NASA's steadily shrinking budget

According to this article at least some politicians are aware of the problems posed by NASA's steadily dwindling budget. With the economy as strained as it is now, there's very little chance they'll get the increase they so desperately need. The problem isn't widely understood either. According to this article, most Americans grossly overestimate how large a part of the nation's budget NASA gets. It's hard to believe they only account for 0.6% of the budget. Where else can you get that type of return for such a small investment?

We need to revisit our priorities because correcting NASA's funding deficits isn't merely something to do to make ourselves feel good, it's an absolute imperative. Have a look at this chart of the number of near Earth asteroids (NEAs) observed within the last 60 days. Do we really want to take the chance that none of these will come close enough to do massive damage, especially when funding NASA is so affordable compared to a lot of the other budget items?

Most scientists credit an asteroid strike with causing the extinction of dinosaurs. That may be the way we're headed unless we find a way to fund more space research.

One of Carl Sagan's last speeches

I've just finished listening to a Point of Inquiry podcast featuring Ann Druyan (widow of Carl Sagan). That would have been interesting in its own right but this episode also features Carl Sagan’s last public address for CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal).

While I've always enjoyed Sagan's work, I found this speech particularly interesting. In it, he makes a number of very accurate prophecies about the slow backwards slide America seems to have been taking in its understanding of scientific topics. What I find most amazing is that he could be skeptical of pseudo-science and still be so understanding of people who subscribe to these erroneous beliefs. In this speech, he urges skeptics everywhere to be more understanding of the individuals on the other side. We must learn to separate the erroneous belief from the believers. Education, not ridicule, is the proper response.

He also manages to sneak in a few jokes at the expense of those who believe in alien abductions and crop circles. Why would a race sufficiently advanced to have traveled such long distances waste time making circles in wheat fields? It seems a bit silly when put that way, eh?

Point of Inquiry podcast

I've just started listening to the Point of Inquiry podcast and have consequently been catching up on older episodes. The episode I was listening to today featured one of my favorite scientists, Bill Nye. Bill was making a case for improving the poor state of scientific literacy in this country. He was doing it with his usual enthusiasm and humor.

With all the environmental challenges currently facing us, this is an unfortunate time to have enrollment in engineering and science programs at such low levels. Given the absurd popularity of pseudoscience these days, it's particularly disturbing to see so few new scientists entering the workforce.

This podcast also has episodes featuring interviews with or information about more of my favorite scientists and/or skeptics - Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Phil Plait (AKA The Bad Astronomer), Harry Houdini, and James Randi. I can't wait to listen to those.

The same company which produces this podcast also publishes Free Inquiry and Skeptical Inquirer magazines.

Goodbye Mr. Wizard

Don Herbert, TV's Mr. Wizard, has died (see article). I credit Mr. Wizard for instilling a love of science in me as he did for several generations of kids. You've really got to admire people like him and Carl Sagan for helping popularize science.