A Smart Low-Power Meteorological System

A new low-power instrument to measure meteorological parameters has been developed. The instrument is based on an intelligent data cruncher concept: Fast sensor data rates are stored and process to yield a variety of answers for each parameter, at slower data rates, as appropriate. Special methods are used to achieve these results with an average current drain of under one mA, including sensors. Sampling rates and processing algorithms are designed to correct for swaying ocean-deployed buoys. A modular approach to design allows many types of sensors to be accommodated and permits data dissemination to a variety of destinations; data is available for real-time transmission or for internal archiving. The Weather Station's high-capacity internal data storage system, coupled with its fast data acquisition rates, enable the instrument to be used for air turbulence measurements.     

Can CO2 help harvest minerals on Mars?

When astronauts first go to Mars, it will be difficult for them to bring everything they need to survive. Even the first tentative explorations could last as long as two years. However, spaceships can carry only limited supplies. "We might have to do what explorers have done for ages: live off the land," says chemical engineer Ken Debelak of Vanderbilt University. It is a meager atmosphere, compared to Earth's, and it is about 95% carbon dioxide. This, however, turns out to be an advantage. The CO2, says Debelak, can be used to harvest almost everything else.     

Microbial life in a liquid asphalt desert

Pitch Lake in Trinidad and Tobago is a natural asphalt reservoir nourished by pitch seepage, a form of petroleum that consists of mostly asphaltines, from the surrounding oil-rich region. During upward seepage, pitch mixes with mud and gases under high pressure, and the lighter portion evaporates or is volatilized, which produces a liquid asphalt residue characterized by low water activity, recalcitrant carbon substrates, and noxious chemical compounds. An active microbial community of archaea and bacteria, many of them novel strains (particularly from the new Tar ARC groups), totaling a biomass of up to 10(7) cells per gram, was found to inhabit the liquid hydrocarbon matrix of Pitch Lake. Geochemical and molecular taxonomic approaches revealed diverse, novel, and deeply branching microbial lineages with the potential to mediate anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation processes in different parts of the asphalt column. In addition, we found markers for archaeal methane metabolism and specific gene sequences affiliated with facultative and obligate anaerobic sulfur- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. The microbial diversity at Pitch Lake was found to be unique when compared to microbial communities analyzed at other hydrocarbon-rich environments, which included Rancho Le Brea, a natural asphalt environment in California, USA, and an oil well and a mud volcano in Trinidad and Tobago, among other sites. These results open a window into the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of recalcitrant hydrocarbon matrices and establish the site as a terrestrial analogue for modeling the biotic potential of hydrocarbon lakes such as those found on Saturn's largest moon Titan.     

The cepheid luminosity scale

Conclusions The discrepancy between the luminosity scale for Cepheids derived from the intermediate band photometry and the presently accepted scale requires further investigation. We have discussed various factors which might affect the previous work and which might affect the present method but we are unable at this time to provide a definite explanation. However, since there is no obvious problem with the intermediate band photometry we should give serious consideration to the possibility that the Cepheid luminosity scale might require some revision.     

X-ray binaries and stellar evolution

Observational evidence suggests that most — if not all — binary X-ray sources are neutron stars. The evolutionary status and possible formation mechanisms of the type I (massive) and type II (low-mass) X-ray binaries are discussed. The difference between the standard massive X-ray binaries and the Be/X-ray binaries is ascribed to a somewhat different evolutionary history and status, and possible reasons for the existence of short- and long — period X-ray pulsars are discussed. Type II X-ray sources in globular clusters were most probably formed by capture processes; their formation rate inferred from the observations indicates that only a small fraction ( 1 to 10 percent) of the originally formed neutron stars have remained in their clusters. Type II sources in the galactic bulge may also have formed from cataclysmic binaries in which a white dwarf was driven over the Chandrasekhar limit by accretion.     

Journey across the disciplines: a foundation for scientific communication in bioastronomy

As an increasing number of fascinating discoveries within the realm of bioastronomy appear in media headlines, participating scientists continue to pursue ways of insuring the long-term success of the scientific discipline. In an effort to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, communication, and training for scientists involved in bioastronomy research, a team of scientists and science education professionals have developed a survey to assess (1) the degree to which scientists in bioastronomy define themselves as interdisciplinary scientists, (2) the extent to which scientists identify their needs for professional development opportunities to become more effective interdisciplinary collaborators, and (3) what services and infrastructure the bioastronomy community needs to develop for long-term productive interdisciplinary communication, collaboration, research and training. The results of a survey, distributed at the 2004 Astrobiology Science Conference (held at Moffett Field, CA), serve the bioastronomy science community by providing a sound research baseline that informs decisions and targeted efforts to increase cross-disciplinary communication, gathering information about needed professional development opportunities for scientists, and generating insights for training of the next generation of astrobiologists. Results indicate that members of the community feel that interdisciplinary communication and collaboration can best be supported by (1) increased funding opportunities, (2) scheduled time for collaboration at professional meetings, (3) reduction of concurrent sessions at professional meetings, and (4) creation of professional development opportunities for scientists.