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Colbert's DNA shot into space
Should this world ever cease to exist, Stephen Colbert will live on. The comedian's DNA will be digitized and sent to the International Space Station, Comedy Central was to announce Monday. In October, video game designer Richard Garriott will travel to the station and deposit Colbert's genes for an "Immortality Drive."
"I am thrilled to have my DNA shot into space, as this brings me one step closer to my lifelong dream of being the baby at the end of 2001," Colbert said in a statement, referring to the 1968 landmark science fiction film "2001: A Space Odyssey."
Garriott, one of few private citizens to travel into space, is collecting material for a time capsule of human DNA, a history of humanity's greatest achievements and personal messages.
The host of "The Colbert Report" will essentially be preserved so that aliens can clone him.
"In the unlikely event that Earth and humanity are destroyed, mankind can be resurrected with Stephen Colbert's DNA," Garriott said in a statement. "Is there a better person for us to turn to for this high-level responsibility?" Should this world ever cease to exist, Stephen Colbert will live on. The comedian's DNA will be digitized and sent to the Intern... more -
NASA confirms water on Mars
NASA scientists said on Thursday they had definitive proof that water exists on Mars after tests on ice found on the planet in June by the Phoenix Mars Lander.
Until now, the evidence for ice has been circumstantial. That was based on photos Phoenix took of a hard splotchy area near its landing site and changes it saw in a trench.
The robot heated up ice in one of its instruments earlier this week. Scientists say the chemical test confirms the presence of ice near the Martian north pole. NASA scientists said on Thursday they had definitive proof that water exists on Mars after tests on ice found on the planet in June by... more -
Astronomical Comets: Voyagers From Outer Space
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a comet.
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UFO Websites That You Have to See to Believe
Unidentified Flying Objects are being reported more than ever before. Are Earthlings the only form of life in the universe? Check out these links and you decide! Unidentified Flying Objects are being reported more than ever before. Are Earthlings the only form of life in the universe? Check out ... more
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The Earth's cries are heard in space
Earth emits an ear-piercing series of chirps and whistles that could be heard by any aliens who might be listening, astronomers have discovered.
The sound is awful, a new recording from space reveals.
Scientists have known about the radiation since the 1970s. It is created high above the planet, where charged particles from the solar wind collide with Earth's magnetic field. It is related to the phenomenon that generates the colorful aurora, or Northern Lights.
The radio waves are blocked by the ionosphere, a charged layer atop our atmosphere, so they do not reach Earth. That's good, because the out-of-this-world radio waves are 10,000 times stronger than even the strongest military signal, the researchers said, and they would overwhelm all radio stations on the planet.
Theorists had long figured the radio waves, which were not well studied, oozed into space in an ever-widening cone, like light from a torch.
But new data from the European Space Agency's Cluster mission, a group of four high-flying satellites, reveals the bursts of radio waves head off to the cosmos in beam-like fashion, instead.
This means they're more detectable to anyone who might be listening.
The Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR), as it is called, is beamed out in a narrow plane, as if someone had put a mask over a torch and left a slit for the radiation to escape.
This flat beam could be detected by aliens who've figured this process out, the researchers say. The knowledge could also be used by Earth's astronomers to detect planets around other stars, if they can build a new radio telescope big enough for the search. They could also learn more about Jupiter and Saturn by studying AKR, which should emit from the auroral activity on those worlds, too.
"Whenever you have aurora, you get AKR," said Robert Mutel, a University of Iowa researcher involved in the work.
The AKR bursts -- Mutel and colleagues studied 12,000 of them -- originate in spots the size of a large city a few thousand miles above Earth and above the region where the Northern Lights form.
"We can now determine exactly where the emission is coming from," Mutel said.
Our planet is also known to hum, a mysterious low-frequency sound thought to be caused by the churning ocean or the roiling atmosphere.
Hear it hear..... http://www.space.com/php/video/player.php?video_id=0806... Earth emits an ear-piercing series of chirps and whistles that could be heard by any aliens who might be listening, astronomers have d... more -
Astronomers' findings suggest Earth-like planets may be very common
European researchers havediscovered a batch of three "super-Earths" orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with small planets as well. They said their findings, presented at a conference in France, suggest that Earth-like planets may be very common. European researchers havediscovered a batch of three "super-Earths" orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with... more
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Missile practice for Moon mission
Tests on a UK-led technology at the heart of a planned Moon mission have been a spectacular success, according to the experts involved in the project.
Three penetrator missiles were fired into a sand bunker in Wales, designed to mimic the lunar surface. Three projectiles were tested on three consecutive days at the end of May.
he Moonlite mission plans to fire four penetrators into the lunar surface from an orbiting spacecraft. They will come to rest three metres (10ft) underground. The onboard instruments will send back a mass of information, everything from seismic activity and mineral composition to the underground temperature. Tests on a UK-led technology at the heart of a planned Moon mission have been a spectacular success, according to the experts involved... more -
United States Space Command Vision for 2020
Vision for 2020, a document published by the U.S. Space Command, is the plan for United States' domination of the Earth from space. The first page calls for, "dominating the space dimension of military operations to protect US interests and investment." When you read the document, you will find such phrases as, "full spectrum dominance;" "control of space is the ability to assure access to space…and an ability to deny others the use of space, if required."
Compare the above to the Outer Space Treaty [Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space], which can be read on the United Nations site.
It's a good read, scroll through the pages Vision for 2020, a document published by the U.S. Space Command, is the plan for United States' domination of the Earth from spac... more -
Attempt to skydive from space failed for the third time
A misfired fuse about the size of a pen thwarted a French daredevil's third attempt to skydive from space, his team says.
When Michel Fournier's massive helium balloon launched without him early Tuesday morning, the launch team says, a "freak accident" caused some equipment to strike the ground.
That triggered a small explosion and separated the balloon from the capsule and its parachutes, spokeswoman Francine Gittins told a room packed with reporters and Fournier's supporters late Tuesday afternoon. A misfired fuse about the size of a pen thwarted a French daredevil's third attempt to skydive from space, his team says. ... more -
Saturn's Titan has implications for understanding of life throughout galaxy
NASA's Cassini spacecraft buzzed Titan last month, coming close enough to taste the Saturnian moon's atmosphere. The data acquired has implications for our understanding of life throughout the galaxy, as well as Earth's own past.
The second largest moon in the solar system, Titan has long been of interest for hopeful exobioligists. As the only other body we know of with surface bodies of liquid, complete with nitrogen, methane and complete seasonal weather weather patterns (similar to Earth's). It even has beaches, though you'll need a little more than a swimsuit to visit. Vast bodies of chemicals constantly stirred by wind and wave, heated over a gentle sunlight heat with the occasional dash of articles from Saturn's magnetosphere for spice - a perfect recipe for life. Just like a certain planet you might be familiar with (look down if you forget).
Of course there a few minor differences from our own blue-green globe. There's no oxygen for one thing, but if you think that's a problem then you're guilty of "aerobic respiration prejudice" (don't worry, most multicellular organisms are). It's also really quite amazingly cold - so cold that it has awesomely-named "cryovolcanoes", where boiled (or even just melted) water is enough to set off seismic-level explosions. Again, that's a barrier that's been overcome by homegrown Earth bacteria, so there's no reason it couldn't be managed elsewhere.
Cassini's onboard instruments have detected hydrocarbons containing up to seven carbon atoms. How important is that for life? Here's a hint: molecules with carbon in them are called organic, and those without are inorganic. Carbon is kind of a big deal, and the more (and more complicated) carbon compounds present the further towards the great cosmic chemical cocktail that is "life" you are. Some scientists believe that the Titanian interior, with its greater temperature, could already host microbial life - but it'll be a while before we can check that (unless we get real lucky, and some alien cells get real unlucky, with a cryovolcano eruption). One thing's for sure - the craft is only on the sixth of forty-five planned flybys so we can expect to hear a lot more about this real soon.
PS Yes, it is ironic that we're expecting Titanic lifeforms to be single celled.
Posted by Luke McKinney. Photo Credit: James Estrin/New York Times. NASA's Cassini spacecraft buzzed Titan last month, coming close enough to taste the Saturnian moon's atmosphere. The data a... more -
Phoenix spacecraft successfully lands on Mars
"NASA's Phoenix spacecraft landed in the northern polar region of Mars today to begin three months of examining a site chosen for its likelihood of having frozen water within reach of the lander's robotic arm". "NASA's Phoenix spacecraft landed in the northern polar region of Mars today to begin three months of examining a site chose... more
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Boomerang in space
Check out this space-age viral video here.
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Flowers to be planted on the moon!
Apparently it works... the conditions can easily be reproduced. Lunar soil can be used to grow flowers in with the addition of certain bacteria. Astronauts could create a simple hothouse with an easy watering system, add to the grind coat bacteria and seeds, and soon our natural sputnik will be covered with flowers that will bloom for at least one moon hour.
Flowers can be planted with robots’ help long before people will land on the Moon.
Wouldn't it be beautiful to have flowers on the moon, instead of the barren lifeless expanse we know today. Apparently it works... the conditions can easily be reproduced. Lunar soil can be used to grow flowers in with the addition of certai... more -
Alien life exists on the moon!
Reasonable activity of an alien civilization showed up unexpectedly close to us. However, we were not psychologically ready for it.
We still come across publications trying to find an answer to the following question: are we alone in the universe? At the same time, the presence of reasoning beings has been detected close to our home, on the moon. However, this discovery was immediately classified as secret, as it is so incredible that it even might shake the already existing social principles. Reasonable activity of an alien civilization showed up unexpectedly close to us. However, we were not psychologically ready for it. ... more -
China builds lunar rover
China has built prototypes of the country's first lunar rover, state media reported...
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What are the chances of finding aliens?
A British scientist has produced a mathematical model which spells out the odds of finding new life on other Earth-like planets.
Brace yourselves Sci-Fi fans. The news isn't good. A British scientist has produced a mathematical model which spells out the odds of finding new life on other Earth-like planets. ... more -
Plants live on moon rocks
"Scientists with the European Space Agency (Esa) say the day when flowers bloom on the Moon has come closer.
An Esa-linked team has shown that marigolds can grow in crushed rock very like the lunar surface, with no need for plant food.
Some see growing plants on the Moon as a step towards human habitation.
But the concept is not an official aim of Esa, and one of the agency's senior officials has dismissed the idea as 'science fiction'." "Scientists with the European Space Agency (Esa) say the day when flowers bloom on the Moon has come closer. ... more -
Mars radar opens up a planet’s third dimension
ESA’s Mars Express radar sounder, MARSIS, has looked beneath the martian surface and opened up the third dimension for planetary exploration. The technique’s success is prompting scientists to think of all the other places in the Solar System where they would like to use radar sounders.
No matter how accurate a camera is, it can only map a planet’s surface. To retrieve information about the underground realm, planetary scientists in the past would have thought it necessary to land on the surface and start digging. But that would only be good for a single spot on a large planet and the first few decimetres of the surface.
To get the global picture of the subsurface they need a radar sounder, such as the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS), to find the best spots for the future landers to go and dig.
MARSIS was an experiment in every sense of the word. “It was a leap into the unknown,” says Ali Safaeinili, MARSIS co-investigator at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California, USA.
No one had ever used a radar sounder from orbit on another planet before. So the team could not even be sure whether it would work as planned. The subsurface of the planet might have been too opaque to the radar waves or the upper levels of martian atmosphere (ionosphere) might have distorted the signal too much to be useful. Thankfully, none of this happened.
“We have demonstrated that the polar caps at Mars are mostly water ice, and produced an inventory so now we know exactly how much water there is,” says Roberto Orosei, MARSIS Deputy Principal Investigator, IASF-INAF, Italy.
Armed with a better understanding of how planetary radar sounders work, the MARSIS team is beginning to look further afield in the Solar System, to other bodies that might benefit from radar investigation. One obvious target is Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa.
A MARSIS-type experiment in orbit around Europa could probe its icy crust to help understand the puzzling features we see on the surface. It may even see the interface at the bottom of the ice where an ocean is expected to begin.
At Saturn’s moon, Titan, penetrating radar could be used to measure the depths of the hydrocarbon lakes that the Cassini spacecraft has detected. It could also probe the structure beneath the enigmatic geysers that Cassini has observed on another one of Saturn’s satellites, Enceladus. “Radar sounders are very well suited to exploring icy worlds,” says Orosei.
But not just for icy moons. Asteroids and comets could be thoroughly scanned by a radar sounder, producing three-dimensional maps of their interior – perhaps exactly the data we will need if, one day, we have to nudge one out of Earth’s way.
MARSIS has served as an excellent example of international collaboration between Europe and America. Increasingly, such collaborations are set to become a positive feature of our joint exploration of space. ESA’s Mars Express radar sounder, MARSIS, has looked beneath the martian surface and opened up the third dimension for planetary explo... more -
Space is full of crap
"The European Space Agency has just released images showing all the satellites and human-made debris now orbiting space as a result of 51 years of launching stuff since Sputnik. That's about 6,000 satellites up there—of which only 800 remain operational—plus thousands of other objects from launches and accidents. According to their mindblowing simulations things are getting a lot worse: about 50 percent of all trackable objects are due to in-orbit explosion events (about 200) or collision events (less than 10)...." "The European Space Agency has just released images showing all the satellites and human-made debris now orbiting space as a resu... more
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Outer Space
