From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Tue Dec 11 11:57:55 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBBJvsL06435 for ; Tue, 11 Dec 2001 11:57:54 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id OAA21390 for bioastro-list; Tue, 11 Dec 2001 14:47:59 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe119.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.112]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id OAA21386 for ; Tue, 11 Dec 2001 14:47:56 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 11 Dec 2001 11:47:25 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.100] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: NASA book Project Orion online Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 14:46:31 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1700 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18252.9F9DC290" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 11 Dec 2001 19:47:25.0134 (UTC) FILETIME=[A82076E0:01C1827C] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18252.9F9DC290 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Project Orion: A Design Study of a System for Detecting Extrasolar Planet= s (NASA SP-436, 1980), edited by David C. Black and formatted for web pub= lication by Chris Gamble. Black discusses the motivation behind Project O= rion which can perhaps be best understood by answering the question "Why = is a search for other planetary systems important?" =20 The URL: http://history.nasa.gov/SP-436/sp436.htm ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18252.9F9DC290 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Project Orion: A Design Stu= dy of a System for Detecting Extrasolar Planets (NASA SP-436, 198= 0), edited by David C. Black and formatted for web publication by Ch= ris Gamble. Black discusses the motivation behind Project Orion which can= perhaps be best understood by answering the question "Why is a search fo= r other planetary systems important?"

The URL:

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-436/= sp436.htm

 

 

 

 

=
------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18252.9F9DC290-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Tue Dec 11 12:14:21 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBBKEKL16025 for ; Tue, 11 Dec 2001 12:14:20 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id OAA21748 for bioastro-list; Tue, 11 Dec 2001 14:55:20 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe13.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.93]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id OAA21744; Tue, 11 Dec 2001 14:55:17 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 11 Dec 2001 11:54:46 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.100] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" , "setipublic" Subject: SETI bioastro: Two online NASA documents on SETI and Astrobiology Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 14:53:53 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1700 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_000B_01C18253.A6B85800" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 11 Dec 2001 19:54:46.0676 (UTC) FILETIME=[AF4E6D40:01C1827D] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_000B_01C18253.A6B85800 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Life in the Universe: Proceedings of a conference held at NASA Ames Resea= rch Center Moffet Field, California, June 19-20, 1979 (NASA CP-2156, 1981= ), edited by John Billingham. =20 http://history.nasa.gov/CP-2156/cp2156.htm Readers may also go to our SETI page for more related information. Specia= l thanks to Chris Gamble for formatting this volume for the Web. =20 http://history.nasa.gov/seti.html The last URL links to the 1977 online NASA document The Search for Extrat= errestrial Intelligence. ------=_NextPart_001_000B_01C18253.A6B85800 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Life in the Universe:= Proceedings of a conference held at NASA Ames Research Center Moffet Fie= ld, California, June 19-20, 1979 (NASA CP-2156, 1981), edited by John= Billingham.

http://history.nasa.gov/CP-2156/cp2156.htm

Readers may also= go to our SETI page fo= r more related information. Special thanks to Chris Gamble for formatting= this volume for the Web.

http://history.nasa.gov/seti.html

The last URL links to= the 1977 online NASA document The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligen= ce.

 

 

------=_NextPart_001_000B_01C18253.A6B85800-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Wed Dec 12 06:45:17 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBCEjGL13075 for ; Wed, 12 Dec 2001 06:45:16 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id JAA13363 for bioastro-list; Wed, 12 Dec 2001 09:36:47 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe40.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.120]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id JAA13353 for ; Wed, 12 Dec 2001 09:36:30 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 12 Dec 2001 06:35:59 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.63] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Earth's climate and oceans very different 500 MYA Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 09:35:04 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1700 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C182F0.4777CCC0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 12 Dec 2001 14:35:59.0179 (UTC) FILETIME=[50D7C1B0:01C1831A] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C182F0.4777CCC0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable EARLY EARTH - Droplets in Salt Crystals Confirm Historic Ocean Changes http://www.spacedaily.com/news/early-earth-01l.html Baltimore - Dec 10, 2001 - Microscopic water droplets trapped inside anci= ent salt crystals have provided evidence supporting a radical theory that= the chemical composition of Earth's oceans has changed over the past 500= million years. ---------- TERRADAILY - Scattered Clues To Climate Change http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01i.html Paris (ESA) Dec 5, 2001 - A new way of using data from satellite-based ra= dar is providing scientists with a unique insight into the effects of cli= mate change on ice caps, plant life and land surface. - Possibility of Abrupt Climate Change Needs Research and Attention http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01j.html Washington - Dec. 11, 2001 - Most climate-change research has focused on = gradual changes, such as the processes by which emissions of greenhouse g= ases lead to warming of the planet. But new evidence shows that periods o= f gradual change in Earth's past were punctuated by episodes of abrupt ch= ange, including temperature changes of about 10 degrees Celsius, or 18 de= grees Fahrenheit, in only a decade in some places. Severe floods and drou= ghts also marked periods of abrupt change. - A Warmer World Awaits: Fact or Fiction? http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01x.html Paris (ESA) Dec 10, 2001 - Record global temperatures, melting polar ice = caps and glaciers, shorter winters, reduced snow cover, rising sea level,= increased coastal flooding, more frequent hurricanes, dramatic shifts in= the distribution of wildlife, vegetation and diseases, and changes in oc= ean currents. - Methane Explosion Warmed The Prehistoric Earth, Possible Again http://www.spacedaily.com/news/early-earth-01k.html ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C182F0.4777CCC0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
EARLY EARTH
- Droplets in Salt Crystals Confirm Historic Ocean Changes

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/early-earth-01l.html

Baltimor= e - Dec 10, 2001 - Microscopic water droplets trapped inside ancient salt= crystals have provided evidence supporting a radical theory that the che= mical composition of Earth's oceans has changed over the past 500 million= years.

----------
TERRADAILY

- Scattered Clues To Clima= te Change

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01i.html<= BR>
Paris (ESA) Dec 5, 2001 - A new way of using data from satellite-b= ased radar is providing scientists with a unique insight into the effects= of climate change on ice caps, plant life and land surface.

- Pos= sibility of Abrupt Climate Change Needs Research and Attention

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01j.html

Washington - = Dec. 11, 2001 - Most climate-change research has focused on gradual chang= es, such as the processes by which emissions of greenhouse gases lead to = warming of the planet. But new evidence shows that periods of gradual cha= nge in Earth's past were punctuated by episodes of abrupt change, includi= ng temperature changes of about 10 degrees Celsius, or 18 degrees Fahrenh= eit, in only a decade in some places. Severe floods and droughts also mar= ked periods of abrupt change.

- A Warmer World Awaits: Fact or Fic= tion?

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01x.html
Paris (ESA) Dec 10, 2001 - Record global temperatures, melting pola= r ice caps and glaciers, shorter winters, reduced snow cover, rising sea = level, increased coastal flooding, more frequent hurricanes, dramatic shi= fts in the distribution of wildlife, vegetation and diseases, and changes= in ocean currents.

- Methane Explosion Warmed The Prehistoric Ear= th, Possible Again

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/early-ea= rth-01k.html

------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C182F0.4777CCC0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Thu Dec 13 06:52:46 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBDEqjL11727 for ; Thu, 13 Dec 2001 06:52:45 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id JAA19472 for bioastro-list; Thu, 13 Dec 2001 09:41:05 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe161.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.154]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id JAA19462 for ; Thu, 13 Dec 2001 09:41:01 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 13 Dec 2001 06:40:30 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.84] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: SpaceDaily Express - Dec 13, 2001 Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 09:39:31 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0003_01C183BA.1117E960" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 13 Dec 2001 14:40:30.0893 (UTC) FILETIME=[1D35C5D0:01C183E4] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C183BA.1117E960 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable TERRADAILY - Study Shows Early Signals Of Climate Change In Earth's Cold Regions http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01k.html Boulder CO - Dec 10, 2001 - Global mean temperatures have risen one degre= e Fahrenheit over the past 100 years, with more than half of the increase= occurring in the last 25 years, according to University of Colorado at B= oulder Senior Researcher Richard Armstrong. - Probing The Upper Reaches of Earth's Atmosphere http://www.spacedaily.com/news/eo-timed-01b.html Boulder - Dec 12, 2001 - The launch of a new research satellite December = 7 is expected to provide scientists at the National Center for Atmospheri= c Research (NCAR) and other institutions with an unprecedented view of th= e mysterious upper regions of the earth's atmosphere. - Strategies To Mitigate Global Warming May Impact Biosphere http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01y.html Champaign IL Dec 12, 2001 - Blocking the sun may not be such a cool way o= f counteracting climate change, scientists at the University of Illinois = say. Potential effects upon the biosphere could be important to agricultu= re and forest production, and also could create secondary feedback mechan= isms that may further change the climate. - Now Another Island Group Sinking Into The Pacific http://spacedaily.com/news/011213034438.tymbz0he.html ---------- MARSDAILY - Where to Land on Mars? It's not as Easy as It Looks http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars2003-01c.html Pasadena (JPL) Dec 12, 2001 - Of all the places to land on Mars, where in= the world should twin rovers go? This question has been on the front bur= ner of discussion with Mars scientists who have the arduous task of selec= ting a site where it is safe to land and yet is rich in rocks, layered te= rrain and other geologic features that will beckon a host of scientific i= nquiries and discoveries for the Mars Exploration Rover mission scheduled= to launch in 2003. -------- SPACEWAR - Russia Hears Calls For Nuke BuildUp To Counter Missile Shield http://spacedaily.com/news/011212225207.272p76r8.html Moscow (AFP) Dec 12, 2001 - Russian lawmakers said Wednesday that Moscow = was free to stock up on nuclear warheads to Cold War-era levels following= a US decision to scrap the 1972 ABM treaty in the face of Kremlin effort= s to save the disarmament pact. - Missile Shield Uses Missiles To Intercept Warheads http://spacedaily.com/news/011212183046.au76tgs9.html Washington (AFP) Dec 12, 2001 - US President George W. Bush has decided t= o break with the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in order to pursue develop= ment of a missile shield designed to defend against intercontinental ball= istic missile attack. The concept centers on using interceptor missiles t= o strike incoming warheads in a collision likened to hitting a bullet wit= h a bullet from thousands of kilometers away. --------------- SPACE THIS WEEK - Droplets in Salt Crystals Confirm Historic Ocean Changes http://www.spacedaily.com/news/early-earth-01l.html - Scattered Clues To Climate Change http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01i.html - Possibility of Abrupt Climate Change Needs Research and Attention http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01j.html - A Warmer World Awaits: Fact or Fiction? http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01x.html - Out To The Horizon Of Sol http://www.spacedaily.com/news/outerplanets-01j1.html - Cluster Tunes Into Radio Earth http://www.spacedaily.com/news/cluster2-01d.html - Unveiling A Lack Of Dark Matter http://www.spacedaily.com/news/darkmatter-01c.html - Methane Explosion Warmed The Prehistoric Earth, Possible Again http://www.spacedaily.com/news/early-earth-01k.html - Zubrin Talks Mars With SpaceDaily http://www.spacedaily.com/news/oped-01m-overview.html ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C183BA.1117E960 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
TERRADAILY
=
- Study Shows Early Signals Of Climate Change In Earth's Cold Regions=
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01k.html

Boulder CO - D= ec 10, 2001 - Global mean temperatures have risen one degree Fahrenheit o= ver the past 100 years, with more than half of the increase occurring in = the last 25 years, according to University of Colorado at Boulder Senior = Researcher Richard Armstrong.

- Probing The Upper Reaches of Earth= 's Atmosphere
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/eo-timed-01b.html

= Boulder - Dec 12, 2001 - The launch of a new research satellite December = 7 is expected to provide scientists at the National Center for Atmospheri= c Research (NCAR) and other institutions with an unprecedented view of th= e mysterious upper regions of the earth's atmosphere.

- Strategies= To Mitigate Global Warming May Impact Biosphere
http://www.spacedaily= .com/news/greenhouse-01y.html

Champaign IL Dec 12, 2001 - Blocking= the sun may not be such a cool way of counteracting climate change, scie= ntists at the University of Illinois say. Potential effects upon the bios= phere could be important to agriculture and forest production, and also c= ould create secondary feedback mechanisms that may further change the cli= mate.

- Now Another Island Group Sinking Into The Pacific
http:= //spacedaily.com/news/011213034438.tymbz0he.html


----------MARSDAILY

- Where to Land on Mars? It's not as Easy as It Lookshttp://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars2003-01c.html

Pasadena (JPL) = Dec 12, 2001 - Of all the places to land on Mars, where in the world shou= ld twin rovers go? This question has been on the front burner of discussi= on with Mars scientists who have the arduous task of selecting a site whe= re it is safe to land and yet is rich in rocks, layered terrain and other= geologic features that will beckon a host of scientific inquiries and di= scoveries for the Mars Exploration Rover mission scheduled to launch in 2= 003.

--------
SPACEWAR

- Russia Hears Calls  For Nu= ke BuildUp To Counter Missile Shield
http://spacedaily.com/news/011212= 225207.272p76r8.html

Moscow (AFP) Dec 12, 2001 - Russian lawmakers= said Wednesday that Moscow was free to stock up on nuclear warheads to C= old War-era levels following a US decision to scrap the 1972 ABM treaty i= n the face of Kremlin efforts to save the disarmament pact.

- Miss= ile Shield Uses Missiles To Intercept Warheads
http://spacedaily.com/n= ews/011212183046.au76tgs9.html

Washington (AFP) Dec 12, 2001 - US = President George W. Bush has decided to break with the Anti-Ballistic Mis= sile Treaty in order to pursue development of a missile shield designed t= o defend against intercontinental ballistic missile attack. The concept c= enters on using interceptor missiles to strike incoming warheads in a col= lision likened to hitting a bullet with a bullet from thousands of kilome= ters away.

---------------
SPACE THIS WEEK

- Droplets in= Salt Crystals Confirm Historic Ocean Changes
http://www.spacedaily.co= m/news/early-earth-01l.html

- Scattered Clues To Climate Changehttp://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01i.html

- Possibility of = Abrupt Climate Change Needs Research and Attention
http://www.spacedai= ly.com/news/climate-01j.html

- A Warmer World Awaits: Fact or Fict= ion?
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01x.html

- Out T= o The Horizon Of Sol
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/outerplanets-01j1.= html

- Cluster Tunes Into Radio Earth
http://www.spacedaily.com= /news/cluster2-01d.html

- Unveiling A Lack Of Dark Matter
http:= //www.spacedaily.com/news/darkmatter-01c.html

- Methane Explosion = Warmed The Prehistoric Earth, Possible Again
http://www.spacedaily.com= /news/early-earth-01k.html

- Zubrin Talks Mars With SpaceDaily
= http://www.spacedaily.com/news/oped-01m-overview.html

------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C183BA.1117E960-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 15 09:07:04 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBFH73Y02768 for ; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 09:07:03 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id MAA09954 for bioastro-list; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 12:01:18 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe148.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.141]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id MAA09945 for ; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 12:01:13 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 09:01:06 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.120] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: [skyline] S&T's News Bulletin for December 14, 2001 Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 12:00:01 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0004_01C18560.064CB6D0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 15 Dec 2001 17:01:06.0628 (UTC) FILETIME=[16204840:01C1858A] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0004_01C18560.064CB6D0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable WAS MARS ALL WET? Future astronauts roaming the surface of Mars will be hard-pressed to find sources of water, but the red planet was not always so arid a place. From minuscule gullies to giant flood plains, the face of Mars bears mute witness to eras when water must have gushed forth onto the surface -- at least temporarily. In fact, a recent study shows indirectly, but convincingly, that Mars may have formed with enough water to cover its entire globe to a depth of 1-1/4 kilometers (about 4,000 feet). The implication is that this ruddy, arid world actually started out with more water, relative to its overall mass, than we did. This provocative evidence comes not from some robotic sentinel on Mars itself, but from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer orbiting 760 km above Earth. In the November 30th issue of Science, Vladimir A. Krasnopolsky (Catholic University of America) and Paul D. Feldman (Johns Hopkins University) describe how they used FUSE to make the first-ever detection of hydrogen molecules (H2) in the upper Martian atmosphere. Present at just 15 parts per million, the hydrogen represents water molecules that have been broken down by sunlight. Four years ago Krasnopolsky used the Hubble Space Telescope to determine the extent of deuterium ("heavy" hydrogen) in the Martian atmosphere (11 parts per billion), and these two isotopic abundances provide important clues to unraveling water's history there. Today Mars's atmosphere has a deuterium-to-hydrogen (D:H) ratio 5.5 times higher than Earth's. Yet Martian meteorites, ejected from Mars's surface 3-1/2 billion years ago, testify to a time when the D:H enrichment was only 1.9 roughly. Sometime earlier than that, water vapor was so abundant around Mars, it could escape wholesale into space. When this so-called hydrodynamic escape shut off, water continued to leak away, albeit gradually. The molecules first broke down into their component atoms, followed by the H and D atoms flying off into space. The process continues even today, and since the lighter hydrogen escapes more readily than deuterium, the deuterium becomes enriched over time. Knowing the H2 abundance, Krasnopolsky has modeled the atmosphere's evolution and deduces that the D:H enrichment rise from 1.9 to 5.5 represents a loss of Martian water equivalent to a planetwide ocean about 30 meters deep. What little water remains today in the polar caps and hidden elsewhere is probably enough for a 20-meter-deep layer. Thus 3-1/2 billion years ago, the ocean was some 50 meters deep. Working further back through time, he calculates that hydrodynamic escape likely robbed the planet of all but 4 percent of its original water inventory, yielding an original water table of 1-1/4 km. Krasnopolsky's model assumes Mars and Earth acquired their water the same way and thus had equal D:H ratios to begin with. However these assumed conditions could easily have been upset by varying the proportion of incoming water-bearing comets (known to have high D:H ratios). =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Copyright 2001 Sky Publishing Corporation. S&T's Weekly News Bulletin and Sky at a Glance stargazing calendar are provided as a service to the astronomical community by the editors of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine. Widespread electronic distribution is encouraged as long as these paragraphs are included. But the text of the bulletin and calendar may not be published in any other form without permission from Sky Publishing (contact permissions@skypub.com or phone 617-864-7360). Updates of astronomical news, including active links to related Internet resources, are available via SKY & TELESCOPE's site on the World Wide Web at . In cooperation with the American Association of Amateur Astronomers (), S&T's Weekly News Bulletin and Sky at a Glance are available via electronic mailing list. For a free subscription, send e-mail to join@astromax.com and put the word "join" on the first line of the body of the message. To unsubscribe, send e-mail to unjoin@astromax.com and put the word "unjoin" on the first line of the body of the message. If you should have any problems either subscribing to or unsubscribing from the list, send a message to list administrator John Wagoner at stargate@gte.net for assistance. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SKY & TELESCOPE, the Essential Magazine of Astronomy, is read by more than 200,000 enthusiasts each month. It is available on newsstands worldwide. For subscription information, or for a free copy of our catalog of fine astronomy books and products, please contact Sky Publishing Corp., 49 Bay State Rd., Cambridge, MA 02138-1200, U.S.A. Phone: 800-253-0245 (U.S. and Canada); 617-864-7360 (International). Fax: 617-864-6117. E-mail: custserv@skypub.com . WWW: . Clear skies! =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D ------=_NextPart_001_0004_01C18560.064CB6D0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
WAS MARS ALL W= ET?

Future astronauts roaming the surface of Mars will be hard-pre= ssed to
find sources of water, but the red planet was not always so ar= id a
place. From minuscule gullies to giant flood plains, the face of = Mars
bears mute witness to eras when water must have gushed forth onto= the
surface -- at least temporarily.

In fact, a recent study s= hows indirectly, but convincingly, that Mars
may have formed with enou= gh water to cover its entire globe to a depth
of 1-1/4 kilometers (abo= ut 4,000 feet). The implication is that this
ruddy, arid world actuall= y started out with more water, relative to
its overall mass, than we d= id. This provocative evidence comes not
from some robotic sentinel on = Mars itself, but from the Far
Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer orbit= ing 760 km above Earth.

In the November 30th issue of Science, Vla= dimir A. Krasnopolsky
(Catholic University of America) and Paul D. Fel= dman (Johns Hopkins
University) describe how they used FUSE to make th= e first-ever
detection of hydrogen molecules (H2) in the upper Martian= atmosphere.
Present at just 15 parts per million, the hydrogen repres= ents water
molecules that have been broken down by sunlight. Four year= s ago
Krasnopolsky used the Hubble Space Telescope to determine the ex= tent
of deuterium ("heavy" hydrogen) in the Martian atmosphere (11 par= ts
per billion), and these two isotopic abundances provide importantclues to unraveling water's history there.

Today Mars's atmosphe= re has a deuterium-to-hydrogen (D:H) ratio 5.5
times higher than Earth= 's. Yet Martian meteorites, ejected from Mars's
surface 3-1/2 billion = years ago, testify to a time when the D:H
enrichment was only 1.9 roug= hly. Sometime earlier than that, water
vapor was so abundant around Ma= rs, it could escape wholesale into
space. When this so-called hydrodyn= amic escape shut off, water
continued to leak away, albeit gradually. = The molecules first broke
down into their component atoms, followed by= the H and D atoms flying
off into space. The process continues even t= oday, and since the
lighter hydrogen escapes more readily than deuteri= um, the deuterium
becomes enriched over time.

Knowing the H2 ab= undance, Krasnopolsky has modeled the atmosphere's
evolution and deduc= es that the D:H enrichment rise from 1.9 to 5.5
represents a loss of M= artian water equivalent to a planetwide ocean
about 30 meters deep. Wh= at little water remains today in the polar
caps and hidden elsewhere i= s probably enough for a 20-meter-deep
layer. Thus 3-1/2 billion years = ago, the ocean was some 50 meters
deep. Working further back through t= ime, he calculates that
hydrodynamic escape likely robbed the planet o= f all but 4 percent of
its original water inventory, yielding an origi= nal water table of
1-1/4 km. Krasnopolsky's model assumes Mars and Ear= th acquired their
water the same way and thus had equal D:H ratios to = begin with.
However these assumed conditions could easily have been up= set by
varying the proportion of incoming water-bearing comets (known = to have
high D:H ratios).

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Copyri= ght 2001 Sky Publishing Corporation. S&T's Weekly News Bulletin
an= d Sky at a Glance stargazing calendar are provided as a service to
the= astronomical community by the editors of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine.Widespread electronic distribution is encouraged as long as these
pa= ragraphs are included. But the text of the bulletin and calendar may
n= ot be published in any other form without permission from Sky
Publishi= ng (contact permissions@skypub.com  or phone 617-864-7360).
Updat= es of astronomical news, including active links to related
Internet re= sources, are available via SKY & TELESCOPE's site on the
World Wid= e Web at <http://www.skypub.com/>.

In cooperation with the A= merican Association of Amateur
Astronomers (<http://www.corvus.com/= >), S&T's Weekly News Bulletin and
Sky at a Glance are availabl= e via electronic mailing list. For a free
subscription, send e-mail to= join@astromax.com and put the word "join"
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------------------------------------= ---------------------------------
SKY & TELESCOPE, the Essential M= agazine of Astronomy, is read by more
than 200,000 enthusiasts each mo= nth. It is available on newsstands
worldwide. For subscription informa= tion, or for a free copy of our
catalog of fine astronomy books and pr= oducts, please contact Sky
Publishing Corp., 49 Bay State Rd., Cambrid= ge, MA 02138-1200, U.S.A.
Phone: 800-253-0245 (U.S. and Canada); 617-8= 64-7360 (International).
Fax: 617-864-6117. E-mail: custserv@skypub.co= m <mailto:custserv@skypub.com>. WWW:
<http://www.skypub.com/&= gt;. Clear skies!
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
------=_NextPart_001_0004_01C18560.064CB6D0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 15 10:52:20 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBFIqJY25554 for ; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:52:19 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id NAA14850 for bioastro-list; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 13:47:28 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe136.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.129]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id NAA14840; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 13:47:20 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:46:49 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.61.235] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" , "setipublic" Subject: SETI bioastro: How the Universe Will End Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 13:45:45 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C1856E.CBD70E10" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 15 Dec 2001 18:46:49.0320 (UTC) FILETIME=[DAAA4680:01C18598] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C1856E.CBD70E10 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable How the Universe Will End A new theory from theoretical astrophysicist Abraham Loeb predicts that o= ur galaxy has a lonely future ahead. Most astronomers agree that the univ= erse is expanding; not only that, galaxies are actually accelerating away= from each other because of some unknown force expanding the universe. In= another 100 billion years, the rest of the universe will be so far away = and moving away from us at nearly the speed of light, that only a few nea= rby galaxies will be visible. http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/ep/pressrel/frozen_universe.htm ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C1856E.CBD70E10 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
How the Universe Will End

A new theory from theoretical astrop= hysicist Abraham Loeb predicts that our galaxy has a lonely future ahead.= Most astronomers agree that the universe is expanding; not only that, ga= laxies are actually accelerating away from each other because of some unk= nown force expanding the universe. In another 100 billion years, the rest= of the universe will be so far away and moving away from us at nearly th= e speed of light, that only a few nearby galaxies will be visible.


http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/ep/pressrel/frozen_universe.htm

 

 
------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C1856E.CBD70E10-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 15 18:56:56 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBG2utY01943 for ; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 18:56:55 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id VAA07086 for bioastro-list; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 21:51:38 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe129.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.122]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id VAA07082 for ; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 21:51:34 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 18:51:03 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.212] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Geophysicist Studies Life In The Early Solar System Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 21:49:56 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0000_01C185B2.6F871080" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 16 Dec 2001 02:51:03.0812 (UTC) FILETIME=[807DEC40:01C185DC] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C185B2.6F871080 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 5:52 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Geophysicist Studies Life In The Early Solar System News Service Stanford University Stanford, California Contact: Mark Shwartz, News Service (650) 723-9296; e-mail: mshwartz@stanford.edu 12/14/01 Geophysicist studies life in the early solar system By Etienne Benson Between the cataclysmic impact that created the Moon around 4.5 billion years ago and the first evidence of life 3.8 billion years ago, there may have been long periods during which life repeatedly spread across the globe, only to be nearly annihilated by the impact of large asteroids. The early Earth, in other words, may have been an interrupted Eden -- a planet where life repeatedly evolved and diversified, only to be sent back to square one by asteroids 10 or 20 times wider than the one that hastened the dinosaurs' demise. When the surface of the Earth finally became inhabitable again, thousands of years after each asteroid impact, the survivors would have emerged from their hiding places and spread across the planet -- until another asteroid struck and the whole cycle was repeated. "We know that large asteroid impacts can sterilize or partially sterilize planets," says Norman Sleep, a professor of geophysics at Stanford who will present the theory at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco on Friday, Dec. 14. "An asteroid a few hundred kilometers in diameter will boil off much of the ocean and leave the rest of the ocean very hot, so all that will survive will be high-temperature organisms living deep in the subsurface," he says. Rock vapor and water would fill the atmosphere, killing off any life on the surface with temperatures upwards of 1,000 C (1,800 F). The only organisms that could survive such an impact are thermophiles -- heat-loving microbes -- buried half a mile or more below the Earth's surface, where the effects of the burning atmosphere would have been muted to a survivable 100 C (212 F). Those organisms may have given rise to much of the life on today's Earth. Sleep calls the region where those organisms would have lived the "Goldilocks Zone" -- deep enough for microbes to avoid the heat of the burning atmosphere, but not so deep that they ran afoul of the Earth's internal heat. Since there are no records of life before 3.8 billion years ago, there is no direct proof that Sleep's theory is correct. But several strands of evidence are highly suggestive. The first is that two of the three major branches of life that exist on Earth today -- Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya -- began with organisms that were designed to live in extremely hot environments, the kinds that would have existed for millions of years after the impact of a large asteroid. A glance at the names of modern members of the Archaea and Bacteria branches turns up an overwhelming number of "thermos" -- Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermoproteus and others. All of them thrive at temperatures above 80 C (176 F), with some managing to eke out an existence in conditions that would literally boil most organisms alive. (The current record-holder can survive in environments above 115 C [239 F], says Sleep.) "The roots of these two branches of the tree are clearly thermophile, which is exactly what's going to survive in a large impact," says Sleep. Where Eukarya -- the branch that includes yeast, worms, corn and humans -- fits into the story is less certain. "It's unclear whether Eukarya, which we are, has a thermophile root or not," says Sleep. "We may never have had a high-temperature-organism ancestor. But clearly two of the three branches look like asteroid survivors: very complex, highly-evolved organisms that are thermophile." The second strand of evidence is geophysical. Although it has long been thought that early Earth would have been rendered lifeless by continual asteroid bombardment, there are now good reasons to believe that our planet was struck by fewer than 20 large asteroids between the time of the Moon-forming impact and the first fossil signs of life. That would leave hundreds of millions of years between each asteroid strike, during which complex organisms -- and life itself -- would be free to evolve. When asteroids did strike, only those organisms that could find some kind of shelter would have survived. The most obvious refuge is deep within the Earth itself, but Sleep believes there may have been another, more exotic way for early organisms to survive such Earth-shattering catastrophes. Martian invaders Perhaps, says Sleep, some of the asteroids that struck the early Earth were large enough to destroy all life on the planet, even those organisms hidden deep within the crust. There was still at least one other place where life could have survived, even flourished, before returning to Earth: Mars. Although Mars is now a frigid desert, four billion years ago it may have been a warm, water-filled oasis as friendly to life as early Earth. But could a microorganism really have survived the trip from Earth to Mars? To successfully complete the interplanetary journey, a microbe first would have to survive an asteroid impact powerful enough to free a chunk of rock from the grip of gravity. Once in space, the traveler would be faced with conditions harsher than anything found on Mars or Earth: total vacuum, subzero temperatures, harmful radiation and the passage of perhaps thousands of years before the interplanetary dart hit its target. Even then, the colonizing microbe would have to hope that some of its descendants were buried deep enough in the rock to avoid burning up in Earth's atmosphere. Sleep says these factors make the trip difficult, but not impossible. Models have shown that the initial shock of ejection from a planet isn't necessarily deadly, especially for the hardiest microbes, and especially from a small planet like Mars where the atmosphere is thin and gravity is relatively weak. "You don't sterilize a milk bottle by throwing it off your roof," he explains. And laboratory experiments have shown that earthly microbes, especially if hidden in cracks deep within a meteorite, can survive the harsh conditions of space at least for a few years. Of course, no one has tested whether they can survive for thousands of years, but there's no reason to think they can't, notes Sleep. "Conditions are not good for microorganisms, but they're not bad," he adds. So it is possible that life came from another planet -- but did it really happen? So far there is no direct evidence of life on other planets or asteroids, although it is becoming clear that conditions exist, at least on Mars and Europa -- one of Jupiter's inner moons -- where microbes that live comfortably in Earth's harsher climates would have felt at home. As Sleep put its, Mars "is no more uninhabitable than Antarctica" -- uncomfortable for humans, but perfect for some microbes. Conclusive evidence for or against the theory only will come when scientists can examine samples from other planets and asteroids, something that is still a long way off. But Sleep says he's not frustrated by the sometimes slow pace of studying early life. "The origin of life is one of the fundamental problems of science, and it always has been. Living at a time when you can do that, it's not something I'm going to pass up," he says. ### COMMENT: Norman Sleep, Geophysics, (650) 723-0882, norm@pangea.stanford.edu EDITORS: This press release was written by science writing intern Etienne Benson. The American Geophysical Union will hold its annual fall meeting Dec. 10 to 14 at the Moscone Convention Center, 747 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Prof. Norman Sleep will give the opening talk at AGU Session U51A, "Origin and Early Evolution of the Earth I," on Fri., Dec. 14, 8:30 a.m. PT in Room 134. For more information, visit the AGU website at http://www.agu.org . Relevant Web URLs: * http://geo.stanford.edu/GP/sleep.html ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C185B2.6F871080 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent: = Saturday, December 15, 2001 5:52 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
sterilize planets," says Norman Sleep, a profess= or of geophysics at
Stanford who will present the theory at the fall m= eeting of the
American Geophysical Union in San Francisco on Friday, D= ec. 14.

"An asteroid a few hundred kilometers in diameter will boi= l off much
of the ocean and leave the rest of the ocean very hot, so a= ll that
will survive will be high-temperature organisms living deep in= the
subsurface," he says. Rock vapor and water would fill the atmosph= ere,
killing off any life on the surface with temperatures upwards of<= BR>1,000 C (1,800 F).

The only organisms that could survive such a= n impact are
thermophiles -- heat-loving microbes -- buried half a mil= e or
more below the Earth's surface, where the effects of the burning<= BR>atmosphere would have been muted to a survivable 100 C (212 F).
Tho= se organisms may have given rise to much of the life on today's
Earth.=

Sleep calls the region where those organisms would have lived the=
"Goldilocks Zone" -- deep enough for microbes to avoid the heat ofthe burning atmosphere, but not so deep that they ran afoul of the
Ea= rth's internal heat.

Since there are no records of life before 3.8= billion years ago,
there is no direct proof that Sleep's theory is co= rrect. But several
strands of evidence are highly suggestive.

T= he first is that two of the three major branches of life that
exist on= Earth today -- Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya -- began with
organisms = that were designed to live in extremely hot environments,
the kinds th= at would have existed for millions of years after the
impact of a larg= e asteroid.

A glance at the names of modern members of the Archaea= and Bacteria
branches turns up an overwhelming number of "thermos" --= Thermococcus,
Thermotoga, Thermoproteus and others. All of them thriv= e at
temperatures above 80 C (176 F), with some managing to eke out an=
existence in conditions that would literally boil most organisms
a= live. (The current record-holder can survive in environments above
115= C [239 F], says Sleep.)

"The roots of these two branches of the t= ree are clearly thermophile,
which is exactly what's going to survive = in a large impact," says
Sleep.

Where Eukarya -- the branch tha= t includes yeast, worms, corn and
humans -- fits into the story is les= s certain. "It's unclear whether
Eukarya, which we are, has a thermoph= ile root or not," says Sleep.
"We may never have had a high-temperatur= e-organism ancestor. But
clearly two of the three branches look like a= steroid survivors:
very complex, highly-evolved organisms that are the= rmophile."

The second strand of evidence is geophysical. Although = it has long
been thought that early Earth would have been rendered lif= eless by
continual asteroid bombardment, there are now good reasons to= believe
that our planet was struck by fewer than 20 large asteroids b= etween
the time of the Moon-forming impact and the first fossil signs = of
life. That would leave hundreds of millions of years between eachasteroid strike, during which complex organisms -- and life
itself -= - would be free to evolve.

When asteroids did strike, only those o= rganisms that could find some
kind of shelter would have survived. The= most obvious refuge is deep
within the Earth itself, but Sleep believ= es there may have been
another, more exotic way for early organisms to= survive such
Earth-shattering catastrophes.

Martian invaders
Perhaps, says Sleep, some of the asteroids that struck the earlyEarth were large enough to destroy all life on the planet, even thoseorganisms hidden deep within the crust. There was still at least one
= other place where life could have survived, even flourished, before
re= turning to Earth: Mars. Although Mars is now a frigid desert, four
bil= lion years ago it may have been a warm, water-filled oasis as
friendly= to life as early Earth.

But could a microorganism really have sur= vived the trip from Earth to
Mars? To successfully complete the interp= lanetary journey, a microbe
first would have to survive an asteroid im= pact powerful enough to
free a chunk of rock from the grip of gravity.= Once in space, the
traveler would be faced with conditions harsher th= an anything found
on Mars or Earth: total vacuum, subzero temperatures= , harmful
radiation and the passage of perhaps thousands of years befo= re the
interplanetary dart hit its target. Even then, the colonizing m= icrobe
would have to hope that some of its descendants were buried dee= p
enough in the rock to avoid burning up in Earth's atmosphere.
Sleep says these factors make the trip difficult, but not impossible.Models have shown that the initial shock of ejection from a planet
is= n't necessarily deadly, especially for the hardiest microbes, and
espe= cially from a small planet like Mars where the atmosphere is
thin and = gravity is relatively weak. "You don't sterilize a milk
bottle by thro= wing it off your roof," he explains.

And laboratory experiments ha= ve shown that earthly microbes,
especially if hidden in cracks deep wi= thin a meteorite, can survive
the harsh conditions of space at least f= or a few years. Of course,
no one has tested whether they can survive = for thousands of years,
but there's no reason to think they can't, not= es Sleep. "Conditions
are not good for microorganisms, but they're not= bad," he adds.

So it is possible that life came from another plan= et -- but did it
really happen? So far there is no direct evidence of = life on other
planets or asteroids, although it is becoming clear that= conditions
exist, at least on Mars and Europa -- one of Jupiter's inn= er
moons -- where microbes that live comfortably in Earth's harsherclimates would have felt at home. As Sleep put its, Mars "is no
more = uninhabitable than Antarctica" -- uncomfortable for humans,
but perfec= t for some microbes.

Conclusive evidence for or against the theory= only will come when
scientists can examine samples from other planets= and asteroids,
something that is still a long way off. But Sleep says= he's not
frustrated by the sometimes slow pace of studying early life= .

"The origin of life is one of the fundamental problems of scienc= e,
and it always has been. Living at a time when you can do that, it's=
not something I'm going to pass up," he says.

###

COMME= NT:
Norman Sleep, Geophysics, (650) 723-0882, norm@pangea.stanford.edu=

EDITORS: This press release was written by science writing intern=
Etienne Benson. The American Geophysical Union will hold its annualfall meeting Dec. 10 to 14 at the Moscone Convention Center, 747
How= ard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Prof. Norman Sleep will give
the = opening talk at AGU Session U51A, "Origin and Early Evolution of
the E= arth I," on Fri., Dec. 14, 8:30 a.m. PT in Room 134. For more
informat= ion, visit the AGU website at http://www.agu.org .

Relevant Web UR= Ls:

* http://geo.stanford.edu/GP/sleep.html


------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C185B2.6F871080-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 15 22:08:15 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBG68EY29623 for ; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 22:08:14 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id BAA15787 for bioastro-list; Sun, 16 Dec 2001 01:03:33 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe31.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.111]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id BAA15783 for ; Sun, 16 Dec 2001 01:03:29 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 15 Dec 2001 22:02:58 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.212] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Pioneer 10 Status Report for December 1, 2001 Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 01:01:52 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_000B_01C185CD.3FC85CD0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 16 Dec 2001 06:02:58.0910 (UTC) FILETIME=[50066FE0:01C185F7] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_000B_01C185CD.3FC85CD0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable http://spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Space_Projects/pioneer/PNStat.html STATUS UPDATED: 1 December 2001 =20 PIONEER MISSIONS =20 Pioneer 10 distance from Sun : 79.19 AU Speed relative to the Sun: 12.24 = km/sec (27,380 mph) Distance from Earth: 11.70 billion kilometers (7.27 b= illion miles) Round-trip Light Time: 21 hours 41 minutes =20 Pioneer 10 had another successful track on 7/9/01 - exactly one year afte= r the last pointing maneuver. The original results back on 7/9/00 - weak = signal - seemed to indicate that the maneuver may have failed. The signal= strengths from the latest tracks, however, indicate that last year's wea= k signal was probably due to the onboard one-way oscillator. Therefore, w= e conclude that the maneuver did work, and another pointing maneuver will= not be necessary until first quarter 2002. =20 Larry Lasher, Pioneer Project Manager =20 The Geiger Tube Telescope instrument (James Van Allen, P.I.) data have be= en analyzed. Van Allen reports that the successful DSS63 reception total = of 2 hours of clean data from the GTT instrument from the 28 April 2001 a= nd 19 May 2001 tracks. The cosmic ray intensity has continued to decrease= since 6 August 2000 and is now 77 percent of its maximum value in late 1= 998-early 1999. Hence, Pioneer 10 at ~78 AU is still under the delayed in= fluence of solar activity and has not yet reached the cosmic ray modulati= on boundary of the heliosphere. =20 ------=_NextPart_001_000B_01C185CD.3FC85CD0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable http://spac= eprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Space_Projects/pioneer/PNStat.html

ST= ATUS UPDATED: 1 December 2001

PIONEER MISSIONS

Pioneer 10 distance from Sun : 79.19 AU Spe= ed relative to the Sun: 12.24 km/sec (27,380 mph) Distance from Earth: 11= .70 billion kilometers (7.27 billion miles) Round-trip Light Time: 21 hou= rs 41 minutes

Pioneer 10 had another successful track on 7/9/01 -= exactly one year after the last pointing maneuver. The original results = back on 7/9/00 - weak signal - seemed to indicate that the maneuver may h= ave failed. The signal strengths from the latest tracks, however, indicat= e that last year's weak signal was probably due to the onboard one-way os= cillator. Therefore, we conclude that the maneuver did work, and another = pointing maneuver will not be necessary until first quarter 2002.

= Larry Lasher, Pioneer Project Manager

The Geiger Tube Telescope i= nstrument (James Van Allen, P.I.) data have been analyzed. Van Allen repo= rts that the successful DSS63 reception total of 2 hours of clean data fr= om the GTT instrument from the 28 April 2001 and 19 May 2001 tracks. The = cosmic ray intensity has continued to decrease since 6 August 2000 and is= now 77 percent of its maximum value in late 1998-early 1999. Hence, Pion= eer 10 at ~78 AU is still under the delayed influence of solar activity a= nd has not yet reached the cosmic ray modulation boundary of the heliosph= ere.

 

------=_NextPart_001_000B_01C185CD.3FC85CD0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sun Dec 16 17:58:22 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBH1wFY08840 for ; Sun, 16 Dec 2001 17:58:17 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id UAA10217 for bioastro-list; Sun, 16 Dec 2001 20:53:13 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe36.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.116]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id UAA10213 for ; Sun, 16 Dec 2001 20:53:10 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sun, 16 Dec 2001 17:52:39 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.40] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: NASA telescope suffers problem Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 20:51:33 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18673.720CB140" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 17 Dec 2001 01:52:39.0954 (UTC) FILETIME=[82715F20:01C1869D] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18673.720CB140 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" FUSE PROJECT WORKS TO RESTORE SCIENCE OPERATIONS ------------------------------------------------ Science operations for the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) mission ceased this week when the second of four reaction wheels, used to precisely point and maintain the spacecraft's attitude, stopped. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0112/15fuse/ ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18673.720CB140 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
FUSE PROJECT W= ORKS TO RESTORE SCIENCE OPERATIONS
-----------------------------------= -------------

Science operations for the Far Ultraviolet S= pectroscopic Explorer
(FUSE) mission ceased this week when the second = of four reaction
wheels, used to precisely point and maintain the spac= ecraft's
attitude, stopped.

    http://spaceflig= htnow.com/news/n0112/15fuse/


------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18673.720CB140-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Mon Dec 17 07:29:27 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBHFTQY18128 for ; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 07:29:26 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id KAA17411 for bioastro-list; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 10:20:18 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe51.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.131]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id KAA17407 for ; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 10:20:14 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 07:19:43 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.70] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Voyager Status Report for November 10-16, 2001 Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 10:18:31 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0001_01C186E4.2D4226A0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 17 Dec 2001 15:19:43.0283 (UTC) FILETIME=[40FF0030:01C1870E] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C186E4.2D4226A0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable http://vraptor.jpl.nasa.gov/flteam/weekly-rpts/current.html VOYAGER MISSION OPERATIONS STATUS REPORT #1202, NOVEMBER 10 =E2=80=93 NO= VEMBER 16, 2001 COMMAND TRANSMISSION & VERIFICATION OPERATIONS Voyager 1 command operations consisted of the uplink of a command loss ti= mer reset on 11/14 DOY 318/1730z. The spacecraft received the command. Voyager 2 command operations consisted of the uplink of seven bracketed c= ommand loss timer resets sent on five-minute centers using 0.5 Hz steps o= n 11/14 [DOY 318/2347z]. The spacecraft received four of the seven comm= ands sent. SEQUENCE GENERATION OPERATIONS Start sequence development of CCSL A042. DATA RETURN OPERATIONS Voyager 1 Data Processing and Operations: There were 63.0 hours of DSN scheduled support for Voyager 12 of which 32= .1 hours were large aperture coverage. There were no real-time or schedul= e support changes during the period. There was one significant outages of 7.4 hours duration on 11/11 [DOY 315= ] due to a red maser at DSS-63 [DR M100274]. Science instrument performance was nominal for all activities during this= period. One frame of GS-4 data was recorded this week. Twenty-six fram= es of GS-4 data were played back from the spacecraft on November 10. Ove= r 97% of the data were recovered. The AHELI1 cyclic for recording addit= ional GS-4 data was enabled on November 12. The EDR backlog is 9 days. Voyager 2 Data Processing and Operations: There were 76.9 hours of DSN scheduled support for Voyager 2 of which 9.4= hours were large aperture coverage. There were no real-time or schedule = support changes or significant outages during the period. =20 Science instrument performance was nominal for all activities during this= period. One frame of GS-4 data was recorded this week. A second frame = of GS-4 data was recorded on November 10, using the BHELI 1 cyclic, which= was enabled on July 14. The EDR backlog is 9 days. FLIGHT SYSTEM PERFORMANCE Voyager 1 performance was nominal during this report period. Activities = included a DTR playback of PWS data followed by X-Band low power on 11/10= (DOY 314). Voyager 2 performance was nominal during this report period. Activity in= cluded a PMPCAL on 11/13 (DOY 317). =20 PROPELLANT/POWER CONSUMABLES STATUS AS OF 11-15-01/11-16-01 =20 =20 SpacecraftConsumption One Week (Gm)Propellant Remaining (Kg)Output (Watts)Margin (Watts) 319.3431.14310.829 3210.7832.99312.559 =20 =20 RANGE, VELOCITY AND ROUND TRIP LIGHT TIME AS OF 11/16/01 =20 Voyager 1Voyager 2 Distance from the Sun (Km)12,406,000,0009,810,000,000 Distance from the Sun (Mi)7,709,000,0006,096,000,000 Distance from the Earth (Km)12,522,000,0009,890,000,000 Distance from the Earth (Mi)7,781,000,0006,145,000,000 Total Distance Traveled Since Launch (Km) =20 14,222,000,000 =20 13,351,000,000 Total Distance Traveled Since Launch (Mi) =20 8,837,000,000 =20 8,296,000,000 Velocity Relative to Sun (Km/sec) =20 17.239 =20 15.734 Velocity Relative to Sun (Mi/hr) =20 38,563 =20 35,196 Velocity Relative to Earth (Km/sec) =20 39.818 =20 41.357 Velocity Relative to Earth (Mi/hr) =20 89,070 =20 92,513 Round Trip Light Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds) =20 23:12:20 =20 18:19:42 =20 ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C186E4.2D4226A0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
=

VOYAGER MISSION OPERATIONS STATUS REPORT #1202,  NOVEMBER 10 =E2=80=93 NOVEMBER 16, 2001

COMMAND TRAN= SMISSION & VERIFICATION OPERATIONS

Voyager 1 co= mmand operations consisted of the uplink of a command loss timer reset on= 11/14 DOY 318/1730z.  The = spacecraft received the command.

Voyager 2 command operations cons= isted of the uplink of seven bracketed command loss timer resets sent on = five-minute centers using 0.5 Hz steps on 11/14 [DOY 318/2347z].   The spacecraft received four= of the seven commands sent.

SEQUENCE GENERATION OPERATIONS

Start sequence = development of CCSL A042.

Voyager 1 Data = Processing and Operations:

There were 63.0 hours of DSN scheduled = support for Voyager 12 of which 32.1 hours were large aperture coverage. = There were no real-time or schedule support changes during the period.

There was one significant outages of 7.4 hours duration on 11/11 [DO= Y 315] due to a red maser at DSS-63 [DR M100274].

Science instrume= nt performance was nominal for all activities during this period.  One frame of GS-4 data was record= ed this week.  Twenty-six f= rames of GS-4 data were played back from the spacecraft on November 10.  Over 97% of the data were r= ecovered.   The AHELI1= cyclic for recording additional GS-4 data was enabled on November 12.  The EDR backlog is 9 days.

Voyager 2 Data Processing and Operations:

There were 76.9 ho= urs of DSN scheduled support for Voyager 2 of which 9.4 hours were large = aperture coverage. There were no real-time or schedule support changes or= significant outages during the period.

Science instrument perform= ance was nominal for all activities during this period.  One frame of GS-4 data was recorded this we= ek.  A second frame of GS-4= data was recorded on November 10, using the BHELI 1 cyclic, which was en= abled on July 14.  The EDR = backlog is 9 days.

FLIGH= T SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

Voyager 1 performance was nomi= nal during this report period.  Activities included a DTR playback of PWS data followed by X-Band lo= w power on 11/10 (DOY 314).

Voyager 2 performance was nominal duri= ng this report period.  Act= ivity included a PMPCAL on 11/13 (DOY 317).

 

=

PROPELLANT/POWER CONSUMABLES STATUS= AS OF 11-15-01/11-16-01

 =

=  

Spacecraft

Consumption

One Week (Gm)

Propella= nt

Remaining (Kg)

Output

(= Watts)

Margin

(Watts)

= 31

 =

9.34

31.14

310.8

29

32

=

10.78

32.99

312.5

59

 

 =

RANGE, VELOCITY AND= ROUND TRIP LIGHT TIME AS OF 11/16/01

 

<= TD style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0i= n; WIDTH: 1.95in; PADDING-TOP: 0in" vAlign=3Dtop width=3D187>

Distance= from the Sun (Km)

 

Voy= ager 1

Voyager 2

12,406,000,000

=

9,810,000,000

Distance fro= m the Sun (Mi)

7,709,000,000

6,096,000,000

Distance from t= he Earth (Km)

12,522,000,000

9,890,000,000

Distance from t= he Earth (Mi)

7,781,000,000

6,145,000,000

Total Distance T= raveled Since

Launch (Km)

&n= bsp;

14,222,000,000<= /P>

 =

 

13,351,000,000

Total Distance Travel= ed Since

Launch (Mi)

  <= o:p>

8,837,000,000

 

8,296,000,000

Velocity Relative to Sun

=

 (Km/sec)

 

17.239

 <= /P>

15.734

Velocity Rel= ative to Sun

 (Mi/hr= )

 

38,563

&= nbsp;

35,196

Velocity Relative to Earth

=  (Km/sec)

 

39.818

41.357

Velocity Relative to Earth

 (Mi/hr)

 

89,070

  

92,513

Round Trip Light Time

(H= ours:Minutes:Seconds)

 

23:12:20

 

18:19:42

 

------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C186E4.2D4226A0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Mon Dec 17 11:38:47 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBHJclY13333 for ; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 11:38:47 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id OAA28101 for bioastro-list; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 14:12:44 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe37.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.117]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id OAA28097 for ; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 14:12:41 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 11:12:10 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.77] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Today on SPACE.com -- Monday, December 17, 2001 Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 14:11:01 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18704.A8210600" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 17 Dec 2001 19:12:10.0808 (UTC) FILETIME=[BA5E6B80:01C1872E] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18704.A8210600 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Today in Science/Astronomy: * Comet Orbiter and Lander Mate, Will Run Hot and Cold Tests http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/rosetta_011217.html A union made for heaven. The first spacecraft to attempt a soft-landing o= n the icy nucleus of a comet has been coupled to its "mother craft" -- a = critical step toward their departure from Earth in January 2003. * New Signs of Water on Mars Create Hope of Great Discovery http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/odyssey_hydrogen_011214= .html The Mars Odyssey spacecraft has uncovered preliminary yet tantalizing evi= dence for water near the surface of Mars and away from the permanently fr= ozen north polar ice cap. * Voyage Inside the Sun http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/hidden_sun_011214.html Scientists have peered beneath the surface of the Sun to discover how lar= ge areas of stormy regions form and grow and why sunspots sometimes go fo= r a spin. ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18704.A8210600 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Today in Scien= ce/Astronomy:

* Comet Orbiter and Lander Mate, Will Run Hot and Co= ld Tests
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/rosetta_011= 217.html

A union made for heaven. The first spacecraft to attempt = a soft-landing on the icy nucleus of a comet has been coupled to its "mot= her craft" -- a critical step toward their departure from Earth in Januar= y 2003.

* New Signs of Water on Mars Create Hope of Great Discover= y
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/odyssey_hydrogen_0= 11214.html

The Mars Odyssey spacecraft has uncovered preliminary y= et tantalizing evidence for water near the surface of Mars and away from = the permanently frozen north polar ice cap.

* Voyage Inside the Su= n
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/hidden_sun_011214.= html

Scientists have peered beneath the surface of the Sun to disc= over how large areas of stormy regions form and grow and why sunspots som= etimes go for a spin.

------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18704.A8210600-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Mon Dec 17 16:27:40 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBI0RdY02307 for ; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 16:27:40 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id TAA12021 for bioastro-list; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 19:13:35 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe151.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.144]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id TAA12007 for ; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 19:13:30 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Mon, 17 Dec 2001 16:12:59 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.34] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: NASA Bids Farewell to the Successful Deep Space 1 Mission Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 19:11:41 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0001_01C1872E.A8A33C40" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 18 Dec 2001 00:12:59.0259 (UTC) FILETIME=[C0157CB0:01C18758] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C1872E.A8A33C40 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Monday, December 17, 2001 6:16 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: NASA Bids Farewell to the Successful Deep Space 1 Mission MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov Contact: Martha J. Heil 818-354-0850 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 17, 2001 NASA BIDS FAREWELL TO THE SUCCESSFUL DEEP SPACE 1 MISSION NASA's adventurous Deep Space 1 mission, which successfully tested 12 high-risk, advanced space technologies and captured the best images ever taken of a comet, will come to an end Dec. 18, 2001. "American taxpayers can truly be proud of Deep Space 1," said Dr. Colleen Hartman, Director of NASA's Solar System Exploration Division, Washington, D.C. "It was originally designed to be an 11-month mission, but things were going so well that we kept it going for a few more years to continue testing its remarkable ion engine and, as a bonus, to get close-up images of a comet. By the time we turn its engines off tomorrow, Deep Space 1 will have earned an honored place in space exploration history." Shortly after 12 noon PST Tuesday, engineers will send a final command turning off the ion engine, which has used up 90 percent of its xenon fuel. After Earth's final goodbye, the spacecraft will remain in orbit around the Sun, operating on its own. Its radio receiver will be left turned on, in case future generations want to contact the spacecraft. "Deep Space 1 is a true success story," said Dr. Charles Elachi, director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "We are proud that future generations of spacecraft will benefit from its accomplishments." Deep Space 1 leaves the technologies it flight-tested as legacies for future missions, which would have been impossible without its trailblazing technology tests. Enabling spacecraft to travel faster and farther than ever before, Deep Space 1's ion engine was once a science fiction dream. Now this ion engine has accumulated over 670 days of operating time. Future Mars missions may use this technology to return samples from the Red Planet. Deep Space 1's successful test of autonomous navigation software was a major step in the path of artificial intelligence for spacecraft. Using images of asteroids and stars collected by the onboard camera, the spacecraft was able to compute and correct its course without relying on human controllers on Earth. NASA's Deep Impact mission will use a system based on autonomous navigation to reach the nucleus of comet Tempel 1. Within nine months after launch, Deep Space 1 had successfully tested all 12 new technologies. As a bonus, near the end of the primary mission, Deep Space 1 flew by asteroid Braille. In late 1999, its primary mission complete, Deep Space 1's star tracker failed to operate. So in early 2000, engineers successfully reconfigured the spacecraft from 300 million kilometers (185 million miles) away to rescue it for a daring extended mission to encounter comet Borrelly. In September 2001, Deep Space 1 passed just 2,171 kilometers (1,349 miles) from the inner icy nucleus of comet Borrelly, snapping the highest-resolution pictures ever of a comet. The daring flyby yielded new data and movies of the comet's nucleus that will revolutionize the study of comets. Launched on October 24, 1998, Deep Space 1 was designed and built in just three years, the shortest development time for any interplanetary spacecraft NASA has flown in the modern age. It was the first mission in NASA's New Millennium program. In addition to its technical achievements, Deep Space 1 is an ambassador of Earthlings' goodwill, carrying with it a compact disc of children's drawings and engineers' thoughts. "I'm not sad it's ending, I'm happy it accomplished so much," said Dr. Marc Rayman, Deep Space 1 project manager at JPL. "I think it inspired many people who saw the mission as NASA and JPL at our best -- bold, exciting, resourceful and productive." JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. Spectrum Astro Inc., Gilbert, Ariz., was JPL's primary industrial partner in spacecraft development. Additional information on Deep Space 1 is available at http://nmp.jpl.nasa.gov . Note to broadcasters: NASA TV will broadcast a video file of the Deep Space 1 mission highlights at 12, 3, 6 and 9 p.m.EST Monday, Dec. 17 and Tuesday, Dec. 18. NASA TV is located on satellite GE2, Transponder 9C, audio 3880 MHz; orbital position 85 degrees west longitude, with audio at 6.8 MHz. Programming may be preempted by other events such as breaking news or live events during Space Shuttle missions. # # # # # 12/17/01 MJH 2001-241 --------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to JPL's news mailing list. To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov and in the body of the message include the following line. unsubscribe news Please do not reply to this e-mail. For help, send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov. ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C1872E.A8A33C40 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent:= Monday, December 17, 2001 6:16 PM
= To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: NASA Bids Farewell to the Successful Deep Space 1 Missio= n
 
MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORAT= ORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPA= CE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
h= ttp://www.jpl.nasa.gov

Contact: Martha J. Heil  818-354-0850<= BR>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       &nb= sp;        December 17, 2001

NA= SA BIDS FAREWELL TO THE SUCCESSFUL DEEP SPACE 1 MISSION

 &nbs= p;   NASA's adventurous Deep Space 1 mission, which
successf= ully tested 12 high-risk, advanced space technologies
and captured the= best images ever taken of a comet, will come
to an end Dec. 18, 2001.=

     "American taxpayers can truly be proud o= f Deep Space 1,"
said Dr. Colleen Hartman, Director of NASA's Solar Sy= stem
Exploration Division, Washington, D.C. "It was originally
desi= gned to be an 11-month mission, but things were going so
well that we = kept it going for a few more years to continue
testing its remarkable = ion engine and, as a bonus, to get
close-up images of a comet. By the = time we turn its engines
off tomorrow, Deep Space 1 will have earned a= n honored place
in space exploration history."

  &nbs= p;  Shortly after 12 noon PST Tuesday, engineers will send a
fina= l command turning off the ion engine, which has used up 90
percent of = its xenon fuel. After Earth's final goodbye, the
spacecraft will remai= n in orbit around the Sun, operating on
its own. Its radio receiver wi= ll be left turned on, in case
future generations want to contact the s= pacecraft.

     "Deep Space 1 is a true succes= s story," said Dr. Charles
Elachi, director of NASA's Jet Propulsion L= aboratory,
Pasadena, Calif. "We are proud that future generations ofspacecraft will benefit from its accomplishments."

  &= nbsp;  Deep Space 1 leaves the technologies it flight-tested as
l= egacies for future missions, which would have been impossible
without = its trailblazing technology tests. Enabling spacecraft
to travel faste= r and farther than ever before, Deep Space 1's
ion engine was once a s= cience fiction dream. Now this ion
engine has accumulated over 670 day= s of operating time.
Future Mars missions may use this technology to r= eturn samples
from the Red Planet.

     Dee= p Space 1's successful test of autonomous navigation
software was a ma= jor step in the path of artificial
intelligence for spacecraft. Using = images of asteroids and
stars collected by the onboard camera, the spa= cecraft was able
to compute and correct its course without relying on = human
controllers on Earth. NASA's Deep Impact mission will use a
s= ystem based on autonomous navigation to reach the nucleus of
comet Tem= pel 1.

     Within nine months after launch, D= eep Space 1 had successfully
tested all 12 new technologies. As a bonu= s, near the end of the
primary mission, Deep Space 1 flew by asteroid = Braille. In late
1999, its primary mission complete, Deep Space 1's st= ar tracker
failed to operate. So in early 2000, engineers successfully=
reconfigured the spacecraft from 300 million kilometers (185
milli= on miles) away to rescue it for a daring extended mission to
encounter= comet Borrelly.

     In September 2001, Deep = Space 1 passed just 2,171 kilometers
(1,349 miles) from the inner icy = nucleus of comet Borrelly,
snapping the highest-resolution pictures ev= er of a comet. The
daring flyby yielded new data and movies of the com= et's nucleus
that will revolutionize the study of comets.

 = ;    Launched on October 24, 1998, Deep Space 1 was design= ed
and built in just three years, the shortest development time
for= any interplanetary spacecraft NASA has flown in the modern
age. It wa= s the first mission in NASA's New Millennium
program. In addition to i= ts technical achievements, Deep Space
1 is an ambassador of Earthlings= ' goodwill, carrying with it a
compact disc of children's drawings and= engineers' thoughts.

     "I'm not sad it's e= nding, I'm happy it accomplished so
much," said Dr. Marc Rayman, Deep = Space 1 project manager at
JPL. "I think it inspired many people who s= aw the mission as
NASA and JPL at our best -- bold, exciting, resource= ful and
productive."

     JPL, a division o= f the California Institute of Technology
in Pasadena, manages the miss= ion for NASA's Office of Space
Science, Washington, D.C. Spectrum Astr= o Inc., Gilbert, Ariz.,
was JPL's primary industrial partner in spacec= raft
development.

     Additional informati= on on Deep Space 1 is available at
http://nmp.jpl.nasa.gov .

No= te to broadcasters:  NASA TV will broadcast a video
file of the D= eep Space 1 mission highlights at 12, 3, 6 and 9
p.m.EST Monday, Dec. = 17 and Tuesday, Dec. 18.  NASA TV is
located on satellite GE2, Tr= ansponder 9C, audio 3880 MHz;
orbital position 85 degrees west longitu= de, with audio at 6.8
MHz.  Programming may be preempted by other= events such as
breaking news or live     &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;         events during
Space= Shuttle missions.

        = ;       # # # # #

12/17/01  MJH=
2001-241

-----------------------------------------------------= ----------
You are subscribed to JPL's news mailing list.  To uns= ubscribe,
please send an e-mail to  JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov  an= d in the body
of the message include the following line.

unsubs= cribe news

Please do not reply to this e-mail.
For help,  = send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov.
------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C1872E.A8A33C40-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Tue Dec 18 06:19:22 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBIEJLY02831 for ; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 06:19:22 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id JAA20434 for bioastro-list; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 09:13:04 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe144.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.137]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id JAA20424 for ; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 09:13:01 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 06:12:58 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.147] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Scientific American Weekly Review - December 18, 2001 Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 09:12:55 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0007_01C187A4.2D839930" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 18 Dec 2001 14:12:58.0233 (UTC) FILETIME=[18369E90:01C187CE] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0007_01C187A4.2D839930 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ** SHIMMYING STAR MAY SHED LIGHT ON FORCES AT WORK IN THE SUN Astronomers have observed for the first time a star doing the stellar =20 version of the twist, according to a new report. Andrew Collier =20 Cameron of Scotland's University of Saint Andrews, along with a =20 colleague, found that the difference between the rotation rates of =20 the equator and poles of a fast-spinning star called AB Doradus =20 (AB Dor) changed over time: after the poles sped up, the equator =20 slowed down. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc4?lJpEVX*sqrYQtlgEJht*z*XWDA ** RACISM NOT HARDWIRED, SCIENTISTS SAY In recent years a number of studies have reached the same thorny =20 conclusion about human cognition: when encountering a person for the =20 first time, our brains automatically make note of the individual's =20 race. But new research indicates that this is not necessarily the =20 case, suggesting that racism may be an erasable by-product of =20 cognitive adaptations that evolved to detect coalitions and =20 alliances. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc4?lJpEVX*sqrYQtlgEJht*z*XXUA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOOK OF THE MONTH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DARWIN, HIS DAUGHTER, AND HUMAN EVOLUTION by Randal Keynes =20 When descendants of Charles Darwin get together, some still tell the =20 story of a long-ago servant who expressed pity for the family =20 patriarch. The poor man, she said, was so idle that she saw him =20 staring at an ant heap for a whole hour. Darwin's full-time, =20 self-created job, of course, was to observe every animate creature, =20 from the ants and bees in his garden, to giant tortoises in the =20 Gal=E1pagos, to his own family. He even published a monograph on the =20 behavior of his infant children. =20 Click below to read the full review or to buy the book: http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc4?lJpEVX*sqrYQtlgEJht*z*XXVA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Visit us for the latest news and information in science and technology. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc4?lJpEVX*sqrYQtlgEJht*z*XXXA ------=_NextPart_001_0007_01C187A4.2D839930 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
** SHIMMYING S= TAR MAY SHED LIGHT ON FORCES AT WORK IN THE SUN
Astronomers have obser= ved for the first time a star doing the stellar
version of the twist,= according to a new report. Andrew Collier
Cameron of Scotland's Univ= ersity of Saint Andrews, along with a
colleague, found that the diffe= rence between the rotation rates of
the equator and poles of a fast-s= pinning star called AB Doradus
(AB Dor) changed over time: after the = poles sped up, the equator
slowed down.

http://sciam.r= sc03.net/servlet/cc4?lJpEVX*sqrYQtlgEJht*z*XWDA


** RACISM NOT = HARDWIRED, SCIENTISTS SAY
In recent years a number of studies have rea= ched the same thorny
conclusion about human cognition: when encounter= ing a person for the
first time, our brains automatically make note o= f the individual's
race. But new research indicates that this is not = necessarily the
case, suggesting that racism may be an erasable by-pr= oduct of
cognitive adaptations that evolved to detect coalitions and =
alliances.

http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc4?lJpEVX*s= qrYQtlgEJht*z*XXUA


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOOK OF THE MONTH ~~~~~~~~= ~~~~~~~~~

DARWIN, HIS DAUGHTER, AND HUMAN EVOLUTION
by = Randal Keynes

When descendants of Charles Darwin get together, so= me still tell the
story of a long-ago servant who expressed pity for = the family
patriarch. The poor man, she said, was so idle that she sa= w him
staring at an ant heap for a whole hour. Darwin's full-time, self-created job, of course, was to observe every animate creature, from the ants and bees in his garden, to giant tortoises in the
Gal=E1= pagos, to his own family. He even published a monograph on the
behavi= or of his infant children.

Click below to read the full review or= to buy the book:

http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc4?lJpEV= X*sqrYQtlgEJht*z*XXVA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~= ~

* Visit us for the latest news and information in science and te= chnology.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc4?lJpEVX*sqrYQtlgEJht*z*XXX= A

------=_NextPart_001_0007_01C187A4.2D839930-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Tue Dec 18 06:22:14 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBIEMDY15392 for ; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 06:22:13 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id JAA20606 for bioastro-list; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 09:16:42 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe149.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.142]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id JAA20596 for ; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 09:16:39 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 06:16:08 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.147] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Ulysses gets a new partner in the hunt for the source of gamma-ray bursts Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 09:16:05 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_000A_01C187A4.9F31C570" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 18 Dec 2001 14:16:08.0233 (UTC) FILETIME=[89765190:01C187CE] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_000A_01C187A4.9F31C570 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" From: science.webmaster@esa.int [mailto:science.webmaster@esa.int] Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 9:59 AM Subject: Ulysses gets a new partner in the hunt for the source of gamma-ray bursts After a lonely nine months, Ulysses has a new partner in gamma-ray burst detection. On 21 November, the ESA spacecraft in orbit high above the Sun's poles, and Mars Odyssey, NASA's spacecraft recently arrived at the Red Planet, detected their first gamma-ray burst together. Read more at: http://sci.esa.int/content/news/index.cfm?aid=1&cid=1&oid=29172 ------=_NextPart_001_000A_01C187A4.9F31C570 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
From: science.= webmaster@esa.int [mailto:science.webmaster@esa.int]
Sent: Tuesday, De= cember 18, 2001 9:59 AM
Subject: Ulysses gets a new partner in the hun= t for the source of
gamma-ray bursts


After a lonely nine mo= nths, Ulysses has a new partner in
gamma-ray burst detection. On 21 No= vember, the ESA spacecraft
in orbit high above the Sun's poles, and Ma= rs Odyssey, NASA's
spacecraft recently arrived at the Red Planet, dete= cted their
first gamma-ray burst together.

Read more at:
=

http://sci.esa.int/content/news/index.cfm?aid=3D1&cid=3D1&am= p;oid=3D29172

------=_NextPart_001_000A_01C187A4.9F31C570-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Tue Dec 18 09:51:13 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBIHpCY27684 for ; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 09:51:12 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id MAA29795 for bioastro-list; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 12:37:35 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe10.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.90]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id MAA29791 for ; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 12:37:31 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 09:37:00 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.10] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Meteor High-Speed Imaging Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 12:36:55 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0000_01C187C0.AD97EC90" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 18 Dec 2001 17:37:00.0693 (UTC) FILETIME=[9949C450:01C187EA] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C187C0.AD97EC90 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 12:02 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Meteor High-Speed Imaging http://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/recent_updates6.html METEOR HIGH-SPEED IMAGING Leonid Multi-Instrument Aircraft Campaign (MAC) Ames Research Center December 11, 2001 High speed imaging has now for the first time shown details in the head of a meteor that reveil the dimensions and shape of the sources of light that make a shooting star. In a series of unique images obtained by Leonid MAC participant Prof. Hans Stenbaek-Nielsen of the University of Alaska, a meteor is seen to develop from a ball of light into a an object with a bow shock and a tail. These results were unveiled in a standing-room only special session "The 2001/2002 Leonid meteor storms" at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco on December 11, 2001. Prof. Nielsen used an unusual intensified high frame-rate camera, specially designed for sprite observations. This camera records video images at a rate of 1000 frames per second. Nielsen, a Danish national, observed from a site at Pokers Flat, Alaska, and had to continually watch a video screen to catch the meteor in flight. The images shown above are frames #200, 300 and 400 from a 463 millisecond sequence of a bright Leonid meteor at 10:48:59 UT, November 18. These are false- color images. The originals are in black-and-white only. The red color is chosen arbitrarily to highlight contrast. The frames are cropped in horizontal direction. The vertical field of view is about 6 degrees. The meteor starts as a very localized ball. Then it brightens and develops a tail, and one can clearly see the shock set up around the front. "Our images for the first time confirm that most meteor light comes from a bright plasma just behind the meteoroid," says Leonid MAC PI Dr. Peter Jenniskens of the SETI Institute at NASA Ames Research Center. This confirms conclusions made indirectly from spectroscopic studies in prior Leonid MAC missions. "The images now provide dimensions of the gas cloud behind the meteoroid", says Jenniskens, "and tell us how long organic molecules have to endure a hot plasma before cooling down". Just behind the gas cloud, a wake develops that is thought to be due to green forbidden line emission of OI at 557.2 nm. Jenniskens believes that the bow shock may be a consequence of the vapor cloud of ablated material surrounding the meteoroid growing to sizes larger than the mean-free path in air at altitude. "This emission may be responsible for some of the ionised emissions of Mg+ and Ca+ that are observed in bright Leonids", he says, "more so when the meteoroids are larger". The pictures for the first time show the meteor's bow shock. The special Leonid storm session was organised by Jenniskens in collaboration with Prof. Chet Gardner of the University of Illinois. Presentations included this and other first results of the 2001 Leonid campaign, new modeling of meteor physical processes, studies of the erosion of organic matter in meteoric plasma, the expected mass distribution of Leonid meteoroid fragments, and the announcement that tiny 1 nm sized dust grains of recondensed vapor may now have been detected in the upper atmosphere. [NOTE: Images supporting this release are available at http://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/recent_updates6.html] ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C187C0.AD97EC90 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent: = Tuesday, December 18, 2001 12:02 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
at the Fall Meeting of the Ame= rican Geophysical Union in San Francisco
on December 11, 2001.

= Prof. Nielsen used an unusual intensified high frame-rate camera,
spec= ially designed for sprite observations. This camera records video
imag= es at a rate of 1000 frames per second. Nielsen, a Danish national,
ob= served from a site at Pokers Flat, Alaska, and had to continually
watc= h a video screen to catch the meteor in flight. The images shown
above= are frames #200, 300 and 400 from a 463 millisecond sequence of
a bri= ght Leonid meteor at 10:48:59 UT, November 18. These are false-
color = images. The originals are in black-and-white only. The red color
is ch= osen arbitrarily to highlight contrast. The frames are cropped in
hori= zontal direction. The vertical field of view is about 6 degrees.

T= he meteor starts as a very localized ball. Then it brightens and
devel= ops a tail, and one can clearly see the shock set up around the
front.=

"Our images for the first time confirm that most meteor light com= es
from a bright plasma just behind the meteoroid," says Leonid MAC PI=
Dr. Peter Jenniskens of the SETI Institute at NASA Ames Research
C= enter. This confirms conclusions made indirectly from spectroscopic
st= udies in prior Leonid MAC missions. "The images now provide
dimensions= of the gas cloud behind the meteoroid", says Jenniskens,
"and tell us= how long organic molecules have to endure a hot plasma
before cooling= down". Just behind the gas cloud, a wake develops
that is thought to = be due to green forbidden line emission of OI at
557.2 nm.

Jenn= iskens believes that the bow shock may be a consequence of the
vapor c= loud of ablated material surrounding the meteoroid growing
to sizes la= rger than the mean-free path in air at altitude. "This
emission may be= responsible for some of the ionised emissions of Mg+
and Ca+ that are= observed in bright Leonids", he says, "more so when
the meteoroids ar= e larger". The pictures for the first time show the
meteor's bow shock= .

The special Leonid storm session was organised by Jenniskens in<= BR>collaboration with Prof. Chet Gardner of the University of Illinois.Presentations included this and other first results of the 2001
Leon= id campaign, new modeling of meteor physical processes, studies
of the= erosion of organic matter in meteoric plasma, the expected
mass distr= ibution of Leonid meteoroid fragments, and the announcement
that tiny = 1 nm sized dust grains of recondensed vapor may now have
been detected= in the upper atmosphere.

[NOTE: Images supporting this release ar= e available at
http://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/recent_updates6.html]


------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C187C0.AD97EC90-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Tue Dec 18 21:46:57 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBJ5kuY14539 for ; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 21:46:56 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id AAA03051 for bioastro-list; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 00:37:16 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe47.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.127]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id AAA03040 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 00:37:11 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 21:36:40 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.101] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: The End of DS1 and Mars Odyssey's Rough Ride Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 00:36:33 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18825.352CA3D0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 19 Dec 2001 05:36:40.0571 (UTC) FILETIME=[228044B0:01C1884F] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18825.352CA3D0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The End of Deep Space 1 After more than three years in space, and a close encounter with Comet Bo= rrelly, NASA's Deep Space 1 will be shut down later today. This will end = the mission of a spacecraft designed to test future space equipment, incl= uding an ion engine, automatic navigation, and a collection of other prot= otype technologies. NASA is proud of the accomplishments of the $152 mill= ion spacecraft, and feels they "squeezed far, far more out of DS1 than ev= er expected." http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2001/release_2001_241.html Odyssey's Getting a Rough Ride Even though it recently completed its 100th orbit around the Red Planet, = NASA's Mars Odyssey is still having rough sailing as it passes through th= e planet's turbulent atmosphere. When it first entered Mars' atmosphere i= n October, the spacecraft took 18.6 hours to orbit the planet; now it onl= y takes 6.32 hours. NASA is discovering that the atmosphere changes drama= tically depending on the altitude, latitude and longitude, and adjusts ac= cordingly for every pass. Odyssey has 200 more orbits to go before it rea= ches its final position in mid-January. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/features/vortex.html ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18825.352CA3D0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
The End of Deep Space 1

After more than three years in s= pace, and a close encounter with Comet Borrelly, NASA's Deep Space 1 will= be shut down later today. This will end the mission of a spacecraft desi= gned to test future space equipment, including an ion engine, automatic n= avigation, and a collection of other prototype technologies. NASA is prou= d of the accomplishments of the $152 million spacecraft, and feels they "= squeezed far, far more out of DS1 than ever expected."

http://www.j= pl.nasa.gov/releases/2001/release_2001_241.html

Odyssey's = Getting a Rough Ride

Even though it recently completed its 100th o= rbit around the Red Planet, NASA's Mars Odyssey is still having rough sai= ling as it passes through the planet's turbulent atmosphere. When it firs= t entered Mars' atmosphere in October, the spacecraft took 18.6 hours to = orbit the planet; now it only takes 6.32 hours. NASA is discovering that = the atmosphere changes dramatically depending on the altitude, latitude a= nd longitude, and adjusts accordingly for every pass. Odyssey has 200 mor= e orbits to go before it reaches its final position in mid-January.

<= P>h= ttp://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/features/vortex.html

 = ;

 

------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18825.352CA3D0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Tue Dec 18 22:23:44 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBJ6NhY20787 for ; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 22:23:44 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id BAA04860 for bioastro-list; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 01:16:09 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe123.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.116]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id BAA04856 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 01:16:06 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 18 Dec 2001 22:15:35 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.101] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Finding Dark Matter from APOD Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 01:15:27 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0008_01C1882A.A4D28AB0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 19 Dec 2001 06:15:35.0899 (UTC) FILETIME=[92770AB0:01C18854] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C1882A.A4D28AB0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Finding Dark Matter =20 Credit & Copyright: A. J. Benson (Caltech) et al., U. Durham, PPARC =20 Explanation: Where is dark matter? Galaxies rotate and move in clusters a= s if a tremendous amount of unseen matter is present. But does dark matte= r exist in the greater universe too -- and if so, where? The answer can b= e found by comparing the distribution of galaxies observed with numerical= simulations. This comparison became much more accurate recently when ove= r 100,000 galaxy observations from the 2-Degree Field Galactic Redshift S= urvey were used. In the above frame from a computer simulation of our uni= verse, a 300 million light-year slice shows dark matter in gray and galax= ies as colored circles. The red box indicates the location of a rich clus= ter of galaxies, while the green box shows a more typical cross-section o= f our universe. Analyses indicate that the immense gravity of the pervasi= ve dark matter pulls normal matter to it, so that light matter and dark m= atter actually cluster together. =20 http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011219.html ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C1882A.A4D28AB0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Fi= nding Dark Matter
Credit & Copyright: A. J. Benson (Caltech) et al., U. Durham, = PPARC

Explanation= : Where is dark matter? Galaxies rotate and move in clusters as if a= tremendous amount of unseen matter is present. But does dark matter exist in the g= reater universe too -- and if so, where? The answer can be found by compa= ring the distr= ibution of galaxies observed with numerical simulations. This comparison became= much more accurate recently when over 100,000 galaxy observations from t= he 2-Degree Field Galactic = Redshift Survey were used. In the above frame from a compu= ter simulation of our universe, a 300 million light-year slice shows dark ma= tter in gray and galaxies as colored circles. The red box indicates t= he location of a rich cluster of galaxies, while the green box shows a more= typical cross-section of our universe. Analyses indicate that the immense gravity of the= pervasive dark matter pulls normal matter t= o it, so that = light matter and dark matter actually cluster together.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011219.h= tml
 
 
 
------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C1882A.A4D28AB0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Wed Dec 19 10:24:22 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBJIOLY16366 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:24:21 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id NAA07702 for bioastro-list; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 13:10:08 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe127.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.120]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id NAA07698 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 13:10:05 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:09:34 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.176] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Today on SPACE.com -- Wednesday, December 19, 2001 Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 13:09:23 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0005_01C1888E.611CDE60" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 19 Dec 2001 18:09:34.0666 (UTC) FILETIME=[505C22A0:01C188B8] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C1888E.611CDE60 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Today in Science/Astronomy: * Ice Melter Could Find Europa's Warm Heart http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/europa_life_011219-1.h= tml Through thick or thin. That motto lies at the heart of the search for bio= logy on enigmatic Europa, one of Jupiter's many moons. * NASA Prepares to Bid Farewell to Deep Space 1 http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/ds1_farewell_011217.html After more than three years and two trips around the Sun, the Deep Space = 1 spacecraft's mission will end Tuesday, Dec. 18, when NASA cuts off comm= unication with the craft. * Researchers to Use Satellite Duo to Measure Earth's Gravity Field http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/planetearth/grace_011218-1.html With gravity, that omnipresent force that keeps humans firmly on the Eart= h and prevents planets from careening out of their orbits, it's the littl= e things that researchers are interested in. ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C1888E.611CDE60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Today in Scien= ce/Astronomy:

* Ice Melter Could Find Europa's Warm Heart

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/europa_life_011= 219-1.html

Through thick or thin. That motto lies at the heart of = the search for biology on enigmatic Europa, one of Jupiter's many moons.<= BR>
* NASA Prepares to Bid Farewell to Deep Space 1
htt= p://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/ds1_farewell_011217.html
After more than three years and two trips around the Sun, the Deep Spac= e 1 spacecraft's mission will end Tuesday, Dec. 18, when NASA cuts off co= mmunication with the craft.

* Researchers to Use Satellite Duo to = Measure Earth's Gravity Field
http://www.space.com/science= astronomy/planetearth/grace_011218-1.html

With gravity, that omnip= resent force that keeps humans firmly on the Earth and prevents planets f= rom careening out of their orbits, it's the little things that researcher= s are interested in.

------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C1888E.611CDE60-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Wed Dec 19 10:48:19 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBJImIY31958 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:48:18 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id NAA08927 for bioastro-list; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 13:36:49 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe104.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.246]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id NAA08923 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 13:36:46 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:36:15 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.176] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Expert: August 17 Meteor From Asteroid Belt Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 13:36:05 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18892.1BB7FD10" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 19 Dec 2001 18:36:15.0975 (UTC) FILETIME=[0AD07F70:01C188BC] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18892.1BB7FD10 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 1:30 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Expert: August 17 Meteor From Asteroid Belt http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,53%257E283979,00.html Expert: Meteor from asteroid belt Colorado sleuths track August fireball By Ann Schrader Denver Post Wednesday, December 19, 2001 - A blazing fireball that boomed and burst o= ver Colorado on Aug. 17 most likely came from the asteroid belt beyond Mars, = a finding that meteorite hunters believe will help in finding remnants. The estimated 1-ton, desk-size hunk of space debris was 40 times brighter than the moon when it exploded about 15 miles above Earth's surface just northwest of La Garita in Saguache County. Tracing the meteorite back to its space haunts was the work of Frank Sanders, a radio spectrum expert with the Institute of Telecommunications= in Boulder. The date, time, angle, direction and suspected speed were fed into Sander= s' program. Sanders found that the meteorite was born between the inner edge and the outer edge of the asteroid belt, a place where tons of debris lur= k. Full story here: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,53%257E283979,00.html ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18892.1BB7FD10 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent: = Wednesday, December 19, 2001 1:30 PM
Subject: Expert: August 17 Meteor From Asteroid Belt
 http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,53%257E283979,00.ht= ml

Expert: Meteor from asteroid belt
Colorado sleuths track Aug= ust fireball

By Ann Schrader
Denver Post

Wednesday, Dece= mber 19, 2001 - A blazing fireball that boomed and burst over
Colorado= on Aug. 17 most likely came from the asteroid belt beyond Mars, a
fin= ding that meteorite hunters believe will help in finding remnants.
The estimated 1-ton, desk-size hunk of space debris was 40 times brighte= r
than the moon when it exploded about 15 miles above Earth's surface = just
northwest of La Garita in Saguache County.

Tracing the met= eorite back to its space haunts was the work of Frank
Sanders, a radio= spectrum expert with the Institute of Telecommunications in
Boulder.<= BR>
The date, time, angle, direction and suspected speed were fed into= Sanders'
program. Sanders found that the meteorite was born between t= he inner edge
and the outer edge of the asteroid belt, a place where t= ons of debris lurk.

Full story here:

http://www.denverpost.= com/Stories/0,1002,53%257E283979,00.html
------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18892.1BB7FD10-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Wed Dec 19 20:37:33 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBK4bWY18511 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 20:37:33 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id XAA26168 for bioastro-list; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 23:29:25 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe40.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.120]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA26164 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 23:29:21 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 20:28:50 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.7] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Asteroid 1998 WT24 Images Now Available Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 23:28:38 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C188E4.E2DBC820" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 20 Dec 2001 04:28:50.0734 (UTC) FILETIME=[D31A2CE0:01C1890E] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C188E4.E2DBC820 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 8:23 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Asteroid 1998 WT24 Images Now Available ASTEROID 1998 WT24 IMAGES December 19, 2001 A 28-image mosaic of Asteroid 1998 WT24 taken during the asteroid's recent flyby of Earth are now available here: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/images/1998wt24.html These radar images were taken using the Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, California, and the radar telescope at Arecibo, Puetro Rico. These images show one full rotation of the asteroid. The images are courtesy of Steve Ostro from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Ron Baalke ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C188E4.E2DBC820 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent: = Wednesday, December 19, 2001 8:23 PM
Subject: Asteroid 1998 WT24 Images Now Available
&nb= sp;
ASTEROID 1998 WT24 IMAGES
December 19, 2001

A 28-image= mosaic of Asteroid 1998 WT24 taken during the
asteroid's recent flyby= of Earth are now available here:

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/images/1= 998wt24.html

These radar images were taken using the Deep Space Ne= twork
antenna at Goldstone, California, and the radar telescope at
= Arecibo, Puetro Rico.  These images show one full rotation of theasteroid.  The images are courtesy of Steve Ostro from the
Jet P= ropulsion Laboratory.

Ron Baalke

------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C188E4.E2DBC820-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Wed Dec 19 20:50:41 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBK4oeY09514 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 20:50:41 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id XAA26193 for bioastro-list; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 23:44:50 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe147.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.140]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA26189 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 23:44:47 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 20:44:16 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.7] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: All-Terrain Rovers May Scale Mars' Cliffs Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 23:44:02 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0005_01C188E7.099AB000" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 20 Dec 2001 04:44:16.0622 (UTC) FILETIME=[FAF978E0:01C18910] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C188E7.099AB000 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 5:27 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: All-Terrain Rovers May Scale Mars' Cliffs MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov Contact: Carolina Martinez (818) 354-9382 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 2001 ALL-TERRAIN ROVERS MAY SCALE MARS' CLIFFS NASA researchers are developing new prototype robots that can drive up steep hills and descend almost-vertical cliffs. Working alone or as a team, these autonomous robotic explorers may go where no rover has gone before -- the cliffs of Mars. Recent Mars Global Surveyor images suggest water outflows near cliff edges and the possibility of rich water-borne mineral deposits that extend all the way to the cliff base. "We know that some of the most exciting Mars science and history will be in very rough, currently inaccessible terrain. Getting to those hard-to-reach spots -- navigating and exploring them -- will require altogether new types of robotic vehicles," said Dr. Paul Schenker, supervisor of the Mechanical and Robotics Technologies Group at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and principal investigator for the All-Terrain Explorer. "These include rover systems that can surmount the hilly base of cliffs, even descend from cliff edges to study cliff stratigraphy. Some years from now, rovers may literally be hanging out on Mars," he said. In a demonstration near JPL, a new mobility system navigated a cliff face. Two "tether-bot" rovers stationed themselves at the cliff's edge, assisting a third steerable "cliff-bot" as it actively descended and ascended the steep terrain. "They're a true team, tightly coordinating their behaviors, sharing what they sense," Schenker said. "They communicate instantaneously, make mutually informed decisions and jointly implement their control actions. We can think of them as a climber with two good friends. We're not yet at the point of human competence, where one robot can go it all alone." The rovers can cooperate in a number of ways: controlling tension to avoid slackness in the tethers, matching velocity of tether payouts to cliff-bot navigation, maintaining stability to prevent cliff-bot tip-over and hauling actions to initiate the "climber's" uphill driving when the going gets really rough. Over the past year, the JPL researchers also successfully developed and demonstrated a single rover that can traverse sandy natural terrain on slopes of 40 to 50 degrees. Similar to an agile animal, this mechanically reconfigurable All- Terrain Explorer behaviorally adapts its stance and balance, reacting to visually perceived changes in the terrain ahead and motion cues from onboard accelerometers. "These technology advances should enable broader robotic exploration of planetary surfaces, letting rovers truly follow the water, thus giving us a better look at possibilities of past or present life on Mars," Schenker said. "Similarly, there are potentially important terrestrial applications, including urban and rural search-and-rescue operations." Basic research on the All-Terrain Explorer rovers continues, and engineers envision that their work may well be part of a future Mars mission to explore the steep hills and gullies, nooks and crannies of the red planet. More information on this work is available at: http://prl.jpl.nasa.gov/projects/ate/ate_index.html . NASA's Cross Enterprise Technology Development Program provided funding for this work. The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena manages JPL for NASA. JPL is the lead NASA center for robotic exploration of the solar system. # # # # # 12/19/01 CM #2001-242 Note to Broadcasters: A video file to accompany this release will air on NASA Television Dec. 19, 20 and 21, during the NASA TV video file feed scheduled for noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and midnight EST. A live satellite interview opportunity with the principal investigator, Dr. Paul Schenker is available via NASA Television on Thursday, Dec. 20, from 3 to 7 p.m. EST. To book an interview, call Jack Dawson at (818) 354-0040. For NASA Television schedule information see http://www.nasa.gov/ntv/breaking.html . NASA TV is broadcast on GE-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 85 degrees West longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. For general questions about the NASA Video File, contact Fred Brown, NASA Television, Washington, D.C. (202) 358-0713. --------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to JPL's news mailing list. To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov and in the body of the message include the following line. unsubscribe news Please do not reply to this e-mail. For help, send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov. ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C188E7.099AB000 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent:= Wednesday, December 19, 2001 5:27 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: All-Terrain Rovers May Scale Mars' Cliffs
=  

MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CA= LIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINI= STRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
http://www= .jpl.nasa.gov

Contact:  Carolina Martinez (818) 354-9382
<= BR>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        &= nbsp;           &n= bsp; December 19, 2001

ALL-TERRAIN ROVERS MAY SCALE MARS' CLIFFS
     NASA researchers are developing new protot= ype robots that
can drive up steep hills and descend almost-vertical c= liffs.
Working alone or as a team, these autonomous robotic explorers<= BR>may go where no rover has gone before -- the cliffs of Mars.

&n= bsp;    Recent Mars Global Surveyor images suggest water o= utflows
near cliff edges and the possibility of rich water-borne
mi= neral deposits that extend all the way to the cliff base.

 &n= bsp;   "We know that some of the most exciting Mars science and=
history will be in very rough, currently inaccessible terrain.
Get= ting to those hard-to-reach spots -- navigating and
exploring them -- = will require altogether new types of robotic
vehicles," said Dr. Paul = Schenker, supervisor of the
Mechanical and Robotics Technologies Group= at NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and principal<= BR>investigator for the All-Terrain Explorer.

   &n= bsp; "These include rover systems that can surmount the hilly
base of = cliffs, even descend from cliff edges to study cliff
stratigraphy. Som= e years from now, rovers may literally be
hanging out on Mars," he sai= d.

     In a demonstration near JPL, a new mob= ility system
navigated a cliff face. Two "tether-bot" rovers stationed=
themselves at the cliff's edge, assisting a third steerable
"cliff= -bot" as it actively descended and ascended the steep
terrain.

=      "They're a true team, tightly coordinating their=
behaviors, sharing what they sense," Schenker said. "They
communic= ate instantaneously, make mutually informed decisions
and jointly impl= ement their control actions. We can think of
them as a climber with tw= o good friends. We're not yet at the
point of human competence, where = one robot can go it all
alone."

     The ro= vers can cooperate in a number of ways: controlling
tension to avoid s= lackness in the tethers, matching velocity
of tether payouts to cliff-= bot navigation, maintaining
stability to prevent cliff-bot tip-over an= d hauling actions to
initiate the "climber's" uphill driving when the = going gets
really rough.

     Over the past= year, the JPL researchers also successfully
developed and demonstrate= d a single rover that can traverse
sandy natural terrain on slopes of = 40 to 50 degrees. Similar
to an agile animal, this mechanically reconf= igurable All-
Terrain Explorer behaviorally adapts its stance and bala= nce,
reacting to visually perceived changes in the terrain ahead
an= d motion cues from onboard accelerometers.

    = ; "These technology advances should enable broader robotic
exploration= of planetary surfaces, letting rovers truly follow
the water, thus gi= ving us a better look at possibilities of
past or present life on Mars= ," Schenker said. "Similarly,
there are potentially important terrestr= ial applications,
including urban and rural search-and-rescue operatio= ns."

     Basic research on the All-Terrain Ex= plorer rovers
continues, and engineers envision that their work may we= ll be
part of a future Mars mission to explore the steep hills and
= gullies, nooks and crannies of the red planet.

   &= nbsp; More information on this work is available at:
http://prl.jpl.na= sa.gov/projects/ate/ate_index.html .

     NASA= 's Cross Enterprise Technology Development Program
provided funding fo= r this work.  The California Institute of
Technology in Pasadena = manages JPL for NASA. JPL is the lead
NASA center for robotic explorat= ion of the solar system.

       = ;            # # #= # #
12/19/01 CM
#2001-242

Note to Broadcasters: A video fil= e to accompany this release
will air on NASA Television
Dec. 19, 20= and 21, during the NASA TV video file feed
scheduled for noon, 3 p.m.= , 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and midnight EST.
A live satellite interview opportu= nity with the principal
investigator, Dr. Paul Schenker is available v= ia NASA
Television on Thursday, Dec. 20, from 3 to 7 p.m. EST. To book=
an interview, call Jack Dawson at (818) 354-0040.  For NASA
T= elevision schedule information see
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv/breaking.ht= ml .

NASA TV is broadcast on GE-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located=
at 85 degrees West longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz.
Polariz= ation is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. For
general questi= ons about the NASA Video File, contact Fred
Brown, NASA Television, Wa= shington, D.C. (202) 358-0713.


-------------------------------= --------------------------------
You are subscribed to JPL's news mail= ing list.  To unsubscribe,
please send an e-mail to  JPLNews= @jpl.nasa.gov  and in the body
of the message include the followi= ng line.

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Please do not reply to this e-mai= l.
For help,  send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov.
<= /BLOCKQUOTE> ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C188E7.099AB000-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Wed Dec 19 20:50:56 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBK4ouY02466 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 20:50:56 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id XAA26204 for bioastro-list; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 23:46:13 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe47.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.127]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA26200 for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 23:46:10 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 20:45:39 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.7] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Hubble Sends Season's Greetings from the Cosmos to Earth Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 23:45:26 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0008_01C188E7.3B8C2DF0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 20 Dec 2001 04:45:39.0852 (UTC) FILETIME=[2C955CC0:01C18911] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C188E7.3B8C2DF0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 5:27 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Hubble Sends Season's Greetings from the Cosmos to Earth MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov Contact: JPL/Jane Platt 818-354-0880 Space Telescope Science Institute/Ray Villard 410-338-4514 Hubble-ESA/Lars Lindberg Christensen 49-89-3200-6306 IMAGE ADVISORY December 19, 2001 HUBBLE SENDS SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM THE COSMOS TO EARTH Looking like a colorful holiday card, a new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope reveals a vibrant green and red nebula far from Earth. The image of NGC 2080, taken by Hubble's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, designed and built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., is available online at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/wfpc . Images like this help astronomers investigate star formation in nebulas. NGC 2080, nicknamed "The Ghost Head Nebula," is one of a chain of star-forming regions lying south of the 30 Doradus nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud. 30 Doradus is the largest star-forming complex in the local group of galaxies. This "enhanced color" picture is composed of three narrow- band-filter images obtained by Hubble on March 28, 2000. The red and blue light come from regions of hydrogen gas heated by nearby stars. The green light on the left comes from glowing oxygen. The energy to illuminate the green light is supplied by a powerful stellar wind, a stream of high-speed particles coming from a massive star just outside the image. The central white region is a combination of all three emissions and indicates a core of hot, massive stars in this star-formation region. Intense emission from these stars has carved a bowl-shaped cavity in surrounding gas. In the white region, the two bright areas (the "eyes of the ghost") - named A1 (left) and A2 (right) -- are very hot, glowing "blobs" of hydrogen and oxygen. The bubble in A1 is produced by the hot, intense radiation and powerful stellar wind from one massive star. A2 contains more dust and several hidden, massive stars. The massive stars in A1 and A2 must have formed within the last 10,000 years, since their natal gas shrouds are not yet disrupted by the powerful radiation of the newborn stars. The Space Telescope Science Institute is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., for NASA, under contract with the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international co-operation between the European Space Agency and NASA. The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena manages JPL for NASA. Credit: NASA, ESA & Mohammad Heydari-Malayeri (Observatoire de Paris, France) # # # # # 12/17/01 JP 2001-243 . --------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to JPL's news mailing list. To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov and in the body of the message include the following line. unsubscribe news Please do not reply to this e-mail. For help, send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov. ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C188E7.3B8C2DF0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent:= Wednesday, December 19, 2001 5:27 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Hubble Sends Season's Greetings from the Cosmos to Ea= rth
 
MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABOR= ATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND S= PACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

Contact:  JPL/Jane Platt 818-354-088= 0
Space Telescope Science Institute/Ray Villard 410-338-4514
Hubble= -ESA/Lars Lindberg Christensen 49-89-3200-6306

IMAGE ADVISORY = ;            =             &= nbsp;    December 19, 2001

HUBBLE SENDS SEASON'S GR= EETINGS FROM THE COSMOS TO EARTH

     Looking = like a colorful holiday card, a new image from
NASA's Hubble Space Tel= escope reveals a vibrant green and red
nebula far from Earth.

&= nbsp;    The image of NGC 2080, taken by Hubble's Wide Fie= ld and
Planetary Camera 2, designed and built by NASA's Jet
Propuls= ion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., is available online
at http://www.jp= l.nasa.gov/images/wfpc .  Images like this
help astronomers inves= tigate star formation in nebulas.

     NGC 208= 0, nicknamed "The Ghost Head Nebula," is one of a
chain of star-formin= g regions lying south of the 30 Doradus
nebula in the Large Magellanic= Cloud.  30 Doradus is the
largest star-forming complex in the lo= cal group of galaxies.
This "enhanced color" picture is composed of th= ree narrow-
band-filter images obtained by Hubble on March 28, 2000.
     The red and blue light come from regions o= f hydrogen gas
heated by nearby stars. The green light on the left com= es from
glowing oxygen. The energy to illuminate the green light issupplied by a powerful stellar wind, a stream of high-speed
particles= coming from a massive star just outside the image.
The central white = region is a combination of all three
emissions and indicates a core of= hot, massive stars in this
star-formation region. Intense emission fr= om these stars has
carved a bowl-shaped cavity in surrounding gas.
=
     In the white region, the two bright areas (t= he "eyes of
the ghost") - named A1 (left) and A2 (right) -- are very h= ot,
glowing "blobs" of hydrogen and oxygen. The bubble in A1 is
pro= duced by the hot, intense radiation and powerful stellar
wind from one= massive star. A2 contains more dust and several
hidden, massive stars= . The massive stars in A1 and A2 must
have formed within the last 10,0= 00 years, since their natal
gas shrouds are not yet disrupted by the p= owerful radiation of
the newborn stars.

    = ; The Space Telescope Science Institute is operated by the
Association= of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.,
for NASA, under cont= ract with the Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, Md. The Hubble S= pace Telescope is a project of
international co-operation between the = European Space Agency
and NASA.  The California Institute of Tech= nology in Pasadena
manages JPL for NASA.

Credit: NASA, ESA &= ; Mohammad Heydari-Malayeri (Observatoire de
Paris, France)
 &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;     # # # # #
12/17/01  JP  &n= bsp;     2001-243

.

-------------------= --------------------------------------------
You are subscribed to JPL= 's news mailing list.  To unsubscribe,
please send an e-mail to&n= bsp; JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov  and in the body
of the message include= the following line.

unsubscribe news

Please do not reply t= o this e-mail.
For help,  send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.na= sa.gov.
------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C188E7.3B8C2DF0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 18:24:44 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN2Ogc00220 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 18:24:43 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id VAA28068 for bioastro-list; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:19:02 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe102.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.244]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id VAA28064 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:18:58 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 18:18:27 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.61.148] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Cornell News: The Sun, tree rings and history Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:18:09 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18B2E.27BC4190" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 02:18:27.0802 (UTC) FILETIME=[1B82BBA0:01C18B58] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18B2E.27BC4190 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: cunews@cornell.edu Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 3:39 AM To: CUNEWS-PHYSICAL_SCIENCE-L@cornell.edu; CUNEWS-SOCIAL_SCIENCE-L@cornel= l.edu; CUNEWS-SCIENCE-L@cornell.edu Subject: Cornell News: The Sun, tree rings and history Archaeologists rewrite timeline of Bronze and Iron Ages, including early appearance of alphabet FOR RELEASE: Dec. 19, 2001 Contact: Blaine P. Friedlander Jr. Office: 607-255-3290 E-mail: bpf2@cornell.edu ITHACA, N.Y. -- Using information gleaned from the sun's solar cycles and tree rings, archaeologists are rewriting the timeline of the Bronze and Iron Ages. The research dates certain artifacts of the ancient eastern Mediterranean decades earlier than previously thought. And it places an early appearance of the alphabet outside Phoenicia at around 740 B.C. Writing in two articles in the forthcoming issue of the journal Science (Dec. 21), archaeologists from Cornell University and the University of Reading (England) and a physicist from Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (Germany) have given a new kind of precision to the timeline of the Bronze and Iron Ages in the Aegean and the Near East. "Establishing this chronology means that the objects -- metalwork, furniture, woven textiles, and an alphabetic inscription found in a tomb in central Turkey -- were older than previously thought by some 22 years," said Peter I. Kuniholm, Cornell professor of art history and archaeology. Among the artifacts found in the Midas Mound Tumulus at Gordion, the capital of ancient Phrygia, a site west of Ankara, Turkey, is a shallow, bronze bowl with a patch of beeswax on the rim carrying an alphabetical inscription. The inscription is a precursor to -- or contemporary with -- the earliest attested occurrences of the Greek alphabet. In addition to letter forms known from ancient Greek, there is a vertical arrow, known also from Etruscan inscriptions. With the new chronology, the bowl now is independently dated circa 740 B.C., making its inscription as old as the oldest known artifacts on which the Greek alphabet appears: an oinochoe (a wine pitcher) from the Dipylon cemetery in Athens and a cup from Pithekoussai (now Ischia) in the Bay of Naples. The estimated dates of these pots previously had provided archaeologists with only an approximate date for these early alphabetic inscriptions. "The alphabet, which originated in Phoenicia at a time that is still disputed, was moving west at a rapid pace, traditionally thought to be by sea but now clearly by land as well. That's what this chronology shows: The alphabet was really catching on," says Kuniholm. Scholars believe that the birthplace of all Western alphabets, including the Greek and Roman, was Phoenicia (present-day Lebanon, Israel and Palestine). The oldest known Phoenician inscription was found in the Ahiram epitaph at Byblos, Lebanon, dating from about the 11th century B.C. Scholars think the alphabet was spread throughout the Mediterranean by traders who found the new shorthand an improvement over the syllabic scripts such as Linear B and cuneiform Hittite. Kuniholm and his colleagues are using the science of both carbon dating and dendrochronology, dating through tree rings, to calibrate history. Their latest research involved carbon-14 analysis on 10-year slices -- that is rings covering 10 years of growth -- on wood from pine trees from the Catacik Forest in Turkey and from oak trees in Germany. By currently accepted models, the carbon-14 concentrations should have been identical in both the pine and the oak. And while the scientists discovered that this was true in general, they were surprised to find that for certain key periods, the Turkish pine appeared to be older than the German oak by as much as 17 years. "Those pieces of wood are the same tree-ring age, and they should have the same radiocarbon age, but they don't," says Kuniholm. What happened, Kuniholm believes, is that the Turkish pine, growing in a warmer climate and at a lower latitude, absorbed less carbon-14 during documented periods of so-called solar minima -- prolonged cooling periods in the Northern Hemisphere, such as those in the eighth and ninth centuries B.C. and in the 15th and 16th centuries A.D. The German oak, which starts its growing season later in the spring than does the Turkish pine, absorbed measurably more amounts of carbon-14 during such cooling periods. "The trees are like a tape recorder of the radioactivity of the cosmos," Kuniholm said, "but they record only when they are growing." Carbon-14, an isotope of the element carbon, is produced in the Earth's lower stratosphere by the collision of neutrons, produced by cosmic rays, with nitrogen. (An isotope is made up of atoms of the same element but with different numbers of neutrons.) During periods of high solar activity, the solar wind prevents charged particles from entering the atmosphere -- thus producing little carbon-14. However, carbon-14 production peaks during the solar minima, and it enters the Earth's troposphere as carbon dioxide-14 during the late spring in the Northern Hemisphere. By the following spring, the higher concentration of carbon in the troposphere is diluted. Thus, German oak, which grows late in the spring and summer, absorbs less carbon dioxide-14 than Turkish pine or juniper, which grows from the early spring to summer. "This is the first time scientists have been able to note a regional difference in tree rings of the same dendrochronological age," says Kuniholm. "Sadly, now, with all the carbon in our atmosphere, with the pollution we have from our cars and factories and energy facilities, the trees have all but given up providing many of these valuable signals." Kuniholm's co-authors on the Science papers were Sturt Manning of the University of Reading, Bernd Kromer of Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, and Maryanne Newton, Cornell doctoral candidate. Research collaborators also include Marco Spurk, Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany, and Ingeborg Levin, Universität Heidelberg, Germany. The concurrent Science articles are titled, "Regional Radioactive Carbon Dioxide Offsets in the Troposphere: Magnitude, Mechanisms and Consequences" and "Anatolian Tree Rings and a New Chronology for the East Mediterranean Bronze-Iron Ages." The research was funded by the Institute for Aegean Prehistory, the National Science Foundation, the Malcolm H. Wiener Foundation, the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Germany's Federal Ministry of Educational Research. Related World Wide Web sites: The following sites provide additional information on this news release. Some might not be part of the Cornell University community, and Cornell has no control over their content or availability. o Aegean Dendrochronology Project: o A companion opinion piece in Science by Paula Reimer, Livermore Laboratories: -30- EDITORS: This news release is not embargoed. The web version of this release may be found at http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Dec01/Carbon-14.bpf.html Cornell University News Service Surge 3 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 607-255-4206 cunews@cornell.edu http://www.news.cornell.edu ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18B2E.27BC4190 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: cunews@cornell.edu
Sent: T= hursday, December 20, 2001 3:39 AM
= To: CUNEWS-PHYSICAL_SCIENCE-L@cornell.edu; CUNEWS-SOCIAL_SCIENCE-L= @cornell.edu; CUNEWS-SCIENCE-L@cornell.edu
Subject: Cornell News: The Sun, tree rings and history
 
Archaeologists rewrite timeline of Bronze and Iron Ag= es, including
early appearance of alphabet

FOR RELEASE:  D= ec. 19, 2001

Contact:  Blaine P. Friedlander Jr.
Office:&n= bsp; 607-255-3290
E-mail:  bpf2@cornell.edu


ITHACA, N.= Y. -- Using information gleaned from the sun's solar cycles
and tree r= ings, archaeologists are rewriting the timeline of the
Bronze and Iron= Ages.  The research dates certain artifacts of the
ancient easte= rn Mediterranean decades earlier than previously
thought. And it place= s an early appearance of the alphabet outside
Phoenicia at around 740 = B.C.

Writing in two articles in the forthcoming issue of the journ= al
Science (Dec. 21), archaeologists from Cornell University and theUniversity of Reading (England) and a physicist from
Ruprecht-Karls-= Universit&auml;t Heidelberg (Germany) have given a new
kind of pre= cision to the timeline of the Bronze and Iron Ages in the
Aegean and t= he Near East.

"Establishing this chronology means that the objects= -- metalwork,
furniture, woven textiles, and an alphabetic inscriptio= n found in a
tomb in central Turkey -- were older than previously thou= ght by some
22 years," said Peter I. Kuniholm, Cornell professor of ar= t history
and archaeology.

Among the artifacts found in the Mid= as Mound Tumulus at Gordion, the
capital of ancient Phrygia, a site we= st of Ankara, Turkey, is a
shallow, bronze bowl with a patch of beeswa= x on the rim carrying an
alphabetical inscription.  The inscripti= on is a precursor to -- or
contemporary with -- the earliest attested = occurrences of the Greek
alphabet.  In addition to letter forms k= nown from ancient Greek,
there is a vertical arrow, known also from Et= ruscan inscriptions.

With the new chronology, the bowl now is inde= pendently dated circa
740 B.C., making its inscription as old as the o= ldest known artifacts
on which the Greek alphabet appears: an oinochoe= (a wine pitcher)
from the Dipylon cemetery in Athens and a cup from P= ithekoussai (now
Ischia) in the Bay of Naples.  The estimated dat= es of these pots
previously had provided archaeologists with only an a= pproximate date
for these early alphabetic inscriptions. "The alphabet= , which
originated in Phoenicia at a time that is still disputed, was = moving
west at a rapid pace, traditionally thought to be by sea but no= w
clearly by land as well.  That's what this chronology shows: Th= e
alphabet was really catching on," says Kuniholm. Scholars believethat the birthplace of all Western alphabets, including the Greek andRoman, was Phoenicia (present-day Lebanon, Israel and Palestine). Theoldest known Phoenician inscription was found in the Ahiram epitaph
a= t Byblos, Lebanon, dating from about the 11th century B.C.  Scholars=
think the alphabet was spread throughout the Mediterranean by traders=
who found the new shorthand an improvement over the syllabic scripts<= BR>such as Linear B and cuneiform Hittite.

Kuniholm and his collea= gues are using the science of both carbon
dating and dendrochronology,= dating through tree rings, to calibrate
history.  Their latest r= esearch involved carbon-14 analysis on
10-year slices -- that is rings= covering 10 years of growth -- on
wood from pine trees from the Catac= ik Forest in Turkey and from oak
trees in Germany.  By currently = accepted models, the carbon-14
concentrations should have been identic= al in both the pine and the
oak. And while the scientists discovered t= hat this was true in
general, they were surprised to find that for cer= tain key periods,
the Turkish pine appeared to be older than the Germa= n oak by as much
as 17 years.  "Those pieces of wood are the same= tree-ring age, and
they should have the same radiocarbon age, but the= y don't," says
Kuniholm.

What happened, Kuniholm believes, is t= hat the Turkish pine, growing
in a warmer climate and at a lower latit= ude, absorbed less carbon-14
during documented periods of so-called so= lar minima -- prolonged
cooling periods in the Northern Hemisphere, su= ch as those in the
eighth and ninth centuries B.C. and in the 15th and= 16th centuries
A.D.  The German oak, which starts its growing se= ason later in the
spring than does the Turkish pine, absorbed measurab= ly more amounts
of carbon-14 during such cooling periods.  "The t= rees are like a tape
recorder of the radioactivity of the cosmos," Kun= iholm said, "but
they record only when they are growing."

Carbo= n-14, an isotope of the element carbon, is produced in the
Earth's low= er stratosphere by the collision of neutrons, produced by
cosmic rays,= with nitrogen. (An isotope is made up of atoms of the
same element bu= t with different numbers of neutrons.) During periods
of high solar ac= tivity, the solar wind prevents charged particles
from entering the at= mosphere -- thus producing little carbon-14.
However, carbon-14 produc= tion peaks during the solar minima, and it
enters the Earth's troposph= ere as carbon dioxide-14 during the late
spring in the Northern Hemisp= here.  By the following spring, the
higher concentration of carbo= n in the troposphere is diluted.  Thus,
German oak, which grows l= ate in the spring and summer, absorbs less
carbon dioxide-14 than Turk= ish pine or juniper, which grows from the
early spring to summer. = ; "This is the first time scientists have been
able to note a regional= difference in tree rings of the same
dendrochronological age," says K= uniholm.  "Sadly, now, with all the
carbon in our atmosphere, wit= h the pollution we have from our cars
and factories and energy facilit= ies, the trees have all but given up
providing many of these valuable = signals."

Kuniholm's co-authors on the Science papers were Sturt M= anning of the
University of Reading, Bernd Kromer of
Ruprecht-Karls= -Universit&auml;t Heidelberg, and Maryanne Newton,
Cornell doctora= l candidate. Research collaborators also include Marco
Spurk, Universi= t&auml;t Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany, and Ingeborg
Levin, Univer= sit&auml;t Heidelberg, Germany.  The concurrent Science
artic= les are titled, "Regional Radioactive Carbon Dioxide Offsets in
the Tr= oposphere: Magnitude, Mechanisms and Consequences" and
"Anatolian Tree= Rings and a New Chronology for the East Mediterranean
Bronze-Iron Age= s."

The research was funded by the Institute for Aegean Prehistory= , the
National Science Foundation, the Malcolm H. Wiener Foundation, t= he
Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Germany's Federal Ministry ofEducational Research.



Related World Wide Web sites: = The following sites provide additional
information on this news relea= se.  Some might not be part of the
Cornell University community, = and Cornell has no control over their
content or availability.

= o Aegean Dendrochronology Project: <http://www.arts.cornell.edu/dendro= >

o A companion opinion piece in Science by Paula Reimer,
Li= vermore Laboratories:

<http://www.calib.org/paula>

-3= 0-

EDITORS: This news release is not embargoed.

The web ver= sion of this release may be found at
http://www.news.cornell.edu/relea= ses/Dec01/Carbon-14.bpf.html

Cornell University News Service
Su= rge 3
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-4206
cunews= @cornell.edu
http://www.news.cornell.edu
------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18B2E.27BC4190-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 18:25:15 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN2PEc19944 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 18:25:15 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id VAA28078 for bioastro-list; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:20:34 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe27.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.107]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id VAA28074 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:20:31 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 18:20:01 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.61.148] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: 2003 missions will go to Mars with Christmas spirit Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:19:45 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18B2E.6112E7F0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 02:20:01.0179 (UTC) FILETIME=[532AEEB0:01C18B58] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18B2E.6112E7F0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: science.webmaster@esa.int Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 10:31 AM To: ljk4@msn.com Subject: 2003 missions will go to Mars with Christmas spirit In two year's time, the planet Mars will receive a Christmas present from planet Earth - a flotilla of spacecraft. Gifts from different nations, the spacecraft will share communications channels to solve a problem which will intensify as Mars exploration gathers pace: how to relay the data gathered by so many missions back to Earth. Read more at: http://sci.esa.int/content/news/index.cfm?aid=1&cid=1&oid=29185 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the European Space Agency Science website mailing list, please visit this web page: http://sci.esa.int/subscribe.cfm ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18B2E.6112E7F0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: science.webmaster@esa.int
Sent= : Friday, December 21, 2001 10:31 AM
To: ljk4@msn.com
Su= bject: 2003 missions will go to Mars with Christmas spirit
 
In two year's time, the planet Mars will receive a Chris= tmas present
from planet Earth - a flotilla of spacecraft. Gifts from = different
nations, the spacecraft will share communications channels t= o solve
a problem which will intensify as Mars exploration gathers pac= e:
how to relay the data gathered by so many missions back to Earth.
Read more at:
http://sci.esa.int/content/news/index.cfm?aid=3D1&= amp;cid=3D1&oid=3D29185
------------------------------------------= --------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the European Spac= e Agency Science website mailing list,
please visit this web page:
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= ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18B2E.6112E7F0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 20:08:48 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN48lc19536 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 20:08:47 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id XAA28151 for bioastro-list; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:03:25 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe134.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.127]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28147 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:03:22 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 20:02:51 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.250] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: update.569 Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:02:29 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18B3C.BB1F8BF0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 04:02:51.0335 (UTC) FILETIME=[B0DE0570:01C18B66] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18B3C.BB1F8BF0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: AIP listserver Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 3:24 AM To: physnews-mailing@aip.org Subject: update.569 PHYSICS NEWS UPDATE The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Physics News Number 569 December 14, 2001 by Phillip F. Schewe, Ben Stein, and James Riordon PHYSICS STORIES OF THE YEAR FOR 2001: In cosmology, the observations of second and third peaks in the spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (Update 537), the detection of the "re-ionization" era in the early universe (555), and some tentative evidence that the fine structure constant is changing (552); in the physics of atoms, the effective stopping and storing of light in a gas (521); in particle physics the observation of CP violation in the decay of B mesons (525, 547); in condensed matter physics, the observation of superconductivity at 117 K in a crystal of carbon-60 (555) and at 40 K in MgB (526,530); Bose Einstein condensate on a chip (559), in helium (532), and the topic meriting the 2001 Nobel Prize (560); in nuclear physics the first experimental formulation of a nuclear liquid-gas phase diagram (upcoming Update). Other stories include the retraction of the element 118 discovery (550); further evidence for neutrino oscillations, at the new Sudbury detector (544); doubly strange nuclei (552); chaos insights on weather (543); crystallization using sound waves (541); room- temperature spin injection for spintronics (543); quantum entanglement of macroscopic gas clouds (558); quantum holography (566); attosecond pulses (567). OCEANS MIGHT BE COMMON AND DIVERSE in our solar system and in other solar systems, according to David Stevenson of Caltech, who regards the old notion of a narrow "habitable zone" (Venus too hot, Mars too cold, Earth just right) for liquid water oceans as erroneous. Stevenson spoke earlier this week in San Francisco at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union (http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm01top.html) at a session intended to bring together two scientific communities that scrutinize very different realms the planets and the seafloor on Earth. The connection? Observations from the bottom of the ocean show that microbes thrive both in near-freezing seawater and in near-boiling effusions from thermal vents. These conditions might turn up in many other planetary environments. For example, the Galileo spacecraft has provided evidence for watery oceans on three of Jupiter's moons Callisto, Ganymede, and Europa. Subsurface oceans could be kept liquid by warmth from tidal forces (Jove wringing its satellites) or from radioactivity. Torrance Johnson of JPL, also speaking that the meeting, said that Europa's ocean might be 75-150 km thick and could thus harbor twice the water in Earth's oceans. Stevenson added that observations also hint at oceans on Titan, Triton, and Pluto. In the case of Titan (soon to get the Galileo treatment when the Cassini spacecraft reaches Saturn in 2004) an ocean would be a mixture of water and ammonia (acting as antifreeze). Under some circumstances water might even be found inside Uranus and Neptune. A NANO-ELECTRON-VOLT NEUTRAL-ATOM STORAGE RING, built and tested by physicists at Georgia Tech, should help the development of atom fiber optics. Generally, storage rings not only store particles but also serve to define an energy and trajectory insofar as the particles are guided around a prescribed track by some kind of magnet system; particles with the wrong energy would fly away. Normally the magnets exert themselves by grabbing onto the particles' electric charge. Neutral atoms don't have a net charge but they can possess a net dipole moment which, if the atom is moving slowly enough, is sufficient for guidance (see figure at http://www.aip.org/mgr/png). The Georgia Tech experiment (Michael Chapman, michael.chapman@physics.gatech.edu, 404- 894-5223, Jacob Sauer, jakesauer@mindspring.com, Murray Barrett, m.barrett@mindspring.com) is much more modest than your typical particle accelerator: it's only 2 cm across and corrals neutral rubidium atoms moving at speeds of 1 meter/sec (equivalent energy=nano-eV, temperature=microkelvins). So far swarms of one million atoms have made as many as seven circuits around the ring (see figure at http://www.aip.org/mgr/png). The same researchers produced the first all-optical generation of a Bose Einstein condensate (Update 545), and they hope to load the atoms from a condensate with their new storage ring (dubbed the "Nevatron"). Possible goals include ultra sensitive gyroscopes and atom lasers. (Sauer et al., Physical Review Letters, 31 December 2001; website: www.physics.gatech.edu/ultracool.) ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18B3C.BB1F8BF0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: AIP listserver
Sent: Thurs= day, December 20, 2001 3:24 AM
T= o: physnews-mailing@aip.org
= Subject: update.569
 
PHYSICS NEWS UPDATE
The= American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Physics News
Number 569&nbs= p; December 14, 2001   by Phillip F. Schewe, Ben Stein,
and = James Riordon

PHYSICS STORIES OF THE YEAR FOR 2001: In cosmology, = the
observations of second and third peaks in the spectrum of the
c= osmic microwave background (Update 537), the detection of the
"re-ioni= zation" era in the early universe (555), and some tentative
evidence t= hat the fine structure constant is changing (552); in the
physics of a= toms, the effective stopping and storing of light in a gas
(521); in p= article physics the observation of CP violation in the
decay of B meso= ns (525, 547); in condensed matter physics, the
observation of superco= nductivity at 117 K in a crystal of carbon-60
(555) and at 40 K in MgB= (526,530); Bose Einstein condensate on a
chip (559), in helium (532),= and the topic meriting the 2001 Nobel
Prize (560); in nuclear physics= the first experimental formulation of
a nuclear liquid-gas phase diag= ram (upcoming Update).  Other
stories include the retraction of t= he element 118 discovery (550);
further evidence for neutrino oscillat= ions, at the new Sudbury
detector (544); doubly strange nuclei (552); = chaos insights on
weather (543); crystallization using sound waves (54= 1); room-
temperature spin injection for spintronics (543); quantumentanglement of macroscopic gas clouds (558); quantum holography
(566= ); attosecond pulses (567).

OCEANS MIGHT BE COMMON AND DIVERSE in = our solar
system and in other solar systems, according to David Steven= son of
Caltech, who regards the old notion of a narrow "habitable zone= "
(Venus too hot, Mars too cold, Earth just right) for liquid wateroceans as erroneous.  Stevenson spoke earlier this week in San
F= rancisco at a meeting of the American
Geophysical Union (http://www.ag= u.org/meetings/fm01top.html) at
a session intended to bring together t= wo scientific communities that
scrutinize very different realms the pl= anets and the seafloor on
Earth.  The connection?  Observati= ons from the bottom of the ocean
show that microbes thrive both in nea= r-freezing seawater and in
near-boiling effusions from thermal vents.&= nbsp; These conditions might
turn up in many other planetary environme= nts.  For example, the
Galileo spacecraft has provided evidence f= or watery oceans on three
of Jupiter's moons Callisto, Ganymede, and E= uropa.  Subsurface
oceans could be kept liquid by warmth from tid= al forces (Jove
wringing its satellites) or from radioactivity.  = Torrance Johnson of
JPL, also speaking that the meeting, said that Eur= opa's ocean might
be 75-150 km thick and could thus harbor twice the w= ater in Earth's
oceans.  Stevenson added that observations also h= int at oceans on
Titan, Triton, and Pluto.  In the case of Titan = (soon to get the
Galileo treatment when the Cassini spacecraft reaches= Saturn in
2004) an ocean would be a mixture of water and ammonia (act= ing as
antifreeze).  Under some circumstances water might even be= found
inside Uranus and Neptune.

A NANO-ELECTRON-VOLT NEUTRAL-= ATOM STORAGE
RING, built and tested by physicists at Georgia Tech, sho= uld help
the development of atom fiber optics.  Generally, storag= e rings not
only store particles but also serve to define an energy an= d trajectory
insofar as the particles are guided around a prescribed t= rack by some
kind of magnet system; particles with the wrong energy wo= uld fly
away.  Normally the magnets exert themselves by grabbing = onto the
particles' electric charge.  Neutral atoms don't have a = net charge but
they can possess a net dipole moment which, if the atom= is moving
slowly enough, is sufficient for guidance (see figure athttp://www.aip.org/mgr/png).  The Georgia Tech experiment
(Micha= el Chapman, michael.chapman@physics.gatech.edu, 404-
894-5223,  J= acob Sauer, jakesauer@mindspring.com, Murray
Barrett, m.barrett@mindsp= ring.com) is much more modest than
your typical particle accelerator: = it's only 2 cm across and corrals
neutral rubidium atoms moving at spe= eds of 1 meter/sec (equivalent
energy=3Dnano-eV, temperature=3Dmicroke= lvins).  So far swarms of one
million atoms have made as many as = seven circuits around the ring
(see figure at http://www.aip.org/mgr/p= ng).  The same researchers
produced the first all-optical generat= ion of a Bose Einstein
condensate (Update 545), and they hope to load = the atoms from a
condensate with their new storage ring (dubbed the "N= evatron").
Possible goals include ultra sensitive gyroscopes and atom = lasers.
(Sauer et al., Physical Review Letters, 31 December 2001; webs= ite:
www.physics.gatech.edu/ultracool.)
------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18B3C.BB1F8BF0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 20:20:13 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN4KDc05663 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 20:20:13 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id XAA28180 for bioastro-list; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:15:39 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe144.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.137]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28176 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:15:36 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 20:15:05 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.250] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Today on SPACE.com -- Thursday, December 20, 2001 Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:14:49 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18B3E.74363F70" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 04:15:05.0703 (UTC) FILETIME=[6695AF70:01C18B68] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18B3E.74363F70 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Decoding E.T.: In Search of a Cosmic Rosetta Stone http://www.space.com/searchforlife/seti_rosetta_011220.html Analogies can provide a useful role for anticipating what might happen if= , some day, we detect a signal from extraterrestrials. To briefly recap o= ur last article in this series, some scholars have suggested that we migh= t gain insights into decoding extraterrestrial messages that may be embed= ded in such a signal. These insights, they suggest, come from the experie= nce that linguists have gained in the course of decoding ancient language= s on Earth. ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18B3E.74363F70 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Decoding E.T.:= In Search of a Cosmic Rosetta Stone
http://www.space.com/= searchforlife/seti_rosetta_011220.html

Analogies can provide a use= ful role for anticipating what might happen if, some day, we detect a sig= nal from extraterrestrials. To briefly recap our last article in this ser= ies, some scholars have suggested that we might gain insights into decodi= ng extraterrestrial messages that may be embedded in such a signal. These= insights, they suggest, come from the experience that linguists have gai= ned in the course of decoding ancient languages on Earth.

------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18B3E.74363F70-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 20:38:59 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN4cwc31206 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 20:38:58 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id XAA28204 for bioastro-list; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:34:14 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe10.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.90]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28200 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:34:11 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 20:33:41 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.250] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Sweet Meteorites Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:33:24 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0004_01C18B41.0CDA6920" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 04:33:41.0076 (UTC) FILETIME=[FF661940:01C18B6A] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0004_01C18B41.0CDA6920 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: NASA Science News Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 6:22 PM To: NASA Science News Subject: Sweet Meteorites NASA Science News for December 20, 2001 A NASA scientist has discovered sugar and several related organic compounds in two meteorites -- providing new evidence that the chemical building blocks of life on Earth might have come from outer space. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast20dec_1.htm?list662745 --- You are currently subscribed to snglist as: ljk4@msn.com This is a free service. To UNSUBSCRIBE, or CHANGE your address on this service, go to http://science.nasa.gov/news/subscribe.asp?e=3Dljk4@msn.com or send a blank email to leave-snglist-662745K@snglist.msfc.nasa.gov. Tell a kid you know about NASA Kids Club -- they collect virtual trading = cards, trade them online, have their own e-mail account, and participate = in great learning activities for extra club points. Go to http://kids.msf= c.nasa.gov/Club/Login/SignUp.asp?sng for more info. If you need to get in touch with us directly, please go to http://science.nasa.gov/comments Home page: http://science.nasa.gov ------=_NextPart_001_0004_01C18B41.0CDA6920 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: NASA Science News
Sent: Th= ursday, December 20, 2001 6:22 PM
<= B>To: NASA Science News
Subj= ect: Sweet Meteorites
 
NASA Science News for De= cember 20, 2001

A NASA scientist has discovered sugar and several = related organic
compounds in two meteorites -- providing new evidence = that the chemical
building blocks of life on Earth might have come fro= m outer space.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headli= nes/y2001/ast20dec_1.htm?list662745


---
You are currently s= ubscribed to snglist as: ljk4@msn.com

This is a free service.
<= BR>To UNSUBSCRIBE, or CHANGE your address on this service, go to
http:= //science.nasa.gov/news/subscribe.asp?e=3Dljk4@msn.com
or send a blank= email to leave-snglist-662745K@snglist.msfc.nasa.gov.

Tell a kid = you know about NASA Kids Club -- they collect virtual trading cards, trad= e them online, have their own e-mail account, and participate in great le= arning activities for extra club points. Go to http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/= Club/Login/SignUp.asp?sng for more info.

If you need to get in tou= ch with us directly, please go to
http://science.nasa.gov/comments
=
Home page: http://science.nasa.gov
------=_NextPart_001_0004_01C18B41.0CDA6920-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 20:43:22 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN4hLc24356 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 20:43:21 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id XAA28218 for bioastro-list; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:37:32 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe123.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.116]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28214 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:37:29 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 20:36:58 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.250] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: [NOVA] "Flying Casanovas" Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:36:41 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0007_01C18B41.81FEF770" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 04:36:58.0387 (UTC) FILETIME=[75015E30:01C18B6B] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0007_01C18B41.81FEF770 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: owner-nova-online@franz.wgbh.org Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 12:18 PM To: nova-online@franz.wgbh.org Subject: [NOVA] "Flying Casanovas" NEW FROM NOVA Friday, December 21, 2001 http://www.pbs.org/nova _____________________________________________________________________ NOVA PRESENTS "FLYING CASANOVAS" http://www.pbs.org/nova/bowerbirds/ Broadcast: December 25, 2001 (NOVA airs Tuesday on PBS at 8 p.m. Check your local listings.) When a European naturalist first found small thatched huts in the rain forest of New Guinea in the late 19th century, he thought they were built by an unknown tribe of pygmies. In front of each entrance, there was a neat lawn of moss flanked by decorative beds of pink blossom, orange fruits, and shining beetle wings. In fact, the builders were not people but a species of bowerbird. In "Flying Casanovas," host David Attenborough leads viewers into this little-known world of avian architecture. Here's what you'll find online: On the Trail of the Bowerbird Charles Darwin speculated on the function of bowers, but few scientists had conducted studies of these ornate constructions and their builders until the University of Maryland's Dr. Gerald Borgia began shadowing bowerbirds in 1980. Herewith, his tales from two decades in the field. Are Bowers Art? Bowers in many cases are so meticulously designed, masterfully built, and color coordinated that someone seeing them for the first time, like that 19th century naturalist, might be forgiven for thinking that they were human-made. Do they constitute works of art? Send us your thoughts. We'll post selected submissions. Creature Courtship In the animal kingdom, male bowerbirds are far from alone in going out of their way to attract females. Why do males expend such time and energy to find a mate? Because of a little force of nature known as sexual selection. Bowerbird Matching Game (Hot Science) Five different species of male bowerbirds have become separated from their nests. It's up to you to place each species in its proper bower, and to match him with his mate. Plus Resources and a Teacher's Guide http://www.pbs.org/nova/bowerbirds/ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Thank you for visiting NOVA Online. We welcome your questions, comments, and feedback. You can send a message directly to nova@wgbh.org, or use our feedback form at http://www.pbs.org/nova/postnovafeedback.html You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to the NOVA Online mailing list. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pbs.org/nova/postnovamailing.html -- or send an e-mail to majordomo@franz.wgbh.org and, on a line by itself in the message, type: unsubscribe nova-online Major funding for NOVA is provided by the Park Foundation, the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, and Sprint PCS(R). _____________________________________________________________________ ------=_NextPart_001_0007_01C18B41.81FEF770 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: owner-nova-online@franz.wgbh.org
= Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 12:18 PM
To: nova-online@franz.wgbh.org
Subject: [NOVA] "Flying Casanovas"
&nbs= p;
NEW FROM NOVA
Friday, December 21, 2001
http://www.pbs.org/= nova

_____________________________________________________________= ________
NOVA PRESENTS "FLYING CASANOVAS"

http://www.pbs.org/no= va/bowerbirds/

Broadcast: December 25, 2001
(NOVA airs Tuesday = on PBS at 8 p.m. Check your local listings.)

When a European natur= alist first found small thatched huts in the rain
forest of New Guinea= in the late 19th century, he thought they were
built by an unknown tr= ibe of pygmies. In front of each entrance, there
was a neat lawn of mo= ss flanked by decorative beds of pink blossom,
orange fruits, and shin= ing beetle wings. In fact, the builders were not
people but a species = of bowerbird. In "Flying Casanovas," host David
Attenborough leads vie= wers into this little-known world of avian
architecture.

Here's= what you'll find online:

    On the Trail of the B= owerbird
    Charles Darwin speculated on the function = of bowers, but few
    scientists had conducted studies= of these ornate constructions and
    their builders u= ntil the University of Maryland's Dr. Gerald Borgia
   = began shadowing bowerbirds in 1980. Herewith, his tales from two
&nbs= p;   decades in the field.

    Are Bowers= Art?
    Bowers in many cases are so meticulously desi= gned, masterfully
    built, and color coordinated that= someone seeing them for the first
    time, like that = 19th century naturalist, might be forgiven for
    thin= king that they were human-made. Do they constitute works of art?
 = ;   Send us your thoughts. We'll post selected submissions.
=
    Creature Courtship
    In the an= imal kingdom, male bowerbirds are far from alone in going
  =   out of their way to attract females. Why do males expend such time=
    and energy to find a mate? Because of a little for= ce of nature known
    as sexual selection.

&nbs= p;   Bowerbird Matching Game (Hot Science)
   = ; Five different species of male bowerbirds have become separated
&nbs= p;   from their nests. It's up to you to place each species in = its proper
    bower, and to match him with his mate.
Plus Resources and a Teacher's Guide


http://www.pbs.org/= nova/bowerbirds/

_________________________________________________= ____________________
_________________________________________________= ____________________

Thank you for visiting NOVA Online. We welcom= e your questions, comments,
and feedback. You can send a message direc= tly to nova@wgbh.org, or use
our feedback form at http://www.pbs.org/n= ova/postnovafeedback.html

You are receiving this e-mail because yo= u elected to subscribe to the
NOVA Online mailing list. To unsubscribe= , go to
http://www.pbs.org/nova/postnovamailing.html -- or send an e-m= ail to
majordomo@franz.wgbh.org and, on a line by itself in the messag= e, type:
unsubscribe nova-online

Major funding for NOVA is prov= ided by the Park Foundation, the
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network= , and Sprint PCS(R).
_________________________________________________= ____________________

------=_NextPart_001_0007_01C18B41.81FEF770-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 21:16:08 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN5G7c08408 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:16:08 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id AAA28267 for bioastro-list; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 00:10:47 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe61.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.203]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id AAA28263 for ; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 00:10:44 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:10:13 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.250] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Today on SPACE.com -- Friday, December 21, 2001 Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 00:09:56 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_000C_01C18B46.273EC040" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 05:10:13.0826 (UTC) FILETIME=[1A613220:01C18B70] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_000C_01C18B46.273EC040 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" * The Hand of God: Thoughts and Images Reflecting the Spirit of the Universe http://www.space.com/spacelibrary/books/library_reagan_011221.html Is there a God? ------=_NextPart_001_000C_01C18B46.273EC040 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
* The Hand of = God: Thoughts and Images Reflecting the Spirit of the Universe
=
http://www.space.com/spacelibrary/books/library_reagan_011221.html
Is there a God?

------=_NextPart_001_000C_01C18B46.273EC040-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 21:22:57 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN5Muc11208 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:22:56 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id AAA28292 for bioastro-list; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 00:18:25 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe101.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.243]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id AAA28288 for ; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 00:18:22 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:17:51 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.250] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Colorado Meteorite Search Narrows Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 00:17:35 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_000F_01C18B47.38BA8010" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 05:17:51.0896 (UTC) FILETIME=[2B692180:01C18B71] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_000F_01C18B47.38BA8010 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 12:06 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Colorado Meteorite Search Narrows http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_913667= ,00.html Meteorite search narrows Fireball's remnants likely in Saguache By Jim Erickson Rocky Mountain News December 19, 2001 Denver researchers have narrowed the search for meteorites that may have been left behind by the blazing fireball that exploded over southern Colorado in August. Astronomers and geologists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science wil= l scour the rugged Saguache County countryside next spring in a hunt for basketball-sized chunks of the space rock. They will focus on a 10-square-mile search zone southeast of Gunnison, an= d they admit that the chances of success are low. Full story here: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_913667= ,00.html ------=_NextPart_001_000F_01C18B47.38BA8010 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent: = Friday, December 21, 2001 12:06 PM
= To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Colorado Meteorite Search Narrows
 
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_9= 13667,00.html

Meteorite search narrows

Fireball's remnants = likely in Saguache

By Jim Erickson
Rocky Mountain News
Decem= ber 19, 2001

Denver researchers have narrowed the search for meteo= rites that may have
been left behind by the blazing fireball that expl= oded over southern
Colorado in August.

Astronomers and geologis= ts from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science will
scour the rugge= d Saguache County countryside next spring in a hunt for
basketball-siz= ed chunks of the space rock.

They will focus on a 10-square-mile s= earch zone southeast of Gunnison, and
they admit that the chances of s= uccess are low.

Full story here:

http://www.rockymountainne= ws.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_913667,00.html
<= /BODY> ------=_NextPart_001_000F_01C18B47.38BA8010-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 23:35:49 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN7Zmc14383 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:35:48 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id CAA28352 for bioastro-list; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 02:30:50 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe108.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.101]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id CAA28348 for ; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 02:30:47 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:30:16 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.237] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: The 1952 UFO "flap" over Washington, DC Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 02:29:59 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18B59.B7AFDA70" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 07:30:16.0602 (UTC) FILETIME=[AAD30FA0:01C18B83] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18B59.B7AFDA70 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" SAUCERS FULL OF SECRETS by Dan Gilgoff Washington City Paper http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/cover/cover.html "PAULA: What happened, Jeff? JEFF: I saw a flying saucer." ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18B59.B7AFDA70 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV>SAUCERS FULL OF SECRETS
by Dan Gilgoff
Washington C= ity Paper
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/cover/cover.h= tml

"PAULA: What happened, Jeff?
JEFF: I saw a flying saucer."<= BR>

------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18B59.B7AFDA70-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 22 23:41:39 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBN7fcc26848 for ; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:41:38 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id CAA28366 for bioastro-list; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 02:34:34 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe28.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.108]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id CAA28362 for ; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 02:34:31 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 22 Dec 2001 23:34:00 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.237] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: ISAAC Observes the Eagle Nebula; Messenger (December 2001) Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 02:33:41 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18B5A.3C163390" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Dec 2001 07:34:00.0671 (UTC) FILETIME=[306146F0:01C18B84] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18B5A.3C163390 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: esonews@eso.org Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 8:31 PM To: ljk4@msn.com Subject: ISAAC Observes the Eagle Nebula; Messenger (December 2001) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 Dear subscribers, your will some splendid infrared views of the Eagle Nebula with the "Pillars of Creation" in the most recent ESO PR Photo release, now available at: http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2001/phot-37-01.html The summary is attached below. The December 2001 issue (No. 106) of ESO's house journal, The Messenger, is also available on the web at: http://www.eso.org/messenger As usual, it contains a wealth of interesting information about the latest developments at ESO. This issue focusses on the VLTI, Data Processing and Archives, and also brings articles on some of the latest results from research based on data from the ESO telescopes. Seasons' Greetings! The ESO EPR Dept. ----------------------------------------- Information from the European Southern Observatory ESO PR Photos 37a-e/01 and Video Clips 08a-b/01 20 December 2001 [ESO] For immediate release The Eagle's EGGs VLT ISAAC Looks for Young Stars in the Famous "Pillars of Creation" Summary Through imaging at infrared wavelengths, evidence has been found for recent star formation in the so-called "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula (also known as Messier 16), made famous when the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) obtained spectacular visible-wavelength images of this object in 1995. Those huge pillars of gas and dust are being sculpted and illuminated by bright and powerful high-mass stars in the nearby NGC 6611 young stellar cluster. The Hubble astronomers suggested that perhaps even younger stars were forming inside. Using the ISAAC instrument on the VLT 8.2-m ANTU telescope at the ESO Paranal Observatory, European astronomers have now made a wide-field infrared image of the Messier 16 region with excellent spatial resolution, enabling them to penetrate the obscuring dust and search for light from newly born stars. Two of the three pillars are seen to have very young, relatively massive stars in their tips. Another dozen or so lower-mass stars seem to be associated with the small "evaporating gaseous globules (EGGs)" that the Hubble astronomers had discovered scattered over the surface of the pillars. These findings bring new evidence to several key questions about how stars are born. Was the formation of these new stars triggered as the intense ultraviolet radiation from the NGC 6611 stars swept over the pillars, or were they already there? Will the new stars be prematurely cut off from surrounding gas cloud, thus stunting their growth? If the new stars have disks of gas and dust around them, will they be destroyed before they have time to form planetary systems? PR Photo 37a/01: Full wide-field ISAAC image of the Eagle Nebula. PR Photo 37b/01: Close-up view of the ISAAC image, showing the famous "Pillars of Creation". PR Photo 37c/01: Enlargement of the head of Column 1. PR Photo 37d/01: Enlargement of the head of Column 2. PR Photo 37e/01: Enlargement of the head of Column 4. PR Video Clip 08a/01: A "dissolve" between the Hubble visible wavelength and VLT infrared views of the pillars. PR Video Clip 08b/01: Hubble and VLT views of the head of Column 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For information: You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to the "esonews" mailing list. To unsubscribe from this notification service, please send a message to majordomo@eso.org with unsubscribe esonews your-email-address in the message body. Please contact webmaster@eso.org if you need further assistance . ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ESO Press Information is available on Receive email notification the WWW at about important news from ESO - http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/. subscribe to the ESO-NEWS Mailing List. ESO Education & Public Relations Department Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, D-85748 Garching, Germany ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18B5A.3C163390 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: esonews@eso.org
Sent: Frid= ay, December 21, 2001 8:31 PM
To= : ljk4@msn.com
Subject: = ISAAC Observes the Eagle Nebula; Messenger (December 2001)
&nb= sp;
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3Dus-ascii
Content-Transfer= -Encoding: 7bit
X-Mozilla-Status: 8001

Dear subscribers,
your will some splendid infrared views of the Eagle Nebula with the
"= Pillars of Creation" in the most recent ESO PR Photo release, now
avai= lable at:

http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2001/phot-37-01= .html

The summary is attached below.

The December 2001 issu= e (No. 106) of ESO's house journal, The Messenger,
is also available o= n the web at:

http://www.eso.org/messenger

As usual, it con= tains a wealth of interesting information about the
latest development= s at ESO.  This issue focusses on the VLTI, Data
Processing and A= rchives, and also brings articles on some of the latest
results from r= esearch based on data from the ESO telescopes.

Seasons' Greetings!=

The ESO EPR Dept.

----------------------------------------= -

          &nbs= p;  Information from the European Southern Observatory

ESO PR= Photos 37a-e/01 and Video Clips 08a-b/01

20 December 2001 &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;            =    [ESO]

For immediate release

The Eagle's EGGs
VLT ISAAC Looks for Young Stars in the Famous "Pillars of Creation"=

Summary

Through imaging at infrared wavelengths, evidence = has been found for
recent star formation in the so-called "Pillars of = Creation" in the Eagle
Nebula (also known as Messier 16), made famous = when the NASA/ESA Hubble
Space Telescope (HST) obtained spectacular vi= sible-wavelength images of
this object in 1995.

Those huge pill= ars of gas and dust are being sculpted and illuminated by
bright and p= owerful high-mass stars in the nearby NGC 6611 young stellar
cluster. = The Hubble astronomers suggested that perhaps even younger stars
were = forming inside.

Using the ISAAC instrument on the VLT 8.2-m ANTU t= elescope at the ESO
Paranal Observatory, European astronomers have now= made a wide-field
infrared image of the Messier 16 region with excell= ent spatial resolution,
enabling them to penetrate the obscuring dust = and search for light from
newly born stars.

Two of the three pi= llars are seen to have very young, relatively massive
stars in their t= ips. Another dozen or so lower-mass stars seem to be
associated with t= he small "evaporating gaseous globules (EGGs)" that the
Hubble astrono= mers had discovered scattered over the surface of the
pillars.

= These findings bring new evidence to several key questions about how star= s
are born. Was the formation of these new stars triggered as the inte= nse
ultraviolet radiation from the NGC 6611 stars swept over the pilla= rs, or
were they already there? Will the new stars be prematurely cut = off from
surrounding gas cloud, thus stunting their growth? If the new= stars have
disks of gas and dust around them, will they be destroyed = before they have
time to form planetary systems?

PR Photo 37a/0= 1: Full wide-field ISAAC image of the Eagle Nebula.
PR Photo 37b/01: C= lose-up view of the ISAAC image, showing the famous
"Pillars of Creati= on".
PR Photo 37c/01: Enlargement of the head of Column 1.
PR Photo= 37d/01: Enlargement of the head of Column 2.
PR Photo 37e/01: Enlarge= ment of the head of Column 4.
PR Video Clip 08a/01: A "dissolve" betwe= en the Hubble visible wavelength
and VLT infrared views of the pillars= .
PR Video Clip 08b/01: Hubble and VLT views of the head of Column 1.<= BR>
------------------------------------------------------------------= ------
For information:

You are receiving this e-mail because y= ou elected to subscribe to the
"esonews" mailing list. To unsubscribe = from this notification
service, please send a message to majordomo@eso= .org with

unsubscribe esonews your-email-address

in the mes= sage body.

Please contact webmaster@eso.org if you need further as= sistance .

  ------------------------------------------------= ------------------------

ESO Press Information is available on&nbs= p;      Receive email notification
 &nbs= p;            = ; the WWW at          &= nbsp;      about important news from ESO -
ht= tp://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/.      =      subscribe to the
    &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;     ESO-NEWS Mailing List.

  &= nbsp;           &n= bsp; ESO Education & Public Relations Department
   = ;        Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2,= D-85748 Garching, Germany

  --------------------------------= ----------------------------------------
------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18B5A.3C163390-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sun Dec 23 19:14:57 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBO3Euc17303 for ; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 19:14:56 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id WAA28714 for bioastro-list; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 22:09:42 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe29.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.109]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id WAA28710 for ; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 22:09:37 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sun, 23 Dec 2001 19:09:06 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.55] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: SciAm online article about the interstellar medium Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 22:08:46 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18BFE.643F7940" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 24 Dec 2001 03:09:06.0699 (UTC) FILETIME=[593F5DB0:01C18C28] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18BFE.643F7940 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The Gas between the Stars Filled with colossal fountains of hot gas and vast bubbles blown by explo= ding stars, the interstellar medium is far more interesting than scientis= ts once thought by Ronald J. Reynolds =20 http://www.scientificamerican.com/2002/0102issue/0102reynolds.html ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18BFE.643F7940 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

= The Gas between the Stars

Filled with colossal fountains of hot ga= s and vast bubbles blown by exploding stars, the interstellar medium is f= ar more interesting than scientists once thought

= by Ronald J. Reynolds

 
------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18BFE.643F7940-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Mon Dec 24 21:44:50 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBP5inc14172 for ; Mon, 24 Dec 2001 21:44:49 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id AAA29251 for bioastro-list; Tue, 25 Dec 2001 00:39:06 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe136.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.129]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id AAA29247 for ; Tue, 25 Dec 2001 00:39:02 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Mon, 24 Dec 2001 21:38:31 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.112] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: These Weeks on Galileo - December 24, 2001 - January 6, 2002 Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 00:38:28 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18CDC.78BB0220" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 25 Dec 2001 05:38:31.0090 (UTC) FILETIME=[62DAA120:01C18D06] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18CDC.78BB0220 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Monday, December 24, 2001 8:36 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: These Weeks on Galileo - December 24, 2001 - January 6, 2002 These Weeks on Galileo December 24, 2001 - January 6, 2002 As the Galileo flight team winds down on the year and prepares to relax a bit during the holidays, the Galileo spacecraft continues chugging away in Jupiter orbit, collecting data, playing back data, and preparing for the next close satellite flyby of Io on January 17. On Friday, December 28, routine maintenance of the propulsion system is performed. On Friday, January 4, a new command sequence takes over control on the spacecraft and enhanced real-time science data collection begins. This starts a three-week period around the Io flyby in which these data will be collected continuously. On January 1, as we celebrate the arrival of the New Year, Jupiter, and the Galileo spacecraft that circles it celebrates (very quietly) its arrival at the point in its orbit called opposition. This is where the planet (and spacecraft), the Earth, and the Sun are in a straight line, with Earth in the middle. This also represents the closest approach of Jupiter to the Earth, though still an impressive 626 million kilometers distant (389 million miles). Since Jupiter takes about 12 years to circle the Sun, compared to Earth's one year, oppositions happen about every 13 months. Playback of data from the October Io flyby continues as the science teams both extend coverage and fill in gaps from observations previously returned. Scientists using the Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer, the Solid State Imaging camera, the Photopolarimeter Radiometer, and the suite of Fields and Particles instruments (the Energetic Particle Detector, the Heavy Ion Counter, the Magnetometer, the Plasma Subsystem, and the Plasma Wave Subsystem) will expect portions of a wide variety of observations. In addition, the steady collection of real-time data by the Magnetometer, the Dust Detector, and the Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer continues throughout the week. The Galileo Flight Team would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal readers and followers for sticking with us over the past year, and to extend our wishes for a safe and happy holiday season to one and all! And from the Galileo spacecraft itself, "Beep, beep, boop, beep!" For more information on the Galileo spacecraft and its mission to Jupiter, please visit the Galileo home page at one of the following URL's: http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18CDC.78BB0220 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent: = Monday, December 24, 2001 8:36 PM
<= B>To: undisclosed-recipients:;
= Subject: These Weeks on Galileo - December 24, 2001 - January 6, 2= 002
 

       =             &= nbsp;    These Weeks on Galileo
    = ;            = December 24, 2001 - January 6, 2002

As the Galileo flight team wi= nds down on the year and prepares to relax a
bit during the holidays, = the Galileo spacecraft continues chugging away in
Jupiter orbit, colle= cting data, playing back data, and preparing for the
next close satell= ite flyby of Io on January 17.

On Friday, December 28, routine mai= ntenance of the propulsion system is
performed. On Friday, January 4, = a new command sequence takes over control
on the spacecraft and enhanc= ed real-time science data collection begins.
This starts a three-week = period around the Io flyby in which these data
will be collected conti= nuously.

On January 1, as we celebrate the arrival of the New Year= , Jupiter, and the
Galileo spacecraft that circles it celebrates (very= quietly) its arrival at
the point in its orbit called opposition. Thi= s is where the planet (and
spacecraft), the Earth, and the Sun are in = a straight line, with Earth in
the middle. This also represents the cl= osest approach of Jupiter to the
Earth, though still an impressive 626= million kilometers distant (389
million miles). Since Jupiter takes a= bout 12 years to circle the Sun,
compared to Earth's one year, opposit= ions happen about every 13 months.

Playback of data from the Octob= er Io flyby continues as the science teams
both extend coverage and fi= ll in gaps from observations previously
returned. Scientists using the= Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer, the
Solid State Imaging camera, t= he Photopolarimeter Radiometer, and the suite
of Fields and Particles = instruments (the Energetic Particle Detector, the
Heavy Ion Counter, t= he Magnetometer, the Plasma Subsystem, and the Plasma
Wave Subsystem) = will expect portions of a wide variety of observations.

In additio= n, the steady collection of real-time data by the Magnetometer,
the Du= st Detector, and the Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer continues
throug= hout the week.

The Galileo Flight Team would like to take this opp= ortunity to thank our
loyal readers and followers for sticking with us= over the past year, and to
extend our wishes for a safe and happy hol= iday season to one and all! And
from the Galileo spacecraft itself, "B= eep, beep, boop, beep!"

For more information on the Galileo spacec= raft and its mission to Jupiter,
please visit the Galileo home page at= one of the following URL's:

http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov

------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18CDC.78BB0220-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Wed Dec 26 09:07:07 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBQH76c09337 for ; Wed, 26 Dec 2001 09:07:07 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id LAA00109 for bioastro-list; Wed, 26 Dec 2001 11:57:21 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe57.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.199]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id LAA00105 for ; Wed, 26 Dec 2001 11:57:15 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 26 Dec 2001 08:56:44 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.114] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Scientists Discover Distinctive Deep-Sea Squid Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 11:56:35 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18E04.5E10FEB0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 26 Dec 2001 16:56:44.0588 (UTC) FILETIME=[4C7B66C0:01C18E2E] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18E04.5E10FEB0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: ScientificAmerican.com Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2001 3:44 AM To: ljk4@msn.com Subject: Scientists Discover Distinctive Deep-Sea Squid ________________________________________________________________ ScientificAmerican.com -- WEEKLY REVIEW December 25, 2001 ________________________________________________________________ =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3DADVERTISEMENT=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Introducing the ENDLESS POOL, a revolution in home health, =20 fitness and fun. Enjoy all the benefits of swimming in a professional quality lap pool =20 right at home! Endless Pool's compact 8 'x 15' modular design fits =20 into existing spaces such as basements, garages, enclosed porches, =20 or patios. =20 Request your free video and intro packet below: http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWWY =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D IN THIS ISSUE ------------------------- ** SCIENTISTS DISCOVER DISTINCTIVE DEEP-SEA SQUID ** THE CELLULAR UNDERPINNINGS OF THE FRENCH PARADOX ** PHYSICISTS PROBE PROTON'S SPIN PROPERTIES ** TEMPERATURE TUNES A TINY LASER'S COLOR ** ATHLETES CAN TRAIN TO AVOID CHOKING UNDER PRESSURE =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3DADVERTISEMENT=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D DO YOU READ LOCKERGNOME? Whether you just want to have more fun with your computer or you're a networking expert, Lockergnome has a newsletter that's perfect for you! Find all the latest Computer Tips, Free Downloads, MP3s, Network Utilities, and Shell Extensions, without having to leave the comfort of your Inbox. Subscribe to a Lockergnome Newsletter today: http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWWZ =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D -------------------------- WEEKLY REVIEW --------------------------- ** SCIENTISTS DISCOVER DISTINCTIVE DEEP-SEA SQUID The depths of the ocean remain largely unexplored, so it's hardly =20 surprising that new creatures continue to reveal themselves to =20 scientists and their submersibles. A new report describes one such =20 novel animal, a large deep-sea squid sighted eight times in the last =20 few years at sites around the globe. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWWC ** THE CELLULAR UNDERPINNINGS OF THE FRENCH PARADOX About a decade ago, the discovery of the French paradox--that people =20 living in France have a lower incidence of heart disease than do their =20 British counterparts, despite a comparable intake of dietary fat-- touched off the ongoing debate over the health benefits of alcohol. =20 New research suggests that components specific to red wine do indeed =20 provide protection against coronary artery disease. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWWA ** PHYSICISTS PROBE PROTON'S SPIN PROPERTIES When it comes to a proton's spin, the whole is more than the sum of =20 its quarks. Each proton contains three quarks, the spins of which =20 can only account for about 20 percent of the proton's spin. But new =20 experimentsusing Brookhaven National Laboratory's Relativistic =20 Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) may help untangle the problem of the =20 proton's missing spin by further investigating the properties of =20 gluons, the particles that hold quarks together and carry the =20 so-called strong force. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWWB ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOOKSTORE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EYE OF THE WHALE: EPIC PASSAGE FROM BAJA TO SIBERIA by Dick Russell. =20 The whale is Eschrichtius robustus, the gray whale of the Eastern =20 Pacific, which makes "a twice-annual migration that must be regarded =20 as one of the most spectacular achievements on the planet." Swimming =20 close to the shore, some 26,000 grays travel from breeding areas in =20 the central Baja California region of Mexico to Arctic feeding =20 grounds near the Bering Strait and back--a minimum of 5,000 miles =20 each way. Environmental journalist Russell writes sensitively about =20 the past, present and uncertain future of these remarkable animals. =20 Buy the book TODAY. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ** TEMPERATURE TUNES A TINY LASER'S COLOR The telltale signature of most lasers used in everyday applications-- from bar-code scanners to pen-size pointers--is a bright red glow. =20 The color is determined by the light's wavelength, and most lasers =20 emit at only one wavelength. A new describes a light source measuring =20 only tens of millimeters across that changes color according to =20 temperature. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXU ** ATHLETES CAN TRAIN TO AVOID CHOKING UNDER PRESSURE Some sports fans might argue that this year's World Series went to a =20 nail-biting seventh game because Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher =20 Byung-Hyun Kim choked, twice. The phenomenon of choking--performing =20 worse than expected under pressure--has long plagued professional =20 athletes and performers, but its cause was unclear. Do performers =20 choke because they pay too much attention to their actions or because they get distracted and pay too little attention? A new report =20 suggests that it is overattending to a well-learned skill that =20 causes choking. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXV AND REMEMBER... ******************************************************** * Feel free to forward this e-mail to a friend or colleague! * Subscribe to Scientific American magazine. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXX * Visit us for the latest news and information in science and technology. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXY * Sign up for your FREE Newsletter. =20 http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXZ ******************************************************** -------------- In the event that you wish to unsubscribe from receiving future =20 Scientific American Weekly Review Newsletters, click on the unsubscribe link below. This message was sent by ScientificAmerican.com using Responsys Interact = (TM). Visit the link below if you prefer not to receive future e-mail from Scie= ntificAmerican.com. http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/optout?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0 =20 Visit the link below to view the Responsys permission marketing policy. http://www.rsvp0.net ------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18E04.5E10FEB0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: ScientificAmerican.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2001 3:44 AM
To: ljk4@msn.com
Subje= ct: Scientists Discover Distinctive Deep-Sea Squid
 <= /DIV>________________________________________________________________
= ScientificAmerican.com -- WEEKLY REVIEW     &nbs= p; December 25, 2001
_________________________________________________= _______________

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3DADVERTISEMENT=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D
Introducing the ENDLESS POOL, a revolution in home health, <= BR>fitness and fun.

Enjoy all the benefits of swimming in a profes= sional quality lap pool
right at home! Endless Pool's compact 8 'x 15= ' modular design fits
into existing spaces such as basements, garages= , enclosed porches,
or patios. 

Request your free video = and intro packet below:
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXF= tlgDJhtE0EWWY
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

IN THIS ISSUE
---------------------= ----
** SCIENTISTS DISCOVER DISTINCTIVE DEEP-SEA SQUID
** THE CELLU= LAR UNDERPINNINGS OF THE FRENCH PARADOX
** PHYSICISTS PROBE PROTON'S S= PIN PROPERTIES
** TEMPERATURE TUNES A TINY LASER'S COLOR
** ATHLETE= S CAN TRAIN TO AVOID CHOKING UNDER PRESSURE

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3DADVERTISEMENT=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
DO YOU READ LOCKERGNOME?

W= hether you just want to have more fun with your computer or you're a
n= etworking expert, Lockergnome has a newsletter that's perfect for you!Find all the latest Computer Tips, Free Downloads, MP3s, Network
Util= ities, and Shell Extensions, without having to leave the comfort
of yo= ur Inbox.

Subscribe to a Lockergnome Newsletter today:
http://s= ciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWWZ
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
-------------------------- WEEKLY REVIEW ---------------------------
= ** SCIENTISTS DISCOVER DISTINCTIVE DEEP-SEA SQUID
The depths of the oc= ean remain largely unexplored, so it's hardly
surprising that new cre= atures continue to reveal themselves to
scientists and their submersi= bles. A new report describes one such
novel animal, a large deep-sea = squid sighted eight times in the last
few years at sites around the g= lobe.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWWC
<= BR>
** THE CELLULAR UNDERPINNINGS OF THE FRENCH PARADOX
About a dec= ade ago, the discovery of the French paradox--that people
living in F= rance have a lower incidence of heart disease than do their
British c= ounterparts, despite a comparable intake of dietary fat--
touched off = the ongoing debate over the health benefits of alcohol.
New research = suggests that components specific to red wine do indeed
provide prote= ction against coronary artery disease.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/= cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWWA


** PHYSICISTS PROBE PROTON'S SPIN= PROPERTIES
When it comes to a proton's spin, the whole is more than t= he sum of
its quarks. Each proton contains three quarks, the spins of= which
can only account for about 20 percent of the proton's spin. Bu= t new
experimentsusing Brookhaven National Laboratory's Relativistic =
Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) may help untangle the problem of the
pr= oton's missing spin by further investigating the properties of
gluons= , the particles that hold quarks together and carry the
so-called str= ong force.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWWB=


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOOKSTORE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EYE= OF THE WHALE: EPIC PASSAGE FROM BAJA TO SIBERIA
by Dick Russell.
=
The whale is Eschrichtius robustus, the gray whale of the Eastern Pacific, which makes "a twice-annual migration that must be regarded as one of the most spectacular achievements on the planet." Swimming close to the shore, some 26,000 grays travel from breeding areas in
= the central Baja California region of Mexico to Arctic feeding
ground= s near the Bering Strait and back--a minimum of 5,000 miles
each way.= Environmental journalist Russell writes sensitively about
the past, = present and uncertain future of these remarkable animals.

Buy the= book TODAY.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EW= XT

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** TEM= PERATURE TUNES A TINY LASER'S COLOR
The telltale signature of most las= ers used in everyday applications--
from bar-code scanners to pen-size= pointers--is a bright red glow.
The color is determined by the light= 's wavelength, and most lasers
emit at only one wavelength. A new des= cribes a light source measuring
only tens of millimeters across that = changes color according to
temperature.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/ser= vlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXU


** ATHLETES CAN TRAIN TO AVO= ID CHOKING UNDER PRESSURE
Some sports fans might argue that this year'= s World Series went to a
nail-biting seventh game because Arizona Dia= mondbacks relief pitcher
Byung-Hyun Kim choked, twice. The phenomenon= of choking--performing
worse than expected under pressure--has long = plagued professional
athletes and performers, but its cause was uncle= ar. Do performers
choke because they pay too much attention to their = actions or because
they get distracted and pay too little attention? A= new report
suggests that it is overattending to a well-learned skill= that
causes choking.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqr= XFtlgDJhtE0EWXV



AND REMEMBER...
***********************= *********************************
* Feel free to forward this e-mail t= o a friend or colleague!

* Subscribe to Scientific American magazi= ne.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXX
* Visit us for the latest news and information in science and technology= .
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXY

*= Sign up for your FREE Newsletter.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/cc?= lJpDUWEsqrXFtlgDJhtE0EWXZ
********************************************= ************

--------------
In the event that you wish to unsub= scribe from receiving future
Scientific American Weekly Review Newsle= tters,
click on the unsubscribe link below.




This me= ssage was sent by ScientificAmerican.com using Responsys Interact (TM).Visit the link below if you prefer not to receive future e-mail from Sc= ientificAmerican.com.
http://sciam.rsc03.net/servlet/optout?lJpDUWEsqr= XFtlgDJhtE0 
Visit the link below to view the Responsys permissio= n marketing policy.
http://www.rsvp0.net


------=_NextPart_001_0003_01C18E04.5E10FEB0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Thu Dec 27 07:40:56 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBRFetc06989 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 07:40:55 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id KAA08875 for bioastro-list; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:29:40 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe159.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.152]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id KAA08871 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:29:33 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 07:29:02 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.222] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Items Of Interest Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:28:52 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0001_01C18EC1.47973A10" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 27 Dec 2001 15:29:02.0171 (UTC) FILETIME=[36400AB0:01C18EEB] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C18EC1.47973A10 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: Barry Karr Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 2:01 PM To: CSICOP-ANNOUNCE@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Items Of Interest >From CSICOP Friend Massimo Pigliucci: Hi all, on December 29 at 2pm I will debate creationist Kent Hovind ("Dr. Dino") = on a radio show hosted by a fellow that identifies himself only as "Pastor Dan." The show will be broadcasted over the Internet at www.wtma.com and there will be the possibility of calling in. Rationally yours, Dr. Massimo Pigliucci, Assoc. Professor Department of Botany University of Tennessee www.rationallyspeaking.org *********************************************** >From CSICOP Fellow Eugenie Scott: Please pass this to those who might be interested in it. If you receive =20 multiple copies, please accept my apologies. Thank you. ECS Santorum Amendment Stripped from Education Bill The Elementary and Secondary Education Authorization Act which is headed =20 for the President's signature does not contain the antievolution "Santoru= m =20 amendment", though there is brief mention of the topic of evolution in =20 explanatory materials appended to the law. The good news for teachers is =20 that they will not have to teach evolution any differently as a result of= =20 the new legislation. Background Since the summer of 2001, a joint Senate-House conference committee has =20 attempted to resolve the House and Senate versions of the Elementary and =20 Secondary Education Authorization Act (the "Education Bill"). The Senate= =20 had added a "sense of the Senate" amendment proposed by Pennsylvania's =20 Senator Rick Santorum that singled out evolution as a controversial idea.= =20 (See =20 http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2001/US/321_senate_passes_antievolu= tion_re_6_13_2001.asp) =20 The original Santorum amendment said: "It is the sense of the Senate that: (1) good science education should prepare students to distinguish the dat= a =20 or testable theories of science from philosophical or religious claims =20 that are made in the name of science; and (2) where biological evolution is taught, the curriculum should help =20 students to understand why the subject generates so much continuing =20 controversy, and should prepare the students to be informed participants = in =20 public discussions regarding the subject." This language, because it singled out evolution as a controversial theory= , =20 caused the officers of almost one hundred scientific societies =E2=80=93 =20 representing over 100,000 scientists =E2=80=93 to call upon the conferenc= e =20 committee chairs to drop the Santorum amendment. (See =20 http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis107/evolutionletter_update0801.html) In =20 December 2001,the joint committee finished its work, and submitted the =20 compromise bill to Congress, which passed the bill and sent it to Preside= nt =20 Bush for his signature. The Good News The good news is that the Santorum amendment has disappeared from the bil= l, =20 appearing only in altered form in the Conference Report, buried deep in t= he =20 "Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference" in Title I, =20 Part A, as item =20 78. (See =20 http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/107th/education/nclb/conference/state= ofman/title1pa.htm Item 78 says: "The conferees recognize that a quality science education should prepare =20 students to distinguish the data and testable theories of science from =20 religious or philosophical claims that are made in the name of science. =20 Where topics are taught that may generate controversy (such as biological= =20 evolution), the curriculum should help students to understand the full =20 range of scientific views that exist, why such topics may generate =20 controversy, and how scientific discoveries can profoundly affect society= ." The Joint Explanatory Statement is not part of the bill itself, but an =20 explanation of how the conference committee brought together the various =20 provisions of the House and Senate bills. The law itself does not mention= =20 "evolution", nor does it include any sentiments reflecting the Santorum =20 amendment. Teachers do not have to alter how they teach evolution as a =20 result of the Education Bill. More good news is that the obscure two-sentence distillation of the =20 Santorum amendment reflects the conference committee's wish to keep =20 "religious and philosophical claims that are made in the name of science"= =20 out of the science classroom, a position that NCSE has always supported. =20 Creation science, intelligent design theory, and philosophical materialis= m =20 qualify as "religious or philosophical claims that are made in the name o= f =20 science" and thus teachers are discouraged from presenting them. The Sort-of Bad News The bad news is that evolution is again singled out =E2=80=93 but even he= re =20 creationists got less than they wanted. Whereas evolution was the only =20 controversial scientific topic in the original Santorum amendment, Item 7= 8 =20 includes evolution as a parenthetical example of a controversial issue. It appears as if the conference committee largely heeded the call of the =20 officers of the scientific societies. The scientists requested the Senate= =20 and House conference committee chairs to drop the Santorum amendment =E2=80= =93 =20 which they did. The inclusion of a modified and watered-down form of the =20 amendment with no force of law, buried deep in explanatory material, was =20 probably intended to appease religiously conservative constituents, =20 politics being after all the art of compromise. But, to reiterate: teache= rs =20 do not have to alter how they teach evolution as a result of the Educatio= n =20 Bill. Eugenie C. Scott, Ph.D. Executive Director National Center for Science Education, Inc. 420 40th Street, Ste. 2 Oakland, CA 94609-2509 510-601-7203 fax: 510-601-7204 800-290-6006 scott@ncseweb.org http://www.ncseweb.org >From Skeptical News Hound Joe Littrell: Evolutionary Road by Edward J. Larson Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9924-2001Dec20.html "Alfred Russel Wallace is hot. With six new books about his life or work =20 appearing within the past five years, including these two published this =20 year, Wallace has reemerged from Charles Darwin's long shadow to regain =20 some measure of the public recognition that he once enjoyed for his =20 independent role in formulating the theory of organic evolution by natura= l =20 selection. Like Darwin, Wallace was fairly well known in Britain even =20 before the announcement of their grand theory in 1858. Although the two m= en =20 differed in background and temperament, they built their initial =20 reputations in similar manners and hit upon the idea of natural selection= =20 in nearly the same way." Blair baby 'has had' MMR jab by Kamal Ahmed and Gaby Hinsliff The Observer [UK] http://www.observer.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,624391,00.html "Leo Blair has been given the controversial triple vaccination for measle= s, =20 mumps and rubella, The Observer can reveal. Sources close to Tony Blair =20 gave the clearest indication possible last night that the 19-month-old =20 child has had the MMR inoculation after demands that the family 'come =20 clean' on the issue." Study Links Superstitious Fear to Fatal Heart Attacks by Kate Wong Scientific American http://www.sciam.com/news/122101/3.html "In work that illustrates the negative influence that mind can wield over= =20 body, a new study provides perhaps the strongest evidence yet that =20 psychological stress can increase the risk of cardiac death. A report =20 describing this so-called Baskerville effect=E2=80=94named for the fate o= f a =20 character in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles who =20 succumbs to a stress-induced heart attack=E2=80=94appears in the current = issue of =20 the British Medical Journal." see also: =20 http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7327/1446 http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7327/1450 http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7327/1452 http://bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/323/7327/1443 Phony doctor imprisoned for running cancer scam Bradenton Herald http://braden.infi.net/content/bradenton/2001/12/22/local/1222cancerscam_= 14C.htm "After persuading ailing patients or their relatives to dole out thousand= s =20 of dollars for fraudulent cancer treatments, John Paul Dyke has been =20 sentenced to nine years in prison, more than twice the time sentencing =20 guidelines recommend for fraud." Popular Myth Says Suicides Increase During Holidays, Facts Prove Contrary Press Release National Mental Health Awareness Campaign http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011221/nyf033_1.html "Contrary to widespread media reports that suicide rates are highest duri= ng =20 the holiday season, facts show the percentage of suicides among adults an= d =20 teens occurring in December is below the monthly average. In the United =20 States, April is usually the peak month of suicide incidence and December= =20 is the lowest.(1) In fact, November and December rank the lowest in daily= =20 rates of suicide.(2) An analysis done last year by the Annenberg Public =20 Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, found that two out of =20 three newspaper stories incorrectly link suicides to the holidays or crea= te =20 a direct relationship between the holidays and suicides." Vatican denies rumors the Third Secret of Fatima foretold terrorist attac= ks Associated Press http://www.nandotimes.com/world/story/199595p-1936660c.html "The Vatican tried Thursday to end speculation that the so-called Third =20 Secret of Fatima foretold the Sept. 11 suicide hijacking attacks in the =20 United States." Ball lightning baffles scientists BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1721000/1721473.stm "This picture of the freak weather phenomenon of ball lightning was taken= =20 by a wildlife ranger in Queensland, Australia, in 1987." Former unbelievers now seeking advice in psychic realm By Amie Parnes PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/12/24/local_news/SPSYCHIC24.h= tm "Sept. 11. It was a clear, sunny day and Mars was in Capricorn." >From ghosts to Jesus, apparition tradition continues in Atlantic Canada by DERRICK TOTH Canadian Press http://www.canada.com/news/story.asp?id=3D%7B74E88D07-3786-45DC-8F70-9DF3= 56A7D47D%7D "In Atlantic Canada, coffee shops, covered bridges, bedroom walls and eve= n =20 knotholes have a curious commonality. Over the years, they've all been ho= me =20 to apparitions - and 2001 was no exception." No fooling: the 10 worst Internet hoaxes By Scott Spanbauer IDG http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/12/24/internet.hoaxes.idg/index.htm= l "Communicating by e-mail seems safe and clean compared to the real world = -- =20 no bad breath, no cauliflower ear, and no anthrax. But e-mail doesn't =20 escape the clutches of con artists. Just because an e-mail message looks =20 legitimate and plays upon our deeply felt hopes and fears doesn't mean it= 's =20 true. Here's our top ten list of some of the most devious hoaxes and =20 outright scams in Internet history. Don't be surprised to see some of the= m =20 appear (and mutate into new forms) again and again." ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C18EC1.47973A10 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: Barry Karr
Sent: Wednesday= , December 26, 2001 2:01 PM
To:<= /B> CSICOP-ANNOUNCE@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
a radio show hosted by a fellow that identifies hi= mself only as "Pastor
Dan." The show will be broadcasted over the Inte= rnet at www.wtma.com and
there will be the possibility of calling in.<= BR>
Rationally yours,

Dr. Massimo Pigliucci, Assoc. ProfessorDepartment of Botany
University of Tennessee
www.rationallyspeaki= ng.org
***********************************************

From CSI= COP Fellow Eugenie Scott:

Please pass this to those who might be i= nterested in it.  If you receive
multiple copies, please accept = my apologies. Thank you.
ECS

Santorum Amendment Stripped from E= ducation Bill

The Elementary and Secondary Education Authorization= Act which is headed
for the President's signature does not contain t= he antievolution "Santorum
amendment", though there is brief mention = of the topic of evolution in
explanatory materials appended to the la= w. The good news for teachers is
that they will not have to teach evo= lution any differently as a result of
the new legislation.

Bac= kground

Since the summer of 2001, a joint Senate-House conference = committee has
attempted to resolve the House and Senate versions of t= he Elementary and
Secondary Education Authorization Act (the "Educati= on Bill").  The Senate
had added a "sense of the Senate" amendme= nt proposed by Pennsylvania's
Senator Rick Santorum that singled out = evolution as a controversial idea.
(See
http://www.ncseweb.org/re= sources/news/2001/US/321_senate_passes_antievolution_re_6_13_2001.asp)

The original Santorum amendment said:

"It is the sense o= f the Senate that:

(1) good science education should prepare stude= nts to distinguish the data
or  testable theories of science fro= m philosophical or religious claims
that are made in the name of scie= nce; and

(2) where biological evolution is taught, the curriculum = should help
students to understand why the subject generates so much = continuing
controversy, and should prepare the students to be informe= d participants in
public discussions regarding the subject."

T= his language, because it singled out evolution as a controversial theory,=
caused the officers of almost one hundred scientific societies =E2=80= =93
representing over 100,000 scientists =E2=80=93 to call upon the c= onference
committee chairs to drop the Santorum amendment. (See
h= ttp://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis107/evolutionletter_update0801.html) In December 2001,the joint committee finished its work, and submitted the <= BR>compromise bill to Congress, which passed the bill and sent it to Pres= ident
Bush for his signature.

The Good News

The good ne= ws is that the Santorum amendment has disappeared from the bill,
appe= aring only in altered form in the Conference Report, buried deep in the <= BR>"Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference" in Title = I,
Part A, as item
78.  (See
http://edworkforce.house.go= v/issues/107th/education/nclb/conference/stateofman/title1pa.htm

I= tem 78 says:

"The conferees recognize that a quality science educa= tion should prepare
students to distinguish the data and testable the= ories of science from
religious or philosophical claims that are made= in the name of science.
Where topics are taught that may generate co= ntroversy (such as biological
evolution), the curriculum should help = students to understand the full
range of scientific views that exist,= why such topics may generate
controversy, and how scientific discove= ries can profoundly affect society."

The Joint Explanatory Stateme= nt is not part of the bill itself, but an
explanation of how the conf= erence committee brought together the various
provisions of the House= and Senate bills. The law itself does not mention
"evolution", nor d= oes it include any sentiments reflecting the Santorum
amendment. Teac= hers do not have to alter how they teach evolution as a
result of the= Education Bill.

More good news is that the obscure two-sentence d= istillation of the
Santorum amendment reflects the conference committ= ee's wish to keep
"religious and philosophical claims that are made i= n the name of science"
out of the science classroom, a position that = NCSE has always supported.
Creation science, intelligent design theor= y, and philosophical materialism
qualify as "religious or philosophic= al claims that are made in the name of
science" and thus teachers are= discouraged from presenting them.

The Sort-of  Bad News
<= BR>The bad news is that evolution is again singled out =E2=80=93 but even= here
creationists got less than they wanted.  Whereas evolution= was the only
controversial scientific topic in the original Santorum= amendment, Item 78
includes evolution as a parenthetical example of = a controversial issue.

It appears as if the conference committee l= argely heeded the call of the
officers of the scientific societies. T= he scientists requested the Senate
and House conference committee cha= irs to drop the Santorum amendment =E2=80=93
which they did. The incl= usion of a modified and watered-down form of the
amendment with no fo= rce of law, buried deep in explanatory material, was
probably intende= d to appease religiously conservative constituents,
politics being af= ter all the art of compromise. But, to reiterate: teachers
do not hav= e to alter how they teach evolution as a result of the Education
Bill= .

Eugenie C. Scott, Ph.D.
Executive Director
National Center= for Science Education, Inc.
420 40th Street, Ste. 2
Oakland, CA 94= 609-2509
510-601-7203
fax: 510-601-7204
800-290-6006
scott@nc= seweb.org
http://www.ncseweb.org


From Skeptical News Hound = Joe Littrell:

Evolutionary Road
by Edward J. Larson
Washingt= on Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9924-2001Dec20.= html

"Alfred Russel Wallace is hot. With six new books about his l= ife or work
appearing within the past five years, including these two= published this
year, Wallace has reemerged from Charles Darwin's lon= g shadow to regain
some measure of the public recognition that he onc= e enjoyed for his
independent role in formulating the theory of organ= ic evolution by natural
selection. Like Darwin, Wallace was fairly we= ll known in Britain even
before the announcement of their grand theor= y in 1858. Although the two men
differed in background and temperamen= t, they built their initial
reputations in similar manners and hit up= on the idea of natural selection
in nearly the same way."


= Blair baby 'has had' MMR jab
by Kamal Ahmed and Gaby Hinsliff
The O= bserver [UK]
http://www.observer.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,624391,00= .html

"Leo Blair has been given the controversial triple vaccinati= on for measles,
mumps and rubella, The Observer can reveal. Sources c= lose to Tony Blair
gave the clearest indication possible last night t= hat the 19-month-old
child has had the MMR inoculation after demands = that the family 'come
clean' on the issue."


Study Links Su= perstitious Fear to Fatal Heart Attacks
by Kate Wong
Scientific Ame= rican
http://www.sciam.com/news/122101/3.html

"In work that ill= ustrates the negative influence that mind can wield over
body, a new = study provides perhaps the strongest evidence yet that
psychological = stress can increase the risk of cardiac death. A report
describing th= is so-called Baskerville effect=E2=80=94named for the fate of a
chara= cter in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles who
su= ccumbs to a stress-induced heart attack=E2=80=94appears in the current is= sue of
the British Medical Journal."

see also:  http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full= /323/7327/1446
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7327/1450
http:/= /bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7327/1452
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/abs= tract/323/7327/1443



Phony doctor imprisoned for r= unning cancer scam
Bradenton Herald
http://braden.infi.net/content/= bradenton/2001/12/22/local/1222cancerscam_14C.htm

"After persuadin= g ailing patients or their relatives to dole out thousands
of dollars= for fraudulent cancer treatments, John Paul Dyke has been
sentenced = to nine years in prison, more than twice the time sentencing
guidelin= es recommend for fraud."


Popular Myth Says Suicides Increase D= uring Holidays, Facts Prove Contrary
Press Release
National Mental = Health Awareness Campaign
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011221/nyf033_1.= html

"Contrary to widespread media reports that suicide rates are = highest during
the holiday season, facts show the percentage of suici= des among adults and
teens occurring in December is below the monthly= average. In the United
States, April is usually the peak month of su= icide incidence and December
is the lowest.(1) In fact, November and = December rank the lowest in daily
rates of suicide.(2) An analysis do= ne last year by the Annenberg Public
Policy Center of the University = of Pennsylvania, found that two out of
three newspaper stories incorr= ectly link suicides to the holidays or create
a direct relationship b= etween the holidays and suicides."


Vatican denies rumors the T= hird Secret of Fatima foretold terrorist attacks
Associated Press
h= ttp://www.nandotimes.com/world/story/199595p-1936660c.html

"The Va= tican tried Thursday to end speculation that the so-called Third
Secr= et of Fatima foretold the Sept. 11 suicide hijacking attacks in the
U= nited States."


Ball lightning baffles scientists
BBC Newshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1721000/1721473.stm
"This picture of the freak weather phenomenon of ball lightning was = taken
by a wildlife ranger in Queensland, Australia, in 1987."

Former unbelievers now seeking advice in psychic realm
By Amie Pa= rnes
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2= 001/12/24/local_news/SPSYCHIC24.htm

"Sept. 11. It was a clear, sun= ny day and Mars was in Capricorn."


From ghosts to Jesus, appar= ition tradition continues in Atlantic Canada
by DERRICK TOTH
Canadi= an Press
http://www.canada.com/news/story.asp?id=3D%7B74E88D07-3786-45= DC-8F70-9DF356A7D47D%7D

"In Atlantic Canada, coffee shops, covered= bridges, bedroom walls and even
knotholes have a curious commonality= . Over the years, they've all been home
to apparitions - and 2001 was= no exception."



No fooling: the 10 worst Internet hoaxesBy Scott Spanbauer
IDG
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/12/2= 4/internet.hoaxes.idg/index.html

"Communicating by e-mail seems sa= fe and clean compared to the real world --
no bad breath, no cauliflo= wer ear, and no anthrax. But e-mail doesn't
escape the clutches of co= n artists. Just because an e-mail message looks
legitimate and plays = upon our deeply felt hopes and fears doesn't mean it's
true. Here's o= ur top ten list of some of the most devious hoaxes and
outright scams= in Internet history. Don't be surprised to see some of them
appear (= and mutate into new forms) again and again."



------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C18EC1.47973A10-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Thu Dec 27 07:52:41 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBRFqfc02789 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 07:52:41 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id KAA09727 for bioastro-list; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:47:35 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe7.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.87]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id KAA09717 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:47:32 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 07:47:01 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.222] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: SpaceDaily Express - Dec 27, 2001 Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:46:55 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18EC3.CD67E6B0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 27 Dec 2001 15:47:01.0402 (UTC) FILETIME=[B9859FA0:01C18EED] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18EC3.CD67E6B0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable SPACE SCIENCE - A New Dawn For Discovery http://www.spacedaily.com/news/asteroid-01n.html Washington - Dec. 21, 2001 - Two new NASA missions, selected today in the= agency's Discovery Program, promise to bring staples of science- fiction= stories to reality. The missions are Dawn, slated for launch in 2006, wh= ich will orbit the two largest asteroids in our solar system, and Kepler,= a spaceborne telescope, also scheduled for launch in 2006, which will se= arch for Earth-like planets around stars beyond the solar system. - Ulysses Gets New Partner In Hunt For Gamma-Ray Bursts http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gamma-01e.html ----------- DEEP IMPACT - Arecibo Asteroid Radar Project Gets One Year Reprieve http://www.spacedaily.com/news/asteroid-01m.html Washington - Dec 21, 2001 - Dr. Colleen Hartman, Director of Solar System= Exploration at NASA, has issued a Dear Colleague letter revising NASA's = earlier decision and has restored funding for radar astronomy at Arecibo = for the current fiscal year. Her letter is quoted below: - ISS Overruns Claim Another Victim As Arecibo Radar Project Shutdown http://www.spacedaily.com/news/asteroid-01l.html - The First Sulfur Eaters http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-01zw.html - Large Volcanic Eruptions Help Plants Absorb Co2 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01za.html - Researchers Investigate Mysteries Of The African Rift http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tectonics-01m.html ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18EC3.CD67E6B0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
SPACE SCIENCE<= BR>
- A New Dawn For Discovery
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/aster= oid-01n.html

Washington - Dec. 21, 2001 - Two new NASA missions, s= elected today in the agency's Discovery Program, promise to bring staples= of science- fiction stories to reality. The missions are Dawn, slated fo= r launch in 2006, which will orbit the two largest asteroids in our solar= system, and Kepler, a spaceborne telescope, also scheduled for launch in= 2006, which will search for Earth-like planets around stars beyond the s= olar system.

- Ulysses Gets New Partner In Hunt For Gamma-Ray Burs= ts
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gamma-01e.html

-----------DEEP IMPACT

- Arecibo Asteroid Radar Project Gets One Year Reprie= ve
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/asteroid-01m.html

Washington = - Dec 21, 2001 - Dr. Colleen Hartman, Director of Solar System Exploratio= n at NASA, has issued a Dear Colleague letter revising NASA's earlier dec= ision and has restored funding for radar astronomy at Arecibo for the cur= rent fiscal year.  Her letter is quoted below:

- ISS Overruns= Claim Another Victim As Arecibo Radar Project Shutdown
http://www.spa= cedaily.com/news/asteroid-01l.html

- The First Sulfur Eaters
ht= tp://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-01zw.html

- Large Volcanic Erupt= ions Help Plants Absorb Co2
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-= 01za.html

- Researchers Investigate Mysteries Of The African Rift<= BR>http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tectonics-01m.html

= ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C18EC3.CD67E6B0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Thu Dec 27 07:56:28 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBRFuRc28078 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 07:56:28 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id KAA09910 for bioastro-list; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:51:15 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe32.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.112]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id KAA09900 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:51:11 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 07:50:41 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.222] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Solar System Ambassadors Chosen to Teach Earthlings about Space Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:50:33 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0007_01C18EC4.4F4DFD90" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 27 Dec 2001 15:50:41.0234 (UTC) FILETIME=[3C8D5320:01C18EEE] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0007_01C18EC4.4F4DFD90 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 5:17 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Solar System Ambassadors Chosen to Teach Earthlings about Space MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov Contact: Guy Webster (818) 354-6278 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 26, 2001 SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADORS CHOSEN TO TEACH EARTHLINGS ABOUT SPACE Space enthusiasts from all 50 states and Puerto Rico have been selected to lead public events in 2002 conveying news and excitement about solar-system exploration. The 278 volunteers chosen for the coming year's Solar System Ambassador program of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., range from a Minnesota lawyer to a Texas teacher trainer, and from a California respiratory therapist to a Georgia marine mechanic. "I'm doing this because I see a real need for the public to know more about space," said one newly named ambassador, Dr. Bob Polcyn, a retired physician in Hot Springs, S.D. "One of the major lessons from learning more about other planets is how special our own planet is." The ambassadors run events such as star parties, lectures, community displays, musical presentations and library appearances. JPL provides them with special training opportunities, including question-and-answer sessions with leaders of interplanetary missions. It also supplies materials such as the latest pictures from JPL-managed spacecraft orbiting Mars and Jupiter. "I'm very interested in the training, and I think the ambassador program will give me more credibility that will help me reach more people in my community," Polcyn said. Through his local astronomy club, he has previously presented space talks to elementary students and retirement-home residents. As a Solar System Ambassador, he intends to organize programs both for adults and children. Another new ambassador, Julie Corbett-Steineke, of Chicago, will concentrate on programs for young people. She is a gymnastics coach who has trained Olympic competitors. "I want to be a Solar System Ambassador so I can reach a greater number of children and have more of an impact by allowing them to learn along with me," she said. "I love that spark in a child's eyes, the 'Wow!' when they want to run right to the computer or the library and find out more." The five-year-old ambassador program will reach all 50 states for the first time in 2002, said JPL's Kay Ferrari, coordinator of the program. In 2001, 206 Solar System Ambassadors in 48 states organized more than 960 presentations, reaching about 2.5 million people, including those who learned about the programs via mass media, she said. "The 2002 ambassadors are a wonderfully diverse group," Ferrari said. "The program brings people together who have all kinds of different backgrounds but share an interest in space exploration." Ambassadors were selected by the program's board of directors at JPL. During an application period in September, candidates submitted information about their experience and their proposed events. Nearly half the members of the 2002 group already have experience as Solar System Ambassadors. Peggy Motes, of Muncie, Ind., has participated since 1999. She runs a planetarium for the Muncie public schools and was recently named one of America's top educators by USA Today. Through the JPL affiliation, she gets updates on current missions that she uses in "News from NASA" presentations in the planetarium. "Recently, we've had information about the Mars Odyssey spacecraft and the Genesis mission to collect particles of the solar wind and bring them back to Earth," Motes said. For Florence Brammer, a Minneapolis labor-law attorney just becoming a Solar System Ambassador, talking to groups about space exploration will be something new. She's been inspired by the night sky since childhood and has helped conduct art programs in local schools. "Space exploration is one of the frontiers of the future," she said. "My hope for being an ambassador is not only that I'll enjoy it for myself, but that I can get middle-school kids excited about space exploration." Dane Wilkins, a respiratory therapist in Ukiah, Calif., has experience teaching about health topics, but not about outer space. "I've always been interested in space, and I think the best way for me to learn as much as possible about something is by teaching it. As a Solar System Ambassador, I'll be able to get information straight from the horse's mouth. I'm really excited about it and think it will be a benefit to the community here." Online information is available about the Solar System Ambassador program at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador . JPL is managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. # # # # # NOTE TO EDITORS: Solar System Ambassadors for 2002 are listed state-by-state at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/usstates.html . Guy Webster, at (818) 354-6278, can help you contact them. 12/26/01 - GW #2001- 246 --------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to JPL's news mailing list. To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov and in the body of the message include the following line. unsubscribe news Please do not reply to this e-mail. For help, send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov. ------=_NextPart_001_0007_01C18EC4.4F4DFD90 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent:= Wednesday, December 26, 2001 5:17 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Solar System Ambassadors Chosen to Teach Earthlings a= bout Space
 
MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSIO= N LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTIC= S AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91109. TELEPHONE (818)= 354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

Contact: Guy Webster (818) 35= 4-6278

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p; December
26, 2001

SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADORS CHOSEN TO TEACH E= ARTHLINGS ABOUT
SPACE

     Space enthusiast= s from all 50 states and Puerto Rico have
been selected to lead public= events in 2002 conveying news and
excitement about solar-system explo= ration.

     The 278 volunteers chosen for the= coming year's Solar
System Ambassador program of NASA's Jet Propulsio= n Laboratory,
Pasadena, Calif., range from a Minnesota lawyer to a Tex= as
teacher trainer, and from a California respiratory therapist
to = a Georgia marine mechanic.

     "I'm doing thi= s because I see a real need for the public
to know more about space," = said one newly named ambassador,
Dr. Bob Polcyn, a retired physician i= n Hot Springs, S.D. "One
of the major lessons from learning more about= other planets is
how special our own planet is."

  &= nbsp;  The ambassadors run events such as star parties,
lectures,= community displays, musical presentations and
library appearances. JP= L provides them with special training
opportunities, including questio= n-and-answer sessions with
leaders of interplanetary missions. It also= supplies materials
such as the latest pictures from JPL-managed space= craft
orbiting Mars and Jupiter.

     "I'm = very interested in the training, and I think the
ambassador program wi= ll give me more credibility that will
help me reach more people in my = community," Polcyn said.
Through his local astronomy club, he has prev= iously presented
space talks to elementary students and retirement-hom= e
residents. As a Solar System Ambassador, he intends to
organize p= rograms both for adults and children.

     Ano= ther new ambassador, Julie Corbett-Steineke, of
Chicago, will concentr= ate on programs for young people. She is
a gymnastics coach who has tr= ained Olympic competitors. "I
want to be a Solar System Ambassador so = I can reach a greater
number of children and have more of an impact by= allowing them
to learn along with me," she said. "I love that spark i= n a
child's eyes, the 'Wow!' when they want to run right to the
com= puter or the library and find out more."

     = The five-year-old ambassador program will reach all 50
states for the = first time in 2002, said JPL's Kay Ferrari,
coordinator of the program= . In 2001, 206 Solar System
Ambassadors in 48 states organized more th= an 960
presentations, reaching about 2.5 million people, including
= those who learned about the programs via mass media, she said.

&nb= sp;    "The 2002 ambassadors are a wonderfully diverse gro= up,"
Ferrari said. "The program brings people together who have allkinds of different backgrounds but share an interest in space
explora= tion."

     Ambassadors were selected by the p= rogram's board of
directors at JPL. During an application period in Se= ptember,
candidates submitted information about their experience andtheir proposed events.

     Nearly half the = members of the 2002 group already have
experience as Solar System Amba= ssadors.  Peggy Motes, of
Muncie, Ind., has participated since 19= 99.  She runs a
planetarium for the Muncie public schools and was= recently
named one of America's top educators by USA Today.  Thr= ough
the JPL affiliation, she gets updates on current missions thatshe uses in "News from NASA" presentations in the planetarium.

&n= bsp;    "Recently, we've had information about the Mars Od= yssey
spacecraft and the Genesis mission to collect particles of thesolar wind and bring them back to Earth," Motes said.

 &nbs= p;   For Florence Brammer, a Minneapolis labor-law attorney
= just becoming a Solar System Ambassador, talking to groups
about space= exploration will be something new.  She's been
inspired by the n= ight sky since childhood and has helped
conduct art programs in local = schools. "Space exploration is
one of the frontiers of the future," sh= e said. "My hope for
being an ambassador is not only that I'll enjoy i= t for myself,
but that I can get middle-school kids excited about spac= e
exploration."

     Dane Wilkins, a respir= atory therapist in Ukiah, Calif.,
has experience teaching about health= topics, but not about
outer space. "I've always been interested in sp= ace, and I
think the best way for me to learn as much as possible abou= t
something is by teaching it. As a Solar System Ambassador,
I'll b= e able to get information straight from the horse's
mouth.  I'm r= eally excited about it and think it will be a
benefit to the community= here."

     Online information is available a= bout the Solar System
Ambassador program at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/am= bassador .
JPL is managed for NASA by the California Institute of
T= echnology in Pasadena.

       &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;  # # # # #

NOTE TO EDITORS: Solar System Ambassadors for= 2002 are listed
state-by-state at
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassad= or/usstates.html . Guy
Webster, at (818) 354-6278, can help you contac= t them.

12/26/01 - GW
#2001- 246

-----------------------= ----------------------------------------
You are subscribed to JPL's n= ews mailing list.  To unsubscribe,
please send an e-mail to = JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov  and in the body
of the message include the= following line.

unsubscribe news

Please do not reply to th= is e-mail.
For help,  send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.g= ov.
------=_NextPart_001_0007_01C18EC4.4F4DFD90-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Thu Dec 27 08:02:05 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBRG24c31279 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 08:02:04 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id KAA10202 for bioastro-list; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:56:53 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe87.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.229]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id KAA10198 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:56:50 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 07:56:19 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.222] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: A Year of Challenge and Accomplishment for NASA Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:56:11 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18EC5.186E7C40" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 27 Dec 2001 15:56:19.0740 (UTC) FILETIME=[06513DC0:01C18EEF] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18EC5.186E7C40 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 3:16 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: 2001: A Year of Challenge and Accomplishment for NASA Bob Jacobs Headquarters, Washington Dec. 26, 2001 (Phone: 202/358-1600) RELEASE: 01-250 2001: A YEAR OF CHALLENGE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR NASA As NASA's space odyssey for 2001 comes to an end, the Agency faces a year of transition and new challenges as it prepares to continue its mission of discovery into the new millennium. In the last year, the International Space Station, the largest and most sophisticated spacecraft ever built, celebrated its first full year of human habitation. The successful arrival of NASA's Mars Odyssey at the red planet energized space scientists and, for the first time, NASA was able to create a complete biological record of Earth. In 2001, the Space Shuttle turned 20 as NASA launched a new initiative to find better and cheaper access to space, all while facing new fiscal realities that could fundamentally change the way the agency does business. "The people of NASA have much of which to be proud as we reflect on the agency's accomplishments in 2001," said Acting Administrator Dr. Daniel R. Mulville. "Our future challenges are formidable, but our resolve to overcome those challenges is equally intense. In 2002, NASA will continue its mission to expand air and space frontiers with renewed vigor." CHANGE OF NASA LEADERSHIP For the first time in nearly a decade, NASA will have new leadership. President George W. Bush nominated Sean O'Keefe, the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to be the agency's new Administrator. Daniel S. Goldin, the longest-serving Administrator in NASA's history, resigned in November after serving more than nine years under three American presidents. During the transition, Mulville, NASA's Associate Deputy Administrator was appointed Acting Administrator. FLAGS FOR HEROES AND FAMILIES The tragic events of September 11 brought the nation together with a new sense of pride and determination. Expedition Three commander Frank Culbertson was the only American not on Earth the day of the attacks and documented visible signs of the destruction from the International Space Station. To honor those heroes killed and seriously hurt in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, NASA sent more than 6,000 American flags into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The flags will be distributed to the victims and their families. NASA'S MARS PROGRAM SEES RED The agency's Mars exploration program rebounded in 2001 when Mars Odyssey successfully entered orbit around the red planet following a six-month, 286-million mile journey. NASA's Mars Global Surveyor sent back its 100,000th image of the Martian surface. The orbiter has been snapping dramatic and images for four years. In 2001, Mars Global Surveyor, in tandem with the Hubble Space Telescope, had a ringside seat to the largest global dust storm on the Martian surface seen in decades. THE SEARCH FOR UNIVERSAL LIFE Is there life on another world? In 2001, astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope measured the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar system. Astronomers funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation discovered eight new extrasolar planets that have circular orbits, similar to the orbits of planets in our own solar system. Also, NASA's Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite provided the first evidence that there are water-bearing worlds beyond our solar system. REMOTE SENSING SEES A CLIMATE CHANGE NASA announced the creation of the first complete "biological record of Earth" by using data from NASA's Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View sensor. Researchers also suggested the Earth is becoming a greener greenhouse, determining that plant life in the northern latitudes has been growing more vigorously since 1981. In February, NASA released a new map of Antarctica made from Radarsat data. Using the new maps and comparing them to maps produced in 1981, scientists will track Antarctic ice changes, a key to understanding our global environment and climate change. In 2001, NASA research also suggested that desert dust in the atmosphere over Africa might actually inhibit rainfall in the region, contributing to drought conditions. NASA COMES DOWN TO EARTH In 2001, NASA announced a commercial partnership that will allow placement of advanced global positioning technologies in farm equipment. The technology will be used to help farmers navigate fields in poor weather and at night. Throughout the summer of 2001, NASA satellites tracked the devastating spread of wildfires around the western United States, helping federal, state and local governments mitigate these natural disasters. NASA RESEARCH BENEFITS LIFE ON EARTH Using lasers developed by NASA, researchers discovered a way to bring a beam of light to a stop, store it, and then send it on its way. The discovery could lead to next-generation technologies, such as increasing the speed of computers. A revolutionary early breast cancer detection tool based on NASA technology began human clinical trials in November. The technology may one day allow physicians to diagnose tumors without surgery. In 2001, NASA and the National Cancer Institute began a three- year program to explore new biomedical technologies to develop and study microscopically small sensors that can detect changes at the cellular and molecular level. SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION NEARS PERFECTION NASA's Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Shoemaker spacecraft did something it wasn't designed to do when mission managers gently landed the spacecraft on the asteroid Eros after a yearlong orbital mission. In a risky fly-by maneuver, the Deep Space 1 spacecraft successfully navigated past a comet, giving researchers an unprecedented view inside the glowing core of icy dust and gas. During 2001, a NASA-funded research team presented evidence that Earth's most severe mass extinction, an event 250 million years ago that wiped out 90 percent of life, was triggered by a collision with a comet or an asteroid. HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAMS REACH MILESTONES Celebrating its first full year of human habitation, the International Space Station's research odyssey began in 2001 with the launch of the Destiny module, the first science lab delivered to the station. The space station is now the most complex and powerful spacecraft ever built. Facing financial challenges in the coming years, an independent task force produced a report that is expected to help managers get the program back on track. The construction of the International Space Station is made possible by NASA's robust fleet of Space Shuttles. The Shuttle celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2001, having carried more than three million pounds of cargo and more than 600 passengers into space. FUTURE NASA TECHNOLOGY TODAY In 2001, NASA launched an ambitious multi-billion-dollar initiative designed to develop the technologies needed to build a second-generation reusable launch vehicle. NASA's Space Launch Initiative, or SLI, will also identify 21st-century designs that can provide safer, more reliable and less expensive access to space. Instead of rocket fuel, NASA's propeller-driven Helios aircraft used solar energy to help set a world record altitude of 96,500 feet. NASA researchers also tested a revolutionary cockpit display that will offer pilots an electronic picture of what is outside their windows, no matter the weather or time of day. This Synthetic Vision will show terrain, ground obstacles, air traffic and other important data to the flight crew. -end- Note to editors: An online version of this news release, with hyperlinks to related Web pages, can be found at: http://www.nasa.gov/releases/2001/01-250.html * * * ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18EC5.186E7C40 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent: = Wednesday, December 26, 2001 3:16 PM
Subject: 2001: A Year of Challenge and Accomplishment for NASA<= /DIV>
 

Bob Jacobs
Headquarters, Washington &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;       Dec. 26, 2001
(Phone: 202/358-1= 600)

RELEASE: 01-250

2001: A YEAR OF CHALLENGE AND ACCOMPLI= SHMENT FOR NASA

As NASA's space odyssey for 2001 comes to an end, = the Agency faces a
year of transition and new challenges as it prepare= s to continue its
mission of discovery into the new millennium.
In the last year, the International Space Station, the largest and most<= BR>sophisticated spacecraft ever built, celebrated its first full year of=
human habitation. The successful arrival of NASA's Mars Odyssey at th= e
red planet energized space scientists and, for the first time, NASA = was
able to create a complete biological record of Earth.

In 20= 01, the Space Shuttle turned 20 as NASA launched a new initiative
to f= ind better and cheaper access to space, all while facing new fiscal
re= alities that could fundamentally change the way the agency does
busine= ss.

"The people of NASA have much of which to be proud as we refle= ct on the
agency's accomplishments in 2001," said Acting Administrator= Dr. Daniel
R. Mulville. "Our future challenges are formidable, but ou= r resolve to
overcome those challenges is equally intense. In 2002, NA= SA will
continue its mission to expand air and space frontiers with re= newed
vigor."

CHANGE OF NASA LEADERSHIP
For the first time i= n nearly a decade, NASA will have new leadership.
President George W. = Bush nominated Sean O'Keefe, the Deputy Director of
the Office of Mana= gement and Budget, to be the agency's new
Administrator. Daniel S. Gol= din, the longest-serving Administrator in
NASA's history, resigned in = November after serving more than nine years
under three American presi= dents. During the transition, Mulville, NASA's
Associate Deputy Admini= strator was appointed Acting Administrator.

FLAGS FOR HEROES AND F= AMILIES
The tragic events of September 11 brought the nation together = with a new
sense of pride and determination. Expedition Three commande= r Frank
Culbertson was the only American not on Earth the day of the a= ttacks and
documented visible signs of the destruction from the Intern= ational Space
Station. To honor those heroes killed and seriously hurt= in New York,
Washington and Pennsylvania, NASA sent more than 6,000 A= merican flags
into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The flags= will be
distributed to the victims and their families.

NASA'S = MARS PROGRAM SEES RED
The agency's Mars exploration program rebounded = in 2001 when Mars
Odyssey successfully entered orbit around the red pl= anet following a
six-month, 286-million mile journey. NASA's Mars Glob= al Surveyor sent
back its 100,000th image of the Martian surface. The = orbiter has been
snapping dramatic and images for four years. In 2001,= Mars Global
Surveyor, in tandem with the Hubble Space Telescope, had = a ringside seat
to the largest global dust storm on the Martian surfac= e seen in decades.

THE SEARCH FOR UNIVERSAL LIFE
Is there life = on another world? In 2001, astronomers using the Hubble
Space Telescop= e measured the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar
system. Astron= omers funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation
discovered ei= ght new extrasolar planets that have circular orbits,
similar to the o= rbits of planets in our own solar system. Also, NASA's
Submillimeter W= ave Astronomy Satellite provided the first evidence that
there are wat= er-bearing worlds beyond our solar system.

REMOTE SENSING SEES A C= LIMATE CHANGE
NASA announced the creation of the first complete "biolo= gical record of
Earth" by using data from NASA's Sea-viewing Wide Fiel= d-of-View sensor.
Researchers also suggested the Earth is becoming a g= reener greenhouse,
determining that plant life in the northern latitud= es has been growing
more vigorously since 1981. In February, NASA rele= ased a new map of
Antarctica made from Radarsat data. Using the new ma= ps and comparing
them to maps produced in 1981, scientists will track = Antarctic ice
changes, a key to understanding our global environment a= nd climate
change. In 2001, NASA research also suggested that desert d= ust in the
atmosphere over Africa might actually inhibit rainfall in t= he region,
contributing to drought conditions.

NASA COMES DOWN = TO EARTH
In 2001, NASA announced a commercial partnership that will al= low
placement of advanced global positioning technologies in farm equi= pment.
The technology will be used to help farmers navigate fields in = poor
weather and at night. Throughout the summer of 2001, NASA satelli= tes
tracked the devastating spread of wildfires around the western Uni= ted
States, helping federal, state and local governments mitigate thes= e
natural disasters.

NASA RESEARCH BENEFITS LIFE ON EARTH
Us= ing lasers developed by NASA, researchers discovered a way to bring a
= beam of light to a stop, store it, and then send it on its way. The
di= scovery could lead to next-generation technologies, such as increasingthe speed of computers. A revolutionary early breast cancer detectiontool based on NASA technology began human clinical trials in November.The technology may one day allow physicians to diagnose tumors without<= BR>surgery. In 2001, NASA and the National Cancer Institute began a three= -
year program to explore new biomedical technologies to develop and s= tudy
microscopically small sensors that can detect changes at the cell= ular
and molecular level.

SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION NEARS PERFEC= TION
NASA's Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Shoemaker spacecraft did so= mething
it wasn't designed to do when mission managers gently landed t= he
spacecraft on the asteroid Eros after a yearlong orbital mission. I= n a
risky fly-by maneuver, the Deep Space 1 spacecraft successfullynavigated past a comet, giving researchers an unprecedented view inside<= BR>the glowing core of icy dust and gas. During 2001, a NASA-funded
re= search team presented evidence that Earth's most severe mass
extinctio= n, an event 250 million years ago that wiped out 90 percent of
life, w= as triggered by a collision with a comet or an asteroid.

HUMAN SPA= CE FLIGHT PROGRAMS REACH MILESTONES
Celebrating its first full year of= human habitation, the International
Space Station's research odyssey = began in 2001 with the launch of the
Destiny module, the first science= lab delivered to the station. The
space station is now the most compl= ex and powerful spacecraft ever
built. Facing financial challenges in = the coming years, an independent
task force produced a report that is = expected to help managers get the
program back on track. The construct= ion of the International Space
Station is made possible by NASA's robu= st fleet of Space Shuttles. The
Shuttle celebrated its 20th anniversar= y in 2001, having carried more
than three million pounds of cargo and = more than 600 passengers into
space.

FUTURE NASA TECHNOLOGY TOD= AY
In 2001, NASA launched an ambitious multi-billion-dollar initiative=
designed to develop the technologies needed to build a second-generat= ion
reusable launch vehicle. NASA's Space Launch Initiative, or SLI, w= ill
also identify 21st-century designs that can provide safer, more re= liable
and less expensive access to space. Instead of rocket fuel, NAS= A's
propeller-driven Helios aircraft used solar energy to help set a w= orld
record altitude of 96,500 feet. NASA researchers also tested arevolutionary cockpit display that will offer pilots an electronic
pi= cture of what is outside their windows, no matter the weather or time
= of day. This Synthetic Vision will show terrain, ground obstacles, airtraffic and other important data to the flight crew.

-end-
Note to editors: An online version of this news release, with hyperlinks=
to related Web pages, can be found at:

http://www.nasa.gov/rel= eases/2001/01-250.html

       &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;        * * *

= ------=_NextPart_001_0008_01C18EC5.186E7C40-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Thu Dec 27 10:38:08 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBRIc7c05106 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:38:07 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id NAA17525 for bioastro-list; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 13:32:28 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from chi6-1.relay.mail.uu.net (chi6-1.relay.mail.uu.net [199.171.54.98]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id NAA17519 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 13:32:24 -0500 (EST) Received: from hotmail.com by chi6sosrv11.alter.net with ESMTP (peer crosschecked as: oe6.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.86]) id QQlvfs01875 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 16:05:24 GMT Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 08:05:22 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.222] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: The Heat is On: Asteroid Belt Found around Nearby Star Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 11:05:15 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_000C_01C18EC6.5CC0E9E0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 27 Dec 2001 16:05:22.0794 (UTC) FILETIME=[4A00B4A0:01C18EF0] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_000C_01C18EC6.5CC0E9E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 4:34 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: The Heat is On: Asteroid Belt Found around Nearby Star http://web99.arc.nasa.gov/NAI/stories/zeta_leporis.cfm The Heat is On: Asteroid Belt Found around Nearby Star NASA Astrobiology Institute When unusually warm dust was first discovered (1991) around a nearby star= , called zeta Leporis, infrared astronomers begun hunting in detail for the heat source. According to the latest research at UCLA, what the star may = be undergoing is asteroid and planet formation similar to that of our own ea= rly solar system. For infrared astronomers the warm particle halo may reveal more than just a hot cloud. It may reveal a dusty disk that resembles an asteroid belt. Michael Jura and Catherine Chen reported their most recent findings at th= e annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society. "We chose to study zeta Leporis because it was known from IRAS (the Infra= red Astronomy satellite) to display an infrared excess of unusually warm grains", says Jura. "Also, it is very nearby." Located in the constellati= on Lepus (the Hare) the asteroid candidate system is about 70 light years fr= om our sun. Although it is almost twice as massive as our sun, zeta Leporis = is only about 100 million years old. This is young in astronomical terms compared to our sun, which is approximately 4.5 billion years old. Chen and Jura found that the tiny particles are heated on average to a toasty 350 degrees Kelvin (77 degrees Celsius, or 170 degrees Fahrenheit)= , which in turn reveals their distance from the star. They estimate that th= e disk-- with a mass comparable to Earth's--contains about 1,000 times more material than our own asteroid belt. What has excited and surprised the astronomers is that the dust shouldn't= be there. The dusty disk indeed is so close to its parent star that the particle halo should have disappeared long ago as a fleeting and inward-sprialing tail. In less than 20,000 years the disk would have spiraled into zeta Leporis unless there was some source regenerating it. = But the persistent warm band persists within a mere 6 astronomical units (AU)= of its star. (One AU is the distance between the Sun and the Earth, roughly = 150 million kilometers.) By comparison, our solar system's asteroid belt is 2= .7 AU from the Sun. Young stars like zeta Leporis also likely wouldn't have sufficient time t= o form solid bodies, which could collide to scatter dust as in our own zodiacal light seen near the asteroid belt. But on zeta Leporis, the constant replenishing of the dusty disk might be a case of asteroids that= , according to Jura, "appear to be colliding violently with each other". We can put the zeta Leporis discovery in perspective for our own solar system. The analog would be similar to when our Sun was less than 100 million years old and its then massive asteroid belt collided and scatter= ed again to reach its current reduced dimensions. By looking at very young stars, the researchers get a glimpse looking back towards how our own sol= ar system progressed from dust accretion to form planets and asteroids. "The value of this work in terms of understanding the history and evolution of our own Solar System is that we have good evidence for the formation of large rocky bodies. These are strongly suspected to be formed, but there is no direct evidence", says Jura. "To date, all the planets that have been found around main sequence stars are similar in mass -- and presumably in composition-- to Jupiter. The Earth has a 'rocky' composition. To date, no terrestrial type planets have been identified. Our work shows that at least some kinds of large-ish asteroid bodies have been formed elsewhere." But the huge, dusty disk on young zeta Leporis may yet offer even more surprises as its chemical composition is analyzed. "Our current findings may be just the tip of the iceberg of what we may ultimately learn about the objects surrounding zeta Leporis," Chen said. Ultimately the hunt is for nearby planets to study. By identifying what m= ay be a galactic replay of how our own solar system was formed, Jura and Che= n have found evidence of a massive asteroid belt around a nearby star. Thes= e findings could indicate that such planets are forming there or have alrea= dy formed. "In simplest terms, our planets formed when smaller objects smashed together," she said. "Dust that surrounds a star will eventually either f= all into the star, or collide with itself and create bigger particles. The particles we can identify around zeta Leporis may be forming chunks of ro= ck or larger objects; asteroids or even planets may be forming or have alrea= dy formed around zeta Leporis." What's Next Since the discovery that the dust around zeta Leporis is unusually warm w= as first published in 1991 by astronomers Hartmut Aumann and Ronald Probst, = the main challenges to doing further planet formation studies has been the background heat emitted from Earth. "A major problem with doing IR work from the ground is that the atmospher= e and the telescope emit a lot of infrared radiation," says Jura. "We are always fighting the background. This is a major reason for launching "We hope to obtain infrared spectra of the emission from zeta Leporis," C= hen said. "We want to know if the asteroids around this star are similar in composition to objects in our solar system, and we want to learn if the processes we now see unfolding on zeta Leporis can help us understand how the planets in our own solar system formed." Future candidate searches for terrestrial planets will depend on advanced combinations of instrument engineering and new analytical methods. In addition to being detected by the ground-based Long Wavelength Spectromet= er (an infrared camera on the 10-meter telescope at the Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawaii) zeta Leporis itself was first discovered in 1983 with = the Infrared Astronomy satellite (IRAS). Future space-based infrared telescop= es such as SIRTF promise much higher resolution. Chen concludes: "The next step is to get an infrared spectrum of this are= a [zeta Leporis], which would give us an indication of their composition." -------------------------------------------------------------------------= --- ------=_NextPart_001_000C_01C18EC6.5CC0E9E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent: = Wednesday, December 26, 2001 4:34 PM
Subject: The Heat is On: Asteroid Belt Found around Nearby Star=
 
http://web99.arc.nasa.gov/NAI/stories/zeta_lepori= s.cfm

The Heat is On: Asteroid Belt Found around Nearby Star
NA= SA Astrobiology Institute

When unusually warm dust was first disco= vered (1991) around a nearby star,
called zeta Leporis, infrared astro= nomers begun hunting in detail for the
heat source. According to the l= atest research at UCLA, what the star may be
undergoing is asteroid an= d planet formation similar to that of our own early
solar system. For = infrared astronomers the warm particle halo may reveal
more than just = a hot cloud. It may reveal a dusty disk that resembles an
asteroid bel= t.

Michael Jura and Catherine Chen reported their most recent find= ings at the
annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
"We chose to study zeta Leporis because it was known from IRAS (the Inf= rared
Astronomy satellite) to display an infrared excess of unusually = warm
grains", says Jura. "Also, it is very nearby." Located in the con= stellation
Lepus (the Hare) the asteroid candidate system is about 70 = light years from
our sun. Although it is almost twice as massive as ou= r sun, zeta Leporis is
only about 100 million years old. This is young= in astronomical terms
compared to our sun, which is approximately 4.5= billion years old.

Chen and Jura found that the tiny particles ar= e heated on average to a
toasty 350 degrees Kelvin (77 degrees Celsius= , or 170 degrees Fahrenheit),
which in turn reveals their distance fro= m the star. They estimate that the
disk-- with a mass comparable to Ea= rth's--contains about 1,000 times more
material than our own asteroid = belt.

What has excited and surprised the astronomers is that the d= ust shouldn't be
there. The dusty disk indeed is so close to its paren= t star that the
particle halo should have disappeared long ago as a fl= eeting and
inward-sprialing tail. In less than 20,000 years the disk w= ould have
spiraled into zeta Leporis unless there was some source rege= nerating it. But
the persistent warm band persists within a mere 6 ast= ronomical units (AU) of
its star. (One AU is the distance between the = Sun and the Earth, roughly 150
million kilometers.) By comparison, our= solar system's asteroid belt is 2.7
AU from the Sun.

Young sta= rs like zeta Leporis also likely wouldn't have sufficient time to
form= solid bodies, which could collide to scatter dust as in our own
zodia= cal light seen near the asteroid belt. But on zeta Leporis, the
consta= nt replenishing of the dusty disk might be a case of asteroids that,
a= ccording to Jura, "appear to be colliding violently with each other".
=
We can put the zeta Leporis discovery in perspective for our own sola= r
system. The analog would be similar to when our Sun was less than 10= 0
million years old and its then massive asteroid belt collided and sc= attered
again to reach its current reduced dimensions. By looking at v= ery young
stars, the researchers get a glimpse looking back towards ho= w our own solar
system progressed from dust accretion to form planets = and asteroids.

"The value of this work in terms of understanding t= he
history and evolution of our own Solar System is that we
have go= od evidence for the formation of large rocky
bodies. These are strongl= y suspected to be formed, but
there is no direct evidence", says Jura.= "To date, all
the planets that have been found around main sequencestars are similar in mass -- and presumably in
composition-- to Jupi= ter. The Earth has a 'rocky'
composition. To date, no terrestrial type= planets have
been identified. Our work shows that at least some kinds=
of large-ish asteroid bodies have been formed
elsewhere."

B= ut the huge, dusty disk on young zeta Leporis may yet
offer even more = surprises as its chemical composition is analyzed.

"Our current fi= ndings may be just the tip of the iceberg of what we may
ultimately le= arn about the objects surrounding zeta Leporis," Chen said.

Ultima= tely the hunt is for nearby planets to study. By identifying what may
= be a galactic replay of how our own solar system was formed, Jura and Che= n
have found evidence of a massive asteroid belt around a nearby star.= These
findings could indicate that such planets are forming there or = have already
formed.

"In simplest terms, our planets formed whe= n smaller objects smashed
together," she said. "Dust that surrounds a = star will eventually either fall
into the star, or collide with itself= and create bigger particles. The
particles we can identify around zet= a Leporis may be forming chunks of rock
or larger objects; asteroids o= r even planets may be forming or have already
formed around zeta Lepor= is."

What's Next

Since the discovery that the dust around z= eta Leporis is unusually warm was
first published in 1991 by astronome= rs Hartmut Aumann and Ronald Probst, the
main challenges to doing furt= her planet formation studies has been the
background heat emitted from= Earth.

"A major problem with doing IR work from the ground is tha= t the atmosphere
and the telescope emit a lot of infrared radiation," = says Jura. "We are
always fighting the background. This is a major rea= son for launching

"We hope to obtain infrared spectra of the emiss= ion from zeta Leporis," Chen
said. "We want to know if the asteroids a= round this star are similar in
composition to objects in our solar sys= tem, and we want to learn if the
processes we now see unfolding on zet= a Leporis can help us understand how
the planets in our own solar syst= em formed."

Future candidate searches for terrestrial planets will= depend on advanced
combinations of instrument engineering and new ana= lytical methods. In
addition to being detected by the ground-based Lon= g Wavelength Spectrometer
(an infrared camera on the 10-meter telescop= e at the Keck Observatory on
Mauna Kea, Hawaii) zeta Leporis itself wa= s first discovered in 1983 with the
Infrared Astronomy satellite (IRAS= ). Future space-based infrared telescopes
such as SIRTF promise much h= igher resolution.

Chen concludes: "The next step is to get an infr= ared spectrum of this area
[zeta Leporis], which would give us an indi= cation of their composition."

------------------------------------= ----------------------------------------
------=_NextPart_001_000C_01C18EC6.5CC0E9E0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Thu Dec 27 19:14:53 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBS3Eqc30940 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 19:14:53 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id WAA11267 for bioastro-list; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 22:07:47 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe58.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.200]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id WAA11263 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 22:07:44 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 19:07:13 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.125] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Mars Odyssey Mission Status Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 22:07:04 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18F22.D180BE20" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 28 Dec 2001 03:07:13.0481 (UTC) FILETIME=[BF6AAB90:01C18F4C] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18F22.D180BE20 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2001 6:01 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Mars Odyssey Mission Status MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov Mars Odyssey Mission Status December 27, 2001 Flight controllers of NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey mission report that the aerobraking phase is proceeding right on schedule and should be completed in early January. During the aerobraking phase of the mission, the spacecraft is controlled so it skims the upper reaches of the martian atmosphere on each orbit, to reduce the vehicle's speed. Today, Odyssey's orbital period is three hours and 15 minutes, compared with the initial 18-and-a-half hours when the spacecraft first entered orbit in October. The orbital period is the time required to complete one revolution around the planet. "We plan to perform a maneuver to raise the spacecraft up out of the atmosphere in early January. After that it will take about a month for us to circularize the orbit using our onboard thrusters and then prepare to start the science mission," said David A. Spencer, Odyssey's mission manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. The primary two-and-a-half year science mission is scheduled to begin in February. The high energy neutron detector provided by Russia's Space Institute has operated throughout much of the aerobraking phase and has completed its calibration in preparation for the science mission. The instrument is part of the gamma ray spectrometer payload suite, designed to map the elemental composition of the martian surface. Among its many science objectives, Odyssey will attempt to determine the amount and location of any near-surface water on Mars, if it exists. JPL manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. Principal investigators at Arizona State University in Tempe, the University of Arizona in Tucson, and NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, operate the science instruments. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, Colo., is the prime contractor for the project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., is providing aerobraking support to JPL's navigation team during mission operations. # # # # # 12/27/01 MAH 2001-247 --------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to JPL's news mailing list. To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov and in the body of the message include the following line. unsubscribe news Please do not reply to this e-mail. For help, send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov. ------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18F22.D180BE20 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent:= Thursday, December 27, 2001 6:01 PM
Subject: Mars Odyssey Mission Status
 
MED= IA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE = OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADEN= A, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov
<= BR>           &nbs= p;  Mars Odyssey Mission Status
     &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;  December 27, 2001

     Flight control= lers of NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey mission
report that the aerobraking p= hase is proceeding right on
schedule and should be completed in early = January.  During the
aerobraking phase of the mission, the spacec= raft is controlled
so it skims the upper reaches of the martian atmosp= here on
each orbit, to reduce the vehicle's speed.

  =    Today, Odyssey's orbital period is three hours and 15
min= utes, compared with the initial 18-and-a-half hours when
the spacecraf= t first entered orbit in October.  The orbital
period is the time= required to complete one revolution around
the planet.

 &= nbsp;   "We plan to perform a maneuver to raise the spacecraft<= BR>up out of the atmosphere in early January.  After that it willtake about a month for us to circularize the orbit using our
onboard = thrusters and then prepare to start the science
mission," said David A= . Spencer, Odyssey's mission manager at
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laborato= ry, Pasadena, Calif.  The
primary two-and-a-half year science mis= sion is scheduled to
begin in February.

    = ; The high energy neutron detector provided by Russia's
Space Institut= e has operated throughout much of the
aerobraking phase and has comple= ted its calibration in
preparation for the science mission.  The = instrument is part
of the gamma ray spectrometer payload suite, design= ed to map
the elemental composition of the martian surface.  Amon= g its
many science objectives, Odyssey will attempt to determine theamount and location of any near-surface water on Mars, if it
exists.=

     JPL manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey missio= n for NASA's
Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. Principal
in= vestigators at Arizona State University in Tempe, the
University of Ar= izona in Tucson, and NASA's Johnson Space
Center, Houston, Texas, oper= ate the science instruments.
Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, Col= o., is the prime
contractor for the project, and developed and built t= he
orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from
Lockheed = Martin and from JPL, a division of the California
Institute of Technol= ogy in Pasadena.  NASA's Langley Research
Center in Hampton, Va.,= is providing aerobraking support to
JPL's navigation team during miss= ion operations.

# # # # #


12/27/01  MAH
2001-24= 7







----------------------------------------= -----------------------
You are subscribed to JPL's news mailing list.=   To unsubscribe,
please send an e-mail to  JPLNews@jpl.nasa= .gov  and in the body
of the message include the following line.<= BR>
unsubscribe news

Please do not reply to this e-mail.
For= help,  send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov.
------=_NextPart_001_0000_01C18F22.D180BE20-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Thu Dec 27 19:16:06 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBS3G5c09726 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 19:16:05 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id WAA11409 for bioastro-list; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 22:10:42 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe61.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.203]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id WAA11399 for ; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 22:10:39 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 27 Dec 2001 19:10:08 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.125] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: NASA Sensor Captures Plight of Periled Antarctic Penguins Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 22:09:58 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18F23.39388FC0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 28 Dec 2001 03:10:08.0029 (UTC) FILETIME=[277494D0:01C18F4D] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18F23.39388FC0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2001 8:11 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: NASA Sensor Captures Plight of Periled Antarctic Penguins MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov Contact: Alan Buis (818) 354-0474 IMAGE ADVISORY December 27, 2001 NASA SENSOR CAPTURES PLIGHT OF PERILED ANTARCTIC PENGUINS A NASA remote sensing instrument is capturing an unfolding ecological disaster affecting hundreds of thousands of penguins at Earth's southern tip. Images from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer, a remote sensor built and managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., are documenting the movement of huge icebergs and spreading sea ice in Antarctica's Ross Sea. These natural phenomena are adversely affecting the region's penguin population, according to a new study funded by the National Science Foundation. Two massive icebergs, initially designated B-15 and C-16, broke away from the Ross Ice Shelf in March 2000 and migrated west to a point northeast of McMurdo Sound. The resulting barrier altered wind and current patterns. In addition, earlier this season sea ice in the region of the main U.S. Antarctic facility, McMurdo Station, expanded from its normal distance of 24 to 32 kilometers (15 to 20 nautical miles) north of the base to approximately 128 kilometers (80 nautical miles). The combination of icebergs and sea ice has made it difficult for entire colonies of penguins to return from their feeding grounds in the open sea to their breeding areas. The result is expected to be a significant reduction in regional penguin populations, with one colony in danger of extinction. An image sequence is available online at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/earth/antarctica . The images, taken between December 2000 and December 2001, depict the rapid motion of the C-16 iceberg in late 2000 and early 2001 and its subsequent stall, as well as the incursion of the B-15A iceberg, a large fragment of the original B-15 iceberg. The increase in sea ice is particularly pronounced in the final image. The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer is one of several Earth-observing experiments aboard the Terra satellite, launched in December 1999. The instrument acquires images of Earth at nine angles simultaneously, using nine separate cameras pointed forward, downward and backward along its flight path. More information is available at: http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov . The National Science Foundation manages the U.S. Antarctic Program, which coordinates almost all U.S. scientific research in Antarctica. More information is available at: http://www.nsf.gov . JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. ##### 12-27-01 AB #2001-248 --------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to JPL's news mailing list. To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov and in the body of the message include the following line. unsubscribe news Please do not reply to this e-mail. For help, send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov. ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18F23.39388FC0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: JPLNews@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent:= Thursday, December 27, 2001 8:11 PM
Subject: NASA Sensor Captures Plight of Periled Antarctic Pengu= ins
 
MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABOR= ATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND S= PACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-50= 11
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

Contact: Alan Buis (818) 354-0474
IMAGE ADVISORY         =             &= nbsp;        December 27, 2001

= NASA SENSOR CAPTURES PLIGHT OF PERILED ANTARCTIC PENGUINS

 &n= bsp;   A NASA remote sensing instrument is capturing an
unfo= lding ecological disaster affecting hundreds of thousands
of penguins = at Earth's southern tip.

     Images from the = Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer, a
remote sensor built and manag= ed by NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., are document= ing the movement of
huge icebergs and spreading sea ice in Antarctica'= s Ross Sea.
These natural phenomena are adversely affecting the region= 's
penguin population, according to a new study funded by the
Natio= nal Science Foundation.

     Two massive icebe= rgs, initially designated B-15 and C-16,
broke away from the Ross Ice = Shelf in March 2000 and migrated
west to a point northeast of McMurdo = Sound.  The resulting
barrier altered wind and current patterns.&= nbsp; In addition,
earlier this season sea ice in the region of the ma= in U.S.
Antarctic facility, McMurdo Station, expanded from its normal<= BR>distance of 24 to 32 kilometers (15 to 20 nautical miles)
north of = the base to approximately 128 kilometers (80 nautical
miles).  Th= e combination of icebergs and sea ice has made it
difficult for entire= colonies of penguins to return from their
feeding grounds in the open= sea to their breeding areas.  The
result is expected to be a sig= nificant reduction in regional
penguin populations, with one colony in= danger of extinction.

     An image sequence = is available online at:

     http://www.jpl.na= sa.gov/images/earth/antarctica .

     The imag= es, taken between December 2000 and December
2001, depict the rapid mo= tion of the C-16 iceberg in late 2000
and early 2001 and its subsequen= t stall, as well as the
incursion of the B-15A iceberg, a large fragme= nt of the
original B-15 iceberg.  The increase in sea ice is
p= articularly pronounced in the final image.

    = ; The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer is one of
several Earth-ob= serving experiments aboard the Terra
satellite, launched in December 1= 999.  The instrument acquires
images of Earth at nine angles simu= ltaneously, using nine
separate cameras pointed forward, downward and = backward along
its flight path.  More information is available at= :

     http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov .

&= nbsp;    The National Science Foundation manages the U.S.<= BR>Antarctic Program, which coordinates almost all U.S.
scientific res= earch in Antarctica.  More information is
available at:

&n= bsp;    http://www.nsf.gov .

   &nbs= p; JPL is a division of the California Institute of
Technology in Pasa= dena.

          =             &= nbsp; #####
12-27-01 AB
#2001-248

--------------------------= -------------------------------------
You are subscribed to JPL's news= mailing list.  To unsubscribe,
please send an e-mail to  JP= LNews@jpl.nasa.gov  and in the body
of the message include the fo= llowing line.

unsubscribe news

Please do not reply to this = e-mail.
For help,  send a message to listmaster@www.jpl.nasa.gov.=
------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18F23.39388FC0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Fri Dec 28 08:32:59 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBSGWwc12867 for ; Fri, 28 Dec 2001 08:32:58 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id LAA18017 for bioastro-list; Fri, 28 Dec 2001 11:26:57 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe23.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.103]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id LAA18013 for ; Fri, 28 Dec 2001 11:26:53 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Fri, 28 Dec 2001 08:26:22 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.158] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: THE COMET AND ASTEROID INFORMATION NETWORK (CAIN) Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 11:26:12 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18F92.744439B0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 28 Dec 2001 16:26:22.0744 (UTC) FILETIME=[63679180:01C18FBC] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18F92.744439B0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: Peiser Benny Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 5:27 AM To: cambridge-conference Subject: THE COMET AND ASTEROID INFORMATION NETWORK (CAIN) THE COMET AND ASTEROID INFORMATION NETWORK (CAIN) =20 >From Jonathan Tate, The Spaceguard Centre PRESS RELEASE Ref: SGC 01/07 =20 26 December 2001 "ROGUE ASTEROID WILL SMASH INTO EARTH ...... OH NO IT WON'T" THE COMET AND ASTEROID INFORMATION NETWORK (CAIN) =20 Since the mid 1990s the issue of asteroid or comet impacts has become one of the hottest science topics in the public domain. However, over the past few years the public has often been given confusing and, equally often, inaccurate information. =20 On 1 January 2002 the Comet and Asteroid Information Network (CAIN) will become active. Co-ordinated by the Spaceguard Centre in Wales (the International Spaceguard Information Centre), science centres around the country are participating in the project. The aim is to provide timely, accurate and unbiased information on the subject of Near Earth Objects, the hazard posed to the Earth, the methods by which the risk can be reduced and current space policy issues to the public, politicians, decision makers and the media. The Phase 1 Regional Centres are: =B7 The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium =B7 The Eden Project =B7 Glamorgan University =B7 The Glasgow Science Centre =B7 Herstmonceux Science Centre =B7 Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre =B7 Liverpool John Moores University =B7 Roseland Observatory =B7 Techniquest A full list, with contact details, can be found at Annex A. =20 For Phase 2, the National Space Centre (Leicester) heads the list of institutions that have been invited to participate, and CAIN welcomes applications from science, educational and outreach organisations to join. The government (British National Space Centre) will shortly announce the identity of the new National NEO Information Centre. Although the new Centre will not be able to comment on a number of aspects of the NEO hazard (due to contractual obligations to the BNSC) it is hoped that there will be close co-operation between it and the well-established Spaceguard Centre (Spaceguard UK) and its extensive network of national and international contacts. Contact: JR Tate, FRAS Tel: 01547 520247 The Spaceguard Centre Fax: 01547 520247 Llanshay Lane Mobile: 07968 195625 Knighton, Powys E-Mail: spaceguard@dial.pipex.com =20 LD7 1LW Website: http://www.spaceguarduk.com The Spaceguard Centre supported by NewHert Ltd. Internet services provided by PerfectArc Ltd. Annex A CAIN REGIONAL CENTRE CONTACT DETAILS Armagh Observatory and Planetarium =20 Professor ME Bailey Armagh Observatory =20 College Hill Armagh =20 BT61 9DG Northern Ireland Tel: 028 3752 2928 meb@star.arm.ac.uk Herstmonceux Science Centre Dr John Becklake Herstmonceux Science Centre Herstmonceux Castle Hailsham East Sussex BN27 1RP Tel: 01323 832731 Fax: 01323 832741 hsc@pavilion.co.uk Glasgow Science Centre Mario DiMaggio =20 Glasgow Science Centre 50 Pacific Quay Glasgow G51 1EA Mario@dimaggio.org Liverpool JMU and Museum =20 Dr Mike Simcoe, Dr Andy Newsam Astrophysics Research Institute Liverpool John Moores University Twelve Quays House Egerton Wharf Birkenhead =20 L41 1LD Tel: 0151 231 2920 mfb@staru1.livjm.ac.uk The Eden Project Dr A D (Tony) Kendle Eden Foundation Watering Lane Nursery Pentewan St Austell Cornwall PL26 6BE Tel: 01726 222900 Fax: 01726 222901 http://www.edenproject.com University of Glamorgan Dr Paul Roche =20 Dept of Earth and Space Sciences =20 School of Applied Sciences =20 University of Glamorgan =20 Trefforest =20 CF37 1DL =20 Tel: 01443 482785 =20 Fax: 01443 482285 Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre Ian Morison Jodrell Bank Science Centre Lower Withington Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 9DL Tel: 01477 571321 Fax: 01477571618 agl@jb.man.ac.uk, im@jb.man.ac.uk Roseland Observatory Brian Sheen =20 Roseland Observatory =20 92 Par Green Par Cornwall PL24 2AG Tel: 01726 813602 =20 brian.sheen@virgin.net Techniquest =20 Anita Shaw Techniquest Stuart Street Cardiff CF10 6BW Tel: 02920 475475 Fax: 02920 482517 http://www.tquest.org.uk/> as@techniquest.org ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18F92.744439B0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: Peiser Benny
Sent: Friday,= December 28, 2001 5:27 AM
To: cambridge-conference
Subject:= THE COMET AND ASTEROID INFORMATION NETWORK (CAIN)
 <= /DIV>THE COMET AND ASTEROID INFORMATION NETWORK (CAIN)

From Jonat= han Tate, The Spaceguard Centre <fr77@dial.pipex.com>

PRESS = RELEASE
Ref: SGC 01/07        =       
26 December 2001

"ROGUE A= STEROID WILL SMASH INTO EARTH ...... OH NO IT WON'T"

THE COMET AND= ASTEROID INFORMATION NETWORK (CAIN)

Since the mid 1990s the issu= e of asteroid or comet impacts has become
one of the hottest science t= opics in the public domain.  However, over
the past few years the= public has often been given confusing and,
equally often, inaccurate = information. 

On 1 January 2002 the Comet and Asteroid Infor= mation Network (CAIN) will
become active.  Co-ordinated by the Sp= aceguard Centre in Wales (the
International Spaceguard Information Cen= tre), science centres around the
country are participating in the proj= ect.  The aim is to provide timely,
accurate and unbiased informa= tion on the subject of Near Earth Objects,
the hazard posed to the Ear= th, the methods by which the risk can be
reduced and current space pol= icy issues to the public, politicians,
decision makers and the media.<= BR>
The Phase 1 Regional Centres are:

=B7   &nbs= p;     The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
=B7&= nbsp;        The Eden Project
=B7&n= bsp;        Glamorgan University
=B7=          The Glasgow Science Cent= re
=B7         Herstmonceux Sc= ience Centre
=B7         Jodre= ll Bank Visitor Centre
=B7       &n= bsp; Liverpool John Moores University
=B7     = ;    Roseland Observatory
=B7    &n= bsp;    Techniquest

A full list, with contact detai= ls, can be found at Annex A.

For Phase 2, the National Space Cent= re (Leicester) heads the list of
institutions that have been invited t= o participate, and CAIN welcomes
applications from science, educationa= l and outreach organisations to
join.

The government (British N= ational Space Centre) will shortly announce the
identity of the new Na= tional NEO Information Centre.  Although the new
Centre will not = be able to comment on a number of aspects of the NEO
hazard (due to co= ntractual obligations to the BNSC) it is hoped that
there will be clos= e co-operation between it and the well-established
Spaceguard Centre (= Spaceguard UK) and its extensive network of national
and international= contacts.

Contact:

JR Tate, FRAS    &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;    Tel:     01547 520247
The Sp= aceguard Centre         &nbs= p;   Fax:     01547 520247
Llanshay Lane=             &= nbsp;        Mobile:  07968 19562= 5
Knighton, Powys         = ;          E-Mail:  spa= ceguard@dial.pipex.com
LD7 1LW      &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;        Website: http://www.spacegua= rduk.com

The Spaceguard Centre supported by NewHert Ltd. Internet = services
provided by PerfectArc Ltd.

Annex A
CAIN

REG= IONAL CENTRE CONTACT DETAILS

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
Professor ME Bailey
Armagh Observatory
College Hill
Armag= h
BT61 9DG
Northern Ireland
Tel: 028 3752 2928
meb@star.arm.= ac.uk

Herstmonceux Science Centre

Dr John Becklake
Herst= monceux Science Centre
Herstmonceux Castle
Hailsham
East Sussex<= BR>BN27 1RP
Tel: 01323 832731
Fax: 01323 832741
hsc@pavilion.co.= uk


Glasgow Science Centre

Mario DiMaggio
Glasgow Sc= ience Centre
50 Pacific Quay
Glasgow
G51 1EA
Mario@dimaggio.o= rg

Liverpool JMU and Museum

Dr Mike Simcoe, Dr Andy Newsam=
Astrophysics Research Institute
Liverpool John Moores UniversityTwelve Quays House
Egerton Wharf
Birkenhead
L41 1LD
Tel: 0= 151 231 2920
mfb@staru1.livjm.ac.uk


The Eden Project
Dr A D (Tony) Kendle
Eden Foundation
Watering Lane Nursery
Pent= ewan
St Austell
Cornwall
PL26 6BE
Tel: 01726 222900
Fax: 0= 1726 222901
http://www.edenproject.com

University of Glamorgan<= BR>
Dr Paul Roche
Dept of Earth and Space Sciences
School of A= pplied Sciences
University of Glamorgan
Trefforest
CF37 1DL <= BR>Tel: 01443 482785
Fax: 01443 482285

Jodrell Bank Visitor Ce= ntre
Ian Morison
Jodrell Bank Science Centre
Lower WithingtonMacclesfield
Cheshire
SK11 9DL
Tel: 01477 571321
Fax: 014775= 71618
agl@jb.man.ac.uk, im@jb.man.ac.uk

Roseland Observatory
Brian Sheen
Roseland Observatory     &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;    
92 Par Green
Par
Cornwall
PL24 2= AG
Tel:  01726 813602
brian.sheen@virgin.net

Technique= st

Anita Shaw
Techniquest
Stuart Street
Cardiff
CF10 = 6BW
Tel: 02920 475475
Fax: 02920 482517
http://www.tquest.org.uk= /> as@techniquest.org

------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18F92.744439B0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Fri Dec 28 20:59:59 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBT4xxc24791 for ; Fri, 28 Dec 2001 20:59:59 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id XAA22313 for bioastro-list; Fri, 28 Dec 2001 23:53:42 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe27.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.107]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA22301 for ; Fri, 28 Dec 2001 23:53:38 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Fri, 28 Dec 2001 20:53:07 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.190] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Jupiter's Shrinking Red Spot Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 23:52:54 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18FFA.C48793A0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 29 Dec 2001 04:53:07.0570 (UTC) FILETIME=[B5297520:01C19024] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18FFA.C48793A0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 5:13 PM To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Jupiter's Shrinking Red Spot ===================================================================== SKY & TELESCOPE'S NEWS BULLETIN - DECEMBER 28, 2001 ===================================================================== For images and Web links for these items, visit http://www.skypub.com ===================================================================== JUPITER'S SHRINKING RED SPOT Telescopic observers from the 19th century may not have had the technological wizardry available to modern-day skywatchers -- but they apparently had an easier time spotting Jupiter's signature feature, its Great Red Spot. According to Amy Simon-Miller (NASA/Goddard Space Fight Center), today this giant cyclonic storm is only about half as big as it was in the 1880s. Simon-Miller and three colleagues confirmed the shrinkage during a careful comparison of historical records and contemporary images from the Voyager, Galileo, and Cassini spacecraft. She presented their results last month at a meeting of planetary scientists. Astronomers have known since the early 1900s that the Great Red Spot's longitudinal extent has been decreasing. Late in the 19th century the spot was nearly 35 degrees wide, which corresponds to about 40,000 kilometers, or more than three times Earth's diameter. By 1979, when Voyagers 1 and 2 swept past, it had shrunk to 21 degrees (about 25,000 km), yet its latitudinal "height" remained essentially unchanged, about 12,000 km from top to bottom. Simon-Miller has discovered that the contraction seems to have picked up steam since the Voyager visits: at its present rate of shrinkage (0.19 degree in longitude per year), the spot will become the "Great Red Circle" by the year 2040. However a perfectly round shape is unlikely, she explains, because the strong, opposing jet streams that confine the spot's northern and southern boundaries will always distort it into an oval. No one knows why the not-so-Great Red Spot has shrunk -- or, for that matter, why its color intensifies and fades over time. One clue is that the winds around its circumference are whirling 70 percent faster now (about 700 km per hour) than they were in the Voyager era. Some historical observations suggest that the Red Spot grows and shrinks in a decades-long sequence. "I'm not sure the behavior is really cyclical," Simon-Miller comments, "but I certainly would not be surprised in the least if this shrinking trend slowed or reversed." One possible explanation is that deep-seated bursts of thunderstorm-like convection periodically energize the overlying cloud layers, causing the spot to bloat in size, then gradually contract as the turbulence subsides. "All of the weather on Jupiter seems to have sporadic increases in activity," she notes, "so whatever feeds the Great Red Spot likely will too." [snip] ===================================================================== Copyright 2001 Sky Publishing Corporation. S&T's Weekly News Bulletin and Sky at a Glance stargazing calendar are provided as a service to the astronomical community by the editors of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine. Widespread electronic distribution is encouraged as long as these paragraphs are included. But the text of the bulletin and calendar may not be published in any other form without permission from Sky Publishing (contact permissions@skypub.com or phone 617-864-7360). Updates of astronomical news, including active links to related Internet resources, are available via SKY & TELESCOPE's site on the World Wide Web at http://www.skypub.com/. ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18FFA.C48793A0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: baalke@jpl.nasa.gov
Sent: = Friday, December 28, 2001 5:13 PM
<= B>To: undisclosed-recipients:;
= Subject: Jupiter's Shrinking Red Spot
 

=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
  &nb= sp;    SKY & TELESCOPE'S NEWS BULLETIN - DECEMBER 28, = 2001
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
For= images and Web links for these items, visit http://www.skypub.com
=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

JUPITER'S S= HRINKING RED SPOT

Telescopic observers from the 19th century may n= ot have had the
technological wizardry available to modern-day skywatc= hers -- but they
apparently had an easier time spotting Jupiter's sign= ature feature,
its Great Red Spot. According to Amy Simon-Miller (NASA= /Goddard Space
Fight Center), today this giant cyclonic storm is only = about half as
big as it was in the 1880s. Simon-Miller and three colle= agues
confirmed the shrinkage during a careful comparison of historica= l
records and contemporary images from the Voyager, Galileo, and Cassi= ni
spacecraft. She presented their results last month at a meeting of<= BR>planetary scientists.

Astronomers have known since the early 19= 00s that the Great Red Spot's
longitudinal extent has been decreasing.= Late in the 19th century the
spot was nearly 35 degrees wide, which c= orresponds to about 40,000
kilometers, or more than three times Earth'= s diameter.

By 1979, when Voyagers 1 and 2 swept past, it had shru= nk to 21 degrees
(about 25,000 km), yet its latitudinal "height" remai= ned essentially
unchanged, about 12,000 km from top to bottom.

= Simon-Miller has discovered that the contraction seems to have picked
= up steam since the Voyager visits: at its present rate of shrinkage
(0= .19 degree in longitude per year), the spot will become the "Great
Red= Circle" by the year 2040. However a perfectly round shape is
unlikely= , she explains, because the strong, opposing jet streams that
confine = the spot's northern and southern boundaries will always
distort it int= o an oval.

No one knows why the not-so-Great Red Spot has shrunk -= - or, for that
matter, why its color intensifies and fades over time. = One clue is
that the winds around its circumference are whirling 70 pe= rcent faster
now (about 700 km per hour) than they were in the Voyager= era. Some
historical observations suggest that the Red Spot grows and= shrinks in
a decades-long sequence. "I'm not sure the behavior is rea= lly
cyclical," Simon-Miller comments, "but I certainly would not besurprised in the least if this shrinking trend slowed or reversed."
<= BR>One possible explanation is that deep-seated bursts of
thunderstorm= -like convection periodically energize the overlying cloud
layers, cau= sing the spot to bloat in size, then gradually contract as
the turbule= nce subsides. "All of the weather on Jupiter seems to have
sporadic in= creases in activity," she notes, "so whatever feeds the
Great Red Spot= likely will too."

[snip]

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Copyright 2001 Sky Publishing Corporation. S&= amp;T's Weekly News Bulletin
and Sky at a Glance stargazing calendar a= re provided as a service to
the astronomical community by the editors = of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine.
Widespread electronic distribution is= encouraged as long as these
paragraphs are included. But the text of = the bulletin and calendar may
not be published in any other form witho= ut permission from Sky
Publishing (contact permissions@skypub.com or p= hone 617-864-7360).
Updates of astronomical news, including active lin= ks to related
Internet resources, are available via SKY & TELESCOP= E's site on the
World Wide Web at http://www.skypub.com/.


<= /BLOCKQUOTE> ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C18FFA.C48793A0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Sat Dec 29 13:30:14 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBTLUDc07787 for ; Sat, 29 Dec 2001 13:30:13 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id QAA07916 for bioastro-list; Sat, 29 Dec 2001 16:21:03 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe66.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.208]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id QAA07904 for ; Sat, 29 Dec 2001 16:20:58 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 29 Dec 2001 13:20:27 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.24] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: [skyline] S&T's News Bulletin for December 28, 2001 Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 16:19:45 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C19084.A0F4B8C0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 29 Dec 2001 21:20:27.0433 (UTC) FILETIME=[A2DF3190:01C190AE] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C19084.A0F4B8C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: John Wagoner Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2001 2:47 AM To: skyline@astromax.com Subject: [skyline] S&T's News Bulletin for December 28, 2001 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D SKY & TELESCOPE'S NEWS BULLETIN - DECEMBER 28, 2001 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D For images and Web links for these items, visit =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Post-Holiday Sale Items from SKY & TELESCOPE! Check out these recently reduced items: SKY & TELESCOPE Galaxy Mug Space Photos & Facts 2002 Desk/Wall Calendar The Year in Space 2002 Desk Calendar =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D JUPITER'S SHRINKING RED SPOT Telescopic observers from the 19th century may not have had the technological wizardry available to modern-day skywatchers -- but they apparently had an easier time spotting Jupiter's signature feature, its Great Red Spot. According to Amy Simon-Miller (NASA/Goddard Space Fight Center), today this giant cyclonic storm is only about half as big as it was in the 1880s. Simon-Miller and three colleagues confirmed the shrinkage during a careful comparison of historical records and contemporary images from the Voyager, Galileo, and Cassini spacecraft. She presented their results last month at a meeting of planetary scientists. Astronomers have known since the early 1900s that the Great Red Spot's longitudinal extent has been decreasing. Late in the 19th century the spot was nearly 35 degrees wide, which corresponds to about 40,000 kilometers, or more than three times Earth's diameter. By 1979, when Voyagers 1 and 2 swept past, it had shrunk to 21 degrees (about 25,000 km), yet its latitudinal "height" remained essentially unchanged, about 12,000 km from top to bottom. Simon-Miller has discovered that the contraction seems to have picked up steam since the Voyager visits: at its present rate of shrinkage (0.19 degree in longitude per year), the spot will become the "Great Red Circle" by the year 2040. However a perfectly round shape is unlikely, she explains, because the strong, opposing jet streams that confine the spot's northern and southern boundaries will always distort it into an oval. No one knows why the not-so-Great Red Spot has shrunk -- or, for that matter, why its color intensifies and fades over time. One clue is that the winds around its circumference are whirling 70 percent faster now (about 700 km per hour) than they were in the Voyager era. Some historical observations suggest that the Red Spot grows and shrinks in a decades-long sequence. "I'm not sure the behavior is really cyclical," Simon-Miller comments, "but I certainly would not be surprised in the least if this shrinking trend slowed or reversed." One possible explanation is that deep-seated bursts of thunderstorm-like convection periodically energize the overlying cloud layers, causing the spot to bloat in size, then gradually contract as the turbulence subsides. "All of the weather on Jupiter seems to have sporadic increases in activity," she notes, "so whatever feeds the Great Red Spot likely will too." THE LEONIDS' BEST HOME VIDEOS Thanks to some high-tech videography, researchers at last have meteor images detailed enough to probe the insides of shooting stars. The results were presented at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union earlier in the month. Hans Stenbaek-Nielsen (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) captured the meteors on video as part of NASA/Ames Research Center's Leonid Multi-Instrument Aircraft Campaign (MAC). His camera can take video at a rate of 1,000 frames per second. The instrument was originally used to study mysterious sprites, fleeting columns of light sometimes seen above massive thunderstorms. Stationed at Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska, Nielsen pointed the camera skyward and spent the night of November 17-18 watching a video monitor that displayed only a 6-degree-square field. When he saw a Leonid cross the field, he stopped the recording and manually saved the hundreds of images. "I managed to save three good meteors," Nielsen says. "I did see more, but it was rather tiring observational circumstances." Nielsen's video clearly shows how the initial pinpoint glow of the heating meteoroid quickly develops a bow shock and a tail. Peter Jenniskens (SETI Institute) explains, "Our images for the first time confirm that most meteor light comes from a bright plasma just behind the meteoroid." FUSE IN SAFE MODE Just as it began its third year of observations, NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) went into safe mode on December 10th when the second of four orientation-holding reaction wheels malfunctioned. The first of the wheels went out of action on November 25th. The FUSE mission team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Johns Hopkins University is optimistic that new software will be written to control the pointing of the satellite with the remaining two wheels. FUSE also has a system that uses the Earth's magnetic field to change the craft's orientation. The first sign of trouble came in August 2000 when a wheel temporarily rubbed against its housing when trapped gas made the surrounding insulation bulge. The spacecraft was down again briefly in February 2001 with a similar problem. Until a fix is ready -- probably in weeks if the wheels can be restarted, but several months if a new control method is needed -- FUSE will sit in emergency configuration with its solar panels aimed directly at the Sun for maximum power. FUSE was launched in June 1999 and since science operations began the following November, the mission has been largely trouble free. In 2001 alone, FUSE observed more than 600 different astronomical objects, and more than 50 papers based on FUSE observations are scheduled for presentation at the American Astronomical Society meeting next month. Earlier this month, ancient Martian oceans were inferred using FUSE observations. COMET LINEAR FAR SOUTH Comet LINEAR (C/2000 WM1) shines at about 6th magnitude, but is only visible for Southern Hemisphere observers. This coming week, the comet moves from the constellation Grus into Indus, as it nears its closest approach to the Sun -- called perihelion -- on January 22nd. As twilight fades, the comet will be about 25 to 35 deg. above the southwestern horizon. Here are positions for the coming week in 2000.0 coordinates: R.A. Dec. Dec 29 22h 27 -50.6 deg. Dec 31 22 16 -51.7 Jan 2 22 05 -52.6 Jan 4 21 54 -53.4 THIS WEEK'S "SKY AT A GLANCE" Some daily events in the changing sky, by the editors of Sky & Telescope. DEC. 30 -- SUNDAY * The Moon shines brightly in the eastern sky this evening, with brilliant Jupiter to its upper right and Pollux and Castor to its left. * Jupiter's Great Red Spot should cross Jupiter's central meridian (the imaginary line down the center of the planet's disk from pole to pole) around 11:14 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The "red" spot is very pale orange-tan. It should be visible for at least 50 minutes before and after in a good 4- or 6-inch telescope if the atmospheric seeing is sharp and steady. Our complete list of Red Spot transit times, at , is good worldwide. DEC. 31 -- MONDAY * The Moon is up in the eastern sky by midevening. Above it look for Pollux and Castor. To their upper right is much brighter Jupiter. * Jupiter is at opposition tonight, opposite the Sun in our sky. * Jupiter's Red Spot transits around 7:07 p.m. EST. * Jupiter's moon Europa reappears from eclipse out of the planet's shadow, just barely off Jupiter's eastern limb, around 7:15 p.m. EST. JAN. 1 -- TUESDAY * The naked-eye eclipsing variable star Algol should be in one of its periodic dimmings, magnitude 3.4 instead of its usual 2.1, for a couple hours centered on 6:39 p.m. EST. Algol takes several additional hours to fade and to brighten. Our timetable of all its predicted minima, at , is good worldwide. * Jupiter's Red Spot transits around 12:54 a.m. Wednesday morning EST. JAN. 2 -- WEDNESDAY * Earth is at perihelion, its closest to the Sun for the year (3.3 percent closer than at aphelion in July). * Jupiter's Red Spot transits around 8:45 p.m. EST. * The Quadrantid meteor shower may be active before dawn Thursday morning, but bright moonlight interferes. JAN. 3 -- THURSDAY * Jupiter's moon Io crosses Jupiter's face from 11:28 p.m. to 1:42 a.m. EST Friday morning. Its tiny -- but much more visible -- black shadow follows just 4 minutes behind. * Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is located three or four ring-lengths east of Saturn tonight through Saturday night. A small telescope will show it. JAN. 4 -- FRIDAY * Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede, reappears from eclipse out of Jupiter's shadow around 10:23 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. A small telescope will show it gradually swelling from invisibility to its normal brightness just off the planet's eastern limb. * Coincidentally, Jupiter's Red Spot also transits around 10:23 p.m. EST. JAN. 5 -- SATURDAY * Last-quarter Moon (exact at 10:55 p.m. Eastern Standard Time). =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D THIS WEEK'S PLANET ROUNDUP =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D MERCURY is beginning to appear through the glow of sunset. Look for it just above the southwest horizon about 40 minutes after sundown. It's getting a little higher and easier to see each day. VENUS remains hidden in the glare of the Sun. MARS (magnitude +0.8, at the Aquarius-Pisces border) is the orange "star" in the south-southwest during twilight. It sinks lower in the southwest later in the evening and sets around 10 p.m. JUPITER (magnitude -2.7, in Gemini) is at opposition this week: in the opposite direction from the Sun as seen from Earth's viewpoint. It's the brightest point of light in the sky -- blazing white in the east during evening, high in the south in the middle of the night, and in the west before dawn. SATURN (magnitude -0.3, in Taurus) shines high in the east far to Jupiter's upper right for much of the evening. It's in the south directly to Jupiter's right by about 10 p.m. The star Aldebaran sparkles just 4 degrees (two or three fingers's-widths at arm's length) to Saturn's lower right in early evening. (Later at night, Aldebaran is directly below Saturn and then to its lower left.) Compare their colors. Saturn is pale yellow; Aldebaran is more orange. URANUS and NEPTUNE are disappearing into the sunset. PLUTO (magnitude 14, in Ophiuchus) is barely up in the east-southeast before dawn. (All descriptions that relate to the horizon or zenith -- including the words up, down, right, and left -- are written for the world's midnorthern latitudes. Descriptions that also depend on longitude are for North America. Eastern Standard Time, EST, equals Universal Time [GMT] minus 5 hours.) More celestial events, sky maps, observing projects, and news of the world's astronomy research appear each month in SKY & TELESCOPE, the essential magazine of astronomy. See our enormous Web site and astronomy bookstore at . Clear skies! SKY & TELESCOPE, 49 Bay State Rd., Cambridge, MA 02138 * 617-864-7360 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Copyright 2001 Sky Publishing Corporation. S&T's Weekly News Bulletin and Sky at a Glance stargazing calendar are provided as a service to the astronomical community by the editors of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine. Widespread electronic distribution is encouraged as long as these paragraphs are included. But the text of the bulletin and calendar may not be published in any other form without permission from Sky Publishing (contact permissions@skypub.com or phone 617-864-7360). Updates of astronomical news, including active links to related Internet resources, are available via SKY & TELESCOPE's site on the World Wide Web at . In cooperation with the American Association of Amateur Astronomers (), S&T's Weekly News Bulletin and Sky at a Glance are available via electronic mailing list. For a free subscription, send e-mail to join@astromax.com = and put the word "join" on the first line of the body of the message. To unsubscribe, send e-mail to unjoin@astromax.com and put the wo= rd "unjoin" on the first line of the body of the message. If you should have any problems either subscribing to or unsubscribing from the list, send a message to list administrator John Wagoner at stargate@gte.net for assistance. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SKY & TELESCOPE, the Essential Magazine of Astronomy, is read by more than 200,000 enthusiasts each month. It is available on newsstands worldwide. For subscription information, or for a free copy of our catalog of fine astronomy books and products, please contact Sky Publishing Corp., 49 Bay State Rd., Cambridge, MA 02138-1200, U.S.A. Phone: 800-253-0245 (U.S. and Canada); 617-864-7360 (International). Fax: 617-864-6117. E-mail: custserv@skypub.com . WWW: . Clear skies! =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C19084.A0F4B8C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: John Wagoner
Sent: Saturda= y, December 29, 2001 2:47 AM
To:= skyline@astromax.com
Subjec= t: [skyline] S&T's News Bulletin for December 28, 2001
 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
SKY & TELESCOPE'S NEWS = BULLETIN - DECEMBER 28, 2001
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
For image= s and Web links for these items, visit <http://www.skypub.com>
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Post-Holiday Sale Items from SKY & TELESC= OPE! Check out these
recently reduced items:

SKY & TELESCOP= E Galaxy Mug
<http://store.skypub.com/skypub/default.asp?links=3DGA= LMUG>

Space Photos & Facts 2002 Desk/Wall Calendar
<h= ttp://store.skypub.com/skypub/default.asp?links=3DSPF02>

The Ye= ar in Space 2002 Desk Calendar
<http://store.skypub.com/skypub/defa= ult.asp?links=3DWEEKLY02>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

JUPIT= ER'S SHRINKING RED SPOT

Telescopic observers from the 19th century= may not have had the
technological wizardry available to modern-day s= kywatchers -- but they
apparently had an easier time spotting Jupiter'= s signature feature,
its Great Red Spot. According to Amy Simon-Miller= (NASA/Goddard Space
Fight Center), today this giant cyclonic storm is= only about half as
big as it was in the 1880s. Simon-Miller and three= colleagues
confirmed the shrinkage during a careful comparison of his= torical
records and contemporary images from the Voyager, Galileo, and= Cassini
spacecraft. She presented their results last month at a meeti= ng of
planetary scientists.

Astronomers have known since the ea= rly 1900s that the Great Red Spot's
longitudinal extent has been decre= asing. Late in the 19th century the
spot was nearly 35 degrees wide, w= hich corresponds to about 40,000
kilometers, or more than three times = Earth's diameter.

By 1979, when Voyagers 1 and 2 swept past, it ha= d shrunk to 21 degrees
(about 25,000 km), yet its latitudinal "height"= remained essentially
unchanged, about 12,000 km from top to bottom.
Simon-Miller has discovered that the contraction seems to have pick= ed
up steam since the Voyager visits: at its present rate of shrinkage=
(0.19 degree in longitude per year), the spot will become the "Great<= BR>Red Circle" by the year 2040. However a perfectly round shape is
un= likely, she explains, because the strong, opposing jet streams that
co= nfine the spot's northern and southern boundaries will always
distort = it into an oval.

No one knows why the not-so-Great Red Spot has sh= runk -- or, for that
matter, why its color intensifies and fades over = time. One clue is
that the winds around its circumference are whirling= 70 percent faster
now (about 700 km per hour) than they were in the V= oyager era. Some
historical observations suggest that the Red Spot gro= ws and shrinks in
a decades-long sequence. "I'm not sure the behavior = is really
cyclical," Simon-Miller comments, "but I certainly would not= be
surprised in the least if this shrinking trend slowed or reversed.= "

One possible explanation is that deep-seated bursts of
thunde= rstorm-like convection periodically energize the overlying cloud
layer= s, causing the spot to bloat in size, then gradually contract as
the t= urbulence subsides. "All of the weather on Jupiter seems to have
spora= dic increases in activity," she notes, "so whatever feeds the
Great Re= d Spot likely will too."

THE LEONIDS' BEST HOME VIDEOS

Than= ks to some high-tech videography, researchers at last have meteor
imag= es detailed enough to probe the insides of shooting stars. The
results= were presented at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union
earlier= in the month.

Hans Stenbaek-Nielsen (University of Alaska, Fairba= nks) captured the
meteors on video as part of NASA/Ames Research Cente= r's Leonid
Multi-Instrument Aircraft Campaign (MAC). His camera can ta= ke video at
a rate of 1,000 frames per second. The instrument was orig= inally used
to study mysterious sprites, fleeting columns of light som= etimes seen
above massive thunderstorms.

Stationed at Poker Fla= t Research Range in Alaska, Nielsen pointed the
camera skyward and spe= nt the night of November 17-18 watching a video
monitor that displayed= only a 6-degree-square field. When he saw a
Leonid cross the field, h= e stopped the recording and manually saved
the hundreds of images. "I = managed to save three good meteors,"
Nielsen says. "I did see more, bu= t it was rather tiring observational
circumstances."

Nielsen's = video clearly shows how the initial pinpoint glow of the
heating meteo= roid quickly develops a bow shock and a tail. Peter
Jenniskens (SETI I= nstitute) explains, "Our images for the first time
confirm that most m= eteor light comes from a bright plasma just behind
the meteoroid."
=
FUSE IN SAFE MODE

Just as it began its third year of observati= ons, NASA's Far
Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) went into sa= fe mode on
December 10th when the second of four orientation-holding r= eaction
wheels malfunctioned. The first of the wheels went out of acti= on on
November 25th. The FUSE mission team at NASA's Goddard Space Fli= ght
Center and Johns Hopkins University is optimistic that new softwar= e
will be written to control the pointing of the satellite with theremaining two wheels. FUSE also has a system that uses the Earth's
ma= gnetic field to change the craft's orientation.

The first sign of = trouble came in August 2000 when a wheel temporarily
rubbed against it= s housing when trapped gas made the surrounding
insulation bulge. The = spacecraft was down again briefly in February
2001 with a similar prob= lem. Until a fix is ready -- probably in weeks
if the wheels can be re= started, but several months if a new control
method is needed -- FUSE = will sit in emergency configuration with its
solar panels aimed direct= ly at the Sun for maximum power.

FUSE was launched in June 1999 an= d since science operations began the
following November, the mission h= as been largely trouble free. In 2001
alone, FUSE observed more than 6= 00 different astronomical objects, and
more than 50 papers based on FU= SE observations are scheduled for
presentation at the American Astrono= mical Society meeting next month.
Earlier this month, ancient Martian = oceans were inferred using FUSE
observations.

COMET LINEAR FAR = SOUTH

Comet LINEAR (C/2000 WM1) shines at about 6th magnitude, but= is only
visible for Southern Hemisphere observers. This coming week, = the comet
moves from the constellation Grus into Indus, as it nears it= s closest
approach to the Sun -- called perihelion -- on January 22nd.= As
twilight fades, the comet will be about 25 to 35 deg. above thesouthwestern horizon. Here are positions for the coming week in 2000.0coordinates:

        &nb= sp;      R.A.      = ;  Dec.

Dec 29   22h 27   -50.6 deg.
D= ec 31   22 16     -51.7
Jan 2  = ;    22 05     -52.6
Jan 4 &nb= sp;    21 54     -53.4


THIS= WEEK'S "SKY AT A GLANCE"

Some daily events in the changing sky, b= y the editors of Sky &
Telescope.

DEC. 30 -- SUNDAY

= * The Moon shines brightly in the eastern sky this evening, with
brill= iant Jupiter to its upper right and Pollux and Castor to its
left.
=
* Jupiter's Great Red Spot should cross Jupiter's central meridian(the imaginary line down the center of the planet's disk from pole topole) around 11:14 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The "red" spot is verypale orange-tan. It should be visible for at least 50 minutes before
= and after in a good 4- or 6-inch telescope if the atmospheric seeing
i= s sharp and steady. Our complete list of Red Spot transit times, at
&l= t;http://www.skypub.com/sights/moonplanets/redspot.html> , is good
= worldwide.

DEC. 31 -- MONDAY

* The Moon is up in the easter= n sky by midevening. Above it look for
Pollux and Castor. To their upp= er right is much brighter Jupiter.

* Jupiter is at opposition toni= ght, opposite the Sun in our sky.

* Jupiter's Red Spot transits ar= ound 7:07 p.m. EST.

* Jupiter's moon Europa reappears from eclipse= out of the planet's
shadow, just barely off Jupiter's eastern limb, a= round 7:15 p.m. EST.

JAN. 1 -- TUESDAY

* The naked-eye ecli= psing variable star Algol should be in one of
its periodic dimmings, m= agnitude 3.4 instead of its usual 2.1, for a
couple hours centered on = 6:39 p.m. EST. Algol takes several additional
hours to fade and to bri= ghten. Our timetable of all its predicted
minima, at <http://www.sk= ypub.com/sights/variables/algol.html> , is good
worldwide.

*= Jupiter's Red Spot transits around 12:54 a.m. Wednesday morning
EST.<= BR>
JAN. 2 -- WEDNESDAY

* Earth is at perihelion, its closest t= o the Sun for the year (3.3
percent closer than at aphelion in July).<= BR>
* Jupiter's Red Spot transits around 8:45 p.m. EST.

* The Q= uadrantid meteor shower may be active before dawn Thursday
morning, bu= t bright moonlight interferes.

JAN. 3 -- THURSDAY

* Jupiter= 's moon Io crosses Jupiter's face from 11:28 p.m. to 1:42
a.m. EST Fri= day morning. Its tiny -- but much more visible -- black
shadow follows= just 4 minutes behind.

* Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is located= three or four
ring-lengths east of Saturn tonight through Saturday ni= ght. A small
telescope will show it.

JAN. 4 -- FRIDAY

* = Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede, reappears from eclipse out of
Jupite= r's shadow around 10:23 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. A small
telescope = will show it gradually swelling from invisibility to its
normal bright= ness just off the planet's eastern limb.

* Coincidentally, Jupiter= 's Red Spot also transits around 10:23 p.m.
EST.

JAN. 5 -- SATU= RDAY

* Last-quarter Moon (exact at 10:55 p.m. Eastern Standard Tim= e).


=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
THIS WEEK'S PLANET ROUNDUP
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=
MERCURY is beginning to appear through the glow of sunset. Look for i= t
just above the southwest horizon about 40 minutes after sundown. It'= s
getting a little higher and easier to see each day.

VENUS rem= ains hidden in the glare of the Sun.

MARS (magnitude +0.8, at the = Aquarius-Pisces border) is the orange
"star" in the south-southwest du= ring twilight. It sinks lower in the
southwest later in the evening an= d sets around 10 p.m.

JUPITER (magnitude -2.7, in Gemini) is at op= position this week: in the
opposite direction from the Sun as seen fro= m Earth's viewpoint. It's
the brightest point of light in the sky -- b= lazing white in the east
during evening, high in the south in the midd= le of the night, and in
the west before dawn.

SATURN (magnitude= -0.3, in Taurus) shines high in the east far to
Jupiter's upper right= for much of the evening. It's in the south
directly to Jupiter's righ= t by about 10 p.m. The star Aldebaran
sparkles just 4 degrees (two or = three fingers's-widths at arm's
length) to Saturn's lower right in ear= ly evening. (Later at night,
Aldebaran is directly below Saturn and th= en to its lower left.)
Compare their colors. Saturn is pale yellow; Al= debaran is more orange.

URANUS and NEPTUNE are disappearing into t= he sunset.

PLUTO (magnitude 14, in Ophiuchus) is barely up in the = east-southeast
before dawn.

(All descriptions that relate to th= e horizon or zenith -- including
the words up, down, right, and left -= - are written for the world's
midnorthern latitudes. Descriptions that= also depend on longitude are
for North America. Eastern Standard Time= , EST, equals Universal Time
[GMT] minus 5 hours.)

More celesti= al events, sky maps, observing projects, and news of the
world's astro= nomy research appear each month in SKY & TELESCOPE, the
essential = magazine of astronomy. See our enormous Web site and
astronomy booksto= re at <http://SkyandTelescope.com/> . Clear skies!

SKY &= TELESCOPE, 49 Bay State Rd., Cambridge, MA 02138 *
617-864-7360
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Copyright 2001 Sky Publishing Corporati= on. S&T's Weekly News Bulletin
and Sky at a Glance stargazing cale= ndar are provided as a service to
the astronomical community by the ed= itors of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine.
Widespread electronic distribut= ion is encouraged as long as these
paragraphs are included. But the te= xt of the bulletin and calendar may
not be published in any other form= without permission from Sky
Publishing (contact permissions@skypub.co= m <mailto:permissions@skypub.com> or phone 617-864-7360).
Update= s of astronomical news, including active links to related
Internet res= ources, are available via SKY & TELESCOPE's site on the
World Wide= Web at <http://www.skypub.com/>.

In cooperation with the Am= erican Association of Amateur
Astronomers (<http://www.corvus.com/&= gt;), S&T's Weekly News Bulletin and
Sky at a Glance are available= via electronic mailing list. For a free
subscription, send e-mail to = join@astromax.com <mailto:join@astromax.com> and put the word "join= "
on the first line of the body of the message. To unsubscribe, sende-mail to unjoin@astromax.com <mailto:unjoin@astromax.com> and pu= t the word "unjoin" on the first
line of the body of the message. If y= ou should have any problems
either subscribing to or unsubscribing fro= m the list, send a message
to list administrator John Wagoner at starg= ate@gte.net <mailto:stargate@gte.net> for assistance.
----------= -----------------------------------------------------------
SKY & = TELESCOPE, the Essential Magazine of Astronomy, is read by more
than 2= 00,000 enthusiasts each month. It is available on newsstands
worldwide= . For subscription information, or for a free copy of our
catalog of f= ine astronomy books and products, please contact Sky
Publishing Corp.,= 49 Bay State Rd., Cambridge, MA 02138-1200, U.S.A.
Phone: 800-253-024= 5 (U.S. and Canada); 617-864-7360 (International).
Fax: 617-864-6117. = E-mail: custserv@skypub.com <mailto:custserv@skypub.com>. WWW:
&= lt;http://www.skypub.com/>. Clear skies!
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C19084.A0F4B8C0-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Mon Dec 31 06:33:12 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBVEXBc06315 for ; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 06:33:11 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id JAA12172 for bioastro-list; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 09:27:23 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe18.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.32.98]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id JAA12168 for ; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 09:27:19 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 06:26:41 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.195] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: New Year, Giant Planet Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 09:26:23 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0002_01C191DD.36E98C80" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 31 Dec 2001 14:26:41.0216 (UTC) FILETIME=[2A1E9C00:01C19207] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C191DD.36E98C80 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: SpaceWeather.com Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 4:42 AM To: SpaceWeather.com Subject: New Year, Giant Planet Space Weather News for Dec. 31, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com JUPITER: Tonight, New Year's Eve revelers in the northern hemisphere might notice a bright star overhead competing for attention with traditional fireworks. It's the giant planet Jupiter, which comes closer than usual to Earth on January 1, 2002. Visit SpaceWeather.com for more information. THE SUN: On Friday, Dec. 28th, space satellites recorded a remarkable solar explosion from an active region hidden behind the Sun's eastern limb. The source of the blast, a large and complex sunspot group, is coming into view today. MOON SHOTS: The Moon skirted through the outskirts of Earth's shadow on Sunday, Dec. 30th, and experienced a "penumbral" lunar eclipse. Visit our growing photo gallery to see what it looked like -- and to enjoy the Moon's eye-catching close encounter with a bright planet. Happy New Year from SpaceWeather.com! ------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C191DD.36E98C80 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: SpaceWeather.com
Sent: Mon= day, December 31, 2001 4:42 AM
T= o: SpaceWeather.com
Subject:= New Year, Giant Planet
 
Space Weather News for= Dec. 31, 2001
http://www.spaceweather.com

JUPITER: Tonight, Ne= w Year's Eve revelers in the northern hemisphere might
notice a bright= star overhead competing for attention with traditional
fireworks.&nbs= p; It's the giant planet Jupiter, which comes closer than usual
to Ear= th on January 1, 2002.  Visit SpaceWeather.com for more information.=

THE SUN: On Friday, Dec. 28th, space satellites recorded a remark= able
solar explosion from an active region hidden behind the Sun's eas= tern
limb.  The source of the blast, a large and complex sunspot = group, is
coming into view today.

MOON SHOTS: The Moon skirted = through the outskirts of Earth's shadow on
Sunday, Dec. 30th, and expe= rienced a "penumbral" lunar eclipse. Visit our
growing photo gallery t= o see what it looked like -- and to enjoy the
Moon's eye-catching clos= e encounter with a bright planet.

Happy New Year from SpaceWeather= .com!

------=_NextPart_001_0002_01C191DD.36E98C80-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Mon Dec 31 12:04:32 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id fBVK4Vc17930 for ; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 12:04:31 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id OAA27515 for bioastro-list; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 14:58:00 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe130.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.123]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id OAA27511 for ; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 14:57:57 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 11:57:23 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.113] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: AstroAlert: Solar Flare Energies & A Mid-Latitude Aurora Warning Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 14:57:02 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0005_01C1920B.67C5DB00" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 31 Dec 2001 19:57:23.0527 (UTC) FILETIME=[5D0EFD70:01C19235] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C1920B.67C5DB00 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: Cary Oler Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 1:07 PM To: sun-earth@skypub.com Subject: AstroAlert: Solar Flare Energies & A Mid-Latitude Aurora Warning A s t r o A l e r t Sun-Earth Alert Solar Terrestrial Dispatch http://www.spacew.com 30 December 2001 AURORA WARNING FOR MIDDLE LATITUDES SOLAR FLARE ENERGIES COMPARED WITH GEOPHYSICAL PHENOMENA AURORA WARNING FOR MIDDLE LATITUDES A middle latitude auroral activity warning has been issued for the middle latitude regions. A fairly strong interplanetary disturbance impac= ted the Earth's magnetosphere around 20:10 UTC on 30 December (3:10 pm EST) a= nd has the potential to intensify levels of auroral activity to sporadic min= or storm levels. Activity may be observed despite the near-full phase of the moon. The source of this disturbance is uncertain, but may be a manifesta= tion of the large and high velocity coronal mass ejection that was observed following the major class X3 solar flare of 28 December from behind the e= ast limb of the Sun. Observers interested in watching for auroral activity are encouraged= to pay attention to conditions watch the skies tonight. Regularly updated current conditions and discussions of activity are available at: http://www.spacew.com/aurora/forum.html Anyone who observes activity are encouraged to report observations t= o the Global Auroral Activity Observation Network, available at: http://www.spacew.com/www/subaurora.html. Observations reported to the network are automatically and immediate= ly disseminated (within 1 or 2 minutes) to observers world-wide via e-mail, digital SMS (http://www.spacew.com/sms), and on the web at: http://www.spacew.com/aurora.html. They are also used by space weather forecasters and professionals engaged in research. SOLAR FLARE ENERGIES COMPARED WITH GEOPHYSICAL PHENOMENA The last AstroAlert compared the energy of the 28 December major sol= ar flare with a system of measuring flare intensities in the integrated ligh= t of x-rays. This has been a bit hard for many people to put into perspective.= We would like to help clarify things by relating the energy released by the flare in a more 'down-to-Earth' way. Before we elaborate, please note that the entire energy released by = the solar flare of 28 December can only be very roughly estimated. There are whole host of parameters that must be taken into consideration - heating = by various mechanisms, mass motions and many other parameters that can only crudely be estimated at the present time. Therefore, take the following numbers with a grain of salt. The values presented below are only intende= d to help illustrate the energy that is released by a solar flare in terms tha= t we can comprehend. The actual value of this particular event may differ substantially. But as you will see, the numbers are so large, it really doesn't matter. Let us suppose the energy released by the solar flare of 28 December was somewhere near 4 x 10^24 Joules (which should be somewhat reasonable)= . In order to produce that much energy release at one time, you would = need to explode around 73,000,000,000 (that's 73 BILLION) Hiroshima sized nucl= ear bombs. The largest Earthquake we are aware of was a magnitude 9.5 earthquak= e in Chile in 1960. If the energy of the solar flare of 28 December was releas= ed in the form of an earthquake, it would have produced an unfathomable earthquake measured on the Richter scale as a magnitude 13.2 event. Now, to help put this into perspective, a magnitude 13.2 earthquake = is around 5,000 TIMES more powerful than a magnitude 9.5 earthquake. Imagine= the damage an earthquake only TWICE as large as the Chilean event would have produced. An earthquake 5,000 times more powerful is truly hard to imagin= e. The entire energy demands of the U.S. could be satisfied for more th= an 40,000 years if the energy released by the 28 December solar flare could = have been utilized. It would take the combined energy released by approximately 4 BILLIO= N hurricanes to match the energy released by the solar flare. You could place around 400 BILLION space shuttles into orbit if you = had the energy of the 28 December solar flare. Again, these are VERY rough estimates that could be significantly in error and are based on incomplete and unconfirmed models of solar flare energy release. Nevertheless, they bring into perspective the awe and tru= e power of major solar flares. ** End of the AstroAlert Bulletin ** =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D AstroAlert is a free service of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine, 49 Bay State Rd., Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. This e-mail was sent to AstroAlert subscribers. If you feel you received it in error, or to unsubscribe from AstroAlert, please see our unsubscribe form at http://www.skypub.com/news/astroalert/unsubscribe.html or send a plain-text e-mail to majordomo@skypub.com with the following line (and nothing else) in the body of the message: unsubscribe sun-earth e-mail@address.com replacing "e-mail@address.com" with your actual e-mail address. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D ------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C1920B.67C5DB00 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: Cary Oler
Sent: Monday, De= cember 31, 2001 1:07 PM
To: = sun-earth@skypub.com
Subject: AstroAlert: Solar Flare Energies & A Mid-Latitude Aurora Warning
 
        &nbs= p;            = ;        A s t r o  A l e r t
=             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;      Sun-Earth Alert

  &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;           Solar Terr= estrial Dispatch
         = ;            =        http://www.spacew.com

 &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;     30 December 2001

   &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;     AURORA WARNING FOR MIDDLE LATITUDES
 &= nbsp;         SOLAR FLARE ENERGIE= S COMPARED WITH GEOPHYSICAL PHENOMENA


AURORA WARNING FOR MIDDL= E LATITUDES

     A middle latitude auroral act= ivity warning has been issued for the
middle latitude regions. A fairl= y strong interplanetary disturbance impacted
the Earth's magnetosphere= around 20:10 UTC on 30 December (3:10 pm EST) and
has the potential t= o intensify levels of auroral activity to sporadic minor
storm levels.= Activity may be observed despite the near-full phase of the
moon. The= source of this disturbance is uncertain, but may be a manifestation
o= f the large and high velocity coronal mass ejection that was observed
= following the major class X3 solar flare of 28 December from behind the e= ast
limb of the Sun.

     Observers interes= ted in watching for auroral activity are encouraged to
pay attention t= o conditions watch the skies tonight. Regularly updated
current condit= ions and discussions of activity are available at:
http://www.spacew.c= om/aurora/forum.html

     Anyone who observes = activity are encouraged to report observations to
the Global Auroral A= ctivity Observation Network, available at:
http://www.spacew.com/www/s= ubaurora.html.

     Observations reported to t= he network are automatically and immediately
disseminated (within 1 or= 2 minutes) to observers world-wide via e-mail,
digital SMS (http://ww= w.spacew.com/sms), and on the web at:
http://www.spacew.com/aurora.htm= l. They are also used by space weather
forecasters and professionals e= ngaged in research.


SOLAR FLARE ENERGIES COMPARED WITH GEOPHYS= ICAL PHENOMENA

     The last AstroAlert compar= ed the energy of the 28 December major solar
flare with a system of me= asuring flare intensities in the integrated light of
x-rays. This has = been a bit hard for many people to put into perspective. We
would like= to help clarify things by relating the energy released by the
flare i= n a more 'down-to-Earth' way.

     Before we e= laborate, please note that the entire energy released by the
solar fla= re of 28 December can only be very roughly estimated. There are
whole = host of parameters that must be taken into consideration - heating by
= various mechanisms, mass motions and many other parameters that can only<= BR>crudely be estimated at the present time. Therefore, take the followin= g
numbers with a grain of salt. The values presented below are only in= tended to
help illustrate the energy that is released by a solar flare= in terms that we
can comprehend. The actual value of this particular = event may differ
substantially. But as you will see, the numbers are s= o large, it really
doesn't matter.

     Let= us suppose the energy released by the solar flare of 28 December
was = somewhere near 4 x 10^24 Joules (which should be somewhat reasonable).
     In order to produce that much energy releas= e at one time, you would need
to explode around 73,000,000,000 (that's= 73 BILLION) Hiroshima sized nuclear
bombs.

   &= nbsp; The largest Earthquake we are aware of was a magnitude 9.5 earthqua= ke in
Chile in 1960. If the energy of the solar flare of 28 December w= as released
in the form of an earthquake, it would have produced an un= fathomable
earthquake measured on the Richter scale as a magnitude 13.= 2 event.

     Now, to help put this into persp= ective, a magnitude 13.2 earthquake is
around 5,000 TIMES more powerfu= l than a magnitude 9.5 earthquake. Imagine the
damage an earthquake on= ly TWICE as large as the Chilean event would have
produced. An earthqu= ake 5,000 times more powerful is truly hard to imagine.

 &nbs= p;   The entire energy demands of the U.S. could be satisfied f= or more than
40,000 years if the energy released by the 28 December so= lar flare could have
been utilized.

     It= would take the combined energy released by approximately 4 BILLION
hu= rricanes to match the energy released by the solar flare.

 &n= bsp;   You could place around 400 BILLION space shuttles into o= rbit if you had
the energy of the 28 December solar flare.

&nbs= p;    Again, these are VERY rough estimates that could be = significantly in
error and are based on incomplete and unconfirmed mod= els of solar flare
energy release. Nevertheless, they bring into persp= ective the awe and true
power of major solar flares.


**&nbs= p; End of the AstroAlert Bulletin  **
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
AstroAlert is a free service of SKY & TELESC= OPE magazine, 49 Bay
State Rd., Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. This e-mai= l was sent to
AstroAlert subscribers. If you feel you received it in e= rror, or
to unsubscribe from AstroAlert, please see our unsubscribe fo= rm
at http://www.skypub.com/news/astroalert/unsubscribe.html or senda plain-text e-mail to majordomo@skypub.com with the following
line = (and nothing else) in the body of the message:
unsubscribe sun-earth e= -mail@address.com
replacing "e-mail@address.com" with your actual e-ma= il address.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
------=_NextPart_001_0005_01C1920B.67C5DB00-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Mon Dec 31 19:55:56 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id g013tsc00803 for ; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 19:55:55 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id WAA19479 for bioastro-list; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 22:48:36 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe100.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.242]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id WAA19469 for ; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 22:48:32 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 19:47:57 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.222] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: Fw: Articles of Note Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 22:47:36 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0001_01C1924D.24643A90" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 01 Jan 2002 03:47:57.0118 (UTC) FILETIME=[199715E0:01C19277] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C1924D.24643A90 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message ----- From: Barry Karr Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 4:54 PM To: CSICOP-ANNOUNCE@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Articles of Note Huge telescope's inventor receives top recognitions =20 By ERIC BERGER Houston Chronicle Science Writer http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/space/1190557 =20 Bill Gordon didn't set out to build a telescope that would become an engi= neering marvel and the stuff of scientific legend, racking up countless a= stronomy firsts from detailed mapping of the moon, Venus and Mars to the = discovery of planets outside the solar system. =20 Geologist's Melting Story of a Lost Civilization By Guy Gugliotta Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19443-2001Dec23.html "It was Plato, around 360 B.C., who first described an ancient, exotic =20 island kingdom catastrophically buried beneath the sea when its =20 once-virtuous people angered the gods with their pronounced tilt toward s= in =20 and corruption." Burning Questions by Robin Askew Spike Magazine http://www.spikemagazine.com/1201bridgetcleary.htm "Enjoyed The Blair Witch Project? Then immerse yourself in this engrossin= g =20 and exhaustively researched true story from late 19th century Ireland. Th= e =20 facts of the case are relatively straightforward: in 1895, 26-year-old =20 Bridget Cleary disappeared from her house in rural Tipperary. Local rumou= r =20 claimed that she had been taken by fairies to their fort of Kylenagranagh= , =20 from where she would eventually emerge riding a white horse. But when her= =20 badly burned body was recovered from a shallow grave a week later, her =20 husband Michael, father, aunt and four cousins were arrested. The =20 subsequent trial made headlines even in the London press." Most Americans believe in the existence of angels, according to survey By Thomas Hargrove Scripps Howard News Service http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news01/122501_news_angels.shtml "Americans overwhelmingly believe in the angels that heralded the birth o= f =20 Jesus 2000 years ago and think they still walk the Earth in these modern = days." Doctors, patients discuss higher power, healing By Luis Fabregas PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/news/s_9614.html "With his tiny body ravaged by disease, the 8-year-old boy sat on his =20 hospital bed and prayed." FDA investigating kava-kava Institute of Food Technologists http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news.asp?id=3D3578 "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating whether the use = of =20 dietary supplements containing kava (also known as kava kava or Piper =20 methysticum) is associated with liver toxicity." FTC Prohibits Marketers of Herbal Products and the "Zapper" from Making =20 Unsubstantiated Claims FTC http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/12/westdiet.htm "A Seattle couple who sold a variety of herbal products and an electrical= =20 unit called the "Zapper" as a cure for such ailments as cancer, AIDS, =20 Alzheimer's, and diabetes are prohibited from making any claims that thei= r =20 products are effective in treating or alleviating any disease or conditio= n, =20 unless they have scientific evidence to support the claims, as part of a =20 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC alleged in a =20 complaint filed in federal court that Western Dietary Products Co. =20 (Skookum), based in Blaine, Washington, and its owners marketed the "Zapp= er =20 Electrical Unit" and their "cure packages" as treatments and/or cures for= =20 various serious diseases, and claimed that use of their herbal products =20 made surgery and chemotherapy unnecessary for persons with cancer. The FT= C =20 complaint alleged that these claims were unsubstantiated." Harry's on God's side National Post http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary/story.html?f=3D/stories/20011228/9= 78041.html "If all goes according to plan, Pastor Jack Brock and his flock at the =20 Christ Community Church in Alamogordo, N.M., will ignite a "holy bonfire"= =20 of Harry Potter books on Sunday. Mr. Brock says the books are "an =20 abomination to God," and are forcing Christian children to decide between= =20 the baby Jesus and the books' child-wizard protagonist." Not-So-Vast Conspiracies: A Review of Robert Alan Goldberg's Enemies With= in By RODGER D. CITRON FindLaw's Writ http://writ.news.findlaw.com/books/reviews/20011228_citron.html "In America society, conspiracy thinking is a time-honored tradition. For= =20 those who subscribe to conspiracy theories - whether to explain not only =20 who shot President Kennedy in Dallas nearly 40 years ago but why, or to =20 account for the mysterious statues on Easter Island - events are connecte= d =20 by causation rather than coincidence, intention rather than inadvertence,= =20 and conspiracy rather than confusion or chaos. Now, with modern =20 technological developments ranging from the cinematic techniques that mad= e =20 "JFK" such a beguiling movie to the rumor-spreading capacities of the =20 Internet, the examples of and possibilities for conspiracy thinking have =20 never been greater." Local psychics offer clients glimpses of the future John Ewoldt =20 Minneapolis Star Tribune Published Dec 27 2001 http://www.startribune.com/stories/806/912081.html =20 Call me a curious skeptic. As 2002 peeks around the corner, it's normal t= o wonder what the new year will bring. So I decided to check in with a lo= cal psychic and astrologer for enlightenment. =20 ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C1924D.24643A90 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
<= DIV> 
=
----- Original Message -----
From: Barry Karr
Sent: Monday, D= ecember 31, 2001 4:54 PM
To:= CSICOP-ANNOUNCE@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
<= B>Subject: Articles of Note
 

Huge telescope's inventor receives top recognitions
By ERIC BERGER&n= bsp; Houston Chronicle Science Writer

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/= story.hts/space/1190557

Bill Gordon didn't set out to buil= d a telescope that would become an engineering marvel and the stuff of sc= ientific legend, racking up countless astronomy firsts from detailed mapp= ing of the moon, Venus and Mars to the discovery of planets outside the s= olar system.



Geologist's Melting Story of a Lost Civiliza= tion
By Guy Gugliotta
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.= com/wp-dyn/articles/A19443-2001Dec23.html

"It was Plato, around 36= 0 B.C., who first described an ancient, exotic
island kingdom catastr= ophically buried beneath the sea when its
once-virtuous people angere= d the gods with their pronounced tilt toward sin
and corruption."
=

Burning Questions
by Robin Askew
Spike Magazine
http://w= ww.spikemagazine.com/1201bridgetcleary.htm

"Enjoyed The Blair Witc= h Project? Then immerse yourself in this engrossing
and exhaustively = researched true story from late 19th century Ireland. The
facts of th= e case are relatively straightforward: in 1895, 26-year-old
Bridget C= leary disappeared from her house in rural Tipperary. Local rumour
cla= imed that she had been taken by fairies to their fort of Kylenagranagh, <= BR>from where she would eventually emerge riding a white horse. But when = her
badly burned body was recovered from a shallow grave a week later= , her
husband Michael, father, aunt and four cousins were arrested. T= he
subsequent trial made headlines even in the London press."

=
Most Americans believe in the existence of angels, according to surve= y
By Thomas Hargrove
Scripps Howard News Service
http://www.abqt= rib.com/archives/news01/122501_news_angels.shtml

"Americans overwh= elmingly believe in the angels that heralded the birth of
Jesus 2000 = years ago and think they still walk the Earth in these modern days."
<= BR>
Doctors, patients discuss higher power, healing
By Luis Fabrega= s
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune= -review/news/s_9614.html

"With his tiny body ravaged by disease, t= he 8-year-old boy sat on his
hospital bed and prayed."


FDA investigating kava-kava
Institute of Food Technologists
http:/= /www.foodnavigator.com/news/news.asp?id=3D3578

"The Food and Drug = Administration (FDA) is investigating whether the use of
dietary supp= lements containing kava (also known as kava kava or Piper
methysticum= ) is associated with liver toxicity."


FTC Prohibits Marketers = of Herbal Products and the "Zapper" from Making
Unsubstantiated Claim= s
FTC
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/12/westdiet.htm

"A Seattle= couple who sold a variety of herbal products and an electrical
unit = called the "Zapper" as a cure for such ailments as cancer, AIDS,
Alzh= eimer's, and diabetes are prohibited from making any claims that their products are effective in treating or alleviating any disease or condit= ion,
unless they have scientific evidence to support the claims, as p= art of a
settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC allege= d in a
complaint filed in federal court that Western Dietary Products= Co.
(Skookum), based in Blaine, Washington, and its owners marketed = the "Zapper
Electrical Unit" and their "cure packages" as treatments = and/or cures for
various serious diseases, and claimed that use of th= eir herbal products
made surgery and chemotherapy unnecessary for per= sons with cancer. The FTC
complaint alleged that these claims were un= substantiated."


Harry's on God's side
National Post
http= ://www.nationalpost.com/commentary/story.html?f=3D/stories/20011228/97804= 1.html

"If all goes according to plan, Pastor Jack Brock and his f= lock at the
Christ Community Church in Alamogordo, N.M., will ignite = a "holy bonfire"
of Harry Potter books on Sunday. Mr. Brock says the = books are "an
abomination to God," and are forcing Christian children= to decide between
the baby Jesus and the books' child-wizard protago= nist."



Not-So-Vast Conspiracies: A Review of Robert Alan G= oldberg's Enemies Within
By RODGER D. CITRON
FindLaw's Writ
http= ://writ.news.findlaw.com/books/reviews/20011228_citron.html

"In Am= erica society, conspiracy thinking is a time-honored tradition. For
t= hose who subscribe to conspiracy theories - whether to explain not only <= BR>who shot President Kennedy in Dallas nearly 40 years ago but why, or t= o
account for the mysterious statues on Easter Island - events are co= nnected
by causation rather than coincidence, intention rather than i= nadvertence,
and conspiracy rather than confusion or chaos.  Now= , with modern
technological developments ranging from the cinematic t= echniques that made
"JFK" such a beguiling movie to the rumor-spreadi= ng capacities of the
Internet, the examples of and possibilities for = conspiracy thinking have
never been greater."


Local psychi= cs offer clients glimpses of the future
John Ewoldt
Minneapolis St= ar Tribune   Published Dec 27 2001

http://www.startribun= e.com/stories/806/912081.html

Call me a curious skeptic. As 2002 = peeks around the corner, it's normal to wonder what the new year will bri= ng. So I decided to check in with a local psychic and astrologer for enli= ghtenment.








------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C1924D.24643A90-- From owner-bioastro@setileague.org Mon Dec 31 21:44:41 2001 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.11.4/8.11.4) with ESMTP id g015iec03164 for ; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 21:44:41 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) id AAA24614 for bioastro-list; Tue, 1 Jan 2002 00:39:40 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-bioastro@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (oe131.pav0.hotmail.com [64.4.33.124]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_22672)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id AAA24533; Tue, 1 Jan 2002 00:38:13 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Mon, 31 Dec 2001 21:37:42 -0800 X-Originating-IP: [63.24.65.203] From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" , "BioAstro" Subject: SETI bioastro: A tribute to the man who made Arecibo Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2002 00:37:40 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MSN Explorer 7.00.0021.1702 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0006_01C1925C.847BD8C0" Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 01 Jan 2002 05:37:42.0711 (UTC) FILETIME=[6EE8D470:01C19286] Sender: owner-bioastro@setileague.org Precedence: bulk ------=_NextPart_001_0006_01C1925C.847BD8C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable "Bill Gordon, basically, invented the first long-distance telephone where= E.T. could phone home." =20 The URL for the full story here: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/space/1190557 ------=_NextPart_001_0006_01C1925C.847BD8C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

"Bill Gordon, ba= sically, invented the first long-distance telephone where E.T. could phon= e home."

The URL for the full story here:

http://www.chron.com/cs/C= DA/story.hts/space/1190557



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