U.S. Geological
Survey and NASA scientists studying Mount St. Helens are using
high-tech Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology to analyze
changes in the surface elevation of the crater, which began deforming
in late September 2004. With data derived from airborne LIDAR,
scientists can accurately map the dimensions of the uplift. LIDAR
shows, in the two weeks before Oct. 4, the new uplift grew to the
height of a 35-story building and the area of 29 football fields.
A University
of Florida scientist has grown a living “brain” that
can fly a simulated plane, giving scientists a novel way to observe
how brain cells function as a network. The “brain” --
a collection of 25,000 living neurons, or nerve cells, taken from
a rat’s brain and cultured inside a glass dish -- gives scientists
a unique real-time window into the brain at the cellular level.
By watching the brain cells interact, scientists hope to understand
what causes neural disorders such as epilepsy and to determine
noninvasive ways to intervene.
NASA scientists
took infrared (IR) digital images of Mount Saint Helens last week.
The images revealed signs of heat below the surface one day before
the volcano erupted last Friday in southern Washington. The images
may provide valuable clues as to how the volcano erupted. Scientists
flew an IR imaging system aboard a small Cessna Caravan aircraft
over the mountain to acquire the data. "Based on the IR signal,
the team predicted an imminent eruption," said Steve Hipskind
of NASA's Ames Research Center. (Visit the USDA
Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam.)
While SpaceShipOne’s
wispy contrail from sky to space quickly vanished into the thin
desert air here, Monday’s flight at Mojave Spaceport left
a solid line in the sand -- to create a "new space age" of
personal space travel. Shortly after SpaceShipOne touched down,
the chief designer of that vehicle, Burt Rutan of Scaled Composites,
made it clear he’s already got his sleeves rolled up.
Burt Rutan's
Mojave Aerospace Ventures Team successfully reached an altitude
of 337,500 feet with Mike Melvill (the pilot) onboard plus ballast
(approx. 180 Kg). This flight was deemed by the Judges as a successful
first flight for the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The X PRIZE has
just received official notice from Burt Rutan that SpaceShipOne's
second flight (X2) will take place Monday morning, October 4th.
