Event Horizon

Cassini Images Jupiter

Boston.com has put together a nice retrospective of Cassini photographs of the Saturnian system. Amazing and awe inspiring stuff. This is why I support NASA. Well done, guys.

Genetic Profiling

It looks like the U.S. may have avoided a dystopian future in which a persons social and economic status is determined by their genetic profile (AP - House approves anti-genetic discrimination bill):

Companies would no longer be able to use genetic information like a person's predisposition for breast cancer, sickle cell or diabetes to make insurance or job decisions under a bill passed by Congress on Thursday.

If President Bush signs it into law it will mean that the film Gattaca will stay safely in the realm of science fiction.

Kennedy, Obama and Space

Making headlines today, members of the Kennedy family have publicly endorsed Senator Obama's presidential bid. My comment on this is about honoring President Kennedy's legacy. As Senator Kennedy noted in his endorsement (CNN - Kennedy endorses Sen. Barack Obama for president):

"When John Kennedy thought of going to the moon, he didn't say no, it was too far, maybe we couldn't get there and shouldn't even try," he said. "I am convinced we can reach our goals only if we are not petty when our cause is so great -- only if we find a way past the stale ideas and stalemate of our times -- only if we replace the politics of fear with the politics of hope -- and only if we have the courage to choose change.

Going to the Moon and the dawn of the Space Age are major parts of the Kennedy legacy and like many supporters of the U.S. space program, I honor that legacy. But  is it really appropriate to honor that legacy by voting for someone who would diminish the space program? Barak Obama has said he would cut the budget for the space program and divert the funds for education. I'm all for greater funding for education, but not at the expense of the space program. Did you know that the space program is currently funded at less than 1% of the national budget, and Obama wants to reduce that even further. How exactly does that honor the Kennedy legacy? No one who supports the American manned space program and honors President Kennedy's passion for space exploration should vote for Barak Obama.

Sputnik Anniversary

I'm browsing Google's overview of the anniversary of the launch of the first artificial satellite in 1957, very interesting reading. It's amazing what is available on the net about this historic event. For example, here is a sound file of the actual beeps from the Sputnik satellite. This news report (AP - 50 years ago, Sputnik changed technology) puts the launch in context and reminds us about all the amazing advances that resulted from the launch of Sputnik. I'm of a generation that takes space and communications technology for granted, so it's really been amazing to read about this event that started the Space Age. I tend to think that the Space Age is not really over, just in a bit of a lull. There is a new international race on to get humans back to the Moon (and the NASA administrator says the U.S. will lose the race!) and there are plans to send humans on to Mars, so I think the age that dawned with the launch of Sputnik has only just started, more amazing adventures and new technologies are on the horizon.

One Giant Step

The New York Times "On This Day" section reminds us that it was on this date in 1969 that astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon.

The Long Frontier

As you may have heard, a new planet has been discovered (Space.com - Planet Hunters Edge Closer to Their Holy Grail). Well, it’s not new, it’s probably quiet old, but we just managed to observe it. And what we have observed is a relatively close planet (named Gliese 581 C ) that may be rocky rather than gaseous and it may have liquid water. In other words, it may be the kind of planet that either has life or could eventually have life. I think this is incredibly exciting because it can help set a distant marker on the trajectory of exploration. Current plans to return to the Moon have so far failed to rally public opinion and perhaps one reason for that is that the science community has not done a good job communicating the broad outlines of a systematic program of exploration to the public. Those of us who are enthusiastic supporters of space exploration know that it’s not about going back to the Moon as an end in itself, that is merely a stepping stone, a practice run, the real goal is to move on to Mars and the outer solar system. For many of us, the goal is simply to get humans out there, and out there to stay. Perhaps this newly discovered planet will become a symbol for all of those aspirations. And, as we discover more planets similar to ours, then perhaps the goal of a permanent human presence among the planets will become much more acceptable to the public at large. Of course, that’s not to say that we will ever reach Gliese 581 C, not with the propulsion systems that we have now, but who knows, perhaps in two hundred years a child born in a city named Armstrong on the Moon or Lowell on Mars will grow up to become the first human to explore the planet we just discovered.  

Celebrating Sagan

Today is the tenth anniversary of Dr. Carl Sagan's death, see the Celebrating Sagan blog for more on this important milestone. I was just a kid when Cosmos first aired and I remember it mostly for the sense of wonder that it inspired, it certainly had a lot to do with stimulating my interest in science and space exploration. Thank you Dr. Sagan!

Stem Cell Debate

Missouri voters will have the chance next week to pass a ballot initiative to allow stem cell research in their state. This week, Michael J. Fox's ad supporting embryonic stem cell research created a stir. I applaud Mr. Fox for taking such a public stand and for putting himself in front of the camera when it is obviously stressful for him to do so given the debilitating effects of his Parkinson's disease. I've noted before that recent scientific discoveries are paving the way toward research that can be conducted with a respect for life. Millions of Americans who, like me, know someone with Parkinson's will be carefully watching this vote and noting those politicians who allow political ideology to stand in the way of medical progress.

Stem Cell Breakthrough

The Washington Post reports (New Method Makes Embryo-Safe Stem Cells) on the new breakthrough in stem cell research that may allow the research to go forward:

Scientists have for the first time grown colonies of prized human embryonic stem cells using a technique that does not require the destruction of embryos, an advance that could significantly reshape the ethical and political debates that have long entangled the research.

I was initially opposed to embryonic stem cell research, I did not want to see embryos destroyed in the process. We don't really know when life begins, so it's best to err on the side of caution. And, of course, the restrictions did not totally stifle science, as the federal restrictions did not apply to private research. However, when I learned that the embryos would be destroyed anyway, even without the research, I changed my position, reasoning that if the embryos were going to be destroyed, at least some good could come out of it, including possible breakthroughs in cures for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Now it looks as if an ethical procedure for creating new lines of stem cells is available, so I would be in favor of ending the federal restrictions and allowing the research to move forward. Discovery awaits!

Planetary Drama

Our solar system is about to get a bunch of new planets (CNET - Pluto Dodges A Bullet). No, it's not a major cosmic event, just a new definition of what constitutes a planet. I'm not really all the worked up about this, but I think it does serve to illustrate just how vast planetary distances are, even within our solar system, and how many local objects we have yet to catalog. The age of exploration has only just begun.