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First Results From Messenger's Mercury Flyby

Posted by kdawson on from the hot-stuff dept.

Several readers noted the special section in Science, published today, with results from Messenger's flyby of Mercury last January. One conclusion is that volcanism has shaped the planet, contrary to earlier theories that Mercury had been "dead on arrival." The LA Time's coverage highlights the finding that Mercury has shrunk by a mile in diameter over its lifetime, due to shrinkage at its core.

14 of 48 comments (clear)

  1. Shrinkage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In Mercury's defense, it was in the pool.

    1. Re:Shrinkage by PacketShaper · · Score: 5, Funny

      Usually the "in the pool" defense is because of low temperature...
      I think mercury needs another excuse.

    2. Re:Shrinkage by g0dsp33d · · Score: 3, Funny

      They shouldn't have built that large collider at the center of the planet.

      --
      lol: You see no door there!
  2. Finally by FurtiveGlancer · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mercury has been trying to lose a little around the belt line for eons.

    --
    Invenio via vel creo
  3. Compact by Aeonite · · Score: 4, Funny

    All the extra Mercury is in our new lightbulbs.

  4. Don't feel bad, mercury by Progman3K · · Score: 1, Funny

    A certain amount of shrinkage is normal with age.

    --
    I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
    1. Re:Don't feel bad, mercury by eln · · Score: 5, Funny

      WTF, is there really such a thing as penises shrinking with age? :-S

      Yes. But don't worry, your balls sag more to compensate.

    2. Re:Don't feel bad, mercury by BollocksToThis · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes. I don't mean to scare you, but I have already reached the big 30, and mine is miniscule. I'm lucky I'm married!

      --
      This sig is part of your complete breakfast.
  5. Re:Discoveries for the taking by brunokummel · · Score: 2, Funny

    We haven't paid much attention to Mercury,

    Or it is harder to get to Mercury than to LEO, Moon or Mars.

    go at night! =)

    --
    What is best in life? To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you and to hear the lamentations of their women.
  6. Don't feel bad. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Don't feel bad Mercury. I know a lot of people who suffer from shrinkage..

  7. Re:Slightly OT : And still no colour picture! by FurtiveGlancer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Actually, they did blend a full color picture, but it all ended up a rather unexciting flat gray except for a small arrangement of craters which appear as the number 999 in a reddish brown shade and what appears to be a large white handkerchief. Nothing to worry about though, almost certainly some innocent explanation. ~

    --
    Invenio via vel creo
  8. Re:Discoveries for the taking by Doug+Neal · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is why we do it. We haven't paid much attention to Mercury, so almost everything there is
    new, just waiting to be discovered. Who knows what
    else we will find?

    Sounds like the floor underneath my couch.

  9. Re:more female geeks needed by pgillan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, I haven't heard of planets sagging yet.

    Are you saying that Venus can still pass the pencil test?

  10. vulcanism & iron defficiency by heroine · · Score: 4, Funny

    Volcanic eruptions & iron deficiency sound like a planetary version of Hillary Clinton.