Sunday, February 28, 2010

Are We Alone for 03/01/10 - You've Been Slimed!

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Are We Alone - You've Been Slimed!

ENCORE: Hollywood horror flicks have captivated us with alien blobs, but the slime slithering on our own planet is as beguiling. From microscopic machines to life on ocean floors, new research reveals how essential slime is to life on Earth, and possibly other worlds.

Discover the new materials made from hagfish slime… the social life of a slime mold… and the threat posed by the gray goo of self-replicating nanobots.

Plus, it’s been 50 years since it first oozed across the screen: why there’s no escape from The Blob!

Guests:
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.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Spirit's Journey to the Center of Mars

Source - NASA Science News for February 24, 2010

NASA's venerable Mars rover Spirit is starting a second career as an explorer of the Martian core--but first it must survive the perilous Martian winter.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/24feb_martiancore.htm?list894285

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

Monday, February 22, 2010

Are We Alone for 02/22/10 - Space Race 2.0

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Are We Alone - Space Race 2.0

It’s goodnight moon from President Obama, as he calls for canceling the program that would return astronauts to the moon by 2020. We’ll hear from the private sector, which might win in this deal, and consider whether we should really replace human explorers with robots.

Plus, if we can’t fly you to the moon, would you settle for a few acres and a deed? Meet the man who claims to have property on the moon – but will it hold up in court?

Wernher von Braun was one of America’s premier rocket engineers and, a new book contends, an enthusiastic supporter of the Nazi party. Find out what the U.S. space program was willing to ignore for the prize of beating the Russians to the moon.

Guests:
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.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Weekend Shuttle Sightings--Double Flyby Alert

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

DOUBLE FLYBY ALERT: Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, Feb. 19th, at 7:54 pm EST. This sets the stage for a weekend of double flybys. The ISS and Endeavour will be circling Earth in mutual proximity, streaking through the night sky as distinct points of light. The show will continue until Endeavour lands at Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, Feb. 21st, at 10:16 pm EST. Check the Simple Satellite Tracker to see if you are favored with an apparition: http://spaceweather.com/flybys

NEW AND IMPROVED: SpaceWeather's Satellite Tracker app for the iPhone and iPod touch has been improved. It now predicts flybys worldwide, uses GPS location services, and more. Check it out at http://simpleflybys.com .

GREAT NORTHERN LIGHTS: This past week, Arctic sky watchers have seen some of the best auroras in years. It's another sign that the sun is coming back to life after a long, deep solar minimum. Recent images may be found in our photo gallery; start browsing here: http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01feb10_page3.htm

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Cool Movie: Solar Dynamics Observatory Destroys a Sundog

NASA Science News for February 18, 2010

NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory amazed onlookers last week when it flew past a sundog and destroyed it. Videos of the event captured shock waves from the rocket billowing through the sundog, eliciting cries of delight and amazement from the crowd below.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/18feb_coolmovie.htm?list894285

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




Also I did a little searching around and found this video of the luanch that LittleSDOHMI posted on YouTube. Watch for the shockwave at 1 minute and 46 seconds in to the video:



Cheers ~ Jim Cox

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

3D Sun for the iPhone

Source - NASA Science News for February 17, 2010

Imagine holding the entire sun in the palm of your hand. Now you can. A new app developed by NASA-supported programmers delivers a live global view of the sun directly to your iPhone or iPod Touch.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/17feb_3dsun.htm?list894285

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

Monday, February 15, 2010

Are We Alone for 02/15/10 - Sex and the SETI

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Are We Alone - Sex and the SETI

Birds do it. Bees do it. But no one sings about how they do it. And frankly, not even Cole Porter can make bedroom behavior that involves decapitating your mate sound romantic. And what rhymes with “cannibalism?” But the animal world abounds with bizarre sexual behavior… and it’s all perfectly normal.

Find out how female spiders lure males to their doom… why dolphins are the friskiest of mammals… whether E.T. would have sex… and why sexual reproduction evolved in the first place.

Also, why the marketing gurus have it all wrong: driving a Hummer or wearing Gucci won’t help you land a mate. Find out what will.

Guests:
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.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Video: Saturn's Northern/Southern Lights

If you are interested in aurorae then you should check out this article by Nancy Atkinson orver at Universe Today: Hubble Captures Double Aurorae Light Show on Saturn

The article features this edge on video of Saturn showing the aurorae lights at both poles.



The video was originally posted on YouTube by djxatlanta who has a nice collection of space related videos.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Are Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes Hazardous to Air Travelers?

Source - NASA Science News for February 10, 2010

Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) surge through thunderstorms at about the same altitude where commercial airliners fly. Do these blasts of gamma-radiation pose a hazard to air travelers? Researchers discuss the possibilities in today's story from Science@NASA.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/10feb_friendlyskies.htm?list894285

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

Monday, February 08, 2010

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

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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:
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

Saturday, February 06, 2010

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

Friday, February 05, 2010

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

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

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