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March 10, 2006

things with ears and teeth

I don't have many regrets about man's mortality—in most people's cases, it's a comfort that allows me to sleep at night—but one regret is huge: that I won't live long enough to see certain celestial neighbors explored. The Martian equator is all well and good, but scratching at the driest of rocks is rather limited in its promise. But liquid salt-water oceans on Europa? Now we're talking. And add now Saturn's moon Enceladus to the liquid-water list. NASA is forever talking about stirring the public's imagination like in the old days. I submit that discovering things with ears and teeth on alien worlds fits the bill, but what do I know? There are international space stations to restock with Jell-o. Chop, chop.

posted by john at 8:35 AM  â€¢  permalink