THE WEATHER ON MARS
The Curiosity rover on Mars continues to return fascinating new discoveries. Recent data on the Martian atmospheric pressure and wind measurements have been sufficiently sensitive to reveal daily variations in radiation levels linked to changes in air pressure.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20345011
There has been some damage to one of the wind sensors, probably occurring at the landing on the surface of Mars, but it has been possible to work round this problem.
This mobile science laboratory on Mars is an amazing tool, under such sensitive flexible control from Earth.
Showing posts with label Science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Science. Show all posts
Friday, 16 November 2012
Sunday, 31 January 2010
SCIENCE AND THE MEDIA
The media, overwhelmingly, just don't get science.
They don't understand how science works. About the importance of probability.
So journalists (with a few honourable exceptions) create wild headlines out of every passing straw of scientific research.
This leads first to public confusion, then apathy, and eventually rejection of all things science.
An example is diet and food.
Another, which is starting to gather momentum, is climate change. The deniers sense a field day coming on.
I'll return to this important issue.
The media, overwhelmingly, just don't get science.
They don't understand how science works. About the importance of probability.
So journalists (with a few honourable exceptions) create wild headlines out of every passing straw of scientific research.
This leads first to public confusion, then apathy, and eventually rejection of all things science.
An example is diet and food.
Another, which is starting to gather momentum, is climate change. The deniers sense a field day coming on.
I'll return to this important issue.
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Science and the Mud Eruption
In East Java, Indonesia, earthquakes and mud volcanoes are common. But a bitter dispute has raged over the cause of an eruption of the Lusi mud volcano. When Lusi erupted in May 2006, it coincided with both an earthquake and drilling for oil and gas.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7699672.stm
A meeting of 74 geologists in Cape Town came down 57% blaming the drilling; 4% the earthquake; 17% both; and 23% said the evidence was inconclusive.
Science is often a matter of probabilities.
Establishing the cause of the eruption is important. Thirteen people died, 30,000 were displaced, and there is a huge compensation claim against the drilling company Lapindo Brantas.
The point I am making is this case illustrates that in geophysical science, as in other fields of science, the evidence is often not clear cut. Careful informed systematic evaluation of all the available evidence is essential; and a willingness to change one's mind when evidence swings against the prevailing view. This point equally applies to the vastly more complex global warming debate.
In East Java, Indonesia, earthquakes and mud volcanoes are common. But a bitter dispute has raged over the cause of an eruption of the Lusi mud volcano. When Lusi erupted in May 2006, it coincided with both an earthquake and drilling for oil and gas.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7699672.stm
A meeting of 74 geologists in Cape Town came down 57% blaming the drilling; 4% the earthquake; 17% both; and 23% said the evidence was inconclusive.
Science is often a matter of probabilities.
Establishing the cause of the eruption is important. Thirteen people died, 30,000 were displaced, and there is a huge compensation claim against the drilling company Lapindo Brantas.
The point I am making is this case illustrates that in geophysical science, as in other fields of science, the evidence is often not clear cut. Careful informed systematic evaluation of all the available evidence is essential; and a willingness to change one's mind when evidence swings against the prevailing view. This point equally applies to the vastly more complex global warming debate.
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