Tuesday, May 25, 2004

TITAN'S BIG FUTURE IN PLASTICS





"Scientists suspect that organic solids have been falling from Titan's sky for billions of years and might be compounds that set the stage for the next chemical step toward life. They collaborate in University of Arizona laboratory experiments that will help Cassini scientists interpret Titan data and plan a future mission that would deploy an organic chemistry lab to Titan's surface."

Along with Mars and Europa, Titan is one of my top celestial travel destinations. Long after the Sun has ballooned into a red giant, absorbing the orbits of the inner planets, the prebiotic sludge on Titan will have changed in some compelling ways. We really should leave a signature of some kind so any future Titanians will know we were here . . .

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