Apocalypse Later, Surf Now, An Apocalyptic Surf Music Video

Surfing, doesn't even come close to making the list of things I've EVER had an interest in. I hate the beach, I don't swim, I don't like the sun. But hey, throw in an aerial battle of apocalyptic proportions, and suddenly, you have my interest. Love this.

I still don't care about the surfing thought.

-CAINE-

Kepler Finds 3 Smallest Exoplanets

Just this December, NASA announced they had confirmed Kepler's detection of the two smallest exoplanets ever discovered, Kepler 20 e and Kepler 20 f, orbiting around the star Kepler 20, located 950 light years from Earth in the Lyra constellation. Both planets were estimated to be roughly the size of Earth, Kepler 20 f, being the largest of the two with an estimated diameter of around 13,200 km. Well, It's a mere month later now and it appears that three new planets have arisen to take the title of smallest known exoplanets for themselves.

Found orbiting the small red dwarf star KOI-961, which is located 130 light years from Earth, in the Cygnus constellation. KOI-961.01, KOI-961.02 and KOI-961.03 (I know, I wish they'd find a better way of naming these things too) are all believed to be rocky planets about the same size as Earth, the smallest of the three being about the size as Mars. So not only are the planets in this trio the smallest exoplanets yet discovered. But they now join the ranks of the very short list of confirmed exoplanets that are believed to be rocky worlds like our own, as well.

As for the BIG question that's always on every one's mind whenever any extra solar planet is discovered. According to NASA, the proximity to which these newly discovered worlds are believed to orbit their parent star, would it impossible for them to maintain surface liquids, and therefore -unlikely homes for life.

-CAINE-

Image Credit: NASA/JPL
VIA: jpl.nasa.gov

This is Aperture

So ya, this has been embedded in my brain since I first heard it a few days ago, and now, it’s in yours.

You’re welcome.

-CAINE-

IBM researchers store one bit of magnetic information in just 12 atoms

Thanks to the adoption of what is today known as Moore's law as the industry standard for development, computer processing power doubles around once every 18 months. This rate of development is primarily maintained through the gradual miniaturization of various components within modern computers. But simply shrinking components down to create denser storage and faster processors, though obviously a highly successful model for development up to this point, has it's limits. Simply put, once this gradual miniaturization reaches the atomic level, it's game over. Which is why researchers at IBM, recently decided to try a different approach. Rather than shrinking the components themselves, developers found a way of storing the data itself in smaller spaces, 1 bit in just 12 atoms, to be specific.

Sometimes I take Pictures

Been having a hard time concentrating on anything this weekend, consequently, no posts thus far. But I did take some pictures, this is one of them.

-CAINE-

Archie Mcphee's Cult of Unicorn And Magical Unicorn Mask

From this week's Compendium:

Are you honest, forthright with the truth, and maybe a little weird? Well then you too might be a secrete Unicorn! And have I got the cult for you. No, I’m not talking about those creepy otherkin kids, they’ve obviously got issues. But not you. YOU are a SECRETE UNICORN. And now there’s a magical unicorn mask that you can wear to let the world know your true self!

Still not sure if the Cult of Unicorn is right for you? Find out now by reading the COU manifesto, HERE.

-CAINE-

Image credit: Archie Mcphee

VIA:laughing Squid