Dark matter formed when fast particles slowed down and got heavy, new theory says

So basically this theory is another attack on junk food.

“The Gathering Storm”

Olympus TG-6 @ 5.4mm, f/9, 1/250s, ISO 100. Near the top of Mt. Pisgah.

Storm clouds rolling in over Mt. Pisgah

“Ready to Pop”

Olympus TG-6 @ 11.1mm, f/3.6, 1/200s, ISO 800. Fringecup buds along a trail at Mt. Pisgah.

Fringecup buds along a trail at Mt. Pisgah

“Cat Ears”

Olympus TG-6 @ 5.4mm, f/3.2, 1/160s, ISO 100. Elegant Mariposa Lily trailside at Mt. Pisgah.

Olympus TG-6 @ 5.4mm, f/3.2, 1/250s, ISO 100. Trail at Mt. Pisgah leading into a meadow dotted with Scotch Broom.

“Sweeping View”

Olympus TG-6 @ 5.4mm, f/3.2, 1/250s, ISO 100. Trail at Mt. Pisgah leading into a meadow dotted with Scotch Broom.

Trail at Mt. Pisgah leading into a meadow dotted with Scotch Broom

“Ookow Rising”

Olympus TG-6 @ 5.4mm, f/3.2, 1/320s, ISO 100. Yes, this flower really is named the ookow. Taken on the trails at Mt. Pisgah.

Yes, this flower really is named the ookow. Taken on the trails at Mt. Pisgah.

Finished: The Last Season, by Eric Blehm 📚. A look at the life and disappearance (and later remains recovery) of Randy Morgenson, a longtime backcountry ranger in the California Sierra. It’s both an appreciation of nature untrammeled and a SAR mystery story, well-written and designed to provoke reflection.

Universe expected to decay in 10⁷⁸ years, much sooner than previously thought

Another reason to avoid auto-renewing subscriptions.

Finished: Preface to the Past, by James Branch Cabell 📚. The title is quite literal; this book collects the prefaces to all of the books in the Storisende edition of the Biography. As such, you need to be pretty deep in the Cabellian rabbit-hole to appreciate it. If you are (as I am), it offers quite a bit of insight into the writing of the Biography, and indeed, to Cabell’s writing technique in general.

AI vs College

Chatted with my college freshman child about AI, after reading Everyone is Cheating Their Way Through College. They don’t use AI for writing outlines or papers or finishing assignments. But they say ChatGPT is useful for “here are a bunch of things I need to learn, please put together a set of practice test questions and scenarios for me.” Interesting. Also nice to know I at least contributed to creating an honest & creative person in the world.