Comments on: The best bang since the big one http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:26:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Seed's Daily Zeitgeist: 6/12/2007 - General Science http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38006 Seed's Daily Zeitgeist: 6/12/2007 - General Science Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:26:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38006 [...] Did the Earth Move for You? Find out just how much the Earth moved while your attention was elsewhere. (via Phil) [...] […] Did the Earth Move for You? Find out just how much the Earth moved while your attention was elsewhere. (via Phil) […]

]]> By: EricJP http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38005 EricJP Sun, 17 Jun 2007 06:01:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38005 It sometimes boggles the imagination that all of this motion is taking place. To our senses we think of being in 'one place', such as sitting at a computer. But as each second goes by, that 'place' is 183,633.3 miles away (according to the calculator). Every single atom in your body, the chair, the computer, the digital bits have all shifted through the universe. It introduces a sense of non-reality to think that this goes on every instant of every day...being shifted through space-time in a coherent pattern. The science behind how we do that gets a little wonky as we look at the details of it. You have never occupied the same 'place' within the universe for more than an instant, no matter how many times you've sat in the same chair or walked to the fridge that holds the ice cold refreshment you put there yesterday. It's a good thing we can't perceive of all this motion going on, besides the wretching sense of vertigo it would create, we'd also have to take some responsibility to maintain the illusion. It's better on auto-pilot...makes it easier to type. It sometimes boggles the imagination that all of this motion is taking place. To our senses we think of being in ‘one place’, such as sitting at a computer. But as each second goes by, that ‘place’ is 183,633.3 miles away (according to the calculator). Every single atom in your body, the chair, the computer, the digital bits have all shifted through the universe. It introduces a sense of non-reality to think that this goes on every instant of every day…being shifted through space-time in a coherent pattern. The science behind how we do that gets a little wonky as we look at the details of it. You have never occupied the same ‘place’ within the universe for more than an instant, no matter how many times you’ve sat in the same chair or walked to the fridge that holds the ice cold refreshment you put there yesterday. It’s a good thing we can’t perceive of all this motion going on, besides the wretching sense of vertigo it would create, we’d also have to take some responsibility to maintain the illusion. It’s better on auto-pilot…makes it easier to type.

]]> By: MichaelS http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38004 MichaelS Mon, 11 Jun 2007 23:18:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38004 "Everyday"?! Man, I need to get out more. . . “Everyday”?! Man, I need to get out more. . .

]]> By: tkingdoll http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38003 tkingdoll Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:29:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38003 Guys, it's just a bit of fun. It's just to help your average Joe or Joanne tie the movement of the earth to something everyday and normal. Most people have no idea that the earth is moving great distances all the time. Some people barely realise that it's moving at all. Some people still believe the earth is the centre of the universe. There is only one way to get the media such as tabloid press to run anything about astronomy, and that's to give it a context which captures imagination. If this gets people talking about the stars at the water cooler or when they get home from work, then that's only a good thing. If the attitude "nothing is better than this compromise" prevailed then we'd have little to inspire people with. I'd rather get a full page in the biggest-selling newspaper in the UK (which we got) and start people talking about astronomy than not bother at all. But seriously, if anyone who is criticising the math cares to send me the javascript for what they consider a better method, then please do so. The site is still being worked on so there's always room for improvement if you want to put your money where your mouth is. Guys, it’s just a bit of fun. It’s just to help your average Joe or Joanne tie the movement of the earth to something everyday and normal. Most people have no idea that the earth is moving great distances all the time. Some people barely realise that it’s moving at all. Some people still believe the earth is the centre of the universe.

There is only one way to get the media such as tabloid press to run anything about astronomy, and that’s to give it a context which captures imagination. If this gets people talking about the stars at the water cooler or when they get home from work, then that’s only a good thing.

If the attitude “nothing is better than this compromise” prevailed then we’d have little to inspire people with. I’d rather get a full page in the biggest-selling newspaper in the UK (which we got) and start people talking about astronomy than not bother at all.

But seriously, if anyone who is criticising the math cares to send me the javascript for what they consider a better method, then please do so. The site is still being worked on so there’s always room for improvement if you want to put your money where your mouth is.

]]> By: false_idols http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38002 false_idols Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:48:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38002 HA! Thanks. What a simple way to show the vast distances our minds can't normally wrap themselves around! And, it honors the Great Bonobos. Seems like after 500,000,000 miles, friction begins to take its toll though... ;) HA!

Thanks. What a simple way to show the vast distances our minds can’t normally wrap themselves around!

And, it honors the Great Bonobos.

Seems like after 500,000,000 miles, friction begins to take its toll though… ;)

]]> By: KareBear http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-37973 KareBear Mon, 11 Jun 2007 01:55:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-37973 So, does this make you a geek or a nerd? My answer? I think it makes you a geek, as geeks are loveable, hip nerds. While geeks are calculating how far they've traveled while having sex, nerds are wondering how far they would travel IF they had sex... (Ba-dum-dum-ching!) Thank you, thank you. So, does this make you a geek or a nerd? My answer? I think it makes you a geek, as geeks are loveable, hip nerds. While geeks are calculating how far they’ve traveled while having sex, nerds are wondering how far they would travel IF they had sex… (Ba-dum-dum-ching!) Thank you, thank you.

]]> By: bassmanpete http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38001 bassmanpete Sun, 10 Jun 2007 23:02:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/06/09/the-best-bang-since-the-big-one/#comment-38001 If you're timing yourself you're not concentrating on what you're doing :) If you’re timing yourself you’re not concentrating on what you’re doing :)

]]>