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NASA Snaps Mysterious "Night-Shining" Clouds

coondoggie writes to tell us that NASA has captured some pretty impressive images of the Alluring noctilucent (or "night-shining") clouds. These clouds are made up of ice crystals and dust and are formed at high altitudes near the poles. "Very little is known about how these clouds form over the poles, why they are being seen more frequently and at lower latitudes than ever before, or why they have been growing brighter. AIM will observe two complete cloud seasons over both poles, documenting an entire life cycle of the shiny clouds for the first time. 'It is clear that these clouds are changing, a sign that a part of our atmosphere is changing and we do not understand how, why or what it means,' stated AIM principal investigator James Russell III of Hampton University, Hampton, Va. 'These observations suggest a connection with global change in the lower atmosphere and could represent an early warning that our Earth environment is being changed.'"

15 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. "steamed hams"? by User+956 · · Score: 5, Funny

    writes to tell us that NASA has captured some pretty impressive images of the Alluring noctilucent (or "night-shining") clouds.

    At this time of day? localized entirely in your kitchen?

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    1. Re:"steamed hams"? by letxa2000 · · Score: 3, Funny

      'These observations suggest a connection with global change in the lower atmosphere and could represent an early warning that our Earth environment is being changed.'"

      No, that's Al Gore's job. Now you're going to have to take away his Nobel prize and give to the clouds. :)

  2. These clouds are a clear symptom of global warming by Malevolent+Tester · · Score: 5, Funny

    Even more worryingly, early reports suggest they may contain Dihydrogen Monoxide.

    --
    If you haven't made a developer cry, you've wasted a day.
  3. And I immediately think... by JK_the_Slacker · · Score: 5, Funny

    "All right, Beatrice, there was no alien. The flash of light you saw in the sky was not a UFO. Swamp gas from a weather balloon was trapped in a thermal pocket and reflected the light from Venus."

    --
    I'm waiting for a "-1 somepeoplejustshouldn'tgetmodprivileges" meta-moderation.
  4. Re:Bush has no plan! by Malevolent+Tester · · Score: 2, Funny

    George Bush doesn't care about black clouds.

    --
    If you haven't made a developer cry, you've wasted a day.
  5. Re:Heh... by Toonol · · Score: 2, Funny

    "...Or it could be just the opposite!"

    Maybe the cloud is part of a positive feedback cycle that keeps the Earth's climate in acceptable ranges. Probably not, but since we're all jumping to conclusions here...

  6. Re:Accuracy? by cbart387 · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's true. Didn't anyone watch the documentary The Day After Tomorrow? Dennis Quaid or Jake Gyllenhaal should have won instead of Al.

    --
    Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
  7. Relax, guys! by StefanJ · · Score: 2, Funny

    The White House is already taking steps to make sure that these "scientists" at NASA don't say anything that might upset you:

    Climate Science Manipulation Alleged

    Obviously, this report didn't get properly vetted. By the end of the day it should be titled "Unday Clouds Shine Pretty! Doubleplus Good!"

  8. they are coordinating from behind the moon by gambolt · · Score: 3, Funny

    when the clouds are positioned for coverage around the globe . . .

    checkmate

  9. Re:Off topic? Dumb mods by spun · · Score: 2, Funny

    I knew a hippie chick named Alluring Noctilucent Cloud once. She could light up a room with her smile, but only at night.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  10. Clouds by srobert · · Score: 2, Funny

    Scientists have studied the phenomenon from the ground and from the perspective of the satellite imagery. They have found that the impressive appearance of illumination, is actually reflective. They have been unable to conclude what is the cause of the increase in the frequency of the phenomena.
    A leading researcher commented as follows:
    I've looked at clouds from both sides now
    From up and down, and still somehow
    It's cloud illusions I recall
    I really don't know clouds at all

  11. Re:Best quote ever! by Atario · · Score: 4, Funny

    exactly how it all works
    You don't need to know the exact capillary constriction/dilation response curve under all types of trauma to know that it's probably best not to whack yourself in the head with an axe handle.
    --
    "A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy." --Theodore Roosevelt
  12. it's really a conspiracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    People, I can't believe we're making light of this. We could instead ignore or horribly misinterpret conspicuous evidence, fabricate our own, claim the mainstream is oppressing us out of blindness or malice, and delude ourselves by thinking we're applying skepticism and that others are calling their dogmatic beliefs 'skepticism'!

    It's obviously caused by chemicals sprayed from passenger aircraft to control the populace!
    http://www.chemtrailcentral.com/
    Everything mysterious is caused by the entrenched, all-powerful government's efforts to control every resident human with chemicals.

    It's just another glaring piece of proof that everything in the universe is electromagnetic, including stars, comets, and gravity at least plus probably the other two forces as well.
    http://www.kronia.com/
    Everything mysterious is explained by the entrenched misunderstanding of fundamental science as non-electrical by mainstream academia.

    It's just further evidence of alien presence on Earth!
    http://www.ufoevidence.org/
    Everything mysterious is caused by aliens meddling with and experimenting on humans on our critically important and conspicuous speck of a world.

    Come on people! It's time to listen to your fancy and your fear. Stop being rational and skeptical, but still claim you're just being extra-special skeptical. Remember: the other 6 billion humans are just misguided and backward, but your greater intellect saves you from the panic that would grip their feeble minds if they beheld the awesome truth. You'll show them the light because you're just so benevolent, and only you can gently break through to their child-like worlds of fantasy, superstition, and darkness. Truth seekers unite!

  13. Nothing to see here. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The flash of light you saw in the sky was not a UFO. Swamp gas from a weather balloon was trapped in a thermal pocket and reflected the light from Venus. Now move along.

  14. Re:These clouds are a clear symptom of global warm by Spacezilla · · Score: 2, Funny

    Brawndo's got electrolytes!