“Failed Star or Failed Science?”

HD 12545
HD 12545

A Brown Dwarf Solar Flare From NASA Science News for July 12, 2000 Astronomers were surprised when NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory detected an x-ray outburst from a failed star only 60 times more massive than Jupiter. NASA’s latest observatory, designed to see the most violent and stunning cosmic phenomena, captured something unexpected. The Chandra X-ray…


“Science Heading for a BIG BANG”

Plasma galaxy
Plasma galaxy

Forget the glossy astronomy books and magazines – the Big Bang is pure fiction. The discoveries that prove it will also bring about the end of science-as-we-know-it. Of course, many books and articles have been published recently heralding the end of science – meaning there is little left to learn. The truth is the opposite.…


The impact of pseudo-science

Worlds in Collision
Worlds in Collision

This year is the 50th anniversary of the publication of an astonishing and controversial book – Worlds in Collision. The provocatively titled 1950 book was written by Immanuel Velikovsky and caused an unprecedented furor in scientific circles. It led to the transfer of the book from the hurting academic publisher and dismissal of those who…


So NEAR, and yet so far from UNDERSTANDING

Valles Marineris
Valles Marineris

On Valentine’s Day, 2000, the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft is is due, on its second attempt, to go into orbit around asteroid 433 Eros. It will be the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid. NEAR will examine the odd-shaped rock, about twice the size of Manhattan Island, for about a year. What do…


Alien Skies

Voyager Plaque
Voyager Plaque

“Homo sapiens sapiens is not always as sapiens as he sapiently should be.” Professor Gus Nossall. Two Voyager spacecraft are carrying a message from the human race to the remote future, somewhere in the distant stars. Our faint hope is that some other life form will find one of those spacecraft and decipher its cryptic…