Showing posts with label science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

Photo Source: India Today

Did you know that last week University of California Los Angeles scientists suggested that the earth is the product of two planets crashing and melding together?   Sounds like something out of a science fiction novel!  It is believed that four and a half billion years ago, the earth and a planet embryo, about the size of Mars, named Theia clashed.  The geochemist came to this conclusion by studying oxygen isotopes on the earth and the moon.  The UCLA team examined seven lunar rocks transported back to Earth by the Apollo missions, as well as six volcanic rocks from Earth's mantle. They found that both share identical chemical makeups; Theia was evenly dispersed throughout both.  "We don’t see any difference between Earth’s and the Moon’s oxygen isotopes; they’re indistinguishable," said lead researcher Edward Young. 

It has always been speculated that Theia hit the earth, but it was assumed that it side swiped the earth and hobbled off into space.  Now scientist feel that it had to be a full on collision in order for Theia to be evenly scattered throughout the earth and the moon.

These new findings particularly fascinate me because in my first novel, The First Chronicle of Zayashariya: Out of Night, I wrote about a planet called Neoearthmoon.  It formed as the result of the earth and the moon clashing together and forming a new planet.   

Excerpt from The First Chronicle of Zayashariya: Out of Night:

“Earth is no more.  This planet, Neoearthmoon, and our sister planet Neotsion were formed from the debris of the explosion of the Earth and the moon.  This phenomenon happened thousands of years ago.  One could say that a miracle occurred, if you believe in miracles.  Not many around here do.  We believe that there is a logical explanation for what happened.  We just have not found it yet,” Gredly said pretentiously. 
                “Explain further please,” Zayashariya urged, truly interested in his tale.  “I am not familiar with the history.”
“When the Earth exploded, the moon was destroyed along with it.  The other planets in the solar system remained intact and a new sun appeared.  It is a lot less powerful than the original sun that it orbits around and a lot less warming, but it makes a more beautiful sunset.  We got a few moons out of the deal too.”  Gredly smiled.  “Neoearthmoon and Neotsion were formed in a supernatural amount of time.  The debris of Earth and the moon miraculously came together like a big clump of hot rock and cooled instantly.  All of the elements needed on a planet in order for life to survive were present on the new planets automatically.  Overnight it seemed that plants and animals evolved out of nothing.  Everything happened as if a superhuman force spoke it into being.  Six days it took for Neoearthmoon to come into being.  Six days!  Can you believe it?  To this very day, scientists cannot explain how this miracle occurred.  All they knew was that they had a new planet to live on so they inhibited it.  Scientists say that Neotsion did it all within a day.  Neotsion is a very mysterious place.  Only humans live there.  Not natural homosapiens but more like supernatural humans, transformed into pure spirit beings.”  He paused.  “It’s complicated.  People say that they are immortal.  The atmosphere of Neotsion will not allow others to enter it but they can exit the planet if they wish to never return and to become mortal once more.”  He took a deep breath.  “A lot of myth and mystery surround that place but I don’t believe the hype,” he said, rolling his eyes up and sighing.  Gredly looked into Zayashariya’s attentive eyes and said, “Before the explosion, the technology of mankind became so advanced that they began to travel through space.  They found new lands to conquer and new planets to inhibit.  So the destruction of the planet Earth did little to prevent the life of humankind from striving.  Most of them were gone before the explosion anyway.  They had found new places to ruin, new people to harass.  Norps, our people, are descendants of Earthlings and Norpsongants.”

Of course it is scientifically impossible for the earth and moon to explode and a new sun to appear without causing gravity to go bonkers and not impacting space around them; but miracles are scientifically impossible! J   It gives me great joy to know that our world uncovers so many fascinating mysteries everyday.

Want to know more about Violette? Go to www.violettemeier.com

Sources:



Wednesday, January 20, 2016

What's Magical and Spooky with Super Powers Fluky?

by: Ken https://flic.kr/p/6qvVZn

Do you know what vampires, fairies, ghosts, and robots have in common?  They all fall under the umbrella of speculative fiction.  Speculative fiction is any literature that contains elements based on human imagination that does not appear in the natural world or everyday life.  Speculative fiction may contain supernatural elements like: people coming back to life, talking plants or animals, werewolves, witches, angels and demons, elves, elementals, dragons, unicorns, or hybrids of them all. Speculative fiction may also embody things that are currently scientifically impossible like: interplanetary travel, alien invasions, artificial intelligence, robot-human/animal amalgamations or extreme mutant evolution (i.e. X-men).   The surroundings of a story can also contain speculative fiction elements like an inhabited planet with three suns or a magical forest that change landscapes daily.

According to GreenTentacles.com, “Speculative fiction is a term, attributed to Robert Heinlein in 1941, that has come to be used to collectively describe works in the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.”  Wikipedia says that Heinlein coined it in 1947 in an editorial essay. Today speculative fiction also includes paranormal, alternate history, mysteries, and magical literature.  Almost anything with a little dash of whimsy and weirdness could be called speculative fiction.

Not surprisingly, speculative fiction is one of the most popular genres of literature.  Who doesn’t want to escape this world every now and then?  J.K Rowling’s magical Harry Potter, J. R. R. Tolkien’s  hobbits, Anne Rice’s vampire Lestat, Isaac Asimov’s robots, and even my fallen angel Turiel in my books Angel Crush and Son of the Rock and my demonic alien Zayashariya in Out of Night all bring to life numinous characters.  Comic books are a huge part of speculative fiction.  There isn’t an American alive who hasn’t heard of Spiderman, Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman.

Speculative fiction has proven to make some the most famous box office hits and beloved movies like The Terminator series, Avatar, The Matrix series, Spiderman, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Exorcist, Paranormal Activity, Blade, Maleficent, The Wiz, Star Wars, and a host of others.  Hollywood is always bursting at the seams with fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and comic book films.  There is no better entertainment than to be visually drawn into another world.

Most of the video games that children and adults play are based off of speculative fiction. The plethora of characters battle demons, defy gods, rescue princesses from dragons, or find magical items in a mystical world.  From Super Mario to Halo or Batman: Arkham Knight to Mortal Kombat X video games are filled with speculative fiction.

Speculative fiction is everywhere and we all have been engaged in a little of it ourselves.  We’ve told ghost stories or picked up a love potion while visiting New Orleans or played Dungeons and Dragons.  So, the next time you go to the bookstore or visit Amazon.com, don’t be afraid to walk on the wild side. Pick out a speculative fiction novel, preferably one by yours truly. J  It’s good to have a little thrill in your life!


To learn more about Violette, please visit www.violettemeier.com

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Old as Methuselah?



Old as Methuselah?  Well not quite, but according to Fox news, there may be an anti-aging drug that can possibly expand human life to an average of 120 years.  In a little while, 60 will be the new 40 and I will truly be 99 and still fine!

Belgian researchers have been testing a drug called Metformin, which is commonly used for diabetes, on roundworms.  The drug helps bring more oxygen to the cells, therefore slowing down the aging process. Metformin will be tried next on humans.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed.  If this is successful, people will be able to live longer and healthier lives.


I always said that I would live to be 128.  Looks like I may get my wish! 

To learn more about Violette, visit www.violettemeier.com

Source:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/12/02/new-anti-aging-drug-could-extend-human-life-span-to-120-years.html

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Vampire Bambi?


With its fangs hanging ready for action, the Kashmir musk deer reappeared last year in Afghanistan 60 years after its last sighting in1948.  Luckily these herbivores aren’t in search for blood.  A bite from one of their fangs would make a nip from Dracula seem painless!

These fanged bucks bare their teeth to impress hot does, and to fight off other deer.  Unfortunately, while the deer are looking for does, hunters are looking for them.  Their meat is a local delicacy.  Apparently they are worth over $20,455 per pound ($45,000 per kilogram), according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, on the black market.  Their scent glands are used for medicines and perfumes.  Because of destruction of habitat and poaching, the musk deer has become an endangered species, and like vampires, they are pretty darn hard to photograph.

Have a happy and safe Halloween! 

To learn more about Violette, visit www.violettemeier.com

Works cited:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2014/10/31/fanged-deer-pops-up-in-afghanistan-60-years-after-its-last-appearance/

http://www.livescience.com/48585-fanged-deer-sighting-afghanistan.html

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Marvin the Martian could be real…



Well, no.  He’s a Looney Tune cartoon, but scientists think they may have discovered water on Mars.  Water equals the prospect of life on the red planet.  For decades humans have been dreaming of aliens and now there may be proof that they could exist.

“Our quest on Mars has been to ‘follow the water,’ in our search for life in the universe, and now we have convincing science that validates what we’ve long suspected,” said John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “This is a significant development, as it appears to confirm that water -- albeit briny -- is flowing today on the surface of Mars.” [1]

It is unclear if the salt content of the water on Mars is low enough to support Earth life, but the possible existence of water on the planet could mean that life once thrived there or/and microscopic life still strives there.  Area 51 doesn’t sound crazy now huh?   Maybe we’ll meet ET and Marvin the Martian sooner than we think.


To learn more about Violette, visit www.violettemeier.com




[1] https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

The Skinny on Water



Did you know that water has skin? Well kinda!  Water has skin in a sense that a molecular layer is formed at the top of it.  “It is not really true that a "skin" forms on the water surface; the stronger cohesion between the water molecules as opposed to the attraction of the water molecules to the air makes it more difficult to move an object through the surface than to move it when it is completely submerged.” (http://water.usgs.gov/edu/surface-tension.html)  

This is called surface tension.  Surface tension is the force that causes the molecules on the surface of a liquid to be pushed together and form a layer.  This layer or skin is what allows water to bead up and turn into drops. It also allows water to be filled up above the rim. Water is only second to mercury in having the greatest amount of service tension.  Small objects will float as long as the object doesn’t separate the top layer of water molecules. Surface tension allows light weight insects like water striders to literally walk on water.  Jesus must have been pretty light on his feet! 


The next time you drink a glass water, pause to think about how very cool it is!  Happy hydrating!  


To learn more about Violette, visit www.violettemeier.com

Thursday, July 2, 2015

It's Real If You Think It's Real...


Your thoughts are very powerful, so powerful that they can determine your physical and mental health.  This is proven by studying how placebos work.  A placebo is a prescribed pseudo-medication such as a sugar pill or salt water injection that is given to a patient under the pretense that it is real medication.  Studies have shown that patients feel better because they think they are being treated when in all actuality, they are not.  The belief that the placebo is real medication causes the brain to release morphine-like chemicals called endorphins to relieve their pain. 

On the opposite spectrum of things, people can experience an equally strong nocebo effect.  If patients are told that the placebo will cause negative side effects, people will start to experience negative side effects even if there is no scientific reason why those side effects should occur.  In one study, placebos were given to patients and told that the side effect was vomiting, by the end of the day, 80% of the patients were vomiting.

The mind is a powerful thing.  It is very true you are what you think you are, and you feel how you think you feel.   Keep mind over matter.  I hope this encourages you to stay positive!  

To learn more about Violette, visit www.violettemeier.com

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Cool Cool Kids


 Children are such fascinating creatures.  I have three on them and they never cease to amaze me.  From their off center questions to their surreal dance moves, children make adults find it hard to imagine we were ever that small and full of wonder. Kids are a lot cooler than we could ever imagine.  That’s a big deal for me to admit because I think my children are the coolest kids in the world.  Here are ten cool things about children I bet you didn’t know.
  •  Between birth and 3 years old, is the fastest stage of human development.
  •  Children have 300 bones at birth but 206 in adulthood because many bones fuse together as the child gets older.
  • The average 4 year old asks over 400 questions a day.  (I think that’s low balling!)
  • In the 1600s, in England, boys and girls wore dresses until they were about 7 years old.
  • Pharaoh Ramses II had over 160 children.  (Talk about being fruitful and multiplying!)  
  • At birth babies have no knee caps.  (Since I’ve gained a few pounds, mine has disappeared as well.  Does that mean I’m looking younger? LOL)
  • 60% of the energy a baby uses in the brain. (The world would be a better place if never grew out of this!)
  • Alex Martin became the youngest card-carrying Mensa Member at age 3.
  • Youngest children usually grow up to have creative careers.
  • Watching TV can act as a natural pain killer for a child. (Step one in becoming a zombie.)
Hopefully these fun facts will give you a new appreciation to the little ones in the world.  Just another reason to love them even more!

To learn more about Violette, visit www.violettemeier.com

Sources:


Got Milk?


Painters and artists should be proud to know that their craft has been appreciated for at least a quarter of a billion years (according to Past Horizons and sciencedaily.com) or 125,000 years ago in South Africa (according to archeology.org).  Yes, you read correctly.  People have been wagging their brushes for eons and now a new paint mixture has been discovered.  The earliest form of paints were made of ochre which is any of various natural earths containing ferric oxide, silica, andalumina that are used as yellow or red pigments.  Now a research team led by the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa has discovered a milk-and ochre-based paint.  It is said to date back 49,000 years. 


It is unclear what paint was used for.  Some speculate it could be used for body decorating, painting objects such as wood and stone, or some sacred significance because of the use of the milk.  What every the use, it’s good to know that artist have been doing their thing since the dawn of time! 


To learn more about Violette, visit www.violettemeier.com