Think Science .

 There is going to be Solar eclipse on 22nd july. So lot of excitement and fun is going to be there in some part of the world. Besides, many people do religious fasting thingy to avoid effect of solar eclipse on life. Trust me, it is total crap by fasting  on that day and taking bath thrice or five times. So let’s get to the point and discuss how to view the solar eclipse.

Some ways to watch the total eclipse:

1. Use a X Ray film or Sun control film to see the sun

2. Very safe method: Use your binoculars, direct the sun’s beam to a spotless smooth white surface ~ don’t look directly to the sun via a optical device, you may end up loosing your eye sight permanently due to burn ~ now see the projected sun on the white surface by wearing your sun glasses.

3. But, it is Peak monsoon period in Surat, hence better go to a non monsoon affected place to view the spectacle.

Another method: Use no 14/17 welder’s glass to view the sun directly. You will see a white disk of Sun without its glare.

More details about this on NASA official homepaeg : http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2009/TSE2009.html

New asteroids are continuously being discovered. Most, if they collided with Earth, would have little or no impact.

Occasionally, a large asteroid shows up, around the size of Apophis or larger. Initial observations will often predict many collisions with Earth. As more observations come in, and the trajectory is refined, many of these potential impacts will be ruled out.

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/2009ms.html
This thing is huge. Puts Apophis to shame.
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Current impact parameters:
First Date: 2010-11-29.11
Velocity: 31.85 km/s
Probability (cumulative): 1.0e-07
Probability (first date): 1.1e-08
Energy (MT) 2.2e+06
Palermo Scale (cumulative): -1.47
Torino Scale: 0
Number of Potential Impacts: 1
Diameter: 2.137 km
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This is based on 17 observations over 3 days (Jun-19 to Jun-22). It will be interesting to watch the numbers (particularly number of potential impacts) change as more obs come in.
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Orbit Diagram:
http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2009+MS;orb=1

Do you think this is a valid argument for the existence of God?

ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN, a.k.a. TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (I)
(1) Check out the world/universe/giraffe. Isn’t it complex?
(2) Only God could have made them so complex.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM BEAUTY, a.k.a. DESIGN/TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (II)
(1) Isn’t that baby/sunset/flower/tree beautiful?
(2) Only God could have made them so beautiful.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

well the 1st argument is a fallacy because there is a presupposition that since something is complex it must have GOD involved rather than it being random that defeats the argument. or we may successfully find another planet similar to earth and settle in it. or evolve into creatures suitable to sustain the environment.

Problem is people are trying to attach their emotion and observation with selfish reasons to  the happenings around them. which is giving rise to some of the fallacies in argument. Like only lifeon earth exist hence creator exist is lame argument and again, if person is derived from parents means god exist is argument against evolution. which people ignore for the sake of creation and with such ignorance they are forcing their kids to learn theology to ignore reality.  Parents want their kids to pray in home and school. for what ? creator blessings ? or for discipline?

let’s come back to the point of teleological argument. what you think ?

So many times people confuse with the term that universe is expanding or the galaxy is expanding. I found one site where it is explained.

 Check this mailing list discussion :

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1999-04/924301542.As.r.html

The reply in email was :

The short answer to your question is that our galaxy is not expanding. Many people get confused by the fact that the Universe is expanding and then assume that the galaxy does too. You’ve stumbled into a problem that had Albert Einstein stumped for a while. Edwin Hubble (they named the telescope after him) discovered a simple linear relationship between the distances to distant galaxies and the shifting of the wavelength of their light to the red end of the visible spectrum. Einstein realized that this shift could be explained if space itself was expanding. 

I think this is enough to understand to those who think galaxy is not expanding.

If you’ve any opinion about this, do post about it in comments.

Anti-gravity is one of the most discussed topic among sci-fi writers, movie makers or anime authors. There are plenty of movies on the topic of “anti-gravity”.  Movie ” The Silk” is the one which demonstrated hypothetical senario of anti-gravity. Most of the time, occult and religious people claim ghosts/spirits posses anti-gravity. Is it so ?

Well occult and religious people are always proved wrong. but that’s another topic in itself.

Now coming back to the topic. What is levitation ?

From Wikipedia : Levitation (from Latin levitas “lightness”)^[1] is the process by which an object is suspended against gravity, in a stable position, without physical contact.

Levitation is also featured in movies like “The Objective”. and many other thriller/sci-fi/horror flicks. Interesting point  is even magicians trick people with levitation tricks. But people really believe in such claims ? Levitation in diamagnetism can be justified but with spirits and ghosts. You gotta be kidding. What you think of anti-gravity and levitation ?