Lynn Margulis (Nature)
Lynn Margulis died, November 23, 2011. She is the scientist who proposed that mitochondria and chloroplasts started out as bacteria that became internal symbiotes in larger cells, and eventually became parts of those cells. The theory took a lot of effort to sell, but it is now mainstream. She also proposed that new species and larger groups of life originate from rare, radical hybridizations. E.g., butterflies really are descended from a fly-like bug crossed with a worm-like bug. So far, this theory has not been accepted widely, but then who knows?
Skywatch - New Hampshire Astronomical Society
The next Skywatch is for 3rd graders, at the Maple Wood School in Somersworth, Tuesday, 6:30 - 8:00.
"Curiosity" launch (Nature)
The Curiosity probe launched for Mars this Saturday, scheduled to arrive in nine months. It is supposed to land in a crater with geological signs of recent water activity, in another bid to check Mars for signs of life, past or present. That's when the Martian Mole People can drag it underground and take it apart.
Slower warming (Science Daily)
A standard measure of how much global warming there would be, according to one theory or another, is how much warming you'd get by doubling the carbon dioxide. A new study suggests that the warming from doubling would be less than the worst estimates, and maybe even not as bad as the warming projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in 2007. The IPCC report predicted about 3 degrees from doubling CO2 from pre-industrial standards. The worst predictions were for as much as 10 degrees warmer. The new study, which is based on studies of climate history rather than a climate model, and has less uncertainty in its estimates, predicts 2.4 degrees.
Comments