91: Recurring Martian Streaks could be just sand rather than water

*Recurring Martian Streaks could be just sand rather than water A new study claims dark streaks often seen on the Sun facing slopes of Martian gullies and ravines could be caused by moving sand rather than melting sub-surface permafrost. The conclusions provide an alternative to previous speculation that the features – known as recurring slope lineae or RSLs – were caused by flowing meltwater from permafrost layers seeping out from the sides of gullies and ravines. *Could cosmic dust be transporting life between worlds? A new study suggests that life on Earth might have originated from biological particles brought to the planet in streams of cosmic dust particles. The findings would mean fast-moving flows of interplanetary dust that continually bombard Earth’s atmosphere could deliver tiny organisms from far-off worlds, or send Earth-based organisms to other planets, according to the research. *Listening for alien signals. Way back on August the 15th 1977 astronomers at Ohio State University’s Big Ear radio telescope supporting the SETI Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence picked up a strange and very strong narrow band radio signal coming from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius. Now a new campaign is underway to listen for alien signals – not from Sagittarius but from M-31 Andromeda. *NASA Launches NOAA Weather Satellite to Improve Forecasts The penultimate launch of a Delta II rocket has successfully placed the first of a new generation of advanced weather satellites into a Sun synchronous orbit. The Joint Polar Satellite System-1 or JPSS-1 blasted into deep black early morning skies from the Vandenberg Air Force base in California. *Maxus-9 provides a little microgravity The European Space Agency has launched a Maxus sounding rocket to see how microgravity effects microorganisms. The mission which blasted off from Sweden’s Esrange Space Center-- flew on a sub-orbital ballistic trajectory delivering its five onboard experiments to the edge of space. *The Science Report A new weapon in the fight against peanut allergies. The link between mother’s weight during pregnancy and life-threatening childbirth complications. Just like people new studies show Budgies sweat. NASA finds a mantle plume deep below Antarctica's Marie Byrd Land. Health experts urging governments to consider suing big tobacco over public health costs. For enhanced Show Notes including photos to accompany this episode, visit: http://www.bitesz.com/spacetimeshownotes Subscribe, rate and review SpaceTime at all good podcasting apps…including Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, PocketCasts, Podbean, Radio Public, Tunein Radio, google play, Spreaker etc  Help support SpaceTime : The SpaceTime with Stuart Gary merchandise shop. Get your T-Shirts, Coffee Cups, badges, tote bag + more and help support the show. Check out the range: http://www.cafepress.com/spacetime Thank you. Plus: As a part of the SpaceTime family, you can get a free audio book of your choice, plus 30 days free access from audible.com. Just visit www.audibletrial.com/spacetime or click on the banner link at www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com Email: [email protected] Join our mailing list at http://www.bitesz.com/join-our-mailing-list  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Become a supporter of this podcast: