Episode #638
News Items
Who's That Noisy
- Answer to last week: Saturn
Science or Fiction
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Item #1
Science
Observations of Saturn’s rings show the possible formation of a new moon from the outer edge. This suggests that ring material may not only rain inward onto Saturn, but move outward forming new moons. https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/2514/nasa-cassini-images-may-reveal-birth-of-a-saturn-moon/
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Item #2
Fiction
Cassini’s long term observations were used to calculate the length of Saturn’s day for the first time. https://www.space.com/37605-cassini-grand-finale-at-saturn-new-science.html
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Item #3
Science
Saturn’s moon Titan has hundreds of times as much hydrocarbons on its surface than all the oil and gas reserves on Earth. https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/2413/titans-surface-organics-surpass-oil-reserves-on-earth/
Skeptical Quote of the Week.
‘We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry. There will come with the greater love of science greater love to one another.’ Maria Mitchell