Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for science. But I also believe that science is a direct participant in killing all the magic in the world. And this week, we have a new chalk outline on the sidewalk of our magical dreams: the Northern Lights.
According to the Health & Science report in this week's issue of The Week (vol. 8, issue 373, p. 22):
Quote:
For decades, scientists have debated the cause of the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis -- the dance of colored light in the evening sky sometimes seen in the northern latitudes. Now, using data from five NASA satellites and 20 ground observatories, says The Washington Post, a group of scientists has tracked the lights to their source--an explosion of magnetic energy 80,000 miles from Earth. Scientists had long known that the Northern Lights are related to an interaction of the Earth's magnetic field and the solar wind, a stream of electrically charged particles streaming out from the sun. But they didn't really understand how the process worked. New observations have revealed that as Earth's magnetic field extends into space, it meets the solar wind about one-third of the distance to the moon, and is stretched into thin lines like a rubber band. Periodically, the solar energy surges and hurls the magnetic lines back toward Earth, as if it were snapping the rubber band, and the lines reconnect -- exploding into a spectacular release of energy and heat. When that energy hits the atmosphere, it becomes visible as undulating waves of colored light. "Finally, we have the right instruments in the right place at the right time, "says Nicola Fox, a Johns Hopkins University scientist. "it's allowed scientists to be able to make the necessary observation to settle this heated debate once and for all."
Great. Wonderful. So now maybe we can focus again on REAL science between bouts of searching Travelocity.com for deals to Canada to see "scheduled" shows of the Northern Lights.
Comments
ʊIrishancest
Legally Certified Warthog Operator
Beware. The Internewt is real!
I'll have a loil, on the rocks.
Come Riot over in Napalm Chat: http://www.napalmriot.com/chat/
ӝTheHalcyon
Pirate Cap'n, Reckless Thinker, Riot Mother
Haly
¤Zunii
Has Seeker Sticky Grenades
I REGRET NOTHING!!!
ʊchillinvillain
Is In Your Base, Killing Your Pokemans
"We aren't allowed to say brainstorm where I work because it's apparently offensive to people with cerebal palsy (bullshit)." --Chalkley3
ӝTheHalcyon
Pirate Cap'n, Reckless Thinker, Riot Mother
Haly
ʊchillinvillain
Is In Your Base, Killing Your Pokemans
"We aren't allowed to say brainstorm where I work because it's apparently offensive to people with cerebal palsy (bullshit)." --Chalkley3
ӝCoolhand2
Kills People While They Type
I knew that the Aurora Borealis was caused by solar wind hitting magnetic fields in the atmosphere, however I never let that get in the way of the inherent beauty of what they are.
Just because I know how something works, doesn't mean I can't enjoy it. That's like saying a mechanic doesn't like to drive because he knows how the car works. That's just ridiculous.
Remember, the answer is always 42.
"He who uses a stick in the dark is blind, but he who... sticks out in the dark is... fluorescent!"
ӝTheHalcyon
Pirate Cap'n, Reckless Thinker, Riot Mother
However. As much of a fan of science as I am, I continually hope that there will be something that we just never manage to figure out.
Science doesn't kill beauty...it only kills magic and romance.
Haly
ӝCoolhand2
Kills People While They Type
Remember, the answer is always 42.
"He who uses a stick in the dark is blind, but he who... sticks out in the dark is... fluorescent!"
ӝTheHalcyon
Pirate Cap'n, Reckless Thinker, Riot Mother
Haly
ӝCoolhand2
Kills People While They Type
Remember, the answer is always 42.
"He who uses a stick in the dark is blind, but he who... sticks out in the dark is... fluorescent!"
ӝTheHalcyon
Pirate Cap'n, Reckless Thinker, Riot Mother
Haly
ӝCoolhand2
Kills People While They Type
I've been told this more than a few times.
Remember, the answer is always 42.
"He who uses a stick in the dark is blind, but he who... sticks out in the dark is... fluorescent!"
¤Zunii
Has Seeker Sticky Grenades
I don't think this kind of study ruins the magic in it. As a matter of fact it makes it more fascinating to me. Knowing the mechanism of something doesn't necessarily make it less magical or awesome, at least to me.
I REGRET NOTHING!!!
ӝTheHalcyon
Pirate Cap'n, Reckless Thinker, Riot Mother
Haly
¤Zunii
Has Seeker Sticky Grenades
Your view is quite interesting as well. I think if I thought about something that much, it would scare me more D: The thing you said about flying: I understand, generally, how planes are able to fly. I'm not afraid to fly at all, but I think if I really thought about it it would scare the crap outta me. Or maybe I just study too much about meteorology >.>
I REGRET NOTHING!!!
ɤmonchee
Retro Gamer
ӝTheHalcyon
Pirate Cap'n, Reckless Thinker, Riot Mother
Haly
ɤmonchee
Retro Gamer
ӝTheHalcyon
Pirate Cap'n, Reckless Thinker, Riot Mother
or
Haly
ӝspot
Chief Instigator
Magic is just a myth.
I, Gamer!
ӝTheHalcyon
Pirate Cap'n, Reckless Thinker, Riot Mother
"That's the whole problem with science. You've got empiricists trying to describe things of unimaginable wonder."
Does knowing the science make it any less beautiful to look at? No. Not one bit. But I do think it takes some of the wonder out of the experience.
Magic is in how we perceive the world.
Haly