.: Above The Aether :.

It appears that the hexagonal storm at the north pole of Saturn (as previously posted) has created an unusual aurora effect.  The Cassini orbiter sent back the photo above of the peculiar light display in the photo above.
(If I were Captain Kirk, I’d fly the Enterprise right through the aurora just for fun.)
National Geographic link [...]

Video link (via Ectoplasmosis)
This looks cool and painful at the same time.
-Dave

Video link (via Laughing Squid)
I thought everyone could use a little funny after the fucktastic week we’ve just had.
- Dave

Link to video
From the nytimes.com:
Two monkeys with tiny sensors in their brains have learned to control a mechanical arm with just their thoughts, using it to reach for and grab food and even to adjust for the size and stickiness of morsels when necessary, scientists reported on Wednesday.
The report, released online by the journal Nature, [...]

Video link

Video link

Scientists in Japan hope to release an origami glider from space and study how reentry through Earth’s atmosphere affects it.  According to Wired:

In a test outside Tokyo in early February, a prototype about 2.8 inches long and 2 inches wide survived Mach 7 speeds and broiling temperatures up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit in a hypersonic [...]

Link (via Kotte)

We arrived in Austin in record time (around 2 hours and 15 minutes).  Would have been faster but we hit traffic leaving Houston.
Headed out to find some dinner.  Looking forward to the Maker Faire tomorrow.  I’ll try to post some photos here tomorrow and Sunday.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
-Dave