Science!

This Scientist Sunday we're honoring Annie Jump Cannon (1863-1941). Cannon was an astronomer whose work revolutionized star classification. Her system, OBAFGKM, categorized stars by temperature and spectral properties, a method still central in astronomy today. ⬇️1/4

I'll offer a slightly different perspective. I did poorly in basic algebra, I found it very boring and couldn't focus. I delayed taking calculus as long as I could but then fell in love with it when I took it. Suddenly math actually had a purpose and I learned algebra/trig while working calculus problems ultimately leading to my higher education in physics 😊

If this sparked your interest, follow me for more practical math, physics and cosmic insights, plus the occasional dad joke. Repost to share with anyone learning science the hard way.

I’m 54, a physicist, have spent decades using mathematics to study the universe, solve problems, and build things. If your work touches numbers, now or in the future, and you want to learn math properly, this thread shows a from-the-ground-up math you’ll actually need:

A sexually parasitic deep-sea anglerfish pair caught on camera — the tiny male fuses to the female for nutrients, and she gets sperm. 📹Science, Rebikoff Foundation

How are spacecraft sent across the solar system and beyond? In addition to using propellants, methods such as gravity assist are used. As a spacecraft approaches a planet or moon, it can use its gravity to alter its speed or direction. See Next ⬇️ (1/2)

Depending on how the spacecraft approaches the orbiting body, it can either increase or decrease speed and completely alter its course. This diagram shows some different scenarios (the spacecraft is blue, planet is black). (2/2)

Why do we get goosebumps? It’s not just a reaction to the cold, it's a vestigial reflex — a leftover from when body hair helped us survive.⬇️1/2

Goosebumps happen when tiny muscles at the base of your hair follicles contract, making hairs stand on end. This reflex helped our hairier ancestors trap heat or appear larger when scared. This process is called piloerection!⬇️2/2

Happy #WorldTurtleDay! 🐢 Turtles have roamed the Earth for over 200 million years—older than dinosaurs! Their shells are part of their skeleton, fused to the ribs and spine. Some can even breathe through their butts (cloacal respiration)!

A great demonstration of the Coriolis Effect by MIT. Two people throw a ball to each other on a rotating platform shown from multiple frames of reference.

Tigers, like some other big cats, have white spots on the backs of their ears which are often referred to as "eye spots" or "false eyes." While the exact purpose isn't definitively known, one idea is that they serve as a deterrent for threats approaching from behind.

From behind

Wingtip vortices are circular patterns of rotating air that occur when a wing is generating lift. The strength of wingtip vortices is determined by the weight and airspeed of the aircraft. ⬇️1/3

Great image explaining their formation

Due to the risks associated with wingtip vortices, air traffic controllers must maintain larger separation distances between heavy or large aircraft and following smaller aircraft. 🤓3/3

Meet the "bone collector"—a rare, carnivorous caterpillar found only on one mountain range in Oʻahu. In Hawaii’s forests lives a creature unlike any other: a caterpillar that hunts spiders, eats their prey, and camouflages itself with the body parts of the dead. 📹Science․org