Link Between Cosmic Rays and Climate Change?

I stumbled upon this article, and the subsequent browsing brought back some memories of my Space Physics class that was several years ago. I remember this being a great topic of debate back then, seems like it still is... here's a clip from the ScienceNOW article by Phil Berardelli - "Do Clouds Come From Outer Space?"

Study Connects Cloud Cover With Cosmic Rays.

ScienceNOW (8/5, Berardelli) reported, "Most of Earth's clouds get their start in deep space. That's the surprising conclusion from a team of researchers who argue that interstellar cosmic rays collide with water molecules in our atmosphere to form overcast skies." A new study by Henrik Svensmark of the Technical University of Denmark found that over the past 22 years the five strongest coronal mass ejections from the sun, which would block cosmic rays from reaching the Earth, corresponded to a 7% decrease in cloud cover. "Svensmark argues that the findings suggest a link between cosmic rays and climate change. Because clouds...reflect light from the sun, fewer clouds would mean a warmer Earth." However, Jón Egill Kristjánsson of the University of Oslo noted that there has only been a "slightly upward trend" at most in cosmic rays. "That would mean either no increase in cloud formation or a slight increase--neither of which would warm the world."

Further reading if you're interested:
Study shows strong evidence that cloud changes may exacerbate global warming

ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE: Cosmic Rays, Clouds, and Climate

*Random fact about me: I have always been fascinated with climate/weather, and for a while I dreamed of working for NOAA. It's still my back up plan (I have many plans - A, B, C, & D).

Zucchini & Banana Bundt Cake

I recently have become a huge fan of the Pioneer Woman, thanks to my friends who introduced me in their own blogs. Well, PW just launched a new site called Tasty Kitchen, a community website where users can search/browse all kinds of recipes, upload their favorite recipes to share, and rate ones they try out themselves. I love it! Last night I spent 30+ minutes browsing - drooling over recipes - and adding ones I wanted to give a try to my "recipe box". Since today I have the day off, I decided to jump right in this morning and put to use the beautiful zucchini sitting on my counter. I tried out this Zucchini & Banana Bundt Cake, with a few modifications to make it healthier. Usually when first trying out a recipe I follow the instructions to the T... but I was feeling it this morning and went for it. It came out really well, very moist and tasty - husband approved! The original recipe is by bakeaholic and can be found here.

Here are some pictures I took of mine... I had some trouble getting it out of the well greased and floured, non-stick bundt pan *rolling eyes*, so I'm grateful that it looks as good as it does! My modifications are listed at the bottom of the post.

So yummy!

Here's a list of the substitutions/modifications I made to make the recipe mostly "clean":

• 1 cup vegetable oil = 3/4 cup apple sauce, 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups sugar = 1 cup organic sucanat, 1/2 cup organic sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour = 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• I added 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  

Keep America in Space

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Happy 40th Anniversary Apollo!

Curry, my new found love...

A few months ago, I was re-introduced to curry... I first tried it a couple of years ago, and I have to say I wasn't too impressed. It wasn't bad, just OK... I didn't understand my friends who raved about it, so I stuck with my favorite Thai dish - Pad Thai. Turns out, I wasn't trying good curry. Now I LOVE it! My husband and I got on a kick this past spring and just couldn't get enough. I think in one week we had it 3 days in a row. So now I will try any dish that has the word curry in the name!

Last week, my friend N mentioned a Curried Spinach-Potato Soup she made, and I begged for the recipe. She thankfully shared the recipe, and now I have a double batch in my fridge! Some people may scoff at the idea of eating hot soup in the summer, and I might agree... if I wasn't working the night shift in a room that might as well be a meat freezer this week! It really has been the perfect meal to take to work, and I have enough to last several days (I'm going on day 3 and I haven't gotten sick of it yet). I wish the soup had a slightly thicker consistency (I'll hold back on the broth next time), but other than that I really am enjoying every cup. The recipe was easy and consists of leeks, potatoes, spinach, veggie broth, milk, and curry (of course) - very simple ingredients, healthy (clean), and tasty! I'm not sure where the recipe is from, so I'm hesitant to post it here... but if you're interested, email me and I will send it to you.

If you haven't tried curry, give it a try... or a second try! It might surprise you.

Blog here, blog there!

So did anyone notice that my last post was published from my iPhone (note the note at the bottom of the post)? Pretty neat-o if I do say so myself! Yesterday, while chillaxing on the drive out to the caverns, I was thinking about how out of date my blog was... and the idea struck that possibly I could post a quick blurb from my iPhone. First I tried posting from blogger.com, but for whatever reason I couldn't type in the box meant for drafting the body of the post (that was annoying). I have been scoping out blogging applications on and off for a while, so I just popped onto the app store, browsed a few blog apps, and bought BlogPress ($2.99). SCORE! Total time from picking an app, purchasing, downloading, writing yesterday's post, and publishing was about 15 minutes! I'm estimating there because I wasn't paying attention to the time.

I give 2 thumbs up for BlogPress so far! It works seamlessly with Blogger. It's super easy to use, able to upload multiple pictures, and editing the format with text and pictures seems to work well. Granted I haven't uploaded multiple pictures yet. I'll let you know how it goes. Oh, and you can type posts on landscape keyboard.

Here's a picture from yesterday of our pupdog Koda checking out the deer in the backyard. She kept barking at them - even after we explained to her that is was OK, they were friendly deer. Later, after this picture was taken a deer ate bits of carrot right out of the palm of my hand.



Have I told you lately how much I love my iPhone?

-- Post From My iPhone

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day! Thank you to all the active and retired service men and women! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend.

We are on a mini vacation visiting family in San Antonio, TX. Holy crow is it HOT here! Yesterday we spent the day melting at SeaWorld. Despite the heat we had a great time and tried to take advantage of the splash zones at all the shows. We said hello to Shamu, Seamore, the Belugas, and dolphins, and rode a couple of rides including the new Atlantis water ride and The Great White loopy roller coaster (my fav).

Today, I tagged along to a Tea Party, my first protest. It was interesting, and peaceful... not too rowdy at all. I call myself "independent", being more of a centrist.... so I was just taking it all in. Now we're on our way to play in some caves, specifically the Natural Bridge Caverns! Whoohoo, caving is right up my ally, but this will be a touristy guided tour. I'll take what I can get. They do have an adventure tour which is more of a caving/spelunking experience that I will have to come back and do on our next visit!

I updated this post to include this blurry but documentary picture (and a link to their website):


Have a great, safe 4th of July!

--Post From My iPhone

Green iPhone Apps

Have I told you lately how much I love my iPhone? Here is a ZapRoot video covering a bunch of iPhone apps that can help you live more "green" (the first half anyway). I use the Good Guide quite a bit actually. I keep meaning to get iGas... will have to do that and try out greenMeter too!

I heart my iPhone!

How to protect the oceans

This must watch video of TED prize winner and legendary ocean researcher Sylvia Earle's speech is 18 minutes long... it is definitely worth the time to watch, to contemplate her message, and hope her wish comes true! Before viewing this video, I hadn't heard of the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference that is held each year in Long Beach, California. TED's mission is simply defined as "ideas worth sharing", and the talks (a broad range of topics) are available to view on TED's YouTube page. But before you go explore the talks, you have to watch this first!

To watch in high quality click here.

So how can WE help protect the oceans? How about -

• Discarding waste properly
• Reducing the amount of packaging we consume
• Being conscientious of where the fish we eat comes from, and only eating seafood that is sustainably harvested (ask, do research... this makes me re-think how often I eat sushi)
• Wearing non-toxic sunscreen (did you know that the chemicals in sunscreen kill the coral reefs?)
  

This summer Project Kaisei will begin, and I'm looking forward to hearing of their findings and progress!

"Project Kaisei consists of a team of innovators, ocean lovers, sailors, scientists, sports enthusiasts and environmentalists who have come together with a common purpose. To study how to capture plastic waste in the ocean and how to capture, detoxify and recycle it into diesel fuel. This first research Mission, scheduled for the summer of 2009, will be critical to understanding the logistics that will be needed to make a successful clean-up operation possible as some of the technology required for such a feat has never been utilised under oceanic conditions."

Read all about their planned 70 day expedition to the "Plastic Vortex" this summer, and how you can contribute here.