Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Huge waves on Titan move slowly
Scientists have issued a weather forecast for the oily oceans of Titan, Saturn's major moon and a target for a space probe landing next year.
Researchers gathered at the UK National Astronomy Meeting have calculated how the moon's seas compare with Earth's.
Waves would be seven times higher than Earth waves but would move more slowly and be much farther apart, they think.
In early 2005 we should find out more information on the surface of Titan when the ESA's Huygens probe is dropped off by Cassini.
From BBC Online.
Researchers gathered at the UK National Astronomy Meeting have calculated how the moon's seas compare with Earth's.
Waves would be seven times higher than Earth waves but would move more slowly and be much farther apart, they think.
In early 2005 we should find out more information on the surface of Titan when the ESA's Huygens probe is dropped off by Cassini.
From BBC Online.
Monday, March 29, 2004
Supernova remnant reveals magnesium in abundance
The Chandra image of N49B (left), the remains of an exploded star, shows a cloud of multimillion degree gas that has been expanding for about 10,000 years. A specially processed version of this image (right) reveals unexpectedly large concentrations of the element magnesium (blue-green).
Magnesium, created deep inside the star and ejected in the supernova explosion, is usually associated with correspondingly high concentrations of oxygen. However, the Chandra data indicate that the amount of oxygen in N49B is not exceptional. This poses a puzzle as to how the excess magnesium was created, or, alternatively, how the excess oxygen has escaped detection.
The amount of magnesium being released by this star is amazing.
From Spaceflight Now.
7,400-year-old jar gives clue to phoenix-worshipping history
A 7,400-year-old pottery jar stamped with the design of two flying phoenixes has been excavated recently in central China's Hunan Province, helping archaeologists unveil the secret of the "birth" of the sacred bird.
The two phoenixes have the typical characteristics of the legendary phoenix, which has a crest on its head, a long beak, a long neck and a long beautiful feathered tail.
The phoenix and the dragon are the most worshipped legendary creatures in China since ancient times.
From People's Daily.
The two phoenixes have the typical characteristics of the legendary phoenix, which has a crest on its head, a long beak, a long neck and a long beautiful feathered tail.
The phoenix and the dragon are the most worshipped legendary creatures in China since ancient times.
From People's Daily.
Methane on Mars could signal life
Methane has been found in the Martian atmosphere which scientists say could be a sign that life exists today on Mars.
It was detected by telescopes on Earth and has recently been confirmed by instruments onboard the European Space Agency's orbiting Mars Express craft.
Methane lives for a short time in the Martian atmosphere so it must be being constantly replenished.
There are two possible sources: either active volcanoes, none of which have been found yet on Mars, or microbes.
This is huge. And with this find it furthers the importance of sending a manned mission to Mars to try and explore our neighbor and detect what life there may be there.
From BBC Online.
It was detected by telescopes on Earth and has recently been confirmed by instruments onboard the European Space Agency's orbiting Mars Express craft.
Methane lives for a short time in the Martian atmosphere so it must be being constantly replenished.
There are two possible sources: either active volcanoes, none of which have been found yet on Mars, or microbes.
This is huge. And with this find it furthers the importance of sending a manned mission to Mars to try and explore our neighbor and detect what life there may be there.
From BBC Online.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Hiatus hopefully over
Hopefully, with things getting back to normal at work, I will be able to post more here. I apologize for the away time, but things were just busy and I had to put this on the back burner.
//ankh
//ankh
Salty Sea Covered Part of Mars: 'Excellent' Site to Search for Past Life
A salty sea once washed over the plains of Mars at the Opportunity rover's landing site, creating a life-friendly environment more earthlike than any known on another world, NASA scientists announced today.
The rover found evidence for the shores of a large body of surface water that contained currents, which left their marks in rocks that developed at the bottom of the sea. Opportunity found a distinct chemical makeup in the rocks and unique layering patterns that must have been generated by slow-moving water in an evaporating sea, researchers said.
The discovery casts fresh light on the possibility that critters could have gained a toehold on the red planet when it was younger, warmer and wetter. Geologists inside and outside NASA are elated over the discovery, saying it could resolve a decades-long debate over whether Mars ever was in fact warmer.
Yes, I admit I am a little late with this post, but I am still amazed that they were able to discover that parts of Mars was covered with salty seas. We need to send a manned mission to Mars as soon as possible!
From Space.com
The rover found evidence for the shores of a large body of surface water that contained currents, which left their marks in rocks that developed at the bottom of the sea. Opportunity found a distinct chemical makeup in the rocks and unique layering patterns that must have been generated by slow-moving water in an evaporating sea, researchers said.
The discovery casts fresh light on the possibility that critters could have gained a toehold on the red planet when it was younger, warmer and wetter. Geologists inside and outside NASA are elated over the discovery, saying it could resolve a decades-long debate over whether Mars ever was in fact warmer.
Yes, I admit I am a little late with this post, but I am still amazed that they were able to discover that parts of Mars was covered with salty seas. We need to send a manned mission to Mars as soon as possible!
From Space.com
Bones hint at first use of fire
Human-like species living in Africa up to 1.5 million years ago may have known how to control fire, scientists say.
US and South African experts analysed burnt bones from Swartkrans, just north of Johannesburg, using the technique of electron spin resonance.
It showed the bones had been heated to high temperatures usually only achieved in hearths, possibly making it the first evidence of fire use by humans.
This finding predates the earliest known use of fire by approximately 250,000 years and is a significant discovery.
From BBC Online.
US and South African experts analysed burnt bones from Swartkrans, just north of Johannesburg, using the technique of electron spin resonance.
It showed the bones had been heated to high temperatures usually only achieved in hearths, possibly making it the first evidence of fire use by humans.
This finding predates the earliest known use of fire by approximately 250,000 years and is a significant discovery.
From BBC Online.
