Toon: Testing Roger's Logic

New 360 degree Martian Panorama

First evidence for water ice clouds found outside our solar system

A team of scientists led by Carnegie's Jacqueline Faherty has discovered the first evidence of water ice clouds on an object outside of our own Solar System. Water ice clouds exist on our own gas giant planets -- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune -- but have not been seen outside of the planets orbiting our Sun until now.

Their findings are published today by The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

At the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, Faherty, along with a team including Carnegie's Andrew Monson, used the FourStar near infrared camera to detect the coldest brown dwarf ever characterized. Their findings are the result of 151 images taken over three nights and combined. The object, named WISE J085510.83-071442.5, or W0855, was first seen by NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Explorer mission and published earlier this year. But it was not known if it could be detected by Earth-based facilities.

"This was a battle at the telescope to get the detection," said Faherty.

more
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140909110754.htm

'Solid' light could compute previously unsolvable problems

Researchers at Princeton University have begun crystallizing light as part of an effort to answer fundamental questions about the physics of matter.

The researchers are not shining light through crystal -- they are transforming light into crystal. As part of an effort to develop exotic materials such as room-temperature superconductors, the researchers have locked together photons, the basic element of light, so that they become fixed in place.

"It's something that we have never seen before," said Andrew Houck, an associate professor of electrical engineering and one of the researchers. "This is a new behavior for light."

The results raise intriguing possibilities for a variety of future materials. But the researchers also intend to use the method to address questions about the fundamental study of matter, a field called condensed matter physics.

"We are interested in exploring -- and ultimately controlling and directing -- the flow of energy at the atomic level," said Hakan Türeci, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and a member of the research team. "The goal is to better understand current materials and processes and to evaluate materials that we cannot yet create."

more

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140909130810.htm

Kochs backing out of blue-state Senate races

Sorry Charlie (and David): It turns out there are some things money can’t buy, like Senate races in liberal states. And that means the Democrats just might keep control of the Senate.

The Koch brothers have learned this the hard way. After spending big in Oregon to boost their favored candidate, she continues to lag in the polls, so they’ve now dropped plans for additional spending. The Register-Guard of Eugene, Ore., reports:

Reid: It's 'Terrifying' The GOP Is Listening To Dick Cheney

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid chastised House Republicans after they met Tuesday with former Vice President Dick Cheney and discussed potential U.S. military action against the radical Islamic group ISIS.

"Taking advice from Dick Cheney on foreign policy? That's a terrifying prospect," the Nevada Democrat said Wednesday on the Senate floor. "We should be learning from our past mistakes, not repeating them. Airstrikes and strategic use of drones and, of course, covert action are the most effective way to take out ISIS without committing troops — American troops in harm's way. So I support President Obama's decision not to send in ground troops. That's not an option for the American people. I can guarantee everyone that, within the sound of my voice."

Reid warned rushing into another ground war in the Middle East.

"Now that the Republicans are taking advice from Dick Cheney on foreign policy, I'm concerned that they once again will rush to commit U.S. troops to a ground war in the Middle East. We could accomplish the mission in a more strategic way. I say to Democrats and Republicans, let's destroy these despicable terrorists, but let's do it the right way this time," he said.

more

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/harry-reid-gop-dick-cheney

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Wednesday Toon Roundup 4- The Rest

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Wednesday Toon Roundup 3- Middle East