Comet Shoemaker-Levy impacts Jupiter

JPL has plenty of images and information regarding the impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy into Jupiter earlier this month.

Diamonds Connected to Origins of Life

Science Daily is reporting on some interesting news from Germany, where researchers have linked the chemical/molecular whatever of the surface of diamonds with the conditions needed for early life to flourish.

Independence

Freedom is beauty.

Biodiversity in Madagascar Protected

Kudos, France.

"The largest debt-for-nature swap agreement in Madagascar’s history was just signed between the Government of Madagascar and the Government of France, allocating roughly $20 million (13 million Euros) to preserve Madagascar’s rich biodiversity, WWF has announced."

And why is this important?

"Nearly 98 percent of Madagascar’s land mammals, 92 percent of its reptiles, and 80 percent of its plants are found nowhere else on earth."

"With 70 percent of Madagascar’s population living below the poverty line, the country is one of the poorest in the world. Burdened with high levels of debt, Madagascar has limited domestic resources to address environmental degradation and preserve its unique and globally significant biodiversity. Debt-for-nature swaps, such as this one, are designed to free up resources in debtor countries for much needed conservation activities."

Thanks to Science Daily for this story. Excellent news.

US policy on cluster bombs is a global embarrassment

The U.S. still opposes the cluster bomb ban now endorsed by one hundred countries. It makes me sick that we tout ourselves as a world-leading nation and yet cling to barbaric weapons that are responsible for the deaths of up to 100,000 people. The fact that 98% of those killed are innocent civilians in war-torn countries around the world underscores the U.S. refusal to ban cluster bombs as unthinkable and immoral.

Lander reaches Mars Today

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander will reach Mars this evening...

Worth a Click

Cabinet of Curiosities

Gibbous Mercury

Thanks to Sky and Telescope.