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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: life

life stories: 7 news summaries

(Newser) - An amino acid necessary to the construction of proteins, and therefore life on Earth, has been found in a comet that passes through our solar system, Space.com reports. Glycine was found in samples picked up by a NASA spacecraft in 2004. The discovery suggests that life’s building blocks... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • life • comet • Stardust • spacecraft • amino acids • glycine • panspermia

 Phoenix Samples Martian Dirt 

Robotic arm tested prior to search for life

Jun 2, 08 5:41 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Phoenix Mars Lander grabbed a small sample of the fine soil of the planet's polar region yesterday. It was only a test "dig and dump"—using the spacecraft's 8-foot-long robotic arm—but paves the way for retrieving and analyzing samples of Martian soil later this week, reports... More »

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NASA • Mars • University of Arizona • Phoenix Mars Lander • life • robotic arm • Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer • TEGA

 7 Minutes of Danger
 in Mars Quest 

Probe makes risky landing Sunday in hunt for water

May 23, 08 2:52 AM CDT
(Newser) - The latest NASA mission searching for signs of life on Mars comes to a heart-pounding climax Sunday as the Phoenix Lander attempts to touch down at the red planet's pole in a hunt for water. The lander must perform complex maneuvers in which the whole mission is at risk for... More »

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NASA • water • Mars • Arctic • University of Arizona • Opportunity • Spirit • Tufts University • Phoenix Mars Lander • life • Jet Propulsion Laboratory • polar region • Washington State University

 Asteroids Could Reseed
 a Devastated Earth 

Rock-dwelling microorganisms would make it back from space

May 18, 08 3:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - If a comet ever obliterates life on Earth, don't worry—space rocks could later fall in and reseed a few basic life forms. A new study shows that organisms can survive being hit by a meteor, ejected into space, and hurtled back to Earth on the face of a rock—... More »

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Mars • space • Earth • microorganisms • life • asteroid • meteorites • space debris

Living Life While Facing Death

Professor's 'last
lecture' inspires millions through viral Internet video

Mar 31, 08 7:32 PM CDT
(Newser) - Professor Randy Pausch may be dying of pancreatic cancer, but a video of his “last lecture” continues to inspire millions around the world, the Independent reports. Pausch delivered his speech, titled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” to laughter and tears at Carnegie Mellon in September. Picked up... More »

MORE ABOUT:
cancer • cancer research • pancreatic cancer • life • Randy Pausch • motivational speaker • inspiration

When the Sun Dies, Earth Might Not

Just-discovered planet survived; so there's hope for the old globe

Sep 13, 07 3:32 AM CDT
(Newser) - When the Sun begins to kick out in some 5 billion years, it might not take Earth with it, reports the New York Times. Scientists are more optimistic since discovering a planet that survived a similar situation. A lack of hydrogen fuel is expected to cause the Sun to expand... More »

MORE ABOUT:
planet • Earth • sun • solar system • life

Frozen DNA
Survives After
8 Million Years

Microorganisms from Antarctica look
like Martian data

Aug 7, 07 9:15 PM CDT
(Newser) - Scientists have nixed the notion that glaciers are lifeless blocks of ice by thawing chunks containing Antarctic organisms and watching them successfully divide on their own, the Los Angeles Times reports. The study suggests that these microorganisms, ranging from 100,000 to 8 million years old, could yield DNA and... More »

MORE ABOUT:
evolution • global warming • Mars • DNA • bacteria • Antarctica • glacier • microorganisms • life • gene Popsicle

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