Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ask The Bad Astronomer

Posted by timothy on from the but-nothing-dirty-this-time dept.

Astronomer, author, columnist, and successful populizer of science Phil Plait, perhaps best known as The Bad Astronomer, is a regular sight on Slashdot for his unusual ability to find lucid explanations of esoteric scientific claims and controversies. Phil has graciously agreed to answer Slashdot readers' questions, so ask him below about space, science, debunking conspiracy claims, and anything else that makes sense. Asking more than one question is fine (and encouraged!), but please separate unrelated questions into separate posts, lest your questions be moderated down.

6 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. The universe by arehm · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What is the universe expanding into?

  2. Star Trek or Star Wars. by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Which do you find more annoying.
    Star Trek which can spend a good portion of the show trying to explain how and why they break the laws of physics.
    or
    Star Wars which breaks the laws of physics but doesn't care to explain themselves.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  3. Pie in the Sky by Colonel+Korn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If you could give Apollo-level funding to a single NASA program, what would it be? Would you direct that money internally or involve private space companies?

    Finally, what do you think of lunar-based observatories from a cost vs. performance standpoint?

    --
    "I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
  4. Space junk by dcsmith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How serious is the amount of 'space junk' orbiting Earth? Will it have a substantial impact on the future of space flight, manned or otherwise? What are some of the best (or at least most innovative) ideas you've heard about for deorbiting big junk or cleaning up smaller bits of debris?

    --
    This has been a test. If this had been an actual Sig, you would have been amused.
  5. They should exist - and debunk it! by DG · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Those shows should ABSOLUTELY exist - and they should be dedicated to debunking them as completely and unassailably as possible.

    Spend the first third of the show explaining the myth; spend the next 2 thirds ripping it to pieces.

    DG

    --
    Want to learn about race cars? Read my Book
  6. UFO and legitimacy question by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If one views UFO's as a mystery instead of as "aliens", do you think there's a legitimate case for further study, even if it may only produce psychology lessons?

    Reliable pilot and passenger witnesses have seen "flying disks" in broad daylight up close, for example. I'd like to know what triggered that perception if it's not "real".

    --
    Table-ized A.I.