Scientists discover that the moon once had an atmosphere

One of the awe-inspiring aspects of the #Apollo #moon landings is that decades later they are still yielding good science. Tools for analyzing the rock and soil sample brought back by the astronauts are being invented all the time to gain new insights into the evolution and nature of Earth’s nearest neighbor. A case in point was reported recently by Phys Org about how NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute studied the samples collected and brought back by Apollo 15 and Apollo 17.

Elon Musk’s solar and battery technology could restore power to Puerto Rico

Could #Elon Musk’s solar panel and battery technology help restore Puerto Rico’s power grid, thus changing how the island territory generates electricity? According to GeekWire, a series of tweets between Musk and #Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo Rossello points to a widespread effort to deploy Tesla Solar’s technology on the hurricane ravage island. The result would be a wide-scale effort to replace a mostly antiquated system that relied on oil-fired power plants. Like most islands, Puerto Rico has had to import its fuel.

Jimmy Kimmel begins to turn off his audience

#Jimmy Kimmel, the former late-night funnyman, and current after-hours social justice warrior is starting to get pushback on social media from some of his former fans, according to the #Washington Examiner. Kimmel, who has displayed a number of emotionally charged rants during his monologue on subjects ranging from health care to gun control, [VIDEO] is also the subject of satire courtesy of the guerilla street artist known as Sabo. #Late Night comedy is suffering a decline in viewership, partly due to other factors, but certainly, because the hard-edged political content has started to turn off audiences.

Why Columbus gets a bad rap by modern protestors

#columbus Day is drawing nigh, at least in those communities that have not consigned #The Italian navigator to the outer darkness for alleged atrocities against #native americans. The celebration of the day that Christopher Columbus and his tiny fleet arrived in the Americas used to be something that united Americans, appreciative of the discovery of a new world where, in the fullness of time, a new nation called the United States was born. That is no longer the case. Columbus has become a flashpoint between those Americans who love their country, warts and all, and those who think that its very foundation was an unmitigated atrocity. However, the demonization of Columbus may not be entirely fair.

Are we really going back to the moon this time?

Should we take the new #trump initiative to go back to the moon seriously? Eric Berger over at Ars Technica suggests some skepticism, based on what happened to two previous presidential space exploration initiatives, both announced by presidents named Bush. NASA Watch echoes that cynicism, however, some hope exists that this time America might well be going back to the moon despite the two previous failures. The political realities of the Trump era are slightly different than what adhered in the early 1990s and the first decade of the 21st Century.

How the Harvey Weinstein scandal affects 2020 politics

When the #New York Times reported that Hollywood super-producer #Harvey Weinstein had been accused of sexually harassing actresses and female staffers for decades, speculation arose whether the revelations were career-killing. Hot Air suggests that this is not the case. Creeps such as Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, and Joss Whedon still find work. However, the effect may be felt in Democratic Party politics.

Two ‘Stargate’ producers are producing fantasy series ‘The Outpost’

It looks like the success of “Wonder Woman” has started the ball rolling for a number of projects that feature female heroes. One such is called “The Outpost” which teams two people that were involved in different aspects of the “Stargate” franchise. Dean Devlin, who produced the original movie, will partner with Jonathon Glassner, who created the TV show “Stargate SG1” They will become executive producers of the new fantasy adventure series.

Report: Trump to ‘decertify’ nuclear agreement with Iran

The Washington Post is reporting that President Donald Trump intends to “decertify” the Iranian nuclear arms agreement, declaring it to be not in the national interests of the #United States. However, Trump plans to delay recommending to Congress that sanctions be reimposed, which would officially end the agreement. The president intends, according to sources, to reveal a broader strategy to confront the rogue nation in a speech late next week.

America is returning to the moon

As the redoubtable Eric Berger notes in Ars Technica, America is headed back to the moon, thanks to the Trump administration. The policy change was not articulated in the traditional way, with a presidential speech. Vice President Mike Pence announced the change in the Wall Street Journal and again at the first meeting of the National Space Council. One of the more grievous blunders of the Obama administration, the decision announced on April 15, 2010, not to return to the moon, was rectified.

Nancy Sinatra wants ‘murderous’ members of the NRA shot

Nancy Sinatra has not been in the news recently, probably not since her 1966 hit single “These Boots are Made for Walking.” Now the daughter of the famous crooner and actor Frank Sinatra, at the age of 77, is back in the headlines in the worst possible way, calling for the execution of NRA members [VIDEO] (it is unclear whether she means all five million of them) by firing squad.

Why gun control is a futile gesture for dealing with mass shootings

#Gun Control advocates ranging from late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel to just about any random Democratic member of Congress are beating their breasts, crying at times, raging at others, [VIDEO]while calling for" something to be done [VIDEO]!" John Lott provides a reality check for such proposals. The experience of Europe proves that “common sense” gun control measures are futile where stopping #Mass Shootings are concerned. Almost as important, terrorists have learned to use motor vehicles as weapons of mass destruction.

Pence sets forth goals for National Space Council

The #National Space Council, recently reconstituted by President Donald Trump, is having its first meeting in some decades on October 5, 2017. #Vice President Mike Pence, the Council’s chairman, set out the task it has to undertake in a recent piece in the Wall Street Journal.

Will there be an ‘Elon Musk Effect’ for NASA?

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the recent announcement by SpaceX’s #Elon Musk of accelerated plans to found a colony on Mars will put pressure on NASA, which has been mired in its own Journey to Mars until recently. Musk is claiming that he can do more, sooner, and for less money than the #Space Agency could ever dream of doing. Can NASA adopt some of SpaceX’s practices to become more efficient and less costly? What if NASA were to form a partnership with companies like SpaceX to get to Mars? If Musk can start a Mars colony by himself, do we even need NASA?

Marco Rubio has some questions about communist Army officer

The #United States Army and the Military Academy at West Point are mired in a scandal because of a newly minted officer named 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone, who apparently revealed himself to be a communist in a pair of tweets recently. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, is not amused. He has sent a letter to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy with some awkward questions about how the military could have nourished such a person in its bosom. The senator has some ideas about what should be done to Rapone and how to assure that no one like him would be allowed to put on the uniform.

Bill Nelson drags his feet on Jim Bridenstine’s nomination for NASA chief

Ever since Rep. #Jim Bridenstine, R-Oklahoma, was nominated to become NASA administrator, space observers have been wondering when his Senate confirmation hearings would be held. Initially, Bridenstine was going to go before the klieg lights in the last week of September. However, the hearings have been pushed back two weeks to accommodate Sen. #Bill Nelson, D-Florida who is said to be busy dealing with Hurricane Irma issues. However, NASA Watch suggests that Irma is an excuse rather than the reason for the delay.

The Houston to Dallas high speed rail project proceeds apace

While the vaunted California high-speed rail project is still mired in financial and environmental issues, a similar effort that would link Houston and Dallas with a stop near College Station is proceeding apace, with construction envisioned to begin in late 2018 or early 2019 and service beginning in 2022 or 2023. However, questions and some opposition persist, according to Crain Dallas.

The day that Sputnik ushered in the space age

Sixty years later it is #Hard To Imagine the astonishment followed by fright that accompanied the launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. American attempts to launch its own satellite had been mired in technical challenges and bureaucratic inertia. Now, a rival superpower had accomplished a feat that the United States had not been able to achieve. The implications were considered grave.

Newt Gingrich’s big idea to rebuild Puerto Rico

By all accounts, Hurricane Maria has flattened #Puerto Rico more thoroughly than a military attack would have done. The electrical grid, the transportation infrastructure, and even the water distribution system were all but destroyed. The people of Puerto Rico have been cast back in one day to the 19th Century. The island territory will be months recovering to a modicum of civilization. It will be years getting back to something resembling normal. Along those lines, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has one of his big ideas.

Lena Dunham is certain that Las Vegas was about race and gender

One of the more grotesque aspects of atrocities like the #Las Vegas massacre is the off-putting things the celebrities say about them. Usually, what is said is yet another call for gun control. However, #lena dunham, actress, producer, and public embarrassment, is in the running for the prize for the most awful tweet in the wake of the mass shooting.

Speeding up charging using asphalt-derived carbon

One of the complaints about electric cars, and, to some extent, #Handheld devices is that the lithium-ion batteries that are used to power them take a long time to charge. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle and other factors it may take anywhere from thirty minutes to 12 hours.