Alien Soup

(click to view the full-size image) This oblique view of the lower mound in Gale Crater shows layers of rock that preserve a record of environments on Mars. Here, orbiting instruments have detected signatures of both clay minerals and sulfate salts, with more clay minerals apparent in the foreground of this image and fewer in higher layers. This change in mineralogy may reflect a change in the ancient environment in Gale Crater. Mars scientists have several important hypotheses about how these minerals may reflect changes in the amount of water on the surface of Mars. The Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, will use its full suite of instruments to study these minerals to provide insights into these ancient Martian environments. These rocks are also a prime target in the search for organic molecules since these past environments may have been habitable -- able to support microbial life. Scientists will study how organic molecules, if present, vary with mineralogical variations in the layers to understand how they formed and what influences their preservation. The smaller hills in this view may provide clues to the modern water cycle on Mars. They contain sulfate salts that have water in them, and as temperatures warm into summer, some of that water may be released to the atmosphere. As temperatures cool, they may absorb water from the atmosphere. The Mars Science Laboratory team will investigate how water is exchanged between these minerals and the atmosphere, helping us understand Mars' modern climate. The hills are particularly useful for this investigation because different parts of the hills are exposed to different amounts of sunlight and thus to different temperatures. Curiosity will be able to compare the water in these contrasting areas as part of its investigations. This three-dimensional perspective view was created using visible-light imaging by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the High Resolution Stereo Camera on the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter. Three-dimensional information was derived by stereo analysis of image pairs. The vertical dimension is not exaggerated. Color information is derived from color imaging of portions of the scene by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera. The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft is being prepared for launch on Nov. 25, 2011. In a prime mission lasting one Martian year -- nearly two Earth years -- after landing, researchers will use the rover's tools to study whether the landing region has had environmental conditions favorable for supporting microbial life and for preserving clues about whether life existed. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona (More at NASA Picture Of The Day)

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OK, for the stromboli fans out there, does sausage belong on an Italian Stromboli? 🤔 This week Mrs. Kevin tried an Italian from a local place and, oddly, at the bottom was a layer of sliced sausage, like the type you might see as a pizza topping. Typically an Italian would be a combination of meats like capicola, salami, ham, or pepperoni along with mozzarella. Each local place may do their own different combination but it is almost always from the same basic set of meats. Born & raised in the Philly area, we take stuff like strombolis, pizza, and cheesesteaks pretty seriously. 😁 Never until this week have I seen or heard of somebody putting sausage on an Italian. It wasn't bad, really, but it affected the flavor enough that it stood out. So what do you say, does sausage belong on an Italian Stromboli?

Title: Archive 81 Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Creator: Rebecca Sonnenshine Cast: Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit, Martin Donovan, Matt McGorry, Julia Chan, Ariana Neal First aired: 2022-01-14 Overview: An archivist takes a job restoring damaged videotapes and gets pulled into the vortex of a mystery involving the missing director and a demonic cult.

Third Flatiron has released its Summer/Fall 2022 anthology, "After the Gold Rush," with the theme of "aftermaths" and consequences of overexpansion. It contains 21 short stories, many featuring work by proteges of Wulf Moon's "Wulf Pack" writing workshop. Includes a humor section, "Grins and Gurgles." Details at thirdflatiron.com. Available from Amazon at Amazon.com: After the Gold Rush (Third Flatiron Anthologies Book 31) eBook : Rew, Juliana, Cleden, David, Moon, Wulf, Bagnall, Robert, Hogan, Liam, Fawns, Angelique, Morton, Eve, Fox, Shannon, Easton, Tom, Hecht, Jeff: Kindle Store