Casual Astronomy for Passionate People

  Last year, a friend of mine shared this video with me over  text, in hopes of getting a reciprocal laugh. To be honest, at first I found it amusing. It's easy to laugh at the vegan, and over the years, I've gotten pretty good at laughing along with the joke. One of the worst things I could have done in that situation would have been to send my friend a rant about how the  dairy industry is desperately trying to market themselves in a positive light, using relevant celebrities to distract us from the dark and corrupt practices going on behind closed factory doors. So I didn't. I don't recall exactly what my response was, but it was probably along the lines of, "Lol thats pretty funny." Now, I'm not going to get into the dark and disturbing nature of the dairy industry, especially since nobody asked. But I would like to share some interesting facts about the way the major players in the milk game have managed to stay at the top for so long. The reality is ...

Image Source:  National Geographic Approximately 800 years ago, a European monk documented the arrival of a new star in the night sky, about as bright as Polaris, the "North Star." This came as a shock to early observers as this phenomenon had never been documented before. Without the knowledge of astrophysics, this premodern scientist jotted down his observation in his notes, that this was a mystery to be unravelled by future astronomers. He wasn't the last to observe this anomaly. This same star emerges and then vanishes approximately every 80 years. And that is because this isn't a star in the traditional sense. What that monk observed, centuries ago, was a thermonuclear explosion which detonated over 3,000 lightyears away: T Coronae Borealis . Within the next few months, you can expect to see this same flare in the night sky with the naked eye. Like an enormous clock, this ticking time bomb is set to explode this year, between now and September. So keep your eyes ...

 *The following post is satire, and not my personal opinion: Image Source: IMDB Corporate America -- where there is no shortage of food and microbial life flourishes. We are fortunate to live in a time where the government cares enough to defend our agricultural industry and protects us from dangerous information that may cause  widespread panic. The average consumer doesn't know enough about biology to make informed decisions on their own, and thankfully the FDA has strong ties with the biggest names in the food industry to be able to make those decisions for us.  I recently came across a documentary that walks the line of conspiracy and threatens to provoke fear and distrust in our nation's consumer culture. Food Inc. attempts to lift an imaginary veil between the ignorant consumer and the industry that works tirelessly to create cheap, accessible, and consistent food. The film attempts to convince viewers that  the nation’s food industry has been consumed by corp...

Image Source: Prime Video F ood contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity -- These are the main issues that come to mind when I think about the food industry in America. We are living in a time that convenience is a priority, and we often sweep the repercussions under the rug. While most people are educated enough to know that "Big Food" is not sustainable, how many are actually putting in the effort to make a change? In Ana Sofia Joanes's documentary " Fresh ," a handful of revolutionary entrepreneurs get the spotlight, and an opportunity to share what they are doing to remedy the harm caused by industrialized agriculture. These activists range from sustainable farmers to locally sourced grocers, all of whom are having a positive impact on the environment, community, and economy. Joanes's documentary lends an air of optimism to consumers who feel a lack of self-efficacy, and giving hope that we are actually a...

Image Source:  BBC Sky at Night Mark your calendars and set your alarms because the stage is about to be set for one of nature's most breathtaking events -- a solar eclipse. On April 8th, people living in Mexico, United States, and Canada will have the opportunity of a lifetime to witness totality. What makes this phenomenon so special, and how can you safely enjoy the show? A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth at just the right trajectory, blocking all or part of the sun's light. There are three main types of solar eclipses: total, partial, and annular. During a total eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun, revealing the sun's outer atmosphere called the corona, and creating a sense of night time for several minutes. On the other hand, a partial eclipse is when only a portion of the sun is covered by the moon, generally dependent on the viewing location. Annular eclipses occur when the moon is too far from Earth to cover the light from...

Cats... People either love them or hate them, but there is no doubt about it, cats can cause mayhem. An oddly accurate advertisement for Allstate Home Insurance features their spokesman, Mayhem, portrayed as a mischievous house cat. As most cats do, he lays on the couch, smacks his owner a few times, and even drops a dead mouse on his owner’s face in bed. I have a cat of my own and can relate to this dichotomy of living with a tiny tiger. While I find the hi-jinx laughable, it provides a solid argument for why you should check to see if your insurance company protects you from this type of mayhem. That being said, this advertisement, “Cat vs Insurance Agent”, sheds light on planning for things you cannot control, like your beloved pet wreaking havoc on your home. This advertisement does a wonderful job of giving people an inside glimpse of the joys of cat ownership. While they are cute and soft, cats can cause some serious trouble if they are feeling bored or vindictive. This advertis...