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NASA Uses Rubber Ducks In Climate Study

Posted by samzenpus on from the science-toys dept.

NASA researchers have dropped 90 rubber ducks into holes of Greenland's fastest moving glacier: the Jakobshavn Glacier in Baffin Bay. Scientists are unsure as to why glaciers speed up in the summer months. One theory is that the summer sun melts ice on the surface of the glacier, which creates pools of water, which then flow into moulins -- narrow tubular shafts in the glacier. These then transport the water from the top to the underside of the glacier. The rubber ducks, labeled with the words "science experiment" and "reward" in three languages, along with an email address, may provide some answers. It is hoped that in addition to bath time, the ducks can make a livable climate lots of fun.

7 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. AL GORE! by sh3l1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Soon the water will be warm enough to take a bath with those duckies.

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  2. Be careful by ThanatosMinor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Think what awful things could happen if someone wrote on the bottom of one of these duckies, "I seem to be having this tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle."

  3. Rubber Duckie you're the one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Every day when I
    Make my way to the tubby
    I find a little fella who's
    Cute and yellow and chubby

  4. In other news.... by indy_Muad'Dib · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nasa upgraded its weather research supercomputer with wind up mice.

  5. Where can Donald volunteer? by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 2, Funny

    My rubber Donald wants to volunteer to be part of this experiment. Does anyone know where he can sign up?

  6. Missing Rubber Duck Report by renegadesx · · Score: 3, Funny

    Missing: One large yellow rubber duck, answers to the name 'Rubber Duckie'
    Has made apperances on childrens television shows
    Please report any information on the whereabouts on Rubber Duckie to Ernie, Sesame St NY. +123 (456) 789-10-11-12
    Cash reward

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  7. Re:As usual, the private sector does it better. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm more concerned that the plastic in the ocean will be eaten by only the stupid birds and sealife, causing a widespread Darwin effect and creating a race of super-intelligent animals that will battle humans for control of the world.

    I mean, we're running out of oil...can we afford another war right now?