Edinburgh Science Festival

[daibhidc]

Stuff I learnt at the Science Festival this year:

1. Near the centre of the galaxy there are stars twice as massive as stars are supposed to get. It's believed the graviational forces are smooshing ordinary stars together.

2. In some parts of America, the Native Americans use Daylight Saving Time, but the colonists don't. So if you've booked a guide for the trail park, the park-keeper will probably give you the wrong time...

3. None of the measurements used in the calender fit astronomical observations exactly, and talk is afoot to stop fiddling with them so they do (the "leap seconds"). This will be good news for everyone whose profession relies on extremely accurate timekeeping, except astronomers.

5. The trans-Plutonian object unofficially named "Xena" has a moon. Which has been unoffically named "Gabrielle".

4. If the first episode of Doctor Who is on while you're away, check the video before you decide to watch Rory Bremner instead of the repeat 8-(...

Comments

[issi-noho.livejournal.com]

'1, 2, 3, 5, 4'?

[daibhid-c.livejournal.com]

Er, yeah. Dunno how that happened.

[issi-noho.livejournal.com]

I was hoping for a really obscure Thunderbirds connection. Oh well.

[speakr2customrs.livejournal.com]

1, 2, 3, 5, 4

Thunderbirds go are!

[issi-noho.livejournal.com]

'1, 5, 3, 4, 2' is an interesting variation.

[issi-noho.livejournal.com]

But it's not as good as '1, 5, 2, 4, 3'.