Is ‘static charge’ an oxymoron?

by Jimmy Johnson

Good news! NASA has announced it will continue attempting to contact the Mars rover Opportunity, which went silent in a Martian dust storm earlier this summer. When the storm cleared in September, NASA announced it would try for 45 days to awaken Opportunity. That window closed this week with not contact made. However, scientists are going to keep trying for a few more months, they’ve decided. And why not? The amazing gadget has been exploring Mars for almost 15 years. It was designed for a 90-day mission! You don’t just give up on something like that. If I were a betting man, I’d wager they’ll hear from Opportunity again.

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37 responses to “Is ‘static charge’ an oxymoron?”

  1. emb Avatar
    emb

    Pretty obvious howlers in that first group, all males I think. Testicle[s] actually means small testis [testes], so I don’t know why some [including MDs] persist in using ‘testicle’. Howlers, like marmosets, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, and spider monkeys are found only in the New World.

    Nothing exciting in Kenya just now.

    Peace,

  2. Sideburns Avatar

    One thing Leo, my cat, doesn’t have to worry about is static electricity. I don’t think that the relative humidity here as gone below 20% in over a week, and right now, it’s about 40%.

  3. emb Avatar
    emb

    4 bald eagles on a log by Miss R, SE MN/NW WI. The 2 adults may be a mated pair, the 2 immatures their most recent offspring. But why on this log by the river? Hundreds of migrant waterfowl are either nearby or likely to be soon. The eagles probably won’t hunt them and the birds won’t be spooked by the eagles. But, in a crowd like that, someone may be sick and die. Expect that’s what the eagles hang around here for. Have seen several eagles perched on island trees in the river here, surrounded by countless waterfowl.

    https://explore.org/livecams/birds/falcon-nest-cam

    Peace,

  4. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    Me: “Jackie, I want one of these.” ::Showing her the photo::

    https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KKe_siyjN5Y/W9UTx70zWEI/AAAAAAAL8Jc/GkIfHJGEUaYeTanHjNX3ivoofEJipBi8ACLcBGAs/s1600/118.jpg

    Jackie: “Sure, Ghost. You can ride it through Wally World when you get too old to walk the aisles.”

    Me: “Cool. I wonder if it has a siren. Even without one, it should solve the long-wait-in-the-checkout-line issue.”

  5. Nux likes chrome Avatar
    Nux likes chrome

    Does it cut grass?

  6. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    Wally World? You could ride it through her neighborhood! Some of those folks down there could use a good scare!

  7. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio Avatar
    Rick in Shermantown, Ohio

    Ghost:

    That’s a chair that people could use against the cars of those who park illegally in handicapped spaces.

  8. TruckerRon Avatar

    Mark, I immediately thought of Willy Wonka’s chewing gum meal. 🙂

    Watch out for the dessert!