Nerd Time: Extinct creatures, The Giant Squid, and Every Boy's Dream

A few news stories from today that peaked my science interest. (Few people know this, but I was sent to a science and math conference when I was 7 or 8. It was the coolest thing I had done up to that point, and, had we had the money, I would have either moved on to Space Camp or some marine-life camp. From there, it would have been the stars, baby.)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/01/26/fossil.archosaur.reut/index.html

Apparently, a rare skeleton was found of a two-legged, erect-walking crocodile creature in the basement of New York's Museum of Natural History. Can you think of any cooler place to explore? They find shit like this, and Im left wondering where The Crate from Creepshow is. WHO KNOWS what is down there.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060126/octopus_bc_060126/20060126?hub=Canada

A giant octopus made a rare appearance when it attacked a remote controlled submarine last fall. Now, the story itself may be pretty boring, even to my standards, but the idea of a giant anything is pretty fun. Having not been to any Natural History Museums (that arent the Science Place), I couldnt tell you what its like to stand next to a replica of a blue whale, the largest mammal on earth. Its gotta be pretty cool though. I mean, obviously, we are obsessed with giant creatures, or we were, when Kong and Godzilla ruled the box office.

www.nasa.gov
Today is Nasa's Day of Remembrance, honoring the fallen astronauts of Apollo 1, the Challenger, and the Columbia. Is there anyone here who never wanted to be an astronaut? (Dont talk to me then, because you are weird.) I could go on and on about my obsession with space exploration, but Ive already done that, so I'll just leave it at this rare preachy-sounding thought: Imagine doing something terribly dangerous and exciting, and leaving your parents and family at home worrying about the worst. And then the worst happens, with no happy endings, no last minute rescues. THAT is what these people gave. I'm not trying to put death itself into perspective, just the thought that for some, being remembered is not as good as being alive with loved ones. I have such respect for these astronauts, and the hundreds of astronauts no one will ever hear about again, because that is what they risk. Space is our greatest frontier, both because it is the most interesting and large, but also because we cannot even get there without brave ones who dare to "touch the face of God." Ok, Im done now.

Anyhow, get your nerd on today. Im declaring it Science Appreciation Day.