Two Spectacular Achievements in Science
or Two Tickets to Mars, Please
First, and probably the most exciting, is this: scientists have discovered what they believe is proof of liquid water existing on Mars right now. Technically this water is located underground and only makes it to the surface in bursts, but the fact that it is there factors massively into the "Earth --> Moon --> Mars" plan. (Incidentally, NASA unveiled a very sketchy outline of the plan to return to the Moon this week. However, I felt it didn't warrent a post since nothing new was really mentioned, outside of a stronger emphasis on building the lunar station near one of the poles; the South Pole is the current frontrunner, since there is a region there which is in sunlight almost continuously.)
Water on Mars, going to the Moon inside of 20 years, it all sounds very exciting. It's also exactly what our poor, diminished space program needs - something to fire the minds of a generation that has grown up hearing the only stories of the space shuttle (a modest success) and the two lost crews. I can't speak for all of my peers, but personally I was beginning to doubt if this country would ever get interested enough to put up the money to go into space again. Part of the recent surge in attention to the great unknown is probably due to private sources like the X Prize. Luckily there will always be a few really wealthy nerds/nerd-organizations out there that will be willing to support ventures such as this one. I hope that something actually comes of all of this planning; Democrats can be stingy when it comes to programs that don't provide a direct, domestic, social benefit. Keep your fingers crossed.
The other big story of the day comes from the nearby galaxy of particle physics. A theoretical particle known as an axion has finally been physically discovered in laboratory experiments. Chalk up another victory to mathematical physics. It is believed that this is one of the particles that composes a large percentage of dark matter (although there is some disagreement on this point).
Think they need any mathematicians on Mars?
Stay young, kids.
or Two Tickets to Mars, Please
First, and probably the most exciting, is this: scientists have discovered what they believe is proof of liquid water existing on Mars right now. Technically this water is located underground and only makes it to the surface in bursts, but the fact that it is there factors massively into the "Earth --> Moon --> Mars" plan. (Incidentally, NASA unveiled a very sketchy outline of the plan to return to the Moon this week. However, I felt it didn't warrent a post since nothing new was really mentioned, outside of a stronger emphasis on building the lunar station near one of the poles; the South Pole is the current frontrunner, since there is a region there which is in sunlight almost continuously.)
Water on Mars, going to the Moon inside of 20 years, it all sounds very exciting. It's also exactly what our poor, diminished space program needs - something to fire the minds of a generation that has grown up hearing the only stories of the space shuttle (a modest success) and the two lost crews. I can't speak for all of my peers, but personally I was beginning to doubt if this country would ever get interested enough to put up the money to go into space again. Part of the recent surge in attention to the great unknown is probably due to private sources like the X Prize. Luckily there will always be a few really wealthy nerds/nerd-organizations out there that will be willing to support ventures such as this one. I hope that something actually comes of all of this planning; Democrats can be stingy when it comes to programs that don't provide a direct, domestic, social benefit. Keep your fingers crossed.
The other big story of the day comes from the nearby galaxy of particle physics. A theoretical particle known as an axion has finally been physically discovered in laboratory experiments. Chalk up another victory to mathematical physics. It is believed that this is one of the particles that composes a large percentage of dark matter (although there is some disagreement on this point).
Think they need any mathematicians on Mars?
Stay young, kids.
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