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23 December 2010
Frost Flowers In Alabama
A couple of viewers sent me some pictures of strange ice formations today. They are very beautiful (and rather rare) specimens of what are called “FROST FLOWERS”. They form in areas where the ground is still warm but the air is quite cold. You usually see them after a sudden but intense cold snap. I’ve only seen them one time, but have been on the lookout for them ever since! …
17 December 2010
The Scale of The Universe
Consider the dot at the end of this sentence. Imagine it is on a printed page instead of your computer. If it were, it would contain around 100 billion atoms of carbon. If you wanted to see those jiggling atoms with your own eye, you would have to enlarge that do to the size of 100 meters. About as big as a football (Euro or American) field. You would then …
1 September 2010
Denialism and The Age of Disinformation
Chris Mooney and Michael Specter along with others did a lecture at MIT last April. MIT has put the video up online and it is well worth a view. The topic was denialism and disinformation. How can so many people believe things that someone tells them with no critical thinking. (My post on Authoritarians goes along with this quite well I suspect) I regularly get asked if the world is …
24 August 2010
Are You An Authoritarian? (Some fascinating psychological research)
I recently read a fascinating book. It’s called the Authoritarians and it was written by Robert Altemeyer. Altemeyer is a professor of Psychology at the University of Manitoba. You can read his book online for free or buy it from amazon.com. I stumbled across it doing research on climate skepticism. I have often wondered why some people are totally immune to facts. I’m talking about the kind of person who, …
16 August 2010
iRenew and Q-Ray Scams- A Follow-Up
In the two months since I wrote the post about what a scam the iRenew bracelet was, I have had more comments than any other post I have ever written. Mostly from people who like me are amazed that people will fall for it. Many other comments explain very well why these scammers will make millions of dollars. The adverts are now all over Fox news and other outlets on …
5 July 2010
Science in America 2010- From The Guardian in London
In the same week that Dr. Michael Mann was completely cleared of charges that he was conducting science outside of normal standards comes this: Mann was the last one- every other person accused by those who poured through the stolen emails have already been completely cleared. The Guardian story pretty much explains the type of people that made the charges. Nutters. Dan
1 July 2010
Yet Another Magic Bracelet
So I go out to eat on my birthday Wednesday and what do I see? This sign at a fitness store next to my fave tex-mex place. Could it be another scam. Yes indeedy! I wonder how many thousands they have scammed?? Let’s take a look at their website and see what unscientific goodies we can find. Here is what they claim on their web site: •What is Power Balance? …
27 June 2010
I- Renew Bracelet – Why is MSNBC airing this Junk? (Are there really that many stupid people in America?)
(Note this post has been updated as of 15 Aug.) So I turn on MSNBC here in the hotel today to catch up on the days news and on pops this commercial for the i-Renew bracelet. Here is the advert below. I went to the company web site and they have a photo of a Mr. Scott Becker MD who is also in their commercial. Look at the quote: From …
3 June 2010
Where The Oil Will Go- Courtesy NCAR
Some ominous modeling data from the folks at the National Centers For Atmospheric Research (NCAR) today. The used a model to show where ocean currents may take the oil coming up in the Gulf. It’s important to realize that this is not a forecast of where the oil will be, but a model of where the currents would normally carry it. The NCAR explanation of this is below the video. …
25 May 2010
Satellite Pass Monday Gets Great View of Oil Spill- HUGE
The oil is as far west as Destin, Florida now but still off shore except in Louisiana. There is some good news. The winds in the gulf will be northerly for a few days and that should keep the oil from Alabama and Mississippi. For now. Keep in mind you are just seeing the thickest oil. It’s actually covering an even larger area than is visible from orbit. The astronauts …
Dan Satterfield has worked as an on air meteorologist for 32 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Forecasting weather is Dan's job, but all of Earth Science is his passion. This journal is where Dan writes about things he has too little time for on air. Dan blogs about peer-reviewed Earth science for Junior High level audiences and up.