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Sunday, 9 December 2012
Saturday, 8 December 2012
ASTROBIOLOGY: An Introduction
How much do we know about life on Earth?
As we have yet to uncover how life began in the first place… Many say all life forms on earth a work of the Supreme Being.
Some great minds suggest that organic molecules may have been created elsewhere in the universe and were brought to planet Earth by meteors.
Contrary to that, several other researchers when simulated the impact of meteorites in the primeval ocean, argued that the organic molecules could have been synthesized from the inorganic molecules already present on the planet when the meteorites crashed into the ocean.
Subsequent to understanding the existence of the universe, we are now struggling to elucidate how long it took the first generation of stars to seed our universe with the heavy elements we see on earth today.
But we do know that life is a process, driven by chemical reactions or metabolism. And that “life-as-we-know-it” needs:
- Liquid water (water needs warmth, hence heat is necessary)
- Organic molecules (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulphur, Phosphorus …)
- Energy source – sunlight provide heat and source of light
- Suitable environment – blanketed from the harmful cosmic rays
From there we will know when exactly in the history of the Universe was there a sufficient supply of profound elements to allow the formation of pre-biotic molecules that might have combined, and formed life.
Today, science is trying to explain whether life, be it similar to our own or not, exist elsewhere in our solar system.
Do the other planets have conditions that would support life and if yes, what conditions favor the formation such life forms?
But really, could life exist in an environment that limits access to the basic requirements ‘life-as-we-know-it' needs, for example in terrestrial bodies other than Earth?
Why science is convinced that ‘life’ could exist on the other places in the solar system which has extreme conditions?
This is because Earth, during its infant years, was once a wasteland with extreme conditions. Our Earth has since journeyed through stages until the planet became a home to a myriad of life forms. However, though rare, traces of the early earth condition still exist in many places.
And it was a heaven to organisms that had evolved to live in environments WE consider extreme.
Welcome to the fascinating world of Astrobiology.
By: Gomathy Ramasamy
Source: NASA
Monday, 26 November 2012
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Friday, 2 November 2012
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Melaka Space Fair 2012 Highlights :: Science Talks Session - Final and Updated
Final and updated schedule for the Science Talks by the NASA professionals..
Melaka Space Fair 2012 Highlights :: Science Talk
Please keep updated for the new tentative in our blog & facebook fan page..
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Monday, 29 October 2012
Friday, 26 October 2012
Did You Know :: EXOPLANET - House of Horrors
Astronomers may be closer than ever to discovering a planet that’s habitable like our own, but along the way they’ve discovered some very scary exoplanets – places where conditions are far too harsh for life as we know it to exist.
We’ve rounded up some of the most frightening, deadly exoplanets, places that make even the scariest haunted house on Earth pale in comparison.
Radiation Bath, Anyone?
The exoplanets PSR B1257+12 b, c and d were among the first discovered, and also happen to be three of the weirdest. The entire system is a graveyard, remnants of what used to be a normal, functional solar system before the star blew apart in a giant explosion known as a supernova.
Melaka Space Fair 2012 Highlights :: World Oceans
Come and learn more about the oceans around us. All this and more at Melaka Space Fair 2012 this 5th - 11th November 2012.
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Melaka Space Fair 2012 Highlights :: Are You a Planet Hunter ?!
Would you like to discover new planets on your own? Then you probably should not miss our planethunters session this coming Melaka Space Fair 2012. Learn along with Gabriel Alvarado of the SETI Institute on how to look out for new terrestrial objects. PlanetHunters session schedule will be up soon. Keep yourselves updated.
All at Melaka Space Fair 2012, 05th -11th November 2012.
All at Melaka Space Fair 2012, 05th -11th November 2012.
Melaka Space Fair 2012 :: Talk Sessions Schedule
Interested to attend the talk ??. Call us and book your sessions..
Melaka Planetarium Adventure Science Centre
Tel : 06 232 2424 | Fax : 06 232 0408
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Friday, 19 October 2012
Melaka Space Fair 2012 :: Career in Science
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So you wanna be a scientist..engineer..educator..or researcher? Confused, but want to be working in the science, technology, engineering or math field? Then don't miss Jaya Bajpayee's talk on "Career in Science"
Melaka Space Fair 2012.
Melaka Space Fair 2012 :: Rocket Activity for Kids - It’s Fun !
Juniors will have ample of activity at the Melaka Space Fair 2012 – look out for the rocket activity and get early exposure to space flight science the fun way!
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Melaka Space Fair 2012 Updates :: Earth-Like Planets ?
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Join Gabriel and the NASA team in “KEPLER & THE HUNT FOR EXOPLANETS” in the science talk session. Discover along with him, dozens of Earth-size planets in or near the habitable zone and determine how many of the billions of stars in our galaxy have such planets.
Discover this exciting new find at The Melaka Space Fair 2012.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Melaka Space Fair 2012 :: Get to Know About The SETI Institute with Gabriel
Discover the emerging new field of astrobiology featuring 'life-in-the-extreme' environment and explore the zoo-niverse with SETI Institute.
Gabriel Alvarado-MarÃn
Gabriel Alvarado-MarÃn is a member of the NASA Kepler Mission Education and Public Outreach team. He's a web designer and illustrator who has been at the SETI Institute since 2010, developing scientific and educational web content. His contributions include various astronomy illustrations, the creation of a website that introduces astronomy to pre-teens, and the current development of a SETI-themed game for the iPad. He was a speaker at the 2012 SETIcon II on the subject of science and games. Gabriel has a BFA in animation from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Sunday, 14 October 2012
Melaka Space Fair 2012 Highlights :: Could Life Exist in an Environment That Would Kill Us ?!.
Could organisms evolve to live in environment we consider extreme? Although living conditions in the parts of our solar system prove to be environment to extreme for our survival, why are we still convinced that life form could exist in conditions that would kill most life forms?
Studies of life in the extreme environment on earth have led us to finding microbes that are actually extreme environment tolerant. What are they, how and where do they thrive?
Find out about some of such environment found here on our own planet which shares almost similar features as that of a planet’s, for example Mars at the Life in the Extreme exhibition at the Melaka Space Fair 2012.
Melaka Space Fair 2012 Highlights :: Year of the Solar System (YSS) Exhibition
Spanning a Martian Year – 23 months – the Year of the Solar System celebrates the amazing discoveries of numerous NASA missions as they explore our near and distant neighbors and probe the very outer edges of our Solar System.
It is an unprecedented time in planetary sciences as we learn about new worlds and make new discoveries! New missions will further unveil the secrets of Jupiter, the Moon, and Mars. Other robotic explorers will encounter comets and asteroids, journey to dwarf planets, and continue to unlock the mysteries of our Sun, Mercury, Saturn, and our home planet, Earth.
New worlds, new discoveries; find out all about it at the Melaka Space Fair 2012.
Dive Down to the Ocean at MPASC Digital Space Theater
Watch Kaluoka’Hina, the Enchanted Reef and other movies at MPASC’s space theatre and gain the ultimate 'under the sea' movie experience. Packed with clear almost-alive images on a 15 meter dome, complete with 196 comfortable seats and a wraparound digital surround sound will take you on a dive down the deep sea to experience the colourful ecosystem of the ocean as if you are really there.
Powered by the technically state-of-the-art and visually stunning Evans & Sutherland’s most advanced Digistar 5 theatre system, you'll be spellbound by the experience.
A Glance at The Melaka Space Fair 2010
The MELAKA SPACE FAIR 2010 was a collaborated educational carnival between the Melaka Planetarium Adventure Science Centre (MPASC) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States with one mission in mind: Cultivate a passion in learning space science and engineering principles in fun, intuitive ways with the NASA team.
MELAKA SPACE FAIR was in fact the brainchild event which resulted from a discussion between MPASC and NASA in 2009. This esteemed event took place from the Nov 22nd to Nov 30th, 2010 at the Melaka Planetarium, MITC Ayer Keroh, Melaka.
The event was the FIRST to be hosted in this part of the world with an internationally recognized organization to provide an opportunity and exposure to NASA’s space engineering technology development among the Malaysian society and the entire region.
Saturday, 13 October 2012
Melaka Space Fair 2012 :: Get to Know The NASA Folks
Get to know the NASA folks in person here at MPASC during the Melaka Space Fair 2012!!
Jaya Bajpayee
Team Lead, Melaka Space Fair 2012
Jaya Bajpayee is the Lead Program Executive of Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS) Program and Astrophysics Operating Missions. PCOS studies the mechanics - how things work - of the Universe. As the Lead Executive, she established the PCOS Program to enable competitive PCOS missions in this Decade. Concurrently, she also serves as the Program Executive of Astrophysics Operating Missions. In this capacity, she has managed a portfolio of 9-14 missions over her 4 year tenure. She oversees all of the Astrophysics satellites that currently observe the Universe and provide data to the scientists.
Prior to that, she served as the Glory Deputy Project Manager, GOES-R Observatory Manager, and SXI Instrument Manager. Jaya started her career as a Range Safety Officer at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, taking responsibility for ground and flight safety during NASA’s rocket launches.
She is passionate about Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and inspiring young people to pursue STEM disciplines. She is commitment to outreach activities world-wide. Jaya’s hobbies include photography, graphics design, travel, and playing with her nieces and nephews.
Friday, 28 September 2012
Upcoming Events :: Screening of New Movie - Kaluoka'Hina
Catch Kaluoka'Hina, The Enchanted Reef; this coming October 2012 at the Melaka Planetarium Adventure Science Centre!
A short synopsis on this movie -
The vastness of our planet's oceans guards unimaginable secrets. One of its most precious is Kaluoka'hina, the enchanted reef whose magic protects it against humans finding it. Kaluoka'hina's colorful inhabitants live in peace until the volcano erupts, and the spell is broken. Now it’s up to Jake, the young sawfish, and his paranoid pal, Shorty, to restore the magic of Kaluoka'hina. Their only lead: the ancient legend that tells of touching the Moon..
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Did You Know :: Eternal Clock Could Keep Time After Universe Dies
Scientists have proposed a way to build a clock that will keep perfect time forever.
The idea for an eternal clock that would continue to keep time even after the universe ceased to exist has intrigued physicists. However, no one has figured out how one might be built, until now.
Sunday, 23 September 2012
Did You Know :: Marine Invasive Species
Aquatic invasive species are plants and animals that evolved in one
location and are introduced through a variety of means into another
location.
Species have always used the oceans to move about the planet. By swimming or hitching a ride on a log, leaf, or coconut, organisms have found new worlds in which to thrive. But until recently, this process has been moderate, limited by the currents and the winds.
Species have always used the oceans to move about the planet. By swimming or hitching a ride on a log, leaf, or coconut, organisms have found new worlds in which to thrive. But until recently, this process has been moderate, limited by the currents and the winds.
Did You Know :: Overfishing
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Ocean overfishing is simply the taking of wildlife from the sea at rates
too high for fished species to replace themselves. The earliest
overfishing occurred in the early 1800s when humans, seeking blubber for
lamp oil, decimated the whale population. Some fish that we eat,
including Atlantic cod and herring and California's sardines, were also
harvested to the brink of extinction by the mid-1900s.
Highly disruptive to the food chain, these isolated, regional depletions became global and catastrophic by the late 20th century.
Highly disruptive to the food chain, these isolated, regional depletions became global and catastrophic by the late 20th century.
Friday, 21 September 2012
UPDATES :: Our New Flyers !!
Here comes our new flyers..
To all MPASC fan, please do comment if you think that we need to improve in any angle..
MPASC Upcoming Events :: UPDATE !! .. Melaka Space Fair 2012
Hi guys.. This is is a part of our plan for the GRAND event of the year ::
Melaka Space Fair 2012
There are still more activities to come, so just keep update with Us !!
Learn how NASA uses robots to explore places that humans can still not go to with NASA JPL’s Robotics Engineer, Paulo Younse.
Year of the Solar systemLearn how our understanding of planets and solar system has revolutionized during the last five decades with Randii Wessin, NASA JPL’s Planetary Scientist.
How far have we understood our Planet Earth and our Ocean? Want to know more than you already know? Come and meet NASA JPL’s GLOBE Instructor, Peter Falcon and Ocean Circulation Scientist, Margaret Sreenivasan.
Could life exist in extreme environment? What makes a planet habitable? What makes an environment extreme? How has ‘life’ adapted to this type of environment? Who are the Extremophilles? How do they survive in extreme pressure, gravity, radiation, low/high temperature, acidity/alkalinity, salinity and dry environment? Get the answer at the Melaka Space Fair 2012!
NASA Spin Offs
How have NASA-derived technologies improved and saved lives? Find all about it with Jaya Bajpayee, from the Astrophysics Operating Missions & Physics of the Cosmos Program, NASA Headquarters.
How have NASA-derived technologies improved and saved lives? Find all about it with Jaya Bajpayee, from the Astrophysics Operating Missions & Physics of the Cosmos Program, NASA Headquarters.
NASA Educator’s workshop (teachers only)
Learn all about the importance of incorporating interactive activities that explains science in a fun way and get students engaged with Deborah Scherrer of the Stanford Solar Centre and Phillip H. Scherrer, Proffesor of Physics at Center for Space Science& Astrophysics, Stanford University
Classroom Comet (students/public)
What do comets look like up close? If you want to know you can either take a spacecraft to space or you can prepare one yourself…here at MPASC this coming November! It’s messy but fun!!
Can science be this picture-delicious? Try mixing your own ice cream with flavors of your choice. It’s a messy affair, but tasty!
Egg Drop Challenge (students / public)
Will a raw egg survive a 3 meter plunge over our MPASC overpass?
Crazy foamMix two solutions together and get an amazing eruption of oxygen-filled foam that appears like a giant stream of toothpaste!
Super Soap Bubbles
Bubbles could be blown with any mixture of soap and water, but do you know how to mix a superior bubble mixture to make super strong, long lasting bubbles?
Rainbow Milk Kids Colour Zone (Pre-school/under 12 years of age)
Other exciting activities are still being planned for, stay updated with us.
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Management Team
Melaka Planetarium Adventure Science Centre
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Did You Know :: KEPLER'S SUPERNOVA REMNANT:
This composite image of Kepler's supernova remnant shows different colors ranging from lower to higher energies: red, yellow, green, blue and purple. An optical image from the Digitized Sky Survey (pale yellow and blue) shows stars in the field. The Kepler supernova was a Type Ia event, the thermonuclear explosion of a white dwarf. New analysis suggests that the supernova explosion was not only more powerful, but might have also occurred at a greater distance, than previously thought.
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Management Team
Melaka Planetarium Adventure Science Centre
Did You Know :: M101 @ Pinwheel Galaxy
This composite image of M101 (aka, the "Pinwheel Galaxy") combines data from four of NASA's space-based telescopes. X-rays from Chandra (purple) reveal the hottest and most energetic areas due to exploded stars, superheated gas, and material falling toward black holes. Infrared data from Spitzer (red) shows dusty lanes in the galaxy where stars are forming, while Hubble data (yellow) traces the light from stars. Ultraviolet emission detected by GALEX (blue) shows emission from young stars.
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Management Team
Melaka Planetarium Adventure Science Centre
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