Satellite-Based Laser Hunts Woodpeckers From Space 53

Posted by samzenpus on Monday December 27, 2010 @01:04PM from the where's-woody dept.

University of Idaho scientists have figured out a more effective way to track woodpecker populations than following the incessant laughter. They're using a laser onboard NASA's Icesat spacecraft to determine where the birds might be living. From the article: "NASA's Icesat satellite was initially intended for measuring glacial surfaces at the Earth's poles but has proven to be quite effective in measuring vegetation also. The satellite's laser bounces off of forest canopies, tree trunks and the ground making important characteristics about the forest easily measurable. For example, forest density is determined by the relative amount of light returned versus that which is returned from the ground. Once ideal woodpecker locations are identified 'we actually conduct ground-based woodpecker surveys in these locations as well to verify it,' says team-member Patrick Adam."

Satellite-Based Laser Hunts Woodpeckers From Space

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poor choice of verb (Score:2)

by tverbeek ( 457094 ) writes:

I believe "Satellite-Based Laser Surveys Woodpeckers From Space" would have been a more suitable - albeit less provocative - headline.
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by mangu ( 126918 ) writes:
  
  I had this weird mental image of a shark eating woodpeckers
  - Re: (Score:1)
    
    by SnarfQuest ( 469614 ) writes:
    
    You should be thinking of a muppet shark with a flashlight on its head. SHARKS IN SPACE!
  - Re: (Score:1)
    
    by davester666 ( 731373 ) writes:
    
    My first thought was of a giant space shark with a laser strapped to it's head!
    - Re: (Score:1)
      
      by davester666 ( 731373 ) writes:
      
      And, of course, the first target is the space shark's natural enemy, the hummingbird.
  - Re: (Score:2)
    
    by Sulphur ( 1548251 ) writes:
    
    With a little more power, they can hunt woodpeckers from space.
    Who picks up the game?
    Its the Passenger Bison all over again.
- Re: (Score:3, Informative)
  
  by angiasaa ( 758006 ) writes:
  
  Technically, even that's putting to much room into a headline.. something akin to "Satellite-based Laser helps to conduct Woodpecker surveys" would be more realistic I think. :-D The satellite does not do any surveying of its own. :)
  - Re: (Score:1)
    
    by tverbeek ( 457094 ) writes:
    
    Satellite: "Mr Woodpecker, if the election were held today, would you vote for the Democratic candidate..."
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by johncalvinyoung ( 1864782 ) writes:
  
  more suitable - albeit less provocative - headline.
  Quite. I was disbelieving, but excited until I actually read the synopsis...
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by CrazyJim1 ( 809850 ) writes:
  
  I for one welcome our "Woodpeckers from Space" overlords.
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by modecx ( 130548 ) writes:
  
  I Dunno. I think something along the lines of "Orbital laser probes plants for peckers" would have been more technically descriptive, more provocative and therefore more hilarious. C'mon editors, how can you possibly miss an opportunity like this?
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by sjames ( 1099 ) writes:
  
  I was picturing woodpeckers shooting satellites down using a hand mirror then going ha ha ha HA ha!
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by ralphdaugherty ( 225648 ) writes:
  
  I believe "Satellite-Based Laser Surveys Woodpeckers From Space" would have been a more suitable - albeit less provocative - headline.
  actually, Satellite-Based Laser Surveys Suitable Habitat for Woodpeckers From Space
Woodpeckers from space? (Score:1)

by Anonymous Coward writes:

How do they fly or breathe up there?
Missing tags (Score:1)

by haydensdaddy ( 1719524 ) writes:

What, no "Real Genius" tags?
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by Abstrackt ( 609015 ) writes:
  
  Not until they tell me they're using a laser to pop woodpeckers!
- Re: (Score:3)
  
  by Faux_Pseudo ( 141152 ) writes:
  
  When I read it I was visualizing Real Genius and hearing "Woodpecker From Mars" by Faith No More. Two great tastes that taste great together.
  - Re: (Score:2)
    
    by overlordofmu ( 1422163 ) writes:
    
    Uninterestingly, "Woodpecker From Mars" is my theme song. It plays in my head whenever I enter a room.
    
    It is also playing on my cheap $12 desk speakers as I type this at work. My coworkers already dislike me so I am not harming my already low office reputation.
    
    Oddly, though, I am the overlord of Mu and not Mars, but they start with the same letter so that must count for something, right?
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by gaiageek ( 1070870 ) writes:
  
  "Popcorn!"
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by RyuuzakiTetsuya ( 195424 ) writes:
  
  Someone, please add one!
  It is a moral imperative!
Pigs...in...SPACE! (Score:1)

by Pirate_Pettit ( 1531797 ) writes:

Anybody else parse "Woodpeckers from space" the wrong way?
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by drainbramage ( 588291 ) writes:
  
  Is there a wrong way?
  - Re: (Score:2)
    
    by clone52431 ( 1805862 ) writes:
    
    No, and I’m glad somebody’s finally taking some steps to deal with them.
    (In all seriousness though*, there’s a theory that life on earth was “seeded” from outer space... so maybe they really are woodpeckers from space! Imma go get my tinfoil now.)
    *not really
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by Anonymous Coward writes:
  
  Anybody else parse "Woodpeckers from space" the wrong way?
  
  You mean, like weird synth-pop from 1984 [google.com]? (No, really [wikipedia.org] :)
  - Re: (Score:1)
    
    by miquels ( 37972 ) writes:
    
    Woah that takes me back .. I think I still have that on single somewhere in the attic..
    You forgot the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qo1__kbwrA [youtube.com]
    (No this is not a rick-roll. It's worse. )
    Mike.
Laser vs. Woodpeckers (Score:2)

by thewiz ( 24994 ) * writes:

And I was looking forward to seeing the woodpeckers making holes in my house disappear in puffs of smoke.
Damn those woodpeckers!
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by bzant ( 256795 ) writes:
  
  I agree, zap those guys off the side of my house.
I for one... (Score:1)

by NuKe_MoNgOoSe ( 1941452 ) writes:

Welcome our new alien Woodpecker overlords and submit to their authority fully... (alien woodpeckers i had NOTHING to do with any alien woodpecker hunting lasers)
Yawn... (Score:1)

by FloydTheDroid ( 1296743 ) writes:

Wake me up when they find Woodpeckers from Mars.
Sounds like an awesome game (Score:1)

by trollertron3000 ( 1940942 ) writes:

Sounds like an awesome game. When is the release date? Will it come out on Xbox360? I'm an achievement whore.
Beaver survey (Score:3)

by PatPending ( 953482 ) writes: on Monday December 27, 2010 @02:19PM (#34678340)

I for one could use a good beaver survey, as there are very few at this engineering college.

- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by dennis612b ( 1658395 ) writes:
  
  Sorry, you need ground based radar for your proposal.
  - Re: (Score:2)
    
    by fremsley471 ( 792813 ) writes:
    
    Dam.
The Videokids were ahead of their time! (Score:1)

by SailorMeeko ( 204259 ) writes:

Woodpeckers From Space [youtube.com]
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by nospam007 ( 722110 ) * writes:
  
  I prefer this one.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeldv48RGv8 [youtube.com]
So what you're telling me is.... (Score:1, Funny)

by TehBrando ( 1332991 ) writes:

We've figured out how to attach lasers to satellites but still can't attach them to sharks?
they should laser mosquitoes instead (Score:1)

by jsepeta ( 412566 ) writes:

leave the poor woodpeckers alone!
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by clone52431 ( 1805862 ) writes:
  
  Already done. [gizmodo.com]
Ion Cannon (Score:2)

by jamesh ( 87723 ) writes:

I've just been playing Command & Conquer (the Win95 release) again to re-live a waste of time from my youth, and i'm up to the Ion Cannon level. I haven't RTFA (who has time these days? :) but I assume that they are talking about a woodpecker sized Ion Cannon. If you go down to the woods today, be sure you don't look like a woodpecker when viewed from above.
This might be the story... (Score:1)

by fotoguzzi ( 230256 ) writes:

...that puts the final nail in the /. coffin. I usually feel that if someone doesn't like a story, they should just not read it. In this case, the feeling is more like, if this is the best that the editors can do, then there is truly nothing more to discuss. There is no value here, and this story seems emblematic of the increase rate of decrease in quality over the last several years.

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poor choice of verb (Score:2)

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Woodpeckers from space? (Score:1)

Missing tags (Score:1)

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Pigs...in...SPACE! (Score:1)

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Laser vs. Woodpeckers (Score:2)

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I for one... (Score:1)

Yawn... (Score:1)

Sounds like an awesome game (Score:1)

Beaver survey (Score:3)

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Re: (Score:2)

The Videokids were ahead of their time! (Score:1)

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So what you're telling me is.... (Score:1, Funny)

they should laser mosquitoes instead (Score:1)

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Ion Cannon (Score:2)

This might be the story... (Score:1)

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