U.S. successfully tests ICBM interceptor to defend against North Korea

I've only featured North Korea and the responses to its actions in two posts, Dr. Evil airs his grievances for Festivus plus bonus cybersecurity news and North Korea tests fifth nuclear device.  It's time for a third look at its capabilities.

In addition to the Hermit Kingdom's cyberwarfare and nuclear weapons technology, the third member of the Axis of Evil also poses a threat through its missile program.  This week, the United States demonstrated its readiness to counter North Korea by testing an ICBM interceptor.  Newsy reports.

For the first time ever, the Defense Department has tested a ground-based missile system on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

That's not all.  TomoNewsUS has more details along with reports of other efforts to counter North Korea's missile program in US intercepts ICBM-class target in missile test in wake of North Korea threat.

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA — The Pentagon successfully shot down an intercontinental ballistic missile target using its upgraded long-range interceptor missile in a missile test on Tuesday.

The ground-based defense interceptor was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California while the ICBM-class target was launched 4,200 miles away from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

A ground-based defense system flies into the path of an incoming missile target before releasing an Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle. The kill vehicle destroys the target by sheer force of impact outside the earth’s atmosphere. CNN reported that the missile test is the first test of the interceptor using an upgraded Kill Vehicle.

“This system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we have a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat. I am incredibly proud of the warfighters who executed this test and who operate this system every day,” ABC News quoted Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Adm. Jim Syring as saying.

Tensions between North Korea and the U.S. are running high lately. North Korea has launched a series of missile tests recently, including a short-range ballistic missile that landed in the Sea of Japan on May 28.

Just as I did in Electron rocket launches in New Zealand, I'm finding TomoNewsUS's perspective useful in covering news.  It's not just for laughs anymore.

Electron rocket launches in New Zealand

I've been paying nearly all my attention in commercial space to Elon Musk's SpaceX, including last month's serious SpaceX launches and recovers a reused rocket and silly SpaceX launch you up.  Musk has competitors and one of them registered a success last week, as CNBC reported in RocketLab Succeeded In Its Orbital Rocket Launch.

A Silicon Valley-founded venture has successfully launched a 3D-printed rocket into space.

That's good news.  TomoNewsUS has more on Electron and other recent space developments in Rocket Lab Electron launch: New Zealand joins space race with 3D-printed rocket

The Rocket Lab Electron is made of carbon composite material, and its rocket boosters use 3D-printed Rutherford engines, according to the Rocket Lab website.

The rocket’s first stage has a cluster of nine electric engines that burn liquid oxygen and refined kerosene. The second stage has a single vacuum-optimized engine that can carry payloads weighing up to 225 kilograms.

The Electron rocket will deliver small satellites into space. They will be used for mapping, to predict the weather, provide high-speed internet, and analyse the environment.

Rocket Lab plans to complete three test launches before the Electron is available commercially. The company plans to eventually build and launch one rocket per week, with flights costing around US$5 million.

Looks like NASA's SLS will be in a race with SpaceX taking tourists around Earth's moon, even if neither side acknowledges it.  If so, that should make both missions even more interesting.

Drink to Chernobyl 30 years later

I introduced Drink to nuclear reactors on the anniversary of Three Mile Island by noting the proximity on the calendar of the three most famous nuclear disasters.

March is a good month for this drink.  Fukushima happened on March 11, 2011, and Three Mile Island happened on March 28, 1979.  As for Chernobyl, that has to wait until next month, when April 26 will be the 30th anniversary of the disaster.

That was yesterday.  I then concluded with this program note.

I already have an appropriate drink selected for the 30th anniversary of Chernobyl...

With that introduction, I'll leave the serious observations of yesterday's anniversary over the jump and begin with the drink humor from Tipsy Bartender: How to make the Nuclear Rainbow.

It's a beautiful drink and it's very potent....THE NUCLEAR RAINBOW! This is a layered cocktail with a gorgeous array of colors. This drink is all about presentation and perfect for impressing your friends with your awesome bartending skills! The layering effect takes some practice so watch and learn how to do it successfully. Layering is a great skill to have in your repertoire and if you can master it you'll be able to make all kinds of badass cocktails like this one!
...
NUCLEAR RAINBOW
1oz Melon Liqueur
1oz Sweet & Sour
1oz Grenadine
1oz Blue Curacao
1oz Bacardi 151

I picked this drink because of the colors seen from the open reactor core.

A shimmering plume of rainbow-colored light shot straight up, lighting the sky for miles. According to our guide, some residents rushed closer to watch the exploding reactor — unaware of the danger — later claiming it was the most beautiful thing they’d ever seen.

On that note, follow over the jump for more serious videos about the disaster.

Solar Impulse 2 lands in California

The last I wrote about Solar Impulse 2, the plane had landed in Hawaii.  That was in July.  It took until yesterday for it to complete the next leg of its around-the-world flight.  CNN has the story in Solar-powered plane lands in California.

An experimental plane flying around the world without a single drop of fuel landed in California after a two-and-a-half day flight across the Pacific. Video footage from KGO.

CNN has more in Solar Impulse 2 lands in California after Pacific flight.

An experimental plane flying around the world without a single drop of fuel landed in California after a two-and-a-half day flight across the Pacific.

Piloted by Swiss explorer and psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard, Solar Impulse 2 touched down in Mountain View just before midnight (3 a.m. ET).
...
The plane took off from Hawaii on Thursday, resuming a journey that had stalled on the island of Oahu for almost 10 months.

Tomonews had more about that 10 month day last week in Solar Impulse to set to resume round-the-world journey in late April.

HONOLULU — Solar Impulse 2, an aircraft that is attempting to make the first round-the-world solar-powered flight, is set to resume its journey in late April.

Solar Impulse 2 left Abu Dhabi on March 9, 2015 and had flown to Muscat, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Mandalay, Chongqing, Nanjing, Nagoya and Hawaii, where it has been grounded since July after its batteries were damaged on the trip from Japan.

The plane's batteries became overheated after a quick ascent on the first day during the flight from Nagoya to Hawaii. The batteries had to be replaced before the plane could resume flying.

"The first half of the adventure was already a success, because we showed that solar energy made it possible to fly five days and five nights, and remaining airborne longer than any plane in history," Bertrand Piccard, one of the two pilots of the plane told The Billionaire.

The plane is ready to depart in late April, depending on the weather. It will continue the remaining half of its journey from Hawaii to North America, southern Europe before returning to Abu Dhabi this summer.

As soon as I watched the video last week, I had a feeling the plane would be flying on Earth Day.  I was right.

Stay tuned for more updates on the plane's circumnavigation of the planet, including its stops in the U.S. and eventual return to Abu Dhabi.

Impacts and near misses for Apophis Day 2016

I opened and closed Yuri's Night 2016 by mentioning the proxity of two days about space that I celebrate on this blog.

Tomorrow is Yuri's Night followed by Apophis Day.  I don't think I realized that I celebrate two space days one right after the other, the first about the promise of space and the second about its perils.  Now that I do, I'm appreciating the juxtaposition.

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Stay tuned for stories about near misses and other risks from space in tomorrow's Apophis Day post.

It turns out last month was an active month for misses and at least one actual collision.  I begin with Jupiter Collision! Impact Burst Captured By Amateur Astronomer from Space.com.

John McKeon captured an impact on the gas giant on March 17th, 2016 (00:18:45 UT). The video was snapped using an an 11" SCT with an ASI120mm camera and Ir-pass 742nm filter. It was most likely an asteroid or comet colliding with Jupiter.

Space.com has more on this impact and a history of others with Jupiter that have been observed since 1994.

Next, Wochit News reported Comet Speeds By Earth on March 22nd.

This morning a comet sped past Earth, coming closer to our planet than all but two other space objects in recorded history. It will be another 150 years before another comet comes as close. The comet was still a safe 2.2 million miles away, and was only visible through a telescope. The fly-by was an excellent opportunity for NASA scientists to work on the advancement of the study of comets. The study of comets aides in a better understanding of the universe, as well as providing information on how to handle a possible asteroid strike on Earth.

The last close encounter for March was reported a month in advance by Tomonews US: Asteroid near miss: NASA says 2013-TX68 could pass as close as 11,000 miles from Earth

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced on Tuesday that an asteroid could pass extremely close to Earth next month, much closer than the Moon.

Asteroid 2013 TX68 will make its closest pass by Earth on March 5. The asteroid, which has a diameter of 100 feet (30 meters), could pass as far out as 9 million miles (14 million kilometers) or as close as 11,000 miles (17,000 kilometers). The average distance of the Moon from the Earth, by comparison, is 238,555 miles (384,400 kilometers), according to NASA.

According to NASA, the variation in the distance depends on the trajectory of the asteroid, which scientists could not predict, since they were only able to track the asteroid for a few days after it was discovered on Oct. 6, 2013.

What NASA scientists are sure about is that there is no chance the asteroid could hit the Earth this time, although there is a 1-in-250-million chance it could hit our planet on its next pass, on Sep. 28, 2017.

Even if it does hit the Earth, it is too small to cause any real damage. It would likely break up in the atmosphere and blow apart in an explosion from an incoming asteroid called an "air burst."

Follow over the jump for a year's worth of stories from Tomonews about asteroid near misses plus a warning from Wochit about comets.

Al Jazeera America shutting down as oil subsidy dries up

Three years ago, I was asking Will Al Jazeera America hire Keith Olbermann?  (The answer was no.)  A few months after that, I announced that Al Jazeera America was premiering that day.  The next year, the cable channel contacted me as a source for a story.  I enjoyed that.

Now, I have sad news to report via USA Today: Al Jazeera America to shut down.

Al Jazeera America, the American cable news outlet owned by Qatar-based Al Jazeera, plans to shut down less than three years after its much-ballyhooed launch, unable to overcome low ratings, operational problems and a lack of advertisers.

The cable news network will be phased out by April 30, according to a memo that was emailed to staffers Wednesday. "As many as 700 staff members" could lose their jobs, CNN reported, citing unnamed sources. Al Jazeera couldn't be immediately reached to verify the number of people affected by the move. The NewsGuild of New York, the union that began representing 46 digital journalists at Al Jazeera America last year, says it was told by the company that it has a total of 291 employees.

Al Jazeera Media Network, which is funded by the government of Qatar, launched the U.S.-based network in August, 2013 after buying Current TV, the cable news channel co-founded by Al Gore, for about $500 million earlier in the year.

The decision to go out of business was “driven by the fact that our business model is simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges in the U.S. media marketplace,” AJAM CEO Al Anstey was quoted as saying in an AJAM report.

TomoNews US includes their snarky speculation about what made their business model unsustainable in Al Jazeera America shutting down: AJ pulls the plug on U.S. operations as oil prices plunge.

Many are speculating that plunging oil prices ultimately led to the channel's demise as Al Jazeera is owned by energy-rich Qatar.

It didn't help that no one was watching, with prime-time ratings sometimes struggling to exceed 30,000 viewers.

Looks like oil falling to 12-year lows dragged more than stocks down with it.  I'm sorry to read this, as I appreciated Al Jazeera's investigative reporting and presentation without sensationalism.  In that, I'll echo what Al Jazeera America CEO Al Anstey wrote in an email to his employees: "I know the closure of AJAM will be a massive disappointment for everyone here who has worked tirelessly for our long-term future. The decision that has been made is in no way because AJAM has done anything but a great job. Our commitment to great journalism is unrivaled."

Halloween and Friday the 13th bring space visitors

I haven't posted about asteroids and the threat of asteroid collision since July.  Three months later, nature is providing me the opportunity, as two space objects will visit Earth over the next three weeks.

The first is the "Great Pumpkin" asteroid, which will pass by Earth with 300,000 miles on Halloween.  TomoNews US gives its slightly silly take on the story in Halloween asteroid flyby will 'narrowly' miss Earth at the end of October.

MAUI, HAWAII — Scientists at NASA's Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii say that an unusually large and fast asteroid will fly by Earth this Halloween. The asteroid, named 2015 TB145, came as a surprise to the scientists, who spotted it less than two weeks ago.

The asteroid's flyby is expected to happen on October 31st, when it will pass within 310,000 miles, or 1.3 lunar distances, from Earth at an "unusually" high velocity of nearly 78,000 miles per hour. 2015 TB145 has an "eccentric" and "high-inclination" orbit, which may explain its late discovery.

Estimated to be between 920 to 2,000 feet in diameter, the asteroid may seem far away enough, but actually it is flying by Earth dangerously close for an object of its size. According to NASA, if an asteroid of its size and velocity was to hit Earth, it would devastating our planet.

Scientists say the next time any celestial object this large will pass by this close to Earth will be in 2027 when the mile-wide AN10 asteroid passes within one lunar distance.

Fortunately, the fly-by will be an exciting near-miss.

The next scary day will be Friday the 13th, which brings its own visitor from space.  Unlike the asteroid, this one will collide with Earth.  Fortunately, it's much smaller and was originally from this planet in the first place.  Teletechnology brings the story of WT1190F, whimsically called "WTF."

WT1190F is predicted to crash into the Indian Ocean on 13 November. The object, dubbed WT1190F, is set to land in the Indian Ocean, around 40 miles (65km) off the southern tip of Sri Lanka, at 6:20 UTC on 13 November. It measures up to 7ft (2 metres) long and it could be a piece of rocket stage from a recent lunar mission, or even part of an Apollo program craft that has been in space for more than 40 years.

This will be much less dangerous than an asteroid impact, although I wouldn't want to be in a boat inside the expected debris field.  Pieces of metal falling at terminal velocity might be terminal for anyone in their way.  Just the same, this will provide a good opportunity for scientists to observe how spacecraft break up in the atmosphere and it will also remove one more piece of space junk.  Good viewing and good riddance!

Drinks for the Democratic debates: O'Malley, Webb, and Chafee

Before I get to the drinks, I'll let Tomo News US have its snarky take on tonight's debate.

There's blood in the water as Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders prepare for the first democratic debate of the 2016 race. Three no-name candidates will also be on stage taking cheap shots at the frontrunners. Odds are we can say goodbye to Jim Webb, Lincoln Chafee and Martin O'Malley. Gosh, we hardly knew they existed.

I don't think that the snarky Taiwanese animators are right about O'Malley, Webb, and Chafee dropping out just yet, but just in case, I'm sharing drink recipes and suggestions for them to go along with those for Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and even Joe Biden to go along with Paul W.'s Democratic Debate Drinking Game for October 2015.

I'll start with Martin O'Malley.  According to Berniementum, "the signature cocktail of Maryland is the Black-Eyed Susan, and the signature soft drink is ginger ale."  Here is the recipe from MyRecipes.com.

Black-eyed Susan Cocktail

This cocktail's name is taken from the flowers used to make the blanket that drapes the winning horse at the Preakness.

Ingredients

3/4 cup orange juice $
1/2 cup pineapple juice $
3 tablespoons vodka $
3 tablespoons light rum $
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
Crushed ice
Garnishes: lime slices, fresh cherries

Preparation

1. Stir together first 5 ingredients. Fill 2 (12-oz.) glasses with crushed ice. Pour orange juice mixture over ice. Garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.

For readers who want something in between a cocktail and a soft drink, Vinepair has a beer suggestion.

[W]e find Martin O’Malley kind of boring mysterious. Luckily for him, he’s from Maryland, the home of one of our favorite beer bosses – Dogfish Head.

And now, the rules.

• If anyone else quotes a line from the TV show The Wire to O'Malley's face, take a drink.
• If the line is from Omar, mutter "A man gotta have a code" and take two drinks.
• If O'Malley tries to hit Hillary on an issue, shout at the screen "Yo Bey you come at the queen you best not miss" and take a drink.
• If O'Malley brings up his Irish background, refuse to drink.  Dammit, have some standards.

Follow over the jump for drink suggestions for Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee.

The case for colonizing space

I warned about what could go wrong with the future in Burning all fossil fuels could melt Antarctica.  What, from my perspective, could go right?  We could be able to continue to explore space.  WatchMojo explains why that would be a good idea in Top 10 Reasons To Live On Another Planet.

Space – not only the final frontier, but also humanity's future... if we so choose.

As I wrote in Stephen Hawking is a Crazy Eddie:

Dr. Hawking expresses the ultimate reason why I support space exploration.  Not only is it a sign of an advancing technological civilization, it's a way to avoid collapse altogether.  There are worse consequences from the archetypal science-fiction tragic plot of withdrawing from space than mere loss of technological superiority.  It could ultimately lead to extinction.

Follow over the jump for how another Crazy Eddie, Elon Musk, thinks we might be able to colonize Mars.

First Courser and Gamrat, now Kelly and Mack

It's not just Michigan's Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat acting like "dinghy lovebirds."  Minnesota has its own part of hot-to-trot state legislators, Tim Kelly and Tara Mack.  TomoNews US reports in Minnesota lawmakers caught 'making out' in car park say they were exchanging documents.

A couple of Minnesota lawmakers are scrambling for cover after news they were busted for allegedly making out in a car park late last month recently leaked out.

Lawmakers Tim Kelly and Tara Mack who are both married, but not to each other, vehemently deny the accusation, contained in a public nuisance citation from a park ranger.

The citation stems from an incident that took place at around 4.30pm on August 25 in a Lebanon Hills Regional Park parking lot in Eagan.

Dakota County Parks Ranger Jordan Moses said he approached two vehicles that were illegally parked, where he found the male occupant of the vehicle, Kelly, 'was making out with female in car. When I approached the female's pants were unzipped and pulled down.'

What's with Republican lawmakers in states beginning with MI?

At least one Michigan legislator is taking no chances of being caught up in this mess, as MLive reports.

Michigan state Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Saginaw Township, took to Facebook to clear up any confusion: "Apparently there is a State Rep in Minnesota making the news named Tim Kelly who's philandering with another elected official, much like MI's own Courser/Gamrat fiasco. THIS IS NOT ME!!!!"

Thanks for clearing that up.

For what it's worth, the snarky Taiwanese animators have not yet put together a video about Courser and Gamrat.  I've asked if they could.  I'm sure the results would be hilarious, but I'm content to wait.

Speaking of waiting, please stay tuned for the regular Sunday entertainment entry.

Drink to Deez Nuts for President

In case my readers aren't finding the presidential contest enough of a joke, TomoNewsUS reported Deez Nuts 2016: Deez Nuts to run for president, beating Hillary Clinton on Twitter.

WALLINGFORD, IOWA -A new, hopeful third force in American politics has thrown his hat into the ring for next year's Presidential election, just when we thought the race was gonna be another routine two horse slog.

This gave Tipsy Bartender a golden opportunity to craft a drink for a candidate other than Donald Trump.  Therefore, today's lesson consists of Skyy and Brittany preparing the Deez Nuts For President Fishbowl.

Once Deez Nuts entered the presidential race we knew we had to make a drink for him! Check out this cocktail...DEEZ NUTS!!!
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DEEZ NUTS FOR PRESIDENT FISHBOWL
Baileys Irish Cream
Vanilla Vodka
Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
Frangelico
Butterscotch Schnapps

Strawberries
Oreos
M&M's
Butterfinger
Almond Joy
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
Chocolate Syrup
Whipped Cream
Nuts

It looks like it will be a long campaign season and the best coping strategy seems to be to drink heavily.

Colony collapse disorder: Student sustainability video festival 44

It's time to resume where I left off in Bottled water: Student sustainability video festival 43 with the next installment in this series, two videos about honeybees and colony collapse disorder.  First, TIME Explains: Why Bees Are Going Extinct.

The bees are dying and we're to blame. TIME's Bryan Walsh explains colony collapse disorder, and why bees are on the verge of extinction.

Next, TomoNews US reported Neonicotinoids banned in EU: How they harm bees.

The EU has voted to ban the use of three of the most widely used neonicotinoid pesticides over fears they are linked to a decrease in bee populations across the continent.

Neonicotinoids are a popular type of insecticide, because they are highly effective against many kinds of insects, but thought to be harmless to other animals. It was previously thought that bees were not affected by neonicotinoids.

Seed is treated with neonicotinoid pesticide, then coated with talc. The pesticide persists in the environment and in the plants, including the pollen, which bees carry back to the hive. Neonicotinoids bind irreversibly to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of an insect's central nervous system. It is claimed that once exposed to neonicotinoid pesticides, bees have trouble finding their hives and suffer a range of other detrimental effects, eventually resulting in the collapse of the hive.

The EU pesticide ban will only cover three kinds of neonicotinoids used on flowering crops that are attractive to bees and will last for a period of two years.

I have shared two videos from my students about colony collapse disorder, Student sustainability video festival 19: Singing Honey Bees and Disappearing bees and Doctor Who: student sustainability video festival 33.  These videos put the topic right up there with bottled water, nuclear disasters, and the Pacific Garbage Patch as popular subjects for talks with good videos.

Stay tuned for more videos in this series along with the monthly meta.

Leap second today

I made the following program note in the middle of A drink for Father's Day on the Summer Solstice.

Normally, today is called "the longest day of the year."  That isn't strictly true.

While we say longest “day” in regards to Sunday, the 24-hour period known as a day won’t be any longer.

The longest actual “day” or 24-hour period of the year will actually be June 30th, during the leap second.  A full second has to be added to clocks to keep everything (atomic clocks, etc.) in synch with earth’s slowing rotation.  That’s truly the longest “day” for a while.

I'll see if I remember that factoid for the final entry of June.

I remembered!  Now follow over the jump for videos from TomoNews US and HBO's Last Week Tonight about tonight's leap second.

MERS outbreak in South Korea

As I have done every summer for the past four years, I'm teaching Biology II (Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ecology).  I began the biodiversity part last week with the origin of life and then launched into viruses yesterday.  Since I know my audience (the class is full of people who want to work in the medical field as doctors, dentists, and veterinarians), I emphasized disease-causing viruses, especially those in the news.  At the end of the lecture, I offered my students a choice between watching a video about either Ebola or MERS as examples of emerging diseases.  They voted for MERS and got this video from DNews added last week: Should You Be Worried About MERS?

There is currently a MERS outbreak in South Korea that has quarantined thousands. What is MERS?

That video was posted on Saturday.  Since then, the number of deaths has doubled.  TomoNewsUS has the story in MERS outbreak in South Korea: 6 dead, 87 infected, 2,300 under quarantine- TomoNews.

SEOUL — Some 2,300 people have been quarantined in South Korea to prevent the further spread of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, which has already killed six people and infected at least 87.

My students were suitably impressed.  Just the same, Ebola, this isn't.  Instead, MERS acts like a really nasty flu.  That's enough to warrant coverage here, as I followed the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 flu seasons pretty closely.  Here's to South Korea getting the outbreak under control before it spreads out of the country.

25 years of the Hubble Space Telescope

I interrupt the celebration of Earth Week on this blog to turn my attention skyward to mark the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope.

I begin with Hubble Space Telescope itself, which posted Hubble at 25 on New Year's Eve.

This is a preview of the 13-part video series that will showcase the Hubble Space Telescope as it's never been seen before. For the past 25 years Hubble has transformed our view of the universe, become a cultural icon, and even contributed to medical technology, among its many other accomplishments.

Click here for the playlists that the video promises.  Follow over the jump for videos from Reuters and TomoNews US about today's anniversary.

Asteroid redirect for Apophis Day

Happy Apophis Day!  Frequent readers know that April 13th is the day I declared to be Apophis Day in honor of the two predicted fly-byes of Earth by the asteroid Apophis on future April 13ths.  Therefore, it's the date I dedicate to the possibility of an asteroid collision with our planet.

For today's celebration, I present TomoNewsUS reporting Asteroid hitting Earth: NASA Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) will use Enhanced Gravity Tractor.


If that mission looks familiar, it's because I included it as one of the headline stories in Asteroids--near miss and capture plans--in this week's space and astronomy news.  It's also another reason to root for the success of Orion.  Either way, it's definitely a Crazy Eddie scheme.  I approve.

Jerry Brown announces water restrictions for California

The last time Jerry Brown was mentioned on this blog, he was calling Agenda 21 paranoid Ted Cruz "unfit for office" based on the Cruz's climate change denial.  That was last week.  This week, he let the other shoe drop after last year's 100% of California in drought and Hottest year ever in California.  Since I'd rather laugh than cry, I'll let TomoNewsUS (formerly Next Media Animation) tell the story in California drought: Jerry Brown wants Californians to stop wasting water for 9 months.

Governor Jerry Brown held a press conference on the snowless slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains yesterday to announce the first ever mandatory statewide water reductions for Californians.

Yes, things have gotten that bad.  Still, it will probably work better than Lady Gaga doing a water conservation PSA, even though that was more fun to write about.

Another asteroid fly-by today

It's time for another Apophis Day update, this time from TomoNews US (formerly Next Media Animation): Asteroid 2004 BL86 will fly so close to earth Monday that it will be visible from small telescopes.

A half-kilometer-long asteroid will fly past earth on Monday (January 26), approaching as close as 1.2 million km from the planet, about three times the distance from earth to the moon.

The clip actually mentions the approach of Apophis, although not by that name, in 2027 as the next scheduled close fly-by.  However, I'm sure there will be lots of asteroids that will come closer and not be seen until a few days before the encounter between now and then.  May none of them result in an example of in Russia, space explore you.

Third American doctor infected and other Ebola news

It's Monday, so it's time for more on the Ebola outbreak.  This morning's lead story is Massachusetts doctor infected with Ebola.  Here is the video from CNN.

Dr. Rick Sacra is the third American physician to be diagnosed with Ebola while working in Liberia.

The University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he is a professor, posted Debbie Sacra requests prayers for husband and practical help for Ebola-stricken Liberia by Sandra Gray and Bryan Goodchild on September 04, 2014.

Wife of American doctor infected with Ebola addresses news media at UMass Medical School

In response to the outpouring of concern about her husband, Richard Sacra, MD, who is the third American doctor to be infected with Ebola in Liberia, Debbie Sacra shared a message of gratitude and hope at a press conference held today at UMass Medical School.

Mrs. Sacra’s comments came moments after the announcement from the international Christian mission organization SIM that Dr. Sacra is being transported from Liberia to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, which has a biocontainment patient care unit, for treatment.

“He walked onto the plane and he is in good spirits,” said Mrs. Sacra. She fought back tears while expressing her hopes for his recovery, and thanked the media for bringing attention to the plight of Liberians “who needed a hospital to open” whether for malaria treatment, maternity care or other medical care.

UMass Medical School faculty joined Mrs. Sacra in commenting on the situation in UMMS faculty speak on colleague diagnosed with Ebola.

Dr. Warren Ferguson and Dr. Virginia Van Duyne worked with Dr. Richard Sacra and spoke briefly about their relationship with Dr. Sacra, UMMS Assistant Professor of Family Medicine & Community Health, and his work in Worcester and elsewhere.

Dr. Sacra has spent much of his career working overseas, including nearly two decades in Liberia. He has a faculty appointment at UMMS as an assistant professor of family medicine & community health, as a function of teaching in the medical school’s residency program at the Family Health Center of Worcester when he returns to the U.S. for periodic respite visits.

Dr. Sacra left Liberia to be treated in the U.S.  Reuters reported on his progress in U.S. missionary with Ebola showing signs of improvement, wife says.

The third U.S. medical missionary to become infected with the Ebola virus was showing signs of improvement Saturday at a Nebraska hospital but was still very ill, his wife said.

Dr. Rick Sacra, a 51-year-old Boston physician, arrived Friday at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for treatment after being flown there from Liberia, one of five West African countries affected by an outbreak of the virus.

"Rick is very sick and weak, but slightly improved from when he arrived yesterday," Debbie Sacra said Saturday. "He asked for something to eat and had a little chicken soup," she said.

Here's to a successful recovery, just like the other two U.S. physicians who came back to be treated.

Follow over the jump for other news about the epidemic from the past week, including statements from President Obama and the director of the WHO and the scariest silent video about the epidemic one could possibly watch.

U.S. Population growth slowing down

I opened and closed A new year in space and other space and astronomy news by looking ahead to writing about population.

After two snow days, today is now the first day of classes for the new semester.  Normally, I'd post something related to my teaching; in fact, I have two articles about population that would serve nicely.
...
Stay tuned for more, including the population stories I promised at the beginning of this entry.

It's time to follow through.

In tonight's installment, I have two articles from the Washington Post conveying news that doesn't surprised me.  First, Population gains at near-historic lows
By Carol Morello
Published: December 30

The population of the United States is growing more slowly than it has since the Great Depression in what demographers say is a reflection of the recession’s lingering effects on people’s behavior.

New population estimates released Monday by the Census Bureau show the nation added about 2.2 million residents in 2013. On New Year’s Day, the census projected, the U.S. population will surpass 317 million people, a one-year increase of 0.7 percent.

The last time the nation grew at a slower pace was in the heart of the Great Depression, from 1932 to 1937, according to an analysis by demographer William Frey of the Brookings Institution.

I could see this coming more than two years ago, when I posted Next Media Animation thinks low birth rates in the U.S. and China aren't all good.  Take it away, LiAnn!

US birth rates have been falling ever since the recession started, and studies show that this year they've fallen even more! In 2007, there were over 4.3 million babies born, the most ever. It's supposed to go up every year. But now it's down to 4 million. This year, young women from their teens to early 20s have the lowest birth rate ever!

She's right; the economy is the best form of birth control.

A companion article, Census: North Dakota, South and West adding population fastest, includes interactive maps of population growth by percentage and absolute number for every state.  Here's the non-interactive map of percent population group from that article.


Note the dark green for North Dakota.

North Dakota...added 22,000 residents over the past year. That was a 3.1 percent population increase, the highest of any state in the country, fueled by an energy boom in the Bakken oil fields that has pushed the state’s unemployment rate down to 2.6 percent.

The next the fastest percentage growth occured in Utah, which increased its population just 1.6%, just over half of North Dakota's.  The difference there is that people are moving to North Dakota; they're being born in Utah.  Texas came in third with 1.5%, where both births and immigration are likely equally responsible.

What about the states with the greatest absolute growth?

Texas added more residents, 387,000, than any other state, the estimates show. California, which added 332,000 residents over the past year, is the first state to top 38 million in population.
...
And despite news reports last week that suggested New York could lose its position as the nation’s third-largest state to Florida, the Census Bureau said the Empire State kept its narrow lead. New York had 19,651,127 residents as of this July, the estimates show, fewer than 100,000 ahead of Florida’s 19,552,860 residents. Florida grew by 1.2 percent, adding 232,000 residents over the last year, while New York added just 75,000 people — an increase of 0.4 percent. Those trends suggest Florida will surpass New York in the 2014 estimates.

After Florida, it's a long way down to North Carolina in fourth with 99,696 new residents.

As for Michigan, the Great Lakes State actually gained population last year, with 13,103 new residents for a growth rate of 0.1%.  It's not much, but it beats being the only state to lose population in the 2010 census.

I have another article about population growth slowing down in the rest of the world, but I'll save that for another entry.