Daily science stuff

[Escriba]

So no chance for First Contact?

[enterprikayak]

Not entirely, but there's not a good chance of life of any kind on Mars now.

But apparently, they are almost sure there is some kind of bacteria on Europa - and some exobiologists think there might be FISH there.
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could you imagine the furor this would throw earth philosohpy into??? fish! that would be cool.

[honeybee]

Escriba: I hope that means we just haven't been contacted yet - because societies evolve to be sustainable and not push themselves into oblivion.

enterprikayak: It would be so cool if fish were found in our own solar system. That would make it incredibly likely that life exists elsewhere. It wouldn't throw my philosophy into furor!

[Alelou]

Extremely cool vid of what water drops do when they hit water.

http://www.flixxy.com/water-drop.htm

[Ludmila]

Extremely cool vid of what water drops do when they hit water.

http://www.flixxy.com/water-drop.htm

Thanks for the wonderful video! I liked not only the interesting shots but and the explicable reaction of scientists. Looking at this vid I was understanding the physics of this phenomenon but I was never able to predict such process.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

The Physics of Space Battles

[Elessar]

that's pretty sweet... both the water molecule thing and the space battles deal. Honestly, I think other than the "spherical in shape" conclusion, he kind of summarized how space combat is portrayed in a combination of BSG and Starship Troopers (the book).

[justTripn]

Extremely cool vid of what water drops do when they hit water.

http://www.flixxy.com/water-drop.htm

Belately, I saw this and I'm really surpised.

[justTripn]

Quoting Honeybee:

Not entirely, but there's not a good chance of life of any kind on Mars now.

But apparently, they are almost sure there is some kind of bacteria on Europa - and some exobiologists think there might be FISH there.

http://io9.com/5407716/scientists-say-j ... -with-fish

Thank you! The previous reports I'd heard about Europa had been pessimistic. Why do you say there not a good chance of life of any kind on Mars now? About a year ago there was a rumor flying around that NASA was about to announce life on Mars "within days" as the result of accumulating evidence concerning methane. Its existance in any amount means the gas is being continuously leaked into the air (because it can only survive for about 100 years). Then its distribution was found to be in all the "right" places, the places most likely to be able to support life. The theory was that some sort of microbe survived in the rocks some distance beneath the surface and the methane is emitted by the microbes. Of course there are other possible explanations for methane, but I had heard that most scientists involved believed they had already found the signal of life. They were just being extra cautious before announcing this. I haven't been following it lately. What have you heard regarding this?

[justTripn]

Interesting article on Fermi's Paradox on NPR today:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2009/12/s ... ideas.html

Wow, I am getting all caught up. I have lots to say about this. Yes, thinking about aliens gets us to thinking about Earth's future and the possibilities of space travel in general. I have been really into pondering this question from because of related interests in astronomy, human evolution, and science fiction (and economics). This "sustainability" argument kind of jives with my gut feeling that Humans (and other aliens) will not make the leap to other planets and certainly not to other stars. Because . . . why should they? There are some pretty inhospitable places on Earth that are currently uncolonized--Antarctica, the oceans, most of Alaska, the Aicama desert. Going to another planet will be several orders of magnitude more difficult. And what is the incentive? Unless there is an economic incentive it will never happen. I came to this conclusion after reading some excellent book by Kim Stanley Robinson: "The Red Mars," "Green Mars," "Blue Mars" trilogy about the terraforming of Mars and more recently "Antarctica" about the colonization of Antarctica. In both cases the book was extremely realistic from a scientific/sociological point of view. He gave a very compelling account of how the colonization of Mars could come about. The story about how Antarctica would come to be colonized by those into extreme camping (I guess that's the best way to put it) also cast a spell that lasted until I closed the book. Then I went, "Nah . . .I can't really see it." And if I can't imagine a scenario actually leading to the colonization of Antarctica, then even more, I can't imagine a scenario leading to the colonization of Mars. So paradoxically a book that almost made me a believer in humans springing off this planet, ultimately turned me into a skeptic. I think the ultra-advanced aliens are going to stay home where it's nice and comfortable and play online games.

[Silverbullet]

JT, best answer: "Because it is there." that is what drove people to move Westwards in to Hostile territory. There was Plenty of land available still but the lure of adventure was a bit much. MountainMen went to get away from the constraints of civilization, they were followed by Men and Women who settled Land.

Why do we have Scientists dreaming of going to the very depths of the Ocean? Nothing down there we really need. The Moon has been alluring Mankind since the dawn of Man. Because it is there. So, go out in to Space. If you need an Econimic reason, Overpopulation we do need more room. Terra Forming Mars would be the first step.

Would I be willing to go into suspended Animation for four Hundred years to travel to a Star with an Earth like Planet that might Harbor LIfe? Hell yes, punch my tiket. My bags are packed. I have looked at the Stars all o fmy life wishing I could travel among them. I imagine I am not alone in this.

[Entilzha]

Colonizing Antarctica is out of the question because of international treaties. It's not matter of if we can do it and more along the line that have significant climate and political complications if we do. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica

[justTripn]

Right, but international treaties break down or are renegotiated when they stand in the way of something people really want. (This is what happens in the book Antarctica). There used to be a treaty with the American Indians that European settlers wouldn't come out as far as Pittsburgh and settle, but here I am.

[Alelou]

There are a tiny minority of people who just plain want to get out there because it's out there and there's nothing they love more than exploring strange new worlds, but I think most people who moved westward were looking for cheap (or free) land that was better than they could ever afford where they were. They were seeking something that could ultimately lift them from servant or working class or impoverished younger son.

OR they were leaving behind a life that had become unbearable in some way and starting over.

OR they thought there was gold in them thar hills and they'd be rich beyond all dreams in just a matter of months, or that the land was a hundred times more fertile and had no rocks at all. (I could see where a New England or upstate NY farmer would be sorely tempted by that.)

[Silverbullet]

Alelou, ever wonder if you could have been one of those Pioneer women who walked across the land, sharing the dangers and hardships. Not an easy life and then having to carve out a farm. Perhaps living in Hostile territory. Trying to raise a family. Some very tough women did just that. Lots of them wre buried along the way or buried children.

Because it is there is a good enough reason for me. I suppose it may have been a good reason for those women too.