Book Nook Cafe discussion

Happy New Year everyone! My best friend is visiting this week! She got here on Monday! We went to the beach for a bit yesterday. Today we are off hiking! Hope everyone has a great week and here’s to more books being read in 2020!!!! ☺️

Happy New Year!

Stephanie, your year is starting well. Time with a good friend is the best. Have fun on your hike today.

Wishing everyone a prosperous, healthy, fun-filled year.

And the best of New Years to everyone here! Happy Reading! Gorgeous photo, Alias.

17-year-old discovers planet 6.9 times larger than Earth on third day of internship with NASA

During his junior year at Scarsdale High School in New York, Wolf Cukier landed a two-month internship with NASA. So during the summer of 2019, he traveled down to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

His first assignment was to examine variations in star brightness captured by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, known as TESS, as a part of the Planet Hunters TESS citizen science project. (The citizen science project allows people who don’t work for NASA to help with finding new planets.)

Just three days into his internship, Cukier discovered a new planet.

NASA announced the news on their website this week, after confirming the teenager’s work, submitting a paper that Cukier co-authored for scientific review and announcing the discovery of the planet, now named “TOI 1338 b,” at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting.

“I was looking through the data for everything the volunteers had flagged as an eclipsing binary, a system where two stars circle around each other, and from our view eclipse each other every orbit,” 17-year-old Cukier tells NASA. “About three days into my internship, I saw a signal from a system called TOI 1338. At first I thought it was a stellar eclipse, but the timing was wrong. It turned out to be a planet.”

“I noticed a dip, or a transit, from the TOI 1338 system, and that was the first signal of a planet,” Cukier explains to NBC 4 New York. “I first saw the initial dip and thought, ‘Oh that looked cool,’ but then when I looked at the full data from the telescope at that star, I, and my mentor also noticed, three different dips in the system.”

According to NASA, TOI 1338 b is 6.9 times larger than Earth (in between the size of Neptune and Saturn) and is located in the constellation Pictor, about 1,300 light-years away from Earth. For context, the Earth’s sun is between seven and nine light-minutes away.

TOI 1338 b is the first planet captured by the TESS system that is considered a circumbinary planet, meaning it orbits two stars. The two stars orbit each other every 15 days, and one is 10% larger than the Sun.

Together, TOI 1338 b and its two stars make up what is called an “eclipsing binary.”

In an interview with News 12, Cukier compared his discovery to “Star Wars.” “I discovered a planet. It has two stars which it orbits around,” he said. “So, if you think to Luke’s homeworld, Tatooine, from ‘Star Wars,’ it’s like that. Every sunset, there’s gonna be two stars setting.”

Cukier has several framed “Star Wars” posters and a telescope in his bedroom.

NASA states that circumbinary planets like TOI 1338 b are difficult to detect because typical software can confuse them for eclipses, which is why the help from interns like Cukier is valuable.

“These are the types of signals that algorithms really struggle with,” Veselin Kostov, a research scientist at Goddard tells NASA. “The human eye is extremely good at finding patterns in data, especially non-periodic patterns like those we see in transits from these systems.”

After making history, the high school senior is now thinking about his future in college, telling News 12 “my top three choices are Princeton, MIT and Stanford.”


*** Video clips in link
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/10/17-ye...

Wow! That’s amazing! Cukier is going to have a great future. He’s going places ☺️

Way to go! Almost as important is that it proved the value of the citizen science project arm of TESS. Cheers all around!

Very cool. 😊

Monday, January 20
Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2020 in United States

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice."
—Stride Toward Freedom, 1958

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
—Strength to Love, 1963

“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
—"Letter From Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."
—"Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

“Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.”
—Speech before a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia, October 26, 1967

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing."

-“I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream.”

--“When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: “Free at last! Free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Alias Reader wrote: "“Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.”
—Speech before a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia, October 26, 1967”

Monday, January 20

I am not familiar with that quote but it is wonderful. Happy MLK Jr. weekend!

Wonderful quotes from Martin Luther King. He was an inspirational fighter for the rights of his people.

My husband and I went to the annual music and book sale this morning! I’m excited to share the books I was able to find and will post in the appropriate thread when we get home :) I did purchase a book that I already have but I love to give this book away to friends that haven’t read it because I love it so much🥰 The Art of Racing in the Rain...this one has the movie cover though haha!

I have The Art of Racing in the Rain on my TBR list. But somehow I never get to it. I know a lot of people love it.

Stephanie, what a great day for you—books and music. Neat idea to buy books you like to give to friends as you recommend it.

Alias, I can’t wait until you read it and look forward to your thoughts. I hope you love it as much as I do ☺️. I still haven’t seen the movie version, but have heard good things.

I got my MIL to start reading Robert Crais last year and since then she has read a lot of his books, more than me 🤣 I need to catch up to her.
I have a friend that moved to Florida a few years ago. I’m hoping she hasn’t read Art of Racing in the Rain, yet, so I can send it to her ☺️.

It’s such a delight to introduce others to books & find they relish them. I’ve read a couple of Craig’s books but am holding off on reading more until I can binge on them, one after another.

Alias Reader wrote: "I have The Art of Racing in the Rain on my TBR list. But somehow I never get to it. I know a lot of people love it."
I enjoyed that book!

Alias Reader wrote: "I have The Art of Racing in the Rain on my TBR list. But somehow I never get to it. I know a lot of people love it."

I liked the book....but one character really upset me. 🤨

I recently got a writing desk and chair as early birthday gifts. I’m hoping to utilize the space to do lots of writing as well as reading.

What a good gift! I’m quite fond of my desk but have yet to find a chair i truly like. Good luck with your writing, George.

George wrote: "I recently got a writing desk and chair as early birthday gifts. I’m hoping to utilize the space to do lots of writing as well as reading."

Sweet !

I suppose this is an appropriate thread to mention that while I was visiting my mother in Florida recently she mentioned she was looking for her next book to read. So, I told her that many of the folks I know have raved about The Dutch House. After reading the downloaded sample, she excitedly remarked that she could tell it was perfect for her.

John, i’ve had a couple of people recommend that Ann Patchett novel in the last month. I liked the two books i’ve read by her so am tempted.

My mother-in-law asks me for book ideas when i visit. The last book i suggested to her, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, she really liked. However she was born in the area, which seemed to be part of the reason—it brought back memories.

madrano wrote:
My mother-in-law asks me for book ideas when i visit. The last book i suggested to her, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, she really liked. However she was born in the area, which seemed to be part of the reason—it brought back memories...."

Deb, I though of this book when I saw this distressing story in the news the other day. Much like the people in the book, it's not getting enough press.

the Native American women disappearing from US cities
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...

In Indian Country, a Crisis of Missing Women. And a New One When They’re Found.
The federal government is trying to catch up with a crisis of missing Native American women. But no one is addressing the problems that arise when they’re found.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/25/us...

Alias, thank you for those articles. This is the first i heard about a wide spread problem—I had no idea. Dan, who worked for the US Indian Health Service wasn’t aware, either. Joining these with the Latina deaths along & near the US-Mexico border and the numbers are jarring.

"Today marks the start of Lunar New Year! People worldwide of Asian heritage will celebrate the Year of the Mouse/Rat on New Year’s Eve tonight, and on New Year’s Day tomorrow. The mouse/rat is the start of a new zodiac cycle and the animal is known for being smart, adaptable and resourceful."

madrano wrote: "Alias, thank you for those articles. This is the first i heard about a wide spread problem—I had no idea. Dan, who worked for the US Indian Health Service wasn’t aware, either. Joining these with t..."

This was news to me. How sad!

This is unconscionable. What is going on in this country?

I think we will all need those Rat traits of being “smart, adaptable and resourceful” this upcoming year.

In a way it ties into Barbara’s question, too. What’s going on in the US? Is it a matter of finally paying attention or something else? First we must learn more, get smart as the rat, then become resourceful, i believe.

Just as in Killers of the Flower Moon, it seems some people count more than others. :(

I know. It should have us all questioning values, imo.

pbsbooks

"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." #OnThisDay in 1812, novelist Charles Dickens was born. Dickens penned classics 'Oliver Twist', 'A Tale of Two Cities', 'A Christmas Carol', and many more.

What a graphic! Even Dickens would smile.

While A Tale of Two Cities is my favorite, it’s so different from his others. I cannot think of a book by him i haven’t enjoyed. After the above, i suspect David Copperfield was my favorite.

Happy Birthday, Dickens, you remarkable writer.

Happy Birthday Charles Dickens 😊❤🌷

Deb, ATOTC is my favorite, too.

Happy Birthday, Charles Dickens!

Deb, my favorite Dicken's book is also AToTC. I agree that it's very different from his other books.
I've enjoyed all of the books by Dickens I've read and I've still got a lot to get to one day. I'd say my favorite of those (after AToTC) would be Nicholas Nickleby.
I haven't read David Copperfield yet.

I’ve yet to read Nicholas N. His ways with unusual characters make me smile. Some minor characters, even, seemed so real i still recall much about them.

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science
11 February

Congratulations to all women of science!!! ❤💗💖

Hi there everyone! How is everyone doing today?

Nice poster, Alias. Thanks for sharing.

Hiya, Hailey, welcome to the boards! What have you been reading?

madrano wrote: "Nice poster, Alias. Thanks for sharing.

Hiya, Hailey, welcome to the boards! What have you been reading?"

Hi madrano! I just finished reading The Lightning Thief a little while ago, which I thought was pretty good. I plan on reading Aristotle and Dante next.

A little while ago, I read a book called Shattered Memories: ... Oh a Broken Man and like Lightning Thief, it was also pretty good.

Hi, Hailey. Thank you for sharing your reads with us. And welcome to BNC.

Hi Hailey. Welcome!
You've been reading quite a bit lately.

I'm part way through the USA Trilogy by John Dos Passos; just started the last book, The Big Money.
I'm also reading A Thread of Grace. I've enjoyed many of Mary Doria Russell's books. This one has started out really well.

Petra wrote: "Hi Hailey. Welcome!
You've been reading quite a bit lately.

I'm part way through the USA Trilogy by John Dos Passos; just started the last book, The Big Money.
I'm also reading [book:..."

Hi Petra! How do you feel about the USA trilogy so far? Also, I just started reading Aristotle and Dante today, though I'm only on the Acknowledgements section right now.

Hailey, thanks for sharing about your books. It sounds as though you are on a reading roll!

Petra, I’ve had the John Dos Passos trilogy on my list for years now. How is it? I know his contemporary novelists admired it very much.

Hailey and Deb, the trilogy is interesting. It's a series of vignettes following several characters through the years. It's a strange look at the times, yet compelling. Thing is: there's not one heroic act in this book. These characters just aren't motivated, it seems......and they make lots of really poor choices.

In the reading, I came across the info that Dos Passos and Hemingway met in the war and became friends. They both came away from the experience with very different thoughts on war. I have a "thing" for Hemingway's life so have gotten The Ambulance Drivers: Hemingway, Dos Passos, and a Friendship Made and Lost in War from the library.
(I'm not sure if I have a "thing" about Hemingway's writing....I'm on the fence so far; liking some of his works and not others)

Thanks for the additional comments, Petra. My intro to Dos Passos was a reading list F Scott Fizgerald made for his lover, Sheilah Graham, who wrote about it in her bio, College of One. Indeed, many of the oldest books on my “To Be Read” list came from that book.

And then there is the singing group named after his novel, Manhattan Transfer.😁