Mars gets more interesting

Some of you know that our first Educational Holodeck mission (http://www.tcse-k12.org) involves the exploration of Mars in search of life.  A recent discovery by NASA lends increasing support to the idea that possible microbial life existed in Mars in the past (and may still exist today.)

The Opportunity Rover recently discovered a band of gypsum (the stuff of dry-wall fame) that indicates that there was once running water on the surface of Mars – and that the water was likely to be sweet, not acidic, meaning it could support life as we know it (http://1.usa.gov/uR1VZC).

Found with the Opportunity Rover

With discoveries like this, can proof of extraterrestrial life be nearby?

Sounds from space

OK, I know that sound doesn’t travel in the vacuum of space, but that doesn’t keep the science fiction shows from being filled with “space noises.”  And, in fact, many NASA missions have plenty of sounds associated with them.  NASA’s site (http://www.nasa.gov/connect/sounds/) has a wonderful collection of sounds associated with many missions.  These can be used for everything from ring tones on your cell phone to sound effects in various “missions” of your own you might create.  For example, I plan on using some of these in some of the missions we are creating for our Educational Holodeck (see http://www.tcse-k12.org for details)

I usually associate NASA’s site with the amazing images they have available for download – images that stretch to the edge of space and time.  And, to be sure, images are not only beautiful representations of scientific information, they can function as motivators to get young people interested in STEM subjects.  I think it is possible that when these images are coupled with relevant sounds, the impact can be magnified.

In any case, enjoy the sounds – and if I call your cell, I hope you set my ring tone to the Sputnik beep!