Tardinrades, the original E.T. ?

Water bears, known formally as tardigrades, are speck-sized things, less than 1.5 millimeters long. The invertebrate creatures endured 10 days in space, and upon return to Earth, scientists found that even some of those exposed to solar radiation had made it through.

Did You Know - That the human body emits more heat per square inch than the sun at equal proportions

Dr. Michio Kaku, a favorite of mine of the Science channel, stated this fact during a show; A show about the creation of Hydogen and Helium and the Big Bang theory as it was proven by way of reminiscent radiation or 'static' that could only be caused by an initial explosion~ by a radio wave telescope in the late 1980's.

~KAS

Quasars, primordial black holes and this question - Why is there a black hole at the center of a universe??

Obviously, there is no singular definitive answer to this question (that I know anyway.) I am not a space bot that can travel in time to find the source. But, amazing theorists have ideas; and I, being a pursuer of shaking my own ignorance - read what they have to say.

I started my exploration tonight with an article on MSN about a flare out of the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. The article discusses how X-rays are expelled from the center of our galaxy, and a group of Japanese scientists have analyzed clouds of this dispersing residue in order to conclude the timing in which our galaxy did this last (presumably to theorize about if and when it will happen again as well as to understand it's origin.)

Lagrangian Points ~ Parking Lots in Space!

There are (5) Lagrangian Points in the Earth & Sun system. Lagrangian Points (also known as Lagrange Points) exist within allocations of space between two bodies of mass and their respective gravitational influence. So, the Earth/Sun system includes the area that the Sun effects with it's gravitational pull on the Earth as well as the Earths area of gravitational effect. Another... If you draw a circle around the Sun including the Earth within it; drew another circle around the Earth as far out as the effect on Mass exists and then converged the two with a third all encompassing circle- that is the system.

The two masses interaction and influence over one another, effect all additional objects that occupy any space within the final circle. As with general relatively and space curvature, all objects orbit if influenced to do so. So, within this system of massive influences on things in orbit; opposing orbits and lines of three interacting orbits exist. When two masses encounter a third as an interference to the balance of the two; both of the massive objects relinquish force, as they are in perfect balance, over the third object. As such, the object is not pulled in an orbit because there is no definitive superior force either way and it will stay 'parked' within this location.

Willy Wonka in Space?

Basic sugar molecules were recently found in space; near a ripe star birthing location in space that could host life due to the fact that Glycolaldehyde is a componant of RNA (Ribonucleic Acid consists of a nitrogeneous base, a ribose sugar and a phosphate)

Click title to read article source.

KAS

Mars Electromagnetic Field

Interesting article on MSN News (title linked) about a theory explaining the demise of Mars electromagnetic field (i.e. an electromagnetic field, as is charged by the core of an active planet, protects the surface from harmful solar wind particles~ without the protection, organic life is near impossible.) The theory says that a bombardment of massive asteroids was so destructive (by the act of pushing so much energy through the planet) that it affected the planet's core in such a manner that it was never able to recover its electromagnetic field.

KAS

Dark Energy Found Stifling Growth in Universe ~ NASA.gov

Space Station upgrades

The Astronauts going up to the international space station this spring will enjoy better accommodations than all who have lived there before. Among the improvements are a second toilet (everyone remember when the only one on board was broken) a mini fridge so that they can enjoy a few things cool. They also added two new bedrooms allowing for more area for sleep as well as leisure and new resistance exercise gear.

KAS

Cosmic Variance on Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Visit title link. Great article, nicely written and thought provoking.

~KAS

Particle Collider - Heat'n up!

Amazing - This advance will help our kind learn the truth in the theory's as have been proposed by various Physicists, the most important being the Big Bang Theory.

~KAS

Updated... WATER!! Phoenix Lander –@ Mars in just 12 days -- Updated

I imagine that I am not alone in the fondness and affiliation I have for our ‘sister’ planet, Mars? With it’s intertwined majestic quality and our natural drive to find similarities in our understandings of the universe; as well as our actuality of finding multiple commonalities on this red planet. To understand what may have happened, is the ever important key to this puzzle; especially if reformation is part of the goal.

The most intriguing aspect of our sister planet, is that it apparently contains the very same life granting ingredient as our own planet – Water. That we have discovered various signs of water existing on the surface, like the existing ice caps and sub terrain ice sheets as well as surface features like gullies and components like silica, should be of astounding interest to all humans. You might ask: If Mars has many of the right components for life, what is wrong with the recipe? Of particular issue is the atmosphere, or lack there of.

The atmosphere of Mars is a hundred times thinner than that of Earth. Due to atmospheric pressure differences; liquid water boils on Mars at as low a temperature as ten degrees Celsius, as is discussed in this article. To understand this in more ‘earthly’ terms – the site uses the difference in temperatures needed to boil on different altitude’s on Earth as an example. If you are at a high altitude (a mountain for instance) water boils at a lower temperature. Mars’s window of opportunity for liquid water is grossly smaller than that of Earths; because, its atmospheric pressure makes water boil at such a common temperature as the planets freezing point; as a result, water exists primarily in solid or gas form.

However, as ice exists in liquid form in our own extreme cold zones, amongst frozen ice, it is possible that the same could have taken place or could take place on Mars. If the atmosphere was only a wee bit thicker, Mars would have oceans – do I sense some human intervention possibilities? And then to Europa, and then we take over the Univerrrssse… anyway, another mentioning is the assistance sodium provides in maintaining liquid water at lower temperatures allowing a larger window of liquid formation (as is also the case on Earth.) Maybe with a little interference, this planet could start or once again harbor life.

Lastly, the discovery and analysis of the seven caves on Mars are worth following, as this find teases our hypothesis of life being under the surface, as liquid water has a higher probability of flowing if protected from the frigid surface. These caves are seen as an important revelation of possible access points into the planet's depths that may or may not reveal life or life granting/sustaining liquid water.

If this doesn't amaze you, what in the Universe can?

Update: Wow, it's landed safely!

Update: 08/01/2008

WATER!!!!! This is such a fantastic discovery! Now, we had our presumptions of course. But, what it must have been to see the signature of Water appear on the testing equipment back at NASA. What could have been, what is and what could be, is now all up for discovery.

Water is the life granting element here on earth and to find it elsewhere is not astonishing, but encouraging. I am so happy to be alive at a time when the progression of discovery is so remarkable.

KAS

Here is an article discussing the first pictures in the Times and here's another one on space.newscientist.com.

KAS