Water on Saturn's moon

It is possible that new data from Cassini points towards water just below the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.

NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/cassini20120628.html

Water on Mars?

A new study of fragments from the planet Mars strongly suggest that the interior of the planet may contain an amount of water similar to that of Earth's mantle.
Does this remind anyone else of the Doctor Who episode "The Waters of Mars"? I'm not sure if I want them to colonize anymore.

Smithsonian: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/suprising-science/scientists-discover-that-mars-is-full-of-water.html?c=y&page=1&device=iphone

Dark matter tracks could give earliest view of Universe

Summary: It seems as though scientists have come up with a new way of studying dark matter based on wavelengths. I can't say I fully understood it though.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18521713

Telescope to probe dark universe

Summary: Europe is set to launch a telescope to investigate dark energy and dark matter in the year 2019. The US will have a very small role but some American scientists will be allowed access to the data. 

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18503703

Cracks in the Standard Model?

Summary: "Recently analyzed data from the BaBar experiment show that one type of particle decay happens more often than predicted by the Standard Model.  This excess, seen with a “3.4 sigma” level of certainty, is not enough to claim a definitive break from the accepted theory, but it is a sign that something could well be amiss."
Basically, particles aren't decaying into different particles with the same frequency as predicted. If validated it could point to the Higgs particle having a charge and there would be a huge ripple effect seen in the Standard Model.


Symmetry Magazine: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/breaking/2012/06/18/babar-data-may-hint-at-new-physics/

The Muon

Ever wanted to learn what a muon is but don't have time for a long explanation? This is a very good 60 second lesson from Symmetry Magazine.

http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000955

Voyager 1 is on the edge of interstellar space

Summary:

Voyager 1, a satellite launched by NASA in late 1977, is on the edge of 
interstellar space. Based on an increase of high energy particles, the satellite 
could cross over into interstellar space at any time. 

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18458478 

NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/voyager20120614.html 

Colossal telescope given go-ahead

Summary: The European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) is given the go ahead to be built. It will have a primary mirror some 40m in diameter, and will be built on top of a mountain in Chile. When completed it will be the largest optical telescope in the world. It will see in visible and near-infared. It will hopefully uncover some of the mysteries surrounding dark energy. BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18396853 And as always, if you have any questions on the news story or something else that seems up my ally, leave a comment and I will do my best to answer it.

SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft

An American company has launched a spacecraft which succesfully docked with the ISS and landed in the ocean.


BBC News: docking - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18195772
landing - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18273811


Off topic: Don't expect any news to be very immediate over the summer due to my
limited Internet access.

Nations to share giant telescope

Summary: South Africa, Australia and New Zealand will host the biggest radio telescope
ever built.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18194984