Keep the reefs, keep the tourists

 

Coral reefs around the world are beleaguered.  Yes, some are in better shape than others, but many are suffering and damaged.  

The reason I saw this is that coral reefs attract scuba divers, and scuba divers spend money where they go scuba diving. That's the subject of this paper.

Global economic impact of scuba dive tourism

"Scuba diving is not just an exciting recreational activity—it is also a significant contributor to the global economy. Our study provides the first global estimate of the economic impact of scuba dive tourism, revealing that the sector generates between 8.5 and 20.4 billion USD annually. This revenue supports local economies, creates jobs, and helps promote marine conservation. By highlighting the economic benefits of scuba diving, our research can help guide policies that balance ecological sustainability and economic growth in coastal communities."

So there's a clear vested interest for countries that host coral reefs in having them stay in the best shape possible.

Let's all try to help, shall we?

Iceland could get coldur

 

The nation and island of Iceland is worried about something that could make them much, much colder. ("Coldur" is not actually the Norse god or giant of cold, but he could be. It's actually Skaði, a giantess. You pronounce it.)

If the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) collapses, the result would be a Younger Dryas replay, in which case the North Atlantic and Europe get a lot colder. And since Iceland is smack dab right there in the middle of the North Atlantic, that might not be good at all.

Which is why Iceland considers this problem, which happens to be a consequence of Global Warming, a security problem.  A couple of articles about this are linked below;  the Washington Post article is probably behind a subscription, but if it's your first of the month, you might still be able to read it.

Washington Post:  Why this country declared an ocean current collapse a national security risk

"Sometime over the next 100 years, human-driven warming could disrupt a vital ocean current that carries heat northward from the tropics. After this breach, most of the world would keep getting hotter — but northern Europe would cool substantially, with Iceland at the center of a deep freeze. Climate modeling shows Icelandic winter extremes plunging to an unprecedented minus-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Sea ice could surround the country for the first time since it was settled by Vikings."

"As a first step, Iceland has tried to remind other countries that cutting greenhouse gas emissions reduces the odds of planet-altering crises. At the United Nations’ global climate conference in November, Iceland’s climate minister told delegates that “the risk of large, abrupt change is real,” and that present-day policies could determine whether the next generation inherits “a managed transition or an unmanaged collapse.”

Iceland Review:  Scientists Warn Ocean Current Shift Could Alter Iceland’s Climate

"Recent modelling studies examining high global emissions scenarios suggest that the AMOC could weaken substantially and, in some cases, eventually stop.

A study published last August found that in nine high-emissions models considered, the circulation weakened and ultimately ceased.

Even if global climate targets under the Paris Agreement are met, researchers estimate the probability of collapse at approximately 25 percent.

Potential impacts for Iceland include significantly colder winters and expanded sea ice. The Icelandic Meteorological Office has indicated that in such a scenario, conditions could change dramatically."

"Iceland has included the possibility of AMOC disruption in its national security risk assessments and plans to integrate the scenario into its risk management strategy by 2028."

Not to be Feared

 

I've still got a few comments (I think) on the Winter Olympics, which I plan to cover this week. Oh, I know, it's been over for weeks and much other sports news has happened since.  Actually, not that much -- playoffs are getting ready to start for the NHL and NBA; the Masters (golf) is wrapping up today, there's been some tennis since the Australian, but nothing major as the French Open starts to get on player minds; March Madness is over (just a couple of buzzer-beaters, especially the one that put UConn over Duke); the Frozen Four is over (UDenver won late); NCAA swimming is over (Josh Liendo was spectacular, and Florida gave Texas a bit of a scare, and on the women's side, it was Virginia vs. Torri Huske).

So, the Winter Olympics were quite interesting.  Definitely some mental health struggles in sports that are decided by millimeters and milliseconds in many cases, the difference between winning and disaster (Lindsey Vonn in the latter).  Tight decisions, such as the ice dancing, where Chock and Bates probably deserved gold, but a French judge might have tilted it just enough for the French pair.  Ilia Malinin showed that even perceived locks can falter, but he came back and dominated the Worlds.

So, speaking of ice dancing, I noticed the British pair of Fear and Gibson, particularly because the name of the woman is Lilah Fear, who has a very distinct and pretty look.  And I'm showing below that she's also quite athletic.  

They finished a disappointing 7th at the Olympics, and maybe a more disappointing 4th at the 2026 worlds, 1.1 points behind the third place USA team (not Chock and Bates, it was Zingas and Kolesnik). 

So, as you might expect, a couple of pictures are below. She's got a great smile, clearly.

Lighthouse of the Week, April 5-11, 2026: Beavertail Lighthouse, Rhode Island, USA

 

As I noted yesterday for the Lighthouse of the Week corresponding to two weeks ago (as I type this), there's another Rhode Island lighthouse near the Dutch Island light. This one is the Beavertail Lighthouse (and also Museum), which is on the next island south in Narragansett Bay. It has a bit more history than Dutch Island, and is in better shape, too.

It appears to me that the reason it is called Beavertail Lighthouse is the shape of the end of the island that it is situated on.  See if you agree with me with this map view.

The famous Castle Hill lighthouse, which I have visited in person, is just across the water, south of Newport.

As I said, this one has a bit more history.  A slightly edited version of what the Lighthouse Directory has is provided below.  One thing I find interesting, and undefined, is that this is the fourth oldest light station, but it is certainly (I think) not the fourth oldest lighthouse.  I'm not sure of the difference.

"1856 (station established 1749). Active; focal plane 68 ft (21 m); white flash every 6 s, day and night. 45 ft (14 m) square cylindrical granite tower with lantern and double gallery attached to a 2-story stucco-clad brick keeper's house (1856); VRB-25 beacon (2019). The tower is unpainted granite; lantern and watchroom painted black; keeper's house white with red roofs. Fog horn (3 s blast every 30 s) on demand. The assistant keeper's house (1898) houses a museum; the 4th order Fresnel lens used 1907-1991 is on display. ... 

This is the nation's fourth oldest light station (after Boston MA, Tybee Island GA, and Brant Point MA). The foundations of the 1749 lighthouse remain visible and were restored in 2013. The Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association (BLMA) works for preservation of the light station. ... 

The fog signal building houses an aquarium operated by the state Department of Environmental Management. In 2006 BLMA announced plans for expansion of the museum into all six structures on the light station when the station becomes available for transfer. ... 

Instead, the house was restored and opened as an expansion of the museum in 2013. In 2014 the fog signal building was restored and replica diaphone horns installed. d In February 2020 the loop road in front of the lighthouse was closed permanently due to beach erosion, but visitors can still walk to the lighthouse from the parking areas in the rear. In 2021 the lighthouse finally became available for transfer under NHLPA and in June 2024 it was transferred to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management as an addition to Beavertail State Park. Located on Beavertail Point on the southern tip of Conanicut Island in Jamestown."

Lighthouse Friends:  Beavertail, RI

New England Lighthouses:  Beavertail Lighthouse

Pictures and video below.

 

The beautiful Prinzessin

 

It says, when you search, that Xenia Prinzessin von Sachsen is a German writer.  It appears that she is also Princess Xenia of Saxony, and that her great-grandparents on the royal side are Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony and Princess Sophie of Luxembourg. Her ancestry goes all the way back to the last King of Saxony.

So I guess in some circumstances she is a princess. She has a Wikipedia page, primarily in German, but it's translatable.  Apparently the writer tag comes from her authorship of an autobiography. She is also a singer and actress, and a celebrity of note (she's been on reality shows, including I'm a Celebrity -- Get Me Out of Here!, so she must be a celebrity).

She's also a very lovely woman. I found out about her kind of accidentally, and she was quite intriguing. Feel free to figure (note that word) out why.  It shouldn't be too difficult.

Lighthouse of the Week, March 29 - April 4, 2026: Dutch Island, Rhode Island, USA

 

Even though this Lighthouse of the Week is late, it's the first of a pair, and the second one won't be as late as this one.  Hopefully I can catch up to the current week after that.

This lighthouse is the Dutch Island Lighthouse in Rhode Island.  Stunningly, it's located on Dutch Island in Narragansett Bay.  It officially has a Jamestown, RI, address.  See why by clicking here. Don't confuse this with Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

Now let's learn more about it, using information in Wikipedia. I can't get to the Lighthouse Directory right now, darn it.

Constructed: 1826

Foundation: Surface rock
Construction: Brick
Automated: 1947
Height: 13 m (43 ft)
Shape: Square
Markings" White with black lantern
Heritage: National Register of Historic Places listed place

Light
First lit: 1857
Deactivated: 1979 - 2007
Focal height: 56 feet (17 m)
Lens: 4th order Fresnel lens (original), 9.8 inches (250 mm) (current)
Characteristic: Flashing red 6 seconds

The island itself has been fortified since the Civil War and even had a fort, Fort Greble, for several years.

Dutch Island Lighthouse Society has more pictures.  I have three.

Do you trust a single engine jet?

 

I guess the answer to that particular question (the one I pose in the subject) could also apply to a single-engine propeller plane, but a single engine jet is going much faster, so it would crash much harder.

But still, it's a pretty cool looking airplane.

Cirrus launches G3 Vision Jet featuring cabin, avionics upgrades

As I've said before, I'd sure like to fly once on a personal or corporate jet, just to see what it's like.

Have you ever heard of the King's Trough Complex?

 

As I just asked, have you ever heard of the King's Trough Complex?  Don't feel bad if you haven't. I think  it's a place that primarily makes geological oceanographers happy.

The King's Trough Complex is a large and deep underwater canyon northeast of the Azores Islands. Now, the Azores are volcanic -- the tallest mountain in Portugal is actually Volcan Pico on Ilha de Pico -- so it's not a surprise that the King's Trough Complex might have some relationship to volcanism and tectonics.

Which it does.

How the "Atlantic Grand Canyon" came to exist

It's a short article -- and this paragraph provides the basic mechanism.

"Between 37 and 24 million years ago, a tectonic plate boundary shifted to the area, resulting in the crust fracturing and the seafloor between Europe and Africa opening like a zipper in an east-west direction. Prior to the shift, the crust was thickened and heated by an upwelling of molten rock from the mantle, making it particularly fragile."

 See?  Simple.  I think they could offer underwater submersible tours for a high price.

How has Jocelyn Hudon been on 'Chicago Fire' since 2012?

 

I recently watched a couple of episodes of Chicago Fire, and couldn't help noticing Jocelyn Hudon.  I discovered she's been on the show since 2012.

The show has been on since 2012?

And she's been on it that long?  She started as a teenager!

I can't catch up on all those episodes, but it would be interesting to watch her evolve in the role.

Meanwhile, here on some on- and off-set photos.

Upcoming debut

 

In just a couple of weeks, the National Zoo in Washington, DC will provide the first time the public can view a newly-born baby elephant (born on February 2).

See the first baby elephant born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in nearly 25 years
 

They voted on a name:

The Public Has Spoken: The National Zoo's New Elephant Calf Is Named Linh Mai

The calf will first be viewable on April 22, Earth Day, on the Elephant Cam, which will be back online that day.

Below are a couple of pictures of the pachyderm tyke.

Going to Mars (maybe)

 

In case you're interested, with a hopefully successful Artemis II launch and mission slated to happen today, here's the National Academies of Sciences report on how to explore Mars, if humans actually get there.

A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars

I'd sure like to see Olympus Mons up close.  Instead, we have to rely on great satellite views like this:

This is just terrible

 

Just read about the idiotic Trump administration's plans to move the U.S. Forest Service to Utah, and while doing that, to close down thirty-one research sites. 

The utter disdain of this administration for the value of science is appalling -- but we've known that for years. Yet to see it demonstrated again and again and again causes constant angst and pain for the loss of what sometimes has been long-standing research, and well, forests don't grow overnight. 

Trump plans to move Forest Service headquarters to Utah and shutter research sites

"The Wilderness Society also pointed to Trump’s prior attempt with the BLM, saying that resulted in many staffers leaving who had valuable years of management experience. The group said this could end up hollowing out the Forest Service.

Many regional offices will close in the reorganization, and their services will shift to hubs in New Mexico, Georgia, Colorado, Wisconsin, Montana and California. Instead of maintaining multiple dispersed research stations with their own leadership, the agency will anchor its research at a single location in Fort Collins, Colorado."

For example, here's a description of their Experimental Forests and Ranges. 

"This research network provides an incredible wealth of records and knowledge of ecological change in natural and managed forest and grassland ecosystems across the United States. Hosted on a combination of public and private lands, the network provides a home for long-term science and management studies in most major vegetation types of the United States. Individual sites range in size from 47 to 22,500 ha."

If you want to see where they are in the Rocky Mountains (and nearby):   Experimental Forest and Range Locations

Yes, the IDIOTS are going to shut that down.  

Cover up by reconstruction

 

Donald Trump decided to close the Kennedy Center he named after himself for 2 years, basically because nobody wants to play the venue he named after himself.

Here are a couple of quotes about how it got to this point.

"On Sunday, Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine, the top Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees funding for the Kennedy Center’s building, questioned the motivation for the planned closure in a video posted to social media, suggesting that the president was just “covering up the financial disaster he’s created there.”

" “This man has destroyed the place,” she said in the video. “He’s run it into the ground financially; he’s made it a place where performers don’t want to perform, and individuals don’t want to attend performances.”

"Norm Eisen and Nathaniel Zelinsky, representing groups that have sued the Kennedy Center on behalf of Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), said in a statement that Trump’s announcement “raises serious questions about whether his purpose isn’t to renovate but to shut the Center down to avoid further embarrassment” of artist and patron boycotts. They would consider “all legal remedies” to address the closure, they said."

And they're right.

Cristy Ren is a wonder

 

Glamor model Cristy Ren doesn't take herself too seriously, but she has looks that require serious attention. Two recent captures are shown here. It's not hard to find her with a search:  her name is sufficient but other descriptive words and provide more detail.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are over, but ...

 

Even though the 2026 Winter Olympics and all of their drama (some of which was pretty dramatic) ended a month or so ago, but this article about former Olympic venues provides some historical perspective.  I've actually been to one Olympic Games, and visited several places that hosted them, including both swimming venues for the 1936 and 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.  Sadly, now that we are in an era of temporary venues built in big stadiums (as will happen in 2028 for swimming in the Olympics) there won't be as many shrines to former athletic heroism to visit.

So, this list is interesting:

5 of the Oldest Olympic Venues Still in Use

The five of them are:

• Zappeion and Panathenaic Stadium – Athens, Greece 
• Vélodrome Jacques Anquetil – Paris, 
• France Francis Olympic Field – St. Louis, 
• Missouri Ryde Pier – Isle of Wight, England 
• Stockholms Stadion – Stockholm, Sweden

Regarding Ryde Pier, "this heritage structure on the Isle of Wight remains a popular local landmark more than a century on — not least because it’s the second-longest seaside pleasure pier in the U.K., after the Southend Pier. During the 1908 Games, spectators gathered at the end of the pier to watch yacht races, all of which were won by the Great Britain crews, to the delight of the crowd.

This is Ryde Pier (actually, the end of it):

Getting back to lingerie

 

We won't be seeing the last of Sydney Sweeney anytime soon, I can guarantee that. And she also has her own line of lingerie.  The pictures accompanying the Daily Mail article indicate that it fits her quite well.

Sydney's Lingerie: 

Sydney Sweeney lifts the lid on her lingerie empire plans as she strips down for jaw-dropping photo shoot

The article also features this appealing quote: "Sweeney worked hard to make the undergarments feel as comfortable as a second skin. 'Boobs and bodies are like fingerprints; everyone's are different, and I wanted to design for that,' Sweeney shared."

Good plan, and it looks like it's a quality product as well. Representing it herself probably doesn't hurt sales one bit.

Yes, it's a house

 

I saw this on a short list of celebrity homes that are quite impressive.  And this one is certainly that.  The name of this impressive domicile is Friar Park, and it was owned by Beatle George Harrison for three decades.  According to the list text, his wife still lives there. 

A few other people could live there too.

Here's a short summary of what's there. This is from Country Life UK.

"The Victoria County History describes Friar Park as ‘a colourful and eccentric melange of French Flamboyant Gothic in brick, stone and terracotta, incorporating towers, pinnacles and large traceried windows’. It was enlarged and embellished by Sir Frank Crisp, a brilliant lawyer, who bubbled over with charm and energy, but was also an enthusiastic botanist and treasurer of the Linnaean Society of London. He was rich enough, too, to employ 45 gardeners at Friar Park. Alpine plants were his greatest passion and, in 1896, he began to develop his spectacular four-acre Alpine Garden, topped by a scaled-down copy of the Matterhorn."

The house itself?

It apparently doesn't have 120 rooms -- George Harrison's wife, who still lives there, says that's too many -- but it probably doesn't have much less than that.

Coffee is in your genes

 

Some people like coffee more than others. Now, don't be concerned about the title of this post, because even if you drink a lot of coffee, it won't alter your DNA.

However, researchers have used caffeine to control gene manipulation with CRISPR.  And here I thought caffeine was just a stimulant.

It's called chemogenetics -- and the article I'm about to cite says this:

"Chemogenetics refers to the ability to control cellular behavior using externally applied, small molecules — often drugs or dietary compounds — that activate genetically engineered switches inside cells. Unlike traditional drugs that broadly affect many tissues, chemogenetic approaches are designed to act only on cells that have been genetically programmed to respond."

Smart readers are already anticipating what comes next -- caffeine is the small molecule being used to activate the genetic switch.  Let's see how.

"Zhou’s newest research builds on existing knowledge of genetic “switches” within cells by introducing a new chemogenetic approach that uses CRISPR and caffeine. The process begins with installing the cells in advance. Genes encoding the nanobody, its matching target protein and the CRISPR machinery are delivered using established gene-transfer methods, allowing cells to produce these components on their own. Once this molecular framework is in place, the process can be externally controlled. When a person later consumes a 20 mg dose of caffeine — such as from coffee, chocolate or a soda — it triggers a nanobody and its matching target protein to bind together, thereby activating CRISPR-driven gene modifications inside cells." 

Cool, right?   What could that help with?

"When an engineered nanobody protein can be switched on by caffeine, it’s called a “caffebody.” By harnessing the power of these caffebodies, Zhou says scientists may someday be able to treat a range of diseases. In the long term, he believes it may be possible to engineer cells that allow people with diabetes to boost insulin production simply by drinking a cup of coffee."

I think I'll have a cup of coffee while I think about this.

Reference: Wang T, Nonomura T, Cui M, et al. Reprogramming chemically induced dimerization systems with genetically encoded nanobodies. Chemical Science 2025;16(46):21774-21780. doi: 10.1039/D5SC05703E

 

A public service, of course

 

Always glad to draw the attention of my readers to new lingerie offerings.  This one is Avidlove (click the avidlove.com link for more). They're also on Facebook.

Some of their items are displayed below. I find them quite fetching. The models are helpful with that.

Yes, she did

 

Apropos of nothing in particular, I discovered something about the Asian actress Ming-Na Wen, who I remembered all the way back to her stint on As the World Turns, and I know of her subsequently notable appearances in Mulan (Mulan's voice in the animation, briefly seen in the live action version), ER, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and most recently The Mandolorian, though she's had more work since.

So, she was also in a movie titled One Night Stand, with the top two cast positions occupied by Wesley Snipes and Nastassja Kinski.  It was notable because she was briefly (and really) topless, qhite nicely, not aided by AI. I just never knew that before.  You can take my word for it or do a bit of searching, if you want to know and see more.

But she has been and still is, quite attractive. The picture below shows her smiling; in many of her glamor pictures, she looks haughty and sexy, mouth closed.  (And I should add, she's married with two kids. Not a problem for me.)

Lighthouse of the Week, March 22-28, 2026: Cape Bonavista, Newfoundland, Canada

 

I checked before I did this Lighthouse of the Week post, and I've done five or six lighthouses in Newfoundland before this. That's not a problem, because there are many more.  I find it hard to believe that I missed this one until now, because it is truly hard to miss.  You'll see what I mean in a moment.

First of all, location-wise, it's nearly the easternmost location in North America, but Cape Spear (also with a lighthouse, which I've featured before) is a couple degree-seconds further east.

So Cape Bonavista is here, with St. John's shown for visual perspective.

The info I obtained from the Lighthouse Directory is below.

"1843. Inactive since 1966. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 2-story stone keeper's house. A very rare 1816 catoptric light, with six reflectors, is installed in the lantern. Lighthouse and lantern painted with vertical red and white stripes. Three additional dwellings and other buildings. ... This historic light station has been restored to its appearance during the 1870s. Restoration was delayed by a fire set by lightning on 3 August 2001 but the project was completed by reinstallation of the restored catoptric light in September 2003. The lighting apparatus used in Scotland from 1816 and transferred here in 1895 is on display."

Lighthouse Friends:  Cape Bonavista, NF

Pictures (including, of course, the catoptric light) are below. Now you can see why it's hard to miss. There are some good fine art pictures of this one, but I'll let you search for them.

Maybe not Invisible, but Camouflage Man?

 

Technology constantly amazes.  Researchers have come up with a new material that changes color in the same manner as nature's consummate color-changers, octopi and cuttlefish.  Now, I don't think it's as adapted as these creatures to pattern- and color-match (example below), but given what can be accomplished with our amazing electronics and sensors and machine intelligence, that might happen sooner than imaginable.

So what can this remarkable material do?

"The team demonstrated that the same technique can be used to design and reveal complex, switchable color patterns. The researchers put thin, metallic layers on each side of the patterned polymer film to create Fabry-Pérot resonators, which isolate specific wavelengths of light based on the distance between the metal layers. As the polymer films swell to different widths, they display a variety of colors. With the same electron-beam patterning and the right mix of water and solvent, the single-colored sheet becomes a riot of colorful spots and splotches.

“By dynamically controlling the thickness and topography of a polymer film, you can realize a very large variety of beautiful colors and textures,” said Mark Brongersma, a professor of materials science and engineering and a senior author on the paper. “The introduction of soft materials that can expand, contract, and alter their shape opens up an entirely new toolbox in the world of optics to manipulate how things look.”

What's in the future?

"  “We want to be able to control this with neural networks – basically an AI-based system – that could compare the skin and its background, then automatically modulate it to match in real time, without human intervention,” Doshi said."

I told you.

Reference: Doshi S, Güsken NA, Dijk G, et al. Soft photonic skins with dynamic texture and colour control. Nature. 2026;649(8096):345-352. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09948-2

So maybe we can make Mystique ... eventually.

This skink is not a lizard

 

I recently found out about this Scottish dish, a fish soup featuring haddock, called "Cullen skink".  I'm passing on a link to a recipe for it so that others won't confuse that with lizards that can lose their tails as a way to get away from predators.

Here's the Common (Five-Striped) Skink:

Here's a Cullen Skink:

And here's a recipe for Traditional Cullen Skink.

Just make sure you make it with fish, and not lizards.

Lighthouse of the Week, March 15-21, 2026: Green Cape, New South Wales, Australia

 

I don't think I've featured a lot of lighthouses from Australia (I'm not going to count right now), but it has quite a few. This one has an interesting history, as it was very recently un-retired.  Though I will get the basic information from the Lighthouse Directory, Wikipedia has a detailed article about it.

As the title says, it's in New South Wales, and to get a better idea of where in NSW it is, click here.

So, the basics about it are here:

"1883 (James Barnet). Reactivated (inactive 1992-2026); focal plane 39 m (118 ft); two white flashes every 15 s).. 29 m (95 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Lower section of the tower is square pyramidal, upper section octagonal cylindrical. The original 1st order Fresnel lens is in use with a modern LED beacon. Two 1-story assistant keeper's houses are available for vacation rental. ... This is Australia's oldest concrete lighthouse. Located on a prominent headland about 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Eden."

Here's the interesting part, from Wikipedia:

"In 1992 a solar powered lens on a modern lattice skeletal steel tower was constructed right next to the historic tower, and the light was officially turned off on 17 March 1992. The new light operated a 36 W lamp with an intensity of 37,500 cd. With this conversion, the lightstation was effectively de-staffed and a caretaker installed at the site. Once replaced by a new and fully automatic lighthouse, the station became a tourist destination and was recognised for its heritage values. In 2009, Green Cape Lightstation was designated an Engineering Heritage National Landmark – the first lighthouse to be accorded this level of recognition in Australia.

In 2026 [tha's this year] the steel tower had reached the end of its life and after considering cost and the site’s heritage it was replaced by installing a new rotating 10W LED light in the original tower, using the original lens and mercury floatation mechanism."

So it's back in the business of guiding ships at sea!

Let's take a look at it.

NASA knows science (fiction)

 

This post is about an article in which "NASA" picks what it thinks are the best and worst science fiction movies.  

As the article notes, "After looking at the lists, I think we can conclude that the last couple of decades has been both good and bad when it comes to sci-fi in the movies. Special effects can make our imagination come to life on the screen, as in Jurassic Park, but it's no substitute for good storytelling, which is what the worst of the worst all seem to lack. It wasn't that the science itself was bad—that can be ignored if there's a payoff—but there wasn't anything good to balance it out."

NASA Picks Best and Worst Sci-Fi Movies. What Are Yours?

Actually, this selection was made at a meeting at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, so the attendees weren't necessarily all directly affiliated with NASA.  

In a Yahoo! article on the same subject, the esteemed Neil de Grasse Tyson was noted in this manner:

"If you're curious, Neil deGrasse Tyson's approved sci-fi list also features several of these titles. Others he called out are "The Matrix," "The Martian," "Interstellar," the ever-classic "Back to the Future," "Deep Impact" from 1998, and Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" released in 1968."

I thought Interstellar, The Martian, and 2001 did deserve to be on the first list of the best, but they didn't make it.  

I guess The Chronicles of Riddick doesn't have a chance, but it sure is fun. 

Finally, I'd add the original Total Recall, despite the violence, and Arrival, which has a very interesting twist that Kurt Vonnegut would have probably liked.

I also liked Logan's Run, perhaps for different reasons than quality.