Is it true that NASA conceals the signs of life on Mars?

Scientists have been reviewing the images taken by Spirit rover nearly a decade ago. They also concluded that the United States Space Agency (NASA) may previously ignored evidence of the earliest forms of life on other planets.

As reported Express on Sunday, November 27, 2016, a new evidence published in Nature Communications showed outcrop rocks and regoliths formed of opaline silica photographed by Spirit Rover in Gusev Crater in 2007 could potentially have biosignatures, the nature trails current or past.

Spot the difference: Silica deposits on Mars, inset, compared to on Earth. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1gGAh9)

Two experts from Arizona State University (ASU), Steve Ruff and Jack Farmer looked at data from the visits of Spirit Rover to Home Plate, a plateau of layered rock in the crater region of Columbia Hills. It is an ancient region of volcanic ash eroded, believed to still contain active hot water, which has formed silica outcrops, including finger-like formations which were photographed.

In addition, they also occur in less obvious forms, including organic molecules remaining trapped in rocks and compacted mat of microbes known as stromatolites, which is an early form of life on Earth, and are found in Western Australia, and El Tatio in Chile.

Stromatolites are formed when microbial colonies gathered in a humid environment, before trapping sediment in a sticky surface. Sediment reacts with the calcium carbonate in the water, creating a buildup of lime.

Proof of life? The silica deposits on Mars, left, are remarkably similar to on Earth, right. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1gGAh9)

Stromatolites in El Tatio, which has conditions similar to Mars also formed by hot springs, said to resemble images taken in the Spirit Rover in the Mars crater. Deposits of silica in the structure in EI Tatio discovered by a team almost identical to that found in Gusev Crater.

"Our results indicate that the condition is more like Mars than El Tatio produce unique deposit, including biomediated silica structure, with characteristics that are favorable compared with the silica outcrops of Home Plate. This similarity raises the possibility that Mars silica structure is formed in a way that is comparable," as the team wrote in the report.

On a separate report last month by a different team of scientists concluded evidence of life on Mars may have been discovered in 1976, but scientists suggest it then do not believe it. A review study called Viking Labeled Release, see the two probes land on the Red Planet, brings interesting claims that the soil collected from Mars indicate microbial life.

The spacecrafts landed 4,000 miles of each other on Mars in the 1970s, but both produce the same surprising results after the Martian soil analysis. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | EXPRESS]

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An object resembles the pyramid discovered in Antarctica

The world of internet again bustling by the discovery of an object like a pyramid in Antarctica. Since last week a number of Western medias busy to proclaim an object like the pyramid captured by the Google Earth.

Some scientists was interviewed speculate that the object was an evidence of human civilization ever existed in the northern hemisphere. In fact, there are some scientists who say that the object is a relic of an alien who had stopped at the Earth. But is it true that the object is a pyramid? If true, and then who has built it? Human or alien?

This Antarctic mountain bears a striking resemblance to a pyramid captured by Google Earth. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1gFeUP)

According to several scientists interviewed by Live Science, the object like pyramid shaped was actually a mountain which has similar sloping sides to the pyramids in Egypt. The sides were created as a natural phenomenon.

"This is a mountain that looks like a pyramid, Usually there are two sides like a pyramid, rarely has four sides (like a pyramid)," said Eric Rignot, an Earth science expert at the University of California as quoted by Live Science on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. According to him, the pattern similar to pyramid was many in nature. Some mountain on Earth, he said, had the sides like a pyramid.

The mountains like a pyramid itself is one of several peaks in the Ellsworth Mountains of Antarctica. The mountain was first discovered by US pilot, Lincoln Ellsworth on his journey on November 23, 1935, as described in a study of US Geological Survey (USGS) in 2007.

The nameless peak is located south of Ellsworth Mountains, in an area called Heritage Range. In that place is found some rare fossils of ancient creatures that about 500 million years old.

Meanwhile, according to Mauri Pelto, an environmental studies expert at Nichols College, Dudley, Massachusetts, the sides similar to pyramid at the mountaintop was caused by erosion of permafrost that occurs over millions of years.

He explained that the snow or water usually fill cracks or crevices of the mountain during the day. At night, when the temperature dropped dramatically, water or snow will freeze, expand and turn into ice. As a result of this expansion make the slit on the mountain enlarged.

This process is ongoing so as to create large cracks and that ultimately led to these parts were destroyed. This process has already been studied in another mountain shaped like a pyramid, like the top of the Matterhorn mountain in the Alps.

A pyramid-shaped peak called Matterhorn in the Alps. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1gFeUP)

The nameless mountain in Antarctica has three sloping sides of the same. Pelto suspects that the three sloping sides were eroded at the same speed.

"I suspect, rock type on the three sides was fairly uniform," said Pelto. The fourth side of a mountain that looked more different. He extends eastward, not tilted like the other three sides.

He also denied that the mountain was newly found. He said that near the mountain, precisely in the south, there is a research station belonging to climate scientists. The area was known as Patriot Hills. "You can see the mountain from Patriot Hills," he said then. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE]

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Does this mysterious piece of metal was the proof of the aliens ever visited Earth?

According to several scientists in Romania, the discovery of an ancient metal piece touted as proof that aliens had visited our Earth about 250,000 years ago. These ancient metal pieces were discovered in Romania in 1973, when the country was still under the Communist regimes.

A piece aluminium that looks as if it was handmade is being hailed as 250,000-year-old proof that aliens once visited the Earth. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1gBUnn)

Now, after being tested at a laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland, found that 90 percent of the ancient metal is aluminum with the age was about 250,000 years old. The object is 20 centimetres (7.8 inches) long, 12.5 centimetres (4.9 inches) wide and 7 centimetres (2.8 inches) thick.

According to records, aluminum is the metal coumpound produced by humans newly about 200 years ago. Therefore the findings of ancient aluminum was considered shocking by scientists.

In 1973, builders working on the shores of the Mures River not far from the central Romanian town of Aiud found three objects 10 metres (33 feet) under the ground. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1gBUnn)

"Laboratory test results concluded that the object is a piece of a UFO, considering that the metal content in it is not in accordance with the technology on the Earth at that time," said Gheorghe Cohal, Deputy Director of the Romanian Ufologis Association, as quoted by Daily Mail.

This mysterious ancient metal was discovered by the workers when they were building a construction on the banks of Mures River, not far from the city of Aiud. The metal was found 10 meters in the ground, side by side with the two pieces of bone.

The piece of metal was originally to be the end of an axe. And now gone on display in the History Museum of Cluj-Napoca, with a sign that reads 'origin still unknown'. But Local historian Mihai Wittenberger claims that the object is actually a metal piece from a World War II German aircraft. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1gBUnn)

And the two bones were thought to belong to a giant prehistoric mammals that died about 10,000 to 80,000 years ago. But when examined, the scientists were surprised because the metal piece is very light and apparently produced by those who already have advanced technology.

But the speculation was denied by a local historian named Mihai Wittenberger. He said the metal is one of the German aircraft parts in the World War II era. He believes that it is a piece of the landing gear from a Messerschnmitt ME 262.

The object is now on display at the History Museum of Cluj-Napoca, complete with a description that makes it even more mysterious: "origin still unknown." *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILY MAIL]

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The most rounded star in the universe discovered

There are no space objects really spherical. The shape is influenced by the force created by the rotational motion and magnetic fields. No wonder so many the space objects that looks more bloated, especially around the equator.

One example is our sun. At the equator area of sun was 10 kilometers longer than the radius at around its two poles. The average radius of the sun itself around 695,700 km. Note also the Earth, our beloved planet. Radius around the equator was 21 km longer than at its poles. And the Earth itself has an average radius throughout 6,371 km.

The comparison between the Kepler 11145123 and Sun. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1g0jiJ)

But in the journal Science Advances published in November 16, 2016, the German scientists have discovered the most spherical objects ever found in the universe. Yes, the star named Kepler 11145123 lies within 5,000 light years from the Earth which is claimed as the most spherical space object ever discovered.

This star is an average radius of about 1.5 million km, but the size of the radius at the center line just 3 km longer than the radius at both poles. Not perfectly round indeed. But the spherical level of Kepler 11145123 is the most nearly perfect!

The calculations to the shape of Kepler 11145123 was conducted by Laurent Gizon, a researcher of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and the University of Gottingen, Germany. Together with his colleagues he observed the star's size changing that took place periodically for four years. The changes called oscillation that can be measured by observing the difference of the light of stars.

According to the calculation of Gizon and his colleagues, the rotation of Kepler 11145123 is three times more slowly than the Sun. They suspect this is one reason why the star has nearly perfect rounded shape. And the magnetic field is also supposed to influence its almost perfect shape.

Gizon said that he and his team plan to use this method to measure the other stars in the universe. "It would be very interesting to know how the speed of rotation and magnetic fields affect the shape of star," said Gizon. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCIENCE DAILY]

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Revealing the largest ancient sea monster in Antarctica

Approximately 66 million years ago, an ancient sea monster that has a very large size roughly the size of a five-story building once dominated the dark Antarctic marine life. Those sea creature called the mosasaur, an aquatic reptiles that lived during the Cretaceous period. One of its characteristics is the use of its limbs like tail for paddling.

Unfortunately, there is not plenty of evidence that can be used to uncover these sea monsters. Until the end of an expedition was held to find evidence of the continuation of the specimen.

Kaikaifilu hervei was as long as a five-story building is tall. See the human for scale. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fq3Fj)

For days the researchers who are members of the Chilean Paleontology Expedition try their luck to get a mosasaur fossil. But before the days of their trip, in the middle of a storm and bad weather the researchers did not find any. Had felt desperate and consider their journey in vain, until finally they managed to find a mosasaur skull on Seymour Island in January 2011.

This discovery became the long-awaited given this specimen was the second fossils found in Antarctica. But unlike before, this time the mosasaur fossils have very large size. It is based on the size of the anatomy of the skull found with a width of 4 feet or 1.2 meters. While the entire body of reptiles stretches about 33 feet (10 m), making it the largest marine predators in the region.

Researchers also gave the name 'Kaikaifilu hervei.' In which Kai-Kai-filu is the myth of the culture of the Mapuche in Southern Chile and Argentina, which means the giant reptiles were in charge of the oceans. While the hervei word derives from the name Francisco Herve, a Chilean geologist and also an Antarctica adventurer.

Researchers found the mosasaur Kaikaifilu hervei in Cretaceous-age rocks on Seymour Island in Antarctica (upper left). Kaikaifilu was quite large. See the human for scale (upper right). Paleontologists struggled through Antarctica's extreme climate when they excavated the specimen (lower right). The muddy site where experts found Kaikaifilu (bottom left). (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fq3Fj)

"Previously, evidence of the existence of such gigantic size mosasaur like Kaikafilu hervei was unknown. Yet Antarctica has an abundant amount of plesiosaur," said Rodrigo Otero, a palaeontologist from the University of Chile as quoted by LiveScience on Wednesday, November 9, 2016.

Plesiosaurs was a long-necked marine reptiles that became the main prey of Kaikafilu hervei. Although now Antarctica is a cold continent, but when the dinosaur age the conditions are much warmer. A group of swimming animals in the region to make a food haven for Kaikafilu hervei.

This research has been published online on November 4, 2016 in the journal Cretaceous Research. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE]

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Researchers managed to create eco-friendly soap molecules

Conventional cleaning products are currently used by the majority of Earth's population is regarded as not environmentally friendly because it is made from chemicals that are difficult to decompose and can pollute the environment. This global problem encourages international team of scientists to create a new soap molecules made from renewable resources that can reduce the amount of chemicals in the cleaning products.

Researchers invent 'perfect' soap molecules that is better for the environment. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fij8K)

"Our team made a molecular soap made from natural ingredients such as soy, coconut and corn, which works better than conventional soap and more environmentally friendly," said Paul Dauenhauer, a professor of chemical engineering and materials science at the University of Minnesota who became one of the authors of the study.

In this project, the researchers from the Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation in the United States developed a new chemical process for combining fatty acids from soy or coconut and glucose ring of maize that can produce the renewable soap molecules called Oleo-Furan-Surfactant (OFS).

On the test, OFS can work well when used with hard water (water with a high mineral content). Meanwhile, when the conventional soap is used with the hard water, soap usually can not be foamy and become sticky.

The soap molecule is made from soybeans, coconut and corn, and researchers say it works better than regular soap without relying on fossil fuels. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fijTd)

To resolve this issue, the manufacturers add additional chemicals to bind the minerals in hard water and prevents mixing with soap molecule. So this makes regular cleaning products have more chemicals that can be harmful to the environment.

Instead, OFS rid of the hard water problems by using the ingredients from natural sources that do not bind to the mineral was too strong. Researchers also found that the OFS form micelles that are important in the process of cleaning, even in an environment of high levels of water hardness.

Other researchers, Kristeen Joseph said that the performance of the OFS soap will be better than regular soap because it is superior in terms of biodegradability, ability to clean and foam production.

"OFS is made of a carbon chain of soybean and coconut which can be said as the perfect soap molecules," she concluded. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | EUREKALERT | MNN]

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Scientists tried to change the Spinach into a Bomb detection device

Scientists have been training rats, bees and even dolphins to sniff out land mines, but now they're turning their attention to something that has never been imagined before, namely Spinach.

It famous because has many health benefits, spinach as soon as possible can be a tool for human beings to reveal the existence of hidden explosives and prevent casualties. This has become possible thanks to the work of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which uses a technique called infusion of blood vessels to introduce the carbon nanotubes from the leaves of the plant.

Spinach is finally living up to its reputation as a Superfood. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1flCCW)

These nanotubes are specifically designed to interact with a chemical component called nitroaromatic, which is commonly used as an explosive. In their experiments described in the journal Nature Materials, the researchers focused on nitroaromatic called picric acid.

The acid is absorbed from the groundwater by plant roots, then transported into the mesophyll layer located on the underside of leaves, where most of the photosynthesis takes place and the same location as the nanotubes while it is working to locate the explosives.

When the researchers expose the laser light on the nanotubes, they will give a fluorescent signal detection as a sign nitroaromatik (chemical components used as an explosive). This signal can be viewed by using the infrared camera within 1 meter. Although at this time the team is still trying to widen the longer distances.

Overall, it takes about 10 minutes for nitroaromatics reach the leaves after being absorbed from the roots, and while some animals have been able to sniff out explosive chemicals faster.

Michael Strano co-author of the study said, "The plant is an excellent chemical analysis. They have an extensive network of roots in the soil, and has its own way to transport water up to the leaves."

If the researchers manage to do this experiment, do not be surprised if in the future casualties caused by explosives would be much less, thanks to the invention.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | IFL SCIENCE]

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A paralyzed monkey can walk again thanks to the new brain implant technology

Thanks to a new system called the brain-spine interface, a paralyzed monkey with primary spinal cord injuries able to walk again in less than six days after treatment. The interface was developed by an international researchers collaboration led by École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. The system uses an electric implants strategically placed helps to provide a signal that is passed through the brain and leg.

Grégoire Courtine holds a silicon model of a primate’s brain and a brain implant. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fkzLu)

In a statement, one study author Grégoire Courtine explained, "This is the first attempt of neuro technology to restore motor function in a primate." Nevertheless, he warned that there are many challenges ahead and may take several years before all the components of this invention can be tested in humans.

Without a serious injury, signals from the motor cortex of the brain will be forwarded to the spine in the lumbar region, which consists of a neuron tissues and stimulates the movement of the leg muscles. But if there is a lesion in the spinal cord, this communication can be interrupted and makes the brain can not receive the signal from the legs.

A brain implant and silicon model of a primate brain. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fkydP)

Therefore, the researchers put an array of electrodes in the motor cortex of monkey who have spinal cord injuries, to record the signals coming from the brain when the animal walks. Then the neural activity sent wirelessly to a control computer by using algorithms to identify the encoding signal of muscle flexion and muscle extension.

Once the brain signals has been translated, the computer will submit it through the electrodes that are placed in the lumbar region of monkey who have spinal cord injuries and then stimulated electrically on the tissues will stir the leg muscles.

"The primate was able to walk after the brain-spine interface was enabled. Without physiotherapy or training is required," said co-researcher Erwan Bezard.

Detailed study has been published in the journal Nature and further research involving this technology in humans has now been approved. If the study is successful, then the system could be the latest step in the treatment of paralysis. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WASHINGTON POST]

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Cause of the disappearance of the Atlantis began to unfold

The legend of Atlantis is one of mankind's oldest myths. This legend was first echoed by a Greek philosopher named Plato around 360 BC. He described Atlantis is a prosperous country that disappeared without a trace after sinking into the sea.

Several hundred years later, many people believe that Santorini is one of the islands in the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea is the mythical Atlantis. But unfortunately, this beautiful country with Minoan culture was swept away by a tsunami caused by a volcanic eruption.

Many people believe that Santorini was once Atlantis (artist's impression), as the description given by Plato has many common points with the story of the Minoan Akrotiri, which also disappeared without leaving any trace. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1faiU7)

And a new study shows the possibility of a tsunami caused by pyroclastic flows (clastic rocks formed from volcanic material) into the sea. This theory is considered challenging previous theories.

The eruption at Santorini in 1500 BC caused a large tsunami suspected as a factor that led to the end of the Minoan culture. Evidence of at least nine meter high waves have been found at several sites near the island of Crete, Greece.

A new study suggests that the tsunamis may have been generated by the pyroclastic flow of volcanic material into the sea – a theory that challenges previous explanations for the tsunamis that led to the demise of Minoan culture. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1faiU7)

Previous studies assumed that the collapse of the volcano's crater (caldera) into the sea and caused a tsunami. But researchers from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens put forward a different theory. The researchers analyzed the seabed beneath the caldera, and found evidence of the caldera is not connected to the sea when it collapsed.

The latest findings said that the caldera flooded by sea water after the explosion occurred. But the flood itself is not possible to create a tsunami. Instead, the researchers believe that the pyroclastic large volumes of volcanic flow in a high speed into the ocean, so it is strong enough in moving water to create a tsunami.

A diagram shows the development of Santorini caldera prior to, during, and following the Late Bronze Age eruption. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1faiU7)

In their paper published in the journal Nature, researchers led by Paraskevi Nomikou, write interesting findings as follows; "A tsunami in regional scale associated with volcanic eruptions created by a pool of pyroclastic flows, which coupled with the possibility of quickly sliding of the mass pyroclastic deposits from the mountain slopes into the sea."

And other evidence to support this theory is the pyroclastic deposits in Santorini has a thickness of up to 60 meters. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILYMAIL]

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Scientists managed to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol by chance

The team of scientists at the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory managed directly convert carbon dioxide into ethanol by chance. To form the ethanol, the researchers added a carbon nanospikes and copper to carbon dioxide.

Scientists just accidentally discovered a process that turns CO2 directly into ethanol. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fYeYi)

Ethanol is a type of alcohol found in the hand sanitizers and some beverages. Ethanol can also be converted into fuel. Gasoline in Brazil, for example, contains 25 percent ethanol.

"We found it by accident. We tried to learn the first steps in reaction initially proposed, when we realize that the whole reaction catalyst conduct by themselves," said study lead author, Adam Rondinone.

Close up of the carbon nanospikes. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fYeYi)

Actually, the team's experiment is part of a long-term research project investigating how to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol. The researchers think, the process will require several steps and complex chemical reactions, but it is far easier than they imagined. They just need to add a single catalyst (copper) to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol.

These findings is a major breakthrough, given that carbon dioxide is the primary actor in contributing to climate change, can be converted into fuel.

Until now, not yet known whether this technology will be mass produced. If the cost is affordable and widely available, so this technology has the potential to become a producer of environmentally friendly alternative energy. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | IFLSCIENCE]

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