Items of Interest

Using Birds To Gather Data

Audubon published an interesting piece about how researchers are using birds as research assistants, to gather data and/or infer data from their movements and habits. Examples include checking the type of vomit thrown up by western gulls to track the movement of whales, and putting sensors on cormorants to track sea level depth changes.

Space Speedometer

Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force have developed a speedometer device for space vehicles that measures the amount of space-plasma ions that hit both sides of the "dual-sensor laminated-head electrostatic analyzer", and measure the difference to calculate space speed.

9th Planet

Astronomers in Australia have uncovered some evidence that points to the possibility of a 9th planet deep in the solar system, which could take between 10,000 and 20,000 years to orbit the sun.

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