FURTHER EVIDENCE OF MARS WATER INDICATOR
The Mars Curiosity rover computer problem is gradually being sorted, as further results from rock drilling have revealed important new evidence about the nature of water that once existed in the Gale Crater area on the Martian surface.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21755976
Curiosity has drilled into a rock which has been shown to contain clay minerals - with evidence of sulphur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon. This indicates the rock studied was deposited in a fresh water environment. Previous studies showed an acidic water environment, which would be less likely to support micro-organisms.
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
MARS CURIOSITY ROVER HITS COMPUTER PROBLEM
Curiosity has been hit by a computer glitch just as it has begun analysing rock samples from the Martian surface. As a result, Curiosity is now working from a back-up computer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21654308
Nasa engineers are trying to sort the problem, which may have been caused by high-energy cosmic ray particles.
Meanwhile, Curiosity's scientific work has been put on hold.
Curiosity has been hit by a computer glitch just as it has begun analysing rock samples from the Martian surface. As a result, Curiosity is now working from a back-up computer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21654308
Nasa engineers are trying to sort the problem, which may have been caused by high-energy cosmic ray particles.
Meanwhile, Curiosity's scientific work has been put on hold.
Friday, 1 March 2013
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION REPORT ON NEW FUKUSHIMA CANCER RISK ASSESSMENT
A new report from the WHO shows that people living near Fukushima have a small increased risk of developing cancer during their lifetime.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21614722
The biggest lifetime risks were seen in those exposed as infants.
For girls exposed to radiation from the accident as infants, the report found a 4% increase above expected lifetime risk for solid tumours, and 6% above for breast cancer. Boys exposed as infants have a 7% risk increase of leukaemia. The biggest risk was a 70 % lifetime increase of thyroid cancer for infant girls.
The report also found that a third of emergency workers working in the plant after the disaster are at an increased risk of cancer.
The WHO report emphasised that these risks were relative and remained small. They are small additional risks above existing low risks.
WHO's Dr Maria Neira said that the report underlined the need for long-term health monitoring of those who were at high risk, along with medical follow-up and support. 'This will remain an important element in the public health response to the disaster for decades' she said.
A new report from the WHO shows that people living near Fukushima have a small increased risk of developing cancer during their lifetime.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21614722
The biggest lifetime risks were seen in those exposed as infants.
For girls exposed to radiation from the accident as infants, the report found a 4% increase above expected lifetime risk for solid tumours, and 6% above for breast cancer. Boys exposed as infants have a 7% risk increase of leukaemia. The biggest risk was a 70 % lifetime increase of thyroid cancer for infant girls.
The report also found that a third of emergency workers working in the plant after the disaster are at an increased risk of cancer.
The WHO report emphasised that these risks were relative and remained small. They are small additional risks above existing low risks.
WHO's Dr Maria Neira said that the report underlined the need for long-term health monitoring of those who were at high risk, along with medical follow-up and support. 'This will remain an important element in the public health response to the disaster for decades' she said.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
CHECK-UP IMAGE ON-BOARD MARS ROVER CURIOSITY
The link below shows an image taken on 23 February 2013 on-board the Mars rover Curiosity. It was taken by the Mastcam camera.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16766.html
This is a check-up picture, taken just after the delivery of a sample of Martian powdered rock into the SAM intrument, following drilling into the rock. It shows the sample-processor and the delivery tool.
The clarity of this image is remarkable.
The link below shows an image taken on 23 February 2013 on-board the Mars rover Curiosity. It was taken by the Mastcam camera.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia16766.html
This is a check-up picture, taken just after the delivery of a sample of Martian powdered rock into the SAM intrument, following drilling into the rock. It shows the sample-processor and the delivery tool.
The clarity of this image is remarkable.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
CURIOSITY ROVER STARTS DRILLING FOR ROCK SAMPLES
The Mars Curiosity rover has today drilled into a Martian rock at Yellowknife Bay and collected a rock sample for the first time. It's now six months since Curiosity landed.This is a wonderful step forward for interplanetary science - the first historic such probing of a rock on another world.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21399857
The pictures from Mars show what looks like a small mound of fine grey powdered rock.
The hole drilled for the sample is 6.4 cm deep and 2.0 cm diameter. The next step will be to transfer the sample into two scientific instruments to carry our careful measurements: Chemin and Sam.
An incredible achievement. To be carrying out precise scientific experiments remotely with samples on the Martian surface is amazing.
The Mars Curiosity rover has today drilled into a Martian rock at Yellowknife Bay and collected a rock sample for the first time. It's now six months since Curiosity landed.This is a wonderful step forward for interplanetary science - the first historic such probing of a rock on another world.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21399857
The pictures from Mars show what looks like a small mound of fine grey powdered rock.
The hole drilled for the sample is 6.4 cm deep and 2.0 cm diameter. The next step will be to transfer the sample into two scientific instruments to carry our careful measurements: Chemin and Sam.
An incredible achievement. To be carrying out precise scientific experiments remotely with samples on the Martian surface is amazing.
Friday, 4 January 2013
NEW TYPE OF METEORITE FROM MARS
A 320g black rock found in a Moroccan desert in 2011 has been shown by scientists at the University of New Mexico to be a new type of meteorite from Mars.
http://bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20900843
The meteorite was probably blasted off Mars about 2 billion years ago, after an asteroid or comet impact on Mars.
It's unlike any of the other Mars meteorites discovered on Earth.
It has a basaltic breccia formation, the scientists report, containing alkali elements like potassium and sodium, and has more water molecules than found in other Mars meteorites.
Interestingly, it's just the sort of rock that is now being researched on the surface of Mars by the Curiosity rover. - but appears to date from an era long ago when surface conditions on Mars were much warmer and wetter.
A 320g black rock found in a Moroccan desert in 2011 has been shown by scientists at the University of New Mexico to be a new type of meteorite from Mars.
http://bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20900843
The meteorite was probably blasted off Mars about 2 billion years ago, after an asteroid or comet impact on Mars.
It's unlike any of the other Mars meteorites discovered on Earth.
It has a basaltic breccia formation, the scientists report, containing alkali elements like potassium and sodium, and has more water molecules than found in other Mars meteorites.
Interestingly, it's just the sort of rock that is now being researched on the surface of Mars by the Curiosity rover. - but appears to date from an era long ago when surface conditions on Mars were much warmer and wetter.
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
TEPCO SUED BY US SAILORS OVER RADIATION EXPOSURE
The Japanese nuclear power company TEPCO, which operated the Fukushima nuclear reactors, has been sued by eight US sailors who allege they were exposed to higher radiation levels at the stricken site than admitted by TEPCO.
http://bbc.co.uk/news/business-20856051
If this allegation is eventually tested in the courts, evidence may emerge about the measured radiation levels at the Fukushima site during the March 2011 nuclear disaster, and the actions of TEPCO at that time.
The Japanese nuclear power company TEPCO, which operated the Fukushima nuclear reactors, has been sued by eight US sailors who allege they were exposed to higher radiation levels at the stricken site than admitted by TEPCO.
http://bbc.co.uk/news/business-20856051
If this allegation is eventually tested in the courts, evidence may emerge about the measured radiation levels at the Fukushima site during the March 2011 nuclear disaster, and the actions of TEPCO at that time.
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