Comments on: Well, we’re screwed http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/ 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. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:14:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chester M http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142884 Chester M Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:57:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142884 Don't worry Phil, I've been playing a lot of Doom recently. Just give me a shotgun and a chainsaw and I'll take care of it. Don’t worry Phil, I’ve been playing a lot of Doom recently. Just give me a shotgun and a chainsaw and I’ll take care of it.

]]> By: All-in-one -cosmos http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142819 All-in-one -cosmos Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:52:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142819 @ <b>Naomi's</b> query of : <i> "No, seriously, where DO geologists fit in?" </i> Why below the others &o=under their feet of course! ;-) @ Naomi’s query of :

“No, seriously, where DO geologists fit in?”

Why below the others &o=under their feet of course! ;-)

]]> By: All-in-one -cosmos http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142818 All-in-one -cosmos Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:50:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142818 AND a Science to art Well that was what was intended to be written there .. "There’s an art to science *And* a science to art etc .. " *Groan.* Well the universe is no more as we intend it than it is Euclidean .. Ah, geometry, anyone (me aside mentioned that there yet?) ;-) AND a Science to art

Well that was what was intended to be written there ..

“There’s an art to science
*And* a science to art etc .. ”

*Groan.*

Well the universe is no more as we intend it than it is Euclidean ..

Ah, geometry, anyone (me aside mentioned that there yet?) ;-)

]]> By: All-in-one -cosmos http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142817 All-in-one -cosmos Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:47:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142817 There's an art to science Ad a science to art What we think is all apart Is all one part Of the same Broad sphere Assuming spherical geography For a seemingly Euclidean cosmos ... ? There’s an art to science
Ad a science to art

What we think is all apart
Is all one part
Of the same

Broad sphere

Assuming spherical geography

For a seemingly Euclidean cosmos … ?

]]> By: Bein'Silly http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142815 Bein'Silly Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:43:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142815 Gimme the squid over Tom Cruise! Anyday! ;-) <b>Mchl</b> asks : "Who would win? A cuttlefish or a velocirepator?" Ah, that all depends *where* the battle is taking place - underwater, the cuttle, on the ground, the velociraptor! ;-) @ Mike Torr Saying : <i> "biology is just chemistry chemistry is just physics physics is just maths maths is just philosophy philosophy is just psychology psychology is just biology… Just be thankful astronomy is not part of this tangled hierarchy." </i> Nyah! Astronomy is wa-aay * above * all those! ;-) :-D Gimme the squid over Tom Cruise! Anyday! ;-)

Mchl asks :

“Who would win? A cuttlefish or a velocirepator?”

Ah, that all depends *where* the battle is taking place –

underwater, the cuttle,
on the ground, the velociraptor! ;-)

@ Mike Torr Saying :

“biology is just chemistry
chemistry is just physics
physics is just maths
maths is just philosophy
philosophy is just psychology
psychology is just biology…

Just be thankful astronomy is not part of this tangled hierarchy.”

Nyah! Astronomy is wa-aay * above * all those! ;-) :-D

]]> By: Margrit McIntosh http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142705 Margrit McIntosh Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:47:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142705 For a really hilarious take on cephalopods, check out the article about the Giant Squid, http://www.slate.com/id/2127109/ in which the author compares The Giant Squid to Tom Cruise: "And, just like the diminutive actor, Architeuthis dux spends long periods lurking out of sight, surely up to no good, before bursting forth, tentacles flailing, and exercising its alternate belief system. In Mr. Cruise's case, the alternate belief system is Scientology. In the giant squid's case, the alternate belief system is a desire to wrap you in its horrible tentacles and poke you to death with its poisonous beak. There are similarities." For a really hilarious take on cephalopods, check out the article about the Giant Squid,
http://www.slate.com/id/2127109/
in which the author compares The Giant Squid to Tom Cruise:
“And, just like the diminutive actor, Architeuthis dux spends long periods lurking out of sight, surely up to no good, before bursting forth, tentacles flailing, and exercising its alternate belief system. In Mr. Cruise’s case, the alternate belief system is Scientology. In the giant squid’s case, the alternate belief system is a desire to wrap you in its horrible tentacles and poke you to death with its poisonous beak. There are similarities.”

]]> By: Todd W. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142702 Todd W. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:34:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142702 @Naomi Between a rock and a hard place? @Naomi

Between a rock and a hard place?

]]> By: Naomi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142658 Naomi Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:02:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142658 No, seriously, where DO geologists fit in? No, seriously, where DO geologists fit in?

]]> By: The Chemist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142625 The Chemist Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:50:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142625 I never much liked XKCD anyways! *Pouts* I never much liked XKCD anyways!

*Pouts*

]]> By: Dave Hall http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142621 Dave Hall Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:42:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142621 Cuttlefish a threat? Wusses! A skillet, some olive oil, garlic, and breadcrumbs--thats all you need to take care of cuttlefish. Or squid, or octopus. If all of them come at you. Then throw in some rice, saffron and onions: The Paella defense--works every time! Cuttlefish a threat?

Wusses!

A skillet, some olive oil, garlic, and breadcrumbs–thats all you need to take care of cuttlefish. Or squid, or octopus.

If all of them come at you. Then throw in some rice, saffron and onions: The Paella defense–works every time!

]]> By: Fred http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142590 Fred Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:36:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142590 The cuttlefish are just one of our programs, We have mutant bats to rid the world of balding astronomers (Their echolocation works best on a smooth surface) The real death from the skies. The cuttlefish are just one of our programs,
We have mutant bats to rid the world of balding astronomers
(Their echolocation works best on a smooth surface)
The real death from the skies.

]]> By: e=mc hammer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142579 e=mc hammer Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:02:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142579 "The robot revolution will never become due to constant issues with upgrades and users using them in unintended ways! That, and they are probably written in Perl, so it is a nightmare to debug." At least you will be able to look at the source code. You could have buggy and slow operating system code that constantly requires security patching, all hidden brhind opaque source code. Then you would have a Vista Robot. “The robot revolution will never become due to constant issues with upgrades and users using them in unintended ways!

That, and they are probably written in Perl, so it is a nightmare to debug.”

At least you will be able to look at the source code.

You could have buggy and slow operating system code that constantly requires security patching, all hidden brhind opaque source code.

Then you would have a Vista Robot.

]]> By: Mchl http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142578 Mchl Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:56:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142578 Who would win? A cuttlefish or a velocirepator? Who would win? A cuttlefish or a velocirepator?

]]> By: Svip http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142575 Svip Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:47:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142575 Argh, it's true! The robot revolution will never become due to constant issues with upgrades and users using them in unintended ways! That, and they are probably written in Perl, so it is a nightmare to debug. Argh, it’s true! The robot revolution will never become due to constant issues with upgrades and users using them in unintended ways!

That, and they are probably written in Perl, so it is a nightmare to debug.

]]> By: Mike Torr http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142570 Mike Torr Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:43:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142570 biology is just chemistry chemistry is just physics physics is just maths maths is just philosophy philosophy is just psychology psychology is just biology... Just be thankful astronomy is not part of this tangled hierarchy :) biology is just chemistry
chemistry is just physics
physics is just maths
maths is just philosophy
philosophy is just psychology
psychology is just biology…

Just be thankful astronomy is not part of this tangled hierarchy :)

]]> By: e=mc hammer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142568 e=mc hammer Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:38:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142568 @HumanisticJones: don't Space faring Robot Cephalopods need a master of some sort? Oh, that would be you. In SPACE! :-) @HumanisticJones: don’t Space faring Robot Cephalopods need a master of some sort? Oh, that would be you. In SPACE! :-)

]]> By: Mchl http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142564 Mchl Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:20:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142564 HumanisticJones: other civilisations' top science bloggers will include your creations in their versions of Death from The Skies. Cool, isn't it? HumanisticJones: other civilisations’ top science bloggers will include your creations in their versions of Death from The Skies. Cool, isn’t it?

]]> By: HumanisticJones http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142562 HumanisticJones Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:09:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142562 Well, as a CS major with a love of both biology and astronomy, I guess it's up to me to unite us all under the banner of my Space faring Robot Cephalopods. I've taken nature's most perfect killing machine... and needlessly turned it into a robot... in SPACE! Well, as a CS major with a love of both biology and astronomy, I guess it’s up to me to unite us all under the banner of my Space faring Robot Cephalopods. I’ve taken nature’s most perfect killing machine… and needlessly turned it into a robot… in SPACE!

]]> By: Todd W. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142560 Todd W. Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:53:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142560 The comic really points out how short-sighted biologists are. I mean, without physicists, the biologists wouldn't have any nifty tools to examine their critters: no microscopes, no deep sea cameras/robots, etc. And, without chemists, they would get sick an die, for they would not have the knowledge to properly compound medicines to comfort them in their illness, nor would they have the knowledge to devise new materials to succor them in the wilderness or to bind their limbs when they snap like little twigs. @J.D. Mack Us theatre majors will portray the horrible events and stir the population to rise up and stop the tyranny of biologists and their cuttlefish. The techies shall utilize that which is possible thanks to physicists and chemists to build the stage and light the actors (who are not too far removed from lemmings). After the performance, we shall party beneath the stars, so eloquently described and photographed by astronomers, until morning and sleep until 3 the next afternoon, when we shall repeat the whole cycle again. The comic really points out how short-sighted biologists are. I mean, without physicists, the biologists wouldn’t have any nifty tools to examine their critters: no microscopes, no deep sea cameras/robots, etc. And, without chemists, they would get sick an die, for they would not have the knowledge to properly compound medicines to comfort them in their illness, nor would they have the knowledge to devise new materials to succor them in the wilderness or to bind their limbs when they snap like little twigs.

@J.D. Mack

Us theatre majors will portray the horrible events and stir the population to rise up and stop the tyranny of biologists and their cuttlefish. The techies shall utilize that which is possible thanks to physicists and chemists to build the stage and light the actors (who are not too far removed from lemmings). After the performance, we shall party beneath the stars, so eloquently described and photographed by astronomers, until morning and sleep until 3 the next afternoon, when we shall repeat the whole cycle again.

]]> By: Jumblepudding http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142558 Jumblepudding Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:49:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142558 didn't that future evolution show on Discovery Channel end with tree-dwelling cephalopods evolving into the next sentient species on Earth? It has begun! didn’t that future evolution show on Discovery Channel end with tree-dwelling cephalopods evolving into the next sentient species on Earth? It has begun!

]]> By: e=mc hammer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142557 e=mc hammer Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:46:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142557 Actually, taking out the chemists may be a good idea. Materials scientists can do the work of chemists anyway. /snark Actually, taking out the chemists may be a good idea.

Materials scientists can do the work of chemists anyway.

/snark

]]> By: Doc http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142556 Doc Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:45:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142556 Personally, I welcome our new cephalopod overlords. Personally, I welcome our new cephalopod overlords.

]]> By: modernrocko http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142555 modernrocko Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:45:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142555 Wikipedia was proof enough for me. Cuttlefish are not some strange creature on our planet. They are ALIENS, and they want to take over our world! Their muscles contain a toxic compound that we can't even identify yet. Their skin can even alter the light's polarization to communicate with others of their kind. These things have three hearts and green blood. GREEN BLOOD! If that isn't alien, I don't know what is. Wikipedia was proof enough for me. Cuttlefish are not some strange creature on our planet. They are ALIENS, and they want to take over our world!

Their muscles contain a toxic compound that we can’t even identify yet. Their skin can even alter the light’s polarization to communicate with others of their kind. These things have three hearts and green blood. GREEN BLOOD! If that isn’t alien, I don’t know what is.

]]> By: J. D. Mack http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142554 J. D. Mack Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:42:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142554 Us music majors watch from the sidelines, bemused. Us music majors watch from the sidelines, bemused.

]]> By: redx http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/comment-page-1/#comment-142552 redx Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:40:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/22/well-were-screwed/#comment-142552 Yoo Says: 'Remind what astronomers can do with Death from the Skies! …' Watch natural events happen without any ability to effect them? Scary :) Yoo Says:
‘Remind what astronomers can do with Death from the Skies! …’

Watch natural events happen without any ability to effect them? Scary :)

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