ICY SCIENCE MAGAZINE WINTER 2014 Vol 2

EXTTHAENTMLIAFEROSNSMOACRSIE? TYICY SCIENCE PUBLICATION: WWW.ICYSCIENCE.COM: WINTER 2013/14

2CONTENTSICY SCIENCE: DIGITAL MAGAZINE QTR 1 20146 One Year Mission to the ISS13 IT’S FIBONACCI’S BIT - SEEDING THE UNIVERSE WITH 0 AND 122 F = MA28 KNOWLEDGE OBSERVATORY STARGAZING LIVE EVENT43 Comet Ison’s Demise44 Origin of Life On Earth6oCua2traCImsltimraogapitnheaeCtihooarnn?agFeig- AmGenlotboaflM7663 oAntMtiaorcynticsa Favorite ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

3iO8n3pg poonMrtMaurnasirtEsyxpCleolerabtriaotneRs o1v0eYrears Work-90 Our Return to the Moon98 Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii102 In the Newstop image provided by Caroline Scott ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

4Special Thanks John GarrettCian O’Regan W: www.temeculavalleyastronomers.comT: @irishspaceblog Denise Hemphill aka ZantippyW: irishspaceblog.blogspot.ie SkiphopAnthony Ryan T: @ZantippySkiphopT: @AntRyanET Caroline Scott T: Astro_CazW: AntRya.nETJulian OnionsT: @julianonionsW: http://ou-know.blogspot.co.uk/Knowledge ObservatoryT: @KnowledgeObsAstW: http://www.theknowledgeobservatory.co.uk/Henna KhanT: @henna_khanW: https://www.facebook.com/UniverseSimplifiedDan LucusT: @dan__lucasICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

5 Contact: E: [email protected] TWITTER: @DavesAstronomy W: www.icyscience.comWELCOME to another Icy Science magaizine.This quarter we are packed with Astronomy, Space andplenty of Science. Form a look at our origins to climatechange. We have another look at numbers and a lookat the last year on he ISS. From the cold of space to thefreezing cold of Antarctica. We visit a Stargazing Liveevent with the Knowledge Observatory and a look athumankinds retun to the moon. NEXT ED20IT1I4ON MAYICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

6ONE YEAR MISSION TO THE ISSIn March 2015, one astronaut and one cosmonaut will launch from Ka-zakhstan to spend one year living and working in space aboard the Inter-national Space Station.NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian Federal Space Agencycosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, will launch atop a Soyuz rocket from theBaikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan along with fellow cosmonaut Gen-nady Padalka, scheduled for March 2015. Kelly and Kornienko will liveaboard the orbiting complex for one year, before returning to Earth in2016. Kornienko and Kelly will spend one year living on the International Space Station in 2015The one year mission will allow scientists to see how the human body willadapt to the microgravity living and working conditions found aboard theISS, as well as examining the psychological effects of living off the planetfor one year. The scientific community will also be carefully watching howKelly and Kornienko re-adapt to life back on Earth after spending a yearin low-Earth orbit. Changes in vision are just one of the many side effectsthat have been observed in some astronauts returning from long-durationICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

7spaceflights, and researchers want to learn more about its root causes anddevelop countermeasures to minimize this risk.The duo will also have to combat bone and muscle loss (which happens toevery astronaut when they fly in space for several months) by exercising for2.5 hours each day, using the station’s treadmills, bike machine known asCEVIS(stands for Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation and StabilizationSystem) and a weights machine called ARED(stands for Advanced Resistive Ex-ercise Device). For a six month mission, astronauts can lose up to 15% musclevolume.Just in case you were wondering, this will not be the first time humanbeings will be sent into orbit for a year-long mission. In 1994, cosmonautValeri Polyakov spent over 437 days living aboard the Russian space stationMir, before returning to Earth in 1995. Despite suffering from a clear decline inmorale for the first two months of his mission, Polyakov was able to regain hispre-flight mood for the rest of the mission. Scott Kelly with Robonaut 2 during Expedition 26Upon returning to Earth in his Soyuz capsule after a successful mission,Polyakov decided he would rather walk the small distance from his spacecraftto a nearby reclining chair, demonstrating that humans would be able to walkon the surface of Mars after several weightless months in transit from Earth.This extra-long duration mission showed that the human body could deal withthe strains and stresses of living in space for such an extended period of time.However, Kelly and Kornienko will be the first space farers to spend a year liv-ing on the International Space Station. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

8Recently I began asking astronauts who have spent time liv- I feel we needing and working aboard the ISS about the one year mission, to know moreand what they thought the biggest challenges will be for about whatKelly and Kornienko. happens to the bodyESA astronaut and Expedition 26/27 Flight Engineer Paolo and what happens to theNespoli, who spent six months living on the ISS in 2010 & mind when you stay in2011, told me that now is a good time to an attempt a space for a long time, so Imission of this nature: think that now is a goodalso asked Doug Wheelock, who, like Nespoli, lived aboard time and I thinkthe ISS alongside Scott Kelly, about his thoughts on the up- we should do it.coming mission, and what challenges would be faced by theone year crew. He went on to say that the biggest obstacles DOUG WHEELOCK SAYSwould be dealing with the mental stresses of living off the I think theplanet for such a long time: greatest chal-Finally, I recently spoke with Expedition 35/36 Flight Engi- lenge will beneer Chris Cassidy, who returned from the International managing theSpace Station back in September 2013, about his thoughts physiology &on the one year mission: psychology of isolation,“In my experience on coming home emotion, & senses... it isday, as we were closing the hatch I critical to stay in the mo-thought to myself “What would I think mentif I was halfway done right now? Howwould I feel? What would I need? Tobe honest I felt a little accumulativefatigue- when you’re living at yourworkplace, and you can’t shut the doorto work and go home in the eveningand kick back and watch Monday NightFootball- you’re there all the time and iteventually catches up to you”.ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

9Cassidy, who completed a total of three spacewalks, or EVAs, during his most recent flight, also had a fewideas regarding how the crew doesn’t become fatigued with the heavy workload that comes with livingaboard the orbiting outpost, suggesting a longer weekend from time to time in the second half of the mission:“I think my recommendation would be in months 7 through 12, the secondhalf of the year is to have a three day weekend every month becauseyou really need a good recharge. Sunday is a really good day to have arecharge, and to have an extra Sunday thrown in the mix every now andthen would go a long way”.All in all, it appears that everyone in science and space exploration fields are confident about the one yearmission. Both Kelly and Kornienko have lived aboard the ISS before, so it’s fair to say that we have a veryexperienced crew on our hands, logging a total of 356 days in space between them.It is hoped that data recorded from this 2015 mission will assist teams on the ground in their understand-ing of the effects of long terms weightlessness on the body, and what it may be like for humans if they weresent on a mission to Mars in the future. After Kelly and Kornienko return to Earth in 2016, we will no doubt,be one small step closer to the human exploration of the Red Planet.GODSPEED........Words: Cian O’ReganImages: Wikipedia & NASA ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

10 Binocular Astronomy, 2nd EditionBinocular Astronomy, 2nd Edition goes far deeper than similar books into the varying optical characteris-tics of binoculars, giving newcomers and advanced astronomers the information needed to make informedchoices on purchasing a pair. It also covers relevant aspects of the physiology of binocular (as in “both eyes”)observation. The first edition of this book was praised for its suggested objects for observation and espe-cially for the finder charts for each object. In this second edition, this section is expanded in three ways.There are new objects, more information on each object, and a re-organization of the objects for binocu-lars for easier selection.Binocular Astronomy, 2nd Edition puts an emphasis on understanding binoculars and their use. The addi-tional content reflects the latest developments in technology, new testing techniques, and practical ideasfor binocular use. It also responds to the substantially positive reviews of the first edition, and is now evenbetter suited to its target readership.It is available in print and Kindle editions.Springer: http://www.springer.com/astronomy/popular+astronomy/book/978-1-4614-7466-1Amazon UK Print: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1846283086/1944Amazon UK Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00EITWQE2/1944 Amazon USA Print:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00EITWQE2/tonkinsastronomyAmazon USA Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00EITWQE2/tonkinsastronomyICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

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12 Image Credit: Ant RyanICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

13     IT’S FIBONACCI’S BIT - SEEDING THE UNIVERSE WITH 0 AND 1                                    Abstract. John Wheeler suggested that information is fundamental tophysics, resulting in the very nature of what we observe. However, anyinformation that passes beyond an event horizon becomes empiricallylost. What happens to it? Here, I explore the fundamentals of how infor-mation is exchanged in reality, how it changes, and any potential for it tobe destroyed. Remarkably the Fibonacci sequence, appearing so often innature, is revealed from this voyage, bringing with it possible answers toWheeler’s question.Wheeler’s 0’s and 1’sJohn Wheeler suggested that everything we observe in the known Universe(the it) is less fundamental than the information that produces it (the bit); bitshort for Binary Digit, in turn owing to the Binary code used to store informa-tion in computing. I ask could the Universe have a base 2 system with 0 and1 at its foundation.Wheeler was also known for popularising the term ‘Black Hole’, which is agreat place for Quantum Gravity to emerge and information to hide. I suggestin this essay that the foundations for reality begin with emergence of 0 and1 dimensionality at a singularity resulting in the Universe we live in and inwhich information is processed. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

14Fibonacci’s 0 and 1’sBy definition, the first two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 0 and 1, and each subsequent numberis the sum of the previous two.The sequence Fn of Fibonacci numbers is defined by the recurrence relation: Fn = Fn-1 + Fn-2 with seed values F0 = 0, F1 = 1Both the Fibonacci sequence and Wheeler’s foundational question rely upon 0 and 1. Despite Wheeler’s0 and 1 being mainly symbolic, the basic idea of 0 and something as alternative answers to yes/no ques-tions lends to information. Likewise, Fibonacci begins with something and nothing.Fibonacci numbers occur in mathematics as the sums of shallow diagonals in Pascal’s triangle, they canbe found in different ways in the sequence of binary strings, and are related to the Golden ratio. Everysecond Fibonacci number is the largest number in a Pythagorean triple. All positive integers can bewritten as a sum of Fibonacci numbers. Fibonacci sequences appear in biological settings, in two consec-utive Fibonacci numbers, such as branching in trees [1], arrangement of leaves on a stem, the fruitlets ofa pineapple [2], the flowering of artichoke, an uncurling fern and the arrangement of a pine cone [3]. TheFibonacci numbers are also found in the family tree of honeybees [4].Perhaps it isn’t too much of a leap of faith to include reality’s relationship with information, “It from Bit”,as another of Fibonacci’s attributes.ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

15The link between Fibonacci and Wheeler may seem speculative however I will show a logical relationshipwhich the Fibonacci sequence has with both information and reality.A thought experiment: Descent into a Black Hole (and back out)Interaction, observation and being observed, is key to all of physics, and information is at the heart of this.Normal 4-dimensional space-time comprises 3 spatial dimensions which allow the passage of informa-tion, as time passes, between separate points in space-time. That is, a particle, for instance, can observe,inwardly receiving information 3-dimensionally, while outwardly revealing information 3-dimensionally.Using this train of thought, at a Black Hole’s event horizon, information is not so free in all spatial direc-tions – no pathways lead outwards. Information can be received 3-dimensionally from outside, but noinformation from inside the black hole can be received. Likewise at the event horizon information canbe revealed 3-dimensionally towards the singularity, but nothing can be revealed outwards away fromthe black hole, because no pathways point outwards. The only direction where information can be bothreceived and revealed is 2-dimensionally across this 2-dimensional horizon.Once inside the Black Hole, pathways tend towards greater and greater spaghettification, before the0-dimensional space is reached at the singularity, at some critical point, information can only be revealed1-dimensionally. Finally at the singularity itself, information can only be received from that point1-dimensionally.At the singularity information cannot be received nor revealed because there are, by definition, 0-dimen-sions of space at that unique point. Hence, we can envisage information having discrete and limited envi-ronments for its passage. 0 and 1 emerge as dimensionalities concerned with the singularity itself – quitebinary, and, as we know, the seed values for Fibonacci. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

16Figure 1 shows that as we descend into a BlackHole, different “altitudes” present informa-tion with unique processing limitations, to theorder, 3, 2, 1, 1, 0 dimensions respectively; thismatches the Fibonacci sequence.Figure 1. How information is exchanged follow-ing the Fibonacci sequence when moving intoand “out” of a Black Hole.We know that the Fibonacci sequence continuespast 0:-3, 2, -1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 3 [5]At the singularity, knowing that no pathwaysmove outwards from anywhere beyond theevent horizon, we imagine what becomes ofany attempt for information to escape. This iswhere Fibonacci really assists in explanation.The sequence itself allows -1 + 1 = 0, a simplequantum fluctuation akin to a vacuum. I wouldsuggest that this is what naked singularities do.In larger supermassive black holes with thepresence of an event horizon, this takes theICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

17sequence nearly full circle to have 2, -1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 3 dimensional arenas for information to exchange.They are all unique, for example the positive sequence 2 represents the event horizon when headinginto the black hole, the negative sequence 2, is the result of building new event horizon – conservingdimensionality when the sequence follows through to this point. The final part -3-dimensions, again con-serves dimensionality by giving the Universe outside the Black Hole information, confirming that a bit of3-dimensional space has fallen in, so the Universe gets -3 back out.EntropyThe Universe seems to want information to fall into a Black Hole; entropy is perhaps the driving force forthis.A simplex is the smallest convex set containing n+ 1 vertex for n-dimensions, such as a 2-dimensional tri-angle containing 3 vertices. I posit utilising n+1 to explore entropy, as a representative of the respectivedimensionality’s order.If we assign the n-dimensional n-simplex, then the number of vertices n+1 increases with “decay” fromVFn  VFn-1 + VFn-2 working backwards through Fibonacci’s sequence. In other words, as informationfalls into a Black Hole, its entropy increases more than the decrease in entropy for the outside Universe.Table 1 shows an increase in disorder moving from VFn  VFn-1 + VFn-2 This is always an increase of 1 forthe positive Fibonacci sequence. However once Fn = -1 becomes part of the vertex result the simple rela-tionship is lost.To continue to achieve the +1 decay results, we must reach a strange conclusion that dimensions withnegative Fibonacci numbers give a simplex vertex number of 0, i.e. the mean of the positive and negativevertex numbers. If we consider just the negative dimensions with negative vertex simplex numbers, ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

18we get a reduction in entropy, which we’d expect mathematically. This would result in a -1 change, or fallin entropy.Assuming positive simplex numbers based on an axiom that dimensions can’t be negative, then entropyincrease would be large. However, if we take the mean of both these results, we increase entropy by +1 asbefore.I would suggest that in real terms, considering negative dimensions to exist only as quantum fluctuationsof a singularity (0-dimension), which would then naturally favour positive dimensionality asymmetrically,producing a natural arrow of time. However, all these outcomes, once 0-dimensionality is reached (andexceeded) give three strangely diverse quantum like results, such as:i) The singularity does not release information at all, because continuing on Fibonacci’s sequenceresults in an entropy decrease.ii) The singularity can release the same amount of information that it receives, as entropy continuesto increase as previously.iii) The singularity is capable of releasing vast amounts of information. This would occur if the BlackHole was losing a lot of mass, which brings us to Hawking Radiation.ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

19Hawking RadiationThe presence of -1 dimensionality evokes the possibility of Hawking Radiation, where the Black Hole canlose mass and according to this approach, information. For the negative dimensionality, it is only whenwe consider both the positive and negative simplex vertex numbers that we achieve increase in entropyconsistent with that of the positive part of the sequence. Decay from Fn = 0  +1 -1 would seeminglyresult in annihilation back to 0, but +1 also has the capability to decay to 0 +1.Notice the repeating nature of the -1, 1, 0, 1, 1 part of the sequence, which allows Black Holes withoutthe 2-dimensional event horizon (naked singularities) to very quickly lose mass. The other route involving ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

202-dimensionality retains the self-replicating +1. Larger Black Holes should lose less mass, as there is lesschance to lose 1 and maintain -1 (Hawking Radiation) the more 2-dimensionality it has.However, when information escapes in this manner, it should mean that it is conserved, albeit unrecogni-sable from before it was massively altered inside the Black Hole.Fn = 2 dimensionality in the negative sequence decays to Fn = -3 and 5, but the simplex vertex productVFn increases from 3 to 6 (an atypical increase of +3), not following the simple +1 pattern for the mean. Thelower result is an entropy decrease of 1, while the upper result would increase entropy by VFn = 7, result-ing in loss of mass from the Black Hole. Hence, it seems decay onward to 5-dimensions isn’t favoured eithersymmetrically or asymmetrically, giving 3-dimensionality a limit in our reality and in information exchange.ConclusionFibonacci, It and Bit appear equally fundamental, as the sequence gives information to reality on how infor-mation can be exchanged - a sort of “chicken and egg” relationship.Dimensionality number is conserved during “decay”, adhering to the reversal of the Fibonacci sequence,while showing an increase in entropy via n-simplex vertex number. This means that information is also con-served, but left much less ordered, when entering a Black Hole. At 0-dimensions information can’t be pro-cessed. But the sequence 1  0, 1 reproduces 1, so that information is never destroyed.Utilising this approach to understand information’s relationship with reality has shown potential to help inour further understanding of the asymmetry of time.Any information remaining inside the Black hole is not destroyed and the original dimensionality is alwaysconserved by following the Fibonacci sequence; it may just be in some instances that it may take an infiniteamount of time for information to escape.This system also lends itself to a spatially 3-dimensional Universe emerging from 0-dimensionailty, becauseICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

21information exchange is limited to 0, 1, 1, and 2-dimensionailty within a Black Hole, which is hidden from the3-dimensionality outside. In this respect Black Holes are analogies to the holographic principle in reverse.References[1] Douady, S; Couder, Y (1996), “Phyllotaxis as a Dynamical Self Organizing Process” (PDF), Journal ofTheoretical Biology 178 (178): 255–74,doi:10.1006/jtbi.1996.0026[2] Jones, Judy; Wilson, William (2006), “Science”, An Incomplete Education, Ballantine Books, p. 544, ISBN978-0-7394-7582-9[3] Brousseau, A (1969), “Fibonacci Statistics in Conifers”, Fibonacci Quarterly (7): 525–32[4] The Fibonacci Numbers and the Ancestry of Bees[5] Knuth, Donald (2008-12-11), “Negafibonacci Numbers and the Hyperbolic Plane”WORDS: ANTHONY RYAN Science Fiction & Fact Writer. Atheist. Would be Physicist; did wrong degree. Quantum Gravity. Animal Loving. Vegetarian. Fan of #DrWho #GoT et al. UK · AntRya.nET FOLLOW ANTHONY ON TWITTER ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

22 F = maThis is perhaps the second most iconic equation in physics, after E=mc2 which pretty much everyone hasheard of, this is the next most likely one you’ll have heard of.It’s famously embodied as Newton’s second law. However it’s really not an obvious law at all.So lets start by defining terms - we have:● F - the force, basically you can think of this as how hard you have to push something. The standardunit of force is the newton - appropriately enough.● m - the mass - mass is a tricky thing, as it can sort of mean two things. You can get away with thinkingof it as the weight of something and whilst not precise, it will do for most everyday cases.● a - acceleration - and this tells you how quickly you get quicker (or slower), ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

23So - this is saying that force, mass and acceleration are all intimately related. An equation is a balance,so if you add something to one side you have to balance it on the other side, or if there is more than onething on a side you can trade one off at the expense of the other.So lets say we have a mass of 1kg, around about a bag of sugar. What does this formula tell you aboutthings? It says if you give it a push, it will accelerate. If its standing still it will start to move. Now this is allwell and good, but it doesn’t meet with our everyday experience. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

24Place a bag of sugar on the table, and gently push it. The sugar starts to move, BUT crucially when you stoppushing it, it generally stops moving. Now if F=ma is true, this shouldn’t happen. We should give it a push,and it will start to accelerate, say from 0 m/s to 1 m/s to 2 m/s. If we push it harder, we might get it to 3 m/s,but it will still stop in short order.So this looks much more like F=mv - (v is velocity - or speed in everyday language) the harder you push some-thing the faster it goes, and it you keep pushing with the same force, it will keep going at the same speed.That isn’t what Newton said though, according to him a quick push will set something in motion, and it willmove along happily for ever after. In fact this is his first law, which roughly translates (partially) as somethingat rest will stay at rest unless you give it a push.Our everyday experience is clouded by a hidden force, the force of friction. This is a force that resists motion.It can be friction between a bag of sugar and a table, a wheel and the road, or an aircraft and the air. Allthese act to resist the motion. In a perfect vacuum, say out in space, this is all so much easier to see. Givean astronaut a push, and he will keep moving, which is both wonderfully liberating (I imagine) and a painin the neck after a while.So anyway, it took insight to see that real equation is F=ma and not F=mv, and to then do experiments wherefriction is factored out to prove it.ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

25Given we’ve got the equation, we can see lots of things. In a car, if you want to play first away from the trafficlights (which is getting better acceleration) you can do two things. You can give it a bigger push, with a largerengine. Otherwise you can reduce the mass, make it out of lightweight materials. Of course, a bigger engineis often heavier, so you get more force, but more mass. This is even more crucial in things like aircraft, whereyou’re wanting to counteract the force of gravity too.Now this REALLY comes into its own when you consider a rocket. Its true for most powered things, but evenmore so for rockets. Most of a rockets weight is its fuel. However as the rocket launches it burns up its fuel.So assuming the engines generate a constant thrust (force) things are going to change. Lets assume the rocket is generating 1 newton of thrust, and weighs one kg. We can work out how fast it will accelerate F=m*a 1=1*a solve for a - well it has to be 1. So this rocket will accelerate at 1 m/s/s. However, a short time later, it may have burnt ½ a kilogram of fuel. So now the rocket weight ½ a kg. So now it’s 1=½*a solve for a - its now 2 m/s/s. When it’s burned ¾ of a kilogram of fuel, its now 1=¼ *a ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

26solve for a, and now its accelerating at 4 m/s/s. So this is why it’s called rocket science! It’s a continuing vari-able equation, which needs calculus to solve it fully.However what’s true of a rocket is also true of anything that moves. So your car takes more force to movewhen it’s full of petrol, or when it is full of passengers, or full of luggage, or even just yourself if you’ve puton some pounds over Christmas.Words: Julian OnionsICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

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28 BBC Stargazing LIVE event Our 2014 Stargazing LIVE event, which took place on January 11th 2014 at The Heath Business and Technical Park, was a 12 hour day and evening extravaganza of stargazing! TKO Ambassadors Jacqueline Lightfoot and Emma Doward, the welcoming face of our events, work tirelessly at the front of house.ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

29Our ‘Astronomy for Everyone’ programme was designed specifically to engage the local community in Haltonand more particularly families and complete beginners to give them the opportunity to explore, investigate and have a go at what has become a hugely popular activity. Publicity and marketingIt was, without doubt, challenging to deliver an event so early in January, with schools, businesses and thegeneral public focusing on Christmas. In the weeks leading up to the event many places were closed, just atthe time when we would normally be promoting and making contact with those we wished to engage.We did have the advantage of the publicity generated by both being accepted as part of the BBC StargazingLIVE events around the country and the screening of the Stargazing LIVE shows, now hugely popular with thegeneral public.We hit the shops the weekend after New Year kindly supported by Karl Clawley, the manager of the RuncornShopping Centre and we spent 2 days with our telescopes, planisphere’s, books and our fabulous TKO AmbassadorsJohn Liggins and Emma Doward. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

30 The tremendous interest and excitement shown by the children and adults alike made it a very reward- ing weekend. We lost count of the number of people who exclaimed that they had ‘bought a telescope recently or had one in the loft but had no idea how to use it’ or ‘I have always wanted to know what to look for, I would love to learn more’. All those that we spoke to expressed delight in having the oppor- tunity to learn and to experience observing the sky with help from astronomers. Andrew was able to promote the day on his monthly Astronomy show on Halton Community Radio, a show with worldwide listeners! We hand delivered 500 flyers to local schools, groups, libraries, shops and businesses and again worked Twitter and Facebook hard, to spread the word.ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

31 We had also invited Brownie packs from Runcorn to attend, providing a chance to gain their Stargazing badge. They enthusiastically took up the opportunity and a well organised crowd of 30 in the morning and 25 in the afternoon livened up our day immensely! Dear Sue Can you give our thanks to all those who were involved in organising and present- ing the event today. We took a group of 8 Brownies this morning and had a great time. It was both educational and fun. Everyone was so helpful and engaged with the Brownies really well. There were plenty of activities to do. We loved the planetarium particularly and covered so much of the stargazers badge work just at that one ‘experience’ Thank you again Barn Owl with 7th Runcorn BrowniesOn the dayOur programme for the day included short presentations of 20 – 25 minutes on subjects chosen for their appeal to awide audience of adults and children. We wanted to encourage as many people as possible to enjoy the presentations, ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

32not to be intimidated and feel that they were ‘high brow and too academic’. Just to say that I thought it was great to see so many families and individuals at the stargazing event on Saturday. Considering that this was the first such event in Runcorn, I thought the turnout was pretty good. I was very happy to be able to support the event, and it goes without saying I’m more than happy to support any future such events. Anything that helps to inspire & enthuse kids, and raise their life opportunities & expectations is a good thing! Email - Dr Paul SappleICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

33The presentations, given by our own Andrew Davies, Adele Horton and Neil Phillipson fromAstronomia, Dr Paul Sapple from the University of Liverpool and Gerard Gilligan from theLiverpool Astronomical Society, were an overwhelming success. With a full house and groupsof children sitting on the floor, the only mistake we made was underestimating the timingsof each session. We had deliberately kept sessions short to maintain interest but neither pre-senters nor audience wanted to stop and by the afternoon sessions we were over running byan hour. Mind you no-one was complaining! ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

34In additieovnentotsthhealpl fruelsleonftaactitoivnitsiewse. had an Stacey Haberghan, Dr Jon Marchant and the team from the National Schools Observatory at Liverpool John Moores and from the Ogden Trust, had a won- derful array of activities and hands on science. With the Moonsaic activity,ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

35celebrity match-up quiz, Liverpool Telescope, other wavelengths, spectroscopes and lamps, plasma ball andthe scale of the solar system activity. Adults and children were fascinated by the displays and experimentsand all delighted by the chance to have a go. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

36Miss Molyneux and the Balshaw Science Ambassadors and Emperors captivated children and adults alike,with flying teabags, edible constellations, straw rockets and balloon kebabs, their skill and passion always ahuge hit with the audience! The planetarium was so incredibly popular that Paul and Alan from STFC ran 11 full capacity sessions from 10.00 am until 8.30 pm! Such stamina and patience and so many delighted visitors!ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

37Our own amazing TKO ambassadors Jonathen and John were the perfect double act in our beginner’s corner.Offering help, advice and an opportunity to have a go with a wide variety of telescopes and providing usefultips and hints and lessons on using a planisphere, they had a permanent crowd of attentive learners. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

38Adele and Neil from Astronomia had a varied selec-tion of beginner telescopes and binoculars and asuperb range of books and astronomy resources.There was plenty of sound advice for those seekingto buy their first telescope and help for those whowere just starting their journey into the fascinatingworld of astronomy.ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

39We were so incredibly lucky that by lunchtime, theskies cleared and the sun shone so that Neil’s solarobserving presentation was delivered outside withthe solar scope. So popular was the session thatNeil was press ganged into doing it all again laterin the afternoon! paula tancock ‫@‏‬paulatan1972 Jan 11 @KnowledgeObs Had a great day today, found out lots of interesting facts ! Many thanks ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

40Our own Knowledge Observatory stand hadinformation about our astronomy course andthe family club we hoped to start. We spoke tomany people who were so keen to get going thatwe may not be able to delay the start until afterEaster. We have more than enough applicationsto start at least one local course after Easter anda hugely enthusiastic group of people to begin afamily astronomy club. We are thrilled with suchinterest and will investigate potential venues forboth the course and the club in a central Runcornlocation.In addition, we had provided some of our astron-omy teaching resources and material, quizzes,word search, puzzles, games and activities. The1000 piece jigsaw proved too difficult for eventhe most accomplished puzzlers so we shallinvest in a few less complex options for the nextevent!ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

41In the eveningWe had kept the evening session flexible with presentations and activities on hand should the weather notbe kind enough to allow night sky observing. Incredibly, the sky stayed clear through the whole eveningand the quadrangle provided an excellent place to set up all the telescopes and we were delighted withthe minimal light pollution despite being in town.We had asked visitors to bring their own telescopes and our team helped to set them up and providedadvice and assistance in getting the best out of them. I was exhilarating to hear the ‘Oohs’ and ‘Aahs’ asmany visitors were able to see Jupiter through their own telescopes for the very first time. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

42Live observing with a group of fascinated beginners is fantastically rewarding. The questions come thick andfast and despite having advertised finishing at 10.00pm the scopes were still up long after 11.00pm! We werejoined by two local Police officers, now converts to astronomy and who have signed up for a new local club!We had over 350 local people through the door ‘Just wanted to say a huge thank you for today’sand the feedback has been staggering. We event, it was absolutely brilliant from start tohave, without doubt, had a significant impact finish. My family and I learned a lot (the pre-on the uptake of astronomy in our community. sentations were fantastic - please pass on our thanks to the other speakers), and seeing theAnd the good news? bands on Jupiter through one of the tele- scopes was just wonderful! We got home and‘We are doing it all again on Saturday the 8th have spent the last hour or so wrapped up inMarch for National Astronomy Week’ the garden checking out Jupiter’s moons, the Orion nebula, the Seven Sisters cluster, and the Moon with our 15x70 binoculars... I think we may be adding a telescope fairly soon! Thanks again for an inspiring day.’ (email Michaela)ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

43Comet Ison’s Demise.The Comet Ison fever reined right up to its torn demise on the morning of November 28th 2013. Iimaged the Sun’s Orb breaking the horizon over the sea surf at the volcanic Island of FuerteventuraNorth coast of Corralejo. My efforts to capture an image or a glimpse of comet Ison survival andpath around the Sun was not to be. The Sun’s gravitational forces and pull proved too much forIson to defy and hold together to give us the comet of the century. We can only wait for another comet to encoun- ter our domain and give us a chance of viewing an awesome spectacle in the future. Sherwood Observatory Nottinghamshire. Images taken in prder from the top 07:29:52 07:30:00 07:30:28 Words & Images: Michael Knowles. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

44 Origin of Life on EarthLife is: “A self-sustained chemical system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution”– Gerald Joyce, NASA scientist, 1994 There are three possibilities with regards to the origin of life: 1. Life arose from non-life through natural processes on Earth 2. Life arose elsewhere in the Universe and was transported to earth 3. Life arose on Earth through supernatural intervention This article explores the possibility and evidence for the tantalizing idea that life arose and evolved from non- life and through natural processes. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

45Building blocks of life:The most basic building block of life is a chemical element. Thereare 6 elements which play a central role in the fundamental struc-ture of all life on Earth. These are Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen,Oxygen, Phosphorus and Sulphur.Elements come together to form molecules wherein the atoms areheld together by chemical bonds. Carbon element is consideredas the back bone of all life on earth as it can easily bind with otheratoms to form molecules. This is why we are called carbon basedlife. Some examples of molecules are amino acids and sugars.When simpler molecules attach to each other to form long chains,more complex molecules are formed. Amino acids form proteinswhile nucleic acids form DNA.All life on earth is made up of cells. These are microscopic struc-tures which allow for chemical reactions between molecules tooccur for the functioning of life.Image Source: http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/jamieprouty/502/webquest/intro.html ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

46There are three major functional parts in a cell:1. Energy system - This consists of proteins which provide energythrough molecular chemical reactions to perform functions of life.2. Information System (DNA) - This is the genetic code whichallows cells to grow and to reproduce. This information is transferredfrom one generation to the next.3. Membrane - A membrane encloses all the chemical reactionsof molecules within a cell. It is made from structures called lipids.Requirement for life to arise:1. Raw material for life – ElementsThe elements hydrogen and helium were formed at the time of theBig Bang, when the universe was created. All heavier elements arecreated inside the core of massive stars through the process of nuclearfusion. When these stars die in a supernova, they seed clouds of gasand dust with these heavier elements, which in turn collapse to formnew stars and planets.2. WaterFor simple molecules to come together to form more complex mol-ecules, we need a liquid to help them move around, such as water.ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

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48 3. Energy source Urey-Miller Experiment – Life needs an energy source for metabolism. Image Source http://digitaljournal.com/image/43968 The story of Origin of lifeICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014 Study of zircon grains in Western Australia suggests that water was present as early as 4.4 billion years back on Earth. The stoorfyliofef Origin Study of zircon grains in Western Australia suggests that water was present as early as 4.4 billion years back on Earth. Amino Acids to form Proteins: There are three possible sources for organic molecules such as amino acids: 1. Urey-Miller Experiment – This has been one of the earliest experiments conducted to test the idea that sun-light driven chemical reactions on primi- tive Earth might have produced the building blocks of life. In the experiment a flask of water was heated to produce water vapour. The water vapour was then passed through another flask which contained gases

49to simulate the primitive atmosphere of Earth. Electricsparks were provided across the chamber to provideenergy for the chemical reactions. After about a weekof this experiment, it was found that amino acids andorganic molecules had formed in the container.2. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) – Thesemolecules are found in interstellar medium, in cometsand in meteorites and could be the basis of the earliestform of life on Earth.3. Comets/ Meteorites – Murchison meteorite Murchison meteoritewhich fell in Australia in 1969 has been found to be rich Image Source:in organic molecules. Over 14,000 molecular compoundsand 70 amino acids have been found in the meteorite. ohMtutrrpch:g/i/soe/nn_. wwmiektiei pokreitdeii a/.It is possible that these building blocks of life arose onsome other parent body and were transported to Earthfrom elsewhereNucleic Acids to form DNA/ RNA:A more primitive form of DNA (Dioxyribonucleic acid) is the RNA (Ribonucleic acid). RNA can self assembleinto ribozymes which can carry out chemical reactions including self replication. ICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014

50A more primitive form of DNA (Dioxyribonucleic acid) is the RNA (Ribonucleic acid). RNA can self assembleinto ribozymes which can carry out chemical reactions including self replication. RNA as a predecessor to DNA. Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Difference_DNA_RNA-EN.svgICY SCIENCE | QTR 1 2014