Scotland aims to generate 10 percent of its electricity from tidal and wave power which would be equivalent to replacing a huge fossil fueled power station, the Scottish government said this week.

Cool.

Scotland set to harness tidal power

In a recent paper [1] and letter [2], Rusty Schweickart made some recommendations on dealing with the threat of a possible impact in 2036, and he called on further analysis to be done. This is my input to that analysis. Comments are welcome.

The most important thing that I propose is that deflection by the impact of a spacecraft is practical in this case. Such a mission could be done fairly quickly at a reasonable cost.

The asteroid under discussion, with the provisional designation 2004 MN4, has now been assigned the number 99942 and the name Apophis. (Apophis was the Greek name of the Egyptian god Apep, "the destroyer.") Therefore, I use this name below.

Something fun to do with this, enter the data at http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/impacteffects/ (previously linked here) and it'll give you an idea of what would happen if it does hit. It's pretty interesting.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT ASTEROID APOPHIS (2004 MN4)?

I love the USGS. This is the 5.6 outside Butte Montana this morning.

BUT_ELN_MB.2005072600.gif (GIF Image, 850x1390 pixels)

This is an mp3 of last year's earthquake in the Indian Ocean taken off underwater nuclear test microphones. Downright scary.

The Sumatra Earthquake

Polar sea ice formation and climate patterns drive large ocean circulation currents, which in turn affect local climates at moderate latitudes where most people live. A warmer world should fuel more precipitation, most experts agree.

For Antarctica, the new study concludes, the extra precipitation will mean deeper snow, which will suppress sea ice below, making it thicker over time.

It's not flat, it's Play-Doh!

Global Warming Might Create Lopsided Planet

"Strong earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone are certain to occur in the future," states a fact sheet from the U.S. Geological Survey. "There is a 9-in-10 chance of a magnitude 6 to 7 temblor occurring in the New Madrid Seismic Zone within the next 50 years."

I'd love to get the original article, but the $18 to Nature for it seems a bit steep.

New Data Confirms Strong Earthquake Risk to Central U.S.

] Some scientists now believe they may have finally
] discovered its root. We're all essentially mind readers,
] they say

Cool.

Scientists Say Everyone Can Read Minds

] Scientists now believe that there is an intrinsic logic
] to our reality, that there are absolutes, laws of nature.
] Much remains a mystery, and as one question is answered,
] many others arise. The question now facing Pennsylvania's
] Dover School District is whether or not the imposition of
] one creation belief on a multi-ethnic, secular student
] body is in keeping with the law that prohibits the
] creation of a state religion. If they allow one belief
] system to be taught, surely they must also teach others?
]
]
] To help out with this dilemma, LiveScience presents a
] list of those Creation Myths that helped define
] civilizations both past and present.

Ah, comedy!

The Top 10 Intelligent Designs (or Creation Myths)

] According to their controversial study, an explosion of
] the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma could
] send a chunk of rock twice the size of the Isle of Wight
] into the Atlantic at up to 220 miles an hour.

That's a BIG rock!

Scientists: Volcano Could Swamp U.S. with Mega-Tsunami