My girlfriend went on a trip recently and brought me back a NASA T-shirt that says on the back “It’s not rocket science.  Oh wait, yes it is!”  And ultimately, despite the inescapable implications of nerdiness, NASA is all about rocket science.  Thanks to the recent launch of two spacecraft to study the Sun, NASA scientists are taking rocket science to new heights (pardon the pun!).

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Although it didn’t get the press it deserved, there was an very interesting phone call made last week.  No, K-Fed didn’t call Brittany to apologize (and why would that be news, anyway?); Suni Williams talked to Tim Shank.  Not household names, you say?  Well, they should be.  They’re two of Earth’s finest extreme explorers. MORE>>

There’s no question that Mark Twin was, in essence, correct when he coined the real estate agent’s mantra “Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.”  The amount of land on our ocean planet is certainly finite.  But there can be new land created.  This week we will be talking about new land that is springing up all over! . MORE>>

If the weather cooperates (NEVER a given here!) you just might have the chance to see the comet of the century this week.  Of course, this isn’t much of an accolade since we haven’t had any visible comets in this century but this particular comet just may outshine the bright comets of the last century as well.  We all remember Comet Hale-Bopp, which was so bright in Guam’s skies, and even Comet Kahoutek, which was a bust in the brightness department, but had the distinction of being so close to Earth as comets go, that you could actually see it moving against the background of fixed stars. The new comet is called Comet McNaught and it already has the distinction of being the brightest comet for the last 40 years. MORE>>

Yup, it looks like a nice day for a sail.  It’s cloudy, of course, but you certainly won’t let that stop you.  You don your sailing suit and head down for the beach.  Off we go on our grand adventure!  I wonder what the fishing will be like today?  Two or three hours later, you’re fish-free, and the battery on your sailing suit is getting low.  So you head back to the habitat after a marvelous day on the lake.  Hmmm, that’s odd.  I certainly don’t have any batteries in MY sailing suit.  But then, I don't remeber going for a day sail on Saturn’s Moon, Titan either! MORE>>

I bring sad news to those of you who were fans of The Deep radio show.  No, Jim and Peter are fine, but we have heard tragic news about one of our frequent guests.  Christine Boskoff, the world’s premier woman mountain climber has been reported missing and is presumed dead after a climbing expedition in China’s Sichuan Province.  Christine’s body has not been recovered but Charlie Fowler, her climbing partner was found in deep snow and apparently died as the result of an avalanche. MORE>>