ah, the Mars Opposition. I remember those days.. waiting in the trenches on Phobos, shotty at the ready.. the moment I saw that Cyberdemon, I knew I had to get the hell outta Dodge. #mars
@geekgrrl: So you're the one who ran. the entire flank rolled up that night, and we lost the 3rd and the 4th. I still lie awake at night, screaming. #mars
So funny that it was Amherst College that did this. Though considering that we now have an Extraterrestrial Studies course at Hampshire, maybe they should hand us over the reins the next time Mars comes back. #mars
@GreyHammer: Its the best way to communicate with a race that is determined not to take Global Warming, economic depression and pollution for an answer. Next thing will be giving humanity messages via our iPhones. There really is an app for everything. #mars
@GreyHammer: Considering how prevalent electromagnetic radiation is across the universe, it's not a crazy assumption. And radio frequencies are a pretty good subset of the spectrum (easy to make, low power, good permeability, etc). Of all of the things we assume other life will be like us, I think this as a mode of long-range communication is a pretty safe assumption. #mars
Hi. I know next to nothing about Astronomy and whatnot.
How the hell did they find sugar on a planet 26,000 light years from Earth? Wouldn't you actually have to have a sample of something to determine what it is? Someone help me out here.
@Mathmos: Ok, layperson attempting a definition here.
Using spectroscopy means the light passing through or reflected off a particular substance can be analyzed by its color. Right?
So how much of this molecule have they found; Is there a huge sugary cloud out there or traces in some nebula or a Jovian-type planet's atmosphere? Could it be a single candy bar melting on an alien windowsill?
Curious dropouts like myself would be very appreciative of any gleaned knowledge.
Really. This sort of science is ultimately only supported by the fact we can't prove it, so may as well go along with it. Sure, sugar, why not. In ten thousand years when we go there and find it was actually salt, or crystals, or Ted Danson in a tricorn hat, then we know we were wrong.
@Indigen: This is why Hard-SF-only fans rag on the rest of us dopes. The science is real, it works. We just have to stop being lazy and do a bit of research.
@Grey_Area: Hear, hear! And it really isn't that inaccessible or impenetrable. There are zillions of good books written for the general public that explain even the most abstract and remote discoveries that science is making every day.
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11/26/08
Cool. Can I eat them?
11/26/08
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11/26/08
How the hell did they find sugar on a planet 26,000 light years from Earth? Wouldn't you actually have to have a sample of something to determine what it is? Someone help me out here.
11/26/08
11/26/08
Using spectroscopy means the light passing through or reflected off a particular substance can be analyzed by its color. Right?
So how much of this molecule have they found; Is there a huge sugary cloud out there or traces in some nebula or a Jovian-type planet's atmosphere? Could it be a single candy bar melting on an alien windowsill?
Curious dropouts like myself would be very appreciative of any gleaned knowledge.
11/26/08
Really. This sort of science is ultimately only supported by the fact we can't prove it, so may as well go along with it. Sure, sugar, why not. In ten thousand years when we go there and find it was actually salt, or crystals, or Ted Danson in a tricorn hat, then we know we were wrong.
11/26/08
11/26/08
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11/26/08
So can they tell how much of this sugar is out there and narrow down the location or is it one of those light cone things?
11/26/08