Wag's Blog: Just Another Monday

When I started writing a blog it seemed simple enough, but I have learned it is not easy.

There are days when you have a block and are at a loss, days when time is an issue, and days when you have company in town.

All of the above items are happening, so forgive me if my entries are a little shorter than usual.

All the news you can use!

After 10 Years, Life-on-Mars Theory Rebuked

This photo of the meteorite ALH84001 from Mars was released in 1996 as evidence of life on the planet.

It was a science fiction fantasy come true: Ten years ago this summer, NASA announced the discovery of life on Mars. At a Washington, D.C., news conference, scientists showed magnified pictures of a four-pound Martian meteorite riddled with wormy blobs that looked like bacterial colonies. The researchers explained how they had pried numerous clues from the rock, all strongly supporting their contention that microscopic creatures once occupied its nooks and crannies.

Ten years later, the results have not been verified. Skeptics have found non-biological explanations for every piece of evidence that was presented on Aug. 6, 1996. And though they still vigorously defend their claim, the NASA scientists who advanced it now stand alone in their belief.

"Sooner or later we're going to get another old rock," said Massachusetts Institute of Technology geophysicist Benjamin Weiss.

And when that happens, the talk about life on Mars will begin anew.

This fellow was spotted near Las Vegas, NV, at Area 51.

Extreme Conditions Create Rare Antarctic Clouds

SYDNEY- Rare, mother-of-pearl colored clouds caused by extreme weather conditions above Antarctica are a possible indication of global warming, Australian scientists said on Tuesday.

Known as nacreous clouds, the spectacular formations showing delicate wisps of colors were photographed in the sky over an Australian meteorological base at Mawson Station.

The delicate cloud colors are created at sunset when fading light passes through tiny water-ice crystals blown along on strong jets of stratospheric air.

Well, Las Vegas had a similar occurrence just a few days ago.

Known as nacreous clouds, the spectacular formations showing delicate wisps of colors were photographed in the sky over Mountain View Park in the Northwest portion of Las Vegas, NV.