Solar Storms: Knowledge Is The Next Best Defence To Taking Preventative Measures

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Quote from NASA update:

The sun and Earth are separated by 93 million miles of space—a seemingly safe distance. But since the Space Age began, and especially in recent years, there has been a growing realization that 93 million miles really isn’t so far apart.

Solar mass ejections from the Sun, consisting of a breeze of plasma, can be traced to the phenomenon here on Earth known as the Aurora Borealis. Today, Dr. Tony Philips of NASA issued an update informing the public of the meeting on Germany of “representatives from more than 25 of the world’s most technologically-advanced nations” declaring the risks solar storms pose on the safety of urban society.

In an earlier update on January 21 2009, it was revealed that ”a solar flare can make you toilet stop working”, and that

[t]he strongest geomagnetic storm on record is the Carrington Event of August-September 1859, named after British astronomer Richard Carrington who witnessed the instigating solar flare with his unaided eye while he was projecting an image of the sun on a white screen. Geomagnetic activity triggered by the explosion electrified telegraph lines, shocking technicians and setting their telegraph papers on fire; Northern Lights spread as far south as Cuba and Hawaii; auroras over the Rocky Mountains were so bright, the glow woke campers who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning. Best estimates rank the Carrington Event as 50% or more stronger than the superstorm of May 1921.

If you are interested in tracking solar storms, with training instructions provided, visit http://solarstormwatch.com/ to watch next to live data streamed every hour from STEREO, which “ consists of two space-based observatories – one ahead of Earth in its orbit, the other trailing behind. [NASA STEREO Website]“

Image by NASA Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr

Ultimately it becomes very easy to tie the possibility of a solar mass ejection to doomsday prophecies, but much more difficult to provide solutions. One such person by the name of Lawrence E. Joseph featured on the popular American radio show Coast to Coast AM suggested that a good way to counter these plasma bursts from the Sun frying electrical components in the ground would be to install giant surge protectors to prevent an overload of electricity. HowStuffWorks further explains how excess power is diverted from the surge protector to the ground, but the true test of this concept would be to develop a working prototype capable of protecting the Power Grid.

In conclusion, solar storms can trigger beautiful displays on light on Earth’s poles, but they can also trigger disasters. Hence a meeting was needed to put forth new ideas and raise awareness on the risks associated with a plasma ejection travelling to the Earth. Surge protection found in most homes could be the solution, if applied on a grand scale, but unless more people become educated on the risks of solar storms, the demand for their installation, or the installation of other preventative technology, could be compromised.

If you are interested in the topic of solar storms here are some articles below for further reading:

• ‘Sun Awakens’: Scientists Warn of Solar Storms to Come (abcnews.go.com)
• Lawrence E. Joseph: The Solar ‘Katrina’ Storm That Could Take Our Power Grid Out For Years (huffingtonpost.com)
• Earth Gets Geomagnetic Wallop (news.discovery.com)
• STEREO Reveals Solar Storm Related to Failure Aboard Communications Satellite (eon.businesswire.com)

 

Can flags be used to collect solar energy?

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This morning I heard John Oakley, the host of a morning radio show on AM 640 Toronto Radio, blatantly express the possibility of using flags to collect solar energy. The remark occurred after a local politician was said to be stepping down, but still wanted to continue a project constructing the largest flag in the world. In the past, solar panels were not considered to be ‘flexible’, but in today’s market flexible solar panels exist.

Hence the creation of a flag with solar panels at the back, and the country’s banner at the front, should not hinder the flag’s natural movement in the wind. Considering the fact that sunlight is prevalent in some parts of the world more than others, such as in countries near the equator, this could just be one way to harvest energy and show your national pride at the same time.

As ridiculous as it may initially seem, there is a market for such a product. Schools, government buildings, and large offices are just a few examples. Once the product is designed and the technology is validated via testing to ensure sustainability and safety, the potential outcome could alter the way we look at a seemingly ordinary flag pole.

For more information on the fundamentals behind solar panels, please see this article on the solar cell:

http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm

 

If you love something set it free, unless the target of your affection is a turtle and you plan to let it loose in the wild.

The Daily Telegraph ran an article today entitled “Turtles and tortoises running riot in rivers,” of which it quoted several specialists, most notably Peter Jinman (Chairman of the British Veterinary Association’s ethics and welfare committee) and Matt Brash (Member of the British Veterinary Zoological Society) as stating contamination problems turtles bring to the environment if abandoned as a pet.

The main argument put forth by the Telegraph has actually been utilized in the past, saying that these abandoned reptilian pets have the ability to threaten native wildlife through the introduction of bacteria “including salmonella and e. coli”.

According to a PDF-document by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, “the only humane way to deal with a pet turtle or tortoise that is no longer wanted is to find someone willing to adopt it. (Page 2)” To grasp the various kinds of turtles, tortoises inhabiting planet Earth, visit the Encyclopedia of Life and search “turtle”.

 

Should Scientists Expect Lots of Life In An Ocean Teaming With Oxygen?

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A news report published last week Thursday made headlines proclaiming the discovery that Europa, a moon of Jupiter, is “rich in oxygen”. Here on planet Earth oxygen is critical for the development of life, as well as mental intelligence. On an “Ask Dr. Oz” feature of popular television show, the following was written about the effect of oxygen on the human body:

 

“The brain demands at least 20% of the body’s oxygen supply, when it doesn’t get this supply it can lead to issues such as sleep apnea, poor concentration, forgetfulness, mood swings, restlessness, depressive thoughts and low drive.”

While oxygen levels have a significant impact on the human body, it is vital to find out if marine life forms on Earth react in similar ways to varying oxygen levels as humans do. As it turns out some animals do not even require oxygen as this article by Brian Merchant demonstrates. Yet when one examines the marine life forms that do require oxygen, it becomes impossible to deny the fact that there are literally more species of marine life forms than I can accurately give a figure to. The result equates to the undeniable conclusion that just as humans are unique in terms of interests, likes and dislikes, so too are marine creatures unique in terms of their biology and requirements for sustenance. The scale of variation on Earth from the Atlantic Cod to the common Goldfish, to even underwater bacteria, is truly a zoo of imagination. Nothing is impossible in this universe unless you close your mind to it altogether. With that said the discovery of oxygen on Europa makes this moon a very appealing candidate for discovering life, but when one considers all the factors that had to coincide perfectly to enable life on Earth to thrive, is oxygen and water, in simplicity, really enough, and if so can we expect coordination, tool-making abilities, and self-consciousness to be among those traits listed as no longer confined to Earthly life. 

Source of above photo: Zemanta

For each source highlighted the links above will open a new window providing you with the aforementioned articles.

 

Is The Universe “Defeating Itself”

According to October 16th’s, Friday Night Comedy News Podcast from BBC Radio 4, a new theory is emerging after failed attempts to re-create the “God particle” otherwise known as the Higgs Boson, suggesting that the Universe could be behind these failure acting as a kind of safety feature. The LHC, Large Hadron Collider has been tasked with the challenge of recreating this elusive particle that could potentially explain the cause gravity and the source of origin, after being shut down for repairs earlier this year it resumed operations around the start of Autumn and should provide a lot of material through the experiments conducted for scientists to formulate some kind of plausible hypothesis with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

Links:

Proton accelerator blurring boundaries of science fiction and fact

God sabotaged the LHC, say scientists

 

Could an Artificial Tree ever replace the real Tree?

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According to a newly released BBC article by Judith Burns entitled Artificial Trees’ to cut carbon, “[Artificial] trees are among three geo-engineering ideas highlighted as practical in a new report.” The key idea behind this concept is to literally pull the CO2 out of the atmosphere at a faster rate than nature itself via the ‘tree’ and “store it within the unit itself. Keep in mind, this idea is still in the early phases of development but as to whether or not an artificially engineered tree could ever replace a real tree, I would have to answer no.

Ultimately, the fact that trees draw CO2 from our atmosphere and release oxygen is just one of the many attributes natural trees possess that render them useful. They also provide sap in many cases, act as a home for many animals, and provide a source of water. The fact that an artificial tree is “practical”, has the potential to make a significant reduction in our CO2 levels, but it should be taken for granted that real trees do the same thing. And despite the fact that their process may not be as fast, for lack of a better word, real trees have defined Planet Earth and have played a significant role on its people. I should stress at this point that any chance of artificial trees replacing real trees is extremely unlikely but if the market makes artificial trees more affordable to have in parks than their real life counterpart anything could be possible.

 

New BBC Article on the possible Consequences of Stress on Polar Bears

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According to a recent article on the BBC’s News Website, Science reporter Victoria Gill posted that , “[s]cientists

compared bear [polar bear] skulls from the early 20th Century with those from the latter half of the century. Their study,

in the Journal of Zoology, describes changes in size and shape that could be linked an increase in pollution and the reduction in sea ice.” This itself might be seen as a bit of a leap in terms of drawing a valid conclusion but as the article also states, “[p]hysical “stress” caused by pollutants in the bears’ bodies, and the increased effort needed to find food, could limit the animals’ growth…,” and with greater awareness of this threat to this iconic animal of the north within the scientific community, the chances of successfully combating the issue of  melting sea ice increases as more people dedicate their time to research way to slow down and possibly reverse the effects of climate change. For more information the David Suzuki Foundation has a report available online entitled, “Canada’s Polar Bear: Falling Through the Cracks” and overall, I would highly recommend this article on the BBC as a read for anyone.

 

2009: International Year of Astronomy

 

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2009 has been recorded as the International Year of Astronomy. Yet the concept of astronomy as a hobby is often seen as one that is too challenging, and too expensive, for the average individual. The purpose of this post is to dispel those rumours. According to the homepage for the International Year of Astronomy (see link below), ”Astronomy is a science which embraces modern technology…”. It is seldom required to have a telescope for practical astronomy as thanks to the advances in technology and the manufacturing process, it is quite possible to have a pair of binoculars that allows you to see the surface of the Moon and potentially planets like Venus.

 

The cost of participating in a hobby like astronomy, can greatly be reduced by attending local venues for that subject. Sticking with astronomy, visiting a science centre or planetarium, where they will often have telescopes for public use, might be the best way to quickly educate yourself in the chosen subject, while you make new connections through academics and hobbyists alike.

 For more info on the International Year of Astronmy: http://www.astronomy2009.org/

 

Use Chemistry, Save the World

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Sometimes upgrading is best. Say you went shopping for a new car and found out that you can purchase the best model on the market for free, you probably would not hesitate in your decision to say yes. However, in the documentary, Addicted to Plastic directed by Ian Connacher, the concept of downgrading for the betterment of the humanity is explored through the use of chemistry. For you see, most objects are formed when molecules bond together and by studying that bond, scientists can better analyse the relationship and environmental implications associated with that object. In the case of a vehicle, which is a compilation of several objects constructed individually, one can apply some fundamentals of chemistry such as degradation and decomposition to brake down a seemingly large object into a very small one.

If one were to change the object in question, say move from a car to a plastic bag for example, the impact of undergoing chemical processes would be very positive as it would in turn, result in less plastics going into the natural environment where animals and fish could potentially be killed by the exposure to this material. However, before mass amounts of plastics are dropped into a bucket of chemicals, scientists and chemists alike, need to make sure this process, once developed, is safe and does not result in greater amounts of damage to our ecosystem and environment.

Ultimately, in a new age of technology and the ability to engineer chemicals for manipulation, the real lesson that came out of this documentary was that the childhood phrase of,  ”reduce, reuse, and recycle,” is becoming increasingly more significant as our awareness as human beings in regard to our environment, Planet Earth, increases.

 

A Student’s Opinion On The STEREO Hunt

 

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I have recently been updated on NASA’s STEREO probes. They are a set of probes set to make solar observations but now, their focus has been shifted to find a more mysterious object, as the full article below points out. STEREO is searching for what appears to be the object that crashed into Earth 4.5 billion years ago to form the moon, an object labelled Theia. Although scientists have never found concrete evidence concerning remnants on “Theia”, the STEREO probes bring a new sense of hope that soon, humanity will come one stop closer to finding more about our Moon’s origin and what it indicates about further objects in space situated similarly.

 

Full Article:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/09apr_theia.htm?list1315750 

And How You Can Help:

http://sungrazer.nrl.navy.mil/