Are We Alone for 02/08/10 - Pave New Worlds

Are We Alone - Pave New Worlds

The extra-solar planet count is more than 400 and rising. Before long we may find an Earth-like planet around another star. If we do, and can visit, what next? Stake out our claim on an alien world or tread lightly and preserve it?

We’ll look at what our record on Earth says about our planet stewardship. Also, whether a massive technological fix can get us out of our climate mess. Plus, what we can learn about extreme climate from our neighbors in the solar system, Venus and Mars.

Guests:

• Ken Caldeira – Climate scientist from the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University
• Keith Cowing – Biologist, and editor of NASAwatch.com
• Kathryn Denning – Anthropologist at York University in Canada
• Gary Davis – Director of the Joint Astronomy Center in Hilo, Hawaii
• David Grinspoon – Curator of the Denver Museum of Science and Nature

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Big Sunspot Sparks Solar Activity

Source - Space Weather News for Feb. 8, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

BIG SUNSPOT: The sudden emergence of big sunspot 1045 over the weekend has caused a sharp uptick in solar activity. The active region has produced three M-class and almost a dozen C-class solar flares since it appeared on Saturday. The strongest blast, an M6-class eruption on Feb. 7th, may have hurled a coronal mass ejection toward Earth. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras in the nights ahead as a result of this activity. Also, ham radio operators are picking up strong solar radio bursts using shortwave receivers. Sample sounds and images may be found at http://spaceweather.com.

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a call when the next geomagnetic storm erupts? Sign up for Spaceweather PHONE: http://spaceweatherphone.com

Last Night Launch of the Space Shuttle

Source - Space Weather News for February 6, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

LAST NIGHT LAUNCH OF THE SHUTTLE: On Sunday morning, February 7th, at 4:39 am EST, space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled lift off from Kennedy Space Center on a 13-day mission to the ISS. There are only five missions left before NASA ends the shuttle program, and this will be the last one to launch at night. Visit http://spaceweather.com for links to blogs and live video from NASA TV.

EMERGING SUNSPOTS: Amateur astronomers with solar telescopes should train their optics on the sun. At least two new Solar Cycle 24 sunspot groups are rapidly emerging in the sun's northern hemisphere. Images and updates at http://spaceweather.com

Solar Dynamics Observatory: The 'Variable Sun' Mission

Source - NASA Science News for February 5, 2010

The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), slated for liftoff on Feb. 9th, will make IMAX-quality movies of solar explosions, peer beneath the stellar surface to see the sun's inner dynamo, and--researchers hope--unravel the mysteries of solar variability.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/05feb_sdo.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Hubble Sees Suspected Asteroid Collision

Source - NASA Science News for February 2, 2010

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has observed a mysterious X-shaped debris pattern and trailing streamers of dust that suggest a head-on collision between two asteroids.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/02feb_asteroidcollision.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Colas For The Cosmos giveaway recipients for 2009.

I started the Colas For The Cosmos project with the goal of helping others pursue their interest in astronomy. Over the last 12 months, and with a lot of help from friends and strangers alike I have been able to continue to pursue that goal, and give away six pair of Celestron UpClose 10x50 binoculars. Below is the list of recipients of the binoculars:

• A school program that one Seattle Astronomical Society member is involved in.
• The grandchild of another Seattle Astronomical Society member.
• Sound Experience through two more Seattle Astronomical Society members.
• A family that sponsored by the Tacoma Astronomical Society.
• Northwest School
• Sibling House: An organization working to keep siblings together while in foster care.

For 2010 Coke Rewards is offering a Celestron 4-in-1 Digital Binocular Camera (sorry I don't have a URL for the item), and even though it will require more points for each pair I am hoping to gave away 8 to 10 pair in 2010.

Hopefully I can meet this goal, and continue to help others get involved in astronomy. If you interesting in helping and have any Coke Rewards points you would like to donate just drop me a line.

Many thanks to those who helped me, and wishes of clear skies to those who received the binoculars.

Cheers ~ Jim Cox

Are We Alone for 02/01/10 - It's the Science, Cupid!

Are We Alone - It's the Science, Cupid!

Love makes us feel warm and mushy, but the sweet sting of Cupid’s arrow makes a compelling chemistry lesson, too. Research into animal mating and human courtship provides clues to an eternal mystery: what’s the purpose of love?

Learn lessons from the family values of field mice, and affectionate same-sex penguin pairs. Plus: Darwin’s take on speed dating, and the science of smooching.

Guests

• Helen Fisher – Anthropologist, Rutgers University
• Sarah Woodley – Biologist, Duquesne University
• Skyler Place – Doctoral Student, Indiana University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
• Larry Young – Neurobiologist, Emory University
• Marlene Zuk – Biologist, University of California, Riverside

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Firefly Mission to Study Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes

Source - NASA Science News for January 29, 2010

There's a mystery in the skies of Earth: Something is producing bright flashes of gamma radiation in the upper atmosphere of our own planet. A spacecraft called 'Firefly' is going to investigate.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/29jan_firefly.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Biggest Full Moon of the Year

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 28, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

FULL MOON AND MARS: Friday night's full Moon is the biggest and brightest full Moon of the year. It's a "perigee Moon," as much as 14% wider and 30% brighter than other full Moons you'll see later in 2010. But that's not all. Mars is having a close encounter with Earth, and on Friday night, Jan. 29th, it will join the Moon for an all-night-long conjunction. Don't miss it! Sky maps and images may be found at http://spaceweather.com.

FLYBY ALERT: NASA is preparing to launch space shuttle Endeavour on Feb. 7th. It's the last night launch of the shuttle program and it kicks off a 13-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). You can follow the ISS and Endeavour as they streak across the night sky using our new Satellite Flybys app for the iPhone or iPod Touch. Details at http://simpleflybys.com.

Mars Rover Spirit is Now a Stationary Research Platform

Source - NASA Science News for January 26, 2010

NASA announced today that Spirit cannot be freed from its Martian sandtrap. Now the rover will begin a second career as a stationary science platform.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/26jan_spirit.htm?list894285

For more information about space and space exploration, visit our Home page: http://science.nasa.gov

Close Encounter with Mars

Source - NASA Science News for January 26, 2010

This week Earth and Mars are having a close encounter. On Jan. 27th, the Red Planet will be only 99 million kilometers away and look bigger through a telescope than at any time between 2008 and 2014.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/26jan_mars.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Are We Alone for 01/25/10 - Who's on First?

Are We Alone - Who's on First?

Being first counts in science. Land that coveted spot and you’ll make history, whether it’s with the first steam engine or the discovery of our earliest human ancestor.

But what does “first” mean when technological invention so heavily builds on what’s come before… and evolution represents continuous change?

Find out how “publish or perish” made Darwin famous… why we’ll never find the first human fossil… and how powerful new telescopes are allowing us to see the earliest galaxies.

Plus, the chicken and egg battle it out in line.

Guests:

• Garth Illingworth – Astrophysicist at the University of California, Santa Cruz
• Sean B. Carroll – Molecular biologist and geneticist at the University of Wisconsin Madison and author of Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species
• Leslea Hlusko – Paleontologist at the University of California- Berkeley. Read more about Ardi

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Bright Sungrazing Comet

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 21, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

SUNGRAZING COMET: NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft has discovered another bright sungrazing comet. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has a good view of the comet's death plunge, which is happening today. Check http://spaceweather.com for movies and updates.

NORTHERN LIGHTS: A solar wind stream hit Earth on Jan. 20th sparking the first geomagnetic storm of the year and an intense display of polar auroras. Images from around the Arctic Circle may be found here: http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01jan10_page3.htm

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: For less than the cost of a night at the movies, you can turn your cell phone into a space weather alert system. Sign up for Spaceweather PHONE (http://spaceweatherphone.com) to receive instant notices of geomagnetic storms, CME impacts, and strong solar flares.

Solar Activity in the Offing

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 19, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

FARSIDE SOLAR ACTIVITY: Over the past two days, NASA's STEREO-B spacecraft has detected two eruptions from an active region just behind the sun's eastern limb. The source of the blasts appears to be old sunspot 1039. The sun's rotation will begin turning the spot toward Earth this week, so there could be some Earth-directed solar activity in the offing. Check http://spaceweather.com for movies and updates.

ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE: On Jan. 15th, the Moon passed directly in front of the sun, producing a "ring of fire" solar eclipse over the Indian Ocean and surrounding lands. The eclipse gallery contains many must-see images. Start browsing here: http://spaceweather.com/eclipses/gallery_15jan10_page4.htm

Are We Alone for 01/18/10 - Skeptic Check: Swimming in Denial

Are We Alone - Skeptic Check: Swimming in Denial

Public distrust of science is higher than at any time since the Enlightenment. New Yorker writer Michael Specter argues how our anti-science bias and our irrationalism about everything from genetically modified foods to climate change to childhood vaccines endangers our future.

And remember when… a look back at scientists who at first pooh-poohed plate tectonics… meteorites, and quantum physics. How the evidence turned them around.

It’s Skeptic Check… but don’t take our word for it.

Guests:

• Michael Specter – Writer for The New Yorker and author of Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives
• Read Montague – Director of the Human Neuroimaging Lab at Baylor College of Medicine and author of Why Choose This Book?: How We Make Decisions
• Spencer Weart – Historian of science

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.