Is the presence of oxygen on an exoplanet a reliable biosignature?

We revisit the validity of the presence of O(2) or O(3) in the atmosphere of a rocky planet as being a biosignature. Up to now, the false positive that has been identified applies to a planet during a hot greenhouse runaway, which is restricted to planets outside the habitable zone (HZ) of the star that are closer to the star. In this paper, we explore a new possibility based on abiotic photogeneration of O(2) at the surface of a planet that could occur inside the HZ. The search for such a process is an active field of laboratory investigation that has resulted from an ongoing interest in finding efficient systems with the capacity to harvest solar energy on Earth. Although such a process is energetically viable, we find it to be a very unlikely explanation for the observation of O(2) or O(3) in the atmosphere of a telluric exoplanet in the HZ. It requires an efficient photocatalyst to be present and abundant under natural planetary conditions, which appears unlikely according to our discussion of known mineral photochemical processes. In contrast, a biological system that synthesizes its constituents from abundant raw materials and energy has the inherent adaptation advantage to become widespread and dominant (Darwinist argument). Thus, O(2) appears to continue to be a good biosignature.     

火箭发动机推力瞬变的测量

任何测力装置都能用一个质量弹簧系统来描述,最简单地说:即通过一个具有刚度 K 和质量 M 的简单弹簧来描述,其中它的阻尼为 c,位移为 x,于是有M(d~2x/dt~2) c(dx/dt) kx=T,这里 T 为外加力。而大多数系统只测量 kx 项,这对低频情况是足够的。为了精确地记录推力的变化,从而要提高装置的固有频率,使之相对于推力变化的频率来说足够高,有时这是不现实的。为克服这一困难有两种可采用的途径。第一种方法是把运动方程的所有项合并到远远超过装置的固有频率所给定外力上。第二种方法是一个质量块在沿轴向作用的轴承上被发动机自由加速,加速度计给出推力/时间曲线。通过使质量块停止所需要的力对所预定时间内的积分而得到总冲。     

Searching for life on Mars: selection of molecular targets for ESA's aurora ExoMars mission

The European Space Agency's ExoMars mission will seek evidence of organic compounds of biological and non-biological origin at the martian surface. One of the instruments in the Pasteur payload may be a Life Marker Chip that utilizes an immunoassay approach to detect specific organic molecules or classes of molecules. Therefore, it is necessary to define and prioritize specific molecular targets for antibody development. Target compounds have been selected to represent meteoritic input, fossil organic matter, extant (living, recently dead) organic matter, and contamination. Once organic molecules are detected on Mars, further information is likely to derive from the detailed distribution of compounds rather than from single molecular identification. This will include concentration gradients beneath the surface and gradients from generic to specific compounds. The choice of biomarkers is informed by terrestrial biology but is wide ranging, and nonterrestrial biology may be evident from unexpected molecular distributions. One of the most important requirements is to sample where irradiation and oxidation are minimized, either by drilling or by using naturally excavated exposures. Analyzing regolith samples will allow for the search of both extant and fossil biomarkers, but sequential extraction would be required to optimize the analysis of each of these in turn.     

Microbial survival rates of Escherichia coli and Deinococcus radiodurans under low temperature, low pressure, and UV-Irradiation conditions, and their relevance to possible Martian life

Viability rates were determined for microbial populations of Escherichia coli and Deinococcus radiodurans under the environmental stresses of low temperature (-35 degrees C), low-pressure conditions (83.3 kPa), and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (37 W/m(2)). During the stress tests the organisms were suspended in saltwater soil and freshwater soil media, at variable burial depths, and in seawater. Microbial populations of both organisms were most susceptible to dehydration stress associated with low-pressure conditions, and to UV irradiation. However, suspension in a liquid water medium and burial at larger depths (5 cm) improved survival rates markedly. Our results indicate that planetary surfaces that possess little to no atmosphere and have low water availability do not constitute a favorable environment for terrestrial microorganisms.     

失落了的文明

在气候炎热的危地马拉丛林中,一群人在血红色的大金字塔下站了好几个小时.他们一动不动.所有的目光都集中在塔顶的石刻上.在那儿,国王的头上佩带着翎毛,一手持一柄双首鳄节杖,正要从留有祖先信息的神堂中现身而出.这群人虽然看不到国王的动态、却懂得这种宗教仪式的奥秘:通过服用致幻药飘飘然地进入阴间.国王会使用黑曜岩刀片或鱼脊骨,刺穿他自己的阴茎.随即掏出一根绳子穿过伤口,让血液沥到几张树皮纸上.然后他拿起带血的树皮纸将它点燃,从缕缕上升的烟雾中金蛇飞舞的幻象便呈现在国王的面前.     

实时显示生成器

实时显示生成器(RTDB)是一种生成逻辑驱动显示的交互式图形工具样机。这些显示反映了当前系统状态,实时完成故障检测算法,采纳老练飞控人员的操作知识。该RTDB采用面向目标的方法,将基本操作逻辑和显示符号结合起来。要生成显示时,用户利用这种方法可规定屏幕布局和驱动逻辑。RTDB正在UNLX下用C语言开发,利用了MASSCOMP图形环境,作了适当的功能划分,以便于移植到其它图形环境。RTDB是为用户化实时数据驱动的航天飞机系统显示而开发的。使用该工具初始功能度的显示在STS—26发现者号轨道运行阶段投入了实用。目前正在NASA/JSC任务操作部开发的实时数据系统工程准备利用RTDB产生几种显示。本文介绍了这种工具的特点、目前的发展状况及其应用。     

非洲:生命源头的秘密(下)

直立人是极为成功的流动群体,事实上,他们的旅行十分顺利,人们最初发现的直立人化石距离他们原来的非洲家园有好几千公里.在19世纪90年代,尤基尼·多布尔斯,一位富于冒险精神的荷兰物理学家,他加入了荷兰军队以此为藉口到达了荷兰属的东印度群岛(即现在的印度尼西亚).多布尔斯同意查理·达尔文的理论,认为早期人类与大猿有着密切的联系.因为在东印度群岛上有猩猩存在,所以多布尔斯认为这里可能拥有“丢失链”的化石.     

跟踪与数据中继卫星系统的性能

一、引言 自60年代初,NASA就组建和操作一个为近地轨道卫星服务的跟踪和数据获取网。TDRSS是一个新测控网,为目前和直到2000年的预期卫星任务服务。该网利用了已经验证的空间和地面系统有关技术构成一个全新的测控站,只是其前端设备置于地球同步轨道上。尽量采用了自动化技术,使系统设置到数据采集以及整个跟踪期间的通信几乎都不需要人操作。     

数字滤波器的一般原理和靶场现用滤波器的述评

本文阐述了靶场司令委员会成员靶场广泛采用的几种数字滤波器，介绍了这些滤波器的基本原理，以及用于某些数据处理的滤波器设计技术。     

Adaptational changes in the neural control of cardiorespiratory function in a confined environment: the CNEC#3 experiment

The goal of the study was to characterize the changes in neurovegetative control of the circulation, attending the presumed physiological and psychological stress originated by the isolation and confinement typical of the living condition of space stations, as simulated in a ground based unit, using time and frequency domain analysis. As a secondary goal we sought to verify the implementation of real time data acquisition, for off line spectral analisys of R-R interval, systolic arterial pressure (by Finapres) and respiration (by PVF2 piezoelectric sensors).

We addressed the cardiorespiratory and neurovegetative responses to standardized, simple Stressors (active standing, dynamic and static handgrip) on the EXEMSI 92 crew, before, during and after the isolation period.

On average the appropriate excitatory responses (to stand, dynamic and static handgrip) were elicited also in isolation and confinement.

Active standing and small masses muscular exercises are easy to be performed in a confined and isolated environment and provide a valuable tool for investigating the adaptational changes in neural control mechanisms.

The possibility there exists of using this time and frequency domain approach to monitor the level of performance and well being of the space crew in (quasi) real time.