Antarctic Microbes Handle Mars-Like Conditions

Lab experiments with primitive microbes taken from an Antarctic lake have shown that the hardy single-celled organisms can tolerate at least the warmest of the frigid temperatures found on Mars. The findings provide more evidence for the ideas that liquid found beneath Mars’ surface could harbor microbial life and that life could exist elsewhere in the solar system and galaxy, which is generally incredibly cold.

Heroes Episode 6

Heroes Episode Six

This should be called the twist episode….Last weeks preview totally mislead me.

Yeah we knew that Niki was in for a rough time this week. We were lead to believe that her boyfriend was some maniac killer out for revenge and he was lurking in her house. Well it turns out that he is a loving partner and father that has been framed. After walking into one more ghastly murder sight, Niki is now of the opinion that she, or more to the point, her alter-ego, is responsible. But after a conversation with herself in the mirror, we find that Niki’s uber-self is far from righteous…. More like the maniacal killer we suspected that her son’s farther of. And here is another twist, seems D.L. has a talent too. Seems to be able to walk through walls. Put himself out of phase as it were and unlock doors and much to the chagrin of Niki’s killer half, ummm shall we say, touch her heart? Oh yeah, hand right in the chest, no blood, on the floor, dead as a doornail in a split second. I expected him to be broken into separate parts, but no way…..

Claire’s father continues to deal from all parts of the deck…he tells Claire that she is going to meet her “bio” parents but that all seems to be some complicated shill game. The next twist comes as he is speaking on the phone to of all people Eden! Oh she is ever so much mixed up in this and not just as a hapless girl Friday…she is every much a double dealer as Claire’s father and seems to be working for the same people as he is…

Peter finally reaches out and touches present day Hiro with the future Hiro’s message of Save the Cheerleader save the world and it would seem that even Isaac the painter is coming on board after being totally freaked by Peter finishing his painting.

This week’s episode seemed to want to spin more of the story and not so much the super powers of the characters, so much so that some characters were left out entirely. I will say though that Claire burning her hands on the cookie sheet was gratuitous…

For the most part Heroes is still smart and disturbing, however it is close to tripping itself up with its own plot convolutions. But for the most part it is staying true to itself and keeping its characters smart and capable. If the preview of next weeks episode is any indication, we will be treated to more of the same, which is ok by me.

Top five Science Fiction Novels in New England

According to book retailer Barnes & Nobel, the following five Science fiction books are the most popular in New England :

1: Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

2: The Protector’s War - S.M.Sterling

3: Dies the Fire - S.M. Sterling

4: Hunters of Dune - Brian Herbert

5: We Few - David Weber & John Ringo

Based on sales in October 15 – 21 in the New England Area

NASA approves Hubble repairs

CBS NEWS reports that NASA will send a space shuttle to repair the 16-year-old Hubble Space Telescope, agency Administrator Michael Griffin announced Tuesday, reversing his predecessor's order that had nixed the mission. The rehab mission, likely launching in May 2008 using space shuttle Discovery, would keep Hubble working until about 2013.

Key out of Time - Andre Norton now at Gutenberg!

Andre Norton's 1963 novel, Key Out of Time, has been made available for free download or reading at the Gutenberg Project site. Key Out of Time is the forth book in the Time Traders series. Other books in the series were the Time Traders II: The Defiant Agents released in 2001, Time Traders, Galactic Derelict, Echoes in Time and Atlantis Endgame. These books were part of a larger series dealing with time travel often known as the Time Wars series or Ross Murdock series.