please, do not feed the (inferno) artist

The Discovery Channel’s How the Universe Works does its take on the old Carl Sagan quote, plus considers the end of the “Age of Stars.” Appropriately, it’s a star studded clip: Lawrence Krauss, Michio Kaku, Phil Plait and others.

Now for something to cleanse my brain of the crap I previously posted. Aww, this makes me feel so much better :)

Oh and if you want some laughs, go read this article over at Creation.com refuting the claims of the scientist in this video. Here is an excerpt of what they have to say:

“Genesis is neither myth nor theological poetry, but an account of events that took place in history. It provides the foundation of a complete worldview. The first chapter describes the origin of the universe, the earth, the sun, moon, and stars, plant and animal life, and the origin of human beings. It tells us that God created all these things by His will, through His Word—His power as the Almighty Creator God.”

As I said, it’s a good laugh. ~ Kim

(Source: patheos.com)

Reblogged from NASA.

January 22, 2012, 9:22pm

Marijuana doesn't harm lung function, study found

The study randomly enrolled 5,115 men and women aged 18 through 30 in four cities: Birmingham, Chicago, Oakland, Calif., and Minneapolis. Roughly equal numbers of blacks and whites took part, but no other minorities. Participants were periodically asked about recent marijuana or cigarette use and had several lung function tests during the study.

Overall, about 37 percent reported at least occasional marijuana use, and most users also reported having smoked cigarettes; 17 percent of participants said they’d smoked cigarettes but not marijuana. Those results are similar to national estimates.

On average, cigarette users smoked about 9 cigarettes daily, while average marijuana use was only a joint or two a few times a month - typical for U.S. marijuana users, Kertesz said.

The authors calculated the effects of tobacco and marijuana separately, both in people who used only one or the other, and in people who used both. They also considered other factors that could influence lung function, including air pollution in cities studied.

The analyses showed pot didn’t appear to harm lung function, but cigarettes did. Cigarette smokers’ test scores worsened steadily during the study. Smoking marijuana as often as one joint daily for seven years, or one joint weekly for 20 years was not linked with worse scores. Very few study participants smoked more often than that.

Like cigarette smokers, marijuana users can develop throat irritation and coughs, but the study didn’t focus on those. It also didn’t examine lung cancer, but other studies haven’t found any definitive link between marijuana use and cancer.

Tags: science

January 11, 2012, 10:48am

sciencecenter:

Tibetan figures from the American Museum of Natural History

X-ray cameras help curators peer inside ancient objects such as the Tibetan figures shown here. The alternative to revealing their craftsmanship with radiation? Chopping them into pieces.

See-through images of the bronze statue (above) reveal its hollow body was pounded out of sheet metal. They also show builders used molten metal to cast its hands and feet.

Reblogged from The Science Center.

Tags: @amnhnyc science x-rays history

July 04, 2011, 10:26am