twinkle, twinkle: the new version

remember the new version of twinkle, twinkle little star that i wrote for science in the pub a couple months ago?

here's a video reminder



i'm showing it again, because several people have asked me to provide the lyrics.  so, here you go!

twinkle, twinkle little star
how i wonder what you are

opaque ball of hot, dense gas
million times our planet's mass
looking small because you're far
you really are a super star

fusing atoms in your core
hydrogen, helium, carbon and more
with such power you shine here
twinkling through our atmosphere

shining like a cosmic czar
i'm finding out just what you are

the largest stars glow hot and blue
supernova when they're through
or form a black hole or neutron star
outcomes that are quite bizarre

the smallest ones burn cool and slow
still too hot to visit though
most have planets zooming 'round
home to life we have not found

our sun's average as stars go
formed 5 billion years ago
half way through its life so far
twinkle on our mother star

twinkle, twinkle little star
now i know just what you are

the sweeping shadow

this is the only video i've seen that really captures the feeling of watching the sweep of the earth's shadow during a total solar eclipse.  very cool (and quick) video by colin legg:


The Sweeping Shadow - Total Solar Eclipse, Nov 14 2012,The Granite, FNQ, Australia. from Colin Legg on Vimeo.

even elves look up

adorable holiday shot by timothy boocock. 

i spy with my little eye orion and the pleaides. 

saturn is cool

thanks to the bad astronomer, phil plait, i have just spent quite a bit of time enjoying entertaining videos by charlie mcdonnell.  charlie is a twenty-something british guy with a lot of hobbies, talents, and interest in science, which he likes to share through clever youtube videos he makes. 

here's a recent one about saturn, the floating planet with a death star moon :)

my mom is a dork

for a friend's baby shower today i made these  :) 

   

Isaac Newton vs. Rube Goldberg

love a good rube goldberg machine.... especially when it involves magnets and other cool visual trickery! 

space whale

if you stare into the sky
on a clear winter night

when the starts are aligned
and the magic is right,

you may catch a glimpse
of the space whale's flight,

as he sings his song with
celestial might...

:)   

from poorly drawn lines

anti-stress for free

i wish this installation was located in my neighborhood!   italian artist, biancoshock, posted squares of bubble wrap - those little plastic pockets of air that create so much relief and enjoyment when popped.   he cut the bubble wrap into squares and listed the approximate time it would take to pop the full sheet.   so fun.   perfect for late trains!

cheetahs on the edge

what a beautiful animal the cheetah is.  this big cat is the fastest animal on land, running nearly 70 miles per hour in short bursts.

a recent study has investigated why bigger and bigger animals dont run faster and faster.     studying various types of lizards, the study found that lizards ran faster as they got bigger, but only to a certain point.   “Larger lizards’ legs can no longer support their body weight, and they have to change their style of running, making them slower," the study found.

the cheetah has achieved the right balance of weight, agility and strength, and it's amazing to watch.   just look how steady its head remains while running so fast...!

Cheetahs on the Edge--Director's Cut from Gregory Wilson on Vimeo.


link via its okay to be smart