New Earth?

Astronomers using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope may have discovered an Earth-like planet in the process of being born, about 424 light-years away, around a star in a binary system known as HD 113766.

According to the study, which will be published in an upcoming issue of the Astrophysical Journal, the star is surrounded by a dust belt located in the planet’s habitable zone, where liquid water could exist on any rocky planets that formed. Researchers believe the dust, which may equal Mars or possibly Earth in mass is beginning to clump together.

The star, which is about 10 million years old, is the right age for forming rocky planets. A younger star would be surrounded mostly by gas, and would be forming gas giants, while an older star would have already finished making rocky planets.

Using Spitzer’s infrared spectrometer, the astronomers determined the composition of the dust. “The material mix in this belt is most reminiscent of the stuff found in lava flows on Earth,” said study team member Carey Lisse of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. “I thought of Mauna Kea material when I first saw the dust composition in this system – it contains raw rock and it’s abundant in iron sulfides, which are similar to fool’s gold.”

“It is fantastic to think we are able to detect the process of terrestrial planet formation. Stay tuned; I expect lots more fireworks as the planet in HD 113766 grows,” he adds.

Source: NASA

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Now playing: Labradford – Up to Pizmo
via FoxyTunes

Enon – Grass Geysers…Carbon Clouds

 

Pretty solid indietronica

Oct 6, 2007 by Roon product

Grass Geysers…Carbon Clouds – Enon

★★★★☆

I’m currently listening to the latest release from Philly-based indie rock trio Enon, Grass Geysers…Carbon Clouds, released by Touch & Go Records.

Now, I’m sorry, but I hadn’t heard of them before. I hadn’t followed guitar/vocalist John Schmersal from his early days in Brainiac, and I was completely unaware of of the lineup changes over Enon’s last three full-length studio releases as Rick Lee and Steve Calhoon were replaced by bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Toko Yasuda and drummer Matt Schulz. So, I’m absolutely not able to tell you how this compares to, say, their highly-regarded sophomore effort, 2002′s High Society.
What I am able to tell you, though, is that I enjoyed this album almost immensely. The noisy punk core supports the layers of dirty synthpop noodling quite well, resulting in an experience which is energetic without being in anyway simplistic, and experimental without being at risk of getting lost. The mood is dark and somewhat surreal, but cut through with occasional moments of shiny happy.

I do, however, have two complaints.

First, I don’t nearly enjoy Schmersal’s vocals as much as I enjoy Yasuda’s. I’m of the firm belief that rock plus girly female vocals is always more kick-ass than rock plus just some guy’s vocals. Although Yasuda does take lead vocal duty on much of the disc, there are times when Schmersal’s vocal lead, and I find those moments lack the punch found in the rest of the album.

Second, the tracks were too damn short. The longest cut on the album, ashish, only clocks in at 4:29. Certainly, there’s a place for short music in this world, but I felt many of these songs ended before they had a chance to fully develop into whatever they were developing into. These don’t need to be some twenty-minute extravaganza, but I don’t think reaching at least two minutes on every song, and maybe once or twice breaking five minutes would break the songs. One final note. Although it has no impact on the sound of the album at all, the foil-enhanced album art is bitchin’.

[mp3] “Mirror On You“

[mp3] “Mr. Ratatatatat“

[mp3] “Paperweights“

Recommended if you like: The Fiery Furnaces, The Unicorns, Blonde Redhead, Les Savy Fav

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This hReview brought to you by the hReview Creator. —————- Now playing: Enon – pigeneration via FoxyTunes

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