Alex R. Howe
-
My blog of science, science fiction, and more.
The header image is a rendering of a possible future skyhook-space station. Search Blog
-
Recent Posts
Categories
A Reader's History of Science Fiction Art astronomy Biology Book reviews Current events Debunking Fiction General History Interviews Literature Medicine Movie Reviews Physics Planets Reading Religion Science Science Fiction Space Space exploration Stargazing Story Analysis Technology TV Reviews Uncategorized Video What If? Rejects Writing-
Join 729 other subscribers
Blogroll
Archives
- March 2026 (1)
- August 2024 (2)
- July 2024 (3)
- June 2024 (1)
- November 2023 (1)
- August 2023 (2)
- July 2023 (1)
- June 2023 (1)
- May 2023 (3)
- April 2023 (3)
- March 2023 (6)
- February 2023 (3)
- January 2023 (2)
- December 2022 (5)
- November 2022 (3)
- October 2022 (5)
- September 2022 (5)
- August 2022 (4)
- July 2022 (4)
- June 2022 (4)
- May 2022 (1)
- April 2022 (6)
- March 2022 (6)
- February 2022 (4)
- January 2022 (5)
- December 2021 (5)
- November 2021 (3)
- October 2021 (4)
- September 2021 (3)
- August 2021 (4)
- July 2021 (4)
- June 2021 (5)
- May 2021 (3)
- April 2021 (3)
- March 2021 (6)
- February 2021 (5)
- January 2021 (4)
- December 2020 (6)
- November 2020 (3)
- October 2020 (5)
- September 2020 (6)
- August 2020 (7)
- July 2020 (5)
- June 2020 (3)
- May 2020 (4)
- April 2020 (3)
- March 2020 (1)
- February 2020 (1)
- January 2020 (3)
- December 2019 (9)
- November 2019 (2)
- October 2019 (3)
- September 2019 (6)
- August 2019 (3)
- July 2019 (7)
- June 2019 (4)
- May 2019 (2)
- April 2019 (5)
- March 2019 (4)
- February 2019 (7)
- January 2019 (4)
- December 2018 (6)
- November 2018 (3)
- October 2018 (1)
- September 2018 (2)
- August 2018 (1)
- July 2018 (2)
- June 2018 (2)
- April 2018 (3)
- March 2018 (2)
- February 2018 (3)
- January 2018 (3)
- December 2017 (8)
- November 2017 (6)
- October 2017 (9)
- September 2017 (5)
- August 2017 (4)
- July 2017 (5)
- June 2017 (6)
- December 2016 (2)
- November 2016 (2)
- October 2016 (2)
- September 2016 (1)
- August 2016 (2)
- July 2016 (1)
- June 2016 (1)
- March 2016 (3)
- February 2016 (2)
- January 2016 (5)
- December 2015 (4)
- October 2015 (1)
- September 2015 (3)
- August 2015 (5)
- July 2015 (8)
- June 2015 (2)
- May 2015 (6)
- April 2015 (5)
- March 2015 (4)
- February 2015 (1)
- January 2015 (3)
- December 2014 (5)
- November 2014 (5)
- October 2014 (5)
- September 2014 (3)
- August 2014 (2)
- July 2014 (2)
- June 2014 (6)
- May 2014 (4)
- April 2014 (7)
- March 2014 (7)
- February 2014 (5)
- January 2014 (6)
- December 2013 (5)
- November 2013 (3)
- October 2013 (6)
- September 2013 (3)
- August 2013 (7)
- July 2013 (7)
- June 2013 (9)
- May 2013 (5)
- April 2013 (4)
- March 2013 (8)
- February 2013 (8)
- January 2013 (7)
- December 2012 (10)
- November 2012 (8)
- October 2012 (8)
- September 2012 (4)
Author Archives: Alex R. Howe
Book review: Amped by Daniel H. Wilson
In the future, brain implants are widespread. They can cure all sorts of neurological conditions, including ADD, epilepsy, learning disabilities, and even autism. They’re great for interfacing with prosthetic limbs, and healthy people can get them as an elective surgery … Continue reading
Posted in Book reviews
Tagged amped, brain implants, daniel h wilson, science fiction
Comments Off on Book review: Amped by Daniel H. Wilson
In the sky: the Geminid meteor shower
Tomorrow night, December 13-14, will be one of the most impressive meteor showers of the year: the Geminids. Meteor showers are caused when Earth crosses the orbit of a comet. Even if the comet is nowhere near Earth at the … Continue reading
Posted in Meteors, Stargazing
Tagged fireball, geminids, meteor shower
Comments Off on In the sky: the Geminid meteor shower
It’s (not) the end of the world as we know it, part 2
In my last post, I explained how the end of the Mayan calendar is not a harbinger of the end of the world. However, you’ve probably seen stories about other predictions, even scientific predictions, that say something very bad will … Continue reading
Posted in Current events, Debunking, Doomsday predictions
Tagged 2012, conspiracy, debunking, don't panic, impending doom, magnetic reversal, nibiru, solar storm
Comments Off on It’s (not) the end of the world as we know it, part 2
It’s (not) the end of the world as we know it
By now, you’ve probably heard that on December 21, 2012, just two weeks from today, the ancient Mayan calendar will run out, and the world will end! This is approximately as silly as thinking the world will end on December … Continue reading
Posted in Current events, Debunking, Doomsday predictions
Tagged 2012, debunking, don't panic, impending doom, mayan calendar
Comments Off on It’s (not) the end of the world as we know it
Dark planet
A mirror is supposed to reflect back all of the light that hits it, but, being made of atoms, mirrors are not perfect. They typically only reflect about 95% of the light that hits them. Fresh-fallen snow also reflects a … Continue reading
NaNoWriMo wrap-up
It’s December 1, and National Novel Writing Month is over for 2012. According to the NaNo website, an estimated 300,000 writers officially took part this year, with 38,373 winning the event by reaching the goal of 50,000 words, and a … Continue reading
NaNoWriMo: the home stretch
At this moment there are just three days left in National Novel Writing Month. That may not sound like much, but it’s still 10% of the whole month. So if you’re still a little behind, don’t give up! And even … Continue reading
In the sky: Jupiter
Look to the east after sunset, and you will see a particularly bright star, which is not a star at all–it’s the planet Jupiter. Jupiter is a favorite target of amateur astronomers because it’s one of the easiest objects in … Continue reading
Welcome to the Future, Episode 1
Ah, “the Future”: an era of flying cars, jet packs, ray guns, and robotic maids…well, from that list, it looks like we’re doing pretty well for ourselves. No, the future isn’t quite what we expected. The Internet has made us … Continue reading
Posted in Welcome to the Future
Tagged cameras, drones, future, robots
Comments Off on Welcome to the Future, Episode 1
NaNoWriMo halfway (and a bit) through
If you’re participating in National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo), we’re a little over halfway through. If you’ve kept pace so far, at the end of the day today, you should be up to 28,333 words. Even if you’re behind, … Continue reading
Science Meets Fiction 