From owner-public@setileague.org Mon Mar 1 14:15:23 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i21MFLOr028447; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 14:15:22 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id QAA15399 for public-list; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 16:46:13 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from out006.verizon.net (out006pub.verizon.net [206.46.170.106]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id QAA15356; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 16:45:44 -0500 (EST) Received: from setileague.org ([209.158.54.60]) by out006.verizon.net (InterMail vM.5.01.06.06 201-253-122-130-106-20030910) with ESMTP id <20040301214543.XMMH1634.out006.verizon.net@setileague.org>; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 15:45:43 -0600 Message-ID: <4043AF05.9090300@setileague.org> Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 16:45:41 -0500 From: "Dr. H. Paul Shuch" Organization: The SETI League, Inc. User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:1.4) Gecko/20030624 Netscape/7.1 (ax; CDonDemand-Dom) X-Accept-Language: en-us, en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: "'Factor, Richard'" Subject: SETI public: SETI League 2004 membership directory Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Authentication-Info: Submitted using SMTP AUTH at out006.verizon.net from [209.158.54.60] at Mon, 1 Mar 2004 15:45:41 -0600 Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk SETIzens, The 2004 membership directory has been posted to the Members Only section of The SETI League website, at . You must use an assigned password to access this section. New passwords were sent out via post to all SETI League members in good standing on 1 February 2004, and are subsequently included in renewal packets. If you have not yet received your password, it probably means that your 2004 membership dues have not yet been remitted. Please remember that the contents of the Membership Directory are considered privileged information, not for distribution outside of our little family. Please respect the privacy of your fellow members, and use this information only for coordination and collaboration of SETI activities. -- H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D. Executive Director, The SETI League, Inc. 433 Liberty Street, PO Box 555, Little Ferry NJ 07643 USA voice (201) 641-1770; fax (201) 641-1771; URL http://www.setileague.org email work: n6tx@setileague.org; home: drseti@cal.berkeley.edu "We Know We're Not Alone!" From owner-public@setileague.org Tue Mar 2 05:33:23 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i22DXMOr006590; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 05:33:23 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id IAA04572 for public-list; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:19:59 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav147.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.171.177]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id IAA04568; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:19:56 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 05:19:25 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.25 by bay4-dav147.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Tue, 02 Mar 2004 13:19:25 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.25] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" Cc: "BioAstro" , "europa" Subject: SETI public: NASA Schedules 'Rush' Announcement About Mars for 2 PM ET Tue Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:19:20 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0013_01C4002F.0FCF6710" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:19:20 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 02 Mar 2004 13:19:25.0577 (UTC) FILETIME=[FBDAF790:01C40058] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0013_01C4002F.0FCF6710 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable From: "james oberg" = > To: = > Subject: [FPSPACE] NASA Schedules 'Rush'=20 Announcement 2 PM ET Tuesday Date sent: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 13:19:57 -0600 [ Double-click this line for list subscription options ]=20 NASA Schedules 'Rush' Announcement 2 PM ET Tuesday msnbc.com (Alan Boyle w/ Jim Oberg) . March 1, 2004 | 1:45 p.m. ET see = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3217961/ for live links to earlier stories Big news from Mars: After a weekend of escalating buzz, NASA has scheduled a rush news conference at 2 p.m. ET Tuesday at its Washington headquarters to announce dramatic new findings about=20 water on Mars. The specifics are being held back for the briefing, but clearly they have to do with evidence sent back from the Mars rovers relating to the role liquid water played - and may still be playing - on the Red Planet. If there is even a bit of salty liquid water beneath the surface of Mars, as hinted last month, that theoretically could open the way for life to exist there even today. Among the clues are the threadlike features seen in some of the microscopic imagery, which could have been laid down by mineral- rich water percolating through the soil; the fine-layered appearance of Martian bedrock around Opportunity's landing site, which points=20 toward a sedimentary origin; and fancifully nicknamed geological = features such as blueberries and macaroni. The rover missions' principal scientific investigator, Cornell astronomer Steve Squyres, will be among the speakers at Tuesday's briefing, NASA spokesman Don Savage told MSNBC.com.=20 Arrangements for the briefing were firmed up over the weekend - and = Savage said the plans were made so hastily because the news couldn't be held back=20 much longer, "not that we would want to hold it." So stay tuned for the news as it happens, via MSNBC's live video coverage. ------=_NextPart_000_0013_01C4002F.0FCF6710 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
From:           = "james=20 oberg" <joberg@houston.rr.com>
To= :            = =20 <fpspace@friends-partners.org= >
Subject:       =20 [FPSPACE] NASA Schedules 'Rush'
Announcement 2 PM ET Tuesday
Date = sent:      Mon, 1 Mar 2004 13:19:57 = -0600

[=20 Double-click this line for list subscription options ]

NASA = Schedules=20 'Rush' Announcement 2 PM ET Tuesday

msnbc.com (Alan Boyle w/ Jim=20 Oberg)         . March 1, 2004 | = 1:45
p.m. ET see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id= /3217961/=20 for live links to
earlier stories

Big news from Mars: After a = weekend=20 of escalating buzz, NASA has
scheduled a rush news conference at 2 = p.m. ET=20 Tuesday at its
Washington headquarters to announce dramatic new = findings=20 about
water on Mars.

The specifics are being held back for = the=20 briefing, but clearly they
have to do with evidence sent back from = the Mars=20 rovers relating to
the role liquid water played - and may still be = playing -=20 on the Red
Planet. If there is even a bit of salty liquid water = beneath=20 the
surface of Mars, as hinted last month, that theoretically could=20 open
the way for life to exist there even today.

Among the = clues are=20 the threadlike features seen in some of the
microscopic imagery, = which could=20 have been laid down by mineral-
rich water percolating through the = soil; the=20 fine-layered appearance of
Martian bedrock around Opportunity's = landing site,=20 which points
toward a sedimentary origin; and fancifully nicknamed=20 geological features
such as blueberries and macaroni.

The = rover=20 missions' principal scientific investigator, Cornell
astronomer Steve = Squyres, will be among the speakers at Tuesday's
briefing, NASA = spokesman Don=20 Savage told MSNBC.com.
Arrangements for the briefing were firmed up = over the=20 weekend - and Savage said the
plans were made so hastily because the = news=20 couldn't be held back
much longer, "not that we would want to hold = it." So=20 stay tuned for the
news as it happens, via MSNBC's live video=20 coverage.

------=_NextPart_000_0013_01C4002F.0FCF6710-- From owner-public@setileague.org Tue Mar 2 05:48:17 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i22DmFOr011454; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 05:48:16 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id IAA04718 for public-list; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:24:36 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav75.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.171.105]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id IAA04714; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:24:34 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 05:24:03 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.25 by bay4-dav75.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Tue, 02 Mar 2004 13:24:03 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.25] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" Cc: "BioAstro" , "europa" Subject: SETI public: Fw: NASA MARS ROVER OPPORTUNITY NEWS BRIEFING MARCH 2 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:21:48 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0030_01C4002F.687E0A10" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:21:48 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 02 Mar 2004 13:24:03.0341 (UTC) FILETIME=[A16A63D0:01C40059] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0030_01C4002F.687E0A10 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message -----=20 From: NASANews@Ames=20 To: = ames-releases@lists.arc.nasa.gov= =20 Sent: Monday, March 01, 2004 6:46 PM Subject: NASA MARS ROVER OPPORTUNITY NEWS BRIEFING MARCH 2 Michael Mewhinney=20 March 1, 2004 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Phone: 650/604-3937 or 650/604-9000 E-mail: Michael.Mewhinney@nasa.gov NOTE TO EDITORS: 04-14AR NASA MARS ROVER OPPORTUNITY NEWS BRIEFING MARCH 2 Significant findings from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity,=20 now exploring Meridiani Planum on Mars, will be announced at a news=20 briefing at 11 a.m. PST, Tuesday, March 2, 2004, at NASA=20 Headquarters, Washington, D.C. and broadcast live to NASA Ames=20 Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. The briefing will originate from the James E. Webb Auditorium, 300 E=20 St., S.W., Washington, and will be carried live on NASA TV with=20 two-way question-and-answer capability for reporters covering the=20 event at NASA Ames. Reporters can view the broadcast at NASA Ames in=20 the main auditorium, Bldg. N-201. NASA Ames Mars scientists will be=20 available for interviews following the broadcast. Dr. Ed Weiler, associate administrator, Office of Space Science at=20 NASA Headquarters, will make opening remarks. The panelists include: --Professor Steve Squyres, Mars Exploration Rover (MER) principal=20 investigator, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. --Professor John Grotzinger, MER science team geologist,=20 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass. --Dr. Benton C. Clark III, MER science team member and chief=20 scientist of space exploration, Lockheed Martin Space Systems=20 Astronautics Operations, Denver --Dr. Joy Crisp, MER project scientist, NASA's Jet Propulsion=20 Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. --Dr. Jim Garvin, lead scientist for Mars and the moon, NASA = Headquarters To reach NASA Ames, take the Moffett Field exit off U.S. 101 and=20 drive east to the main gate, Moffet Field. Reporters will need to=20 show a photo ID to gain entry. After entering the gate, take the=20 first left and drive to the main administration building with the=20 flags out front. The auditorium is located directly behind the=20 administration building. =20 NASA Television is available on AMC-9, transponder 9C, C-Band,=20 located at 85 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz.=20 Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. Audio of=20 the broadcast will be available on voice circuit at the Kennedy Space=20 Center on 321/867-1220. For a live Webcast of the briefing and information about NASA TV on=20 the Internet, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv -end- To receive Ames news releases, send an e-mail with the word=20 "subscribe" in the subject line to:=20 ames-releases-request@lists.arc.nasa.gov. To unsubscribe, send an=20 e-mail to the same address with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.=20 Also, the NASA Ames News homepage at URL,=20 http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov includes = news releases and JPEG images=20 in AP Leaf Desk format minus embedded captions ------=_NextPart_000_0030_01C4002F.687E0A10 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
----- Original = Message -----=20
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2004 6:46 PM
Subject: NASA MARS ROVER OPPORTUNITY NEWS BRIEFING MARCH=20 2


Michael Mewhinney
March 1, 2004
NASA Ames = Research=20 Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Phone: 650/604-3937 or = 650/604-9000
E-mail:=20 Michael.Mewhinney@nasa.gov=

NOTE=20 TO EDITORS:  04-14AR

NASA MARS ROVER OPPORTUNITY NEWS = BRIEFING MARCH=20 2

Significant findings from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover = Opportunity,=20
now exploring Meridiani Planum on Mars, will be announced at a news=20
briefing at 11 a.m. PST, Tuesday, March 2, 2004, at NASA =
Headquarters,=20 Washington, D.C. and broadcast live to NASA Ames
Research Center, = Moffett=20 Field, Calif.

The briefing will originate from the James E. Webb=20 Auditorium, 300 E
St., S.W., Washington, and will be carried live on = NASA TV=20 with
two-way question-and-answer capability for reporters covering = the=20
event at NASA Ames.  Reporters can view the broadcast at NASA = Ames in=20
the main auditorium, Bldg. N-201.  NASA Ames Mars scientists = will be=20
available for interviews following the broadcast.

Dr. Ed = Weiler,=20 associate administrator, Office of Space Science at
NASA = Headquarters, will=20 make opening remarks. The panelists include:

--Professor Steve = Squyres,=20 Mars Exploration Rover (MER) principal
investigator, Cornell = University,=20 Ithaca, N.Y.
--Professor John Grotzinger, MER science team geologist, =
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
--Dr. = Benton C.=20 Clark III, MER science team member and chief
scientist of space = exploration,=20 Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Astronautics Operations, = Denver
--Dr. Joy=20 Crisp, MER project scientist, NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, = Pasadena,=20 Calif.
--Dr. Jim Garvin, lead scientist for Mars and the moon, NASA=20 Headquarters

To reach NASA Ames, take the Moffett Field exit off = U.S. 101=20 and
drive east to the main gate, Moffet Field.  Reporters will = need to=20
show a photo ID to gain entry.  After entering the gate, take = the=20
first left and drive to the main administration building with the =
flags=20 out front.  The auditorium is located directly behind the=20
administration building. 

NASA Television is available = on=20 AMC-9, transponder 9C, C-Band,
located at 85 degrees west longitude. = The=20 frequency is 3880.0 MHz.
Polarization is vertical, and audio is = monaural at=20 6.80 MHz. Audio of
the broadcast will be available on voice circuit = at the=20 Kennedy Space
Center on 321/867-1220.

For a live Webcast of = the=20 briefing and information about NASA TV on
the Internet, = visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

-end-=

To=20 receive Ames news releases, send an e-mail with the word
"subscribe" = in the=20 subject line to:
ames-releases-re= quest@lists.arc.nasa.gov. =20 To unsubscribe, send an
e-mail to the same address with = "unsubscribe" in the=20 subject line.
Also, the NASA Ames News homepage at URL,
http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov = includes=20 news releases and JPEG images
in AP Leaf Desk format minus embedded=20 captions

------=_NextPart_000_0030_01C4002F.687E0A10-- From owner-public@setileague.org Tue Mar 2 09:07:03 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i22H6uOr009770; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 09:06:59 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id LAA09247 for public-list; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:49:42 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav49.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.171.79]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id LAA09243; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:49:40 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:49:08 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.25 by bay4-dav49.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Tue, 02 Mar 2004 16:49:08 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.25] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" Cc: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI public: Intelligent Design - the new big tent for Evolution's critics Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:48:55 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0224_01C4004C.576F8F60" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:48:55 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 02 Mar 2004 16:49:08.0770 (UTC) FILETIME=[4805D820:01C40076] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0224_01C4004C.576F8F60 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable INTELLIGENT DESIGN: THE NEW 'BIG TENT' FOR EVOLUTION'S CRITICS By Terry Devitt=20 University of Wisconsin--Madison release 16 February 2004 Since the advent of Darwinism in the mid-19th century, a variety of=20 movements have jousted for the intellectual high ground in the epic=20 evolution versus creationism debate. At one end of the spectrum reside the "naturalistic evolutionists" who argue that life neither = requires nor benefits from a divine creator. At the other pole, "scientific=20 creationists" compress the entire history of the cosmos into 6,000 years and insist that the heavens and Earth and all life arose in one six-day creation event. Somewhere in the middle, are "theistic = evolutionists" who argue for a creator, but see no reason why God could not have made = the world by means of evolution. =20 And in the last decade or so, yet another movement has forged a claim in the high-stakes contest for intellectual primacy in the apparently=20 ceaseless battle over the origins of life. The newest combatants, known as "intelligent-design theorists," reject both theistic and naturalistic evolution and, instead, claim evidence of the hand of an = unknown=20 "intelligent designer" in the genesis of life. =20 But for Ron Numbers, the leading historian of the struggle between=20 Darwinism and the anti-evolution movements of the past 140 years,=20 intelligent design is simply the latest effort to create a "big tent for all people critical of evolution." As he views it, there are significant differences between scientific creationism and intelligent = design. First, adherents of intelligent design scrupulously avoid biblical = arguments to undermine evolutionary theory and argue instead that the subcellular=20 complexity of life demands a knowing designer. What's more, many who=20 subscribe to intelligent design have no problem accepting the great=20 antiquity of life on Earth. =20 "They do create some problems for people (strict creationists) who take the Bible seriously," says Numbers, a professor of history of = science and medicine at UW-Madison. "They argue that the emphasis of young = Earth=20 creationists has been divisive."=20 But those big differences notwithstanding, the intelligent design=20 movement, like the more biblically oriented creationist movements, has the same ambitious agenda: to influence how science is taught in the nation's schools. In particular, they seek to weaken or eliminate the = teaching of evolution--the dominant, unifying theory of modern biology--in public = schools. Despite friction between the two camps, strict creationists and intelligent design adherents have at times joined forces to advance their educational agenda, the most recent example in Georgia, where a proposal for middle and high school science classrooms calls for = deemphasizing=20 evolution. Addressing scientists February 14, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Numbers gave historical context to the intelligent design movement, a = movement that comes from no particular religious point of view, but nonetheless argues for a supernatural hand in the creation of life. =20 "They couldn't care less about Genesis, and it is big enough that it can even appeal to some Jews and Muslims," says Numbers. "Its appeal is the complex nature of the world."=20 At the root of intelligent design theory is that life, at its most basic biochemical level, is too complex to understand. That science has = not unraveled many of the biochemical secrets of life is evidence that an=20 "intelligent designer" has intervened, its theorists assert. This=20 argument, says Numbers, ups the antievolution ante by arguing that science itself must change to accommodate the things it cannot explain. = "They are claiming this is a scientific discovery, so it should be taught with other scientific claims in the schools," Numbers explains. = "They are saying science should change its most fundamental rule, that science = admits only naturalistic explanations." "The intelligent design people are saying that if the goal of science is to discover the truth, why should scientists, a priori, reject the theory of intelligent design? There must be intelligent design in the = face of irreducible complexity." "They have made a tremendous splash," says Numbers. "They want to change the way science is done, but so far as I know, there has yet to = appear an article in a scientific journal that makes this broader claim."=20 The odds that the intelligent design movement--even with some scientist subscribers--will change the way science is done are slim, = Number asserts. =20 "To change science, they'll need to convince the scientific community, and they don't have a snowball's chance in hell of doing that."=20 But the likelihood that intelligent design theory will make inroads into the public science classroom and into textbooks is good, Numbers believes. =20 "It is very likely to influence science teaching. Intelligent design=20 doesn't talk about God explicitly, so in some cases it might pass legal muster. They're trying to get into the schools that way, and they = may be successful, I think."=20 Scientists and other proponents of evolution, tend to conflate creationism and intelligent design. "They see intelligent design as = little more than gussied up creationism, despite the significant differences," = Numbers=20 says. =20 Either way, the stakes in the classroom are too high, he argues, to ignore the intellectual arguments of intelligent design as an answer to=20 evolution. Read the original news release at = http://www.news.wisc.edu/9450.html. An additional article on this subject is available at=20 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-04p.html. ------=_NextPart_000_0224_01C4004C.576F8F60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
INTELLIGENT DESIGN: THE NEW 'BIG TENT' FOR EVOLUTION'S = CRITICS

By Terry Devitt
University of Wisconsin--Madison = release

16=20 February 2004

Since the advent of Darwinism in the mid-19th = century, a=20 variety of
movements have jousted for the intellectual high ground = in the=20 epic
evolution versus creationism debate.  At one end of the=20 spectrum
reside the "naturalistic evolutionists" who argue that life = neither=20 requires
nor benefits from a divine creator.  At the other pole, = "scientific
creationists" compress the entire history of the cosmos = into=20 6,000
years and insist that the heavens and Earth and all life arose = in=20 one
six-day creation event.  Somewhere in the middle, are = "theistic=20 evolutionists"
who argue for a creator, but see no reason why God = could not=20 have made the
world by means of evolution. 

And in the = last=20 decade or so, yet another movement has forged a claim
in the = high-stakes=20 contest for intellectual primacy in the apparently
ceaseless battle = over the=20 origins of life.  The newest combatants,
known as = "intelligent-design=20 theorists," reject both theistic and
naturalistic evolution and, = instead,=20 claim evidence of the hand of an unknown
"intelligent designer" in = the=20 genesis of life. 

But for Ron Numbers, the leading = historian of the=20 struggle between
Darwinism and the anti-evolution movements of the = past 140=20 years,
intelligent design is simply the latest effort to create a = "big=20 tent
for all people critical of evolution."  As he views it, = there=20 are
significant differences between scientific creationism and = intelligent=20 design.
First, adherents of intelligent design scrupulously avoid = biblical=20 arguments
to undermine evolutionary theory and argue instead that the = subcellular
complexity of life demands a knowing designer.  = What's=20 more, many who
subscribe to intelligent design have no problem = accepting the=20 great
antiquity of life on Earth. 

"They do create some = problems for people (strict creationists) who
take the Bible = seriously," says=20 Numbers, a professor of history of science
and medicine at = UW-Madison. =20 "They argue that the emphasis of young Earth
creationists has been=20 divisive."

But those big differences notwithstanding, the = intelligent=20 design
movement, like the more biblically oriented creationist = movements,=20 has
the same ambitious agenda: to influence how science is taught in=20 the
nation's schools.  In particular, they seek to weaken or = eliminate=20 the teaching
of evolution--the dominant, unifying theory of modern=20 biology--in public
schools.  Despite friction between the two = camps,=20 strict creationists
and intelligent design adherents have at times = joined=20 forces to advance
their educational agenda, the most recent example = in=20 Georgia, where a
proposal for middle and high school science = classrooms calls=20 for deemphasizing
evolution.  Addressing scientists February = 14, at the=20 annual meeting
of the American Association for the Advancement of = Science=20 (AAAS),
Numbers gave historical context to the intelligent design = movement, a=20 movement
that comes from no particular religious point of view, but=20 nonetheless
argues for a supernatural hand in the creation of = life. =20

"They couldn't care less about Genesis, and it is big enough = that=20 it
can even appeal to some Jews and Muslims," says Numbers.  = "Its appeal=20 is
the complex nature of the world."

At the root of = intelligent=20 design theory is that life, at its most
basic biochemical level, is = too=20 complex to understand.  That science has not
unraveled many of = the=20 biochemical secrets of life is evidence that an
"intelligent = designer" has=20 intervened, its theorists assert.  This
argument, says Numbers, = ups the=20 antievolution ante by arguing that
science itself must change to = accommodate=20 the things it cannot explain. 

"They are claiming this is a = scientific discovery, so it should be
taught with other scientific = claims in=20 the schools," Numbers explains.  "They
are saying science should = change=20 its most fundamental rule, that science
admits only naturalistic=20 explanations."

"The intelligent design people are saying that if = the goal=20 of science
is to discover the truth, why should scientists, a priori, = reject=20 the
theory of intelligent design?  There must be intelligent = design in=20 the face
of irreducible complexity."

"They have made a = tremendous=20 splash," says Numbers.  "They want to
change the way science is = done,=20 but so far as I know, there has yet to appear
an article in a = scientific=20 journal that makes this broader claim."

The odds that the = intelligent=20 design movement--even with some
scientist subscribers--will change = the way=20 science is done are slim, Number
asserts. 
"To change science, they'll need to convince the scientific=20 community,
and they don't have a snowball's chance in hell of doing = that."=20

But the likelihood that intelligent design theory will make=20 inroads
into the public science classroom and into textbooks is good, = Numbers
believes. 

"It is very likely to influence = science=20 teaching.  Intelligent design
doesn't talk about God = explicitly, so in=20 some cases it might pass
legal muster.  They're trying to get = into the=20 schools that way, and they may
be successful, I think." =

Scientists=20 and other proponents of evolution, tend to conflate
creationism and=20 intelligent design.  "They see intelligent design as little = more
than=20 gussied up creationism, despite the significant differences," Numbers=20
says. 

Either way, the stakes in the classroom are too = high, he=20 argues, to
ignore the intellectual arguments of intelligent design as = an=20 answer to
evolution.

Read the original news release at http://www.news.wisc.edu/9450= html.

An=20 additional article on this subject is available at
http://www.spacedai= ly.com/news/life-04p.html.
 
------=_NextPart_000_0224_01C4004C.576F8F60-- From owner-public@setileague.org Tue Mar 2 11:54:57 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i22JspOr009352; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:54:53 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id OAA12858 for public-list; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 14:39:27 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav10.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.170.114]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id OAA12854; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 14:39:20 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:38:45 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.47 by bay4-dav10.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Tue, 02 Mar 2004 19:38:44 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.47] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" Cc: "BioAstro" , "europa" Subject: SETI public: Fw: Opportunity Rover Finds Strong Evidence Meridiani Planum was Wet Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 14:38:35 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0098_01C40064.0B14F930" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 14:38:35 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 02 Mar 2004 19:38:45.0092 (UTC) FILETIME=[F9955A40:01C4008D] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0098_01C40064.0B14F930 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message -----=20 From: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory=20 To: ljk4@msn.com=20 Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 2:10 PM Subject: Opportunity Rover Finds Strong Evidence Meridiani Planum was = Wet MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://jpl.convio.net/site/R?i=3DfWswR8U-lQJO-3BCLCXxIg.. = http://jpl.convio.net/site/R?i=3DNYjN6CGa2yxO-3BCLCXxIg.. Guy Webster (818) 354-5011 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Donald Savage (202) 358-1547 NASA Headquarters, Washington March 2, 2004 =20 NEWS RELEASE: 2004-074 =20 OPPORTUNITY ROVER FINDS STRONG EVIDENCE MERIDIANI PLANUM WAS WET Scientists have concluded the part of Mars that NASA's Opportunity rover is exploring was soaking wet in the past. Evidence the rover found in a rock outcrop led scientists to the conclusion. Clues from the rocks' composition, such as the presence of sulfates, and the rocks' physical appearance, such as niches where crystals grew, helped make the case for a watery history. "Liquid water once flowed through these rocks. It changed their texture, and it changed their chemistry," said Dr. Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., principal investigator for the science instruments on Opportunity and its twin, Spirit. "We've been able to read the tell-tale clues the water left behind, giving us confidence in that conclusion." Dr. James Garvin, lead scientist for Mars and lunar exploration at NASA Headquarters, Washington, said, "NASA launched the Mars Exploration Rover mission specifically to check whether at least one part of Mars ever had a persistently wet environment that could possibly have been hospitable to life. Today we have strong evidence for an exciting answer: Yes." Opportunity has more work ahead. It will try to determine whether, besides being exposed to water after they formed, the rocks may have originally been laid down by minerals precipitating out of solution at the bottom of a salty lake or sea. The first views Opportunity sent of its landing site in Mars' Meridiani Planum region five weeks ago delighted researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., because of the good fortune to have the spacecraft arrive next to an exposed slice of bedrock on the inner slope of a small crater. The robotic field geologist has spent most of the past three weeks surveying the whole outcrop, and then turning back for close-up inspection of selected portions. The rover found a very high concentration of sulfur in the outcrop with its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, which identifies chemical elements in a sample. "The chemical form of this sulfur appears to be in magnesium, iron or other sulfate salts," said Dr. Benton Clark of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver. "Elements that can form chloride or even bromide salts have also been detected." At the same location, the rover's Moessbauer spectrometer, which identifies iron-bearing minerals, detected a hydrated iron sulfate mineral called jarosite. Germany provided both the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and the Moessbauer spectrometer. Opportunity's miniature thermal emission spectrometer has also provided evidence for sulfates. On Earth, rocks with as much salt as this Mars rock either have formed in water or, after formation, have been highly altered by long exposures to water. Jarosite may point to the rock's wet history having been in an acidic lake or an acidic hot springs environment. The water evidence from the rocks' physical appearance comes in at least three categories, said Dr. John Grotzinger, sedimentary geologist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge: indentations called "vugs," spherules and crossbedding. Pictures from the rover's panoramic camera and microscopic imager reveal the target rock, dubbed "El Capitan," is thoroughly pocked with indentations about a centimeter (0.4 inch) long and one-fourth or less that wide, with apparently random orientations. This distinctive texture is familiar to geologists as the sites where crystals of salt minerals form within rocks that sit in briny water. When the crystals later disappear, either by erosion or by dissolving in less-salty water, the voids left behind are called vugs, and in this case they conform to the geometry of possible former evaporite minerals. Round particles the size of BBs are embedded in the outcrop. From shape alone, these spherules might be formed from volcanic eruptions, from lofting of molten droplets by a meteor impact, or from accumulation of minerals coming out of solution inside a porous, water-soaked rock. Opportunity's observations that the spherules are not concentrated at particular layers in the outcrop weigh against a volcanic or impact origin, but do not completely rule out those origins. Layers in the rock that lie at an angle to the main layers, a pattern called crossbedding, can result from the action of wind or water. Preliminary views by Opportunity hint the crossbedding bears hallmarks of water action, such as the small scale of the crossbedding and possible concave patterns formed by sinuous crestlines of underwater ridges. The images obtained to date are not adequate for a definitive answer. So scientists plan to maneuver Opportunity closer to the features for a better look. "We have tantalizing clues, and we're planning to evaluate this possibility in the near future," Grotzinger said.=20 JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Exploration Rover project for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington. For information about NASA and the Mars mission on the Internet, visit http://jpl.convio.net/site/R?i=3Ddrr8TcNFgrZO-3BCLCXxIg.. .=20 = http://jpl.convio.net/site/R?i=3D9SXWnKhv9wlO-3BCLCXxIg.. Images and additional information about the project are also available at = http://jpl.convio.net/site/R?i=3DLM2hDVipO_lO-3BCLCXxIg.. and = http://jpl.convio.net/site/R?i=3D8PlPuuV05AZO-3BCLCXxIg.. . = http://jpl.convio.net/site/R?i=3DJkLv39BN9UhO-3BCLCXxIg.. = http://jpl.convio.net/site/R?i=3Dzq_wv4t2sTFO-3BCLCXxIg.. -end- ------=_NextPart_000_0098_01C40064.0B14F930 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
----- Original = Message -----=20
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 2:10 PM
Subject: Opportunity Rover Finds Strong Evidence Meridiani = Planum=20 was Wet

MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION = LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA=20 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE=20 ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109  TELEPHONE (818) = 354-5011
http://j= pl.convio.net/site/R?i=3DfWswR8U-lQJO-3BCLCXxIg..
 http://j= pl.convio.net/site/R?i=3DNYjN6CGa2yxO-3BCLCXxIg..

Guy=20 Webster  (818) 354-5011
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,=20 Calif.

Donald Savage  (202) 358-1547
NASA Headquarters,=20 Washington       March 2,=20 2004
    
NEWS RELEASE:=20 2004-074
    
OPPORTUNITY ROVER FINDS STRONG = EVIDENCE=20 MERIDIANI PLANUM WAS WET

Scientists have concluded the part of = Mars that=20 NASA's Opportunity
rover is exploring was soaking wet in the=20 past.

Evidence the rover found in a rock outcrop led scientists = to=20 the
conclusion. Clues from the rocks' composition, such as the = presence=20 of
sulfates, and the rocks' physical appearance, such as niches=20 where
crystals grew, helped make the case for a watery=20 history.

"Liquid water once flowed through these rocks. It = changed=20 their
texture, and it changed their chemistry," said Dr. Steve = Squyres=20 of
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., principal investigator for=20 the
science instruments on Opportunity and its twin, Spirit. "We've=20 been
able to read the tell-tale clues the water left behind, giving=20 us
confidence in that conclusion."

Dr. James Garvin, lead = scientist=20 for Mars and lunar exploration at
NASA Headquarters, Washington, = said, "NASA=20 launched the Mars
Exploration Rover mission specifically to check = whether at=20 least one
part of Mars ever had a persistently wet environment that=20 could
possibly have been hospitable to life. Today we have strong=20 evidence
for an exciting answer: Yes."

Opportunity has more = work=20 ahead. It will try to determine whether,
besides being exposed to = water after=20 they formed, the rocks may have
originally been laid down by minerals = precipitating out of solution at
the bottom of a salty lake or=20 sea.

The first views Opportunity sent of its landing site in=20 Mars'
Meridiani Planum region five weeks ago delighted researchers at = NASA's
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., because of the=20 good
fortune to have the spacecraft arrive next to an exposed slice=20 of
bedrock on the inner slope of a small crater.

 The = robotic=20 field geologist has spent most of the past three weeks
surveying the = whole=20 outcrop, and then turning back for close-up
inspection of selected = portions.=20 The rover found a very high
concentration of sulfur in the outcrop = with its=20 alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer, which identifies chemical elements = in a=20 sample.
"The chemical form of this sulfur appears to be in magnesium, = iron=20 or
other sulfate salts," said Dr. Benton Clark of Lockheed Martin=20 Space
Systems, Denver. "Elements that can form chloride or even=20 bromide
salts have also been detected."

At the same location, = the=20 rover's Moessbauer spectrometer, which
identifies iron-bearing = minerals,=20 detected a hydrated iron sulfate
mineral called jarosite. Germany = provided=20 both the alpha particle
X-ray spectrometer and the Moessbauer = spectrometer.=20 Opportunity's
miniature thermal emission spectrometer has also = provided=20 evidence for
sulfates.

On Earth, rocks with as much salt as = this Mars=20 rock either have formed
in water or, after formation, have been = highly=20 altered by long
exposures to water. Jarosite may point to the rock's = wet=20 history
having been in an acidic lake or an acidic hot springs=20 environment.

The water evidence from the rocks' physical = appearance comes=20 in at
least three categories, said Dr. John Grotzinger,=20 sedimentary
geologist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, = Cambridge:
indentations called "vugs," spherules and=20 crossbedding.

Pictures from the rover's panoramic camera and = microscopic=20 imager
reveal the target rock, dubbed "El Capitan," is thoroughly = pocked=20 with
indentations about a centimeter (0.4 inch) long and one-fourth = or=20 less
that wide, with apparently random orientations. This=20 distinctive
texture is familiar to geologists as the sites where = crystals of=20 salt
minerals form within rocks that sit in briny water. When the=20 crystals
later disappear, either by erosion or by dissolving in=20 less-salty
water, the voids left behind are called vugs, and in this = case=20 they
conform to the geometry of possible former evaporite=20 minerals.

Round particles the size of BBs are embedded in the = outcrop.=20 From
shape alone, these spherules might be formed from volcanic=20 eruptions,
from lofting of molten droplets by a meteor impact, or=20 from
accumulation of minerals coming out of solution inside a=20 porous,
water-soaked rock. Opportunity's observations that the = spherules=20 are
not concentrated at particular layers in the outcrop weigh = against=20 a
volcanic or impact origin, but do not completely rule out=20 those
origins.

Layers in the rock that lie at an angle to the = main=20 layers, a pattern
called crossbedding, can result from the action of = wind or=20 water.
Preliminary views by Opportunity hint the crossbedding bears=20 hallmarks
of water action, such as the small scale of the = crossbedding=20 and
possible concave patterns formed by sinuous crestlines of=20 underwater
ridges.

The images obtained to date are not = adequate for a=20 definitive answer.
So scientists plan to maneuver Opportunity closer = to the=20 features for
a better look. "We have tantalizing clues, and we're = planning=20 to
evaluate this possibility in the near future," Grotzinger said.=20

JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in=20 Pasadena,
manages the Mars Exploration Rover project for NASA's = Office of=20 Space
Science, Washington.

For information about NASA and the = Mars=20 mission on the Internet, visit
http://j= pl.convio.net/site/R?i=3Ddrr8TcNFgrZO-3BCLCXxIg..=20
 http://j= pl.convio.net/site/R?i=3D9SXWnKhv9wlO-3BCLCXxIg..

Images=20 and additional information about the project are also available
at http://j= pl.convio.net/site/R?i=3DLM2hDVipO_lO-3BCLCXxIg..  =20 and http://j= pl.convio.net/site/R?i=3D8PlPuuV05AZO-3BCLCXxIg..=20
 http://j= pl.convio.net/site/R?i=3DJkLv39BN9UhO-3BCLCXxIg..
 http://j= pl.convio.net/site/R?i=3Dzq_wv4t2sTFO-3BCLCXxIg..

-end-

------=_NextPart_000_0098_01C40064.0B14F930-- From owner-public@setileague.org Tue Mar 2 18:48:12 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i232mAOr024312; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:48:11 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id VAA21293 for public-list; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:34:56 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav116.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.171.146]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id VAA21289; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:34:53 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:34:14 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.14 by bay4-dav116.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Wed, 03 Mar 2004 02:34:13 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.14] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" Cc: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI public: Fw: Space-Weather-Outlook Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:34:06 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000D_01C4009E.17084FF0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:34:06 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 03 Mar 2004 02:34:14.0229 (UTC) FILETIME=[0481C850:01C400C8] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C4009E.17084FF0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Space Environment Center=20 To: = advisory-list-send@dawn.sec.noaa.gov=20 Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 10:10 AM Subject: Space-Weather-Outlook Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Environment Center Boulder, Colorado, USA SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #04- 9 2004 March 02 at 8:04 a.m. MST (2004 March 02 1504 UTC) **** SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK **** Summary For February 23-29 Category R2 (moderate) and R3 (strong) significant space weather occurred on 26 February due solar flare activity from an active sunspot region known as Region 564. Category G1 (minor) occurred on 28 and 29 February due to high-speed solar winds from a coronal hole on the Sun.=20 For a list of adverse system effects related to space weather storms, please refer to the NOAA Space Weather Scales. Outlook For March 3-9 Space weather for the next week may reach minor to moderate levels. There is a slight chance for Category R1 (minor) radio blackouts early in the week due to significant flare activity from active sunspot Region 564.=20 For current space weather conditions please refer to: http://www.sec.noaa.gov/SWN/=20 http://www.sec.noaa.gov/alerts/ Data used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA,=20 USAF, NASA, NSF, USGS, the International Space Environment Services=20 and other observatories, universities, and institutions. For more=20 information, including email services, see SEC's Space Weather=20 Advisories Web site = http://sec.noaa.gov/advisories or (303) = 497-5127. ------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C4009E.17084FF0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
----- Original = Message -----=20
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 10:10 AM
Subject: Space-Weather-Outlook

Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space = Environment=20 Center
Boulder, Colorado, USA

SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK = #04-=20 9
2004 March 02 at 8:04 a.m. MST (2004 March 02 1504 UTC)

**** = SPACE=20 WEATHER OUTLOOK ****

Summary For February 23-29
Category R2 = (moderate)=20 and R3 (strong) significant space weather
occurred on 26 February due = solar=20 flare activity from an active sunspot
region known as Region = 564. =20 Category G1 (minor) occurred on 28 and 29
February due to high-speed = solar=20 winds from a coronal hole on the Sun.
For a list of adverse system = effects=20 related to space weather storms,
please refer to the NOAA Space = Weather=20 Scales.

Outlook For March 3-9
Space weather for the next week = may=20 reach minor to moderate levels.
There is a slight chance for Category = R1=20 (minor) radio blackouts early
in the week due to significant flare = activity=20 from active sunspot
Region 564.

For current space weather = conditions=20 please refer to:
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/SWN/ =
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/alerts/<= /A>

Data=20 used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA, =
USAF, NASA,=20 NSF, USGS, the International Space Environment Services
and other=20 observatories, universities, and institutions. For more
information, = including email services, see SEC's Space Weather
Advisories Web = site http://sec.noaa.gov/advisories or=20 (303) 497-5127.
------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C4009E.17084FF0-- From owner-public@setileague.org Tue Mar 2 18:49:27 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i232nNOr021035; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:49:26 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id VAA21338 for public-list; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:36:34 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav153.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.171.183]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id VAA21334; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:36:32 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:36:01 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.14 by bay4-dav153.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Wed, 03 Mar 2004 02:36:00 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.14] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" Cc: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI public: Fw: New Evidence for Water on Mars Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:35:53 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_005C_01C4009E.5712F730" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:35:53 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 03 Mar 2004 02:36:01.0133 (UTC) FILETIME=[443A09D0:01C400C8] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_005C_01C4009E.5712F730 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message -----=20 From: NASA Science News=20 To: NASA Science News=20 Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 4:47 PM Subject: New Evidence for Water on Mars NASA Science News for March 2, 2004 Today scientists presented strong evidence that NASA's Mars rover Opportunity landed in a place that was once drenched in liquid water. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/02mar_meridianiwater.htm?list6627= 45 Check out our RSS feed at = http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml! This is a free service. Home page: http://science.nasa.gov ------=_NextPart_000_005C_01C4009E.5712F730 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
----- Original = Message -----=20
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 4:47 PM
Subject: New Evidence for Water on Mars

NASA Science News for March 2, 2004

Today = scientists=20 presented strong evidence that NASA's Mars rover
Opportunity landed = in a=20 place that was once drenched in liquid water.

FULL STORY = at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/02mar_meridianiwater.= htm?list662745


Check=20 out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml<= /A>!


This=20 is a free service.

Home page: http://science.nasa.gov
------=_NextPart_000_005C_01C4009E.5712F730-- From owner-public@setileague.org Tue Mar 2 18:58:53 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i232wnOr010732; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:58:52 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id VAA21734 for public-list; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:51:03 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav123.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.171.153]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id VAA21717; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:50:59 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:50:28 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.14 by bay4-dav123.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Wed, 03 Mar 2004 02:50:28 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.14] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" Cc: "BioAstro" , "europa" Subject: SETI public: Fw: Marsbugs Vol. 11, No. 10 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:50:19 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00A2_01C400A0.5B440BD0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:50:19 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 03 Mar 2004 02:50:28.0730 (UTC) FILETIME=[495AD5A0:01C400CA] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00A2_01C400A0.5B440BD0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Dr. David J. Thomas=20 To: dthomas@lyon.edu=20 Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 4:51 PM Subject: Marsbugs Vol. 11, No. 10 Text: = http://www.lyon.edu/projects/marsbugs/2004/20040302.txt PDF: http://www.lyon.edu/projects/marsbugs/2004/20040302.pdf Word: = http://www.lyon.edu/projects/marsbugs/2004/20040302.doc Table of Contents (page numbers refer to PDF/Word format) Articles and News Page 1 FAREWELL TO PROJECT PHOENIX By Thomas Pierson Page 2 MAGNETIC FIELDS AND WATER ON EUROPA By Cynthia Phillips Page 2 PALEONTOLOGY MUSEUM LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE ON EVOLUTION=20 By Robert Sanders Page 3 ASTROPHYSICISTS OBSERVE ANOMALIES IN MAKEUP OF INTERPLANETARY DUST PARTICLE Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory release Page 4 ASTRONOMERS FIND NEAREST AND YOUNGEST STAR WITH A DUSTY DEBRIS DISK, BUT ARE THERE PLANETS? By Robert Sanders Page 5 NASA EARTH CREW WEBCAST SPOTLIGHTS SPACE FOOD NASA release 04-075 Page 5 BIOSPHERE UNDER THE GLASS >From Astrobiology Magazine Page 6 KEY TO MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE FOUND Joint Astronomy Centre release Page 7 TITAN IN A TEST TUBE: INTERVIEW WITH JEAN-MICHEL BERNARD >From Astrobiology Magazine Page 8 NASA SCIENTISTS WIN GRANTS FOR NEW RESEARCH NASA/ARC release 04-13AR Page 9 OPPORTUNITY ROVER FINDS STRONG EVIDENCE MERIDIANI PLANUM WAS WET NASA/JPL release 2004-074 =20 Announcements Page 10 NASA UPDATES SPACE STATION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN NASA note N04-035 Page 11 JPL ANNOUNCES NEW EXPLORATION OFFICE, MANAGEMENT CHANGES NASA/JPL release 2004-072 Page 11 CONTACT THE PRESIDENT'S SPACE COMMISSION By Chris Carberry Page 11 NEW ADDITIONS TO THE ASTROBIOLOGY INDEX By David J. Thomas Mission Reports Page 12 CASSINI SIGNIFICANT EVENTS NASA/JPL release Page 12 CASSINI CAPTURES STUNNING VIEW OF SATURN NASA/JPL release 04-073 Page 13 MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS UPDATES NASA/JPL releases Page 14 MARS EXPRESS: HECATES THOLUS VOLCANO IN 3D ESA release Page 14 MARS ODYSSEY THEMIS IMAGES NASA/JPL/ASU release Page 15 ESA'S ROSETTA LAUNCH RE-SCHEDULED ESA release 13-2004 Page 15 ROSETTA BEGINS ITS 10-YEAR JOURNEY TO THE ORIGINS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM ESA release 14-2004 David J. Thomas, PhD Asst. Professor of Biology Lyon College, Science Division 2300 Highland Road Batesville, AR 72501 USA Phone: 870-698-4269 Fax: 870-698-4692 http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/users/dthomas NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador Editor of Marsbugs: The Electronic Astrobiology Newsletter http://www.lyon.edu/projects/marsbugs =20 ------=_NextPart_000_00A2_01C400A0.5B440BD0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
----- Original = Message -----=20
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 4:51 PM
Subject: Marsbugs Vol. 11, No. 10

Text: http://w= ww.lyon.edu/projects/marsbugs/2004/20040302.txt
PDF:
http://w= ww.lyon.edu/projects/marsbugs/2004/20040302.pdf
Word:=20 http://w= ww.lyon.edu/projects/marsbugs/2004/20040302.doc

Table=20 of Contents (page numbers refer to PDF/Word format)

Articles and=20 News

Page 1 FAREWELL TO PROJECT PHOENIX
By Thomas = Pierson

Page=20 2 MAGNETIC FIELDS AND WATER ON EUROPA
By Cynthia Phillips

Page = 2=20 PALEONTOLOGY MUSEUM LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE ON EVOLUTION
By Robert=20 Sanders

Page 3 ASTROPHYSICISTS OBSERVE ANOMALIES IN MAKEUP OF=20 INTERPLANETARY
DUST PARTICLE
Lawrence Livermore National = Laboratory=20 release

Page 4 ASTRONOMERS FIND NEAREST AND YOUNGEST STAR WITH A = DUSTY=20 DEBRIS
DISK, BUT ARE THERE PLANETS?
By Robert Sanders

Page = 5 NASA=20 EARTH CREW WEBCAST SPOTLIGHTS SPACE FOOD
NASA release = 04-075

Page 5=20 BIOSPHERE UNDER THE GLASS
From Astrobiology Magazine

Page 6 = KEY TO=20 MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE FOUND
Joint Astronomy Centre release

Page 7 = TITAN=20 IN A TEST TUBE: INTERVIEW WITH JEAN-MICHEL BERNARD
From Astrobiology=20 Magazine

Page 8 NASA SCIENTISTS WIN GRANTS FOR NEW = RESEARCH
NASA/ARC=20 release 04-13AR

Page 9 OPPORTUNITY ROVER FINDS STRONG EVIDENCE = MERIDIANI=20 PLANUM WAS
WET
NASA/JPL release=20 2004-074
 
Announcements

Page 10 NASA UPDATES SPACE = STATION=20 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
NASA note N04-035

Page 11 JPL ANNOUNCES = NEW=20 EXPLORATION OFFICE, MANAGEMENT CHANGES
NASA/JPL release = 2004-072

Page=20 11 CONTACT THE PRESIDENT'S SPACE COMMISSION
By Chris = Carberry

Page 11=20 NEW ADDITIONS TO THE ASTROBIOLOGY INDEX
By David J. = Thomas

Mission=20 Reports

Page 12 CASSINI SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
NASA/JPL=20 release

Page 12 CASSINI CAPTURES STUNNING VIEW OF = SATURN
NASA/JPL=20 release 04-073

Page 13 MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS = UPDATES
NASA/JPL=20 releases

Page 14 MARS EXPRESS: HECATES THOLUS VOLCANO IN = 3D
ESA=20 release

Page 14 MARS ODYSSEY THEMIS IMAGES
NASA/JPL/ASU=20 release

Page 15 ESA'S ROSETTA LAUNCH RE-SCHEDULED
ESA release=20 13-2004

Page 15 ROSETTA BEGINS ITS 10-YEAR JOURNEY TO THE ORIGINS = OF THE=20 SOLAR
SYSTEM
ESA release 14-2004

David J. Thomas, = PhD
Asst.=20 Professor of Biology
Lyon College, Science Division
2300 Highland=20 Road
Batesville, AR 72501 USA
Phone: 870-698-4269
Fax:=20 870-698-4692
http://www.lyon.edu/we= bdata/users/dthomas

NASA/JPL=20 Solar System Ambassador
http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/amb= assador
Editor=20 of Marsbugs: The Electronic Astrobiology Newsletter
http://www.lyon.edu/projec= ts/marsbugs
 

------=_NextPart_000_00A2_01C400A0.5B440BD0-- From owner-public@setileague.org Tue Mar 2 19:09:38 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i2339YOr012377; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 19:09:36 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id WAA21980 for public-list; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 22:00:47 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav108.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.171.138]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id WAA21976; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 22:00:44 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 2 Mar 2004 19:00:13 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.14 by bay4-dav108.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Wed, 03 Mar 2004 03:00:12 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.14] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" Cc: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI public: Fw: Physics News Update 675 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:59:57 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00AF_01C400A1.B39270F0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:59:57 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 03 Mar 2004 03:00:13.0167 (UTC) FILETIME=[A5B4D7F0:01C400CB] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00AF_01C400A1.B39270F0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message -----=20 From: physnews@aip.org=20 To: ljk4@MSN.COM=20 Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 2:50 PM Subject: Physics News Update 675 PHYSICS NEWS UPDATE The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Physics News Number 675 March 3, 2004 by Phillip F. Schewe, Ben Stein =20 THE ACCELERATING EXPANSION of the universe, the notion that the big bang enlargement of spacetime is not slowing down but actually gathering speed, has received new experimental support in the form of supernova observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Previous evidence for such a cosmic acceleration consisted of studies of the dimness of remote supernovas (http://www.aip.org/enews/physnews/1998/split/pnu355-1.htm), and represented a major revision for some scientists who had long thought that the mutual gravity among galaxies would slow or even reverse the cosmological expansion. The new HST observations consist of reexaminations of 170 previously studied supernovas and the announcement of 16 new objects, including 6 of the 7 most distant type Ia supernovas yet recorded. The new data are in line with the accelerating-expansion hypothesis employing the mysterious mechanism usually referred to as "dark energy." The energy of the universe would be divided up as follows: 29% in the form of matter (dark plus luminous) and 71% as dark energy. (NASA press conference, 20 Feb; Riess et al., preprint astro-ph/0402512 ) =20 SUB-WAVELENGTH LENSING in flat panels of left-hand materials (LHM) has been seen in two new experiments. What this means is that a planar sheet---and not something that has to be machined into a traditional lens shape---can be used to focus light into a tight spot. The size of this spot, furthermore, is less than half the wavelength of the light being used. Getting around the venerable "diffraction limit" (whereby an object smaller than the wavelength is difficult to image) would be a boon to optics (in the microwave range, for example, wireless communications would benefit at the level of cell phones and base stations) and is normally achieved only by parking the object very close to the source of the illumination. Left hand materials (so called because the "right hand rule" used by physicists to picture the relation between a light pulse's electric and magnetic fields and its line of propagation is here reversed) possess a negative index of refraction. This fact, in turn, means that a light ray approaching from air into the LHM material will be deflected not toward but back and away from a line drawn perpendicular to the surface of the material. It is this bizarre deflection that leads to novel optical effects. When the idea of the LHM phenomenon was first propounded, many felt that such materials could not exist. Even after the first experiments were reported (www.aip.org/enews/physnews/2000/split/pnu476-1.htm) skepticism lingered. Later more evidence arrived showing preliminary lensing effects with flat panels, the hallmark of LHM optical abilities (http://www.aip.org/enews/physnews/2003/split/628-1.html). Now, two groups have more direct evidence for flat-panel lensing and for better-than-wavelength focusing. George Eleftheriades and his colleagues at the University of Toronto = (gelefth@waves.toronto.edu; 416-946-3564; = www.waves.utoronto.ca/prof/gelefth/main.html), using a material devised from printed metallic strips mounted on a plane and sandwiched between two patterned sheets, show that a source of microwaves can be lensed better than the diffraction-limit would allow, but not into a "perfect focus" called for in some LHM theories. On the positive side, the energy losses in the material which some commentators had predicted would hamper prospective LHM lenses (and their potential use in medical imaging or radar sets, say), were actually quite minimal. Meanwhile, Vladimir Kissel and his associates at the Institute for Theoretical and Applied Electromagnetics in Moscow = (kis_v@mail.ru, +7(095)4842644) have also observed "superresolution" in their lensing of microwaves with a flat panel, achieving a spatial resolution as good as one-tenth the wavelength. (Toronto group, Grbic and Eleftheriades, Physical Review Letters, upcoming article; Moscow group, Lagarkov and Kissel, Physical Review Letters, 20 February 2004) BUBBLE FUSION, the apparent generation of fusion energy through the violent collapse of bubbles in a liquid tank, has been reported in a paper about to be published in Physical Review E (Taleyarkhan et al., upcoming, probably March 2004). The paper, a followup to a controversial report published two years ago (http://www.aip.org/enews/physnews/2002/split/579-2.html), reports "statistically significant neutron and gamma ray emissions" after sound waves and pulsed neutrons hit a chilled liquid acetone tank spiked with deuterium fuel. The researchers (Rusi Taleyarkhan, formerly at Oak Ridge but now at Purdue, 765-494-0198, rusi@purdue.edu ) report the observation of = flashes of light (sonoluminescence) as well as the emission of neutrons with energies of less than or equal to 2.5 MeV---what you would expect if pairs of deuterium atoms were fusing together to produce energy in their setup. While the researchers describe various improvements to their experimental setup, in response to comments received in their original paper 2 years ago, critics (including Aaron Galonsky, Michigan State, galonsky@nscl.msu.edu, = 850-267-8976 by phone until April 1) still have a number of concerns. According to Galonsky, the data for neutron emissions is lumped together with data of gamma-ray emissions. While separating neutron and gamma-ray signals is challenging, it is necessary to have a clean neutron-only spectrum to have an unambiguous demonstration of nuclear fusion. Willy Moss of Livermore (925-422-7302, = wmoss@llnl.gov) says "Although I believe that thermonuclear sonofusion [not to be confused with cold fusion] may not be impossible...I am still not convinced... I believe that additional tests need to be done and many should have been performed and discussed in the paper, for example...if neutrons are being generated, then how about moving the scintillator further away from the sample to see if the signal decreases, due to the decreasing solid angle of the detector?" (Other experts, Richard Lahey, RPI, = laheyr@rpi.edu , 518-276-6614, a co-author on the paper; Mike Saltmarsh, Oak Ridge, 865-576-6915, saltmars@mail.phy.ornl.gov, co-author = of a paper that attempted to duplicate the initial results but reported a null result---see Shapira and Saltmarsh, Phys Rev Lett, 19 August 2002) *********** PHYSICS NEWS UPDATE is a digest of physics news items arising from physics meetings, physics journals, newspapers and magazines, and other news sources. It is provided free of charge as a way of broadly disseminating information about physics and physicists. For that reason, you are free to post it, if you like, where others can read it, providing only that you credit AIP. Physics News Update appears approximately once a week. AUTO-SUBSCRIPTION OR DELETION: By using the expression "subscribe physnews" in your e-mail message, you will have automatically added the address from which your message was sent to the distribution list for Physics News Update. If you use the "signoff physnews" expression in your e-mail message, the address in your message header will be deleted from the distribution list. Please send your message to: listserv@listserv.aip.org (Leave the "Subject:" line blank.) ------=_NextPart_000_00AF_01C400A1.B39270F0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
----- Original = Message -----=20
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 2:50 PM
Subject: Physics News Update 675

PHYSICS NEWS UPDATE
The American Institute of Physics = Bulletin=20 of Physics News
Number 675 March 3, 2004  by Phillip F. Schewe, = Ben=20 Stein
          &nbs= p;    =20
THE ACCELERATING EXPANSION of the universe, the notion that the = big
bang=20 enlargement of spacetime is not slowing down but actually
gathering = speed,=20 has received new experimental support in the form
of supernova = observations=20 made by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).
Previous evidence for such = a cosmic=20 acceleration consisted of
studies of the dimness of remote = supernovas
(http:/= /www.aip.org/enews/physnews/1998/split/pnu355-1.htm),=20 and
represented a major revision for some scientists who had = long
thought=20 that the mutual gravity among galaxies would slow or even
reverse the = cosmological expansion.  The new HST observations
consist of=20 reexaminations of 170 previously studied supernovas and
the = announcement of=20 16 new objects, including 6 of the 7 most
distant type Ia supernovas = yet=20 recorded.  The new data are in line
with the = accelerating-expansion=20 hypothesis employing the mysterious
mechanism usually referred to as = "dark=20 energy."  The energy of the
universe would be divided up as = follows: 29%=20 in the form of matter
(dark plus luminous) and 71% as dark energy. = (NASA=20 press conference,
20 Feb; Riess et al., preprint astro-ph/0402512=20 )
           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;   =20
SUB-WAVELENGTH LENSING in flat panels of left-hand materials = (LHM)
has=20 been seen in two new experiments.  What this means is that = a
planar=20 sheet---and not something that has to be machined into a
traditional = lens=20 shape---can be used to focus light into a tight
spot.  The size = of this=20 spot, furthermore, is less than half the
wavelength of the light = being=20 used.  Getting around the venerable
"diffraction limit" (whereby = an=20 object smaller than the wavelength
is difficult to image) would be a = boon to=20 optics (in the microwave
range, for example, wireless communications = would=20 benefit at the
level of cell phones and base stations) and is = normally=20 achieved
only by parking the object very close to the source of=20 the
illumination. Left hand materials (so called because the "right=20 hand
rule" used by physicists to picture the relation between a=20 light
pulse's electric and magnetic fields and its line of = propagation=20 is
here reversed) possess a negative index of refraction. This fact,=20 in
turn, means that a light ray approaching from air into the = LHM
material=20 will be deflected not toward but back and away from a line
drawn=20 perpendicular to the surface of the material.  It is = this
bizarre=20 deflection that leads to novel optical effects.
When the idea of the = LHM=20 phenomenon was first propounded, many felt
that such materials could = not=20 exist.  Even after the first
experiments were reported
(www.ai= p.org/enews/physnews/2000/split/pnu476-1.htm)=20 skepticism
lingered.  Later more evidence arrived showing = preliminary=20 lensing
effects with flat panels, the hallmark of LHM optical=20 abilities
(http://w= ww.aip.org/enews/physnews/2003/split/628-1.html).  =20 Now,
two groups have more direct evidence for flat-panel lensing and=20 for
better-than-wavelength focusing.  George Eleftheriades and=20 his
colleagues at the University of Toronto (gelefth@waves.toronto.edu;<= BR>416-946-3564;=20 www.waves.ut= oronto.ca/prof/gelefth/main.html),=20 using a
material devised from printed metallic strips mounted on a = plane=20 and
sandwiched between two patterned sheets, show that a source=20 of
microwaves can be lensed better than the diffraction-limit = would
allow,=20 but not into a "perfect focus" called for in some LHM
theories.  = On the=20 positive side, the energy losses in the material
which some = commentators had=20 predicted would hamper prospective LHM
lenses (and their potential = use in=20 medical imaging or radar sets,
say), were actually quite=20 minimal.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Kissel and his associates at the = Institute=20 for
Theoretical and Applied Electromagnetics in Moscow (kis_v@mail.ru,
+7(095)4842644) have = also=20 observed "superresolution" in their
lensing of microwaves with a flat = panel,=20 achieving a spatial
resolution as good as one-tenth the wavelength. = (Toronto=20 group,
Grbic and Eleftheriades, Physical Review
Letters, upcoming = article;=20 Moscow group, Lagarkov and Kissel,
Physical Review Letters, 20 = February=20 2004)

BUBBLE FUSION, the apparent generation of fusion energy = through=20 the
violent collapse of bubbles in a liquid tank, has been reported = in=20 a
paper about to be published in Physical Review E (Taleyarkhan = et
al.,=20 upcoming, probably March 2004).  The paper, a followup to=20 a
controversial report published two years ago
(http://w= ww.aip.org/enews/physnews/2002/split/579-2.html),=20 reports
"statistically significant neutron and gamma ray emissions"=20 after
sound waves and pulsed neutrons hit a chilled liquid acetone=20 tank
spiked with deuterium fuel.  The researchers (Rusi=20 Taleyarkhan,
formerly at Oak Ridge but now at Purdue, = 765-494-0198,
rusi@purdue.edu )=20 report the observation of flashes of light
(sonoluminescence) as well = as the=20 emission of neutrons with energies
of less than or equal to 2.5 = MeV---what=20 you would expect if pairs of
deuterium atoms were fusing together to = produce=20 energy in their
setup.  While the researchers describe various=20 improvements to their
experimental setup, in response to comments = received in=20 their
original paper 2 years ago, critics (including Aaron=20 Galonsky,
Michigan State, galonsky@nscl.msu.edu, = 850-267-8976 by=20 phone until
April 1) still have a number of concerns.   = According=20 to Galonsky,
the data for neutron emissions is lumped together with = data=20 of
gamma-ray emissions. While separating neutron and gamma-ray = signals
is=20 challenging, it is necessary to have a clean neutron-only
spectrum to = have an=20 unambiguous demonstration of nuclear fusion.
Willy Moss of Livermore=20 (925-422-7302, wmoss@llnl.gov) says
"Although = I =20 believe that thermonuclear sonofusion [not to be
confused with cold = fusion]=20 may not be impossible...I am still not
convinced... I believe that = additional=20 tests need to be done and
many should have been performed and = discussed in=20 the paper, for
example...if neutrons are being generated, then how = about=20 moving the
scintillator further away from the  sample to see if = the=20 signal
decreases, due to the decreasing solid angle of the=20 detector?"
(Other experts, Richard Lahey, RPI, laheyr@rpi.edu , 518-276-6614, = a
co-author=20 on the paper; Mike Saltmarsh, Oak Ridge, 865-576-6915,
saltmars@mail.phy.ornl.gov= ,=20 co-author of a paper that attempted to
duplicate the initial results = but=20 reported a null result---see
Shapira and Saltmarsh, Phys Rev Lett, 19 = August=20 2002)

***********
PHYSICS NEWS UPDATE is a digest of physics = news=20 items arising
from physics meetings, physics journals, newspapers=20 and
magazines, and other news sources.  It is provided free of=20 charge
as a way of broadly disseminating information about physics=20 and
physicists. For that reason, you are free to post it, if you=20 like,
where others can read it, providing only that you credit=20 AIP.
Physics News Update appears approximately once a=20 week.

AUTO-SUBSCRIPTION OR DELETION: By using the=20 expression
"subscribe physnews" in your e-mail message, you
will = have=20 automatically added the address from which your
message was sent to = the=20 distribution list for Physics News Update.
If you use the "signoff = physnews"=20 expression in your e-mail message,
the address in your message header = will be=20 deleted from the
distribution list.  Please send your message = to:
listserv@listserv.aip.org(Leave=20 the "Subject:" line blank.)

------=_NextPart_000_00AF_01C400A1.B39270F0-- From owner-public@setileague.org Thu Mar 4 16:13:31 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i250DT9S015288; Thu, 4 Mar 2004 16:13:30 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id TAA18003 for public-list; Thu, 4 Mar 2004 19:02:31 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav94.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.171.124]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id TAA17999; Thu, 4 Mar 2004 19:02:28 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 4 Mar 2004 16:01:57 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.101 by bay4-dav94.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Fri, 05 Mar 2004 00:01:57 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.101] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" Cc: "BioAstro" Subject: SETI public: The British radio telescope - the Very Small Aray (VSA) Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 19:01:20 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_003E_01C4021B.14C67720" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 19:01:20 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 05 Mar 2004 00:01:57.0660 (UTC) FILETIME=[13837DC0:01C40245] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C4021B.14C67720 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/physics_astronomy/report-2= 6508.html Towards a better understanding of the very early universe=20 =20 Using a British radio telescope called the Very Small Array (VSA), = located on the flanks of Mount Teide in Tenerife, astronomers from the = Universities of Manchester and Cambridge and the Instituto de = Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) have made measurements of the Cosmic = Microwave Background (CMB) - radiation left over from the Big Bang - = which shed new light on events in the first minute fraction of the = Universe's existence.=20 By combining their results with those of NASA's Wilkinson = Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) satellite, they have been able to = constrain the behaviour of the Universe during the 'inflationary' phase = believed to have taken place when it was only 10(-35) seconds old. If = confirmed, these results will significantly challenge our current views = of inflation and the first moments of creation.=20 Dr. Richard Davis of Jodrell Bank Observatory, University of = Manchester, who was involved in the design and building of the VSA and = leads the Jodrell Bank team, said, "From the holiday island of Tenerife = we have probed the first moment of creation, when the Universe was a = million-million-millionth of the size of the atom. Using this = British-funded instrument, we see echoes of the crazy expansion which = took place in the early Universe; it is quite incredible!"=20 The idea of inflation is that the Universe expanded extremely = quickly during its very early existence, creating a Universe whose = properties are very uniform on the largest scales. However Quantum = Mechanics, the theory of the sub-atomic world, would have created minute = fluctuations in the density of the early Universe which eventually led = to the formation of galaxies such as our own Milky Way. These = fluctuations also imprinted minute temperature variations on the = observed CMB, so allowing them to be studied by extremely sensitive = instruments such as the VSA.=20 The Quantum Mechanical fluctuations produced variations in density = and temperature over a very wide range of scale sizes. The finer detail = of the VSA observations, as compared with those of WMAP, has enabled a = better understanding of how the distribution of these fluctuations = varies as a function of size.=20 Previous ideas had suggested that, once the subsequent history of = the Universe is accounted for, the distribution of fluctuations would be = independent of scale. However, the current results show that the = fluctuations are most apparent at an angular scale of about 1/2 degree, = the size of the Moon in the night sky. On both larger (the size of the = Universe) and smaller (the size of a cluster of galaxies) scales, these = variations in density and temperature are much less.=20 "The most popular inflation models predict much smaller variations = than those seen in the new observations," said Dr. Richard Battye = (Jodrell Bank Observatory), who was involved in the analysis and = interpretation of the data. "The increasing sensitivity of instruments = such as the VSA is enabling us to test these inflation models. The = results are not totally conclusive at this stage, but if true they will = require a complete re-think of the prevailing view of the first moments = of creation."=20 The results from the VSA have been confirmed by a concurrent = experiment, the Cosmic Background Imager (CBI), which is located high in = the Chilean Andes and operated by the California Institute of = Technology. The results at this stage are highly suggestive, but it is = hoped that further measurements by the VSA, CBI and eventually the = PLANCK satellite, will allow more definitive conclusions to be drawn. = PLANCK, which is due to be launched by the European Space Agency in = 2007, will employ highly sensitive receivers built by engineers at the = Jodrell Bank Observatory. =20 ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C4021B.14C67720 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/physics= _astronomy/report-26508.html
 
Towards a better = understanding=20 of the very early universe


Using a British radio telescope called the Very Small Array = (VSA),=20 located on the flanks of Mount Teide in Tenerife, astronomers from = the=20 Universities of Manchester and Cambridge and the Instituto de = Astrofisica=20 de Canarias (IAC) have made measurements of the Cosmic Microwave=20 Background (CMB) - radiation left over from the Big Bang - which = shed new=20 light on events in the first minute fraction of the Universe=92s = existence.=20

By combining their results with those of NASA=92s = Wilkinson=20 Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) satellite, they have been able = to=20 constrain the behaviour of the Universe during the = =92inflationary=92 phase=20 believed to have taken place when it was only 10(-35) seconds old. = If=20 confirmed, these results will significantly challenge our current = views of=20 inflation and the first moments of creation.

Dr. Richard = Davis of=20 Jodrell Bank Observatory, University of Manchester, who was = involved in=20 the design and building of the VSA and leads the Jodrell Bank = team, said,=20 "From the holiday island of Tenerife we have probed the first = moment of=20 creation, when the Universe was a million-million-millionth of the = size of=20 the atom. Using this British-funded instrument, we see echoes of = the crazy=20 expansion which took place in the early Universe; it is quite = incredible!"=20

The idea of inflation is that the Universe expanded = extremely=20 quickly during its very early existence, creating a Universe whose = properties are very uniform on the largest scales. However Quantum = Mechanics, the theory of the sub-atomic world, would have created = minute=20 fluctuations in the density of the early Universe which eventually = led to=20 the formation of galaxies such as our own Milky Way. These = fluctuations=20 also imprinted minute temperature variations on the observed CMB, = so=20 allowing them to be studied by extremely sensitive instruments = such as the=20 VSA.

The Quantum Mechanical fluctuations produced = variations in=20 density and temperature over a very wide range of scale sizes. The = finer=20 detail of the VSA observations, as compared with those of WMAP, = has=20 enabled a better understanding of how the distribution of these=20 fluctuations varies as a function of size.

Previous ideas = had=20 suggested that, once the subsequent history of the Universe is = accounted=20 for, the distribution of fluctuations would be independent of = scale.=20 However, the current results show that the fluctuations are most = apparent=20 at an angular scale of about 1/2 degree, the size of the Moon in = the night=20 sky. On both larger (the size of the Universe) and smaller (the = size of a=20 cluster of galaxies) scales, these variations in density and = temperature=20 are much less.

"The most popular inflation models predict = much=20 smaller variations than those seen in the new observations,=94 = said Dr.=20 Richard Battye (Jodrell Bank Observatory), who was involved in the = analysis and interpretation of the data. =93The increasing = sensitivity of=20 instruments such as the VSA is enabling us to test these inflation = models.=20 The results are not totally conclusive at this stage, but if true = they=20 will require a complete re-think of the prevailing view of the = first=20 moments of creation.=94

The results from the VSA have been = confirmed=20 by a concurrent experiment, the Cosmic Background Imager (CBI), = which is=20 located high in the Chilean Andes and operated by the California = Institute=20 of Technology. The results at this stage are highly suggestive, = but it is=20 hoped that further measurements by the VSA, CBI and eventually the = PLANCK=20 satellite, will allow more definitive conclusions to be drawn. = PLANCK,=20 which is due to be launched by the European Space Agency in 2007, = will=20 employ highly sensitive receivers built by engineers at the = Jodrell Bank=20 Observatory.

 
 
------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C4021B.14C67720-- From owner-public@setileague.org Fri Mar 5 05:15:10 2004 Received: from seti1.setileague.org ([204.176.91.10]) by Sentry.net (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id i25DF7s5017510; Fri, 5 Mar 2004 05:15:08 -0800 (PST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) id IAA06445 for public-list; Fri, 5 Mar 2004 08:02:56 -0500 (EST) X-Authentication-Warning: seti1.setileague.org: majordom set sender to owner-public@seti1.setileague.org using -f Received: from hotmail.com (bay4-dav62.bay4.hotmail.com [65.54.171.92]) by seti1.setileague.org (8.9.3 (PHNE_24419+JAGae58098)/8.9.3) with ESMTP id IAA06441; Fri, 5 Mar 2004 08:02:52 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Fri, 5 Mar 2004 05:02:18 -0800 Received: from 65.149.176.19 by bay4-dav62.bay4.hotmail.com with DAV; Fri, 05 Mar 2004 13:02:17 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.149.176.19] X-Originating-Email: [ljk4@msn.com] X-Sender: ljk4@msn.com From: "LARRY KLAES" To: "setipublic" , "BioAstro" Subject: SETI public: Fw: [DarlingsSpace] David Darling's Newsletter #19 Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 08:02:01 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0039_01C40288.245BA490" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: MSN 9 X-MimeOLE: Produced By MSN MimeOLE V9.00.0013.2101 Seal-Send-Time: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 08:02:02 -0500 Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 05 Mar 2004 13:02:18.0121 (UTC) FILETIME=[16AEDF90:01C402B2] Sender: owner-public@setileague.org Precedence: bulk This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0039_01C40288.245BA490 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ----- Original Message -----=20 From: daviddarling123=20 To: DarlingsSpace@yahoogroups.com=20 Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 3:16 PM Subject: [DarlingsSpace] David Darling's Newsletter #19 DAVID DARLING'S NEWSLETTER --------------------------------------------------=20 Issue #19 March 4, 2004 e-mail: = daviddarling@daviddarling.info website: http://www.daviddarling.info -------------------------------------------------- Contents 1. Meanderings 2. Higher Dimensions 3. Bookends -------------------------------------------------- 1. Meanderings There's just a hint of spring in the air here in Minnesota -- the=20 snow and ice are finally melting, squirrels are out digging up the=20 acorns they stashed away last autumn (how on Earth do they remember=20 where they put them?), and there's a general feeling of waking up=20 after the long winter hibernation. A couple of weeks ago I had my=20 first taste of snow-shoeing thanks to my friend John, who lives=20 nearby. Now I can add this to my list of strange and unique=20 experiences, which include accidentally standing in front of the=20 exposed neutron beam from a nuclear reactor (still awaiting the=20 consequences!), having my name in lights on Broadway, encountering a=20 giant crab on the south coast of England, meeting a Vulcan in=20 Yellowstone Park, and being abducted by aliens. Only one of these=20 isn't true (yes, really); I'll tell you which next time. Amazing data continue to pour in from the Mars rovers and from the=20 orbiting Mars Express. We now know, beyond doubt, that at the=20 Opportunity rover site there was once enough water to support life=20 as we know it. This is really the first time that we've had proof of=20 long-standing liquid water anywhere beyond Earth and it's a crucial=20 step forward in the search for extraterrestrial life. Anyhow, more=20 on this and all the other new discoveries from the Red Planet next=20 month. In this issue I want to chat a bit about a subject that's=20 always fascinated me, ever since as a young lad I read a book called=20 Flatland by Edwin Abbott. ------------------------------------------------- 2. Higher Dimensions We live -- or seem to live -- in a world of three dimensions: up- down, forward-backward, and side-to-side. The key thing about these=20 is that they lie at right angles to one another. So, what could=20 possibly be meant by a fourth dimension? Can you imagine another=20 direction that's at right angles to the three we're familiar with?=20 How can you think in four (let alone five, six, or more dimensions)=20 when you only have a three-dimensional brain? Well, plenty of books=20 have been written and a number of schemes devised to nudge our=20 imaginations into thinking four-dimensionally. One of the oldest and=20 best is the book I just mentioned -- Flatland written in 1884 by=20 Edwin A. Abbott, an English clergyman, under the pseudonym "A.=20 Square". As the title suggests it's all about an imaginary two- dimensional world in which the inhabitants have no concept of up and=20 down. Flatlanders appear to each other as mere points or lines (try=20 looking along the edge of a sheet of paper to get the idea). But=20 from our privileged, three-dimensional perspective we can look down=20 on Flatland and see that its people are "really" a variety of=20 shapes, including straight lines (females), narrow isosceles=20 triangles (soldiers and workmen), equilateral triangles (lower=20 middle-class men), squares and pentagons (professional men,=20 including the author of the tale), hexagons and other regular=20 polygons with still more sides (the nobility), and circles=20 (priests). The whole thing is a satire as well as a scientific=20 romance and Abbott uses these geometrical distinctions, especially=20 the appearance of Flatland females and the working class, as a=20 commentary on the discrimination against women, the rigid class=20 system, and the lack of tolerance for "irregularity" that was=20 prevalent in Victorian Britain. In a dream, A. Square visits the one- dimensional world of Lineland where he tries, without success, to=20 persuade the king of Lineland that there really is such a thing as a=20 second dimension. In turn, the incredulous Mr. Square is told of=20 three-dimensional space by a sphere who moves slowly through the=20 plane of Flatland, growing and shrinking as his cross-section=20 changes in size. Now step up a dimension. Imagine what would happen=20 if a hypersphere -- a four-dimensional sphere -- were to cut through=20 our 3-d space. It would first appear as a tiny bubble, grow to a=20 sphere of maximum size, and then shrink again. What we saw as a=20 growing and shrinking sphere would really be cross-sections of the=20 hypersphere as it passed through our universe. Higher dimensions were all the rage in Victorian times.=20 Spiritualists latched on to the idea of the fourth dimension as a=20 home for the spirits of the departed. And why not? It would neatly=20 explain how ghosts could pass through walls, disappear and reappear=20 at will, and see what was invisible to mere three-dimensional=20 mortals. Some scientists lent their weight to these claims, often=20 after being duped by clever conjuring tricks. There was the=20 astronomer Karl Z=F6llner, for instance, who wrote about the four- dimensional spirit world in his Transcendental Physics (1881) after=20 attending s=E9ances by Henry Slade, the fraudulent American medium.=20 Recently, an ingenious person suggested to me that the oddly=20 changing shapes sometimes reported in connection with UFOs could be=20 the result of us seeing various cross sections of these objects as=20 they intersected our reality from a higher plane. A good plot for a=20 science fiction story, at least -- and who knows? For most us, analogy is the closest we're likely to come to mentally=20 capturing the fourth dimension. Here's another example. A sketch of=20 a cube is a 2-d perspective of a real cube, right? So a real cube=20 can be thought of as a perspective of a 4-d cube, or tesseract. At a=20 movie, a 2-d picture represents a 3-d world, whereas if you were to=20 watch the action on the set live, in three-dimensions, this would be=20 like a screen projection in four dimensions. H. G. Wells dabbled in the fourth dimension in The Time Machine=20 (1895), and also in The Invisible Man (1897), in which the central=20 character drinks a potion "involving four dimensions," and in "The=20 Plattner Story" (1876), in which the hero of the tale, Gottfried=20 Plattner, is hurled into the fourth dimension by a school chemistry=20 experiment that goes wrong and comes back with all his internal=20 organs switched around. Just as we could lift a right-handed 2-d=20 glove out of Flatland, flip it over in our third dimension, and put=20 it back as a left-handed glove, so a four-dimensional being could=20 flip over one of our 3-d gloves or shoes, or, as in Plattner's case,=20 our entire body, and make it the mirror image of the original. Could you train yourself to see in four dimensions? Some people=20 think so. Charles Hinton, an eccentric English-born mathematician,=20 became obsessed with the problem. Early in his career he taught for=20 a few years at Uppingham School. Another teacher there was Howard=20 Candler, who was a friend of Edwin Abbott, so there may have some=20 cross-fertilization of ideas. Anyhow, in the early 1880s Hinton=20 published a series of pamphlets starting with "What is the Fourth=20 Dimension?" and "A Plane World", which were reprinted in the two- volume Scientific Romances (1884). And he became convinced that it=20 was possible to learn to see in four dimensions. He built an amazing=20 set of little colored cubes to represent the various cross sections=20 of a tesseract (a name he may actually have coined) -- versions were=20 sold commercially -- and then he memorized the cubes and all their=20 possible orientations so that he could (he claimed) mentally=20 reconstruct the fourth dimension. I said he was eccentric. At the=20 time he was teaching in England, he married Mary Everest Boole, the=20 eldest daughter of George Boole, the founder of mathematical logic.=20 Unfortunately, he also married a Maud Wheldon and ended up being=20 tried at the Old Bailey for bigamy. After serving a day in prison,=20 he fled with his (first) family to Japan, taught there for some=20 years, and then took up a post at Princeton where he built a species=20 of cannon for automatically pitching baseballs. Crazy guy! One thing that people don't give a lot of consideration to is that=20 it's almost as difficult to think in two dimensions as in four. Try=20 to imagine what Flatlanders would actually see. Abbott is aware that=20 he cheats a bit in his description of this. In the preface to the=20 second edition, he gives a lengthy but not-too-convincing reply to=20 the objection, raised by some readers, that a Flatlander, "seeing a=20 Line, sees something that must be thick to the eye as well as long=20 to the eye (otherwise it would not be visible...)." No matter how=20 hard we try we can't imagine being able to see a line of zero=20 thickness! Of course, higher dimensions are very fashionable in physics these=20 days. But the interest goes way back to an early attempt to unify=20 gravity with electromagnetism. In 1919 Theodor Kaluza pointed out=20 that if you extend general relativity theory (Einstein's theory of=20 gravity) from the normal 4-d spacetime to a 5-d spacetime, the=20 equations can be separated out into ordinary 4-d gravitation plus an=20 extra set, which is equivalent to Maxwell's equations for the=20 electromagnetic field, plus an additional field known as the=20 dilaton. So electromagnetism is explained as a manifestation of=20 curvature in a fourth dimension of space, in the same way that=20 gravitation is explained in Einstein's theory as a manifestation of=20 curvature in the first three. In 1926 Oskar Klein suggested that the=20 reason the extra spatial dimension isn't seen is that=20 it's "compact" -- curled up like a ball with a fantastically small=20 radius. Then, in the 1980s and '90s, the Kaluza-Klein theory was=20 revived and is now embedded in modern string theory. But that's=20 another story. ---------------------------------------------- 3. Bookends More about higher, lower, and fractional dimensions, as well as=20 infinity, surreal numbers, impossible figures, Carrollian=20 conundrums, and goodness-knows-what-else, in my new book The=20 Universal Book of Mathematics, to be published by Wiley in August.=20 I'll soon be setting up some pages on my website with puzzles,=20 paradozes, and other mathematical curiosities to amuse you and=20 perhaps even tempt you into buying the book. You have been warned!=20 Meanwhile, I heartily recommend getting hold of a copy of Abbott's=20 Flatland from the library or bookstore (I believe Princeton UP do a=20 reprint). Until next time, Best wishes, David Darling =20 Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DarlingsSpace/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: = DarlingsSpace-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: = http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0039_01C40288.245BA490 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
----- Original = Message -----=20
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 3:16 PM
Subject: [DarlingsSpace] David Darling's Newsletter = #19

DAVID DARLING'S=20 NEWSLETTER

--------------------------------------------------=20

Issue #19
March 4, 2004

e-mail: daviddarling@daviddarling.= info
website:=20 http://www.daviddarling.info
--------------------------------------------------

Contents
1.=20 Meanderings
2. Higher Dimensions
3.=20 Bookends

--------------------------------------------------
1.=20 Meanderings

There's just a hint of spring in the air here in = Minnesota --=20 the
snow and ice are finally melting, squirrels are out digging up = the=20
acorns they stashed away last autumn (how on Earth do they remember=20
where they put them?), and there's a general feeling of waking up =
after=20 the long winter hibernation. A couple of weeks ago I had my
first = taste of=20 snow-shoeing thanks to my friend John, who lives
nearby. Now I can = add this=20 to my list of strange and unique
experiences, which include = accidentally=20 standing in front of the
exposed neutron beam from a nuclear reactor = (still=20 awaiting the
consequences!), having my name in lights on Broadway,=20 encountering a
giant crab on the south coast of England, meeting a = Vulcan in=20
Yellowstone Park, and being abducted by aliens. Only one of these =
isn't=20 true (yes, really); I'll tell you which next time.

Amazing data = continue=20 to pour in from the Mars rovers and from the
orbiting Mars Express. = We now=20 know, beyond doubt, that at the
Opportunity rover site there was = once enough=20 water to support life
as we know it. This is really the first time = that=20 we've had proof of
long-standing liquid water anywhere beyond Earth = and it's=20 a crucial
step forward in the search for extraterrestrial life. = Anyhow, more=20
on this and all the other new discoveries from the Red Planet next=20
month. In this issue I want to chat a bit about a subject that's =
always=20 fascinated me, ever since as a young lad I read a book called =
Flatland by=20 Edwin = Abbott.

-------------------------------------------------

2= =20 Higher Dimensions

We live -- or seem to live -- in a world of = three=20 dimensions: up-
down, forward-backward, and side-to-side. The key = thing about=20 these
is that they lie at right angles to one another. So, what = could=20
possibly be meant by a fourth dimension? Can you imagine another=20
direction that's at right angles to the three we're familiar with? =
How=20 can you think in four (let alone five, six, or more dimensions)
when = you=20 only have a three-dimensional brain? Well, plenty of books
have been = written=20 and a number of schemes devised to nudge our
imaginations into = thinking=20 four-dimensionally. One of the oldest and
best is the book I just = mentioned=20 -- Flatland written in 1884 by
Edwin A. Abbott, an English = clergyman, under=20 the pseudonym "A.
Square". As the title suggests it's all about an = imaginary=20 two-
dimensional world in which the inhabitants have no concept of up = and=20
down.

Flatlanders appear to each other as mere points or = lines (try=20
looking along the edge of a sheet of paper to get the idea). But =
from=20 our privileged, three-dimensional perspective we can look down
on = Flatland=20 and see that its people are "really" a variety of
shapes, including = straight=20 lines (females), narrow isosceles
triangles (soldiers and workmen),=20 equilateral triangles (lower
middle-class men), squares and = pentagons=20 (professional men,
including the author of the tale), hexagons and = other=20 regular
polygons with still more sides (the nobility), and circles=20
(priests). The whole thing is a satire as well as a scientific =
romance=20 and Abbott uses these geometrical distinctions, especially
the = appearance of=20 Flatland females and the working class, as a
commentary on the=20 discrimination against women, the rigid class
system, and the lack = of=20 tolerance for "irregularity" that was
prevalent in Victorian = Britain. In a=20 dream, A. Square visits the one-
dimensional world of Lineland where = he=20 tries, without success, to
persuade the king of Lineland that there = really=20 is such a thing as a
second dimension. In turn, the incredulous Mr. = Square=20 is told of
three-dimensional space by a sphere who moves slowly = through the=20
plane of Flatland, growing and shrinking as his cross-section =
changes in=20 size. Now step up a dimension. Imagine what would happen
if a = hypersphere --=20 a four-dimensional sphere -- were to cut through
our 3-d space. It = would=20 first appear as a tiny bubble, grow to a
sphere of maximum size, and = then=20 shrink again. What we saw as a
growing and shrinking sphere would = really be=20 cross-sections of the
hypersphere as it passed through our=20 universe.

Higher dimensions were all the rage in Victorian times. =
Spiritualists latched on to the idea of the fourth dimension as a =
home=20 for the spirits of the departed. And why not? It would neatly =
explain how=20 ghosts could pass through walls, disappear and reappear
at will, and = see=20 what was invisible to mere three-dimensional
mortals. Some = scientists lent=20 their weight to these claims, often
after being duped by clever = conjuring=20 tricks. There was the
astronomer Karl Z=F6llner, for instance, who = wrote about=20 the four-
dimensional spirit world in his Transcendental Physics = (1881) after=20
attending s=E9ances by Henry Slade, the fraudulent American medium.=20
Recently, an ingenious person suggested to me that the oddly =
changing=20 shapes sometimes reported in connection with UFOs could be
the = result of us=20 seeing various cross sections of these objects as
they intersected = our=20 reality from a higher plane. A good plot for a
science fiction = story, at=20 least -- and who knows?

For most us, analogy is the closest we're = likely=20 to come to mentally
capturing the fourth dimension. Here's another = example.=20 A sketch of
a cube is a 2-d perspective of a real cube, right? So a = real=20 cube
can be thought of as a perspective of a 4-d cube, or tesseract. = At a=20
movie, a 2-d picture represents a 3-d world, whereas if you were to=20
watch the action on the set live, in three-dimensions,