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15-Year-Old Student Discovers New Pulsar
For the second time in as many years, a student has made a discovery while participating in the Pulsar Search Collaboratory (PSC), a joint program between the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and West Virginia University designed to get students and teachers involved in analyzing data from the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT). This time it was high school sophomore Shay Bloxton, who discovered a brand new pulsar. "For Bloxton, the pulsar discovery may be only her first in a scientific career. 'Participating in the PSC has definitely encouraged me to pursue my dream of being an astrophysicist,' she said, adding that she hopes to attend West Virginia University to study astrophysics. Late last year, another West Virginia student, from South Harrison High School, Lucas Bolyard, discovered a pulsar-like object called a rotating radio transient. His discovery also came through participation in the PSC."
There's someone here whose sig is "I live in my mother's basement, but I'm only fifteen". I wonder if it's the same fifteen year old? At any rate, hooray for today's youth!
Free Martian Whores!
I think Big Bang Theory just got another cast member .../knock knock ... Shay /knock knock ... Shay /knock knock ... Shay
15 year old female discovers new pulsar. This will get bad in the discussions.
I keep thinking that looking for pulsars could've just as easily been something that someone with a hankering for SETI@home's animus could've farmed out to a grid. What's so beautiful about this is that the PSC gets work done for astrophysics at the same time that it adds something to science education. (Too bad more schools couldn't have access to these kinds of things. It may be educational natural selection, but it's still a downer.)
"What's the use in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes?" --Fourth Doctor, "Robot"
A Woman Discovers New Pulsar
You know, if she got some glasses that were a little more stylish, did something with her hair, ... she's got a lot going for her!
Now, before being accused of being a sexist pig, I'd point out that well, I am BUT there's nothing wrong in pointing out attractive women scientists to girls - such as Lisa Randall of Harvard.
I think many girls have this opinion that science isn't a "feminine" thing - at least that's an opinion of a female classmate had back in my undergrad physics days.
I think to encourage girls into science it should be pointed out that you can be a babe and be a scientist. Should we have to do that? Well, in an ideal World that short answer is 'no' but in a World were vapidness and looks dominate, I think it's a necessary evil.
you should really consider removing this picture from your website.
http://www.funnyforumpics.com/forums/ASL/1/ASL-Creepy_Guy.jpg
Sent from your iPad.
I recall some non-professionals successfully using google maps to find meteor craters.
Others have found new recent water erosion features on Mars.
Soon some of the large mapping telescopes will be releasing vast amounts of astronomical images in Google Sky.
Theres lots of opportunity for amateurs here.
...And added tints, lowered suspension, and fart can exhaust
But.
My impression, which may be very wrong, is that space is so huge, you can point a decent telescope in any direction and discover something, albeit only to a level of detail at which it is indistinguishable from a million other somethings. Thus the quest of astrophysics is not just to discover a new thing, but something new and novel.
(I have often wondered what the earth would look like if we could see every footprint ever planted by mankind. How many "first tracks" I have made?)
if he found it with his bare hands
I interviewed 4 random astronomers at an AAS meeting to ask 'why did you become an astronomer', and the answer was either "saw cool space stuff as a kid and was inspired" or "got to learn a bit of astronomy in high school and loved it". So she's right at the age for deciding. Unlike most majors, I think most astronomers choose their path early. (In February the podcast will be up at "365 Days of Astronomy", btw).
Sandy
http://projectcalliope.com/ "Music from Space"
A.
Good lord. Humping yourself over a 15 year old girl? Man, you guys *really* need to get out of the basement.
I'm no astrophysicist, but you have to wonder if she had really done anything other than typed some standard pre-scripted commands on a computer terminal (which granted is highly technical and take years of dedicated studies to master as I understand).
i.e. a glorified computer operator?
It seems like letting high schoolers have access to facilities like this is a good thing: http://www.nrao.edu/pr/2009/pulsarstudent/
Ok, who am I kidding.. I'll never have a date.
She's in West Virginia. The age of consent there is 16, so you only need to wait a few months. Not that she'll have a pathetic dweeb like you, though.
Similar to the upcoming US election results
Further proof that there is still valuable, real science within reach of amateurs who do not have multimillion dollar research grants. Congratulations Shay!
What is the job market like for astrophysicists?
http://sol.astro.virginia.edu/~rsl4v/PSC/
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BwFDuloZpz_BNWE1OTBmMjYtZTg5ZS00NDMxLTg0YzAtZjA3N2ZlYjBmNDdj&hl=en
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
Right. If the Good Lord wanted us to see the stars he wouldn't have made them so fucking far away.
You are welcome on my lawn.
Unless you're a member of the clergy, in which case you get a special dispenser or something.
You are welcome on my lawn.
I think you mean "Dispensation" unless you are talking about some kind of creepy Pez-like dispenser they are issued.
Similar to the upcoming US election results
Shes cute, geeky, AND my age.
Mine.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits" - Albert Einstein
That's how they handle the Eucharist in really big churches nowadays. They have a wine bong and a giant Pez-like dispenser that has a Jesus head and chucks out wafers.
Oh man, I would so buy one of those.
Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
She's in West Virginia. The age of consent there is 16, so you only need to wait a few months. Not that she'll have a pathetic dweeb like you, though.
Unless you're related, then it's 12.
i have almost as much respect ofr astronomers as actors and i have 0 for actors
And oddly enough, they both seem to share the same political opinions...
The age of consent is 16 however there can't be a difference of more than 4 years either at that age. So if you are 21 and she turns 16 you have to wait. I don't know the complete details though. I'd presume that at 18 the age difference doesn't matter. The key point is that at 16 there are stipulations in WV law that you better be aware of.
this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. -- Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
Maybe because the rest of us realized either an MBA or no degree and the right schmoozing skills pays off better.
And plus who doesn't enjoy bossing around Ph.D's who think they're all that while exploiting them to make twice or more their paycheck yourself? :D
America America exploiters of the free! America America why don't you drink our peeeeee!
So is the story about a new pulsar or the kid? I find the former more interesting.
I have always been annoyed by these headlines. I guess there's quite a bit more traffic if something mundane is sensationalized with the age of the person. It seems to work best if they're a minor or elder.
Oh well. Congratulations, kiddo!
susan and mary
but then a GIS unwittingly exposed me to rule 34
(shudder)
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
crazy dude
I could've sworn the caption said "Kurt Gödel, MOFO". He's a bad-ass mathematical mother fucker, than Kurt guy, as he comes and gives your neatly thought out proof system a roundhouse kick, square in its axiomatic nuts!
Maybe I'm misreading things.
I don't get it, why? And if you have no respect for science, what are you doing at /.? HIBT?
Free Martian Whores!