smellmyhead

Happy birthday to Vera Rubin! Born on this day in 1928, Rubin is perhaps best known for establishing the presence of dark matter in galaxies. While working at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, she teamed up with Kent Ford, an astronomer who had developed an extremely sensitive spectrometer. Their observations allowed Rubin to calculate that galaxies must contain about 10 times as much “dark” mass as can be accounted for by visible stars. At least 90 percent of the mass in galaxies, and therefore in the observable universe, is invisible and unidentified—compelling evidence for dark matter. In recognition of her many achievements, Vera Rubin was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and in 1993 was awarded the National Medal of Science.

Meet the blunt-headed burrowing frog (Glyphoglossus molossus)! This amphibian is also known as the balloon frog because of its spherical body shape. It lives in parts of Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, where it inhabits forests and wetlands, spending much of its time underground. During the breeding season, it comes to the surface and takes advantage of seasonal rain pools to release up to 300 eggs. Unfortunately, the species is threatened due in part to humans catching the frogs for consumption when they come out to breed.

🌈 Feast your eyes on the dazzling colors of the rainbow leaf beetle (Chrysolina cerealis)! Though this insect is widely distributed across Europe, it’s seldom seen. Growing up to 0.5 in (1.3 cm) in size, this critter feeds on plants including ivy, roses, and thyme. It prefers to inhabit montane forests at elevations of up to 1,970 ft (600 m). 

No subscription. Just program.

On your computer. You got to use it forever and ever and never had to worry about it going away.

Because it was physically on your computer. As a program. That you actually owned. Not because you got it separately, but because it was a standard inclusion with your computer.

I'm sorry but I'll just never get over it. I remember when companies cared about their products being usable out of the box. I remember when our things belonged to us.

Other useful AI Removal/Detection links

How to spot AI Hallucinations like a Reference Librarian (originally on Substack)

How do you fit a 16-ft- (4.9-m-) tree slice through a 12-ft- (3.7-m-) doorway? In pieces. This giant sequoia specimen was cut to fit through the Museum’s doorways in 1912—visitors today can still spot the seams where it was put back together. When this tree was felled by a lumber company in 1891 (which is now illegal), it was 331 ft (100.1 m) tall—taller than the Statue of Liberty. It was also about 1,400 years old. Imagine how much the world changed during this mighty tree’s lifetime.  You can see it up close in the Museum's Hall of North American Forests.