Cosmos Computed

Recently, Google released a new map system to allow for a 3D Earth view. The new maps depict Earth as a 3D planet, and allow users to explore mountains and cities in 3D.  At first, Google Earth could be downloaded and installed on a computer, but now it is available at maps.google.com for Google users to use without downloading it. To try the new maps, sign in to your Google account and go to maps.google.com. In the tab on the left, click "Get it now" where it describes the new Google maps. If you do not see the button, try  typing "new maps" into the search bar and pressing Enter. The "Get it now" button should appear above the results. My photograph of the Grand Canyon on left, Google Earth's Grand Canyon on right (same location) I really like the new maps. Besides being able to explore the Grand Canyon or Mount Everest, I especially like what happens when I zoom out all the way: Earth becomes visible with a lit side and a shadowed side, and the bl...

On Khan Academy, a while ago, I wrote a program that would allow users to draw a picture, and then the program would generate another program which they could copy and paste and save. The new program would animate the drawing of the same picture. The program was named "Art Maker". Recently, I created a new version of my program. The original only allowed for black and white; the new version includes color, as well as a dialog box system which I designed. The program uses only my own code - I didn't borrow anybody else's (as far as I can remember). To embed the program on my blog, I had to use Khan Academy's script; unfortunately, their script isn't working very well here, so the program is cut off at the edge. You can access the program itself here:  https://www.khanacademy.org/cs/art-maker-pro/5733417664643072 I finished the program before Christmas so I could release it for everybody to use on that day... so Merry Christmas! To use: * Click Generate to gener...

Apfelkuchen is an apple pie baked German style. The word literally translates to "apple cake", but is used in Germany to mean apple pie. Apfelkuchen has many variations. One variation involves baking apples inside a sweet, sugary crust in a tube pan. My mom had a recipe for apfelkuchen which she got from a German woman she knew, but she lost it. The following recipe is my imitation of that recipe. If you try it, let me know how it turned out! Crust: 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened 1 1/2 cups sugar 3 medium eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 4 cups flour Filling: 8 - 10 apples, sliced (peeling is optional) 1/2 cup sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla                                                     Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add vanilla and ...

Blowing snow lit up by the sun, which recently set behind those two peaks A couple of days ago I went skiing. That's not unusual, because I love to ski. Every year I go skiing quite a few times - usually starting in November, when Arapahoe Basin opens, and ending in June, when the snow melts and they have to close. When I went skiing, I brought my camera to the ski resort and took a few pictures. I didn't take any videos or photos of the skiing, but I did take some photos of the moon above the mountains. If I come up to the mountains from Denver, there are two options to get to Arapahoe Basin. One option is to  take the I-70 through the Eisenhower tunnel, continue past Arapahoe Basin until the next exit, drive through Dillon, and then backtrack to the resort. When I go through the tunnel (which I don't very often), I like to hold my breath until I get to the other side. This is especially difficult when I run into a traffic jam halfway through. A quicker route is to get off...

This candle was leaning over too far, so I propped it up with a folded piece of paper. In the cold, dark months of the year, candles are more than welcome. Not only do they give off a cozy light, but they also give off heat and warmth. The trouble is that candles cost money - not only for the candle itself, but also for the candle holder. So is there an alternative to buying candles? Minneola tangelos also work well. The answer is yes: make them yourself. That might sound tough at first, but it turns out that there's a really easy way to do it - all you need is an orange and some cooking oil. Here are the steps: 1. Cut into the peel on the orange. Try not to cut into the juicy flesh, because the juice could make the peel wet and cause it to have trouble lighting. Cut all the way around the orange. You might want to have a few extra oranges in case something goes wrong. 2. Remove the peel on the side opposite the stem. The wick will be on the stem side, so you need to keep that pa...

The spiral-shaped tube of this compact fluorescent lamp results in a bulb much more compact than the fluorescent tubes seen in stores - hence the name. I recently wrote the following essay for school. Because of my school, I haven't had time to post very many things on my blog, but since I wrote this anyway I figured I might as well post it. It's an informative essay formatted MLA style explaining why sometimes green alternatives are not always what they're thought to be. Green Alternatives: Are They Really So Green? There are many different dreams out in the world. Some of them are related in ways you might not think of at first. Two such dreams are the dream of money and the dream of a healthy planet. People who dream of having lots of money usually want the delights and comforts that would come with being rich, such as being able to retire early, buying new and exciting things, or relaxing in a hot tub while sipping hot chocolate. Those who dream of a healthy planet, on ...

Here's an explanation: My college psychology teacher is probably the best teacher I've ever had. She shows fun videos, has the students do fun activities, and allows the students to give presentations to help the subject matter sink into their heads better. It would probably seem a little odd to see college students making paper "brain hats," but the students (especially the girls) enjoy that kind of thing more than the average person would probably think. Anyway, the last two videos she showed us during class were TED talks. They pertained to what we were learning at the moment - namely, the mind's perception of things and attention. I enjoyed them, so I thought I'd post them on my blog in case somebody hasn't seen them yet. Here are the videos, embedded. When given instructions, be sure to follow them carefully so you'll better understand what they're getting at: