"Write now is good."

Wild imagination = better memory

Photo: Superman and Mick by bigmick

A vivid imagination may stretch the mind in ways that improve the quality of memory as we age. The Science Blog reports on a study that has found that an absence of imagination in older people may actually be tied to failing memory:

Most children are able to imagine their future selves as astronauts, politicians or even superheroes; however, many older adults find it difficult to recollect past events, let alone generate new ones. A new Harvard University study reveals that the ability of older adults to form imaginary scenarios is linked to their ability to recall detailed memories...

The study results appear in the January 2008 issue of Psychological Science, the Association for Psychological Science's journal.

So, which superhero will you be today?

Little, powerful

Photo: monarch butterfly by The Divine Miss K

When multiple butterflies appear out the living room window, above my car in traffic, and overhead in the park, I know it's September. The monarchs are migrating southward.

One recent blustery noon, we stopped to gaze at a monarch, grasping tightly to a flower, being buffeted around by strong winds. The gusts were so powerful that the flower the butterfly held was completely horizontal at times. The flower would lay parallel to the ground, until the wind threw it upright and then down in the opposite direction. Still, the butterfly hung on. We watched for ten minutes, mesmerized. We looked as we walked away, witnessing the wind continually toss the migrating butterfly every which way.

At last look, the monarch was beating the wind.

This image stayed with me. Wanting to understand the monarch's power, I did some research.

Now, imagine that you are a monarch:
- You weigh between 0.25 and 0.75 grams (for comparison, a dime weighs 2.3 grams).
- You can fly 12 miles or 18 km per hour. If you have to, you can fly much faster for quick sprints.
- You fly, on average, 50 miles (80 km) per day.
- In 30 days, you will have flown 1,500 miles (2,414 km).

It might be pure instinct that drives the monarchs. There is definitely an internal mechanism that switches on and guides them when the time is right. I understand science's take on all this.

Then I go back to what so amazes me:

Their delicate, paper-thin wings. Their spindly legs. Eating only flower nectar and water for fuel. An ability to travel hundreds, even thousands, of miles. Seeing monarch after monarch this time every year and ruminating over what they encounter on their journey, only more mystery fills my thoughts and drives my imagination.

Monarch facts and map courtesy of Monarch Watch

For more takes on the Sunday Scribblings prompt "powerful", click here.

The Intergalactic Collector's Dilemma

Photo: Spaceship by Bialy-Fox

This week's Sunday Scribblings prompt is "collector personality".

Rusty rocket ship gears
Meteorite flakes
Pluto pet sheddings
Luscious lunar cakes

Jupiter storm-cloud vapors
Frozen comet dust
Vintage Venus trinkets
Ancient starlight crust

Little Dipper droplets
Nebula nectar divine
Gauzy Saturn saris
Moody Martian wine

Intergalactic travel has
So much to do and see.
Now I must land my spaceship—
There's no room left for me!

I wrote the poem's end first, then went back to the beginning, and wrapped up with the middle. The image of a crowded, souvenir-filled spaceship propelled it forward.

Read more takes on "collector personality" at Sunday Scribblings.

Thanks for the stories, Mr. Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut (November 11, 1922 — April 11, 2007)

His book "Cat's Cradle" had a huge impact on me when I first read it in college. I gleefully read it many more times. His story made me feel that he deeply enjoyed writing, and that inspired me to write.

The New York Times is running a detailed obituary on his life and work.

Here's the Wikipedia entry about him.

"And so it goes."

Comet between fireworks and lightning

The Astronomy Picture of the Day site has a crystal-clear mission: "Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer."

What is happening in this picture? Click on the image to get a better view. Here's what you will see (description and all links from the APOD site):

Comet Between Fireworks and Lightning
Credit & Copyright: Antti Kemppainen
Explanation: Sometimes the sky itself is the best show in town. On January 26, people from Perth, Australia gathered on a local beach to watch a sky light up with delights near and far. Nearby, fireworks exploded as part of Australia Day celebrations. On the far right, lightning from a thunderstorm flashed in the distance. Near the image center, though, seen through clouds, was the most unusual sight of all: Comet McNaught. The photogenic comet was so bright that it even remained visible though the din of Earthly flashes. Comet McNaught continues to move out from the Sun and dim, but should remain visible in southern skies with binoculars through the end of this month. The above image is actually a three photograph panorama digitally processed to reduce red reflections from the exploding firework.

Some of the images are so stunningly beautiful that I cannot believe they are real. Others left me speechless and longing to wander our planet and surrounding stars. Check out February 8th — "Galaxies Away" or February 3rd — "Alborz Mountains in Moonlight."

Look at these whenever you need a little inspiration, a break from visual clutter and media spam, or a reminder of how vast our universe truly is. These images could also be used as writing prompts.

If you have an image that would fit with this site, NASA takes submissions!

From Found on the Web.

Journals in space

I had planned this post well in advance of today's bizarre astronaut news (I'm not linking to it — it's all over the Web). The irony of the article I'm noting is that it further confirms this: underneath the outer persona of a heroic space explorer is a human being with vulnerabilities and flaws like the rest of us — those who've never set one foot beyond the stratosphere.

An editorial at the Frederick News-Post describes the basic human need to write and how NASA uses journal writing to help the astronauts process their experiences and scientists understand more about space effects on humans. Here's an excerpt:

For NASA astronauts, instructed to keep a journal while living in the international space station, their scrawlings may give insight into how to make their jobs safer, according to the first story we read.

"They write about their moods, their whines, how they feel, what they miss, whether they're sick of the food or aren't getting along with their roommates up in space," said the story from The Associated Press.

At the risk of sounding like high school students complaining about their teachers or kids who don't like them, the astronauts are encouraged to put it all down. Their words are later reviewed by a researcher on the ground who wants to see what happens when a person is confined with just two other people for six months, 220 miles above the Earth. It's hoped the data will help NASA as it trains astronauts for longer stays in places like the moon or even Mars...

Read the rest of the article here.

Found at Notebookism.
Image: The Milky Way in Cygnus; Image credit: Digital Sky LLC

Monumental monarch migration

The last couple of years in late September/early October, I've noticed monarch butterflies flying, one after another, past our living room window. Then I noticed them in parks, flying just above our heads. While driving on a major thoroughfare stopped at a light, I notice a few flying at car-roof level, in traffic, dipping and flopping in air, struggling and driven by something.

All were heading south. I've seen so many by now, it's remarkable.

Since then I've learned that my locale, and thousands of others across North America, are along the yearly monarch migration route. We must be in the thick of it now, as just two days ago, I counted five flying by in a span of two minutes, all at heights approximately 10-40 feet above ground. 

From the Michoacan Reforestation Fund site, I learned that:

"Monarch butterflies born in Canada and the United States begin their southward migration in the fall. Those west of the Rockies head for various sites in California, while those east of the Rocky Mountains fly all the way to Mexico. Some fly as many as 2,800 miles. There is emerging evidence that some Western monarchs reach Mexico as well. They start out one by one, but soon are joined by tens, then scores, hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands of fellow monarchs. Roosting together at night in trees and feasting on nectar from favorite flowers, they build their fat reserves as they head toward Mexico, a place which they have never been before."

Total fascination! I've got my camera at the ready.

Only 8 planets?!?!?!?

Growing up, I loved outer space. I tried to learn everything about it that I could. I remember how proud I was of myself when, after much practice, I finally memorized all of our solar system's planets in order:

"Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, PLUTO!"

I would shout "PLUTO!" because it was last in the list, and I usually said the entire sequence in one breath so I was extremely excited when I was done saying it. Plus, Pluto was the "little guy," and everyone loves an underdog, especially an 8-year-old girl who dreams of becoming an astronomer.

When I found out today that Pluto had been "decommissioned" as a planet, it felt to me like the Cold, Cruel World of Science had just announced that they were taking a color out of rainbows.

"What?!?!? What do you mean 'no more violet?' So now it's only 'ROY G. BI?' Ahhhhhhhhh!"

I composed this haiku to help ease our collective shock at Pluto's drop in rank:
Poor Pluto — so long!
Perhaps better marketing
Would have saved your place.

But here's the rub with good science, and this should reassure all residents in our solar system that chaos and anarchy do not reign the day: this announcement regarding Pluto's status is a step towards truth, vociferous and healthy discussion, and openness to understanding what is really out there.

Isn't this the stuff that makes life so interesting?

It was once commonly believed that the world was flat and that all heavenly bodies rotated around the Earth. These incorrect views were so widely and firmly held during their time that those speaking out against them were often considered heretics and punished severely — until the current, most-powerful cultural authority eventually spoke up and said, "Uh, these folks are actually right." And (yay!) science then evolved and moved on to new facts — the lifeblood of discovery.

So let's toast Pluto and celebrate its new position. Who knows — after Earthlings learn more about our solar system and beyond, everything may be reclassified or redefined. And let's look forward to the following:
— exciting discussion in classrooms all over the world regarding this as the school year soon starts; this could be a supreme "teachable moment."
— more exciting discoveries about and interest in what exists in endless, vast space
— humbleness; humans seem to benefit from being reminded every once in a while that we do not know everything!

We will always love you, great dwarf planet Pluto.

And here is the exact wording regarding Pluto's shift from the International Astronomical Union:

"The IAU further resolves:

"Pluto is a 'dwarf planet' by the above definition and is recognized as the prototype of a new category of trans-Neptunian objects."

Want all the details? Here is the complete Result of the IAU Resolution votes.

The smell of the future

Today we took a day trip north into the mountains. Enjoying our adventure, I eagerly took in all of the sites and sounds...

...and aromas.

My husband rolled down the window. "Hmm. It's coming from outside."

"You smell it, too" I stated. He nodded and rolled the window back up.

It was a curious odor. Strong, yet light. Not entirely unpleasant at the start but which made us feel more nauseous with each passing minute. And its mysterious source worried us. We'd been driving for miles, and we couldn't escape it.

"Is there a really big donut factory around here?" I asked.

"It smells like cooking oil," he added.

"Is it popcorn?" I inquired, still stumped, imaging a gigantic, freshly made yet-overcooked bowl of buttery fluffs sitting high on a hill just around the bend.

We slowed down for a red light and came face-to-butt with a Mercedes sedan in front of us.

"Bio-diesel!" my husband shouted.

Its two bumper stickers explained it:
1. "Bio-diesel"
2. "Bio-diesel: This vehicle burns a cleaner form of fuel!"

The metalic "DIESEL" detail which rests on the trunk's right-hand side had been modified. It now proudly proclaimed, "BIODIESEL."

We were both silent.

"Does all bio-diesel smell this way?"

My husband shrugged.

"Maybe they made their own. I think Willie Nelson makes his own," I said, hoping that such a promising alternative fuel source could not actually make me long for parfum de burning gas.

My husband kept his eyes on the road. We took the next exit.

"Maybe we're just not used to the smell," I added, envisioning roadways clogged with bio-diesel burners as I'm stuck in traffic; I pass out eventually and need to be rescued by helicopter because the ambulance can't make it through.

Is there any way to make biodiesel smell better?