BS: Hot Ice-

Subject: BS: Hot Ice-
From: beardedbruce
Date: 16 May 07 - 04:01 PM

New exoplanet a hot 'ice giant'
POSTED: 12:54 p.m. EDT, May 16, 2007
Story Highlights• Astronomers detect planet made mostly of hot, solid water
• Planet GJ 436b is a frozen world but high pressure makes it hot
• GJ 436b orbits quickly around a cool, red star just 30 light-years away from Earth
• The exoplanet is likely blanketed by hydrogen -- conditions not conducive to life


WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- An odd planet the size of Neptune, made mostly of hot, solid water, has been discovered not far from Earth and offers evidence that other planets may be covered with oceans, European astronomers reported Wednesday.

Called GJ 436b, the planet orbits quickly around a cool, red star just 30 light-years away, the team at the Geneva Observatory said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/05/16/odd.exoplanet.reut/index.html

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: Amos
Date: 16 May 07 - 04:36 PM

Well there ya go!! Send out a few tugs and haul it on over here, and we'll get everything back to Green and Rosy again!!

A

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 May 07 - 04:57 PM

I swear, Bruce needs a new hobby! LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: Bill D
Date: 16 May 07 - 05:11 PM

Posts about space are better than posts about Middle East politics and guns.

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: Peace
Date: 16 May 07 - 05:16 PM

Finally, Bill, you have erred. Hot ice is NOT space. It is matter. HA!

In fact, this moment is worth more HAs than that.

HA HA HA!

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: Peace
Date: 16 May 07 - 05:17 PM

And at least three HEE HEE HEEs.

(It takes little to make me happy.)

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: frogprince
Date: 16 May 07 - 05:49 PM

"jewel theft?" I asked myself, as I opened the thread...

Truth is, indeed, stringier than friction!

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: GUEST,Keinstein
Date: 17 May 07 - 03:53 AM

I can't see why a reducing atmosphere makes it unconducive to life. Our life yes, but there could be a different set of chemical reactions based on a reduction cycle rather than oxidation. Like those lifetime guarantees, it's life, but not as we know it.

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 May 07 - 09:43 PM

There's a pad pun lurking in this thread topic somewhere.

What did one planet eater say to the other?

Why thanks! I'll have mine on the rocks.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 May 07 - 11:19 PM

It's life, Jim, but not as we know it?

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 May 07 - 11:31 PM

"there could be a different set of chemical reactions "

There used to be a lot of SF speculation about silicon based life forms - but now modern knowledge suggest that this is unlikely to work - only carbon seems to be the 'magic' element...

Subject: RE: BS: Hot Ice-
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 May 07 - 02:59 AM

I shall look very carefully at my pencil case then.. I'm convinced they breed in there but I can never find a 4B when I need one...

LTS