Fascinating scientific stuff

[Cosimah2o]

A Noah's Ark launches into Space !​

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The rocket carried the Bion-M1 space capsule, which is filled with enclosures for 45 mice, 8 Mongolian gerbils, 15 geckos and numerous other species. They are expected to spend a month in orbit, flying 357 miles (575 kilometers) above Earth while scientists on the ground monitor the health of the capsule's passengers .

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[Meadow337]

Are they flipping well going to treat these animals with a bit more respect than they have in the past?

The wonder of the space program worldwide is entirely marred by its callous disregard for its animal test subjects.

 

[Meadow337]

"They will study the effects of space travel on multiple tissues, such as blood vessels, spine, knee and elbow joints and the gravity-sensing structures of the inner ear," Rayl said.

Right so would I be correct in surmising that the only reason they are going to the expense of returning these animals to earth is to kill them and cut them up in the name of science?

Sometimes people disgust me.

I should have waited to read to the end of the article. I surmised 100% correctly

The animals will be euthanized for scientists to finish conducting their research, which could provide insights helpful for future human expeditions to Mars and other deep space destinations, according to Roscosmos.

 

[Cosimah2o]

I also disagree with Nicole Rayl's explanations, above all when she tried to justify the BION mission .

One of the NASA experiments focuses on how microgravity and radiation affect sperm motility in mice. If humans are going to visit other planets on long flights, Rayl said, it's important to understand if people will be able to procreate from sex in space. Some missions could take decades, so space-based reproduction could be a necessity .

 

[Meadow337]

and they can't shove some sperm in a test tube and watch how it reacts?

or ask astronauts to donate some before and after missions?

 

[Polly Parrot]

I guess the sperm won't stay alive long enough inside a test tube to be able to get any useful / reliable results.

Not saying I like the idea of using mice.

 

[Cosimah2o]

Maybe, we should write to Nicole Rayl ...

 

[Meadow337]

that occurred to me as well hence suggestion re astronauts. then they are studying the real deal

 

[Meadow337]

Maybe, we should write to Nicole Rayl ...

somehow I suspect that its too late, and they won't pay much attention.

 

[Occlith]

Strange Clouds

They hover on the edge of space. Thin, wispy clouds, glowing electric blue. Some scientists think they're seeded by space dust. Others suspect they're a telltale sign of global warming. They're called noctilucent or "night-shining" clouds (NLCs).

Noctilucent Clouds Get an Early Start

News flash: This year, NLCs are getting an early start. NASA's AIM spacecraft, which is orbiting Earth on a mission to study noctilucent clouds, started seeing them on May 13th.

 

[Meadow337]

oh my word isn't that beautiful

 

[beer good]

http://io9.com/5929076/what-if-we-had-a-planet-instead-of-a-moon

 

[Meadow337]

I think I like our silly old moon, even if it isn't the only one we have had. I can't remember the others though

 

[beer good]

I think I like our silly old moon, even if it isn't the only one we have had. I can't remember the others though

...and then...

 

[beer good]

More news from the buried underground lake in Antartctica: teeming with life, apparently. No official word on the city of R'lyeh as of yet, but we're so very very screwed.

 

[Occlith]

New Big-Nosed Horned Dinosaur Found in Utah

Paleontologists have discovered a new dinosaur, a Triceratops relative with a supersize schnoz that once roamed present-day Utah. Nasutoceratops titusi belonged to a group of horned dinosaurs called ceratopsids

 

[beer good]

^^ Neat.

As is this: 47,000-year-old piece of jewelry found

The kicker? It seems to have been made by neanderthals. If that's correct, it's the first piece of art* ever found that wasn't made by a member of Homo Sapiens Sapiens.

* Not counting "paintings" made by chimps and elephants in captivity and the like.

 

[sparkchaser]

Whoah.

 

[753C]

More news from the buried underground lake in Antartctica: teeming with life, apparently. No official word on the city of R'lyeh as of yet, but we're so very very screwed.

I heard there is a crack team of redneck Michigan ice fisherman headed up there to try and catch an ichtyosaurus.

 

[sparkchaser]

Eight-ton orca leaps 15ft into the air to finally capture dolphin he wanted for dinner after two-hour chase