Peter Hodges

Various nations have pledged a visit to the moon within the coming years, and it will only be a matter of time before someone lays a claim to ownership. In an article published by CNET News, this will be a very valid question in our near future as NASA, Israel and China all have their eyes on some rather scenic real estate.

How will they decide who owns what? I think Eddie Izzard said it best.

We saw Russia lay claim to the arctic with a ceremonial flag planting and I can only see this kind of saber rattling causing even more strife as habitable land and resources start to run out with over population. Perhaps Robert Heinlein was right and the moon will be a place we send all our degenerates. She will certainly be a very harsh mistress.

This video follows the last four years of the Cassini mission and is what I would describe as incredible. If only we could see this stuff with our own eyes through space travel and exploration.

NASA scientists recently briefed the White House on a discovery made by the Phoenix lander. The blogosphere and editorial pages across the Western world were rife with speculation–had life been discovered? Was there the potential for life? Was there evidence (through spectroscopic analysis) of complex organic molecules?

In the end, it was the discovery of perchlorate that was supposedly so momentous. 

Perchlorate is an anion with four oxygen atoms and one chlorine atom. The chlorine atom has an oxidation state of +7 in order to accommodate the the demands of bonding to the oxygen atoms. Despite its high oxidation state, it is actually quite stable due to two things–one is that in that oxidation state with four oxygen atoms, the chlorine is considered to be a “closed shell,” which lends stability to an otherwise potentially unstable species. The other is that the perchlorate is likely stabilized by several “resonance” forms, in which the the electron density of the covalent bonds is distributed more or less equally across the entire molecule.

Perchlorate is typically formed in areas devoid of water that have a high salt content, such as deserts or dry lake beds. It can be formed industrially by reacting chlorine gas with a strong base. Perchlorate can be used in rocket fuel and fireworks, due to its high oxidation potential and its relative stability. My first thought when I heard the the Phoenix lander had found perchlorate was that somehow, the lander had contaminated the sample site. However, NASA claims that the Phoenix lander used a pure hydrazine fuel (two amine groups linked by a single N-N bond), which rules out contamination. 

Are the conditions proper for the spontaneous formation of perchlorate? At this point, further laboratory tests are needed to verify that the conditions on the Martian surface are correct. There is evidence that this can happen on Earth, but given the wildly different levels of temperature, pressure, and UV exposure, I would feel more comfortable with results which illustrated the formation of the anions.

A strong oxidizing compound isn’t always good news for species struggling to survive, but there is at least one example that I could find that shows that perchlorate could be used as an energy source for a bacteria-like organism. Again, given the harsh conditions on the surface, I’m not sure how much this could be true.

At this point, no one can say anything for sure, aside from two facts:

1. There is water in the regolith on Mars. NASA cannot accurately quantify the amount. At best, all they can do is guess. Anyone that tries to provide a quantity here is acting with insufficient data.
2. There is the presence of a compound that could act as an energy source, but this is atypical of life as we know it.

This brings up my last point, in that we are anthropomorphizing our search for life. Who says that life has to operate according to our known parameters? There may be a completely different way of energy acquisition and waste processing that we can’t even fathom because we’ve been so blinded by our evolutionary history and mechanisms of energy production. I’m completely for the search for “life as we know it,” but I feel as though we should be prepared mentally for “life as we don’t know it.” Too often, we’ve been blinded by our own preconceptions that we miss the answers that are right in front of our collective faces. I’d hate to see that happen now.

In the beginning there was Hypothesis, and behold! The Hypothesis was good. The Hypothesis was with Science, and the Science with Hypothesis, and in their union, they began to forge a universe of law and order between them. But Hypothesis was not constant. After a while, Science realized that Hypothesis no longer fit the growing universe quite right, so Science introduced a laborious process with Hypothesis in order to make Theory. Science would only be in union with Hypothesis long enough to produce Theory. This was to be the first of many unions, for while Theory could have no other consort than Science, Science could have many unions with many different Theories. Hypothesis was content with this arrangement, because it became uncomfortable when it didn’t fit quite right.

In those days, Theory was said to be born of Hypothesis through the incredibly difficult labor of Experimentation. However, after many seasons together, Science and Theory became so comfortable together that it became unreasonable to go through the difficult process of Experimentation. Theory then became jealous of science and sought to raise its value at Science’s expense. After a lengthy discussion, Science agreed to rename Theory as Truth. Theory became very content with its new name.

Hypothesis became alarmed that it was no longer held in such high esteem by Science. It had held the position of precursor to Theory for so long, that it was difficult for it to not serve its purpose. There was no longer room for Theory, because Truth required no Experimentation, thus there was no need for Hypothesis in union with Science. Hypothesis reluctantly sat alone one day, until it was greeted by Political Agenda.

Political Agenda told Hypothesis that it, too, could become Truth just by saying so. Hypothesis was doubtful, but agreed to try it. After a period of many seasons, Hypothesis understood that it, too, could be Truth, just by repeating early and often. Since Hypothesis became truth without the laborious process of Experimentation, its union with Science was severed.

Global warming gives you kidney stones. All this time I thought it was oxalate in tea and cola that did it. Let’s be real for a second, even if we do live in the Feminized Nanny States of America. We are all responsible for our own actions. Do you know what that means? It means that because I drink too much Dr. Pepper (when I’m naughty) and Coke Zero (when I’m nice), I am destined to have kidney stones. Do I have a right to complain when this happens? No. (Well, maybe a little; enough, at least, to get some sympathy from the wife.) But it’s still my fault. I can’t blame it on global warming. I can’t sue Dr. Pepper or Coca-Cola.

Denver, the mile high city, once again makes news. This time, it isn’t a singer taking it upon herself to modify the national anthem, it’s the city police department and the safety council voting to outlaw pipes and chains in the hands of demonstrators. If your thought at the first was the same as mine, then maybe you’re thinking that it’s not a bad idea. Demonstrations are okay, provided they remain peaceful. However, weighted pipe and chain are not used as weapons. Upon further research, I discovered they are used to make a sleeping dragon, which is a device designed to make it difficult to arrest and remove protesters. An earlier draft of the ordinance endeavored to remove gas masks and bulletproof vests. That’s one thing I have a real problem with. If you want to know why, click this link.

The People’s Democratic Progressive Republic of Massachusetts is at it again. *sigh*

Could the International Space Station be used as a space craft? Color me doubtful, but it’s at least worth a feasibility study. One thing I do agree with the author about is the fact that we’ve wasted too much time playing in the cradle. It’s time to move outward. This could be an elegant solution, like using the interior of the first stage of a Saturn V booster as the first Skylab station.

At least, that’s what NASA scientists speculate.

Chemical analysis from the Phoenix lander indicates that the Martian soil is alkaline (slightly basic) with a pH between 8 and 9. Further, the soil released both water and carbon dioxide vapor when baked in an oven, indicating that it had once interacted with water at some level.

It’s interesting to speculate that with an influx of water and a slight thickening of the atmosphere that plant life, especially if adapted to harsh conditions, might thrive on Mars…or might be thriving there now in some unexplored crater.

NASA scientists say it could be!

“These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it’s ice,” Smith said. “There had been some question whether the bright material was salt. Salt can’t do that.”

This is a huge prerequisite for eventual manned exploration there. Let’s keep our fingers crossed, shall we?