beecee

Depending on precision and tolerances, anything from a simple pair of outside calipers, to a microscope and up to Vernier calipers for greatest precision.

Any expert commentary to fully explain the following papers to me welcome and of course encouraged.........I certainly have heard about the "Miller/Urey experiment, mostly that it was inconclusive? What do the following papers say about that result, in simple language? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26508401 Chemical Analysis of a "Miller-Type" Complex Prebiotic Broth: Part I: Chemical Diversity, Oxygen and Nitrogen Based Polymers. Abstract: In a famous experiment Stanley Miller showed that a large number of organic substances can emerge from sparking a mixture of methane, ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of water (Miller, Science 117:528-529, 1953). Among these substances Miller identified different amino acids, and he concluded that prebiotic events may well have produced many of Life's molecular building blocks. There have been many variants of the original experiment since, including different gas mixtures (Miller, J Am Chem Soc 77:2351-2361, 1955; Oró Nature 197:862-867, 1963; Schlesinger and Miller, J Mol Evol 19:376-382, 1983; Miyakawa et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci 99:14,628-14,631, 2002). Recently some of Miller's remaining original samples were analyzed with modern equipment (Johnson et al. Science 322:404-404, 2008; Parker et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci 108:5526-5531, 2011) and a total of 23 racemic amino acids were identified. To give an overview of the chemical variety of a possible prebiotic broth, here we analyze a "Miller type" experiment using state of the art mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. We identify substances of a wide range of saturation, which can be hydrophilic, hydrophobic or amphiphilic in nature. Often the molecules contain heteroatoms, with amines and amides being prominent classes of molecule. In some samples we detect ethylene glycol based polymers. Their formation in water requires the presence of a catalyst. Contrary to expectations, we cannot identify any preferred reaction product. The capacity to spontaneously produce this extremely high degree of molecular variety in a very simple experiment is a remarkable feature of organic chemistry and possibly prerequisite for Life to emerge. It remains a future task to uncover how dedicated, organized chemical reaction pathways may have arisen from this degree of complexity. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5705758/ Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere: Chemical Analysis of a “Miller-Type” Complex Prebiotic Broth: Abstract: We have analyzed the chemical variety obtained by Miller-Urey-type experiments using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy, gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and two-dimensional gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometry (GCxGC/MS). In the course of a running Miller-Urey-type experiment, a hydrophobic organic layer emerged besides the hydrophilic aqueous phase and the gaseous phase that were initially present. The gas phase mainly consisted of aromatic compounds and molecules containing C≡C or C≡N triple bonds. The hydrophilic phase contained at least a few thousands of different molecules, primarily distributed in a range of 50 and 500 Da. The hydrophobic phase is characterized by carbon-rich, oil-like compounds and their amphiphilic derivatives containing oxygen with tensioactive properties. The presence of a wide range of oxidized molecules hints to the availability of oxygen radicals. We suggest that they intervene in the formation of alkylated polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the oil/water interface. CARS spectroscopy revealed distinct vibrational molecular signatures. In particular, characteristic spectral bands for cyanide compounds were observed if the broth was prepared with electric discharges in the gaseous phase. The characteristic spectral bands were absent if discharges were released onto the water surface. NMR spectroscopy on the same set of samples independently confirmed the observation. In addition, NMR spectroscopy revealed overall high chemical variability that suggests strong non-linearities due to interdependent, sequential reaction steps.

I would imagine gravitational waves would affect a BH as they do matter, and that the EH would stretch and elongate as similar to when BH's collide. I'm sure I have seen illustrative diagrams on that but as yet have not found them. Note: BH's and gravitational waves are simply geometry of spacetime.

Thanks muchly et pet my friend.....Too much rush last night... https://phys.org/news/2019-05-sydney-imposes-restrictions-decade.html

Sydney on Tuesday announced its first major water restrictions in a decade, putting limits on homes and businesses amid a record-breaking drought. The New South Wales government said the greater Sydney region water catchments were experiencing some of the lowest flows since the 1940s, and that the restrictions would be enforced from next week. "Regional NSW has been experiencing a record drought," the southeastern state's minister for water Melinda Pavey said in a statement. more at link....

https://phys.org/news/2019-05-compound-antibiotic-resistant-superbugs.html A new compound which visualises and kills antibiotic resistant superbugs has been discovered by scientists at the University of Sheffield and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL). The team, led by Professor Jim Thomas, from the University of Sheffield's Department of Chemistry, is testing new compounds developed by his Ph.D. student Kirsty Smitten on antibiotic resistant gram-negative bacteria, including pathogenic E. coli. more at link....... <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the paper: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.8b08440 Abstract: Medicinal leads that are also compatible with imaging technologies are attractive, as they facilitate the development of therapeutics through direct mechanistic observations at the molecular level. In this context, the uptake and antimicrobial activities of several luminescent dinuclear RuIIcomplexes against E. coli were assessed and compared to results obtained for another ESKAPE pathogen, the Gram-positive major opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecalis, V583. The most promising lead displays potent activity, particularly against the Gram-negative bacteria, and potency is retained in the uropathogenic multidrug resistant EC958 ST131 strain. Exploiting the inherent luminescent properties of this complex, super-resolution STED nanoscopy was used to image its initial localization at/in cellular membranes and its subsequent transfer to the cell poles. Membrane damage assays confirm that the complex disrupts the bacterial membrane structure before internalization. Mammalian cell culture and animal model studies indicate that the complex is not toxic to eukaryotes, even at concentrations that are several orders of magnitude higher than its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Taken together, these results have identified a lead molecular architecture for hard-to-treat, multiresistant, Gram-negative bacteria, which displays activities that are already comparable to optimized natural product-based leads.

That would have added to the process of evaporation of the Oceans presumably. Either way it tells me that any stellar system, and the ability to support life [as we know it] largely can depend on the age of the system. eg: Our own system in 3 billion years, could see Mars probably more attuned to life [possibly again] Then we have the process of planetary migration, although so far the only literature I have read on that process, concerns gaseous giants. Could it also happen with terrestrial planets?

Whatever.... from your own link.......

Interesting. From my position, it was more a realization of the power, logic and sensibility of science, that drove me to want to know more. As that knowledge grew, as the logic of scientific theories and explanations dawned on me, I seemingly unconsciously just accepted the logic of science, the scientific method as far more realistic.

Bingo!!! The obvious alternative as I have been saying all along.

Now you are just being silly. On both counts.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/15/18622884/nasa-moon-artemis-program-bridenstine-congress-money-budget extract: "NASA’s first big hurdle is a political one. Over the next few months, the space agency must sell this initiative to Congress, which controls the government’s budget. Lawmakers may like the idea of putting women on the Moon, but they may not want to raid the budgets of other federal programs to help NASA achieve its goal. Plus, Congress has to buy into NASA’s blueprint for this lunar return mission, and lawmakers will be taking a close look at how the space agency plans to get there". So as yet, certainly not a "faite accompli" with regards to any cancellation as yet. Ambitious, yep certainly, but again, if NASA and the USA want to maintain their undoubted superiority in space exploration, then being ambitious is the way to go. Again also I raise the possibility of an International effort. Wouldn't it be great for humanity to focus on such an endeavour, and the obvious benefits for human kind, not only in returning to the Moon, but the next step after that, then the next, and the next. Look at the incredible benefits that have been forthcoming, with the so far "baby steps" that have been taken, with the limited LEO and robotic probes. While I have seen many arguments that question "why should we go back to the Moon", I have seen none that dispute the fact that in time, "we will go back to the Moon". Wouldn't that be a terrible decision for the US lawmakers to make, based on party politics! I see enough of that crap in my own country of late. Trump maybe a few cents short of a dollar, but that is no reason why politicians of other persuasions should not recognise a good thing when they see it, and not like little school children, spit the dummy and say no just to be contrary. Even if Trump's reasons are not what they should be...that is for the advancement of science and not just personal recognition or self interests. https://www.space.com/nasa-lunar-gateway-start-small.html NASA's Grand Plan for a Lunar Gateway Is to Start Small By Mike Wall 3 days ago The space agency had been targeting 2028 for the first post-Apollo crewed lunar landing. But in March, Vice President Mike Pence announced a newly aggressive timeline, pushing the moon shot up four years. To make sure Gateway is ready to go in 2024, NASA will go first with a scaled-down, bare-bones versionconsisting solely of a Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), scheduled to launch in 2022, and a miniature "utilization module." This first incarnation of Gateway will be able to support two-person missions to the lunar surface, NASA officials have said. more at link...... In the meantime I prefer to remain hopeful and optimistic, in recognising the fact that even if the ambitious 2024 return and the Artemis program falls short, it is simply delaying the inevitable, and also leaving the door open for another power to achieve a return to the Moon.

Whether this is government funded, or privately funded, whether the "accelerated" time frame eventuates or not, will not change the fact that a return to the Moon will in time eventuate.

Whether this is government funded, or privately funded, whether the "accelerated" time frame eventuates or not, will not change the fact that a return to the Moon will in time eventuate.

https://phys.org/news/2019-05-dome-pacific-nuclear-coffin-leaking.html Under the dome: Fears Pacific nuclear 'coffin' is leaking: As nuclear explosions go, the US "Cactus" bomb test in May 1958 was relatively small—but it has left a lasting legacy for the Marshall Islands in a dome-shaped radioactive dump. The dome—described by a UN chief Antonio Guterres as "a kind of coffin"—was built two decades after the blast in the Pacific ocean region. The US military filled the bomb crater on Runit island with radioactive waste, capped it with concrete, and told displaced residents of the Pacific's remote Enewetak atoll they could safely return home. But Runit's 45-centimetre (18-inch) thick concrete dome has now developed cracks. And because the 115-metre wide crater was never lined, there are fears radioactive contaminants are leaching through the island's porous coral rock into the ocean. more at link..... :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: JCAFM! If things were serious enough to build a dome over the top, why not fully lined and the under-side? The mind boggles! Thoughts then must raise what the situation is like at Mururoa atoll and the French tests which finished much later! What a legacy we have left!! This was also where the H bomb, code named "Bravo" the most powerful ever detonated by the USA, was detonated.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-artemis-contract-for-lunar-gateway-power-propulsion May 24, 2019 RELEASE 19-042 NASA Awards Artemis Contract for Lunar Gateway Power, Propulsion: In one of the first steps of the agency’s Artemis lunar exploration plans, NASA announced on Thursday the selection of Maxar Technologies, formerly SSL, in Westminster, Colorado, to develop and demonstrate power, propulsion and communications capabilities for NASA’s lunar Gateway. “The power and propulsion element is the foundation of Gateway and a fine example of how partnerships with U.S. companies can help expedite NASA’s return to the Moon with the first woman and next man by 2024,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “It will be the key component upon which we will build our lunar Gateway outpost, the cornerstone of NASA’s sustainable and reusable Artemis exploration architecture on and around the Moon.” more at link......

The retrograde scenario is mentioned in the article and does suggest an inter-planetary collision. Certainly, tidal forces alone, could not have been the cause of the retrograde motion.

One resignation n does not make invalid or cancelled any NASA plan or proposal. And of course reading his resignation letter, it is obvious that he appears to be a totally motivated and decent human being, interested in doing that which will benefit NASA and keep it at the forefront and world leader in space science and exploration. For that I commend him and wish him the best in his continued endeavour. I'm still though of the opinion that a Lunar return and boots on Mars, should be an International effort. And of course whether the 2024 proposal is a goer or otherwise and whether it succeeds and gets off the ground or not, does in no way, alter plans of NASA or some other private or other government to take up thatchallenge at a later date. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-administrator-makes-artemis-moon-program-announcement On May 23, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced Maxar would build the first segment of NASA’s Gateway outpost – the power and propulsion element (PPE). Gateway will be the lunar orbiting staging point to send astronauts to the Moon’s surface in five years. Last Updated: May 25, 2019 Editor: Yvette Smith ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I'm sure et pet, that both you and I both want to see a successful return to the Moon, as safely and as quickly as is humanly possible.

https://www.universetoday.com/142283/nasa-has-picked-the-companies-thatll-help-build-its-lunar-landers/#more-142283 NASA has Picked the Companies That’ll Help Build its Lunar Landers NASA has chosen 11 American companies to help them build the next lunar landers that will carry humans to the surface of the Moon. The 11 companies will conduct studies and work on prototype landers in the coming years. It’s all part of NASA’s Artemis mission, and the mission’s 2024 date with the surface of the Moon. “Our team is excited to get back to the Moon quickly as possible, and our public/private partnerships to study human landing systems are an important step in that process.” Aerojet Rocketdyne Boeing Blue Origin Lockheed Martin Northrop Grumman Sierra Nevada SpaceX Last week, the timeline for NASA’s Artemis mission to the Moon was moved up by several years, to 2024. That means there’s a lot of work to be done. To help these 11 companies get going on their work, NASA is using what they call undefined contract actions. That allows the companies to begin working while the contract is still being negotiated. Sounds like NASA will lose some leverage, but that’s what you get when politicians step in to dictate a timeline for a complex mission. The undefined contract actions announced by NASA will help the 11 chosen companies get going on the ambitious timeline for Artemis. But NASA still needs the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion capsule to make Artemis meet its 2024 goal. And both of those developments have seen delays

https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/latest/new-research-at-bangor-university-helps-shed-light-on-the-possibility-of-past-life-on-venus-40747 New research at Bangor University helps shed light on the possibility of past life on Venus: Whilst today Venus is a very inhospitable place, with surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead, geological evidence, supported by computer model simulations, indicate it may have been much cooler billions of years ago and had an ocean, and so have been very similar to Earth. more at link......... <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.universetoday.com/142307/theory-proposes-that-venus-could-have-been-habitable-but-a-large-ocean-slowed-down-its-rotation-killing-it/#more- extract: "This suggests that the tidal brake could have slowed down Venus to its current rotation in just 10 to 50 million years. Since it was this reduced rotation rate that caused Venus’ oceans to evaporate on its Sun-facing side, leading to the runaway greenhouse effect, this tidal disruption effectively robbed Venus of its habitability in what was (from a geological standport) a pretty short time frame". "In other words, tidal-braking may be the reason why Venus went from being an ocean-covered world that could have very well support life to a hot, hellish environment where nothing could survive – and in the space of a few eons. These findings could also have implications for the study of extrasolar planets, where many “Venus-like” worlds have already been found". :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

R.I.P Murray Gell-Mann. I read his book "The Quark and the Jaguar" "Adventures in the Simple and the Complex" many years ago, and although at least to me at that stage of my learning, quite a complicated read, did spark me into reading and asking more questions re particle physics and associated sciences.

Different disciplines may require some variations in certain aspects, and I have not denied or said that improvements may not or cannot be made. But the basis behind peer review is and remains the best form of review we do have and contrary to what you have suggested, is the prime reason why science is a discipline in continued progress and advancement, as well of course sorting the wheat from the chaff.

Thanks for that update et pet...interesting to say the least. What we can be reasonably certain of though, is that in time, NASA [or someone else] will return to the Moon, and I see that probably as a prelude to eventual boots on Mars. I'm not really interested in the question/s "should we do these things?", the reality is that we will do these things in the course of time.

What a great Initiative.

That's not what I said. Ignorance begats ignorance. Like I said and others have alluded to...know fully what is inside the box before attempting to modify/change it.