Science Tidbits #5

[scottydog]

And sadly I have to report that my prediction that we'd find alien life by 2020 didn't come true.

I think we've already found it and it's in the White House.

[Lupine]

^That's an insult to aliens.

[RJDiogenes]

And the excuse they've been looking for to INVADE!

[scottydog]

Invasion and enslavement by an alien race might not be a bad alternative to the status quo

I think aliens know we will self-destruct and are just biding their time until they take over the charred remains of our planet.

[Lupine]

There's been talk lately about Betelguese going Nova
The consensus is probably not, but it would be a sight to see.

[RJDiogenes]

Er... I agree.

Oooh, I want to see this.

Meanwhile, life imitates The Outer Limits.

[scottydog]

^ The Corpse Flower? Just when you think you've seen (or smelled) everything

[Lupine]

Er... I agree.

Oooh, I want to see this.

Oops. Missed that.

[RJDiogenes]

As long as we don't miss it when it explodes.

[huggle]

it seems to be a pretty standard cometary body so far, except that it comes from some alien Solar System, but who knows what might pop out of it and invade us?

[Lupine]

^
But that's only if it came from Mars.

[RJDiogenes]

Oh, I love his sweater!

[Lupine]

NASA has found Earth 2!*







*Meaning it's 20% larger and a bit of a sun-grazer.

[RJDiogenes]

I saw this on CNN today, but this article is more detailed. I was thinking that this is about the tenth time they've found the first Earth-like planet, but they're talking specifically about TESS.

But this looks really promising, although the stats raise a lot of questions. If it receives 86% of the solar energy that Earth receives, that implies that it's kind of chilly-- but if the star is a Red Dwarf then that energy is probably more weighted toward the infra-red, which may compensate. I also wonder what the apparent diameter of the star and the other two planets are from the surface. It sounds like the mini-Neptune would cause a solar eclipse every month or so. I also wonder how the proximity of a gas giant would effect the tidal locking. The place would have a very interesting sky, in any case.

[scottydog]

^ Plus, doesn't one side of this planet always face the sun? That side might be too hot and the other perpetually dark side might be too cold. I can imagine people living in the Goldilocks zone near the edge of the dark side.