This Science Times article is pretty cool for several reasons...first, it suggests there's a slight possibility of actually detecting the "dark matter" that defines up to a quarter of the known universe (which is much more than I believe the four or five percent of the universe made of stuff we can see), second, one of the researchers is based right here in the Gret Stet (though the research is being conducted in Antarctica--so it's cool in a literal sense, too.)
Scientific research of this nature isn't a function of the profit motive, nor is it necessarily "efficient" or essential or whatever--in other words, yer neo-cons might well scoff at it, particularly given that no one gets shot dead or mangled beyond recognition. However, it is fascinating on all sorts of levels, and indicative of the apex of human ambition and achievement. I'm reminded of what I think is something Enrico Fermi said when asked how non-applied science contributed to the national defense.
"It gives us something worth defending."
Finally there's this shot of a balloon carrying observing equipment. These balloons always remind me of that weird alien from Star Trek--a quick google search says he's Balok.
Sorry for the slow posting--it was a busy day over here. By the way, I spent the last hour or so running anti-virus updates on all our servers. We received a report of something serious...so if you run anti-virus software--and you really, really should--check your provider's web site for updated definitions...
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