Time once again to remember that what we think we know, we probably don’t. The subjects at hand: orbits and moons and light. Ready?

1. Does the earth go around the moon or vice versa?

Nope, not moon orbiting earth. Try again.

Nope, not earth orbiting moon. Try again.

That’s right. They actually go around each other. There’s this invisible pivot point approximately 1000 miles beneath the surface of the earth. In fact, the earth actually makes three different rotations: around the sun, around its own axis, and around this pivot point.

2. How many moons does the earth have?

I know, I always thought just one. Nope. It’s actually 7, if you count the six other near earth asteroids which follow the earth around the sun. Not strictly moons, you say? Well, consider their travel around the sun is approximately one year, and sometimes these come near enough to exert a slight gravitational influence on mother earth.

3. How fast does light travel?

If I remember my physics correctly, it’s a constant 186,282 feet per second. Would you agree?

Well, for starters, it isn’t constant. Only in a perfect vacuum does light reach its maximum speed. Then, it depends on what it travels through as to how fast it moves. Through a diamond its about 80,000 miles per second. Through sodium at -272 degrees Celsius: 38 mph. That was the slowest ever recorded, until recently. You see, there’s this team at Harvard that’s just not satisfied with riding light as fast as their Moped. Apparently they have been able to bring light to a complete standstill. How? By shining it into a Bose-Einstein condensate (whatever that is) of the element rubidium.

3a. Extra credit: What’s the color of light?

OK, you know it isn’t a color, it’s the absence of color. But consider this: You can’t see light. It’s invisible. You can only see what it interacts with. Otherwise, it would be something akin to seeing fog, where everything in front of you is obscured. (Which is so appropriate for this site’s theme, don’t you think?)

3b. Extra Extra credit: What’s the color of darkness?

I don’t know, since it isn’t there and I can’t see through it.

First the set up, then the reveal.

If you’ve read the seven steps, you have come across what for me was a startling fact. Humans are 99.99% nothing. It is the space between particles in the atoms that make up our cells. If you want more proof watch The Space Between Atoms.

If that doesn’t give you pause, what will?

Which brings me to the reveal. Think you know everything? Of course not. But what if everything you think you know is wrong?

On occasional Fridays we’re going to examine this proposition. Starting right now. Ready?

Why Do Chameleons Change Color?

Not to match the background, if that’s what you’re thinking. Try again…

‘Because they can?’

No snark here, folks.

Chameleons never, in a million years, change color to match the background environment they are in. It’s a complete myth. Utter fabrication. Totally untrue.

Chameleons change color when frightened, or picked up, or when they trump another chameleon in a fight. When a member of the opposite sex steps into view. They sometimes even change color due to fluctuations in light or temperature. In other words, they change color as a result of different emotional states.

Next time you’re out and about and the opportunity presents itself, you’d better know something more about this little creature. Since there’s a symetry to three, three it shall be.

One: Chameleons can remain completely motionless for several hours at a time. Could you do that? Because of this and the fact that ancient folks never saw them eat (they really don’t eat very much at all), chameleons were thought for centuries to live on air. I think you can be assured that isn’t true at all.

Two: The word chameleon is Greek for ground lion. The smallest species is only an inch long (Brookesia minima); the largest grows to over two feet long (Chaemaeleo parsonnii). The common chameleon has been bequeathed with something that sounds like an Italian Opera title - Chamaeleo chamaeleon.

Three: The Bible forbids the eating of chameleons. I don’t know why, nor why anyone would consider one a treat.

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(Note to self:  Enough with the daily posts; from now on, Monday-Wednesday-Friday.)