Stuff in space

[TomK]

You know, I love watching science documentaries, Nova is always a favorite (but I adore those BBC wildlife documentaries with David Attenborough). However, when I watch a Nova show about something I know a little about, there are generally three or four things the narrator will say during the episode that make me cringe. In addition, some of the clips they show of scientists working are staged. I remember watching an episode many years ago where they showed a bunch of astronomers in the control room of an observatory in the Canary Isles. They were about to start an observation of something (I forget what) and preceded the observation with an official countdown. Sorry, no, we don't do that. We leave that sort of thing to NASA.

Watching news stories about science can be hilarious while also quite frustrating. Still can't forget some CNN news reporter telling the viewers and I that comets come to us from the edge of the universe. Hell, they travel a lot faster than I realized...