[Robert1950]

I spend a hell of a lot more time reading articles and watching videos on astronomy and space than with the news. When I was in my 50s, I finally figured out I had a mild generalized type anxiety disorder that was set off by a number (but not too large a number) of specific situations. Had this confirmed by my doctor and a few counseling sessions. I have learned to avoid certain situations or have come to no longer care about some of those things that would set it off. The news was one of things that can still agitate me. So I only scan the headlines and read up on local news. I try to avoid politics like the plague - I swear that would put me in the hospital if I didn't. At my age, I have watch my blood pressure and avoid things that will send it into the red zone.

One way is follow news that I find fascinating and non-threatening. Anything to do with space exploration of the solar system to big bang and the origins of the universe is one of those things. Even though I spent my life working in social services, my original degree was in science and that has shaped the way I look at the world and beyond.

So the next post will start it all off....

 

[Robert1950]

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39034050

7 Earth-like planets found orbiting star 39 light-years away

 

[LexxM3]

Speaking of politics, I think Pluto IS a planet. Is this post in the wrong forum?

And don't get me started on the elite "1%" planets we're all measured against (you know, Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury). Particularly Mars with its "we had life first in the Sol system", boo hoo, fricking red snowflakes.



P.S. If humans are talking about it or thinking it, it's political.

 

[dcole]

P.S. If humans are talking about it or thinking it, it's political.

Boobs!

 

[Budda]

I am glad this thread was started!

 

[LexxM3]

I am glad this thread was started!

Admit it, you're just a little more glad about the "Boobs!" part. Back to astronomy trolling ...

Dark Matter Doesn't Exist: The Man Who’s Trying to Kill Dark Matter. Myself, I believe in the emergent theory of gravity rather than Einsteinian, but Albert was a swell guy anyway.

 

[dcole]

Myself, I believe in the emergent theory of gravity rather than Einsteinian, but Albert was a swell guy anyway.

Cause he played guitar?

 

[cheezyridr]

ok, i want to add some things.

1) anyone who likes space knows of this site, but just in case someone out there somehow still doesn't, this is a thing, and it's awesome. i have used them to make wallpaper for my desktop countless times.

Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive

2) he's playing a peavey razor. a rather unexpected choice from ol' al

 

[greco]

....Anything to do with space exploration of the solar system to big band ......

Typo...I assume??

 

[Kerry Brown]

Albert played violin and piano but that picture is not him. It is pretty cool though.

FALSE: Einstein Plays Electric Guitar

 

[dcole]

I spend a hell of a lot more time reading articles and watching videos on astronomy and space than with the news. When I was in my 50s, I finally figured out I had a mild generalized type anxiety disorder that was set off by a number (but not too large a number) of specific situations. Had this confirmed by my doctor and a few counseling sessions. I have learned to avoid certain situations or have come to no longer care about some of those things that would set it off. The news was one of things that can still agitate me. So I only scan the headlines and read up on local news. I try to avoid politics like the plague - I swear that would put me in the hospital if I didn't. At my age, I have watch my blood pressure and avoid things that will send it into the red zone.

Sorry Robert for derailing your thread. Somehow I missed your initial post and the seriousness of its nature. I also find the news agitating as it seems to focus on American politics and happenings way more then it should, especially when thinking what local stations should focus on, local news.

 

[LexxM3]

To be clear, I meant no disrespect to @Robert1950. But making fun of political idiocy is a rather fantastic way to deal with its resultant stress. And astronomy.

 

[LexxM3]

And on the Pluto thing, our side is building momentum: Will Pluto Get Its Planethood Back?

 

[Robert1950]

Photobucket blackmail,... I'll have move this.

 

[High/Deaf]

I find the things they are discovering amazing. More and more detail, proof of what was only speculated 20 years ago. Hell, just putting glasses on Hubble. There's some damn smart people out there (and yet, Trump is president - sorry just had to throw in politics LOL).

Dark Matter Doesn't Exist: The Man Who’s Trying to Kill Dark Matter.

Pawned!

 

[zontar]

To be serious & on topic again--Astronomy can be fun & interesting.
I remember years ago watching two similar documentaries about the solar system.
I forget the names & who did them--but one was boring & typical just listing info.
The other one did something I like --they at least gave a general explanation of how they discovered what they were saying (What each planet was made of, mass, etc.)
they explained about how the signals bounced back & the light in the images gave that info--I mean they could have made that up, but I liked that they gave some reason for it.
I always wondered how they knew those things--like what the atmosphere on a planet was made of if we've never been there.

if it's conjecture--say why.
if it's widely held info--say why.
if you're proposing something new--say why.

 

[Alex]

Interesting discovery that was made public yesterday

Subscribe to read

I read about a year ago, that astronomers had intercepted radio waves that were not "natural" and mechanical by nature. They could not come up with an explanation and the files were transferred to an organization that searches for other life forms in the universe.

Cosmos magazine (via email) is a good source for free and is funded by donations or subscriptions. They take complex subjects and explain them in laymen's terms.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I am lucky to live in a town with a small private non-profit university, Quest, The president for a number of year was David Helfand. He is also the chair of the Astronomy Department at Columbia University. He would sometimes give public lectures at the local library. One of the most interesting events I've ever attended was a lecture he gave about how they find planets in other solar systems. He could take a very technical subject and make it fun and easy to understand for people who knew nothing about the subject.

David Helfand - Wikipedia

 

[capnjim]

 

[LexxM3]

Kerry's note was a good reminder. For those near Kitchener-Waterloo (also webcast and broadcast, but being there is best), Perimeter Institute has always had a public lecture series and it is always fantastic! The people are real, doing extremely cool science, and the approach is super accessible (obPol: not Trump-accessible, but pretty much anyone above that intellect):

PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES | Perimeter Institute