Why Evolution is True is a blog written by Jerry Coyne, centered on evolution and biology but also dealing with diverse topics like politics, culture, and cats.
Welcome to Monday, June 14, 2021: National Strawberry Shortcake Day (sure beats strawberry-rhubarb pie, the favorite dessert of Satan). It’s also National Bourbon Day (make mine Woodford Reserve), International Bath Day (I have not taken a bath in ages; I much prefer showers), and Army’s Birthday, celebrating the formation of the Continental Army on this … Continue reading Monday: Hili dialogue
Since Samantha Cristoforetti (the Official Website Astronaut™) returned from the ISS, we haven’t heard much from her, but at least I can report that today is her 39th birthday, and she got a special cake from a special person:
by Grania Samantha Cristoforetti is back from her 199 day mission on the International Space Station and spoke to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour about her experience there and being back on our planet. Long story short: gravity is a nasty welcome back to earth and we are all crew members on Spaceship Earth. She talks about the … Continue reading Catching up with Samantha Cristoforetti
UPDATE: Sam’s last tw**t from space: ____________ After a delay in returning to Earth (one that Samantha Cristoforetti was delighted about), she’s coming home on Thursday. As the Daily Mirror reports, she’s set a record: European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has been on the International Space Station for almost 200 days, meaning she’s now … Continue reading Astro Sam comes home
Destin from SmarterEveryDay analyzes a cool bit of engineering on the International Space Station: the system whereby the cupola windows, through which everything is photographed and filmed, are opened and closed. It turns out that the shutters are actually activated through two holes in the shuttle skin itself, sealed only with two small rubber-O rings! … Continue reading A nifty bit of engineering on the ISS
We have several bits and bobs for Monday morning. First, Official Website Astronaut™, Samantha Cristoforetti, has a lovely new tw**t up (she tw**ts in several languages): I have to say that the various space programs have mastered social media—a great way to get public support for their endeavors. They even post YouTube videos from the ISS (see below). … Continue reading A Moonrise (and more) from Astro Sam
Here are two videos from our Official Website Astronaut™, Samantha Cristoforetti, explaining how inhabitants of the International Space Station keep themselves clean and do their business (I love the “#1/#2” distinction)! I didn’t realize that urine was recycled into potable water, but it makes sense. I’ve just learned that Astro Sam is coming back to … Continue reading Astronaut Sam explains ISS hygiene
by Matthew Cobb Our Official Website Astronaut™, Samantha Cristoforetti, has been given a reprieve. She was due to return to Earth from the ISS this week, along with her comrades NASA astronaut Terry Virts and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, after a five-month mission. But because of the loss of the Russian space agency’s Progress 59 freighter last … Continue reading Reprieve for AstroSam
What better way to greet the day than this tw**t from astronaut Samantha Christoforetti, who, being Italian, was elated on Wednesday to take delivery of a special space espresso machine ferried to the International Space Station via the Dragon vehicle. “Sam”, as she calls herself, is, as Wikpedia notes, the first Italian woman in space, is festooned with multiple … Continue reading Espresso in space: Italian astronaut on the ISS must have proper coffee
