There just might be life on Mars....

Evidence of life on Mars could have been found by Nasa's Curiosity Rover. Mysterious spikes of methane that cannot easily be explained by geology or other theories have been found by an instrument on the robot, which landed on the planet in 2012. Scientists can’t be sure what is causing the spikes, but it is possible that it could be very small, bacteria-like living organisms.

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Global group of Catholic bishops call for end to fossil fuels

Catholic bishops from around the world are calling for an end to fossil fuel use and increased efforts to secure a global climate treaty.

Catholics, they say, should engage with the process leading to a proposed new deal to be signed in Paris next year.

The statement is the first time that senior church figures from every continent have issued such a call.

Negotiators in Lima are currently trying to advance the outline text of an agreement at UN-led talks.

Go to article in BBC News

Satellite eye on Earth: November 2014 – in pictures

The world’s tallest sand dunes, shrinking lakes and a massive drifting iceberg are among the images captured by European Space Agency and Nasa satellites last month

Go to article in the Guardian

Spotting the Northern Lights

Ghostly patterns in eerie colours dance across the night sky. These are the northern lights (or the aurora borealis). With each day getting shorter, it’s the perfect time to spot them.

“They’re not seen that often in Ireland, but if you go to Iceland, Norway or Sweden you can see them,” explains astrophysicist Prof Peter Gallagher. “The whole sky will be covered in a watery glow of greens and reds.

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FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT HELPS LAUNCH UNIQUE SPACE COMPETITION FOR IRISH SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

3rd December 2014 - The 2015 ESERO Ireland - CEIA CanSat Competition was launched today with the help of former NASA astronaut and President and Executive Director for the Centre for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) Greg Johnson. The competition offers secondary school students a unique opportunity to participate in a real space project by building a CanSat – a simul

ation of a satellite which fits into the volume of a soft drinks can.  All of the participating teams will launch their CanSats in regional finals across Ireland next year, with the winner of the national competition going on to compete in the European final in Portugal in June 2015.
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