Dark streaks on Mars bolster case for liquid water

Image via WikipediaDark streaks on Mars bolster case for liquid water - space - 04 August 2011 - New Scientist

Some scientists are finding more evidence of water on Mars, and some are pitching a differing explanation. In any case, I find it amazing that we have spacecraft orbiting another planet sending back huge quantities of data.

I hope we do find an active water-based ecosystem there with novel bacteria (or something similar). But it is interesting either way.

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Dawn Mission

Dawn Mission: Dawn - Home Page

What an awesome display of science and engineering! The Dawn spacecraft is orbiting (in a standard orbit?) an asteroid. Contrary to the apparent dysfunction in our political system, we (as a people and as a species) can accomplish very impressive feats when desired.

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SETI has One in Ten Million Chance of Finding Extraterrestrials

Image by armigeress via FlickrSETI has One in Ten Million Chance of Finding Extraterrestrials

Those odds don't sound to bad to me. I do not know, if we will find anything. But I can't imagine many more important discoveries making this endeavor a very big deal.

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Another possibility: Transition metal catalysts could be key to origin of life

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Medical Daily: Transition metal catalysts could be key to origin of life, scientists report


It is reports like this that continue to make me feel we are too dogmatic about our expectations for the development of life on other worlds.  It seems fairly arrogant to think that while we are not entirely sure how life developed here on earth, we are absolutely sure it could not have developed any other way.  If we don't know how it worked here, how can we know how it didn't work elsewhere?

My own gut feeling is that there is a wide variety of methods and circumstances that could lead typical, chaotic materials to organize, replicate, and become alive.

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One-way ticket to Mars?

Image by Marxchivist via Flickr

One-way ticket to Mars? - CSMonitor.com

I am a geek, and I'm the kind of sci-fi geek brought up on ubiquitous stories regarding space travel.  Ubiquitous and inevitable space travel.  I love the idea of putting humans on Mars ... just for a start.

But I am of two minds about this idea.  On the one hand, it seems like a great idea for the true adventurers of the human race, the people who really want to live.  There was a time before kids I would have had a burning desire to take a one-way flight to Mars myself.

On the other hand, it seems slightly gruesome and completely greedy on the part of our society to ask for or even accept the potentially ultimate sacrifice from someone, so that we can save money for our other more typically wastrel expenses.

Really, I just wish we could get our priorities in order.

Great Video of the Universe

This is from an old APOD.  It is a very impressive video with scaling of everything we have mapped in the universe.  It really reminds me of Cosmos, which always brings back found memories.

Neptune May Have Eaten a Planet and Stolen Its Moon

Neptune may have eaten a planet and stolen its moon - space - 22 March 2010 - New Scientist

I find it fascinating to imagine the sheer magnitude of the happenings in our little Solar System.  We think the things happening around us in our personal lives are big and important, and I suppose they are.  But the scope of the events and interactions even in our little backwater portion of the universe are simply mind boggling.

Proof of Life in Three Martian Rocks May Come This Year

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Proof of Life in Three Martian Rocks May Come This Year | Popular Science

I am looking forward to some proof that life existed on Mars at some point, even if no longer. Once that is confirmed, the Drake Equation will definitely be in play, and we can reasonably assume we are not alone in the universe. After some amount of obstinate disbelief, it should changes things here on Earth.

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Space pictures taken from garden shed

Space pictures taken from garden shed - Telegraph

The technology is here to let individuals do amazing things. His photos of distant space objects are a wonderful testament to the creative application of technology to a personal interest.

Link to his site:

MIRROR IMAGE

The Physics of Space Battles - Space Battle

The Physics of Space Battles - Space battle - Gizmodo

Sci-fi and science geek heaven.

It is fascinating to think about how the practical necessities of space would come into effect. Most science fiction is more allegory than science, and this OK most of the time. But I would love to find more scientifically accurate fiction that also has an interesting point to make.

Martian Landscapes

Image via Wikipedia

Martian landscapes - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Amazing and unfathomable photos from Mars. I guess it goes without saying that it is an alien place. So many strange colors and textures ...

APOD: 2009 October 29 - Zodiacal Light Over Laguna Verde

APOD: 2009 October 29 - Zodiacal Light Over Laguna Verde

Another great shot of the universe we live in. Imagine all the amazing sights you could see on the crazy, alien planets out there. And our little planet is just as exotic. But we're complacent and bored by it, because we are used to it.

Asteroid Blast Reveals Holes in Earth's Defences

Image by aresauburn™ via Flickr

Asteroid blast reveals holes in Earth's defences - space - 26 October 2009 - New Scientist

Is anyone else scared by this type of thing?  I hate to imagine how woefully unprepared we all are for such a calamity.

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Hammer vs. Feather on the Moon

Hammer vs. feather on the Moon

Pretty cool to watch the hammer and the feather fall at the same speed, as we know it should. But still it goes against our (incorrect) intuitive expectations.

To Fly Free in Space

APOD: 2009 September 27 - To Fly Free in Space

Floating alone above the Earth.  I find it hard to imagine how isolated and alone this astronaut must feel (even with all the radio communications).

Great photo, though.

APOD: 2009 September 7 - Jupiter Over the Mediterranean

APOD: 2009 September 7 - Jupiter Over the Mediterranean

We live on a beautiful and magical planet.

APOD: 2009 August 18 - The Milky Way Over the Badlands

APOD: 2009 August 18 - The Milky Way Over the Badlands

Another awesome night shot showing our galaxy over the terrain.

APOD: 2009 August 27 - A Dark Sky Over Sequoia National Park

APOD: 2009 August 27 - A Dark Sky Over Sequoia National Park

A great panorama from Mt. Whitney. I love photos that make the Milky Way so clear. It is difficult to see anywhere near "civilization" due to light pollution.

Hubble Ultra Deep Field

Great video on Hubble's Ultra Deep Field.

Inside Barringer Meteor Crater (APOD)

APOD: 2009 August 11 - Inside Barringer Meteor Crater

I really want to go here. I can imagine a great trip to see the remanent of this cataclysmic event. I think it would be strangely peaceful to contemplate the cosmic violence hinted in the crater.