Astronomers Find Newly Discovered Asteroid is Earth’s Companion

Astronomers from the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland have learned that a recently discovered asteroid has been following Earth as it orbits around the Sun. They believe that this has been occurring for at least 250,000 years. They also believe that this asteroid named 2010 SO16 may be related to the origin of Earth.

The WISE infrared survey satellite, launched in 2009, discovered the asteroid two months after it was launched. Scientists, Apostolos Christou and David Asher, started to study this asteroid after they realized that its average distance from the Sun was identical to that of the Earth. They also discovered that the asteroid’s orbit is almost circular so that it cannot come close to any other planet in the solar system except Earth. This is very unusually for asteroids. Most asteroids have egg-shaped orbits that take the asteroid through the inner solar system. Currently, three other asteroids of Earth are known to exist but unlike 2010 SO16, is by far the largest of Earth’s asteroids. It has an estimate diameter of 200-400 meters. Christou and Asher have already used the Las Cumbres Oberservatory’s Faulkes Telescope in an ongoing campaign to track the asteroid. Christou and Asher would ultimately like to know where the asteroid originated from. But for now, they are planning to study the physical properties of the asteroid from the ground to discover its possible origin. If it proves unique in some way, they hope a probe can be sent to study it up close and to bring back a sample for laboratory scrutiny.

I believe Christou and Asher’s research into this new asteroid will help us better understand how our galaxy was created. I am anxious to see what new information is discovered about asteroid 2010 SO16. A probe to 2010 SO16 would provide scientists with information to unlock some of its mysteries. I hope someday, the scientific world will send probes to space to analyze this asteroid as well as the other asteroids that orbit. I think a lot can be learned about our Earth by studying these asteroids.

Resources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110406132024

A Renewable Twist on Fossil Fuels

Scientists attribute global warming, an increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface to increased levels of greenhouse gases. Man’s increased use of fossil fuels, industrialization, pollution and deforestation have created much more greenhouse gases which in turn has caused the temperature on Earth to increase at a faster rate than ever before. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that has contributed to global warning. Scientists are researching ways to reduce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

Joel Rosenthal, a chemist at the University of Delaware, is working on a method to transform carbon dioxide into gas for cars and a source of clean energy fuels. If he succeeds, we will be able to reduce the rising carbon dioxide levels responsible for global warming and also devise a method of creating renewable energy production. Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a consortium of 98 Ph.D. granting universities has selected Joel Rosenthal to receive the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award to pursue his research into turning carbon dioxide into a useful fuel. Rosenthal and his team are designing electrocatalysts from metals such as nickel and palladium that will freely give away electrons when they react with carbon dioxide. This will chemically reduce this greenhouse gas into an energy-rich carbon monoxide or methanol which in turn could be used as a basis for fuel production.

I am very interested in seeing if Joel Rosenthal and his team succeed in turning carbon dioxide into a new fuel source. His research is very important not only in providing a new fuel source but for the reduction of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas attributed to global warming.

Resources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505162938.htm