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Satellite-Based Laser Hunts Woodpeckers From Space
University of Idaho scientists have figured out a more effective way to track woodpecker populations than following the incessant laughter. They're using a laser onboard NASA's Icesat spacecraft to determine where the birds might be living. From the article: "NASA's Icesat satellite was initially intended for measuring glacial surfaces at the Earth's poles but has proven to be quite effective in measuring vegetation also. The satellite's laser bounces off of forest canopies, tree trunks and the ground making important characteristics about the forest easily measurable. For example, forest density is determined by the relative amount of light returned versus that which is returned from the ground. Once ideal woodpecker locations are identified 'we actually conduct ground-based woodpecker surveys in these locations as well to verify it,' says team-member Patrick Adam."
I believe "Satellite-Based Laser Surveys Woodpeckers From Space" would have been a more suitable - albeit less provocative - headline.
http://alternatives.rzero.com/
How do they fly or breathe up there?
What, no "Real Genius" tags?
lasers aren't good enough. You need to nuke them from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Anybody else parse "Woodpeckers from space" the wrong way?
And I was looking forward to seeing the woodpeckers making holes in my house disappear in puffs of smoke.
Damn those woodpeckers!
If "disco" means "I learn" in Latin, does "discothèque" mean "I learn technology"?
This story gave me a Woody.
Welcome our new alien Woodpecker overlords and submit to their authority fully... (alien woodpeckers i had NOTHING to do with any alien woodpecker hunting lasers)
When you dislike the human race as much as I do, Karma:Bad is inevitable lol.
Wedge Antilles (Red 2): That's impossible! Even for a computer.
Luke: It's not impossible. I used to bullseye womp rats from my Android back home, they're not much bigger than two meters.
General Dodonna: Then man your google earths. And may the Force be with you.
Wake me up when they find Woodpeckers from Mars.
There's one now look it's ZZZZZZZZZAAAAAP oopsie!
Sounds like an awesome game. When is the release date? Will it come out on Xbox360? I'm an achievement whore.
Tiger Blooded Bi-Winning Machine
Woodpeckers my arse. They are shooting freaking laser beams towards Iranian nuclear warheads and Muslim terrorist bomber asylum seekers.
I for one could use a good beaver survey, as there are very few at this engineering college.
What one fool can do, another can. (Ancient Simian Proverb)
Woodpeckers From Space
World of Anime
We've figured out how to attach lasers to satellites but still can't attach them to sharks?
Picard: Scan for life forms Mr. Data.
Data: All I can find are woodpeckers sir.
leave the poor woodpeckers alone!
Remember kids, if you're not paying for the service, YOU ARE THE PRODUCT THAT IS BEING SOLD.
I've just been playing Command & Conquer (the Win95 release) again to re-live a waste of time from my youth, and i'm up to the Ion Cannon level. I haven't RTFA (who has time these days? :) but I assume that they are talking about a woodpecker sized Ion Cannon. If you go down to the woods today, be sure you don't look like a woodpecker when viewed from above.
...that puts the final nail in the /. coffin. I usually feel that if someone doesn't like a story, they should just not read it. In this case, the feeling is more like, if this is the best that the editors can do, then there is truly nothing more to discuss. There is no value here, and this story seems emblematic of the increase rate of decrease in quality over the last several years.
Their they're doing there hair.
When i read the title i got excited Seeing how i'm a fan of giant lasers killing things from space But then i read the article and i was sad
That's what I read.