Author: Robert Zimmerman
Three super weird homes
Mars’ clay minerals might have been formed by volcanic processes, not standing liquid water as generally believed.
The uncertainty of science: Mars’ clay minerals might have been formed by volcanic processes, not standing liquid water as generally believed, according to a new study.
Data collected by orbiting spacecraft show Mars’ clay minerals may instead trace their origin to water-rich volcanic magma, similar to how clays formed on the Mururoa atoll in French Polynesia and in the Parana basin in Brazil. That process doesn’t need standing bodies of liquid water. “The infrared spectra we got in the lab (on Mururoa clays) using a reflected beam are astonishingly similar to that obtained on Mars by the orbiters,” lead researcher Alain Meunier, with the University of Poitiers in France, wrote in an email to Discovery News. The team also points out that some of the Mars meteorites recovered on Earth do not have a chemistry history that supports standing liquid water.
If correct, this alternative explanation would mean that Mars was not that wet in the past, and would have been far less likely of ever having sustained life.
The uncertainty of science: Mars’ clay minerals might have been formed by volcanic processes, not standing liquid water as generally believed, according to a new study.
Data collected by orbiting spacecraft show Mars’ clay minerals may instead trace their origin to water-rich volcanic magma, similar to how clays formed on the Mururoa atoll in French Polynesia and in the Parana basin in Brazil. That process doesn’t need standing bodies of liquid water. “The infrared spectra we got in the lab (on Mururoa clays) using a reflected beam are astonishingly similar to that obtained on Mars by the orbiters,” lead researcher Alain Meunier, with the University of Poitiers in France, wrote in an email to Discovery News. The team also points out that some of the Mars meteorites recovered on Earth do not have a chemistry history that supports standing liquid water.
If correct, this alternative explanation would mean that Mars was not that wet in the past, and would have been far less likely of ever having sustained life.
Hand shadow performance
An evening pause: An incredible hand shadow performance set to Louis Armstrong singing “What a wonderful world.”
Five words and two numbers
For Tuesday: Five words and two numbers.
For Tuesday: Five words and two numbers.
India’s space agency celebrated its 100th launch today.
The competition heats up: India’s space agency celebrated its 100th launch today.
It is unclear whether the numbers include their failed launches. Regardless, India has a vibrant space program, modeled somewhat after the Russian system, a government space agency focused on gaining commercial market share. Whether that model can successfully compete in the commercial world remains unknown. Russia has had success, but only during a period when they were faced with few competitors. Now that the competition is heating up it is unclear whether Russia’s model will be flexible enough to compete.
What is clear about India, however, is that they are passionate about space exploration. Historically, even the Russian government model has worked when the country using it was the new kid on the block.
The competition heats up: India’s space agency celebrated its 100th launch today.
It is unclear whether the numbers include their failed launches. Regardless, India has a vibrant space program, modeled somewhat after the Russian system, a government space agency focused on gaining commercial market share. Whether that model can successfully compete in the commercial world remains unknown. Russia has had success, but only during a period when they were faced with few competitors. Now that the competition is heating up it is unclear whether Russia’s model will be flexible enough to compete.
What is clear about India, however, is that they are passionate about space exploration. Historically, even the Russian government model has worked when the country using it was the new kid on the block.
God To Democrats: ‘‘That’s okay, you’re not on my ‘platform,’ either’’
Iran has finally released a Christian pastor who had been threatened with execution for not renouncing his religion.
The religion of peace: Iran has finally released a Christian pastor who had been threatened with execution for not renouncing his religion.
The religion of peace: Iran has finally released a Christian pastor who had been threatened with execution for not renouncing his religion.
Joe Hisaishi – Asia Dream Song
The Obama administration will miss the legal deadline — from a law he signed only less than a month ago — to provide details on implementing the required budget cuts under sequestration.
The law is such an inconvenient thing: The Obama administration will miss the legal deadline — set by a law he signed only a month ago — to provide details on implementing the required budget cuts under sequestration.
This is only one data point in a long string of data points that have consistently illustrated how disinterested the Obama administration is in dealing with budget issues and the federal debt. And disinterested might be too kind a word. Incompetent also comes to mind.
The law is such an inconvenient thing: The Obama administration will miss the legal deadline — set by a law he signed only a month ago — to provide details on implementing the required budget cuts under sequestration.
This is only one data point in a long string of data points that have consistently illustrated how disinterested the Obama administration is in dealing with budget issues and the federal debt. And disinterested might be too kind a word. Incompetent also comes to mind.
Fun with 9 volt batteries
The Obama administration has extended the power of the ATF to “seize and administratively forfeit property involved in controlled-substance abuses.”
Theft by government: The Obama administration has extended the power of the ATF to “seize and administratively forfeit property involved in controlled-substance abuses.”
In other words, if the ATF thinks a drug crime has occurred, it now has the right to seize any property involved, without due process. The article gives a particularly pointed example:
» Read more
Theft by government: The Obama administration has extended the power of the ATF to “seize and administratively forfeit property involved in controlled-substance abuses.”
In other words, if the ATF thinks a drug crime has occurred, it now has the right to seize any property involved, without due process. The article gives a particularly pointed example:
» Read more
Children are refusing to eat the Obama administration’s lower calorie school lunches.
Losing the youth vote: In a boycott that began in Pennsylvania and has now spread to Minnesota, children are refusing to eat the Obama administration’s lower calorie school lunches.
Starting this year, there are strict limits on calories, sodium and meat portions. Whole milk is off the menu altogether, and kids are required to take a fruit or vegetable. As parents with fussy eaters might guess, some student’s aren’t salivating over those options.
In the halls of Rockford High School, a food fight over some simple things — cookies, condiments and milk — has started taking off after seniors Adam Anderson and Zach Guthrie set up a Facebook group encouraging a brown bag boycott. Bags were prepared in advance, bearing messages like, “Where’s the ranch?” and “We want our cookies.” By Thursday, the school served about 150 fewer lunches than it had the day before, and students promise the movement will only continue to grow even though there may be no resolution.
I think it a travesty that modern parents think the federal government should provide their kids lunch. This is the parent’s responsibility, not the government’s.
Losing the youth vote: In a boycott that began in Pennsylvania and has now spread to Minnesota, children are refusing to eat the Obama administration’s lower calorie school lunches.
Starting this year, there are strict limits on calories, sodium and meat portions. Whole milk is off the menu altogether, and kids are required to take a fruit or vegetable. As parents with fussy eaters might guess, some student’s aren’t salivating over those options.
In the halls of Rockford High School, a food fight over some simple things — cookies, condiments and milk — has started taking off after seniors Adam Anderson and Zach Guthrie set up a Facebook group encouraging a brown bag boycott. Bags were prepared in advance, bearing messages like, “Where’s the ranch?” and “We want our cookies.” By Thursday, the school served about 150 fewer lunches than it had the day before, and students promise the movement will only continue to grow even though there may be no resolution.
I think it a travesty that modern parents think the federal government should provide their kids lunch. This is the parent’s responsibility, not the government’s.
Sign the LunarCOTS petition.
Do you think the commercial space program led by SpaceX is the fastest and cheapest way for the U.S. to get humans back into low Earth orbit? Then why not do it for missions beyond Earth orbit?
The LunarCOTS petition is a campaign to have NASA subsidize private companies to design and build the United States’ future interplanetary missions rather than have NASA do it in big government programs like SLS. Makes sense to me, and so I signed the petition immediately.
Do you think the commercial space program led by SpaceX is the fastest and cheapest way for the U.S. to get humans back into low Earth orbit? Then why not do it for missions beyond Earth orbit?
The LunarCOTS petition is a campaign to have NASA subsidize private companies to design and build the United States’ future interplanetary missions rather than have NASA do it in big government programs like SLS. Makes sense to me, and so I signed the petition immediately.
Canada today severed all diplomatic ties with Iran, shutting down its embassy in Iran while ordering all Iranian diplomats out of Canada.
What does this mean? Canada today severed all diplomatic ties with Iran, shutting down its embassy in Iran while ordering all Iranian diplomats out of Canada.
What does this mean? Canada today severed all diplomatic ties with Iran, shutting down its embassy in Iran while ordering all Iranian diplomats out of Canada.
Clint Eastwood explains the background behind his Republican convention speech.
Clint Eastwood explains the background behind his Republican convention speech.
Take away quote: “President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”
Clint Eastwood explains the background behind his Republican convention speech.
Take away quote: “President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”
For the 31st time in the past three years the Obama administration warned the public “not to read too much” into this month’s poor job numbers.
Broken record: For the 31st time in the past three years the Obama administration warned the public “not to read too much” into this month’s high unemployment numbers.
Broken record: For the 31st time in the past three years the Obama administration warned the public “not to read too much” into this month’s high unemployment numbers.
The history of Dream Chaser and its lifting body shape.
ATK and ULA yesterday successfully tested the solid rocket strap-on motor that is used by their Delta 4 rocket.
The competition heats up: ATK and ULA yesterday successfully tested the solid rocket strap-on motor that is used by their Delta 4 rocket. With video.
They are using a new manufacturer for the motor’s nozzle, and needed to test this under cold conditions.
The competition heats up: ATK and ULA yesterday successfully tested the solid rocket strap-on motor that is used by their Delta 4 rocket. With video.
They are using a new manufacturer for the motor’s nozzle, and needed to test this under cold conditions.
There is a shortage of launch-pads available for the number of rocket launches planned.
The competition heats up: There is a shortage of launch-pads available for the number of rocket launches planned.
The competition heats up: There is a shortage of launch-pads available for the number of rocket launches planned.
A Democratic Hawaii state lawmaker threatened to file criminal charges against a newspaper for publishing a letter critical of the lawmaker.
Leftwing debate: A Democratic Hawaii state lawmaker threatened to file criminal charges against a newspaper for publishing a letter critical of the lawmaker.
Hey, isn’t that what we all do when someone criticizes us, go to the state Attorney General to get criminal charges filed?
Leftwing debate: A Democratic Hawaii state lawmaker threatened to file criminal charges against a newspaper for publishing a letter critical of the lawmaker.
Hey, isn’t that what we all do when someone criticizes us, go to the state Attorney General to get criminal charges filed?
Buddy Rich – Impossible Drum Solo
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter team today released a set of images showing Curiosity’s recent travel on Mars, as well as some fascinating closeups of the spacecraft’s heat shield, parachute, and descent stage.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter team today released a set of images showing Curiosity’s first steps on Mars, as well as some fascinating closeups of the spacecraft’s heat shield, parachute, and descent stage. The image on the left shows the tracks of the rover during its first few days of travel.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter team today released a set of images showing Curiosity’s first steps on Mars, as well as some fascinating closeups of the spacecraft’s heat shield, parachute, and descent stage. The image on the left shows the tracks of the rover during its first few days of travel.
A judge has ruled that ten gold coins possibly worth as much as $80 million and in the possession of a family for more than seventy years can be seized by the federal government without compensation.
Theft by government: A judge has ruled that ten gold coins possibly worth as much as $80 million and in the possession of a family for more than seventy years can be seized by the federal government without compensation.
Theft by government: A judge has ruled that ten gold coins possibly worth as much as $80 million and in the possession of a family for more than seventy years can be seized by the federal government without compensation.
A delayed but higher prediction for the solar maximum?
The uncertainty of science: The solar scientists at the Marshall Spaceflight Center today revised upward their prediction for the upcoming peak of the solar maximum, from a sunspot number of 60 to 76, while simultaneously delaying the arrival of their predicted peak from the spring to the fall of 2013.
Since Marshall does not archive its predictions, I am required to keep track of the revisions they make and note them here. Previously I had outlined the changes in this prediction since January 2011. Here is an updated listing:
» Read more
A reporter asks delegates if we should ban profits.
More reality from the Democratic convention: A reporter asks delegates if we should ban profits.
It is hilarious and frightening in the same breath. Video below the fold.
» Read more
More reality from the Democratic convention: A reporter asks delegates if we should ban profits.
It is hilarious and frightening in the same breath. Video below the fold.
» Read more
According to a family spokesman, Neil Armstrong is to be buried at sea.
According to a family spokesman, Neil Armstrong is to be buried at sea.
According to a family spokesman, Neil Armstrong is to be buried at sea.
SpaceX’s first official cargo flight to ISS could occur as early as October 5.
SpaceX’s first official cargo flight to ISS could occur as early as October 5.
SpaceX’s first official cargo flight to ISS could occur as early as October 5.
Climate changes on Mars are driven by the Sun.
Who would have thought? Climate changes on Mars are driven by the Sun.
Snark aside, the article describes how scientists have made a first attempt to link the visible layers of ice and dust at Mars’ north pole with expected past changes in climate due to the planet’s orbital variations around the Sun.
Who would have thought? Climate changes on Mars are driven by the Sun.
Snark aside, the article describes how scientists have made a first attempt to link the visible layers of ice and dust at Mars’ north pole with expected past changes in climate due to the planet’s orbital variations around the Sun.
FAA officials in Seattle have been accused of pressuring employees to vote for Democratic candidates in the November election
FAA officials in Seattle have been accused of pressuring employees to vote for Democratic candidates in the November election, a violation of the law.
“We write respectfully to request that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiate an investigation into Deputy Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety John Hickey and Deputy Director of Flight Standards Field Operations Ray Towles,” Epstein wrote. “We have been informed that during mandatory meetings of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, Mr. Hickey and Mr. Towles encouraged employees to vote for Democratic politicians in upcoming elections, explaining their jobs may very well depend on a Democratic victory.”
The encouraging thing about this story is that it appears that the FAA is taking this allegation very seriously and appears willing to do something about it.
FAA officials in Seattle have been accused of pressuring employees to vote for Democratic candidates in the November election, a violation of the law.
“We write respectfully to request that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiate an investigation into Deputy Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety John Hickey and Deputy Director of Flight Standards Field Operations Ray Towles,” Epstein wrote. “We have been informed that during mandatory meetings of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, Mr. Hickey and Mr. Towles encouraged employees to vote for Democratic politicians in upcoming elections, explaining their jobs may very well depend on a Democratic victory.”
The encouraging thing about this story is that it appears that the FAA is taking this allegation very seriously and appears willing to do something about it.
Delegates today booed the reinsertion of language into the Democratic platform supporting Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as well as the words “God-given.”
Some reality at a party convention! Delegates today booed the reinsertion of language into the Democratic platform supporting Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as well as the words “God-given.” With video.
As I’ve said, I normally don’t spend much time paying attention to these conventions because they are mostly staged propaganda. However, this moment was not staged, and it revealed a bit of truth about the Democratic Party: A very large percentage, possibly even a majority, of that Party is hostile to both the idea of God and to Israel’s hold on Jerusalem. Very revealing.
Some reality at a party convention! Delegates today booed the reinsertion of language into the Democratic platform supporting Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as well as the words “God-given.” With video.
As I’ve said, I normally don’t spend much time paying attention to these conventions because they are mostly staged propaganda. However, this moment was not staged, and it revealed a bit of truth about the Democratic Party: A very large percentage, possibly even a majority, of that Party is hostile to both the idea of God and to Israel’s hold on Jerusalem. Very revealing.