Monday, August 30, 2010

Are We Alone for 08/30/10 - Say What?

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Are We Alone - Say What?

ENCORE There’s no escape from the chattering classes – they talk, squawk, squeal and sing all around us. Every animal communicates in some form – it’s essential for survival. They’ve evolved to understand each other … but do we understand them?

Find out what’s coded in humpback whale song and whether human-cetacean dialogue is possible… how information theory reveals communication patterns within the animal kingdom… how plants call out to animals to protect them… and why only humans evolved language.

Guests: Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Say_What_

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.

And be sure to check out the Are We Alone iPhone/iPad app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/are-we-alone-make-contact/id374968004?mt=8

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Kepler Discovers Multiple Planets Transiting a Single Star

Source - NASA Science News for August 26, 2010

NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered two Saturn-sized planets transiting a single sun-like star. The same system might contain a third world--a hot "super-Earth" one and a half times the size of Earth. Researchers announced the results today at a NASA press conference.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/26aug_kepler/

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The Mutating Mars Hoax

Source - NASA Science News for August 25, 2010

Warning: The Mars Hoax is back and it's trickier than ever. Read today's story from Science@NASA to find out what's really going to happen in the night sky on August 27th.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/25aug_marshoax/

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Are We Alone for 08/23/10 - We've Got You Made

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Are We Alone - We've Got You Made

Wish you could ditch computers? There’s no escape button for that. Computers are not only a part of your daily grind, they may soon be a part of you. We’ll hear from the world’s first cyborg about why we should make nice in our arms race with machines.

Also, the secret behind the extraordinary breakthroughs that DARPA scientists are making – from building autonomous cars to wiring robotic surgeons.

Plus, making space for humans… and their bodily functions: the engineering tricks of toiletry. And, a carbon-based astronaut on the view of Earth from orbit.

Guests:
Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/We_ve_Got_You_Made

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.

And be sure to check out the Are We Alone iPhone/iPad app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/are-we-alone-make-contact/id374968004?mt=8

Fireball on Jupiter

Source - Space Weather News for Aug. 22, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

FIREBALL ON JUPITER: An amateur astronomer in Japan has video-recorded a fireball on Jupiter. This marks the third time in only 13 months that amateur astronomers have detected signs of something hitting the giant planet. Will the latest impact leave behind a visible cloud of debris? Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

SPACE STATION and SPACE PLANE FLYBYS: This is a good week for satellite watchers in the USA and Canada. Both the International Space Station and the US Air Force X-37B space plane are making a series of favorable passes over North American towns and cities. The spacecraft are easy to find using our Simple Satellite Tracker--an app for iPhones and Android. Visit http://simpleflybys.com for downloads and more information.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Space Station Auroras

Source - Space Weather News for August 20, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

SPACE STATION AURORAS: With solar activity on the rise, August 2010 has been a good month for auroras. There have been sightings of Northern Lights as far south as Wisconsin and Iowa in the United States, and some fine displays of Southern Lights over Antarctica. Some of the best pictures so far have come from Earth orbit, where astronauts have a front-row seat for geomagnetic storms. Visit http://Spaceweather.com for latest images from the International Space Station.

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms erupt at your latitude? Sign up for Space Weather Phone: http://spaceweatherphone.com

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Countdown to Vesta

Source - NASA Science News for August 19, 2010

NASA's Dawn spacecraft is now less than a year away from giant asteroid Vesta. Today's story from Science@NASA offers a sneak preview of an "alien, unexplored world" that seems sure to amaze.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/19aug_dawn2/

Monday, August 16, 2010

Are We Alone for 08/16/10 - Skeptic Check: Superstition

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Are We Alone - Skeptic Check: Superstition

Wait! Before you step outside… is it Friday the 13th? Any black cats prowling around? Broken a mirror lately? Homo sapiens are a superstitious lot. Find out why our brains are wired for irrational belief. Plus, from the 2012-end-of-the-world prophesy to colliding planets – why some people believe the universe is out to get ‘em.

Also, Brains on Vacation takes on a challenge to relativity and our Hollywood skeptic has doubts about exorcism. It’s enough to make your head spin on Skeptic Check… but don’t take our word for it!

Guests:
Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Skeptic_Check_Superstition

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.

And be sure to check out the Are We Alone iPhone/iPad app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/are-we-alone-make-contact/id374968004?mt=8

Japanese Spacecraft Approaches VenusJapanese Spacecraft Approaches Venus

Source - NASA Science News for August 16, 2010

A Japanese spacecraft named "Akatsuki" is approaching Venus on a mission that planetary scientists say could end up teaching us a great deal about our own planet Earth.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/16aug_vco/

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight

Source - Space Weather News for August 12, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

PERSEID METEOR SHOWER: The annual Perseid meteor shower is underway. Earth is passing through a wide stream of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, and each time a fleck of comet dust hits Earth's atmosphere--flash!--there is a meteor. Forecasters say the shower will peak on Thursday, August 12th, and Friday, August 13th. You can see Perseids flitting across the sky at any time between about 10 pm on Thursday evening and sunrise on Friday morning. Observers who get away from city lights can expect to count dozens of meteors per hour, especially during the dark hours before dawn.

Tune into http://spaceweather.com for full coverage of the shower, including a live meteor radar, a "fireball cam," updated meteor counts and pictures from around the world.

BONUS: If you go outside a little early on Thursday evening, around sunset, you'll see a beautiful gathering of planets in the sunset sky--Venus, Mars, Saturn and the crescent Moon. It's a nice way to start a meteor watch. Sky maps may be found at http://spaceweather.com.

LOOKING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION? Your cell phone can lead you right to it. Check out our field-tested satellite tracker for the iPhone and Android at http://simpleflybys.com.

Monday, August 09, 2010

Incoming CME could spark high-latitude auroras

Source - Space Weather News for August 9, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

INCOMING CME: The solar eruption of August 7th might affect Earth after all. Newly-arriving data from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) show a CME heading our way with a significant Earth-directed component. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras when the cloud arrives on August 10th. A movie of the CME is featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

EARLY PERSEID METEORS: The Perseid meteor shower doesn't peak until August 12th, but already late-night sky watchers are seeing a nice display of shooting stars. Observers are counting as many as 20 Perseids per hour from dark sky sites, a number that could increase 3- to 5-fold before the week is over. Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information.

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms erupt at your latitude? Sign up for Space Weather Phone: http://spaceweatherphone.com

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Solar Blast Just Misses Earth

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

SOLAR BLAST JUST MISSES EARTH: On Saturday, August 7th, magnetic fields around sunspot 1093 erupted. NASA spacecraft and many amateur astronomers photographed the blast, which produced a strong M1-class solar flare and hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space--apparently just missing the sun-Earth line. The explosion also made whooshing sounds in the loudspeakers of some shortwave radios. Visit http://spaceweather.com for audio recordings and movies of this latest solar event.

AURORA RECAP: Last week's geomagnetic storm sparked Northern Lights as far south as Iowa in the United States, and some nice Southern Lights over Antarctica. For the latest images, start browsing here: http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01aug10_page4.htm

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms erupt at your latitude? Sign up for Space Weather Phone: http://spaceweatherphone.com

Are We Alone for 08/09/10 - Rxs Get Personal

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Are We Alone - Rxs Get Personal

ENCORE Medicine’s back.. and this time it’s personal. Get ready to have your genome read… your brain scanned… and undergo a chemical analysis so detailed, it’ll reveal the Twinkie you had for lunch. Everyone’s different, and reading those differences at the level of the gene may provide a more accurate profile of health and how to treat disease. But are you ready to know what’s wrong with you?

Discover the future of personalized medicine with biologist Craig Venter, as well as a man who turned his body over to the new science. Learn what his tests revealed.

Plus, why stem cell research really is a horse race. And, why getting sick is sometimes the best thing.

Guests: Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Rxs_Get_Personal

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.

And be sure to check out the Are We Alone iPhone/iPad app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/are-we-alone-make-contact/id374968004?mt=8

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Planets Align for the Perseid Meteor Shower

Source - NASA Science News for August 5, 2010

Mark your calendar: On Thursday, August 12th, an alignment of planets in the sunset sky will kick off the finest meteor shower of 2010, the Perseids.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/05aug_perseids/

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

CME impact sparks geomagnetic storm

Source - Space Weather News for August 3, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

CME IMPACT: As expected, a coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field on August 3rd. The impact, which occurred around 1730 UT, sparked a polar geomagnetic storm. At the time that this alert is being written, sky watchers in Europe as far south as Germany are reporting red and green Northern Lights. If the storm sustains itself for a few more hours, people in North America might see a similar display. Sky watchers in Alaska, Canada, and northern-tier US states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota and Maine should be alert for auroras.

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms erupt at your latitude? Sign up for Space Weather Phone: http://spaceweatherphone.com

Monday, August 02, 2010

Vote for the Stars: Robert Jarvis’ "aroundNorth"



The following post is on behalf of Robert Jarvis:

Vote for the Stars!

The public vote is now open for Robert Jarvis’ short-listed astrosonic project for Armagh Observatory, in Northern Ireland. Entitled aroundNorth, his proposed installation will interpret the sky using the medium of sound, allowing the listener to appreciate the stars and how they relate to Earth in a completely new way. As such, the work promises to be a ground-breaking development for people who are blind or partially sighted, as for the first time it will be possible to actually listen to the changing perspective of the stars irrespective of one’s eyesight or local light pollution.

Composer Robert Jarvis explained, “The score for the work will be derived from the apparent movement of the stars across our sky, as well as making reference to their various characteristics, such as size, magnitude and distance from Earth. As the stars cross equally spaced virtual lines of longitude emanating from Celestial North their sounds will be heard corresponding to their declination and distance from Earth. Brighter stars will slowly crescendo and diminuendo as they move across the lines whilst fainter stars will sound shorter and quieter. In similar manner, other astronomical parameters, such as star size age and colour, will also have their own corresponding musical interpretations, affecting pitch, volume, and so on. As my intention is to work with the different star spectra, translating the different spectral harmonics into acoustic equivalents, I hope that it will also be possible to hear the difference between red dwarfs, blue giants, and so on. As the piece plays, it will do so in synchronisation with the rotation of the earth, making it possible to actually experience the apparent movement of the stars in real-time, and thus will hopefully make a very real connection between its listeners and the wider universe.”

A short film describing how the sound installation will work (shot at Armagh Observatory) is now available for viewing on the internet at: www.prsformusicfoundation.com/newmusicaward/aroundnorth.htm, where it is also possible to help the project succeed in winning by placing a vote for the idea. From Monday 26th July, it will also be possible to text one’s vote by mobile phone. To do this, text '1' to 70099. (Outside the UK it will be necessary to add the appropriate dialling code, so +44 70099). Voters are allowed one online vote plus one text vote.

Please take a look at the short movie, and if you think it appropriate then please register your vote. The more votes that are accumulated, the greater the chance that we will attain the funding required to create the composition and to offer the general public this new way of connecting with astronomy. Please also feel very welcome to forward this news to any and everyone whom you think could be interested. The webpage for viewing the movie and for voting is at: http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/newmusicaward/aroundnorth.htm .

www.robertjarvis.co.uk (composer’s main website)
www.aroundNorth.wordpress.com (aroundNorth project blog)
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=132193303472087&v=info (facebook group)
www.prsformusicfoundation.com/newmusicaward/aroundnorth.htm (film and vote)

Are We Alone for 08/02/10 - Bug Off!

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Are We Alone - Bug Off!

What you can’t see … can make you sick. Humans have been battling viruses and bacteria since the beginning of time. The malaria parasite has been keeping deadly company with us for 500,000 years. King Tut had it and so did Julius Caesar. What’s keeping this bug going today?

Also, how disease almost halted the most ambitious engineering project in the world … how elite disease detectives puzzle out perplexing epidemics … And – could tiny bugs from spaaace, ace, ace be our ancestors?

Guests:
Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Bug_Off_

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.

And be sure to check out the Are We Alone iPhone/iPad app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/are-we-alone-make-contact/id374968004?mt=8

Complex Eruption on the Sun Sends CME toward Earth

Source - Space Weather News for August 1, 2010: http://spaceweather.com

GLOBAL ERUPTION: During the early hours of August 1st, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a complex global disturbance on the Earth-facing side of the sun. Most of the sun's northern hemisphere was involved in the event, which included a long-duration C3-class solar flare, a "solar tsunami," and a massive filament eruption. As a result of these blasts, a coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading toward Earth. High-latitude geomagnetic storms and auroras are possible when the cloud arrives a few days hence.

Check http://spaceweather.com for movies and updates.

MAGNETIC STORM ALERT SERVICE: Would you like a phone call when the next geomagnetic storm erupts? Sign up for Space Weather PHONE: http://spaceweatherphone.com