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Curious NASA Pre-Announcement

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the phone-gnome dept.

CrtxReavr was one of a small avalanche of readers to let us know about a press conference NASA scheduled for Thursday at 2pm to discuss an "astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life." I've heard rumors ranging from "proof of life on Titan" to "first contact," depending on how optimistic/crazy you are.

7 of 286 comments (clear)

  1. Ranging from proof of life to first contact? by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Methinks you might want to expand your range at the bottom a bit. I suspect it will be something along the lines of "We've discovered evidence that some precursor to life may have been present on this extraterrestrial body--or may not, depending heavily on your interpretation of some very ambiguous data."

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Ranging from proof of life to first contact? by mibe · · Score: 1, Insightful

      NASA will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. EST 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.

      For the "future of life" bit, could be something cool relating to our ability to live in space. After all, our current body of evidence suggests that we're the future of extraterrestrial life (speculation about Thursday notwithstanding).

    2. Re:Ranging from proof of life to first contact? by burisch_research · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Lol you think our backwards Earthican gummints would let on if a GCU pitched up? No, SC would have to poll the populace ...

      --
      char*f="char*f=%c%s%c;main(){printf(f,34,f,34);}";main(){printf(f,34,f,34);}
    3. Re:Ranging from proof of life to first contact? by Chris+Burke · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Since the announcement of the press conference says that the finding will impact the "search for evidence of extraterrestrial life," chances are they've found some potential signature of a metabolic process.

      Hmmm... taking what you said about the lack of the Cassini project lead to heart, and noting a lack of anyone attached to any particular observatory project in that list... Is it possible that the announcement won't actually be about a particular astronomical observation at all?

      Could it be that these scientists have discovered a plausible biological reaction which could take place in different extraterrestrial environments that simply gives them something new to look for in the future? That would count as an astrobiological finding, and would certainly impact the search for evidence of life.

      But would be liable to be even more disappointing to many people. :)

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  2. they found that the astrobiology budget was cut by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    they found that the astrobiology budget was cut

  3. Re:ya? by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    NASA Administrator: We're putting a man on Mars!
    Reporter: When?
    NASA Administrator: 2055!
    Reporter: Long after your administration is gone and no longer around to be held accountable for any long-forgotten promises?
    NASA Administrator Yep!
    Reporter: What if 2055 comes along and we're no closer then to Mars than now?
    NASA Administrator: Well, you'll have to ask the NASA administrator about it then.
    Reporter: What if you're still alive and we ask you?
    NASA Administrator: I'll blame him.
    Reporter: Do you have anything to offer besides vague promises today?
    NASA Administrator: I have this cool animation.
    Reporter: Ooh, pretty.
    NASA Administrator: In conclusion, keep giving us money.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  4. I wonder if it's big enough to. . . by Fantastic+Lad · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I wonder if this will be big enough news to distract people from the scandals arising from the Wikileaks thing.

    Also, look for Octo-Moms to lead police on high-speed chases in Black SUVs over the coming days. Down a well.

    -FL