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Saturn's Rings Are Ancient

Posted by Zonk on from the steady-relationship dept.

gardenermike writes "Analysis of data from the Cassini probe suggests that Saturn's rings may be billions of years old, rather than the previously surmised millions. Previous research suggested that the rings were young, because of the lack of dark dust accumulation on their surfaces. However, the latest data suggests that the ring surfaces are even younger than previously thought, meaning, ironically, that the rings themselves are much older: they are not static enough to collect dust, but rather are continuously recycling material, with clumps continuously forming and disintegrating."

5 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. 6000 years old by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Perhaps they are missing the obvious with their scientific hubris. They will find out just how long a billion years is - their first week in hell .

  2. Re:Wrong planet, maybe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    No, the rings around Uranus were only formed this morning.

  3. More observations by Kohath · · Score: 4, Funny

    Saturn's rings smell like licorice, according to the probe. This comes as a shock, since the scientific consensus has been that they'd smell almost precisely like a wet dog.

  4. Right-wing radio disagrees! by DreamerFi · · Score: 4, Funny
    Quote:

    It is possible - and I think Walt Brown may have it right on this one - that Saturn's rings are from the Earth - believe it or not, I know it sounds crazy - let me explain. He says when the fountains of the deep broke open - Genesis Chapter 7 - the pressure of 10 or 15 miles of rock [...] the pressure 10 or 15 miles down is phenomenal [...] So if there was water in the crust of the Earth like the Bible says there was [...] then this water would come shooting up to the surface when the "fountains of the deep" broke open and the Earth busted up like an eggshell. That water shooting up would have enough pressure - according to Walt Brown - to eject things into space. They would drift around for awhile - who knows for a couple of hundred years - and run into something like Saturn and make the rings.
    Truth Radio 6 June 2006 @ 26:30 (Tape 2)


    (click the link for more great examples of Kevin Hovind's logic and reasoning)
  5. Re:But by gznork26 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Find out for yourself. The rings are a recorded analog message, and Iapetus is the stylus. All we need to do is fabricate the mounting bracket, install the 'needle', and hook up an amp...