Here Comes the Mini-Sun

The Sun is now in the quietest phase of its 11-year activity cycle, the solar minimum – in fact, it has been unusually quiet this year – with over 200 days so far with no observed sunspots. The solar wind has also dropped to its lowest levels in 50 years. Scientists are unsure of the significance of this unusual calm, but are continually monitoring our closest star with an array of telescopes and satellites.
more HERE

Wood On Mars?

An image sent back from the Red Planet has revealed an object bearing an uncanny resemblance to a wooden log. It was captured by the Mars Rover near the Endurance Crater.
The find has excited conspiracy theorists on blogs and websites who claim it is evidence there are vast forests on Mars that have been kept from the public.
It is more likely to be a case of pareidolia – where a random stimulus is perceived as having significance, be it a symbol seen in a cloud or a face on a piece of toast.
Scientists theorize the phenomenon occurs because humans are hardwired to recognise familiar objects as a survival technique.
more HERE

Astronauts Busy Collecting Urine

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — With just two more days together, the astronauts of the linked space shuttle and space station busily collected as many recycled urine samples as possible from a machine that they coaxed into operation.The device for turning urine into drinking water — a critical part of the space station’s new water recycling system
more HERE

Lost in Space

The briefcase-sized tool bag drifted away from astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper on Tuesday as she cleaned and lubed a gummed-up joint on a wing of solar panels on the space station. She and fellow astronaut Stephen Bowen were midway through the first of four spacewalks planned for the mission. The tool bag was one of the largest items ever lost by a spacewalker.
more HERE

Space Station Astronauts to Drink Urine

NASA plans to double the size of the space station crew from three members to six next year. The shuttle carries two new sleeping compartments and a water recycling system that will enable the crew to purify urine and other wastewater for drinking.
“We did blind taste tests of the water,” said NASA’s system’s lead engineer. “Nobody had any strong objections. Other than a faint taste of iodine, it is just as refreshing as any other kind of water.”I’ve got some in my fridge,” he added. “It tastes fine to me.”
more HERE

Mar’s Probe Ends Mission

Nasa says its Phoenix lander on the surface of Mars has gone silent and is almost certainly dead.
BBC report is HERE