Flashover
Lieutenant Commander
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
Maybe WikiLeaks will post something before then?
Maybe WikiLeaks will post something before then?
NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery"
- Thread starter Candlelight
- Start date
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
I suspect that the panel wouldn't be full of biologists and biochemists, in that case. The reason would likely have to do with physics, not biochemistry.
I'll have to try to check out the broadcast tomorrow, if I remember (I'm insanely busy at work these days and don't usually notice or pay attention to the time, and I'm often out at lunch around 2 anyway).
I suspect that the panel wouldn't be full of biologists and biochemists, in that case. The reason would likely have to do with physics, not biochemistry.
I'll have to try to check out the broadcast tomorrow, if I remember (I'm insanely busy at work these days and don't usually notice or pay attention to the time, and I'm often out at lunch around 2 anyway).
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
Such a discovery would be crazier than the actual discovery of extraterrestrial life. It would be like finding "The Hatch" in Lost. It would raise very strange questions about the nature of our existence, and what that means. It would be a huge case for the theory that we are a lab experiment of some master entity, and that "space" as we know it is just a buffer designed to keep us from finding our way out of the snow globe. In comparison to finding difinitive proof that we are alone in the universe, finding aliens seems quaint.
Such a discovery would be crazier than the actual discovery of extraterrestrial life. It would be like finding "The Hatch" in Lost. It would raise very strange questions about the nature of our existence, and what that means. It would be a huge case for the theory that we are a lab experiment of some master entity, and that "space" as we know it is just a buffer designed to keep us from finding our way out of the snow globe. In comparison to finding difinitive proof that we are alone in the universe, finding aliens seems quaint.
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
maybe the cigarette smoking man will shut it down.
maybe the cigarette smoking man will shut it down.
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
I think that is probable. And if it is that, I would not be disappointed, it'd be huge! It would mean that life had started more than once on our planet - and thus it could mean that the probabilities for life evolving would be much larger than previously assumed.
I think that is probable. And if it is that, I would not be disappointed, it'd be huge! It would mean that life had started more than once on our planet - and thus it could mean that the probabilities for life evolving would be much larger than previously assumed.
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
It will be something to do with the role of arsenic in Earth's ecosystems and evolution and somehow tied to life elsewhere. Knowledge of life in arsenic is not new. So, there's probably some new discovery that we are not aware of. Something related to extraterrestrial life, as in, how to detect it remotely via spectroscopy, maybe. Or perhaps they discovered an "alien" right here on Earth, a microbe that is not related to anything else on Earth? Essentially, it appears that arsenic has played a driving role in evolution on Earth and that arsenic based metabolism arose 3 billion years ago on Earth. Apparently there is a photosynthesis process that produces aresenic as its byproduct rather than oxygen, which is then consumed by arsenic consuming microbes. A whole new chemistry of life, an alien chemistry to us, right here on Earth.
As for searching for life on Mars, follow the arsenic!
Mr Awe
It will be something to do with the role of arsenic in Earth's ecosystems and evolution and somehow tied to life elsewhere. Knowledge of life in arsenic is not new. So, there's probably some new discovery that we are not aware of. Something related to extraterrestrial life, as in, how to detect it remotely via spectroscopy, maybe. Or perhaps they discovered an "alien" right here on Earth, a microbe that is not related to anything else on Earth? Essentially, it appears that arsenic has played a driving role in evolution on Earth and that arsenic based metabolism arose 3 billion years ago on Earth. Apparently there is a photosynthesis process that produces aresenic as its byproduct rather than oxygen, which is then consumed by arsenic consuming microbes. A whole new chemistry of life, an alien chemistry to us, right here on Earth.
As for searching for life on Mars, follow the arsenic!
Mr Awe
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Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
The Sun broke the news in its own wonderfully inimitable style this morning...
The Sun broke the news in its own wonderfully inimitable style this morning...
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
^^ It's exciting but that's not really news. Arsenic metabolizing life has been known about for a number of years now. I'm suspecting that there is more to it. Not discovery of ET, or even microbes elsewhere, but some larger ramification of arsenic's role on Earth, such as photosynthesis the produces arsenic which then is consumed by arsenic based life. A complete cycle, like what we have with oxgyen now. Guessing but an educated guess. We'll see!
The Sun essentially just looked at the participants, their research, and made some logical deductions.
^^ It's exciting but that's not really news. Arsenic metabolizing life has been known about for a number of years now. I'm suspecting that there is more to it. Not discovery of ET, or even microbes elsewhere, but some larger ramification of arsenic's role on Earth, such as photosynthesis the produces arsenic which then is consumed by arsenic based life. A complete cycle, like what we have with oxgyen now. Guessing but an educated guess. We'll see!
The Sun essentially just looked at the participants, their research, and made some logical deductions.
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
What ever it is, it will be reallt boring and very, very un-news /press conference worthy.
It's like that hot girl who dry humps you all during the date but doesn't want to do anything at the end when it's time.
Something along the lines of:
1. We found life where life shouldn't exist on Earth, thus meaning we MIGHT be able to find life like that, say, 50 to a hundred years from now when all of you hear this are deaf or dead.
2. We found dead microbial life on Mars (or a meteorite).
3. Something else really, really boring.
And on top of all that, I bet the news is already a year or so old; they've just been analyzing it, going over data, so forth. People who worked on it will be like, "You held a press conference for THIS?"
What ever it is, it will be reallt boring and very, very un-news /press conference worthy.
It's like that hot girl who dry humps you all during the date but doesn't want to do anything at the end when it's time.
Something along the lines of:
1. We found life where life shouldn't exist on Earth, thus meaning we MIGHT be able to find life like that, say, 50 to a hundred years from now when all of you hear this are deaf or dead.
2. We found dead microbial life on Mars (or a meteorite).
3. Something else really, really boring.
And on top of all that, I bet the news is already a year or so old; they've just been analyzing it, going over data, so forth. People who worked on it will be like, "You held a press conference for THIS?"
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
^ That is why I love the Sun.
The Mail's online edition suggests that the Sun "broke an embargo" in publishing their story, though, which strongly implies the press release is already out there, with a date/time embargo attached. Now that the Sun has already broken the embargo, the Mail followed up with their own story.
^ That is why I love the Sun.
The Mail's online edition suggests that the Sun "broke an embargo" in publishing their story, though, which strongly implies the press release is already out there, with a date/time embargo attached. Now that the Sun has already broken the embargo, the Mail followed up with their own story.
Nowhere Man
Commodore
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
Ladies and gentelmen, we got him! Osama Bin Laden was hiding in a cave on Mars.
Ladies and gentelmen, we got him! Osama Bin Laden was hiding in a cave on Mars.
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
Interesting, but does the US press do embargoes like that? If they got the press release, they'd just release it. I think. I'm not an expert on the press.
It's not news that microbes exist that can live in arsenic. That's been known for a couple of years, at least. A big question that they've been researching since that discovery has been how long has this ability been around. How deeply entrenched is this ability in Earth's history. Some scientists think it is relatively recent while others think it goes back a long ways. It appears that it has been around for a very long time, 3 billion years. This discovery of the long duration, based on genetic research, maybe what the announcement is about.
So, when the Mail says this, "Nasa scientists are set to announce that bacteria have been discovered that can survive in arsenic, an element previously thought too toxic to support life, it can be revealed." It's just wrong. Not surprising that the Mail would make a mistake because the Mail apparently doesn't know that NASA should be all caps, it's an acronym. Kind of a basic mistake.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the release. And to the poster who thinks it will be boring, what a dreary outlook on life. Nah, this will be fascinating.
Mr Awe
^ That is why I love the Sun.
The Mail's online edition suggests that the Sun "broke an embargo" in publishing their story, though, which strongly implies the press release is already out there, with a date/time embargo attached. Now that the Sun has already broken the embargo, the Mail followed up with their own story.
Interesting, but does the US press do embargoes like that? If they got the press release, they'd just release it. I think. I'm not an expert on the press.
It's not news that microbes exist that can live in arsenic. That's been known for a couple of years, at least. A big question that they've been researching since that discovery has been how long has this ability been around. How deeply entrenched is this ability in Earth's history. Some scientists think it is relatively recent while others think it goes back a long ways. It appears that it has been around for a very long time, 3 billion years. This discovery of the long duration, based on genetic research, maybe what the announcement is about.
So, when the Mail says this, "Nasa scientists are set to announce that bacteria have been discovered that can survive in arsenic, an element previously thought too toxic to support life, it can be revealed." It's just wrong. Not surprising that the Mail would make a mistake because the Mail apparently doesn't know that NASA should be all caps, it's an acronym. Kind of a basic mistake.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the release. And to the poster who thinks it will be boring, what a dreary outlook on life. Nah, this will be fascinating.
Mr Awe
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
For articles published in high profile journals (like Science or Nature), the journals produce a general summary intended for journalists. This is posted on a secure site, giving the news agencies a few days to prepare their articles, contact the authors and other scientists for quotes, etc.
This was the description I got for a paper I published a few years ago:
"The press embargo on your paper will lift on Monday, July 30, at 5:00 PM U.S. Eastern time. A preprint of your article will be available to journalists starting Wednesday, July 25, on a secure "reporters-only" website."
If news agencies break the embargo they presumably can have their credentials and access to the site revoked. I don't know if it would happen over just one article, but news agencies have a reason for voluntarily following the journal-requested embargo.
If the Daily Mail article is correct, this goes far beyond simply using arsenic as an energy source. As you say, it has been known for a while that microbes can oxidize or reduce arsenic for energy. The article implies that these microbes actually use arsenic in place of phosphorus in their biomolecules, which has been hypothesized due to the chemical similarities of arsenic and phosphorus but never actually observed. If that's the case, then it's a super-exciting find.
^ That is why I love the Sun.
The Mail's online edition suggests that the Sun "broke an embargo" in publishing their story, though, which strongly implies the press release is already out there, with a date/time embargo attached. Now that the Sun has already broken the embargo, the Mail followed up with their own story.
Interesting, but does the US press do embargoes like that? If they got the press release, they'd just release it. I think. I'm not an expert on the press.
For articles published in high profile journals (like Science or Nature), the journals produce a general summary intended for journalists. This is posted on a secure site, giving the news agencies a few days to prepare their articles, contact the authors and other scientists for quotes, etc.
This was the description I got for a paper I published a few years ago:
"The press embargo on your paper will lift on Monday, July 30, at 5:00 PM U.S. Eastern time. A preprint of your article will be available to journalists starting Wednesday, July 25, on a secure "reporters-only" website."
If news agencies break the embargo they presumably can have their credentials and access to the site revoked. I don't know if it would happen over just one article, but news agencies have a reason for voluntarily following the journal-requested embargo.
If the Daily Mail article is correct, this goes far beyond simply using arsenic as an energy source. As you say, it has been known for a while that microbes can oxidize or reduce arsenic for energy. The article implies that these microbes actually use arsenic in place of phosphorus in their biomolecules, which has been hypothesized due to the chemical similarities of arsenic and phosphorus but never actually observed. If that's the case, then it's a super-exciting find.
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
I believe it's not an uncommon practice throughout the journalistic world to have these gentlemen's agreements for non-time-sensitive matters. As Plix suggests above, there are good reasons for them as it allows for some background work and fact-checking to occur before general release.
They even hold for time-sensitive matters sometimes. I remember that during the General Election, many opinion polls are released with embargos of 10 or 11pm... there was a constant stream of rumour-mongering and leaking from the time they were released to the Press at about 6pm, until the actual embargo time. It mattered, because the leaks caused the betting prices to move, and insider trading became possible.
So, embargos are broken at the margins occasionally, but generally the benefits outweigh the downsides enough that they're respected the vast majority of the time by most mainstream news organisations.
As for the actual story, it's pretty damn cool if there is proof of an alternate biochemistry like this. Now, where are my Hortas...
I believe it's not an uncommon practice throughout the journalistic world to have these gentlemen's agreements for non-time-sensitive matters. As Plix suggests above, there are good reasons for them as it allows for some background work and fact-checking to occur before general release.
They even hold for time-sensitive matters sometimes. I remember that during the General Election, many opinion polls are released with embargos of 10 or 11pm... there was a constant stream of rumour-mongering and leaking from the time they were released to the Press at about 6pm, until the actual embargo time. It mattered, because the leaks caused the betting prices to move, and insider trading became possible.
So, embargos are broken at the margins occasionally, but generally the benefits outweigh the downsides enough that they're respected the vast majority of the time by most mainstream news organisations.
As for the actual story, it's pretty damn cool if there is proof of an alternate biochemistry like this. Now, where are my Hortas...
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
It's official:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/02/nasa.extraterrestrial.life/index.html?hpt=T2
Something deep down makes me want to be excited about this but... I dunno...
It's official:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/02/nasa.extraterrestrial.life/index.html?hpt=T2
Something deep down makes me want to be excited about this but... I dunno...
Nowhere Man
Commodore
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
NASA shouldn't hold press conferences unless it's really big. Big for everyone and not just nerdy scientists otherwise people will just cry wolf when the Greys finally decide to reveal themselves and we can't stop them.
NASA shouldn't hold press conferences unless it's really big. Big for everyone and not just nerdy scientists otherwise people will just cry wolf when the Greys finally decide to reveal themselves and we can't stop them.
Re: NASA to hold press conference regarding "Astrobiological Discovery
So they found new microbes ... on Earth?
That was rather anti-climactic.
So they found new microbes ... on Earth?
That was rather anti-climactic.