Methyl Ioxide

On December 1st the exiting governor of California approved the use of a chemical, methyl ioxide, as a pesticide in this state. There has been an almost unprecedented amount of controversy about this decision, and here is a great article about both sides.


http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20101204/OPINION02/12040332/Point-counterpoint-use-of-methyl-iodide


Most information online is inflammatory and unabashedly biased towards their respective side.

Gemini

Tonight is the peak night for the gemini meteor shower! This shower is unique in that it isn't caused by a comet, but an asteroid, that seems to come in the December of every year, very reliably. The best times to see this are tonight late at night or in the early morning of tomorrow.


On another note, today I discovered that another word for hazelnut is filbert.

New Life Forms

NASA came out today with a much awaited statement on life forms. NASA's astrobiology scientists have discovered a new form of life, (on Earth, sadly). This life form uses arsenic instead of phosphorus, which all other known life forms use. This discovery supports the theory that life outisde of this planet could exist in a variety of truly alien forms.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/12/nasa-finds-new-life/