5 hours ago, Dave Moss said:

 

You never get tired of this do you?  This post most certainly should not belong in a thread about Science.  There is zero normalization of parameters or factors or conditions.  Zero discussion whatsoever of causal vs. correlation or anything remotely related to actual scientific understanding of the results.  This is just plan amateur hour level stuff.  Pure tripe.

 

Here is one tiny tidbit.  The Swedish population centers are no where near the Norwegian border.  That long border is like the long border on the east side of Alaska with Canada for the most part or the border between Montana and Canada.  No one lives there and it isn't where any of the COVID problems are found.  I'll quote Toaster here and say "you can't police stupid" and this gem is plain stupid the way it is formulated.

Move this out of the Science thread and over to the COVID thread where everything is relevant.

1 hour ago, DrPhilly said:

You never get tired of this do you?  This post most certainly should not belong in a thread about Science.  There is zero normalization of parameters or factors or conditions.  Zero discussion whatsoever of causal vs. correlation or anything remotely related to actual scientific understanding of the results.  This is just plan amateur hour level stuff.  Pure tripe.

 

Here is one tiny tidbit.  The Swedish population centers are no where near the Norwegian border.  That long border is like the long border on the east side of Alaska with Canada for the most part or the border between Montana and Canada.  No one lives there and it isn't where any of the COVID problems are found.  I'll quote Toaster here and say "you can't police stupid" and this gem is plain stupid the way it is formulated.

Move this out of the Science thread and over to the COVID thread where everything is relevant.

Having an unpopulated border reinforces the point more.

You have two populations on the same stretch of land, with similar cultures, similar diets, and similar standards of living.

It's basically as close to a controlled study in the real world as you're going to get. And having sparsely populated borders helps this study by reducing cross contamination in the groups.

The contrast is stark. I know you feel compelled to defend it being "inside", but it paints a bleak picture when you can control for almost every variable and point out the only difference is the policy approach to the pandemic.

Your best bet isn't pointing out how the real world experiment is going compared to your neighbors, but contrast with other nations in europe - England being one of the worst. But the fact that your neighboring nations, which are similar in just about every way except in their response to the pandemic, makes for a rough start.

8 hours ago, Dave Moss said:

 

It's not fair to compare Sweden to their nordic neighbors or other European countries. That would be pointing out the unmitigated, abject failure they've become.

5 hours ago, JohnSnowsHair said:

Having an unpopulated border reinforces the point more.

You have two populations on the same stretch of land, with similar cultures, similar diets, and similar standards of living.

It's basically as close to a controlled study in the real world as you're going to get. And having sparsely populated borders helps this study by reducing cross contamination in the groups.

The contrast is stark. I know you feel compelled to defend it being "inside", but it paints a bleak picture when you can control for almost every variable and point out the only difference is the policy approach to the pandemic.

Your best bet isn't pointing out how the real world experiment is going compared to your neighbors, but contrast with other nations in europe - England being one of the worst. But the fact that your neighboring nations, which are similar in just about every way except in their response to the pandemic, makes for a rough start.

First - Yes, Sweden's policies (mostly the execution) have contributed to the higher rates of death vs. those in Norway, in part.  The question is how big the "in part" piece is vs. other factors.  At this point we just don't know.

Believe me when I tell you that the focus on this topic in Sweden is intense.  It has been since the 2nd wave gained steam.  We are seeing a lot of various types of analysis, etc. and the govt is under immense pressure to explain how it has (or hasn't) handled COVID.  There is a ton to review and think about.

The picture that is emerging shows a mix of factors playing a part.  Demographics, poulation density, etc. all play a part.  For example, Sweden is about twice as large as Norway in terms of overall population and has FAR more immigratnts (about 2.4M vs about 800k).  Policy is of course a key factor as well.  There is an index of restrictions by country that is kept and Sweden and Norway have been really very close in terms of overall response.  The exception for both the first and second wave were in the first couple of weeks where Sweden was slower to engage. That happened both in March and also the end of October.

 

6 minutes ago, Toty said:

Will The Crushinator be there? 😍

They first have to rid it of all the whales

On 12/30/2020 at 12:25 PM, Toty said:

 

hmmmm.... 🤔

Well they are already better than white people at least.

58 minutes ago, Toty said:

 

Which side makes you pee in the tub ?

http://apolloremastered.com/

We're going to the Moon...

Apollo Remastered is also heading to the Moon on the first US lunar landing mission since Apollo 17, in 1972. A small amount of payload space has been secured on Astrobotic's Peregrine uncrewed lander, slated to touch down in July, 2021. Simply sign up for updates to the book below, and your name or message will be on the lander, for free! You will also automatically enter a competition to send your photograph (an actual photograph, not digital) to the Moon, where it will forever remain (15 randomly selected winners):

19 hours ago, Toty said:

Can we all chip in to put up a photo of Kelce going full mummer?

Let’s do one better and send Howie Roseman. 
 

 

 

The actual person, not his picture. 

Just some photos of Jupiter and Its Galilean Moons

Hidden World Just Below the Surface: Scientists Discover Ocean "Surface Slicks” Are Nurseries for Diverse Fishes

The open ocean is a harsh place for newborn fishes. From the minute larvae hatch from their eggs, their survival depends upon finding food and navigating ocean currents to their adult habitats–all while avoiding predators. This harrowing journey from egg to home has long been a mystery, until now.

An international team including scientists from the Arizona State University Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science (GDCS), NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, and the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa have discovered a diverse array of young marine animals finding refuge within so-called ‘surface slicks’ in Hawai’i. Surface slicks create a superhighway of nursery habitat for more than 100 species of commercially and ecologically important fishes, such as mahi-mahi, jacks, and billfish. The study was published today in the journal Scientific Reports.

Surface slicks are naturally occurring ribbon-like bands of smooth water at the ocean surface and have long been recognized as an important part of the seascape. To unravel their secrets, the research team conducted more than 130 plankton net tows inside the surface slicks and surrounding waters along the leeward coast of Hawai’i Island, while studying ocean properties. In these areas, they searched for larvae and other plankton that live close to the surface. They then combined those in-water surveys with a new satellite-based technique to map the location of the slicks. This technique involved using more than 100 shoebox-sized satellites, built and operated by GDCS partner Planet, to discern textural sea surface differences between surface slicks and regular seawater.

 

"In an earlier study, our surface slick mapping suggested strong along-coast connectivity of ocean habitats. In our latest study reported here, we populated those satellite-based slick maps with the billions of animals, organic debris, and microplastics that make up the slicks”, said Greg Asner, GDCS director and co-author of the study.

Though the slicks only covered around eight percent of the ocean surface in the 380-square-mile-study area, they contained an astounding 39 percent of the study area’s surface-dwelling larval fish; over 25 percent of its zooplankton, and 75 percent of its floating organic debris, such as feathers and leaves. Larval fish densities in surface slicks off West Hawai’i were, on average, over 7 times higher than densities in the surrounding waters.

The study showed that surface slicks function as a nursery habitat for marine larvae of at least 112 species of commercially and ecologically important fishes, as well as many other animals. These include coral reef fishes, such as jacks, triggerfish, and goatfish; pelagic predators, for example, mahi-mahi; deep-water fishes, such as lanternfish; and various invertebrates, such as snails, crabs, and shrimp.

The remarkable diversity of fishes found in slick nurseries represents nearly 10 percent of all fish species recorded in Hawai’i. The total number of taxa in the slicks was twice that found in the surrounding surface waters, and many fish taxa were between 10 and 100 times more abundant in slicks.

"We were shocked to find larvae of so many species, and even entire families of fishes, that were only found in surface slicks.,” said Jonathan Whitney, a research marine ecologist for NOAA and lead author of the study. "The fact that surface slicks host such a large proportion of larvae, along with the resources they need to survive, tells us they are critical for the replenishment of adult fish populations,” he added.

In addition to providing crucial nursing habitat for various species and helping maintain healthy and resilient coral reefs, slicks create foraging hotspots for larval fish predators and form a bridge between coral reef and pelagic ecosystems.

"Our findings are part of an important story forming around the role of biological surface slicks in maintaining coral reefs. The sheer biodiversity and biomass of the slicks, combined with their oceanic movement along the shore, form a superhighway for species that connects and effectively generates an interconnected, regional reef ecosystem,” proclaimed Asner.

While slicks may seem like havens for all tiny marine animals, there’s a hidden hazard lurking in these ocean oases: plastic debris. Within the study area, 95 percent of the plastic debris collected into slicks, compared with 75 percent of the floating organic debris. Larvae may get some shelter from plastic debris, but it comes at the cost of chemical exposure and incidental ingestion.

In certain areas, slicks can be dominant surface features, and the new research shows these conspicuous phenomena hold more ecological value than meets the eye.

"Our work illustrates how these oceanic features (and animals’ behavioral attraction to them) impact the entire surface community, with implications for the replenishment of adults that are important to humans for fisheries, recreation, and other ecosystem services,” said Margaret McManus, co-author, Professor and Chair of the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. "These findings will have a broad impact, changing the way we think about oceanic features as pelagic nurseries for ocean fishes and invertebrates.”

Watch the Feb. 18 Landing Broadcast

Tune in live at 11:15 a.m. PST / 2:15 p.m. EST / 19:15 UTC

• Main Commentary: embedded above or scroll down for a list of alternate platforms.
• Spanish Language: we have a one-hour program all in Spanish (starts at 11:30 a.m. PST)
• 360-degree Stream: for an immersive look at our control room try the 360-degree view
• Clean Feed: if you are doing your own programming or if you want to see uninterrupted video of the landing, try the clean feed (starts at 11 a.m. PST)

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/watch-online/

Around 3:30 EST ish

 

 

it's a pretty wild approach. hope it works.

Landing in the most difficult terrain attempted to date.

 

 

For other science nerds who are also into gaming, you should check out Surviving Mars. Great game.

touchdown

 

Mars. Video with sound

Mars helicopter Ingenuity has checked in and says it is ready for duty.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-s-mars-helicopter-reports-in

 

On 2/18/2021 at 10:00 AM, Toastrel said:

Watch the Feb. 18 Landing Broadcast

Tune in live at 11:15 a.m. PST / 2:15 p.m. EST / 19:15 UTC

• Main Commentary: embedded above or scroll down for a list of alternate platforms.
• Spanish Language: we have a one-hour program all in Spanish (starts at 11:30 a.m. PST)
• 360-degree Stream: for an immersive look at our control room try the 360-degree view
• Clean Feed: if you are doing your own programming or if you want to see uninterrupted video of the landing, try the clean feed (starts at 11 a.m. PST)

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/watch-online/

Around 3:30 EST ish

 

 

Incredible that it worked almost as they planned it. 

On 2/20/2021 at 12:17 PM, Toastrel said:

Mars helicopter Ingenuity has checked in and says it is ready for duty.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-s-mars-helicopter-reports-in

It can only fly for 90 seconds at a time. But if it can fly, then it's a victory, given the little amount of atmosphere to get lift. 

 

14 hours ago, Dave Moss said:

 

Big Time computers that are "pretty good"?

Is this the guy who was ghost writing tweets for Trump?

 

 

 

 

 

 

We need to leave that poor planet alone.