Tag Archives: getting a grip

Super-Duper Super Earths and the Search for Life

This week, I’ll talk about Professor Ethan Siegel’s view that “the myth of the super-habitable super-Earth planet” is “a scientific catastrophe”, other non-catastrophes; and a problem with “super-Earths” as a label. Along the way I’ll look at science, news, headlines … Continue reading

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Commercial Space Services and Changing Times

This week I’ll talk about the SpaceX Starship and ispace test flights. Whether or not they were successful depends on who’s talking. I’ll also look at the usual hand-wringing over threats to the status quo. News and Views The SpaceX … Continue reading

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ChatGPT and the End of Civilization as We Know It

I’ll be talking about ChatGPT, artificial intelligence, and why I don’t think we’re doomed. Search Engines, Iron Gall Ink and Me I’ll start by admitting that I’m a human. Furthermore, I like technology. I’ve been using software and search engines … Continue reading

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Peril in Orion! Beware Betelgeuse?

Betelgeuse, the bright red star in Orion’s right shoulder, is a semiregular variable star, with small periods of 185 days and 2,100 days and a main period of around 400 days. It will explode at any moment, and we’re right … Continue reading

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Pax Romana, Caligula: Fiend, Monster, or Baddie?

Caligula is currently famous, or infamous, for being a stark-raving-mad monster with no redeeming qualities. Although scholars have been acknowledging that we don’t actually know much about him. I’m not about to try rehabilitating Caligula’s image. But I’ve got suspicions … Continue reading

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