Curiouser and curiouser: Earth-like terrain in Mars rover images

Images from the latest Mars rover’s navigation cameras reveal a remarkably familiar landscape -- one that looks like the California desert.

Black-and-white photos stitched together from the Curiosity rover’s Navcams show gravelly terrain with what looks like well-cut, pyramidal mountains in the background – the kind of terrain found in the Mojave, said John Grotzinger, lead scientist for the Mars Science Laboratory mission.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-curiosity-images-mojave-nasa-jpl-20120808,0,160461.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Amina Khan

 

 

Key test set for sustained hypersonic flight

In a nondescript hangar at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, a team of aerospace engineers has been putting the finishing touches on a lightning-quick experimental aircraft designed to fly above the Pacific Ocean at 3,600 mph. A passenger aircraft traveling at that speed could fly from Los Angeles to New York in 46 minutes.  http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hypersonic-revolution-20120813,0,4998122.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by W. J.Hennigan

 

 

 

Hot summers and global warming: Another scientist's view

A report by a longtime global warming researcher has concluded that recent extreme summer weather was linked to climate change. The study by a team led by James E. Hansen, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-extreme-summer-heat-global-warming-20120808,0,2385187.story?track=rss

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times –Science Now by Rosie Mestel

 

 

Volcano erupts with ash cloud in New Zealand park

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—A volcano quiet for more than a century erupted in a New Zealand national park, spreading thick ash for several kilometers (miles) and causing some residents to evacuate their homes. Some domestic flights were canceled Tuesday.  http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2012/08/07/volcano_erupts_with_ash_cloud_in_new_zealand_park/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by  Nick Perry Associated Press

Protonex to collaborate on underwater power systems

Protonex Technology Corp., a Southborough company that specializes in lightweight power systems to the military, said it is looking to develop oxygen generators for use in undersea power systems.

In a press release, Protonex announced its exclusive collaboration with Eric Wernimont, a former principal of General Kinetics Inc. and present owner of relevant intellectual property, on the development of oxygen generation systems based on the controlled decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2012/08/07/protonex-collaborate-underwater-power-systems/esBPPECv6Na8BYVnZJ8O6L/story.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Chris Reidy Globe Staff

Fish getting skin cancer from UV radiation, scientists say

Teams find cancerous lesions on the scales of about 15% of the coral trout in Austrailia's Great Barrier Reef, which is under an ozone hole.

If you're still skeptical that a tan can be dangerous, consider this: Scientists have found that wild fish are getting skin cancer from ultraviolet radiation.

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Jon Bardin

 

 

Earth sucking up increasing amounts of carbon dioxide

The Earth's ability to soak up man-made carbon dioxide emissions is a crucial yet poorly understood process with profound implications for climate change.

Among the questions that have vexed climate scientists is whether the planet can keep pace with humanity's production of greenhouse gases. The loss of this natural damper would carry dire consequences for global warming.

A study published in Thursday's edition of the journal Nature concludes that these reservoirs are continuing to increase their uptake of carbon — and show no sign of diminishing.  http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-land-ocean-carbon-sinks-20120802,0,1935104.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Monte Morin