rajafacesbothways

The Serpent Mound

The Serpent Mound, one of the most mysterious places in North America is in Adams County in southern Ohio. Clues indicate that a meteor impact crater occurred there abut 200 million years ago. Prehistoric Indians constructed the 1,348 long mound depicting a serpent swallowing an egg in this area. On the summer solstice, the sun sets directly over the egg and the coils also point to the winter solstice sunrise.

Magnetic and gravitational anomalies still exist and can be felt in the 4 mile area where the meteor hit. The Mound's age is questionable; anywhere from 800 B.C to 1070 A.D. However the applications of geometry, geology and astronomy indicate the builders had a supreme knowledge. Who they were or why they build it remains a mystery.

We attended two talk while at the mounds. The speakers used several drawings to illustrate the theories and information on the mounds.
Ross Hamilton indicates the enigmatic connection of the mound with the connection to the Cube of Pythagoras, the first Greek philosopher.
Another speaker, an astronomer, shows an infrared photo taken by the Ohio Department of Transportation, which indicates the position of the Mound. Much of the research of the deepest cores of the crater, going down to 2962 feet is being done by the University of Glasgow in Scotland. They have discovered that sedimentary rocks are "standing on end" to a depth of 700 feet.
Who were the people who built the Mound, when it was actually built and why this spot was selected remains a mystery.
 Perhaps we'll never know.

It's a Small World After All

The Astronomy Picture of the Day reveals a new view of the earth, taken from the moon by the Kaguya  robotic spacecraft. In this photo, our world doesn't look as impressive as those earlier photos taken closer in by astronauts.
Actually, it looks no more important than a drop of drool in the Universe. Makes you wonder about those who seek to control; who DO they think they are? We each are no bigger than an itch on an ant.

But so what if we are inconsequential?  Let's just relax and revel in irrelevance.

From U2 to Leadbelly

Physics class ends next week. Having sloughed through forces, torques and seesaws, we've finally gotten to lasers and nuclear reactors.  Unfortunately I'm going to fall short in my plan to build an atomic bomb for my class project.  Not that I couldn't.

Seems earth was not formed until the Universe was over 9 billion years old, and during the age of earth U235 (uranium) has decayed to only 1 percent of the original amount, making it harder to find than a (female) virgin in a whore house. All that uranium became lead. Okay. I could maybe make a few bullets, but that falls far short of my original plan.

At least I've learned the difference between fission and fusion. I'll save that for another lecture.

Monkey--2 Bullet--0

Some of the readers of this blog questioned the point of my physics class Monkey and Gun experiment. I've received an e-mail from the Prof explaining that this experiment illustrating "that all free falling objects accelerate in gravity at the same rate" only works if the bullet hits the mark. The bullet missed twice. For further info, you can go to Google and type in the words:  physics monkey gun demo.

No doubt this instructor is also off the mark for receiving the Nobel Prize for Physics.

Would You Repeat That Please?

Have enrolled to audit a Physics class at UKY next semester on "How Things Work."

The class description says the "close relationship between physical science, technology and our everyday lives will be illuminated by examination of the technology we purchase and use and by other observations of natural phenomena we can make using only the informed mind and eye."

Hmm...what a challenge for someone who has NO informed mind OR eye on how anything works.

An embarrassing example:  I thought the antenna wires were dislodged because after moving the stereo slightly, received nothing but static. Someone tactfully pointed out I no longer had the dial set to a real station.

I think the biggest challenge in that class will be on the part of the professor--trying to dislodge the rocks in the dormant  left side of my brain.

Whatdaya Think?

Some scientific observations to think about--from a list I received. I don't believe they were discussed at the recent meeting in Scotland:

1.  Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.
2.  OK. So what's the speed of dark?
3.  How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?
4.  If the world did not suck, would we all fall off?
5.  Light travels faster than sound. Does that explain why some people appear brighter before they
     speak? 

To those I will add my own made up bits of philosophy:

Oscar Wilde said, "It takes 50 years to make a man."
I would add, "It takes only a good bottle of wine to make a woman."

And--"We spent the first part of our lives building our mazes and the rest of our lives wandering around in them."

The Edge of Knowledge

Occasionally an incredible unique individual come through town.
Today was one of those times; Brian Greene spoke at the local college.
Greene is a prominent physicist and leading theorist of the super string theory, an idea that could link Einstein's theory of relativity with quantum mechanics. Trust me, it isn't necessary to comprehend ideas of time-space to be awed by them.
Author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, Greene feels we are all part of the same journey and one goal of his books is to open a window of understanding to the curious without the required math training for physics. I heard him speak once before; he is a delightful, entertaining performer and writer.
It is so refreshing to be offered newer layers of reality from an extremely witty, brilliant mind. With all that is "out there" it's sad when we alllow so much of life to be mired in the mundane.

A Taste of Greatness

Recently enjoyed exposure to two cultural inputs of 100 years ago.
I attended an entertaining lecture on Albert Einstein's amazing year of 1905. At the age of 26. as a clerk in a patent office, he came to the realization that time has to be relative (i.e.--the Theory of Relativity); he published papers showing the particle nature of light, explaining the Brownian motion, and stating the famous formula E=mc^2. These were things he thought deeply about, even as a boy. (before Little League and MTV)
I followed that with the performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly at the Opera House. First performed 101 years ago, it remains one of the most popular operas of all time.
I wonder what is occurring now that will still impact 2105...the Mars Rover and Hip-Hop?

E=mc2 Who need it?

Last week's funniest quote came from a NY Times article on concerns about the increased use of ADHD drugs on kids. It is believed that Churchill, Dali, Edison and Einstein had ADHD disorder.
A proponent of Ritalin said, "God knows what Einstein would have accomplished had he been diagnosed and treated."
Right.
Ole Albert would have learned to tie his shoes and probably been a successful accountant.