future

The Scottish parliament is considering a pardon for Helen Duncan, the last woman jailed under the Witchcraft Act of 1735.

Some initiatives -- such as this pardon -- have merit, even though their proponents are groups that exist in part to support those who have "experienced poltergeist activity." Helen Duncan spent nine months in the clink because she predicted the sinking of a British ship (an act of clairvoyance made admittedly less impressive by the fact that it was 1944, and British ships had U-boats snapping at their keels). MORE

Eyes wide open, please

Sometime in 2027, you'll remember reading this post.  Maybe sooner.

Asteroid 2007 TU24 passed by the Earth harmlessly yesterday, a mere 334,000 miles from where you're sitting right now.  That's slightly farther away than the Moon, but closer than any known asteroid will come until 2027.  Had it hit, the 500-meter-across mass of iron could have caused a catastrophe -- probably not a Deep Impact-style planetary extinction, but something big. MORE