This image of "Nano-Explosions" won first prize in this year's "Science As Art" competition. Fanny Beron from the École Polytechnique de Montréal used an electron scanning micrograph to record the explosion that happened when a CoFeB magnetic array was overloaded. The chaotic blasts are a "reminder that nanoscale research can have unpredicted consequences at a high level."

I'm normally a cynical, angry bastard, but in the spirit of new beginnings, I've decided to make a list of five great things about 2007.

Top Five things about 2007

5. Music-
Despite what you hear on the radio and what you see on MTV, 2007 was a GREAT year for music. There were so many great releases this year, it made me hopeful for the future of the art form. Bands with great albums this year include: Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Of Montreal, Caribou, Mgmt, Pinback, Caribou, Black Lips, LCD Soundsystem, Justice, Digitalism, MIA, Bjork, Burial and others too.

4. New state of Mind-
I've mentioned before on this forum, that I'm an atheist. I probably haven't had any real faith in years, but this year saw me totally abandon any need for faith. Proudly, with serenity, I declared that no matter what anyone believes, there is no evidence to support the assertion that there is a god, gods or the supernatural. It's like the cobwebs being cleared from the corners of my mind and now I am free to live my life.

3. Hawaii-
I went for the first time this year. It was inspiring and beautiful.

2. Scientific Advances-
This year saw the scientific community stick a big "fuck you" to the religious right with the discovery that stem cells can be cultivated from skin cells. No need for embryos anymore. I think if we move forward as humans through science, we're going to have to continue to move around the inane boundaries of religious beliefs. We're smarter than them anyway.

1. George W. Bush not on the Ballot in 2008-
I know spacecollective is supposed to be post-politics, but I don't think this is just a political sentiment. He's done more damage to my country than anyone before. No matter who ends up in charge next year, it won't be him. And for that, I'm truly thankful.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm a science fiction lover, so every once and a while, I stumble across a theory that is far more "fiction" than science. But no less intriguing. Check out this video. I love this guy and how serious he is about this shit. (thanks Oddorama.com!)

Lately I've been wondering if we're really the most superior species on earth, as we have assumed in modern times.
There are new studies coming out showing that chimps have better memories and bonobos are more peaceful and other species have their own forms of communication and bats may be able to hear in color.
Why do we assume we're the best? Is it because we have opposable thumbs? Is it because we've created?
Sometimes I wonder if we're not just the big dumb bully on the block—beating everyone up and claiming our superiority by might.

Check out link for fun:

http://www.space.com/bestimg/index.php?guid=4499b36635b2e&cat=strangest

My fascination with the space beyond began at an early age. I was born and raised in New Mexico, a hub of space exploration and other scientific endeavors. Locals say that you can't be a true new mexican without having seen at least one UFO. Ever since I can remember, I saw things in the sky I could not identify.

Sky/space is such a focal part of my life.The sky is so big and blue here; sometimes the landscape makes you feel like you're on another planet. When I left for ten years and then moved back, the skies became a catalyst for a major mental paradigm shift. I was a religious person. A shift from a theist viewpoint to an atheist viewpoint occurred when I started thinking about the tininess of the human species. The Hubble photos point to a universe (or multiverse) nearly beyond human comprehension.

The space above became God.
And it's constant reminder of how small we are as a species—and the largeness of everything else.