The EPA is no more.

In a move we all saw coming, The Donald has dismissed all remaining scientists from the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy.  No surprise, since naming Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator, they've done nothing else but deny climate change and global warming, dispute valid scientific research (they don't "believe" in it) and laying off anyone with a brain.

The EPA undergoes change with each administration, but the Democratic presidents tend to put more focus and commitment to science.  During President Obama's administration, OSTP had nine scientists on staff, who dealt with policy issues such as STEM education, biotechnology and crisis response.  The OSTP had over 100 employees in all.

Earth is doomed.  Thanks, GOP.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/science-division-of-white-house-office-now-empty-as-last-staffers-depart/

Epimetheus, Saturn's moon, up close!

While the Cassini spacecraft prepares for her swan song and death dive into the Saturnian atmosphere, she is still orbiting the planet and taking pictures of everything.  In February, Cassini performed a flyby of the inner moon Saturn XI or Epimetheus.

The moon Janus was discovered in December 1966 by two separate astronomers and believed there to be only one moon.  In 1978, two more astronomers determined that 1966 observations were best explained by two distinct objects, sharing very similar orbits.  Voyager 1 confirmed this in 1980, so the two astronmers Stephen Larson and John Fountain are credited with Epimetheus' discovery.

Epimetheus is only about 70 miles in diameter which means it is too small to have an atmosphere or to be geologically active.  It has two named craters, Hilairea and Pollux, characters from Castor and Pollux of Greek mythology.

Happy birthday, Greg Kihn!

Baltimore native Greg Kihn, born July 10, 1949, enjoyed a hey-day in the 1980's with his band.  His first big hit, The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) went to #15 in 1981, but his biggest hit, Jeopardy, went to #2 in 1983.

After going solo and working in radio, Greg has started a literary career, with his first novel, Horror Show, being nominated for the prestigious Bram Stoker Award, for best new novel.  He wrote a mystery novel, Rubber Soul, in 2013 which features the Beatles.

"Tron" released 1982

It may not have received the best reviews, but true to the Disney spirit, it took us to some place we hadn't been before.  Where The Black Hole took us...well... into a black hole, Tron took us into a computer, using computer graphics, which were ground-breaking at the time.  Nowadays, those special effects seem lame but back then, they were awesome!  Even now, it's great to look back and watch young Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner!

Atlantis (STS-135) launches, Space Shuttle program's final mission, 2011

The Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-135) launched on July 8, 2011 on the last mission of the Space Shuttle program.  Four astronauts, the first four person crew in 28 years, delivered a payload to the International Space Station.  They returned to Earth July 21, closing the chapter on the Space Shuttle program.

Crew: Commander Christopher Ferguson, Pilot Douglas Hurley, Mission Specialist 1 Sandra Magnus, Mission Specialist 2 Rex Walheim

David Eddings, sci-fi/fantasy writer, born 1931

David Eddings, born July 7, 1931, is best known as a science fiction/fantasy author, who wrote the Belgariad series, featuring Aunt Pol.  I read the first two books, Pawn of Prophecy and Queen of Sorcery back in the 80's.  I especially enjoyed the fantasy adn magic aspects of the stories. I suppose I should probably finish the series and the rest of his books.

Eddings passed away June 2, 2009 in Carson City, Nevada, from natural causes.

Opportunity, Mars rover, launched 2003

The Mars Rover that keeps on going, Opportunity (MER-B) was launched July 7, 2003 and arrived on the Red Planet January 25, 2004.  It has not stopped since.  Still going over 13 years later, Opportunity has exceeded its planned operating time by 50 times. It has traveled almost 30 miles and even has an asteroid named for it.