Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Satellite-Based Laser Hunts Woodpeckers From Space

Posted by samzenpus on from the where's-woody dept.

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."

40 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. poor choice of verb by tverbeek · · Score: 2

    I believe "Satellite-Based Laser Surveys Woodpeckers From Space" would have been a more suitable - albeit less provocative - headline.

    --
    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
    1. Re:poor choice of verb by mangu · · Score: 1

      I had this weird mental image of a shark eating woodpeckers

    2. Re:poor choice of verb by angiasaa · · Score: 3, Informative

      Technically, even that's putting to much room into a headline.. something akin to "Satellite-based Laser helps to conduct Woodpecker surveys" would be more realistic I think. :-D The satellite does not do any surveying of its own. :)

      --
      Geekism is your _only_ God!
    3. Re:poor choice of verb by johncalvinyoung · · Score: 1

      more suitable - albeit less provocative - headline.

      Quite. I was disbelieving, but excited until I actually read the synopsis...

    4. Re:poor choice of verb by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 1

      I for one welcome our "Woodpeckers from Space" overlords.

      --
      God spoke to me.
    5. Re:poor choice of verb by SnarfQuest · · Score: 1

      You should be thinking of a muppet shark with a flashlight on its head. SHARKS IN SPACE!

      --
      Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
    6. Re:poor choice of verb by davester666 · · Score: 1

      My first thought was of a giant space shark with a laser strapped to it's head!

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    7. Re:poor choice of verb by davester666 · · Score: 1

      And, of course, the first target is the space shark's natural enemy, the hummingbird.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    8. Re:poor choice of verb by modecx · · Score: 1

      I Dunno. I think something along the lines of "Orbital laser probes plants for peckers" would have been more technically descriptive, more provocative and therefore more hilarious. C'mon editors, how can you possibly miss an opportunity like this?

      --
      Constitutional rights may be respected, repealed, or modified; but they must never be ignored.
    9. Re:poor choice of verb by sjames · · Score: 1

      I was picturing woodpeckers shooting satellites down using a hand mirror then going ha ha ha HA ha!

    10. Re:poor choice of verb by Sulphur · · Score: 1

      With a little more power, they can hunt woodpeckers from space.

      Who picks up the game?

      Its the Passenger Bison all over again.

    11. Re:poor choice of verb by ralphdaugherty · · Score: 1

      I believe "Satellite-Based Laser Surveys Woodpeckers From Space" would have been a more suitable - albeit less provocative - headline.

      actually, Satellite-Based Laser Surveys Suitable Habitat for Woodpeckers From Space

    12. Re:poor choice of verb by tverbeek · · Score: 1

      Satellite: "Mr Woodpecker, if the election were held today, would you vote for the Democratic candidate..."

      --
      http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  2. Woodpeckers from space? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    How do they fly or breathe up there?

  3. Missing tags by haydensdaddy · · Score: 1

    What, no "Real Genius" tags?

    1. Re:Missing tags by Abstrackt · · Score: 1

      Not until they tell me they're using a laser to pop woodpeckers!

      --
      They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. - Terry Pratchett
    2. Re:Missing tags by Faux_Pseudo · · Score: 2

      When I read it I was visualizing Real Genius and hearing "Woodpecker From Mars" by Faith No More. Two great tastes that taste great together.

      --
      Ascii artist &
    3. Re:Missing tags by gaiageek · · Score: 1

      "Popcorn!"

      --
      www.gaiageek.com
    4. Re:Missing tags by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

      Someone, please add one!

      It is a moral imperative!

      --
      Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
    5. Re:Missing tags by overlordofmu · · Score: 1

      Uninterestingly, "Woodpecker From Mars" is my theme song. It plays in my head whenever I enter a room.

      It is also playing on my cheap $12 desk speakers as I type this at work. My coworkers already dislike me so I am not harming my already low office reputation.

      Oddly, though, I am the overlord of Mu and not Mars, but they start with the same letter so that must count for something, right?

  4. Pigs...in...SPACE! by Pirate_Pettit · · Score: 1

    Anybody else parse "Woodpeckers from space" the wrong way?

    1. Re:Pigs...in...SPACE! by drainbramage · · Score: 1

      Is there a wrong way?

      --
      No brain, no pain.
    2. Re:Pigs...in...SPACE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Anybody else parse "Woodpeckers from space" the wrong way?

      You mean, like weird synth-pop from 1984? (No, really :)

    3. Re:Pigs...in...SPACE! by clone52431 · · Score: 1

      No, and I’m glad somebody’s finally taking some steps to deal with them.

      (In all seriousness though*, there’s a theory that life on earth was “seeded” from outer space... so maybe they really are woodpeckers from space! Imma go get my tinfoil now.)

      *not really

      --
      Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
    4. Re:Pigs...in...SPACE! by miquels · · Score: 1

      Woah that takes me back .. I think I still have that on single somewhere in the attic..

      You forgot the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qo1__kbwrA

      (No this is not a rick-roll. It's worse. )

      Mike.

      --
      Living is a horizontal fall
  5. Laser vs. Woodpeckers by thewiz · · Score: 1

    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"?
    1. Re:Laser vs. Woodpeckers by bzant · · Score: 1

      I agree, zap those guys off the side of my house.

  6. I for one... by NuKe_MoNgOoSe · · Score: 1

    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.
  7. Yawn... by FloydTheDroid · · Score: 1

    Wake me up when they find Woodpeckers from Mars.

  8. Sounds like an awesome game by trollertron3000 · · Score: 1

    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
  9. Beaver survey by PatPending · · Score: 2

    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)
    1. Re:Beaver survey by dennis612b · · Score: 1

      Sorry, you need ground based radar for your proposal.

    2. Re:Beaver survey by fremsley471 · · Score: 1

      Dam.

  10. The Videokids were ahead of their time! by SailorMeeko · · Score: 1

    Woodpeckers From Space

    --
    World of Anime
    1. Re:The Videokids were ahead of their time! by nospam007 · · Score: 1

      I prefer this one.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeldv48RGv8

  11. So what you're telling me is.... by TehBrando · · Score: 1, Funny

    We've figured out how to attach lasers to satellites but still can't attach them to sharks?

  12. they should laser mosquitoes instead by jsepeta · · Score: 1

    leave the poor woodpeckers alone!

    --
    Remember kids, if you're not paying for the service, YOU ARE THE PRODUCT THAT IS BEING SOLD.
    1. Re:they should laser mosquitoes instead by clone52431 · · Score: 1

      Already done.

      --
      Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
  13. Ion Cannon by jamesh · · Score: 1

    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.

  14. This might be the story... by fotoguzzi · · Score: 1

    ...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.