Cop Car's Beat

Helium hydride

From NASA's SOFIA page, an excerpt:

April 17, 2019

 

The Universe’s First Type of Molecule Is Found at Last

Illustration of planetary nebula NGC 7027 and helium hydride molecules. In this planetary nebula, SOFIA detected helium hydride, a combination of helium (red) and hydrogen (blue), which was the first type of molecule to ever form in the early universe. This is the first time helium hydride has been found in the modern universe.

Credits: NASA/SOFIA/L. Proudfit/D.Rutter

The first type of molecule that ever formed in the universe has been detected in space for the first time, after decades of searching. Scientists discovered its signature in our own galaxy using the world’s largest airborne observatory, NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, as the aircraft flew high above the Earth’s surface and pointed its sensitive instruments out into the cosmos.

When the universe was still very young, only a few kinds of atoms existed. Scientists believe that around 100,000 years after the big bang, helium and hydrogen combined to make a molecule called helium hydride for the first time. Helium hydride should be present in some parts of the modern universe, but it has never been detected in space — until now.

SOFIA found modern helium hydride in a planetary nebula, a remnant of what was once a Sun-like star. Located 3,000 light-years away near the constellation Cygnus, this planetary nebula, called NGC 7027, has conditions that allow this mystery molecule to form. The discovery serves as proof that helium hydride can, in fact, exist in space. This confirms a key part of our basic understanding of the chemistry of the early universe and how it evolved over billions of years into the complex chemistry of today. The results are published in this week’s issue of Nature.

….

Helium hydride is a finicky molecule. Helium itself is a noble gas making it very unlikely to combine with any other kind of atom. But in 1925, scientists were able to create the molecule in a laboratory by coaxing the helium to share one of its electrons with a hydrogen ion.

….

I got a chuckle

Although I don't know the origin of the image, below, I know that I found it at All Hat No Cattle.

As a techie who started college in 1955 (how old am I!), I didn't major in laundry. (And...I must have missed the day in class when it was explained how inheritance is responsible for knowledge of cleaning. Is it tied to the XX chromosomes?)

However, as one who has trouble interpreting pictograms, I whole heartedly agree with the idea of gaining the advice of a more knowledgeable person when faced with indecipherable labels. Fortunately, HH is game on interpreting many pictograms for me and I answer his questions concerning laundry methods. (For the past 29 years, Hunky Husband has had our washing and ironing on his weekly to-do list - and he did his own laundry for the preceding 13 years.)

Precautionary activities

We were expecting lightly freezing temperatures (28 - 32 degrees Fahrenheit) last night, so I insulated the irrigation system's backflow valve and the newly planted roses. I believe that the actual low last night was 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Insulated backflow valve (from inside to outside - R17 batting, inverted plastic waste bin, plastic bag, soil in green bag to keep the wind from blowing everything away):

During the past 20 years we've replaced two or three backflow valves when they froze and sprayed water all over me while I fought to turn off the valve. Of course, we continue to turn the irrigation system on in the early spring and off in the late fall, courting such events. (Effects of the freeze)

The roses that I had just planted for Hunky Husband (Outdoor Work in The week in passing - 2019Mar24) got covered in a deep layer of mulch to insulate them from the expected cold. (Either I failed to take a photo or the photo didn't turn out!) The photo, below, shows the roses after I pulled the mulch away from the plants at noon, today. If we have another dip in temperature, it will be simple to pull the mulch back over the plants.

More activity in our woods

When younger, I was pretty much fearless - at least, when it came to climbing trees. I probably started climbing trees shortly after learning to walk; although, of course, I wouldn't remember that far back. I do recall climbing the cherry tree in the back yard of the house in which my family lived when I was 2 and 3 years old. I have vivid recollection of climbing the elm, apple, pear, and catalpa trees at Grandmother H's house from the time I was 5 or 6 years old. However, while watching Benny "play" in the larger trees in our woods, yesterday, I kept saying (silently) to him: "Don't fall! Don't fall! Be careful!"

Because I cannot see the viewfinder of my camera when in the sun, I failed to get a photo showing how high up Benny really was. It was truly a case of "point and shoot" photography!. The following two photos should give you some clue. He was just getting setup to climb higher into the tree when I saw him.

The following photo shows the setup of the ladder. It took Benny a bit of time to get it set as he wanted it. The base of the ladder is obscured by the wood pile and undergrowth that were nearer me than was the ladder.

The following photo shows Benny rigging his ropes before he climbed higher.

In the above photo, note where the limbs fork just above and to the left of Benny's head. Later, I saw him standing on his tip-toes on the lower side of the fork, wielding his chain saw in his right hand - up above his head. We do have homeowner's insurance and an umbrella insurance policy that would cover any accidents; but, we surely don't want to see anyone needing medical attention on our property! (Or...anywhere else, of course!)

While Benny and his crew were here, they not only pruned/trimmed four large trees (which had never before been worked on, in their lives!), but I had them remove seven yew bushes from the northeast side of the house, cart off a small brush pile and cart off several really large logs from last fall's work. (You may recall that I am trying to reduce fire hazards for our home and for our neighbors' homes. It seems to be an annual thing and More tree work) The below photo shows the bare look the removal left.

The orange, red, green, and yellow paint markings in the grass demark the underground paths of utility lines. The photo, below, shows some of the markings as they exit the area of the utility service junction boxes.

Just so they won't feel left out, I'll show the other two guys on Benny's crew, below. I have them come visit me every 6-12 months, Paying them (employees of Jo-Jac's Lawn & Tree Service) by the day. They do great work!

Because they are pretty

Redbud blossoms are just bursting out:

BTW: Yes, the redbuds in front are a more vibrant color than the tree in the back. Redbuds come in a variety of shades. I stopped by the nursery, yesterday, to pick out a white redbud tree which will be planted when the nursery people amass orders for a truckload of plants. Although their tree farm is only a couple of miles from our house, the trees that have been dug are up at the nursery which is about 15 miles away, in Wichita.

Some of the daffodils are at their peak:

Creeping phlox (original start came from Bogie several years ago):

Tulips:

Cherry tree & bushes:

Happy Birthday, Bogie!

Your dad and I doted on you when you were really young.

Sometimes you scared the breath out of me. (Yes, folks, that's the Grand Canyon into which Bogie, on the right, and her sister, Dudette are dangling their feet! Notice that, although I nearly had a stroke when I saw them, I did take the time to snap a photo! That would have been in 1977 or 1978.)

You've always added gladness to our lives!

Thank you for being you, and have a great birthday! We love you.

Happy Mother's Day to Liz, Val, & other mothers in the UK

Not clickable

From Ronni Bennett's Time Goes By:

TIDY MOUSE

As Bored Panda explains:

”72-year-old British man Stephen Mckears began to question his sanity when he started noticing objects had been moved around in his shed overnight.

“And they weren’t just being randomly placed, things like clips and screws were somehow finding themselves neatly packed back into a tub as if to chastise Mr. Mckears for his untidiness. Just who was this fastidious phantom, this organized apparition?”

From YouTube:

A job well done, Michel Bacos - RIP

Pilot Michel Bacos was greeted by his wife at Orly Airport on July 5, 1976 in Paris, France after refusing to abandon his Jewish passengers held hostage by Palestinian and German terrorists. AFP/Getty Images

From NPR's Remembering Michel Bacos come the following excerpts. I highly recommend following the link to read the whole story.

Michel Bacos was captain of Air France Flight 139 on June 27, 1976, with more than 240 passengers and 12 crew, when it took off from Tel Aviv for Paris, with a stop in Athens. About eight minutes after takeoff from Athens, Captain Bacos heard screams and commotion.

The plane had been hijacked by four terrorists from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Baader-Meinhof Gang, a radical German group. They were armed, and told Captain Bacos to fly to Benghazi, Libya, then ruled by Moammar Gadhafi.

Eventually, the hijackers separated the passengers along ethnic lines: Jews and non-Jews.

The terrorists declared that those hostages who were not Jews could leave, and fly on to Paris. Captain Bacos and his crew were invited to leave with them, but as he later told the BBC, "I told my crew that we must stay until the end, because that was our tradition, so we cannot accept being freed. All my crew agreed without exception."

….

When Michel Bacos died this week, at the age of 95 according to The Associated Press, he was saluted in France, Israel and around the world. In the midst of a murderous nightmare, the captain was a shaft of light.

Must share - stars!

Just found Pergelator's posting from 2019Mar18 that includes the photo, below. Wow! I've not seen that many stars since I was a kid. Unfortunately, most of our neighbors keep bright lights alight all night, every night. (The one across the street is a spotlight aimed at their flag which means we get it full-blast, lighting up our house, our yards, and our woods!) Thus, we can see few stars from here.

Well done, Chuck! (Click on the image, below, to enlarge, please.)

Kristy Berington waits on the Innoko River for her sister, Anna Berington, after they both left Shageluk during the Iditarod on March 9. (Marc Lester / ADN)