywall?

[Sayl]

can't you give us an article about that which ISN'T behind a paywall?

Try this instead.

[Politicus]

can't you give us an article about that which ISN'T behind a paywall?

Sorry, when I first linked it, it didn't need a login.