So, last night’s Larry King Live with Dr. Edgar Mitchell was a bust, on the extraterrestrial front at least. Some interesting stuff on other “parasciences” but I won’t get into that now.
But of interest to that, and in general astronomy news, it appears that NASA’s recent discovery of water ice on Mars is being exagerated.
Last few days have seen rumors and speculation on information about the soil samples taken by the Mars Phoenix rover that cannot yet be released, and is being briefed to the White House before public disclosure.
Officials have already gone on record saying that no such briefing occurred. Disappointing if true, but I’m still unconvinced that such a briefing didn’t happen. Maybe not on life discovered, or even evidence of past life, but perhaps something to suggest the possibility, or even just that it might be easier for life to exist there than we originally thought? It’s not exactly above government agencies to lie.
Either way it goes, it will be interesting to see how this develops. Actual water samples from Mars are groovy enough already.
By the by, still trying to dig up those UK/EU Freedom of Information-released documents. If any readers have info, feel free to contact me.
Arrgh. I’ve been waiting to hear about that briefing. You! Go get ‘em!
It’s good that the question has finally been answered. However, it’s not all that simple. They’ve also found an oxidizing substance that they say is “detrimental” to us. We’ve got a long way to go before we can actually see a benefit in the red planet.