March 3, 2010
Could One of Saturn's Moons Harbor Life?
Scientists say the Cassini spacecraft has found evidence of water
and warmer temperatures on Enceladus.
Could One of Saturn's Moons Harbor Life?
Scientists say the Cassini spacecraft has found evidence of water
and warmer temperatures on Enceladus.
SUMMARY: Saturn's icy moon, Enceladus, may be hospitable to life, close-up
photos taken by the Cassini spacecraft in November suggest. Released by
NASA February 23, the photographs show 30 small jets of water vapor and
water ice spewing forth from the moon's southern hemisphere. Moreover,
surface temperatures of a fissure at the south pole, from which the jets
emanate, indicate the temperature there might be as high as 200 kelvins (-99
degrees F), warmer than previously estimated.
Although the temperature's estimate is not definitive, the warmer the
temperatures on the surface of the moon, the hotter the moon's interior. That
“strengthens the evidence for liquid water as the source of the jets,” says
Cassini imaging team leader Carolyn Porco, who adds it also increases the
chances life could be present on Enceladus.
Cassini has been exploring Saturn and its moons since 2004. However, it has
never before gotten such detailed infrared portraits of the fissures, dubbed
tiger stripes. Researchers overlayed infrared maps with visible-light images
of the moon's southern hemisphere showing that the fissures are the sources
of the jets.
The November flyby of Enceladus, Cassini's eighth, will be the last one for 15
years during which visible-light cameras can be used because the region has
now begun a period of 15 years of darkness.
(Photo of Enceladus and the plumes from NASA)
To read the entire article, click on this link to U.S. NEWS..
COMMENT: Scientists are so anxious to find signs of life elsewhere in the
universe they become overly optimistic when water is found. There is a
problem though with their reasoning. In the case of Enceladus, the reasoning
seems to go like this: If there is life on Enceladus, then there must be water
present. There apparently is water present. Then there must be life or at
least a good possibility of it.
The problem is that a lot more needs to be present for life to exist in addition to
water, at least life as we know it, There must be warm enough temperatures,
nutrients, rich enough genes to permit reproduction, etc. Most important of all,
scientists need to get around the problem of the Law of Biogenesis, which
states that life can only come from life. Despite occasional loud claims that
researchers are getting close to creating life from non-life, the Law of
Biogenesis still stands. If scientists can't create life from non-life here on earth,
why should we think it could have happened naturally on Enceladus?
The original ancestors of all living things were created by God and infused with
life at the beginning of the world. He has given us no reason to believe that He
has placed life on any other body in space. In only one other place are we sure
that life exists, and that is in heaven. Once we sinful humans have come to
faith in Jesus as our Savior, our mortal lives become eternal, and we can enjoy
perfect lives in Paradise, as the saints who have gone before us are now
enjoying.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
Is it safe to use electronic greeting cards?
****************************************************************************************************
1 Comment
Linda Nielsen wrote: Thank you for your blogs-I enjoy them and feel
strongly that we need to educate our members and everyone that it does
matter what a person thinks of Genesis. I have also been reading AGI's
information and it is good except for a few references to "new heavens
and new earth" and occasionally decision theology.
Do not become discouraged with your work. Continue on. The Lord will
give you the strength to carry on. Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding.
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including
those containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity
or advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please
allow several hours for it to appear on the blog.
photos taken by the Cassini spacecraft in November suggest. Released by
NASA February 23, the photographs show 30 small jets of water vapor and
water ice spewing forth from the moon's southern hemisphere. Moreover,
surface temperatures of a fissure at the south pole, from which the jets
emanate, indicate the temperature there might be as high as 200 kelvins (-99
degrees F), warmer than previously estimated.
Although the temperature's estimate is not definitive, the warmer the
temperatures on the surface of the moon, the hotter the moon's interior. That
“strengthens the evidence for liquid water as the source of the jets,” says
Cassini imaging team leader Carolyn Porco, who adds it also increases the
chances life could be present on Enceladus.
Cassini has been exploring Saturn and its moons since 2004. However, it has
never before gotten such detailed infrared portraits of the fissures, dubbed
tiger stripes. Researchers overlayed infrared maps with visible-light images
of the moon's southern hemisphere showing that the fissures are the sources
of the jets.
The November flyby of Enceladus, Cassini's eighth, will be the last one for 15
years during which visible-light cameras can be used because the region has
now begun a period of 15 years of darkness.
(Photo of Enceladus and the plumes from NASA)
To read the entire article, click on this link to U.S. NEWS..
COMMENT: Scientists are so anxious to find signs of life elsewhere in the
universe they become overly optimistic when water is found. There is a
problem though with their reasoning. In the case of Enceladus, the reasoning
seems to go like this: If there is life on Enceladus, then there must be water
present. There apparently is water present. Then there must be life or at
least a good possibility of it.
The problem is that a lot more needs to be present for life to exist in addition to
water, at least life as we know it, There must be warm enough temperatures,
nutrients, rich enough genes to permit reproduction, etc. Most important of all,
scientists need to get around the problem of the Law of Biogenesis, which
states that life can only come from life. Despite occasional loud claims that
researchers are getting close to creating life from non-life, the Law of
Biogenesis still stands. If scientists can't create life from non-life here on earth,
why should we think it could have happened naturally on Enceladus?
The original ancestors of all living things were created by God and infused with
life at the beginning of the world. He has given us no reason to believe that He
has placed life on any other body in space. In only one other place are we sure
that life exists, and that is in heaven. Once we sinful humans have come to
faith in Jesus as our Savior, our mortal lives become eternal, and we can enjoy
perfect lives in Paradise, as the saints who have gone before us are now
enjoying.
****************************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
****************************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Is it safe to use electronic greeting cards?
****************************************************************************************************
1 Comment
Linda Nielsen wrote: Thank you for your blogs-I enjoy them and feel
strongly that we need to educate our members and everyone that it does
matter what a person thinks of Genesis. I have also been reading AGI's
information and it is good except for a few references to "new heavens
and new earth" and occasionally decision theology.
Do not become discouraged with your work. Continue on. The Lord will
give you the strength to carry on. Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding.
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including
those containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity
or advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please
allow several hours for it to appear on the blog.
| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
E-cards can contain computer viruses and other
malicious programs. Never open up an electronic
greeting card from a stranger or one which has
poor spelling or grammar.
Source: BottomLine Personal (March 1, 2010)
malicious programs. Never open up an electronic
greeting card from a stranger or one which has
poor spelling or grammar.
Source: BottomLine Personal (March 1, 2010)
