Sandy's Clutter

Extraterrestial Life?

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:42:15 GMT

Feature March 26, 2008

A Perspective on Life on Enceladus: A World of Possibilities

Could microbial life exist inside Enceladus, where no sunlight reaches, photosynthesis is impossible and no oxygen is available? To answer that question, we need look no farther than our own planet to find examples of the types of exotic ecosystems that could make life possible on Saturn’s geyser moon. The answer appears to be, yes, it could be possible. It is this tantalizing potential that brings us back to Enceladus for further study.

In recent years, life forms have been found on Earth that thrive in places where the sun doesn’t shine and oxygen is not present because no photosynthesis takes place. Microbes have been discovered that survive on the energy from the chemical interaction between different kinds of minerals, and others that live off the energy from the radioactive decay in rocks. The ecosystems are completely independent of oxygen or organic material produced by photosynthesis at Earth’s surface. These extraordinary microbial ecosystems are models for life that might be present inside Enceladus today.

There are three such ecosystems found on Earth that would conceivably be a basis for life on Enceladus. Two are based on methanogens, which belong to an ancient group related to bacteria, called the archaea -- the rugged survivalists of bacteria that thrive in harsh environments without oxygen. Deep volcanic rocks along the Columbia River and in Idaho Falls host two of these ecosystems, which pull their energy from the chemical interaction of different rocks. The third ecosystem is powered by the energy produced in the radioactive decay in rocks, and was found deep below the surface in a mine in South Africa.

So the evidence points to the feasibility of life in Enceladus. But how would it get its start? A major problem in answering that question is that we don’t know how life originated on Earth, nor have we been able to reproduce Earth’s first spark of life in the laboratory. But here’s the good news: there are a lot of theories for how life originated on Earth. Now the question is -- do they apply to Enceladus?

Two of the theories for the origin of life on Earth do seem to apply to Enceladus--the “primordial soup” theory and the deep sea vent theory.

The Primordial Soup Theory

The theory that the origin of life occurred in a soup of organic material that came together from non-biological sources traces back to Charles Darwin, and was demonstrated in a famous experiment in 1953 when the chemists Stanley L. Miller and Harold C. Urey cooked up a primordial soup of chemicals thought to have been present on early Earth before life began. A spark, simulating lightning, was passed through this highly reduced mixture of methane, ammonia, water vapor and hydrogen. Within two weeks, a few amino acids, some of the building blocks of life, had formed in the soup. While Miller and Urey did not actually create life, they demonstrated that very complex molecules — amino-acids — could emerge spontaneously from simpler chemicals.

On Earth, it’s possible that the organic ingredients of the soup were produced from existing materials on the early Earth. Another theory is that the right soup mix ingredients arrived as incoming comet material and interplanetary dust.

Organic chemicals were part of the raw material from which Enceladus and Saturn’s other moons formed. The origin of Enceladus' heat is less clear, but there are several possibilities that could have given Enceladus a layer of liquid water that persists today. Early on, it could have been heated by decay of short-lived radioactivity in rocks, with the heating prolonged by tidal influences. Or perhaps an earlier oblong orbit could have brought more tidal heating than exists there today. A past tidal relationship with another moon could have caused the heat. Another theory says the heat could have been produced from a process called serpentization, where chemical binding of water and silicate rock could occur at the upper layer of the moon’s core. This increases the volume of the rock and creates energy in the form of heat.

Any of these heating mechanisms might have created a liquid subsurface aquifer solution rich in organics, allowing Enceladus to serve up a suitable prebiotic soup.

The Deep Sea Vent Theory

The deep sea vent theory for the origin of life on Earth might apply to Enceladus as well. In this scenario, life on Earth began at the interface where chemically rich fluids, heated by tidal or other mechanisms, emerge from below the sea floor. Chemical energy is derived from the reduced gases, such as hydrogen-sulfide and hydrogen coming out from the vent in contact with a suitable oxidant, such as carbon dioxide. Hot spots on an Enceladus sea floor could be locales for this type of process.

We don’t know how long it takes for life to start when the ingredients are there and the environment is suitable, but it appears to have happened quickly on Earth. So maybe it was possible that on Enceladus, life started in a “warm little pond” below the icy surface occurring over the last few tens of millions of years.

For life to persist once it has been established requires an environment of liquid water, the essential elements and nutrients, and an energy source. At Enceladus, we have evidence for liquid water, but we don’t know its origin. We have observed simple organic chemicals there, and the March 12 close flyby indicates there are some complex organic chemicals, as well. An energy source of some sort is producing geysers. As Cassini’s exploration continues, we’re seeking to bring together more pieces of this intriguing puzzle.

The first step toward answering the question of whether life exists inside the subsurface aquifer of Enceladus is to analyze the organic compounds in the plume. Cassini's March 12 passage through the plume provided some measurements that help us move toward an answer, and preliminary plans call for Cassini to fly through the plume again
for more measurements in the future. Ultimately, another mission in the future could conceivably land near the plume or even return plume material to Earth for laboratory analysis.

Chris McKay of NASA's Ames Research Center is an astrobiologist involved in the search for environments on other worlds where life may have evolved. Dennis Matson is the project scientist of the Cassini Mission to Saturn.

By Chris McKay and Dennis Matson

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 03:30:55 GMT

www.lost.eu/56051

Please join my game.

Life goes on

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 02:22:57 GMT

I just got back from Kwik E Mart. I have to go back with a camera. We got two donuts and they were really fresh. My son got a squishee.
My CD by Penny Royalty arrived today. Ed wrote the music and lyrics and sang all of the songs. He was extremely talented. You realize how much you really don't know about someone once they are gone. Then again, it's hard to know too much about the people around you. I know that no one but my family knows much about me. Even they would not know the whole package.
I need to find a website or program that will allow me to make a collage using scanned and downloaded images. That would allow me to creatively post the discount cards, name badges and pictures I got from the wall of the front end office. The only thing I had of Ed's was a team member discount card, but I downloaded some pictures, and I now have his CD.

Contemplations

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:23:22 GMT

I'm still trying to figure things out. It's so much more difficult when you haven't been in touch with someone, and even those that knew him best do not know what happened. I don't even know how it happened, but that wouldn't help me figure it out. It's sad to know that my mortality comes into play because of someone the same age as my child. As public as the internet is, at least this blog is still fairly personal and only found by some. To those that don't know, Ed Kinser took his life last weekend, on June 24, 2007. He touched so many lives and is already missed very much. I decided to make a new myspace page because my daughter-in-law had so many bulletins posted, I almost missed the news. I love Ashley, but... So now, I have a family page, as separate from my friends page.

We'll miss you, Ed.

Life

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 04:12:36 GMT

Well, I've completed one day of training at DFW airport. I'm looking forward to being a volunteer. I have now finished orientation and begin training at Home Depot. I think I'll really like it there. Now, I have to do as good of a job as I did at Whole Foods, and I'll become a permanent employee. I really think I'm going to like it there.

Movin' on up

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 03:06:06 GMT

I finally heard from Home Depot, had the interview and did the drug test. This week, I signed the paperwork and next week I start my training. I'll make $2.25/hour more than what I make at Sears. That's a big weight off of my shoulders now.

Overdue Update

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 16:29:32 GMT

Where to begin? My grandson, Camryn, was born February 9. 2007. My son married the mother of his baby, Ashley, on March 9, 2007. I am doing a lot more mystery shopping and having fun doing them. I had an interview at Home Depot on Thursday. They are doing the background check and drug test and it takes about a week. It pays $2.25/hour more than what I'm making at Sears. They also have their schedules ready three weeks in advance, as opposed to Sears which changed my schedule after 1:30 PM on Saturday for the week that started the next day. Needless to say, I made other plans only after getting my schedule and they overlapped the changed schedule. This location sucks. I don't know if any of the other locations treats their people the same. I also had only 11 hours scheduled for the week. Looking at the changed schedule, there were 20 hours. Seeing as the only other time I walked in the store was Tuesday night, I was never informed that I had changed or added hours.
Instead, I got a call last Sunday telling me that hours had been added, but that was a mistake. I was not to come in on Tuesday and I verified that I was only scheduled for two shifts as it was. If my Tuesday shift was canceled, that left me with only Saturday morning. The manager said yes, that was right. Then, on Tuesday, I got a call telling me to come in that night. I worked my Tuesday night shift and kind of glanced at the copy of the schedule. I saw hours for Friday, which I did not see when I went in, and hours for Saturday. I already went to my orientation for the AFI Dallas film festival and I was scheduled for Friday afternoon and Saturday night. This was based on a late afternoon look at the schedule the day before it took affect.
I saw one of my role models, yesterday, at the Magnolia theater. Lauren Bacall came to talk after her movie, Dark Passage. She was there with her dog. Then, we got a big surprise when Sidney Pollack showed up before the showing of The Way We Were. Tonight, David Lynch will be at the theater. I couldn't have hoped for any more excitement.
On my way home, I stopped at the Highland Park Whole Foods and saw one of my favorite people, Monty. He said he'd go through and pull my application this week. I've been keeping myself so busy, I haven't had time to stop at any of the Whole Foods and let them know it's been six months and I'd like to come back.
Better days must be ahead

Want to make some slow money?

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:04:41 GMT

Here's an investment website that will give you $50.00 to open an account payable in 24 months. Then, they give you another $50.00 for each referral.

http://www.wealthtoolbox.com/?ref=sandykmac@hotmail.com

Latest News

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:42:06 GMT

I know, I know, I'm way behind, but I've checked other people out and they are behind also. I am now employed. I got a list of places that were hiring at Valley View Mall and I applied online to Sears. I now work in the shoe department. It's been fun so far. The real fun starts next Friday. I've also been able to do some new mystery shops. We went to the Melting Pot last Saturday. I've been doing Starbucks. I did a Lush store. They have some great products and I am sold on them. My son seems very excited about the upcoming baby. I'm glad he's so happy. That's the main thing(after selp-sufficiency) that you want for them.

Diet and Exercise Oh My!

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 04:31:36 GMT

I have found a website where I can keep a diet and exercise diary. I have to take better care of myself. It can be found here: http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=sandykmac
I want to live another 40-50 years.

Same ol' Same ol'

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 02:09:29 GMT

Still looking for a new job. I definitely need to call the temporary agency that I heard from earlier. I have my doctor's appointment behind me and David and I have been to UNT. He really liked the TAMS program, but I talked to him and told him, they said it's not the thing for a gifted underachiever. He just isn't the type to go above and beyond. That's his style and that makes him a lot like I was. I had a mass interview at Cingular on Monday. Then I had a one-on-one interview on Tuesday. I thought I did well, but later I realized I said some things that I could have framed differently. Oh well, it was a call center. I wasn't sure if I could handle it or not. I got a check for the Dell training phone calls I made last month. I signed up for some I had canceled when I thought I already had a job. I also have a trailer check for tomorrow and David has two shops to do with me. We'll be fine, but I will need something permanent soon.

Coupons for a good cause

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 21:05:00 GMT

http://www.alexscoupons.com/linkto.html

Please visit this site.

And...

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Life

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 04:13:52 GMT

Tomorrow's my birthday. Woo hoo! I put in three applications. This morning I got a call from one of them. It sounds interesting. Then, on my way to do a mystery shop this evening, I got a phone call from Elizabeth. I had talked to her at Highland Park on Friday. Tonight, she told me she talked to Debbie and Debbie wants me to call her. Every day, things are different. I'll keep you posted on what happens.

Employment?

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 17:27:23 GMT

I called the recruiter on Tuesday, he said they were waiting for the drug test, but they also had a job that paid more and he would get the information for that on Thursday. Thursday has come and gone. I was actually wanting to wait until after next week since I have a doctor's appointment and my son goes to UNT for a preview and information day, so it is working out for me. I have a temporary agency that I am supposed to call back after next week. I'll also check out the Texas Workforce website next week. At least I know there are jobs out there and I know my 10 key speed again. I never knew my typing speed was so much improved. I feel so slow when I'm typing. Wish me luck.

Superhero

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:45:39 GMT

I know, I'm a bit late with this, but we have a new superhero.
http://www.scifi.com/superhero/heroes/feedback/

I'm Employed!?

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 01:05:42 GMT

I posted my resume on Monster.com, yesterday and last night I got a call from a recruiter. I have no "work" clothes as I've been wearing jeans or black pants for 7 years. I rushed out to Valley View Mall this morning and tried Foleys, Lane Bryants, and then I went into Jacque Penneys. I couldn't find anything and was heading out when I noticed the dresses were across the way. I went in there and went back to the suits. There was a rack of clearance and lo and behold, there was a 3 piece suit for under $15.00. I was looking for a pair of pants and a skirt that I could coordinate with. I was going to check out, but thought I'd see if I could find a blouse to go with it. I got 2 blouses and the suit for just under $52.00.
I rushed home, got changed and headed out for the "interview". It mainly consisted of the recruiter trying to sell me on the job. I forgot to mention that I took a 10-key and typing test and "blew them away". I did 12,000 kph on the 10-key and 50 wpm on the typing test. Tomorrow, I take the drug test and I'm supposed to start on Tuesday. They are also doing a background check. I just got a car loan last November so that should turn out okay. I've never done anything so I figure I'll be fine.
It's all happening so fast. I thought I'd wait until 09/18/06 before I would actually start anything. This was all going to be practice. Now, I'm employed in time to start paying my bills.

What's Going On!

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 03:59:17 GMT

I finally got my resume written up in a way I felt happy with. I sent it in to a few places and I posted it online. I have two interviews on Friday and this evening a recruiter called because he saw my resume online and I have another interview tomorrow. I need to get something to wear in the morning. I've been wearing T-shirts and jeans for 7 years. The clothes I used to have were out of style and didn't fit. Everything is happening so fast I don't know what's going on. All of this happened today. To think, the first job I put an application in yesterday, sent me a thanks, but no thanks email.

Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 03:30:30 GMT

Today, I went to 10 stores and counted beer displays. I thought it might take 20-30 minutes for each one. I was pleasantly surprised that it took me one and one-half hours. I also drove 15 miles roundtrip. Not bad for $50.00. I found the website for the Occupational handbook so I could get some job descriptions. I need to find a way to translate my experience to "action" descriptions. Every step helps. We got the electric bill, it was supposed to be averaged two months ago. Last month we called, and it was going to be averaged this month. Imagine our surprise when it was $455.00. We'll make it. My mother is upset that when they added all their utilities, it was half of my father's income for the month. From what I remember, that's not a bad percentage since the house is paid off. I will sell some options so we can get by, especially since I have my own bills. The right job will come along. I deposited two checks from my mystery shopping and kept out $10.00. Then I spent the remaining $50.00 at the grocery store.

My life post WFM

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 21:21:41 GMT

I made 2 phone calls with one of my mystery shop companies. We call trainees at call centers and pretend we want to buy computers. Tomorrow, I go out and count beer at liquor and convenience stores. Last week, I went to IKEA. That was an exhausting shop. I signed up for information to be an airport ambassador. I thought that would be a way to do shops at the airport. It all keeps me busy and it gives me some cash flow. Too bad it doesn't pay insurance, but you can't have it all. I just hope I can find something permanent before too long. I know, I know, I need to get my resume finished. I hereby promise to have it done by Friday 08/25/2006 6:00PM. There, I have committed to it for the whole world(all me of them) to read!

Musings

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 04:27:50 GMT

I guess it's time to record things. Lost my job last Saturday. Luckily I have a bit of cushion, but it won't last long. I live with my parents which is a good thing at times since they need me as much as I need them. Today is my son's 15th birthday. His phone quit working so I gave him a Motorola SLVR as an early birthday present. The big thing about today is "Snakes on a Plane". He's been anticipating that ever since he found out it was coming out on his birthday.
I'm going to miss everyone at work. I haven't had a lot of friends. When I was growing up, we would move every 1-4 years. Seemed like as soon as I had friends, we'd move. As an adult, that hasn't changed much. My closest friend died in 1980 and I lost touch with all the other friends I had at that age. One reason I've lost touch is the fact that I got tired of being the one doing all the calling and visiting. Then it became harder to make friends. I've thought I had friends at places I worked, only to find out they really weren't. I had some close friends in Sanger and then life got in the way. I do need to get in touch with Cynthia, though. She was in jail when I left Sanger and my son tells me she lives near the Highland Park store now.
I feel like I made some good friends at Whole Foods, but I'm more family oriented these days, so it's just been at-work friendships. I do tend to keep people at arms length. I guess it's time to reach out, but the past has had more effect on me than I realized. I need to get myself focused so I can work up a functional resume.
Things will definitely look up.

Which Major Arcana Tarot Card Are You?

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 00:31:14 GMT

You scored as III - The Empress. The Empress is a maternal symbol. She is the mother figure who loves, nurtures and protects.
She will protect you, she will always be there when you are in trouble. When you fall over and graze your knee, the Empress will kiss it better.
Yet she is not a weak figure. Her compassion is strength. If her children are threatened she will stop at nothing to protect them. If well aspected in a Tarot spread, the Empress can symbolise security, protection and unconditional love. If badly aspected it can represent over-protectiveness, fear of risk taking and refusal to face the real world.

</td>

III - The Empress

100%

XIII: Death

88%

0 - The Fool

81%

XIX: The Sun

75%

XVI: The Tower

69%

VIII - Strength

63%

II - The High Priestess

63%

XI: Justice

56%

X - Wheel of Fortune

25%

I - Magician

25%

XV: The Devil

19%

VI: The Lovers

13%

IV - The Emperor

13%

Which Major Arcana Tarot Card Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com

How strange is this. This was the card I used to represent myself when I read the cards.

Termination

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:27:21 GMT

I'm currently unemployed. I made a mistake while on final warning. Dems the breaks.

Whirlwind

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 21:55:43 GMT

Where to begin? Changes are happening everywhere, work, home, family. I just learned I'm going to be a grandmother. That's a big change. Stephen hasn't been seeing Ashley that long and they just moved in together. Big changes, they really should get to know each other first, but sometimes things happen. I have no regrets when it comes to my children. Almost everything is changing at work, too. I'll wait and see where things go. I'm not sure where I want my career going since it only seems to be going down at my location with no hopes of even reaching my previous level. Oh, well, nothing ever stays the same and the stress level has gone way down. I'm doing a lot more mystery shopping and that's fun. The money's starting to come in and I'm enjoying it. David got a 93 on his first semester final in geometry in summer school and he only has two weeks left. Life goes on.

Update

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:35:23 GMT

I'm getting myself too much to do, but it sure beats sitting around and stagnating. My mystery shopping is getting better. I'm trying different things, but occassionally I'm overbooking myself. Some of that is because I'm trying to get rated so I can get the better jobs and some of it is to try something new to decide if I want to do it. I'm now having to take my son to summer school. I also have to pick him up. Wouldn't be so bad, but it's on the other side of downtown. Not as bad as taking Stephen to Gainesville from Sanger, but a close second. Well, got to run. Consider my journal updated for now

Just a note

Sun, 21 May 2006 05:43:48 GMT

Things are going along. That's it, just going along. I did find a great website. You can created your own radio stations by inputting the name of your favorite group or song. It's http://www.pandora.com/. I have so many and ideas for a lot more. I've got one for "Tool", one for EDGEFEST and one I formed from the song "Cocaine" by JJ Cale. It's addictive and you can interact by letting it know if you like or dislike a song.
Work is difficult. I really don't enjoy it as much as I used to, but I'm trying to decide what direction I really want to go in. I'm getting a lot more involved in mystery shopping, but you can't make a living doing what I've done so far. Not sure it's a full-time occupation, anyway, but it is a lot of fun.
I now consider this blog updated :]