Will space junk start a war?

Will space junk start a war?  That's what these scientists are saying, but I suspect the hyperbole is aimed at getting some action on the subject.

I do remember reading a science fiction story in which the author postulated the end of civilization after a space junk cascade took out all the communications satellites, which many nations interpreted as an act of war by some enemy.  The result was a world war that reduced us all to Stone Age level.  Considering that I read the story in the '60s, that author seems ... prescient...

History-making astronomical plates...

History-making astronomical plates...  The photographic plate at right was made in 1943 by astronomer Walter Baade, showing the best view of the Andromeda Galaxy anyone had ever seen – and the first one that made it obvious that the “fuzzy spot” was actually an enormous collection of stars.  It's one of the plates chosen for this piece on the history of photographic astronomy...

Another irreproducible science report?

Another irreproducible science report?  Looks that way.  This one spawned a multi-billion dollar industry selling devices to stave off Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which ... may not be real at all.

The social sciences are becoming indistinguishable from the JIR...

Capitalism is accomplishing...

Capitalism is accomplishing ... what NASA could not.  They're making better videos along the way, too :)  More here.  If you're wondering what the “Karman line” is, here's an explanation...

Our local star...

Our local star ... the sun, is just a bit more complicated than most people think.  The video at right, captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO, a solar telescope in space), shows solar filaments warped by dynamic magnetic fields.

Many years ago I visited the Kitt Peak Observatory, mostly to get a glimpse of the McMath-Pierce solar telescope, still the largest instrument of its kind.  I remember flipping through a book of some of the photos it took – revolutionary at the time.  Today they seem primitive by comparison with the SDO's product.  Nevertheless, the McMath-Pierce telescope is still in active use; it's size and ability to change sensors keep it useful...

Best optical illusion evah?

Best optical illusion evah?  I can't convince myself that the clip at right is on the up-and-up.  If it's really an optical illusion, it's so good that I can't see the reality.  That would make it a damned fine illusion!  Lots of comments on this Reddit thread...