Lasers to Film Electrons
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-08/lasers-pulse-attosecond-scale-could-film-electrons-they-interact
In the battle to witness things beyond the human eye's capability, new technology arises to film the insane speeds of electrons. Called the Attosecond Laser, this device enables us to witness chemical interactions by using laser lights that flash at attosecond speeds.
The device can't do the job yet, but is well on its way. Solving the original problem of intensity of the beam + speed of flash this method uses a single light origin being split by a beam splitter. This took care of the synchronized issues they previously had, as well.
As the device continues to get support it is only a matter of time before we can witness the electron's path in a super slow-motion video. Since electrons rotate at 151 billionths of a billionth of a second, the frame rate for the device must be insane to configure. Either way, I am looking forward to seeing some pictures and learning about the interactions of chemicals on a molecular level.
NASA's New Mars Rover
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2011-08-13-mars-rover-curiosity-nasa_n.htm
Here is some good news, NASA is launching their latest Mars Rover starting November 25th to December 18th. Launch will be made by the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Fittingly called "Curiosity," this new rover will make its way to Mars and answer the question about microbial life, whether or not it has existed there in the past.
This is considered a "high-stakes" launch. Upon landing on Mars, the device is going to be lowered by a sky crane, rather than dropped or parachuted down like previous probes and rovers. This is going to be a tough one since this is the first time this sky crane will be used.
It will be a tense moment when the time comes for landing. Can't wait to see if this mission is a success.
