The Most Insane Weapon You Never Heard About

At the height of the Cold War, a terrifying concept emerged: a bomb so powerful it wouldn’t need to be dropped. Known as Project Sundial, this doomsday device would have left a 400-km radius in flames and plunged the world into darkness. It was a bomb that would destroy everything – not a weapon, but an apocalypse. How close did we come to pressing the button?

[In a Nutshell]



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Carl Sagan’s scientific legacy extends far beyond ‘Cosmos’

Carl Sagan at his Cornell University laboratory in Ithaca, N.Y., in 1974. Santi Visalli, Inc./Archive Photos via Getty Images

Jean-Luc Margot, University of California, Los Angeles

On Nov. 9, 2024, the world will mark Carl Sagan’s 90th birthday – but sadly without Sagan, who died in 1996 at the age of 62.

Most people remember him as the co-creator and host of the 1980 “Cosmos” television series, watched worldwide by hundreds of millions of people. Others read “Contact,” his best-selling science fiction novel, or “The Dragons of Eden,” his Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction book. Millions more saw him popularize astronomy on “The Tonight Show.”

What most people don’t know about Sagan, and what has been somewhat obscured by his fame, is the far-reaching impact of his science, which resonates to this day. Sagan was an unequaled science communicator, astute advocate and prolific writer. But he was also an outstanding scientist.

Sagan propelled science forward in at least three important ways. He produced notable results and insights described in over 600 scientific papers. He enabled new scientific disciplines to flourish. And he inspired multiple generations of scientists. As a planetary astronomer, I believe such a combination of talents and accomplishments is rare and may occur only once in my lifetime.

Scientific accomplishments

Very little was known in the 1960s about Venus. Sagan investigated how the greenhouse effect in its carbon dioxide atmosphere might explain the unbearably high temperature on Venus – approximately 870 degrees Fahrenheit (465 degrees Celsius). His research remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of fossil fuel emissions here on Earth.

Carl Sagan poses before a backdrop that shows the stars and galaxies of space.
Carl Sagan hosted and co-wrote ‘Cosmos,’ a 13-part TV series that aired on PBS stations from 1980 to 1981. Mickey Adair/Michael Ochs Archives/Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Sagan proposed a compelling explanation for seasonal changes in the brightness of Mars, which had been incorrectly attributed to vegetation or volcanic activity. Wind-blown dust was responsible for the mysterious variations, he explained.

Sagan and his students studied how changes to the reflectivity of Earth’s surface and atmosphere affect our climate. They considered how the detonation of nuclear bombs could inject so much soot into the atmosphere that it would lead to a yearslong period of substantial cooling, a phenomenon known as nuclear winter.

With unusual breadth in astronomy, physics, chemistry and biology, Sagan pushed forward the nascent discipline of astrobiology – the study of life in the universe.
Together with the research scientist Bishun Khare at Cornell University, Sagan conducted pioneering laboratory experiments and showed that certain ingredients of prebiotic chemistry, called tholins, and certain building blocks of life, known as amino acids, form naturally in laboratory environments that mimic planetary settings.

A photograph of the golden record.
Carl Sagan proposed the ‘Golden Record,’ which features the sounds of Earth, including greetings spoken in 55 languages. NASA via Wikimedia Commons

He also modeled the delivery of prebiotic molecules to the early Earth by asteroids and comets, and he was deeply engaged in the biological experiments onboard the Mars Viking landers. Sagan also speculated about the possibility of balloon-shaped organisms floating in the atmospheres of Venus and Jupiter.

His passion for finding life elsewhere extended far beyond the solar system. He was a champion of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, also known as SETI. He helped fund and participated in a systematic search for extraterrestrial radio beacons by scanning 70% of the sky with the physicist and electrical engineer Paul Horowitz.

He proposed and co-designed the plaques and the “Golden Records” now affixed to humanity’s most distant ambassadors, the Pioneer and Voyager spacecrafts. It is unlikely that extraterrestrials will ever find these artifacts, but Sagan wanted people to contemplate the possibility of communication with other civilizations.

Carl Sagan, offering his unique commentary in a scene from ‘Cosmos.’

Advocacy

Sagan’s scientific output repeatedly led him to become an eloquent advocate on issues of societal and scientific significance. He testified before Congress about the dangers of climate change. He was an antinuclear activist and spoke out against the Strategic Defense Initiative, also known as “Star Wars.” He urged collaborations and a joint space mission with the Soviet Union, in an attempt to improve U.S.-Soviet relations. He spoke directly with members of Congress about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and organized a petition signed by dozens of prominent scientists urging support for the search.

But perhaps his most important gift to society was his promotion of truth-seeking and critical thinking. He encouraged people to muster the humility and discipline to confront their most cherished beliefs – and to rely on evidence to obtain a more accurate view of the world. His most cited book, “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark,” is a precious resource for anyone trying to navigate this age of disinformation.

Impact

A scientist’s impact can sometimes be gauged by the number of times their scholarly work is cited by other scientists. According to Sagan’s Google Scholar page, his work continues to accumulate more than 1,000 citations per year.

Indeed, his current citation rate exceeds that of many members of the National Academy of Sciences, who are “elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research,” according to the academy’s website, and is “one of the highest honors a scientist can receive.”

Sagan was nominated for election into the academy during the 1991-1992 cycle, but his nomination was challenged at the annual meeting; more than one-third of the members voted to keep him out, which doomed his admission. An observer at that meeting wrote to Sagan, “It is the worst of human frailties that keeps you out: jealousy.” This belief was affirmed by others in attendance. In my opinion, the academy’s failure to admit Sagan remains an enduring stain on the organization.

No amount of jealousy can diminish Sagan’s profound and wide-ranging legacy. In addition to his scientific accomplishments, Sagan has inspired generations of scientists and brought an appreciation of science to countless nonscientists. He has demonstrated what is possible in the realms of science, communication and advocacy. Those accomplishments required truth-seeking, hard work and self-improvement. On the 90th anniversary of Sagan’s birth, a renewed commitment to these values would honor his memory.The Conversation

Jean-Luc Margot, Professor of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

2024 US Elections: Jason Voorhees vs. Freddy Krueger

Freddy vs Jason

If you’re looking for a comedic take on the 2024 U.S. elections, THE MERKINS have you covered with two hilarious videos that pit horror icons Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger against each other!

First up, Jason’s Campaign Ad:

Jason Voorhees isn’t just about protecting Camp Crystal Lake—he’s now ready to take on America! His ad warns voters about “Frederick Charles Krueger,” who preys on the youth and lurks in dreams. Jason promises to face danger head-on and fight for the real world, all while being a proud “family man.”

Then, there’s Freddy’s Response:

Freddy Krueger, not one to be outdone, digs right into Jason’s weaknesses. He calls out Jason’s fear of water and pokes fun at his “drain our lakes” proposal. Freddy claims he’s the only one who can turn nightmares into the American Dream.

So, who’s your pick? A man who can’t swim or a dream demon with a flair for puns?

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Spaceballs 2 Gets Major Progress Update as Draft Script “Blows Away” Early Readers

Spaceballs

The long-awaited sequel to Spaceballs (1987) is making big strides toward production. Co-writer and producer Josh Gad recently shared some exciting progress on Spaceballs 2, which was announced back in June 2024. The sci-fi comedy sequel is being developed by Amazon MGM Studios, with Mel Brooks, the legendary creator of the original, on board to support the project. Known for his comedic talents, Gad will not only produce but also star in the sequel, working closely with screenwriters Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez (Pokémon Detective Pikachu).

In a recent interview with Forbes, Gad revealed that the initial draft of Spaceballs 2 has been completed and has already been receiving high praise from early readers. “They’ve been blown away,” Gad said, hinting at a script that captures the spirit of Mel Brooks’ iconic parody. Gad’s promised the project has Mel Brooks’ blessing—and if you’re hoping for a title like Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money, the producer only gave us a mischievous “Watch this space!”

As for characters, the return of Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) is still up in the air. And Barf? Since John Candy can’t reprise his iconic role, casting for a new Mog may be needed. But even if we don’t see all the original faces, Gad and the team promise plenty of nods to the classic film.

So start heating up those flamethrowers and pile into the Winnebago, kids—Spaceballs 2 is coming! Will the title indeed be The Search for More Money? Is Pizza the Hutt back on the menu? And will they ever find anything that actually works in the future? We’ll probably have to wait at least a year to know, but it’ll be totally worth it!

[Via Forbes]