Saturday, November 24, 2007

NYT : Oldest Known Insect Identified From 400-Million-Year-Old Jaws

How would you like to wander with an eight foot long insect?

Scientists have discovered the world's oldest known insect fossil that roamed about 400 million years ago. They actually discovered a set of minuscule jaws. It's almost certain that insects were the first to come to the land and ruled for several million years.

It seems obvious that the insects were flightless at first.

I must say that this discovery is one of the most exciting news!

For further reading, click on the link below.

Oldest Known Insect Identified From 400-Million-Year-Old Jaws

Yahoo News : Earth's Moon is Rare Oddball

There is an article that I really like - Earth's Moon is Rare OddBall. Our moon was formed right after a huge planetary collsion with young Earth about 4 billion years ago. Guess what? Only about one in year 10 to 20 solar systems may have a similiar moon. Does that mean that there are about 5 to 10 percent of planetary systems that have that kind of moon? You do the math.

Here's the quote that I copied from the article :

"When a moon forms from a violent collision, dust should be blasted everywhere," said Nadya Gorlova, an astronomer at the University of Florida in Gainesville who analyzed the telescope data in a new study. "If there were lots of moons forming, we would have seen dust around lots of stars. But we didn't."

What do you think???

For further reading, click on the link below.

Earth's Moon is Rare Oddball

Yahoo : What Space Telescopes of Tomorrow Will See

Even though the telescopes may not be able to take a close look at planets and stars that are light years away, the new device will be an useful instrument to understand galaxy formation and mysterious quasars. It would be great if we can learn more about the history of our own vast, indefinite universe. I shall find out in 10 years from now and I look forward to some exciting discoveries! For further reading, click on the link below.

What Space Telescopes of Tomorrow Will See

NYT : Scientists Bypass Need for Embryo to Get Stem Cells

Recently, two teams of scientists reported that they have figured out how to turn skin cells into embryonic stem cells without having to make or destroy an embryo. This could be good news because this could ease down the ethical debate, especially with these groups who are against creating or destroying embryos. Bush seems to take the news very well. However, I think that this has detoured the scientific advancement for some years but I am pleased that the scientists have finally made the progress. For further reading, click on the link below.

Scientists Bypass Need for Embryo to Get Stem Cells

Monday, November 5, 2007

China's Lunar Probe Is Visiting the Moon

It's about time. China's lunar probe entered moon's orbit. In 2003, they became the third country to send the rocket into space. If everything goes as planned, they would send men to the moon within 15 years and possibly to Mars. It would be a great accomplishment for them. Will this start another space race? We will see! I don't think that it's that important for the United States to return to the moon until they have meet many other goals. For further reading, click on the link below :

China's lunar probe enters moon's orbit

Watch out! Robots will drive better than us!

Even though rebotic vehicles are under testing today, they are yet ready to be used in the public today. We could see robotic vehicles becoming available in about 10 years from now. The robots are still too human but will be much better drivers than us in several years from now. We are getting closer to this point. For further reading, click on the link below.

Crashes and Traffic Jams in Military Test of Robotic Vehicles