Not too long ago I asked an astrobiologist colleague if he thought the search for life on Mars would be successful. His answer, delivered deadpan, stunned me. Will we need to tread lightly, in deference to the locals, when finally do make it to Mars? Pat Rawlings/SAIC/NASA “Oh I think we will find life on Mars,” he said. “But the real question will be: Is it our life?” The point my friend was raising is the fundamental question of the solar system’s second genesis. We know life formed once in the Sun’s family of planets. What we can’t be sure about…
Author: Henry
If alien civilizations rise and fall like those on Earth, it may explain why we haven’t met any, two astrobiologists propose. This could explain the Fermi Paradox, while avoiding the bleakness of many other answers to the question of where the aliens are. Maybe aliens aren’t here because they prioritized looking after the ecosystems on their home planet ahead of endless expansion. Image Credit: Marti Bug Catcher/Shutterstock.com The scientists propose that just as cities and nations fail from overly rapid expansion, the same may be true for species on the cusp of space travel. Those that recognize the dangers may flourish indefinitely but without…
This is the amazing moment a scientist got just a little too close to a shark he was trying to photograph – and the deadly predator attempted to eat his camera. A great white shark bites Michael’s camera as he tried to photograph it for his finprinting project in the sea off Dyer Island, South Africa Marine biologist Michael Scholl was documenting great white sharks off Dyer Island in South Africa when the hair-raising incident happened. Scholl is part of an international team of scientists is building an extraordinary new computer system that can identify every single member of one…
Scientists have declared the first sighting of a hybrid between a melon-headed whale and a rough-toothed dolphin in the ocean off Hawaii. However, reports identifying the animal as a ‘wholphin’ are entirely false, they say. The melon-headed whale might be called a whale, but the species is technically a type of dolphin. Labelling the newly discovered hybrid a ‘wholphin’ may mean people wrongly assume it is a cross between two very different animals, scientists said. Scientists have declared the first sighting of a hybrid (front of image) between a melon-headed whale and a rough-toothed dolphin in the ocean off Hawaii ‘Calling…
The Rock has opened up about his clash with his co-star Vin Diesel. The Rock confirmed that the pair did not shoot scenes together for 2016 film The Fate Of The Furious. He told Rolling Stone magazine: “Vin and I had a few discussions, including an important face-to-face in my trailer.” The former wrestler said the pair had a “fundamental difference in philosophies on how we approach movie-making and collaborating”. Vin Diesel (Ian West/PA) He added: “I’m grateful for that clarity, whether we work together again or not.” Asked whether that meant he might not be back for the ninth instalment…
It’s just another day in paradise for Vin Diesel. The action hero sure has it tough these days as he continues ‘work’ on his upcoming movie in beautiful Brazil. Diesel is in South America to film the fifth instalment in the hugely successful Fast and the Furious franchise, called Fast Five. Beach buddies: Vin Diesel seems to be fitting right in with the locals as he hangs on Ipanema Beach, with co-star Ludacris, yesterday in Brazil But by the look of things they have a pretty lapse filming schedule, as since they arrived in Brazil three days ago the cast…
Kim Kardashian brought major sex appeal to a Manhattan birthday party on Friday night by turning up in a skintight black vinyl dress. The 42-year-old bombshell – who kicked off the week by draping her killer body in pearls for the Met Gala – arrived at Cipriani Soho with her mother Kris Jenner to celebrate the 31st birthday of billionaire scion Alexandre Arnault. Kardashian’s sexy look hugged her curvaceous assets and featured a thigh-high slit and a chocker neckline. Spaghetti straps added extra edge to Kim’s stilettos while her glam brought out the intensity of her plump pout and dark eyes. The reality star’s raven…
Marvel Cinematic Universe newcomer Aubrey Plaza shares a new video from the set of her MCU series, with an interesting Disney Easter egg present. Aubrey Plaza posts an Agatha: Coven of Chaos set video that includes a Disney Easter egg. Agatha: Coven of Chaos is the WandaVision spinoff series focused on Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness, who served as the main villain to Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch in the original Disney+ show. Plaza has joined the Agatha: Coven of Chaos cast in a mysterious role, with some reports claiming that she will be playing Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ villain. On Instagram, Plaza shared a video from Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ set, with a chair…
Before a new Avengers team rises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a fan creates a series of pulp-style posters for the original Avengers’ solo films. The Avengers become retro pulp heroes in a series of Marvel Cinematic Universe fan posters. The original Avengers team members include Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, and Black Widow. The heroes started their MCU journeys in different ways, with Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow debuting in supporting roles in other heroes’ movies, while the other four original Avengers got their MCU start through solo films. Those four MCU movies appear in…
Fast and Furious 11 may no longer be the end of the franchise as star Vin Diesel seemingly reveals a three-part finale plan for the films. Despite originally aiming for a two-part finale, Vin Diesel has seemingly revealed Fast and Furious 11 may no longer be the end for the franchise. After over 20 successful years on the big screen, the action movie franchise was expected to come to a close with the eleventh installment, while spinoffs would keep the iconic brand alive for Universal Pictures. It was announced this past April that Louis Letterier, who’s at the helm for Fast X, would…
Vin Diesel was spotted spending time with his daughter Pauline on a boat in Venice on Friday. The Fast & Furious franchise star appeared to be enjoying his time on the water with his youngest child as they made their way to the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda show, which is currently ongoing. The performer, 54, shares Pauline, aged six, as well as his other daughter Hania Riley, aged 13 and only son Vincent, aged 11, with his longtime partner, Paloma Jimenez. On the water: Vin Diesel and his youngest daughter, Pauline, were seen spending time together while heading to the Dolce & Gabbana…
Stunning and terrifying in equal measure, dramatic images show two hungry great white sharks closing in for chunks of tuna just a few feet away from a British photographer. Captured by underwater snapper Euan Rannachan, 36, the striking images show a shark called Keyser Soze coming right up to the camera with its mouth wide open reaching out for its meal. And in footage reminiscent of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, a thrilling video was able to capture the fearsome shark Brutus going in for another chunk of tuna. The fearless London-born photographer was unflinching as he managed to dive and record the…