Important Innovations

  New California Institute of Technology Research                                                                 Source:  NASA Milky Way Likelihood of Alien Life on the Milky Way Physicists at California Institute of Technology have used astronomy and statistical modelling to map the probable existence of life on the Milky Way.  Three Caltech physicists have precisely mapped where and when life is most likely to exist in the Milky Way.  Essentially they modelled the evolution of the Milky Way over time.  They used key factors necessary for the development of intelligent life such as Sun-like stars accompanied by Earth-like planets, time necessary for intelligent life to evolve and the frequency of deadly radiation from supernovas. Findings The scientists used time and space metrics to measure the  most likely locations for the presence of life.  They found the greatest probability of the existence of life at 13,000 light years from the galaxy center and 8 billion years after the galax

  Mysterious Radio Signal from Exoplanet                    Source: Cornell University - Bootes & Magnetic Field A First From Space This is an extraordinary scientific finding from space.  You might characterize it as an exoplanet talking to Earth.  A research team of scientists led by researcher Jake Turner at Cornell University has detected a mysterious radio signal from an exoplanet deep within space.  The radio "message" comes from the constellation Tau Bootes.  It is the first radio signal ever discovered from one of the 4,500 exoplanets documented by astronomers, trillions of miles above the Earth.  Their work has been published in the prestigious scientific journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. The Search For Life in Space Is this a message from an alien world?  Well, researchers think the radio signals may provide a new way to explore the possibilities that life does exist outside of the Earth in places like exoplanets deep in space in alien worlds.  Lead researcher

  Planets Better For Life Than Earth                                                       Source:  NASA New Scientific Discovery Scientists have discovered 24 "superhabitable" planets with conditions better for life than on Earth and with stars better than our Sun.  The research was led by a team at Washington State University. The planets are warmer, wetter, larger and older than the Earth.  The scientists used a set of criteria to identify the "superhabitable" planets including presence of water, mild temperature and atmospheric conditions, among others. Space Targets For the Search For Life The 24 planets are 100 light years away from the Earth.  The scientists say their findings serve as targets for the next generation of telescopes to explore for signs of life. The scientists believe these 24 planets have the most promising conditions for complex forms of life.  They were identified from a group of 4500 exoplanets.  They estimate the age range of the planets a

  Discovery of  Underground Lake & Nearby Salt Ponds                                            Source:  European Space Agency's Mars Express Water Could Mean Some Form of Life Exists on Mars There may be life on Mars.  Scientists have found evidence of a large underground lake and a number of small salt ponds nearby.  This discovery raises the possibility that some form of "Martian" life exists on Mars.  Scientists say where there is water, there is life. ESA's Mars Express Spacecraft The new science comes from Europe.  Italian scientists used data from the European Space Agency's Mars Express Spacecraft.  They specifically analyzed data from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding instrument (the MARSIS). They determined that the lake is large - 18.6 miles by 12.4 miles.  The scientists says that the subglacial lake could have important consequences for "astrobiology and the presence of habitable niches on Mars". The extra fi

  "Search for Life in Space" by Edward Kane  New Book on Search for New Forms of Life in the Universe Are there new forms of life, perhaps even highly advanced civilizations, in space?  The collective opinion of many top global scientists and experts at NASA, the European Space Agency and the Chinese Space Agency is YES. Visitors From Space As a journalist, Ed Kane has written "Search for Life in Space" to document the scientific undertakings now underway to make our civilization the first to find life in the universe - life that may be radically different from ours.  We start the space journey with images of UFOs over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  The images were shot by US Navy pilots and just released by the US Department of Defense to show that UFOs are real.   NASA, UFOs and Aliens NASA has made a priority of finding new forms of life in the universe.  In fact, NASA Director Jim Bridenstine says "we are well on our way to discover

NASA Tech: Ground and Space Observations Source:  NASA - 6 cyclones on Jupiter Place in the Universe Where the Weather is Never Pleasant The image is one of the highest resolution, infrared views of the Planet Jupiter ever taken.  And, the view is simply  amazing.  Jupiter is lite up in huge thunder storms. This image is the result of the most highly advanced  space technology and the scientists behind it teaming up.  NASA's  Hubble Space Telescope, the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii and the Juno spacecraft came together to explore the fiercest storms in the solar system.  The location of some of the Universe's worst  weather is Jupiter, more than 500 million miles from Earth. It appears weather is never pleasant there. Stormy Weather A team of researchers led by U-CAL Berkeley's Michael Wong are using the images coming in to learn how Jupiter's turbulent atmosphere and weather work.  Storms are constant on Jupiter and much more powerful than on Earth. The

Life in 100% Hydrogen Atmosphere Source:  NASA's Hubble Telescope Big Impact on Search for Life in Space Scientists at MIT have made a major discovery.   They've found that microorganisms - life - exists in an atmosphere of 100% hydrogen.  In fact, organisms found on Earth can survive in environments  previously considered inhospitable and composed of 100% hydrogen. Expanding the Search for ET The findings have a big impact on the search for life in space.  A significant number of exoplanets, or  orbiting stars, contain atmospheres with large amounts of hydrogen.  These exoplanets have been ignored in the search for alien life until now.  Award-winning astrophysicist MIT Professor Sara Seager, who led the study, is urging astronomers to expand the types of planets where they are searching for ET. Warm Planets Prof. Seager also discovered that worlds in space, even at a distance ten- times away from a star with a hyd

NASA Diligently Searching Source:  NASA What's Underground on Mars? NASA scientists have a fascinating and very innovative theory.  They're exploring the possibility that some forms of life could be supported underground and inside caves on Mars.  They believe there's a chance that water may exist underground to support life on the Red Planet. 2020 Launch In July 2020 NASA will launch its Mars 2020 rover with a mission to search for life on the Red Planet.  It will touch down on the Martian surface on the targeted date of February 18, 2021 at a location called Jezero Crater.  NASA calls the area  one of the most scientifically interesting landscapes on Mars. Search for Water and Life Jezero Crater was once home to an ancient river delta that may contain signs of microbial life. The possibility exists that there is water underground on Mars.  Exploring for water and life is rover's big mission.   The rover will join lander InSight that rece

NASA Discovery: Possibilities of Life on Saturn's Biggest Moon Titian Source:  NASA Titan Moon Surface image Does Life Exist Beyond Earth? The images from NASA are mesmerizing.  This is the terrain of Titan, which is Saturn's largest moon.  There are oceans and lakes of liquid methane, vast plains and dunes of frozen organic material, which is the basis of life.  These are the first ever global geological maps of Titan, provided by NASA.  NASA scientists say they suggest the possibility of life of some form is possible on Titan. NASA has a Dragonfly mission with a drone to explore Titan in upcoming years,  For more details on the possibilities, go to Important Innovations Collection: Saturn's Titan Moon & Life : New Science from NASA - Possibility of Life on Titan, Saturn's Largest Moon Source:   NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Moonscapes, Science...

Intro to "How Dare You", Fiction for Girls, by Journalist Ed Kane Inspiring Young Girls to Do Their Best  "How Dare You" is a great fiction, adventure book for young girls.  Everyone of us faces challenges along our runs in life.  At a young age, it can be a new neighborhood that you and your family just moved into and a new school where you don't have any friends.  Enter the book's heroine Cordy and her wonderful dog Bash. New School, Cool Running Cordy, her teacher Ms. Mapes, Cordy's mother and Bash all contribute to starting a girl's cross country team at the new school. The result is enchanted and unimagined adventures. Cordy, Bash and the team have magical runs through a magnificent forest of firefly highways with talking animals, including opossums, owls, squirrels and birds.  The lessons of life Cordy and all of us learn along the runs are profound and leave you feeling great.  For a free Kindle borrow to experience this great children

NASA's Curiosity Rover Find Source:  NASA Martian Rock With Evidence of Water and Wind NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered a rock on the planet Mars that shows evidence of wind and water.  The discovery is so important that the rock has been given a nickname "Strathdon."  For a great news blog on this, go to Important Innovations Collection: Martian Rock Tells Big Story : Curiosity Rover Find Source:  NASA Shows Presence of Water, Raises Questions of Life on Mars NASA's Curiosity rover has been expl...

Discovered by International Astronomers Using Powerful Ground Telescopes Source:  NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center May Have "Earth Like" Conditions Astronomers have discovered what they're calling a Super Earth 31 light years away from our solar system.  They say it is "potentially habitable".  The planet is named GJ 357d.  It is six times larger than the Earth and it orbits a sun that is much smaller than ours, every 55 days.  An international team of scientists discovered it using powerful ground telescopes and following up on data first relayed by NASA's planet hunting satellite TESS.  The astronomers believe that it could provide "Earth like conditions" for life.  If so it could answer the question that goes back a thousand years:  Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? Looking for Signs of Life In the next several years, highly advanced telescopes will be going on line that will be able to detect any signs of lif

NASA's Search for Life on Mars and Elsewhere in Space Source:  NASA's New DNA-Like Molecule NASA's New DNA-Like Molecule Will Aid the Search for Interplanetary Life NASA officials say detection of life in space is a growing and important part of their planetary science missions.  NASA just announced that their team, including scientists from Indiana University of Medicine and University of Texas at Austin, have synthesized a molecular system that is DNA-like and is a genetic system for life that could be possible in other worlds. This new development helps NASA develop new advanced instruments to search for interplanetary life and expands on what they're looking for to discover life outside of the earth.  For a great news blog on this go to Important Innovations Collection: NASA's Quest for Alien LIfe : New Research, New DNA-Like Molecule New DNA Like Molecule Source:  Indiana University School of Medicine NASA Believes This Will Ai...

Parts of DNA, the Basis of Life, Can Form in Space European Space Agency Photo of Eagle Nebula - Frigid & Rich in Radiation Breakthrough NASA Research NASA scientists have made a remarkable discovery through highly innovative research.  They've discovered that parts of DNA, which is the stuff of life, can form in space.  Specifically deoxyribose, sugar that's the backbone of DNA, can form in space.  They replicated space conditions in their lab by blasting ice with radiation and found deoxyribose in it.  This is breakthrough science and innovation.  For details and a news story on it by my journalist colleague Ed Kane, go to  https://importantinnovationscollection.blogspot.com/2018/12/nasa-discovery-on-dna.html

Nuclear Powered Robots for the Moon Europa Source:  NASA photo of Europa Proposed to Explore One of Jupiter's Moons for Signs of Life A group of scientists who advise and solve problems for NASA have come up with a unique proposal.  They want to deploy a tunnelbot that would use nuclear power to melt a path through one of Jupiter's frozen moons.  The moon is called Europa and it's the 4th largest of Jupiter's 53 moons.  It's considered a great place in the solar system to host life. Powered by Nuclear Reactor or NASA's Radioactive Heat Bricks The scientists unveiled their proposal to the American Geophysical Union.  They said the tunnelbot could use an advanced nuclear reactor or some of NASA's radioactive heat bricks to generate heat and power.  The robot would carry a payload to search for evidence of life, extant or extinct.  The researchers believe Europa's ice hides open oceans and that life may exist there.  The robot would go down to