Cosmic Waves of Discovery

Summary: Scientists at the BICEP2 collaboration at the South Pole have detected signal that confirm theories of the rapid expansion of the universe immediately after the big bang. If validated by other experiments (which is likely to happen as the signal found is actually stronger than predicted) this confirms a super-rapid expansion within the first instants of the universe before "slowing down" to rapid expansion. What they found were twists in Cosmic Radiation Background that could have only been produced by gravitational waves.

So what does this mean? These signals tell astronomers that gravity was present during this time in which quantum effects dominated the, then very tiny, universe. This gives us greater hope that the Four Fundamental Forces can be one day combined into a unified Theory of Everything which could better describe conditions at the big bang.


BBC News
Minute Physics video explaining the discovery
Discussion on background and implications
Video of the founding scientists hearing the news
SciShow

Lake drilling halted

Summary: Drilling in Antarctica that had begun early last week had to be halted on Saturday due to a failure in the backup boiler. The primary boiler had already failed with the same issue. Thankfully there is enough hit water to keep the drill from freezing over.

The objective is to drill through the ice to the lake underneath and analyse the water brought up to see if there is life down there.



BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20755450

Chills down my spine

Summary: it may not directly relate to science, but great scientists. While stranded in Antarctica during the 9 months of winter, British scientists have decided to make a horror film. Because of their long winter, scientists pick up and refine hobbies to keep themselves busy. The film, called "South of Sanity," features 14 scientists being stalked by a killer. One of the main problems was actors (other scientists) getting slight cases of hypothermia because of extended periods if outside and laying in the snow being dead bodies. Unfortunately, this resulted in dead bodies that shivered.
The film will get its premiere in Aviemore on 31 October. (I have no clue where that is.)


BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-19980602