Category: Science

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Farewell, Professor Van Allen

Professor James Van Allen - June 14, 2005One of the neatest things that I can recall from my early days of becoming a lifelong geek was discovering that something in space was named after a guy who was born and raised not far from my home. I think that’s common for anyone who has some one from their home state do something that makes you proud to say that you are not afraid to say where you are from.

Then in high school, you are taught by physics teachers who studied under the guy. I had an interest in astronomy that died out during these years, but that didn’t make me any less interested in learning more about it. The Van Allen radiation belts? James Van Allen[wiki] was that guy.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Physicist James A. Van Allen, a leader in space exploration who discovered the radiation belts surrounding the Earth that now bear his name, died Wednesday. He was 91.

The University of Iowa, where he taught for years, announced the death in a statement on its Web site. [globeandmail]

When I worked at WSUI, we used to venture downtown for various live remotes that we would have to setup for, and that would take us to Van Allen Hall, the physics building that is named after him. We’d park the car in one of the official vehicle spots just outside the lecture hall, and there was one, professor emeritus, reserved parking spot that had an older, green, Jeep Cherokee in it. That was Professor Van Allen’s, and it was usually there every single time we dropped by.

Professor James Van Allen - June 14, 2005Even in his 90’s, he was still leading projects and heading into his office nearly every single day. I’m not sure to what capacity, but if you had a some sort of physics research that needed some help in getting a monetary grant from some institution, who else would be better to help sign off on it? He changed a lot about space travel with his discoveries, and the life he led is hardly a dull one.

These pictures are a few snaps that I took when BBC Radio wanted to do an ISDN[wiki] interview with him from our studios in Iowa City on June 14, 2005. He was the kindest man, parking in the lot out front with that classic, green Jeep. His wit was still pretty sharp, and the stories he told were fascinating.

I can’t even recall what the BBC wanted with him, and it doesn’t even matter. I just remember being so excited to shake his hand on that day. It’s not so much about him being a celebrity as it is meeting a great man. A lifetime of researching and discovering new things is an incredible thing in my opinion.

“Certainly one of the most enthralling things about human life is the recognition that we live in what, for practical purposes, is a universe without bounds.”
– James Van Allen (September 7, 1914 – August 9, 2006)

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Hello, nurse

All of the sudden, Stephen Hawking[wiki] has been all over the news with not just theories about physics, but also the future of humanity. It has a lot of people talking, and rightfully so.

Hawking is not talking through his hat when he says the survival of the human race depends on its ability to find new homes elsewhere in the universe, because there’s an increasing risk that humanity could be wiped out by a disaster. [indiatimes]

Stephen HawkingWhat I’m trying to sort out is his appearance at the String Theory conference in China[xinhuanet]. In a packed house of scientists, aka uber-geeks, was anyone paying attention when Hawking’s nurse was on stage?

I had a professor in college that told me numerous times that it pays to be a nerd some times. Of course, that professor was a female who preferred the comfort of fellow females, so I’m thinking this isn’t what she meant. However, I do beg to differ.

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All You Need is a F2

I’m still getting reports trickling in from the homefront.

I’m going to give all the credit for these photos to the Iowa City Press Citizen. In fact, I still have some pals back there that took some of these shots. This is amazing stuff. I used to live right near some of these places.

[mygal=iowa_tornado_apr2006]

The Dairy Queen! It’s completely gone! It was probably one of the most ghetto, little ice cream stands in Iowa City, but when you wanted to get a frosty blizzard on the way back to the radio station, you didn’t care. The bugs would chew at your skin while you waited in line, but you waited until those folks inside peered at you through the window screen to ask you what you wanted. Continue reading “All You Need is a F2”

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Life Back In the Rolling Prairie

Got an IM from my brother tonight while watching the game.

Major storm damage in the Iowa City area. Anamosa got hit bad, as well, where they have called out the Red Cross… someone must have lost their home.

Iowa City Menards had a roof collapse. University Heights homes damaged. I’m sure more stories will come out by tomorrow morning.

Probably about four confirmed tornados since about 7:30ish.

It’s spring time in the midwest. A far cry from the constant rain that we’ve had in Vancouver all day long.

To tell you the truth, it’s kind of a rush. Big, rolling storms in the Iowa countryside. I kinda miss it.

Update: The Iowa City Press Citizen has a story about the big storm. Also check out their site for photos. You can also check out the Cedar Rapids Gazette Online for their coverage.

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Can You Predict the Weather In Vancouver?

For the past few days, the forecast has been bleak and drab. The reality has been the exact opposite. Lots of sunshine and fairly warm temperatures. I’m not going to be wearing shorts and flip flops anytime soon. I’m not going to complain either.

I’ve basically come to not trust the forecasts anymore. Things can change in an instant, but that change usually sticks around for the period of a day. At least that’s what I’m starting to understand.

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Forecast for Today: Whatever

I’m learning more and more about the weather here in Vancouver.  Yesterday when I went running through the park, I came home soaking wet.  The strange thing is that during my route, I could have swore that snow was falling into my mouth on occasion.  That’s just something that happens when it’s raining, but this was really cold and kinda solid on my lips.  I thought I was imagining it, but it was confirmed when I got home, and even more so by the Volvo pulling onto the street with a healthy coat of snow on top, obviously someone who just came from the higher elevations.

So this morning, there’s more clouds and snow, turns back into rain, then blizzard like conditions for nearly a minute, back to clear and sunny skies, and now there are these snow pellets descending from the sky.  All of this in the time span of about eight hours, none of the snow sticking to the ground here in the West End.  Too crazy.

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It’s Frickin’ Freezing in Here Mr. Bigglesworth

Sitting next to the window and writing this right now, I’m cold. It’s cold here in Vancouver. Yes, I know I’m living in a climate north of forty second parallel, but it really does not get this cold here normally. In fact, this is unusually cold. How do I know that? I think part of it comes from running. When you pass some dude whose nose and ears are bright red, wearing shorts, bald, and looking at your shamefully because you have much more clothing that must be warmer than he is, you know this isn’t the usual type of weather they are used to.

The fact that Rebecca came home from work the other night and ranted about wind chills tells me another thing. Wind chills are a way of life where I come from. In Iowa, it’s just something that is associated with winter time. So cold that the snot freezes in your nose walking inside from the car. That, my friends, is cold. Vancouverites are warriors in their own right with all the rain that falls here. I’m not sure they would be able to handle an Iowan winter though.