Promoting Science and Critical Thinking
The BBC and other News sources are reporting the news that the Great Barrier Reef has suffered its worst bleaching on record in 2016 … Higher water temperatures in 2016 caused the worst destruction of corals ever recorded on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a study has found. Some 67% of corals died in the reef’s worst-hit … Read more
Back in 2006 when stopped at a gas station on my way to the remote town of Trinidad on the southern coast of Cuba I was approached by a chap who asked for a lift. That is quite normal there, if you drive with an empty car then you would feel guilty if you had no passengers. It is … Read more
Fiona Harvey writes in the Guardian the following story … Arctic ice melt could trigger uncontrollable climate change at global level Scientists warn increasingly rapid melting could trigger polar ‘tipping points’ with catastrophic consequences felt as far away as the Indian Ocean She is not alone. Andrew Griffin is writing a similar story in the … Read more
Phil Plait, whom I do know and have personally met, has written an article within Slate that strike a deep cord within me. Normally I would perhaps extract an appropriate quote and suggest that the article merits your attention, and perhaps also offer some additional commentary. This time I am instead reproducing it in full because … Read more
The extent of sea ice in the Arctic follows a very predictable seasonal variation for rather obvious reasons. (Hint: Winter tends to be a tad cooler than summer). Right now towards the end of November the sea ice should be rapidly expanding due to the reduced winter temperature, but it is not following the normal curve. 2016 … Read more
During the summer of 1778 the famous explorer and cartographer Captain Cook was well into his third voyage of discovery. When he set sail in 1776 the public had been advised that it was to return the Pacific Islander, Omai to Tahiti, but the real motive was was to locate a Northwest Passage around the American continent. After dropping off Omai, the expedition … Read more