Alien search
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This diagram lines up planets recently discovered by Kepler in terms of their sizes, compared to Earth. Kepler-22b was announced in December 2011; the three Super-Earths were announced April 18, 2013. All of them could potentially host life, but we do not yet know anything definitive about their compositions or atmosphere.
This illustration depicts Kepler-62e, a planet in the habitable zone of a star smaller and cooler than the sun. It is located about 1,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra.
This illustration depicts Kepler 62f, a planet in the habitable zone of a star smaller and cooler than the sun, in the same system as Kepler 62e.
This diagram compares the planets of our own inner solar system to Kepler-62, a five-planet system about 1,200 light-years from Earth. Kepler-62e and Kepler-62f are thought capable of hosting life.
The planet Kepler-69c is located about 2,700 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. This is an illustration of the planet, which is the smallest yet found to orbit in the habitable zone of a sun-like star.
This diagram compares the planets of our own inner solar system to Kepler-69, which hosts a planet Kepler-69c that appears to be capable of hosting life, in addition to planet Kepler-69b.
This artist’s illustration represents the variety of planets being detected by NASA’s Kepler spacecraft.
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Editor’s note: Meg Urry is the Israel Munson professor of physics and astronomy and chairwoman of the department of physics at Yale University, where she is the director of the Yale Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics.
(CNN) — On Wednesday, NASA officials announced a serious problem with the Kepler satellite, the world’s most successful planet-finding machine.
Since its launch four years ago, Kepler has found more than 2,700 possible planets orbiting stars other than our Sun, of which more than 100 have been confirmed. A few of these exoplanets resemble the Earth in size or mass.
Recently, three Earth-like planets were even reported to be in the habitable zone: close enough to the star they orbit that water is liquid, yet not so close that it is boiling. Planets with liquid water may well harbor life.
Now, the second of four of the Kepler spacecraft’s reaction wheels, which aim the vessel’s instruments, appears to have failed. It remains to be seen whether full repairs are possible.
For the spacecraft to point accurately, at least three reaction wheels are needed, corresponding to the three dimensions (up-down, north-south, east-west). The fourth wheel serves as a backup and provides cross-comparisons of data among the wheels. The first wheel failed last summer; now Kepler has too few reaction wheels to keep pointing with sufficient stability.
When a major component like a thruster fails on any spacecraft, operations software points the craft’s solar panels toward the sun to ensure a continuous power supply.
Power is a satellite’s lifeblood: Lose it and you lose communications, so the satellite can’t be oriented properly or take data. Backup batteries allow the solar panels to be misdirected for a few hours or so, before all power is lost. But batteries drain quickly, so engineers design software to make sure that when something goes wrong, the spacecraft points in a direction that preserves power.
Urry: Three more homes for life in the universe?
Reaction wheels are spinning flywheels that carry “angular momentum,” a term roughly analogous to the force that keeps a car coasting even when the driver’s foot is off the gas.
Spinning objects keep spinning unless they transfer angular momentum to another object. For example, if a flywheel is commanded to spin more slowly (through an electric motor), the spacecraft will pick up spin to compensate. If the flywheel spins faster, the spacecraft will spin in the opposite direction. Increasing or decreasing the spin of a reaction wheel is therefore a way of pointing the spacecraft.
The Venus transit phenomenon
2009: Kepler telescope launch
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This may sound like a complicated way to make a telescope move, but the problem is, there is nothing in empty space to push on. To close a door, you push on it. This works because gravity holds you firmly on the ground, and your feet stay put because of friction with the floor.
If you pushed on an open door in space, it would push you in the opposite direction. In space, there is no standing still. So Kepler’s reaction wheels are essential for pointing the spacecraft accurately and steadily.
Unfortunately, less stable pointing means less accurate photometry (the measurement of light from the star). Since Kepler finds planets by measuring the tiny dips in a star’s brightness when a dark planet moves across the face of that star, less accurate photometry means Earth-like planets will be too hard to find.
Urry: A meteor and asteroid — 1 in 100 million odds
NASA is trying to figure how to fix or work around the broken reaction wheels. It has done amazing things before; you don’t have to be an optimist to think there is still a chance to turn Kepler around.
But the loss of a fully functional Kepler would be terrible. It has found more potential planets than any other facility or method. Kepler data have yielded an estimate of the total number of Earth-like planets in the Milky Way galaxy: at least 17 billion. That’s an Earth-like planet around one in every six stars.
Fortunately, there are other ways to find planets than by detecting transits (the passage of a planetary body across a sun), as Kepler does. In fact, the first few hundred exoplanets were found by the “radial velocity” technique, which detects tiny motions of a star as it and its planets orbit one another.
A Yale astronomy professor, Debra Fischer, has pioneered clever improvements to this technique so that she can find 100 Earth-size planets, perhaps 10% of which might harbor life. (Hear the full story in Fischer’s TEDx talk, “Why We Need to Find 100 Earths.”)
Fischer is going after Earth-like planets in the habitable zone. After all, the discovery of life on another planet would cause a profound shift in our world view, akin to the Copernican shift from an Earth-centric to a Sun-centric world.
So when Fischer says we should be “the alien civilizations that explore other worlds,” I say: With Kepler or without, it’s only a matter of time until we find signs of life on other worlds.
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The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Meg Urry.
Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/20/opinion/urry-kepler-malfunction/index.html?eref=edition
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Researchers at the University of Texas are warning that the invasive species from South America, “tawny crazy ants.” has the potential to change the ecological balance in the southeastern United States. 
Tawny crazy ants are omnivores that can take over an area by both killing what’s there and starving out what they don’t kill, said Ed LeBrun, a research associate with the Texas invasive species research program at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory in the College of Natural Sciences.
“The whole system has changed around fire ants. Things that can’t tolerate fire ants are gone. Many that can have flourished. New things have come in. Now we are going to go through and whack the fire ants and put something in its place that has a very different biology. There are going to be a lot of changes that come from that,” said LeBrun.
The crazy ants nest in walls, crawl spaces, house plants or empty containers in the yard, researchers said.
Scientists are unsure how far the ants, which are native to Argentina and Brazil, may spread in the United States. They have been found mostly in wetter environments with mild winters in parts of Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.
No longer grounded for safety concerns, United Flight 1 flew from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Monday. 
A passenger on United Airlines Flight 1 looks out one of the Dreamliner’s oversized windows. The use of composite materials to build the airplane made larger window cutouts possible.
A United Airlines 787 Dreamliner sits on the runway in Houston on Monday as crews prepare for its first commercial flight since the fleet was grounded earlier this year. The Boeing 787 was the first entire airline model to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration in more than 30 years.
Michael Reynolds of St. Louis, Missouri, reclines during the flight to Chicago.
The Dreamliner has larger overhead bins than similar airliners.
The aircraft’s lightweight design allows it to fly long distances more efficiently.
Alex Gilbert and Rebecca Davila watch a film during a flight on a Boeing 787
Lithium-ion batteries that overheated on two Dreamliners in January prompted authorities to ground all 50 of the 787s worldwide, but a redesigned battery system has cleared the way for the plane’s return.
A United Airlines maintenance worker examines a hydraulic line. 
The plane is designed to be lightweight so that it can fly farther with the same amount of fuel as heavier airliners. It can carry 200-plus passengers a third of the way around the globe. 
Composite materials have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.
United Airlines Capts. Neils Olufsen and Bill Blocker piloted the Dreamliner’s domestic return to flight on Monday.
United Airlines maintenance workers prepare the plane for flight. 
Boeing’s Dreamliner design reflects the airlines’ demand for efficiency. That desire has triggered a trend toward fuel-sipping, lightweight, long-range airliners.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner got off to a rough start. Just over a year after its first commercial flight, the aircraft was grounded after batteries overheated on two flights. This Dreamliner, built for Air India, was the first produced at Boeing’s new production facilities in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Aviation safety regulators have approved Boeing’s battery fixes, and Dreamliners have started to fly again. Earlier this year, this All Nippon Airways 787 made an emergency landing because of battery troubles. ANA plans to resume commercial Dreamliner flights in June.
The redesigned battery system, right, adds a containment and venting system to prevent possible overheating from affecting the plane. At left is a battery case damaged during a flight on a Japan Airlines Boeing 787. It was one of two incidents that prompted the Dreamliner’s grounding.
A LOT Polish Airlines 787, with a redesigned lithium-ionbattery system, performs a test flight in March at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The Dreamliner’s distinctive wings sweep back at 32 degrees.
United Airlines is the lone U.S. carrier flying the Dreamliner. These are Business First Class seats on one of United’s six 787s.
The use of composite materials on the Dreamliner makes larger window cutouts possible. Composites have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.
Roger Federer played at the Australian Open in 2008 not knowing he had mono. At the height of his powers, he surprisingly needed 4.5 hours to beat Janko Tipsarevic in the third round. 
Federer advanced to the semifinals in Melbourne in 2008 but put in a sluggish performance in the last four, losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. He later revealed he had the illness. 
Mario Ancic, a former top-10 player, was suffering from a severe case of mono during a Davis Cup series in 2007. He endured a lengthy layoff before returning to the tour but was never the same. He retired in 2011. 
Robin Soderling handed Rafael Nadal his only loss at the French Open in 2009. But Soderling hasn’t played since the summer of 2011. Now a father, he says he has come to terms with the possibility of never playing again. 
Andy Roddick, who was one of tennis’ fittest players, couldn’t understand why he was feeling fatigued in the summer of 2010. He played through the pain and was upset at Wimbledon. 
Christina McHale, one of US tennis’ brightest prospects, didn’t play the end of the 2012 season. Symptoms that included sinus issues and a stomach illness stemmed from mono. 
Heather Watson thought she was suffering from burnout in the spring. But it turned out to be mono. The promising British player has yet to return to the circuit, but hopes to play at the French Open.
No longer grounded for safety concerns, United Flight 1 flew from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Monday. 
A passenger on United Airlines Flight 1 looks out one of the Dreamliner’s oversized windows. The use of composite materials to build the airplane made larger window cutouts possible.
A United Airlines 787 Dreamliner sits on the runway in Houston on Monday as crews prepare for its first commercial flight since the fleet was grounded earlier this year. The Boeing 787 was the first entire airline model to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration in more than 30 years.
Michael Reynolds of St. Louis, Missouri, reclines during the flight to Chicago.
The Dreamliner has larger overhead bins than similar airliners.
The aircraft’s lightweight design allows it to fly long distances more efficiently.
Alex Gilbert and Rebecca Davila watch a film during a flight on a Boeing 787
Lithium-ion batteries that overheated on two Dreamliners in January prompted authorities to ground all 50 of the 787s worldwide, but a redesigned battery system has cleared the way for the plane’s return.
A United Airlines maintenance worker examines a hydraulic line. 
The plane is designed to be lightweight so that it can fly farther with the same amount of fuel as heavier airliners. It can carry 200-plus passengers a third of the way around the globe. 
Composite materials have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.
United Airlines Capts. Neils Olufsen and Bill Blocker piloted the Dreamliner’s domestic return to flight on Monday.
United Airlines maintenance workers prepare the plane for flight. 
Boeing’s Dreamliner design reflects the airlines’ demand for efficiency. That desire has triggered a trend toward fuel-sipping, lightweight, long-range airliners.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner got off to a rough start. Just over a year after its first commercial flight, the aircraft was grounded after batteries overheated on two flights. This Dreamliner, built for Air India, was the first produced at Boeing’s new production facilities in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Aviation safety regulators have approved Boeing’s battery fixes, and Dreamliners have started to fly again. Earlier this year, this All Nippon Airways 787 made an emergency landing because of battery troubles. ANA plans to resume commercial Dreamliner flights in June.
The redesigned battery system, right, adds a containment and venting system to prevent possible overheating from affecting the plane. At left is a battery case damaged during a flight on a Japan Airlines Boeing 787. It was one of two incidents that prompted the Dreamliner’s grounding.
A LOT Polish Airlines 787, with a redesigned lithium-ion battery system, performs a test flight in March at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The Dreamliner’s distinctive wings sweep back at 32 degrees.
United Airlines is the lone U.S. carrier flying the Dreamliner. These are Business First Class seats on one of United’s six 787s.
The use of composite materials on the Dreamliner makes larger window cutouts possible. Composites have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.
No longer grounded for safety concerns, United Flight 1 flew from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Monday. 
A passenger on United Airlines Flight 1 looks out one of the Dreamliner’s oversized windows. The use of composite materials to build the airplane made larger window cutouts possible.
A United Airlines 787 Dreamliner sits on the runway in Houston on Monday as crews prepare for its first commercial flight since the fleet was grounded earlier this year. The Boeing 787 was the first entire airline model to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration in more than 30 years.
Michael Reynolds of St. Louis, Missouri, reclines during the flight to Chicago.
The Dreamliner has larger overhead bins than similar airliners.
The aircraft’s lightweight design allows it to fly long distances more efficiently.
Alex Gilbert and Rebecca Davila watch a film during a flight on a Boeing 787
Lithium-ion batteries that overheated on two Dreamliners in January prompted authorities to ground all 50 of the 787s worldwide, but a redesigned battery system has cleared the way for the plane’s return.
A United Airlines maintenance worker examines a hydraulic line. 
The plane is designed to be lightweight so that it can fly farther with the same amount of fuel as heavier airliners. It can carry 200-plus passengers a third of the way around the globe. 
Composite materials have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.
United Airlines Capts. Neils Olufsen and Bill Blocker piloted the Dreamliner’s domestic return to flight on Monday.
United Airlines maintenance workers prepare the plane for flight. 
Boeing’s Dreamliner design reflects the airlines’ demand for efficiency. That desire has triggered a trend toward fuel-sipping, lightweight, long-range airliners.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner got off to a rough start. Just over a year after its first commercial flight, the aircraft was grounded after batteries overheated on two flights. This Dreamliner, built for Air India, was the first produced at Boeing’s new production facilities in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Aviation safety regulators have approved Boeing’s battery fixes, and Dreamliners have started to fly again. Earlier this year, this All Nippon Airways 787 made an emergency landing because of battery troubles. ANA plans to resume commercial Dreamliner flights in June.
The redesigned battery system, right, adds a containment and venting system to prevent possible overheating from affecting the plane. At left is a battery case damaged during a flight on a Japan Airlines Boeing 787. It was one of two incidents that prompted the Dreamliner’s grounding.
A LOT Polish Airlines 787, with a redesigned lithium-ion battery system, performs a test flight in March at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The Dreamliner’s distinctive wings sweep back at 32 degrees.
United Airlines is the lone U.S. carrier flying the Dreamliner. These are Business First Class seats on one of United’s six 787s.
The use of composite materials on the Dreamliner makes larger window cutouts possible. Composites have replaced aluminum as the predominant material in the 787. The 777 is made up of 50% aluminum and 12% composites, compared with the Dreamliner’s nearly 50% makeup of composites and just 20% aluminum.
