- Kicks from Science
- Posts
- Watch a rocket launch in... 95 minutes
Watch a rocket launch in... 95 minutes
Plus the listings: understanding OCD, getting bins in the bin, and a viral rock map
Hello, friends!
The Europa Clipper launch was pushed to today at just after 5pm, so grab a virtual seat at NASA if you want to catch it. As for the rest of the week, let’s go!
🍿 online talks and events 🐧
NB: All times are BST.
Monday 14 October
NASA’s Europa Clipper launch, stream starts 16.00, liftoff slated for 17.06 BST, free: Clipper’s launch has been pushed back from Thursday to this afternoon. Tune in to see it off on its journey to Jupiter’s icy moon.
The future of recycling: one bin to rule them all, hybrid talk by the Royal Institution, 19.00, pay what you can: Polymer scientist and sustainability champion Mike Shaver explores the complexity of our plastic environment and showcases how chemistry can help shape a more sustainable future.
The science of OCD, hybrid talk by Seed Talks, 19.00, from £13.18: Dr Athanasios Hassoulas considers the scientific and psychological aspects of OCD, discusses the latest research into its different types, and outlines some effective techniques for managing what can be a debilitating disorder.
Tuesday 15 October
The resonance of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt’s life and work, hybrid talk by the Royal Astronomical Society, 13.00 and 18.00, free: Visual artist and author Anna Von Mertens presents a portrait of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, whose work at the turn of the 20th century led to our discovery that the Universe extends far beyond the Milky Way.
Wednesday 16 October
The making of a viral rock map with Harry Young, virtual event by the Geological Society, 15.00, free: In 2020, after 28 years of work, Harry Young added the final piece to his rock map of Scotland, a geologically accurate plan of the country made wholly of stones found in the locations from which they came. Young will discuss the places he visited to make the map, and what it felt like to go viral.
Sunday 20 October
An evening of unnecessary detail, hybrid event by the Royal Institution, 19.00, pay what you can: Matt Parker, Steve Mould and Helen Arney bring their evening of advanced nerdery back to Albemarle Street, where a showcase of scientists, enthusiasts, “miscellaneous experts” and/or comedians talk about whatever they want. Last one of these I went to, there was a talk about Morse code palindromes.
🔭 in a sky near you… 🪐
Tonight (Monday 14) Saturn and the Moon will appear veeery close together. From sunset, look low in the southeastern sky. The two will rise together in a tight formation before setting in the west at about 4am. They’ll be highest at around midnight, in the southern sky.
👀 closer to Earth 🫐
Go sloe! Now autumn is well and truly here, blackthorn trees should be exploding with sloe berries, blue-purple orbs that Countryfile describes as somewhere between a blueberry and grape in looks. But nosh not – they’re that bitter even birds will leave them alone. Find blackthorn in woodland or along hedges.
💫 we need answers
Last week, I asked:
What, logically, should come next in the following sequence?
cells in a protozoan, legs on an arachnid, percentage of the Universe that comprises dark matter (to the nearest whole number. And I’m fine with you looking this up)
The answer is… anything that comes in a group of 64. The sequence describes things that sum to the first three cube numbers: there is one (1×1×1) cell in a protozoan, eight legs (2×2×2) on an arachnid and 27% (3×3×3) of the Universe comprises dark matter.
For the fourth cube number, 64 (4×4×4), you could have protons in an atom of gadolinium, sides on a hexacontakaitetragon, or arms in an octopus Korfball team.
See you next week! x