Prof HAWTIN'S POPULAR SCIENCE THREAD

RvZ wrote:I'm sure everyone has noticed but the entire interweb is awash with such stuff after the Batbomber.

Let's not pass on an opportunity for mass hysteria on the internet

Haha....brilliant Tim!

New Mars mission touches down 6th Aug!

Sherrers wrote:New Mars mission touches down 6th Aug!

TOUCH DOWN!!

I'd have thought they'd have colour pictures.

Son of Nod wrote:

Sherrers wrote:New Mars mission touches down 6th Aug!

TOUCH DOWN!!

I'd have thought they'd have colour pictures.

They will follow impatient NOD.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19144464

they have pics

Bishop wrote:

Son of Nod wrote:

Sherrers wrote:New Mars mission touches down 6th Aug!

TOUCH DOWN!!

I'd have thought they'd have colour pictures.

They will follow impatient NOD.

I never even usually read this thread so that tells you how interested I generally am in science, but can anyone tell me the reason for this exploration? And the cost too?

TO DO IT PROPER THIS TIME!

Broadhead wrote:I never even usually read this thread so that tells you how interested I generally am in science, but can anyone tell me the reason for this exploration? And the cost too?

I was thinking just the same.

sounds a bit like you lads have already made your minds up

Not at all, i just don't get it

All science is related. LIke any advance in maths reflects in all the sciences. So anything they achieve (like actually getting there) can have applications.

Apart from the mechanical stuff the work on geology and cosmology is massive. Any evidence they find of bacterial life will advance not only biology and medicine but also our understanding of Earth. Everything about it. Imagine being the only person in the world. Omega man. How can you effectively know anything about being human knowing only yourself?

Bottom line is do you really think NASA and the companies backing it are doing it just for PR? Everything about it from the materials being used to the software tracking it has massive impact on your daily consumer existence right now and even bigger impact on your kid's future.

You bloody flat-earth-faced-dino-denying-creationist nits

I expect ITN will do a report with "Life on Mars" playing in the background. Shit cunts.

Sherrers wrote:
You bloody flat-earth-faced-dino-denying-creationist nits

need a science update

FROM THE NASA SITE

Curiosity's First Color Image of the Martian Landscape
This view of the landscape to the north of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity was acquired by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on the afternoon of the first day after landing. (The team calls this day Sol 1, which is the first Martian day of operations; Sol 1 began on Aug. 6, 2012.)

In the distance, the image shows the north wall and rim of Gale Crater. The image is murky because the MAHLI's removable dust cover is apparently coated with dust blown onto the camera during the rover's terminal descent. Images taken without the dust cover in place are expected during checkout of the robotic arm in coming weeks.

The MAHLI is located on the turret at the end of Curiosity's robotic arm. At the time the MAHLI Sol 1 image was acquired, the robotic arm was in its stowed position. It has been stowed since the rover was packaged for its Nov. 26, 2011, launch.

The MAHLI has a transparent dust cover. This image was acquired with the dust cover closed. The cover will not be opened until more than a week after the landing.

When the robotic arm, turret, and MAHLI are stowed, the MAHLI is in a position that is rotated 30 degrees relative to the rover deck. The MAHLI image shown here has been rotated to correct for that tilt, so that the sky is "up" and the ground is "down".

When the robotic arm, turret, and MAHLI are stowed, the MAHLI is looking out from the front left side of the rover. This is much like the view from the driver's side of cars sold in the USA.

The main purpose of Curiosity's MAHLI camera is to acquire close-up, high-resolution views of rocks and soil at the rover's Gale Crater field site. The camera is capable of focusing on any target at distances of about 0.8 inch (2.1 centimeters) to infinity. This means it can, as shown here, also obtain pictures of the Martian landscape.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems

That is amazing. I love this stuff.

AYE! more!

Sunrise on Mars......


Amazing!

oooh good pic Nod!

Nice one Noddy

Son of Nod wrote:Sunrise on Mars......


Amazing!

Love this picture.

Latest picture from Curiosity.

Sunrise pic is the biz Nod.

Definitely a WOW moment seeing that pic....and every time you look at it.