A Deep Sense of Loss #Ferguson #BlackLivesMatter

I previously wrote about the excessive use of tear gas against protesters in Ferguson, MO, where Darren Wilson will not face charges for killing unarmed citizen Michael Brown.  Unfortunately, tear gas was used recklessly again tonight, hitting peaceful protesters as well as journalists.

Brown is another name to add to the increasingly long list of unarmed men and women killed by police. There is no justification for killing someone that does not present an armed and dangerous threat.

This affects science and tech in many ways. The tear gas article mentioned earlier speaks to the scientific justification for using tear gas in a civilian area. Online technology such as social media has been instrumental in keeping the details of this case in the forefront of people's minds. 

Sadly, this adds to the potential science and tech contributors lost to unnecessary violence. Maybe 28 year old Akai Gurley would have inspired someone in his neighborhood to pursue a scientific path.

Maybe 18 year old Michael Brown would have ended up majoring in a science related field in college.   

Maybe 17 year old Trayvon Martin would have attached himself to science during his late high school and college years.

Maybe 12 year old Tamir Rice would have had a chance to enjoy science in middle school.

Black lives matter.

Time Is Not the Same for Everyone #Interstellar (Spoiler Free)

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The movie Interstellar involves many interesting scientific concepts, including the fluidity of time. On Earth, time moves at the same speed for all of us – otherwise our watches would constantly need to change how fast they move.  However, time can change in two specific scenarios.

If someone is moving significantly faster than us on Earth

If someone is under the effects of more gravity than us on Earth

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) experience this.  As they orbit the Earth, the gravitational pull keeps them in orbit, and makes them move much faster than we are on Earth.  As a result, they age less than us.

If the same astronauts wanted to head away from Earth at an extremely fast speed – near the speed of light – they would age slower than us during the trip.  If the destination was an object with more significantly more gravity than the Earth – like a black hole – they would continue to age slower while under the effects of increased gravity.

That’s the genius of media – you can enjoy the adventure and emotion presented in the movie, and OPTIONALLY it can spark a light of curiosity that leads one to further research.

Shouldn't that be what science education is about?

R.I.P. Michael Alsbury #SpaceShipTwo

(Note: Please donate to the Mike Alsbury Memorial Fund, as he leaves behind a wife and two small children ages 10 and 17.)

It's been a rough week for space travel. First, an unmanned ISS resupply rocket launched erratically and had to be destroyed by NASA safety operators. Next, the Virgin Galactic spacecraft SpaceShipTwo suffered a mishap that resulted in the loss of life. Pilot Michael Alsbury was killed when SpaceShipTwo crashed in the Mojave Desert while attempting to land.

Heroes like Alsbury put their lives on the line to push forward space research. It's critical that we not take this loss for granted, and they we can continue to push forward to support what Alsbury lived for - taking space exploration to the next level.

The Guardian has a nice writeup of Alsbury's accomplishments. From that article:

Alsbury earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He was the recipient of Northrop Grumman’s President’s Award for Innovation-for-Affordability Excellence this year.

Alsbury was a “home-schooled, home-brewed” pilot who earned his way up through the ranks at the company, starting as an engineer. Alsbury had also put himself through commercial pilot school and was certified as a flight instructor.

Scaled Composite, Alsbury's company of 15 years, released a short statement in his honor. 

Chat with Creators of Sci-Fi Show Extant

The CBS sci-fi show Extant, which recently wrapped up its first season.  It inspired a few posts of mine about the constellation Orion, the speed of sound versus the speed of light, and the idea of being weightless. On a personal level, I enjoyed seeing a prime time sci-fi television show with a Black woman as the lead.

I was lucky enough to be invited on the Black Girl Nerds podcast to speak with Extant creator Mickey Fisher and show runner Greg Walker.  We chatted about the show, diversity in sci fi, bloopers on the set, and other shenanigans. Check it out below!

Ebola Isn't Just Fear Mongering

There have been many accusations that the current Ebola outbreak is another example of fear mongering, or deliberately focusing on the fear involved with an issue. This could not be further from the truth.  It's important to understand that Ebola is a very serious fever that is often fatal in humans. The World Heath Organizations (WHO) defines the current Ebola outbreak as "the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976." 

There has been a lot of false information flying around the news, mostly from people that are not versed in science. Check out two scientific sources below for some great facts on this disease:

From Dr. Calelph Wilson's story in Ebony:

"Evidenced-based information is critical.  Social media such as Twitter is a rapid way to access expert information and conversations on Ebola. For example, the National Science & Technology News Service (NSTNS, of which I am a member) recently hosted an Ebola Twitter chat with Professor A.O. Fuller, a virus expert from the University of Michigan. There are a host of Ebola virus related hashtags with very good information. It is critical to avoid sources that claim that Ebola is a hoax, a conspiracy or isn’t real without any basis."

From Dr. Marshall Shepherd's story in the Washington Post:

"I suspect that federal agencies like NIH and CDC have also suffered from gamesmanship. I can’t imagine that they have not been diligently thinking about the Ebola problem for years. However, I can imagine that budget cuts and other stresses on the science infrastructure and funding agencies would affect capability. "

Check them out and get educated by scientists!