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  Finishing off the week with Halloween spirit, I watch this movie every year, and while his experiments are to understand Christmas, it is indeed a nightmare. In this scene (start at 2:12), Jack creates an oscillating chemiluminescence reaction. Two components react to create an excited, high-energy intermediate state in which an electron is bumped from a lower energy level to a higher one.  In order to reach its ground state, the electron drops back down to its original energy level, which causes a release in energy in the form of a photon, or light. In an oscillating reaction, the concentrations of the reactants or products fluctuate, causing "observable fluctuations of time," which is why this is also called a clock reaction. Now, there is nothing in a Christmas ornament that would cause this kind of reaction, but it's fun in the movie, and there is a scientific basis for what is shown. Science Blog

  The chicks are roughly 30 days old now - you can see their body feathers growing in.  They're starting to stretch their wings and move along the ledge (sometimes out of camera view). By around day 40, they should be ready for their first flight. They'll stay with their parents a little while as they learn to hunt before heading off on their own.

  Mask and costume not required.  ;-) Last night I helped set up for a Haunted Art Gallery show, and starting Thursday I'll be hiding in the shadows to give a scare! The mirror and glass work is done by a very dear friend of mine. Of course I brought photos to the party!  Also some music. Inspired by Lovecraft Feel free to share anything Halloween related! I'll add more into the comments throughout the day as well. Don't forget about our  Read-Along! And please, have a Boo-Berry!

  In last week's thread, both Karloff and Lugosi were noted for their horror icon status, and now I find out the story we just read was adapted and starred them both! I honestly thought the story was spookier before its ending - the fact that it's based on true events, for one thing, and that it shows how easily one can turn a blind eye to atrocities when there is something to be gained...be it money, or the assistant position Fettes was so happy to hold... I found a review that stated Macfarlane was a prototype for both Jekyll and Hyde, which Stevenson published two years after this. Still sticking with this sense of classics, I was reminded of John William Polidori's, The Vampyre. The first vampire tale, in fact, as taken from a famous contest between Polidori, Lord Byron, and Mary and Percy Shelley. PDF Here And don't forget to check out Monster of Monsters when you're done! Here Happy Haunts through Halloween!!

  A few of my favorites have been serving up on the red carpet for this movie. Angelina Jolie Gemma Chan Salma Hayek Kumail Nanjiani Meng'er Zhang But I also have to mention Jamie Lee Curtis dressing up for the Halloween premiere, as her mother, Janet Leigh, from Psycho.

  These came out earlier this month, but I got distracted by other things going on, so we'll just recap them now. Physics Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann - "for the physical modelling of Earth's climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming." Georgio Parisi - "for the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales." Our Understanding of Complex Physical Systems Chemistry Benjamin List and David MacMillan - "for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis." This is a precise new tool for molecular construction and will have an impact on pharmaceutical research, making chemistry greener. Enamine and iminium ion–mediated organocatalysis   Physiology/Medicine David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian - "for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch." They were able to explain the molecular basis for sensing heat, cold, and mechanical force. Di...

  "...possibly the darkest Bradbury story ever." And it sure was dark.  Wow, I did not see that coming, although we're not really told exactly what happened.  We're left to imagine, given the build up Bradbury provides, which he does so well in so few pages. With classics in mind, such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow  we just read, I found a virtual source for Robert Louis Stevenson's The Body Snatcher. It is believed to have been inspired by a Dr. Knox of Edinburgh, who received bodies for dissection that had been murdered by  Burke and Hare . The story begins on page 87. Online Reading We'll touch base again next week!   And if you want something more to read, Taha suggested Monster of Monsters, Part One: Mortem's Opening. Here Happy Haunts!

  One of the most famous pieces of architecture in all the world opened on this day in 1973. Construction took 15 years and the build was funded by profits of the Opera House Lotteries. The first performance was of Sergei Prokofiev's  War of Peace. It was designed by Jørn Utzon of Denmark. The Utzon Center in Aalborg also utilizes interesting shapes. Unlike his home, which is quite linear in comparison. His vacation home though, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, is a bit more exciting. Can Feliz History The Architect

  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving That was fun!  I think the ending made it clear what really happened, but still you can imagine the fright.  There was so much build up to the Headless Hessian, not just at the party, but in general around the small town.  Poor Ichabod, who thought he deserved so much, just didn't quite get what he was expecting.  ;-) If you're ready to start something new, something quick, I found "possibly the darkest Bradbury story ever."  The October Game can be found  Here . Also, please share any suggestions you have to get us through Halloween! 

  GOKHANYAVAS Mehtap Elaidi Mert Erkan Ceran Ocak Sudi Etuz Designers

  More space news! Tomorrow, the first ever Lucy Mission launches towards the Trojan Asteroids. They are thought to be remnants of the primordial material that formed the outer planets.  They orbit the Sun in two loose groups, one ahead of Jupiter and one behind.  They are stabilized by the Sun and Jupiter in a gravitational balancing act. The mission takes its name from the fossilized human ancestor which gave us insight into humanity's evolution.  In the same sense, they hope to gain insight into our solar system's evolution. This is expected to be a 12 year journey to eight asteroids.  The first will be 52246 Donaldjohanson, named for the anthropologist discoverer of Lucy, in April 2025. The dark red P and D type Trojans resemble those found in the Kuiper Belt.  The C types are found mostly in the outer parts of the Main Belt.  All Trojans are thought to be abundant in dark carbon compounds. NASA

  Our friend Taha suggested a perfect reading for the Halloween season. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow PDF Download:  Here Online Source:  Here Here are some tidbits she provided from Wikipedia : Classic:   The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a gothic story by American author Washington Irving ... first published in 1819. Along with Irving's companion piece Rip Van Winkle.... Mystery:   Some residents say this town was bewitched during the early days of the Dutch settlement, while others claim that the mysterious atmosphere was caused by an old Native American chief.... Sexuality:   Throughout the story, Ichabod Crane competes with Abraham "Brom Bones" Van Brunt, the town rowdy, for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter and sole child of wealthy farmer.... Terror:   Ichabod encounters a cloaked rider at an intersection in a menacing swamp. Unsettled by his fellow traveler's eerie size and silence, the teacher is horrified to discover t...