Category Archives: News

Career, Culture, News, Random, Science

Discoveries by amateurs set astronomy apart in science

Discoveries by amateurs set the field of astronomy apart from other fields of science in an era where professionally-trained Ph.D.s dominate research. The recent discovery of a dark spot on Jupiter by astronomy enthusiast Anthony Wesley of North Canberra, Australia, is just the latest example.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Wesley spotted the new dark spot on Jupiter early Tuesday morning with his 14.5-inch reflecting telescope, a type of telescope commonly used by backyard observers because of the relatively low cost and high resolution. Wesley’s setup cost about $10,000, a bargain compared to the millions required for smaller professional telescope facilities.

14-inch reflecting telescope

Wesley reported his discovery of the dark spot, possibly the result of a comet striking the planet and leaving behind a dark impact crater, in an observation report that he posted online, according to the New York Times.

Professional astronomers at NASA facility followed up the report with the NASA telescope on Mauna Kea on the Big Island and found his assessment of an impact crater to be likely correct.

In an era where scientific discoveries are generally the domain of highly trained professionals, an important discovery by an amateur serves to remind us that science grew into what it is today because of good old-fashioned curiosity.

humor, Random, Travel, Weather

San Francisco’s wintry summer

I travel to San Francisco often for business and leisure. It’s just a hop over the pond from Hawaii, and I was thinking recently of planning a visit this summer. Then remembered to my dismay that it’s July — the worst time of year to go.  Not because of crowds, but because of the weather. This may seem odd because the middle of summer may  seem like  the best time of year to visit any city at the edge of a temperate zone. But SF is different.

Locals and former residents aside, most casual travelers aren’t aware that winter typically happens in June or July, exactly the opposite of when it’s expected. So when all of the summer tourists are in town shivering in the drizzle at the Wharf or Chinatown, February looms like a beacon of pleasantness–light crowds, balmy weather, off-season discounts and tables open at the finest restaurants.

Mark Twain said, ” the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Wise words to travel by. I’ve decided to go in February instead.

Culture, Family, Health, humor, Lifestyle, News, Random, Science

Fat and Happy Together?

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A  study published recently in the journal Obesity shows that people in romantic relationships are more likely to become fat. The researchers analyzed two large sets of data to spot the correlation. They found that couples who lived together for two or more years were more likely to overeat at meal times, exercise less and plop down on the couch more than singles or people not living with a romantic partner. So is there now hard evidence to back up the cliche of being fat and happy?

Fat and happy together?

There’s certainly data showing we’re getting fatter as a state and nation. Hawaii has one of the highest rates of obesity in the US. In 2004 (the latest State data), the State Department of Health reports that 49.5% of people living in Hawaii are either overweight or obese. In case you weren’t following, that’s half the population here. Worse, obesity rates in Hawaii have been increasing over the past ten years, just like those on the Mainland. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that in 2007, 21.7% of Hawaii residents were obese (excluding those who are overweight).

There’s also data to suggest that people may be happier with their relationships. CDC divorce statistics show that the divorce rate has decreased over the past ten years, down to 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2007 from 4.0 per 1,000 people in 2000 — just as the obesity rate has increased.

In Hawaii, divorce trends are equally rosy, with the rates declining to under 3.7 per 1,000 people in 2002 (The last year reported — Hawaii and a few other states no longer report divorce data to the CDC.) However, marriage rates are also declining, making it slightly more complicated to tease out why there are now fewer divorces in the US. But recent data suggest that when couples move in and get fat, they tend to stay together — right there on the couch in front of the TV with some ice cream.