NASA and the Navajo Nation Project Hosts Teacher Workshop

Leroy Nelson and Scott Sandford take questions about both science and culture; The inter-cultural team facilitates educators learning the classroom activities.

On January 28-29, 2010, the “NASA and the Navajo Nation” project team hosted a large-scale workshop for educators across the Navajo Nation. Over 100 teachers participated, despite the worst snow storm in 25 years, some traveling hours through severe conditions. On the first day, the teachers heard background lectures from both a cultural expert and an astrobiologist, Scott Sandford from NASA Ames Research Center. On the second day, the team trained teachers on classroom use of the six activities in the So’ Baa Hane’ booklet, inter-cultural materials developed by the project in 2006. ...

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February 3, 2010 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice

IceBite Blog: Saying Farewell to a Frozen World

NASA’s IceBite team recently returned from their first field season in Antarctica, where they installed scientific probes in the ice and scouted for sites to test drills for future Mars missions. In this installment of her blog, Margarita Marinova, describes a grueling hike to valleys near the team’s outpost, and reflects on her return to civilization.

The Astrobiology Magazine is providing a direct link to scientists on the IceBite team, where readers can ask questions about the science being conducted in Antarctica.

Source: [astrobio.net]

February 2, 2010 / Written by: Margarita Marinova

IceBite Blog: Living in a Freezer

NASA’s IceBite team recently returned from their first field season in Antarctica. In this installment of blog entries, Margarita Marinova discusses what it’s like to live and work in such a harsh environment. As she explains, being an astrobiolgist means performing scientific research in some of Earth’s most remote and unique locations.

The Astrobiology Magazine is providing a direct link to scientists on the IceBite team, where readers can ask questions about the science being conducted in Antarctica.

Source: [astrobio.net]

January 28, 2010 / Written by: Margarita Marinova

Studying Titan’s Lakes on Earth

Saturn’s moon Titan is the only other object in the solar system known to have liquid on its surface. However, with temperatures as low as -179°C, these lakes are definitely not filled with water.

Titan’s hydrocarbon lakes are poorly understood, but a NASA-supported project hopes to gain a better understanding of their properties by replicating the surface of Titan in a lab. The research could also yield clues about the chemistry that led to the origin of life on Earth.

Source: [astrobio.net]

January 28, 2010 / Written by: Michael Schirber

IceBite Blog: University Valley

NASA’s IceBite team recently returned from their first field season in Antarctica. In this third set of blog entries by team member Margarita Marinova, she discusses the team’s recent trip to the extremely dry and cold environment of Antarctica’s University Valley.

Currently, the Astrobiology Magazine is providing a direct link to scientists on the IceBite team, where readers can ask questions about the science being conducted in Antarctica.

Source: [astrobio.net]

January 19, 2010 / Posted by: Aaron Gronstal

NAI Scientist Delivers Sagan Lecture at AGU

Tori Hoehler of NAI’s NASA Ames Research Center team had the honor of delivering the Carl Sagan Lecture this past December at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. This lecture is given at the Fall Meeting every year and features a prominent speaker addressing issues in Astrobiology and the development of life on Earth.

Source: [AGU]

January 15, 2010 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice

Astrobiology Opens Pandora's Box

Lisa Kaltenegger from NAI’s MIT team discusses exoplanets and science fiction with CNN World, noting that it’s likely many moons such as Avatar’s Pandora exist, and we’re that much closer to finding them with NASA’s Kepler mission.

Source: [CNN World]

January 11, 2010 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice