Science Friday: Killer Asteroid + Killer Supernova+ Kepler Exoplanets + Mars Monkeys + more

Welcome to Science Friday! It’s 2010 and that means there’s a whole new year of science and technology to be had. This week, we look at some new crazy schemes put on by the Russian space agency, the discovery of several new exoplanets, a supernova that could destroy the Earth, and much more. All this plus our gadget of the week: Vscan, the modern medical tricorder.

 

Russia May Send Spacecraft to Deflect Asteroid
Asteroid Apophis, a 270-meter asteroid discovered in 2004, is going to come pretty close to the Earth around 2029. Upon its discovery, there was some concern that the asteroid may actually impact Earth, but further investigation revealed that it will only come within about 18,300 miles of us. This is far enough away that NASA estimates the chances of an impact at slim to none. Still, the Russians want to play it safe and have announced a plan to send a spacecraft to deflect the asteroid in order to avoid collision. Although it seems a bit of an overreaction, NASA is still appreciative of the fact that the Russians are seriously investigating ways to deflect an asteroid should a future threat arise.


Apophis, our potato-shaped doomsday asteroid

Monkey to be Sent to Mars
Oh, those crazy Russians. Russia’s Cosmonautics Academy is currently in preliminary talks about preparing monkeys for simulated Mars missions that could lay the groundwork for sending the chimps to Mars. Such an initiative would build on Mars-500, a joint Russian-European project that saw six human volunteers confined in a capsule in Moscow for 120 days earlier this year to simulate a Mars mission. If the monkey business continues, a biosphere would house monkeys in order to simulate the 520-day round-trip journey to Mars and back. Everyone wants to be able to send humans, but the ability just isn’t there yet. We cannot adequately protect people from harmful radiation in space, as well as the medical problems that come with micro-gravity. The Russians see monkeys as a simpler first step akin to what was done in the 1960’s.


Mars monkeys!

Kepler Spots New Exoplanets
NASA’s planet-seeking Kepler spacecraft has sent back some early data, which includes the discover of at least 5 previously unknown exoplanets. Kepler was launched in March with the objective of finding other Earth-like planets in the galaxy orbiting sun-like stars. The thought is that these kinds of planets will be more likely to harbor life. The search for this specific planet type will likely take years, but it is promising that Kepler discovered five large, hot planets in the first 43 days of its lifetime. Learn more about the mission at the official website.


Kepler already found 5 new planets

Supernova to Wipe Out Earth!
Don’t panic! Yes, there is a star nearby that’s planning to go supernova and strip away the Earth’s ozone layer, but you have nothing to fear! If this even does happen, it might not be for a very long time. According to astronomers, the star T Pyxidis, located at a nearby 3,260 light years away, is set to self-destruct in a supernova equivalent to 20 billion billion billion megatons of TNT. The Hubble Space Telescope has photographed several regular small explosions from T Pyxidis that suddenly stopped after 1967. This means that the next explosion is 20 years overdue. This is what has got scientists thinking that the next one could be the big one. Robin Scagell, vice-president of the UK’s Society for Popular Astronomy, said: “The star may certainly became a supernova soon – but soon could still be a long way off so don’t have nightmares.” Click here to learn more about how NASA watches out for supernovae.


T Pyxidis (photo from NASA)

Video of the Week: NASA "Reach" Commercial

Check out this commercial by NASA entitled, “Reach”. Let’s get today’s kids excited about space exploration. Moon, Mars, and beyond!

Gadget of the Week: Vscan, the modern medical tricorder
We’ve seen devices that mimic the behavior of tricorders before, but this is one product by GE that is one step closer to the real thing. This is the next technological step for small, portable scanning device a la Star Trek’s tricorder.

#FollowFriday

If you are on Twitter, you know there are plenty of amazing people out there tweeting away. And, many of them are scientists! Every Friday I’ll be bringing you a new list of great scientists and techies to follow on Twitter. This week…

  • @SETIInstitute: We believe we are conducting the most profound search in human history — to know our beginnings and our place among the stars.
  • @physicallaws: The physical laws of the universe, including but not limited to: The Laws of Thermodynamics, The Laws of Motion, Uncertainty Principle…
  • @EarthPic: Earth Science Picture of the Day features over 3000 images that highlight the processes and phenomena that shape our planet. New image everyday!

Science Quickies
Not enough science for you? Here’s a warp-speed look at some more science tid-bits that are worth a look.

 


TrekMovie’s Science Friday is an homage the the great NPR radio show Science Friday. Science Friday® is a registered service mark of ScienceFriday Inc.

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PETA is going to to “Ape” over the Monkey to Mars bit. Poor Monkey.

If Apophis gets to within 18,300 miles that is several thousand miles closer to Earth than the Geostationary satellites in orbit (GOES weather satellites, etc.), which is about 22,000 miles. That is pretty frikin close. Still, shooting at it could make things worst I would imagine. Silly Ruskies!

Asteroids and supernovas. We do always seem to be focused on the things that might kill us, isn’t there? Ah, well. I’d rather focus on living my life. But still, fascinating stuff. God bless!

I like how it’s called Apophis…STC should get involved ;)
Where’s O’Neill when you need him, or Carter…

The Tricorder is pretty cool too. I remember when that firm released the Tricorder Mk1. Pretty cool, saw it in use on UK tv at some point as part of a Ghost Hunt. Kinda cool.

Okay, I know the Russians are adept and have sufficient techincal prowess but…what if they don’t get this right? I mean…couldn’t they foul up and shift Apophis to a more dangerous orbit?

That thing looks evil. I must start my Comet Shelter….now.

all I want to know is, who is the Russian Bruce Willis?

Wait, waiit, hold on a minute! Tell me about this supernova thing again!

The Vscan is amazing! So portble and functional. I can see sports teams using it on the sidelines for quick evaluations of injuries, paramedics can take it with them to the scene of an accident, Dr.’s treating people in remote destinations can use it. What a valuable tool this will be for medical professionals. Another Trek influence which will benefit many.

“Supernova to Wipe Out Earth!”

Time to start on the Fleet of Worlds?

Ummmm, this is self-contradictory:

“If this even does happen, it might not be for a very long time.”

and

“…suddenly stopped after 1967. This means that the next explosion is 20 years overdue. This is what has got scientists thinking that the next one could be the big one.”

I hope no one thinks we’re safe because it’s 3,260±10 light years away. If it blew up 3,259 years ago + tomorrow, it still arrives tomorrow. You don’t get any “advanced notice” on a supernova. Speed of light and all that. Of course, if it’s the mythical magical Hobus Supernova that somehow travels faster than the speed of light and destroys Romulus in mere seconds….

But echoing #2… nothing to worry about, just keep going about each day. Then again, this is the “Century of Fear”, whether it be radical Islamo-fascist terrorists, rogue asteroidal trajectories, anthropogenic global warming, colony collapse disorder, derivatives and computerized-program trading crises, annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd kleptocratic -socialistic-neo-fasciobamists (even though the sound of it is something quite post-racist — If you say it fast enough, you’ll seem an armageddist….).

The NASA Reach film has been around for a couple of years. So has this one, Water for Tea, but more recently they switched the narrator to our beloved captain, Patrick Stewart. Check it out here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFlQJR52TcQ

I’m a NASA Channel junkie!

It’s nice to know that if the Earth gets hit by an asteroid in a few years and humans meet the fate of the dinosaurs, that at least there may be monkeys running around on Mars.

Anthony – would that be Putin? He’s pretty buff and a black-belt…

All I can say is “poor monkeys” :(

Sorry to burst everyones bubbles, but a supernova from 3300 lightyears won’t be wiping us out.

Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy fame has all ready pointed out how this is inaacurate. Here is the article:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/01/07/no-a-nearby-supernova-wont-wipe-us-out/

When you read something that sounds fantastical, make sure you use the proper data first. Yay Science!

Nice NASA ad, I just applied to the ESA some weeks ago :D

Star’s gonna go on Dec. 21, 2012. Just saying.

Russians deflect asteriod — just our luck, they deflect it in the wrong direction.

Supernova explosion — it would have had to already exploded a long time ago to reach us anytime soon.

That is not a happy space monkey.

Damn, I was about to post the Bad Astronomy blog post. :-/
@#9: 3200 Light years is a lot. a regular supernova (and this is just a nova) will be harmful for up to 100 light years. What would be dangerous is a Gamma Ray Burst.. but that ain’t gonna happen with this star. it takes a core-collapse supernova for that.. and for that you need a supermassive star.

What if the Russians miscalculate and shift Apophis into the moon, which then hits the Earth and all life is destroyed? OR, it knocks the moon out of orbit and we say “bye bye Moon.” What then Russia, what then?

‘Everyone wants to be able to send humans, but the ability just isn’t there yet.’

Forty years ago, we sent regularly astronauts on half-million mile round trips with the capability to land on an airless, hostile planetoid, motor around in six-wheeled dune buggies, conduct experiments, play golf, then launch themselves back into space and safely return home again. And the collective computing power of all of the hardware which made it possible didn’t even equal that of your garden-variety laptop, circa 2010.

It’s not a matter of ability – it’s a matter of will.

Asteroids? Supernovae?? The Shatner will save us. He always does. All in a days work for the Shat.

I would say that red matter will save us from the supernova, but for some lillogical reason I fear it won’t be deployed until its too late. I don’t know, this all feels all too familiar somehow. :-)

I meant “illogical”. Damn typos!!

Spock was too late, because he didn’t have The Shat with him.

Yes, the Shat would save Vulcan. Bring back the Shat!

the one good thing about a supernova would mean no longer having to endure Star Trek Phase II or Intrepid.

#21

I completely agree. Humans should be out there rockin’ and rollin’.

re: V-scan. I’m waiting for them to come up with an app that will let the I-phone do the same thing as the Vscan ;) that, and of course, cook breakfast.

#21,#28, no, it is indeed a matter of ability.Todays human flight space programs go to great lenghts to protect the astronauts they send up. Apollo, for instance, was way less secure than todays Shuttle Booster system – and I’m not talking about ‘it was new technology back then’… the Saturn V engines had an instability in their design, and while all the flights with a Saturn V went well, there were few of them, and today it is thought the reliability would not be enough to allow humans on top of those bombs ( ;) ) as per regulation..

Add to that, that the moon is a meager week-roundtrip compared to the 520+ days it would take to Mars and back. That’s about 65 times longer, and the Apollo astronauts had the benefit of Earths magnetic field for a longer percentage of the trip than any Marsonaut would have.

Anyway, I think it would make more sense anyway to go to a Near Earth Asteroid instead of Mars.. shorter trip, you need less fuel, and scientifically more rewarding. Plus it is easier to get back again.. and once you’ve mastered that, trips to the Mars moons are going to be a breeze, and maybe, from there we can step onto martian soil for the first time…

That medical scanning device is clearly a proto-tricorder. The inevitable removal of the cable will maket it even more so.

Neat-oh.

2012 doomsday prophecy my @$$.

What about all that monkey poo? I predict the insurmountable monkey poo problem will scrub the Monkeys to Mars Mission.

Scott B. out.

# 9 you said this so well. And as for the Russians doing something to solve our astroid problem . That’s better then moaning the end of days are here. And another TV Evangelist won’t get to line his pockets. LOL ! Monkeys to Mars? How will they care for themselvies? And will they be allowed to return? Or are they going one way to their deaths?

Mars Monkeys….

So when we do getyerahztamaharz we will find it populated with 9ft tall green monkeys on horseback…..

“Get yer stinkin’ paws off muh you dang dirty ape”

Hey, it could happen, right ?

;-)

When can we expect the huge protests surrounding sending a monkey to Mars?

Attitudes toward animal welfare, particularly primates, have changed in the last 50 years.

What the world can say after collapse kepler’s first law?
(Great collapse Kepler’s first law) is a new paper which published in Ntural Sceince journal (www.scirp.org/journal/NS/)