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Post by: reds8n
NASA to Hold News Conference on Astrobiology Discovery
Science Journal Has Embargoed Details Until 11 a.m. PST On Dec. 2 MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- NASA will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. PST on Thursday, Dec. 2, to discuss an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe.
The news conference will be held at the NASA Headquarters auditorium at 300 E St. SW, in Washington. It will be broadcast live on NASA Television and streamed on the agency's website at http://www.nasa.gov.
Reporters may view the televised press conference at NASA Ames Research Center in the main auditorium, Bldg. 201 or ask questions by phone. To obtain dial-in information, journalists must send their name, affiliation and telephone number to Steve Cole at stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov or call 202-358-0918 by 9 a.m. PST Dec. 2, 2010.
Participants are:
Mary Voytek, director, Astrobiology Program, NASA Headquarters, Washington
Felisa Wolfe-Simon, NASA astrobiology research fellow, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, Calif.
Pamela Conrad, astrobiologist, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Steven Benner, distinguished fellow, Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Gainesville, Fla.
James Elser, professor, Arizona State University, Tempe
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2010/M10-110.html
any ideas what this is about then folks ?
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Post by: SilverMK2
Sir! it's Rimmer!
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Post by: undivided
Hope it's not Orks. On a serious note, I'm guessing they found another rock with some kind of bacteria, FUNGUS, or algae on it. Anyway, if it was serious, I doubt anyone would hear about it. I'm looking at you, CIA.
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Post by: Melissia
Dunno, maybe they found some sort of plant life on a planet, or what they think is plant life anyway.
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Post by: Medium of Death
Hopefully they've found life on Titan. That would be awesome.
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Post by: Albatross
They're bringing out a new colour of Space Marine.
Wait... I'm thinking of someone else.
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Post by: Frazzled
Medium of Death wrote:Hopefully they've found life on Titan. That would be awesome.
Yes as its in nuking range. We're in it to win it people, for the species! 
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Post by: Medium of Death
Frazzled wrote:Medium of Death wrote:Hopefully they've found life on Titan. That would be awesome.
Yes as its in nuking range. We're in it to win it people, for the species!
Which could potentially heat it up as a result, melting the ice and turning it into a tropical resort. It must be done.
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Post by: rubiksnoob
Medium of Death wrote:Frazzled wrote:Medium of Death wrote:Hopefully they've found life on Titan. That would be awesome.
Yes as its in nuking range. We're in it to win it people, for the species!
Which could potentially heat it up as a result, melting the ice and turning it into a tropical resort. It must be done.
Yes, a nice radioactive tropical resort.
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Post by: undivided
rubiksnoob wrote:Medium of Death wrote:Frazzled wrote:Medium of Death wrote:Hopefully they've found life on Titan. That would be awesome.
Yes as its in nuking range. We're in it to win it people, for the species!
Which could potentially heat it up as a result, melting the ice and turning it into a tropical resort. It must be done.
Yes, a nice radioactive tropical resort.
Perfect for the Grey Knights!
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Post by: Kilkrazy
Perhaps they have discovered intelligent life on Earth.
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Post by: Elmodiddly
No matter what it will be it will probably involve the creation of a new body to govern the astrobiological entities that they find at the cost to the taxpayer of several gazzillion dollars.
Why can't I get paid an extortionate amount of money to daydream and pick my nose instead of the paltry amount I am paid?
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Post by: SilverMK2
rubiksnoob wrote:Yes, a nice radioactive tropical resort.
Sounds like the Middle East in a few years time...
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Post by: Frazzled
Kilkrazy wrote:Perhaps they have discovered intelligent life on Earth.
No they'd definitely try to keep that a secret. No sense in panicking the citizenry.
Everything is ok. Please return to viewing Dancing with the Stars and MTV Cribs.
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Post by: helgrenze
Kilkrazy wrote:Perhaps they have discovered intelligent life on Earth.
KK... being as this is taking place in DC, I doubt they found any semi intelligent life.
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Post by: reds8n
Elmodiddly wrote:No matter what it will be it will probably involve the creation of a new body to govern
This is it then : they've decided that Spanish lady really does own the Sun.
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Post by: SilverMK2
reds8n wrote:Elmodiddly wrote:No matter what it will be it will probably involve the creation of a new body to govern
This is it then : they've decided that Spanish lady really does own the Sun.
Perhaps they are just going to send her on a mission to closely inspect her property.
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Post by: Elmodiddly
I'm taking legal action against her for sunburn last year then.
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Post by: gorgon
I figure it's NASA announcing that in fact, they DO still exist.
I'm only half-joking...this smells as much of PR as ofscience.
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Post by: olympia
What has piqued my curiosity is that S.R. Hadden will be at the press conference.
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Post by: whatwhat
It will be something to do with the Cassini probe no doubt.
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Post by: Medium of Death
It seems that way. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/introduction/
After having a look through the above link. I think it's either going to be Titan or Enceladus that we hear about.
Probably Enceladus, as: Nasa wrote:Questions surrounding Enceladus’s “astrobiological potential” are at the heart of many investigations being conducted in the Solstice Mission.
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Post by: whatwhat
They turned Cassini back online last week and have been releasing loads of stuff about Saturn's moons since so it seems likely that his again would be the case and it's something else the probe has discovered.
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Post by: KingCracker
Clock set and everything. Suddenly I cant wait for December 2. I just hope its not a huge let down like....well....we found erm.....some dust on our lens!
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Post by: Mr. Burning
KingCracker wrote:Clock set and everything. Suddenly I cant wait for December 2. I just hope its not a huge let down like....well....we found erm.....some dust on our lens!
Enceladus and Titan may have some signs that could indicate the potential that life may be able to exist.....
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Post by: Melissia
I know what they're really announcing.
You see, NASA...
... they just saved a bunch of money on Shuttle insurance by switching to Geico!
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Post by: KingCracker
Mr. Burning wrote:KingCracker wrote:Clock set and everything. Suddenly I cant wait for December 2. I just hope its not a huge let down like....well....we found erm.....some dust on our lens!
Enceladus and Titan may have some signs that could indicate the potential that life may be able to exist.....
Oh I knew this. Infact as soon as I saw the thread title I figured it has to do with something out by Saturn. I follow this stuff closely.
Melissia wrote:I know what they're really announcing.
You see, NASA...
... they just saved a bunch of money on Shuttle insurance by switching to Geico!
Whoa.................a joke? This is a first Ive read from you
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Post by: Melissia
Most of my "jokes" are too sadistic for this forum.
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Post by: KingCracker
You have some serious resolve. Ive got just over 8k posts, and I think 100 of them are not "joke-y"
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Post by: reds8n
Might be something to do with arsenic... apparently.
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Post by: Albatross
Melissia wrote:Most of my "jokes" are too sadistic for this forum.
I love 'tough' women, it makes their pain and fear that much more enjoyable.
@reds8n - Perhaps they found out that Titan is made of arsenic. As I have no current plans to eat ANY of Saturn's moons, this will not be problematic for me.
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Post by: Chibi Bodge-Battle
There are a few bodies I can think of that I would like to govern.
If it is bibby bacteria or simple life that will be stupendous news.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Definition of arsenic= being goosed.
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Post by: SilverMK2
Perhaps they found that titan has a giant fortress monastery covering its entire surface?
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Post by: whatwhat
According to a journalist who has seen the subject matter they haven't found extraterrestrial life.  This conference is more likely to be about some new technology or method of searching for it 
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Post by: Medium of Death
Fox News wrote:announcement will tie into the quest for life on the Martian moon Titan.
The sad thing is somebody gets paid to write that.
Diameter of Titan is 5150km, diameter of Mars 6800km. Would it even be possible for a planet to have a moon almost as big as itself?
(I'm thinking no, unless it comes down to density)
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Post by: KingCracker
Medium of Death wrote:Fox News wrote:announcement will tie into the quest for life on the Martian moon Titan.
The sad thing is somebody gets paid to write that. Diameter of Titan is 5150km, diameter of Mars 6800km. Would it even be possible for a planet to have a moon almost as big as itself? (I'm thinking no, unless it comes down to density)
Uhm yea! Mercury has the SUN for its moon. There, I just proved I should work for Foxnews. Im expecting all of you to give a good reference on my part
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Post by: Albatross
The Sci-tech section on the BBC is reporting that Saturn's moon Rhea has a thin oxygen atmosphere...
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Post by: Manchu
whatwhat wrote:[geek mode]fox news thinks titan is a martian moon.  lol [/geek mode]
I love it when more evidence for opinions I already hold comes to light.
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Post by: Albatross
It's pretty shocking really. As if Fox's credibility wasn't already shot to pieces. I mean how can fact-checking be THAT bad?
How is that possible?
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Post by: KingCracker
Albatross wrote:The Sci-tech section on the BBC is reporting that Saturn's moon Rhea has a thin oxygen atmosphere...
Yea I read that on the NASA website. Planetary sciences are pretty damn fascinating. Just think, a short time ago, say when we were all teens, all this stuff we've learned in the last 3 years would of been laughed at as science fiction
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Post by: Chibi Bodge-Battle
Completely missed that yesterday.
I thought it was someone making a joke that a Titan had been found on one of Mars's moons
Oxygen depletion is addling the brain.
Interesting news, thanks for the update.
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Post by: Medium of Death
KingCracker wrote:Albatross wrote:The Sci-tech section on the BBC is reporting that Saturn's moon Rhea has a thin oxygen atmosphere...
Yea I read that on the NASA website. Planetary sciences are pretty damn fascinating. Just think, a short time ago, say when we were all teens, all this stuff we've learned in the last 3 years would of been laughed at as science fiction
Example: Pluto is not a Planet
Why Pluto! Why!
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Post by: Chibi Bodge-Battle
ps not sure if this will be tomorrow's NASA statement as it has been published earlier this week Automatically Appended Next Post: Example: Pluto is not a Planet
Why Pluto! Why!
Because it is so inadequate as bodies go in the Solar System
It's pretty much a Mickey Mouse effort.
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Post by: Medium of Death
Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:ps not sure if this will be tomorrow's NASA statement as it has been published earlier this week
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Example: Pluto is not a Planet
Why Pluto! Why!
Because it is so inadequate as bodies go in the Solar System
It's pretty much a Mickey Mouse effort.
Don't worry my sweet, he doesn't mean it.
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Post by: Chibi Bodge-Battle
lol
Beautiful image!
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Post by: kronk
New Horizons will reach Pluto in 5 more years. I'm hoping for some sweet pictures of this system.
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Post by: ShumaGorath
Yeah, that was a pretty big announcement.
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Post by: Monster Rain
What in the hell was the announcement?
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Post by: Ma55ter_fett
The moon really isn't made of cheese after all
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Post by: Mannahnin
olympia wrote:What has piqued my curiosity is that S.R. Hadden will be at the press conference.
Well played, sir.
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Post by: kronk
We won't know for another hour.
The news conference on the discovery is set for 2 p.m. ET at NASA headquarters in Washington, the agency said in a statement.
Link.
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Post by: Monster Rain
I don't know why I'm excited.
"We've discovered a bacteria that lives in something something wide implications something something please give us our funding back yadda yadda yadda."
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Post by: kronk
Because speculating is fun!
Evidence, whether direct or inferred from data, of life on one of our solar system's moon would kick ass.
Also, what about that space probe that flew through a comet's tail and landed on earth? They've had that thing for study for a few years, now. Right?
I'm 100% positive that this might be the anouncement. Maybe.
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Post by: frgsinwntr
BBCNEWs for the win...\
one hour early
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11886943
Basically they found bacteria that use cyanide as opposed to phosphorous as a part of its chemical structure.
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Post by: Monster Rain
Thank you for that, Kronk.
I care again!
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Post by: Manchu
So NASA was announcing something already publsihed in Science magazine?
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Post by: kronk
That's just a news article. NASA announcements have people at podiums or behind a desk or other panel.
Where is my freaking NASA panel?
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Post by: Monster Rain
Manchu wrote:So NASA was announcing something already publsihed in Science magazine?
The plebs don't follow that sort of thing.
"Book-readin's fer queers."
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Post by: frgsinwntr
Manchu wrote:So NASA was announcing something already publsihed in Science magazine?
this was already announced??
hmm well oddly enough I assumed when i read it... it was what they would talk about. Let's wait and see
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Post by: Monster Rain
That would be muy underwhelming.
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Post by: Manchu
Yesh, I think we'd better wait until the announcement begins.
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Post by: Monster Rain
Fox News is talking about the Announcement being about arsenic-eating bacteria.
I hope this is an indication that this won't be the subject of the press release.
For God's sake, anyone with a modicum of Sci-Fi background and common sense knows that life could be based on something other than oxygen and water. If you hear a lapping sound in 45 minutes it will be the echo of millions of nerds facepalming simultaneously.
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Post by: Manchu
Monster Rain wrote:Fox News is talking about the Announcement being about arsenic-eating bacteria.
And not Titan, moon of Mars?
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Post by: Monster Rain
Manchu wrote:And not Titan, moon of Mars?
I thought the Titans were from Tennessee?
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Post by: ShumaGorath
Manchu wrote:So NASA was announcing something already publsihed in Science magazine?
...When?
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Post by: Manchu
And so we're back to Fox's headline: aliens among us! Next Fox story: "'alien' bacteria take American jobs, drain government resources." Automatically Appended Next Post: ShumaGorath wrote:Manchu wrote:So NASA was announcing something already publsihed in Science magazine?
...When?
See: BBC wrote:The find, described in Science, gives weight to the long-standing idea that life on other planets may have a radically different chemical makeup.
http://www.bbc.co. uk/news/science-environment-11886943 See also: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/308/5726/1221.14.full?sid=ef4d6214-25be-414a-ace9-f4acf5b21284-11886943 May 2005 :/
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Post by: Monster Rain
Alien bacteria! They refuse to learn how to speak English!
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Post by: Manchu
They took our arsenic!
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Post by: ShumaGorath
Manchu wrote:And so we're back to Fox's headline: aliens among us! Next Fox story: "'alien' bacteria take American jobs, drain government resources." Automatically Appended Next Post: ShumaGorath wrote:Manchu wrote:So NASA was announcing something already publsihed in Science magazine?
...When?
See: BBC wrote:The find, described in Science, gives weight to the long-standing idea that life on other planets may have a radically different chemical makeup.
http://www.bbc.co. uk/news/science-environment-11886943 See also: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/308/5726/1221.14.full?sid=ef4d6214-25be-414a-ace9-f4acf5b21284-11886943 May 2005 :/
That BBC article is dated today and I don't have access to that sciencemag article.
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Post by: Manchu
Neither do I, but the bibliographical data in that link says "Arsenic-Loving Anaerobic Bacteria, Science 27 May 2005: 1221."
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Post by: avantgarde
It's literally a paragraph:
Arsenic contamination of subsurface aquifers may be mediated in part by microbial processes. Oremland et al. (p. 1305) demonstrate the occurrence of a full biogeochemical cycle of arsenic in a hypersaline alkaline lake, Searle's Lake in California. The ecosystem of the lake is driven by inorganic donors such as hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide, which combine to make an arsenic-based redox system ecologically viable. An extremophile haloalkaliphilic bacterium of the Halanaerobacteriales family was isolated that thrives in this extremely toxic environment by respiring arsenate oxyanions in the As(V) state.
There's a second link in the above paragraph linking to a more complete report. This is the abstract:
Searles Lake is a salt-saturated, alkaline brine unusually rich in the toxic element arsenic. Arsenic speciation changed from arsenate [As(V)] to arsenite [As(III)] with sediment depth. Incubated anoxic sediment slurries displayed dissimilatory As(V)-reductase activity that was markedly stimulated by H2 or sulfide, whereas aerobic slurries had rapid As(III)-oxidase activity. An anaerobic, extremely haloalkaliphilic bacterium was isolated from the sediment that grew via As(V) respiration, using either lactate or sulfide as its electron donor. Hence, a full biogeochemical cycle of arsenic occurs in Searles Lake, driven in part by inorganic electron donors.
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Post by: Manchu
Uh, thanks. Point being that BBC's article seems a speculative regurgitation of past news--not necessarily what NASA may talk about in 18 minutes.
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Post by: ShumaGorath
Is what the BBC article states the same as what that sciencemag article states?
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Post by: avantgarde
Essentially yes, they're talking about bacteria grown in labs using arsenic. But the BBC article and Sciencemag article are talking about different lakes.
The BBC article talks about Mono lake which is in the eastern central area of California while the ScienceMag is focusing on bacteria in Searle's Lake which is located in the Mojave desert. In the ScienceMag report they state they've already done testing on bacteria from Mono lake and were performing a similar experiment on bacteria from Searle's lake.
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Post by: Mr Mystery
Have NASA said owt yet?
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Post by: ShumaGorath
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Post by: Chibi Bodge-Battle
Monster Rain wrote:Fox News is talking about the Announcement being about arsenic-eating bacteria.
I hope this is an indication that this won't be the subject of the press release.
For God's sake, anyone with a modicum of Sci-Fi background and common sense knows that life could be based on something other than oxygen and water. If you hear a lapping sound in 45 minutes it will be the echo of millions of nerds facepalming simultaneously.
That would be so cool
but it would be even better if it could start at NASA and travel westwards as a global mexican wave
henceforth to be known as the NASA Nutslap
It alliterates and nut slap sounds more onomapaeic but maybe not 
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Post by: kronk
Well, the only thing I can find is the arsenic bacteria, so I guess that was it.
Edit: Spelling is hard.
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Post by: Kilkrazy
Arsenic bacteria.
They once sat down on a spare razor blade by accident.
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Post by: KingCracker
Thats how I felt too. Yea its cool and all, and I see the potential of this finding but uhm............. as stated earlier, any and all sci fi geeks already knew that was possible. Ive truly believed for years that looking for life on Earth like bodies was a bit short sighted. But hey, what can ya do. Like in ym first post.......dust on a lens....hurray
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Post by: Manchu
Wait but why is NASA announcing something published in Science magazine some six months ago?
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Post by: sebster
I'm sure there's a pun to be found around Arsenic and Old Lace, but buggered if I can think of it.
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Post by: Chibi Bodge-Battle
If only the microbes had been discovered in Mexico. you could have had: Arsenic and Oles.
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Post by: Monster Rain
Or if it was discovered by one of the surviving Tuskeegee Airmen.
Arsenic and Old Ace.
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Post by: Chibi Bodge-Battle
on an asteroid or comet (sorta like the news we hoped for) Arsenic and Cold Space. edit:Betchya wished you never mentioned it now Sebster, eh, dontchya? edit:Was going to add Or in your Christmas pressie from Auntie Nell Arsenic and Old Spice. but that would be punning my own pun, which is jolly bad form even if suitably seasonal.
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Post by: Monster Rain
Or if it was on a piece of old bread.
Arsenic and mold taste.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
I read about it in the newspaper.
It said:
"Arsenic" in bold face.
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Post by: sebster
Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:edit:Betchya wished you never mentioned it now Sebster, eh, dontchya?
Nah, these are good, and put my complete blank on the pun to shame. Arsenic and Oles made me laugh out loud.
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Post by: Chibi Bodge-Battle
You would have to be careful if discovered on a dog
Arselick and then face.
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Post by: dogma
Manchu wrote:Wait but why is NASA announcing something published in Science magazine some six months ago?
Funding grab. Even, perhaps especially, scientists need money.
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Post by: Ahtman
So I take it that they didn't announce an advance in dark chocolate technology? What a pity.
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Post by: WarOne
dogma wrote:Manchu wrote:Wait but why is NASA announcing something published in Science magazine some six months ago?
Funding grab. Even, perhaps especially, scientists need money.
Nah. Scientists as a last resort will eat the bacteria in their petri dishes if they had to to continue the crazed and suicidal pursuit of knowledge.
But NASA has been on the backend of political clout recently and their funding down the tube. Any grasps for money will help the organization stay afloat.
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Post by: SilverMK2
We need to fund more archaeological digs in Egypt so we can find the Stargate.
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Post by: VermGho5t
SilverMK2 wrote:Sir! it's Rimmer!
They found a 2 foot black ribbed gnobler out in space.
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Post by: Mr. Burning
So NASA DID find life on Earth.
I'm curious as to why they need funding to go into space when they seem happy to poke around all manner of nasty crevices here.
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Post by: Chibi Bodge-Battle
There are many who agree.
There is still a lot of ocean depths unplumbed
Far more unfathomable are the minds of many a minion on this planet.
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Post by: SilverMK2
VermGho5t wrote:SilverMK2 wrote:Sir! it's Rimmer!
They found a 2 foot black ribbed gnobler out in space.
Sure it's not a Quagaar warrior?
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Post by: Melissia
Albatross wrote:I love 'tough' women, it makes their pain and fear that much more enjoyable.
"Tough" men cry at night because of their own inadequacies 
I never claimed to be "tough", just to have an odd sense of humor which I doubt would be appropriate for this forum. Manchu wrote:whatwhat wrote:[geek mode]fox news thinks titan is a martian moon. lol [/geek mode]
I love it when more evidence for opinions I already hold comes to light.
lol@faux news.
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Post by: Albatross
Melissia wrote:Albatross wrote:I love 'tough' women, it makes their pain and fear that much more enjoyable.
"Tough" men cry at night because of their own inadequacies
All true.
I never claimed to be "tough", just to have an odd sense of humor which I doubt would be appropriate for this forum.
Well, I'M still here, so I think you'd probably be fine. 
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Post by: Ma55ter_fett
sebster wrote:I'm sure there's a pun to be found around Arsenic and Old Lace, but buggered if I can think of it.
Aliens that live off arsenic?
CHAAARGE!!!!!!
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