Octopus can use tools!

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/octopus-tools/

Test Of New Parachutes

The equipment that will test the parachutes for the new Orion Capsule has been tested. The Parachutes will be based loosely on the ones used in the famous Apollo missions.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/orion/chute_test.html

Melding Technologies

Two powerful ways of shaping metal, stir welding, and spin forming have been successfully combined to create fuel tanks that are 25% lighter than previously constructed. The two processes have been combined with a new alloy of aluminum and lithium to create lighter stronger tanks.

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/twin_dome.html

One Week To Launch

With seven more days to blast off, "NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer has been wrapped in the outer nose cone, or "fairing," that will protect it during its scheduled Dec. 9 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif." The telescope will map the sky in the infrared spectrum in new detail.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/WISE/news/wiseb20091130.html

Orion Enters The PDR, Big Step

The Orion spacecraft, the capsule that will hold the crew of the upcoming moon missions, is entering the preliminary design revew. This is the last step before the actual hardware for the craft is manufactured.

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/sep/HQ_09-202_Orion_Passes_PDR.html

Mars Meteorite Controversy Rekindled

New findings of iron clumps and worm shaped cavities point to the existence of bacteria similar to those found on earth. However some scientists make the possibly valid point that atmospheric impacts can cause shock waves which have been shown to produce iron structures similar to those found in the rock.

http://news.discovery.com/space/mars-meteorite-life-magnetites.html

LHC Answers

This article is an interesting interview wherein common questions about the Large Hadron are answered. Specifically what it does. The information is presented as simply as possible.

http://news.discovery.com/space/large-hadron-collider-answers.html

Long Name, Cool Rocket

The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket is a promising design coming to life for real now after nearly 40 years of development. "VASIMR is intended to bridge the gap between high-thrust, low-specific impulse propulsion systems and low-thrust, high-specific impulse systems." or in other words function as a extremely versatile rocket for cargo transport and deep space missions. The Ad Astra Rocket company is developing this rocket technology.

http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/

New Deep Throttling Rocket Tech Developed

Scientists have developed a rocket which can be vary deeply throttled from 8% up to 104% of its normal operating power. They have also found ways to control the chugging which usually affects the operation of this type of engines. Throttling engines are difficult to make because destructive vibrations can build up in the nozzle and critically damage the sensitive engine and spacecraft.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/news/cece.html

Ares I-X Tested

NASA Engineers tested the rocket slated to carry astronauts to the moon in the near future. It is currently the largest rocket in the world. Borrowing from other existing rockets, "Four first-stage, solid-fuel booster segments are derived from the Space Shuttle Program. A simulated fifth booster segment contains Atlas-V-based avionics, and the rocket's roll control system comes from the Peacekeeper missile. The launch abort system, simulated crew and service modules, upper stage, and various connecting structures all are original. " This process makes new rockets cheaper and faster than designing entirely new rockets.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/flighttests/aresIx/building_original.html

Gamma Rays found to occur naturally on earth

Antimatter pulses have been recorded as they were emitted from bolts of lightning. The scientists said, "Like all the most discoveries, it was unexpected." It was discovered using a telescope usually used for space. Positrons were destroyed and anti electrons were produced.

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/11/-antimatter-lightning-discovered-on-earth.html

Its The End of The World

Important in the drake equation is the lifetime of a civilization. The article presents 10 reasons why we will not all die horrible deaths in the near future.

http://news.discovery.com/space/ray-villard-doomsday-theories.html

Conditions Right on Europa

According to national geographic, "In the oceans of a moon hundreds of millions of miles from the sun, something fishy may be alive—right now." Movement of ice on Jupiter's moon is suspected to be supplying oxygen to the vast ocean beneath the ice crust. Scientists report that the flow of oxygen is great enough to support at least 300,000,000 tons of marine life.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091116-jupiter-moon-life-europa-fish.html

Searching For planets

The article discusses how scientists can use Red and Blue Shift to determine if there are small planets orbiting a star. The planets mass changes the emission spectra.

http://www.psi.edu/esp/method.html

Large Interferometer Being Planned

A large and possibly many pieced Interferometer is being planned by NASA. It would fly in formation and have many parts seperate in space in order to more accurately look at other solar systems

http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/TPF-I/tpf-I_what_is.cfm

New Tech Finds Earth Like Planets

Scientists at Harvard have declared this time the beginning of out time "exploring the planets." They cited the discovery of a, "rocky planet 14 times larger than Earth circling a star in the southern constellation Altar." Astronomers have discovered over 300 planets circling other stars and will continue to discover more with new telescopes.

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/07/this-conference.html

Another comic that relates to astrobiology, poking fun at drake's equation.

Make your own AM radio

I made one of these really simple radio signal receivers a while ago. It was super fun to make.

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/09/make_a_foxhole_radio_week.html

The Real EM Spectrum

One of my favorite web comics. Xkcd poking fun at the EM spectrum

SETI@home is almost a teenager

The way cool distributed computing project, SETI@home turned 10 in May, I had no idea it was set up so cheaply.

Better than SETI@home

The scientists and engineers at the ATA have open-sourced their software in hopes of it being improved by collaboration. They will use this new software to further research into gasses found in Nebulae and in the search for extra terrestrial life.