We had an abbreviated meeting, as everyone (including myself) seems to have been unusually busy this week. No specific research updates, but we discussed two interesting articles of science news. Attendees were Liz Kandziolka, Jennifer Briggs, Emily Jensen, Brenton Peck, Nathan Grigsby, Trent Garrett, and Prof. Daryl Macomb.
The first article we discussed, “Cosmology from Quantum Potential“, proposed an origin for the universe that represents an alternative to the big bang. We didn’t really understand the theory, but it seems to involve the idea that universe doesn’t really have a beginning. We puzzled over whether the theory actually proposes any specific testables or observables.
The second article we discussed, “Titan Submarine : Vehicle Design and Operations Concept for the Exploration of the Hydrocarbon Seas of Saturn’s Giant Moon“, suggests a plan to send a submersible to plumb the depths of Titan’s seas, the only seas in our solar system besides those on Earth. Studying Titan’s seas may teach us about the pre-biotic chemistry in the Earth’s early oceans. And as with all exciting scientific work, this study comes with an animation and dramatic sound track.
