What's Colder Than Absolute Zero?

There just has to be a joke in there somewhere right? Like your x-wife's heart. However this is not grist for the comics, but in truth scientists have created a quantum gas capable of reaching temperatures below absolute zero.

 This seeming impossible feat was made possible by suspending potassium atoms in a lattice made up of a combination of lasers and magnetic fields.

Up to this point it was considered to be the theoretical lowest limit of temperature. As a substance approaches this limit its' average amount of energy also drops until, theoretically, molecular activity "freezes" and no energy is available in the system.

Now things get weird. Because it seems it is now theoretically possible to move into sub absolute zero, matter begins to demonstrate odd characteristics.

Being able to produce fairly stable substances at a fairly large fraction of a degree below absolute zero could lead to creations of new forms of matter.

The strange thing about these new "temperatures" is that they are in truth not colder than absolute cold. Far from it. These new gasses inhabit an area called "negative temperatures" and could in reality be hotter than anything possible today.

 This apparent contradiction was described in a recent Huff Post Science article.

• To comprehend the negative temperatures scientists have now devised, one might think of temperature as existing on a scale that is actually a loop, not linear. Positive temperatures make up one part of the loop, while negative temperatures make up the other part. When temperatures go either below zero or above infinity on the positive region of this scale, they end up in negative territory.

Does your brain hurt yet?

Wired Article

BMU # 347 Online!

In the first episode in 2013 - 347 - I open with the theme music from the award winning anime feature film "The Girl Who Lept Through Time" After which I review the film.

 From there I have several peices from Earth Sky which are facinating from asteroid impacts to Milky Way as a barred galaxy!

Next it is two new questions in the Star Trek Trivia segment.  This week I again test your knowledge of Captain Kirk.

 From there I head over to be Beam Me Up Blog Nasa is thinking of giving the moon its' own moon for astronauts a place to work and practice on. Hey, how do you know the Earth is Round huh? Check out this explaination of a few ideas. Astronomers have found a "baby" planet. Russia is still working on a Moon capable craft. The ISS is getting LEDs not just for power saving but for crew health!

 Then it is time for David Scholes' story Equalization.

Episode 347

Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time - Anime Film

I was noodling around the search engines looking for information on the anime movie Spirited Away, an award winning anime film from Japan when I came across a list of some of the best anime films of the past few years. One that stood out was The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. A 2006 film Directed by Mamoru Hosoda know for One Piece series and the animated film Summer Wars, and is affiliated with the production house Madhouse.

The film is based around a teenage girl Makoto Konno who finds out from her aunt that she has the power to jump through time.  Makoto quickly learns how to control the jump and through the balance of the film uses this power to reverse many of the problems that have plagued here for most of the day and a few other troubling circumstances as well.

 Makoto finds out that the power she has been using is not endless and she must use the remaining power to correct a mistake early on plus finds out some fundamental points in her life.

From the Wiki:

• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time was released on July 15, 2006 and received positive reviews. The film won numerous awards, including the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. 

From my standpoint, the film well deserves the positive reviews and awards it received.  The film moves along at a steady pace.  It is a very low key  film, where the most tension is generated by the protagonist running to rescue a friend or prevent someone from getting hurt.   The emotions seem genuine and even though I viewed the English dub, I was sure that I was getting a genuine feeling for the film.  Bottom line is, this is a fine film if a bit aged, you will not feel cheated.  It should be fairly easy to find as well.  I searched less than five minutes and was able to view the film that evening.  I am sure if you like problem driven movies and emotionally keyed scenes than this piece of anime is a no brainer.  Check it out. 

NASA Thinking of Giving the Moon a Moon

NASA is reportedly considering capturing an asteroid to put in a high orbit around the moon.  The agency could execute the plan in as little as six to ten years.

But the 10k dollar question is why?

Well according to New Scientist, the Obama administration is really keen on getting a manned mission to an asteroid.   The prevailing now is to robotically   capture  .and  put into orbit around the Moon.  This would give crews a close by platform to practice on.

Capture of the target asteroid is likely one of the most interesting part of the project.  Once launched, the mission outline would have the robotic capture unit heading out to the target asteroid and capturing it in a big bag before bringing it back to the moon.    Estimates have this maneuver taking anywhere from 6 to 10 years.

Not only could this object be used to train crews, it also could be used to explore possible bower and building material for future missions.

Check out the Wired article here

How Do We Know The Earth is Round?

I know, the lunatic fringe even has the Earth flat, when you are asked the worst come back is "because it is!!" So, check out these Top 10 Reasons Why We Know the Earth is Round. It gives some fascinating thought experiment and real world ones as well. Not heavy, just fun stuff!