Location for the 2100 Buffista F2F?

'Second Earth' found, 20 light years away

Scientists have discovered a warm and rocky "second Earth" circling a star, a find they believe dramatically boosts the prospects that we are not alone.

The planet is the most Earth-like ever spotted and is thought to have perfect conditions for water, an essential ingredient for life. Researchers detected the planet orbiting one of Earth's nearest stars, a cool red dwarf called Gliese 581, 20 light years away in the constellation of Libra.

Measurements of the planet's celestial path suggest it is 1½ times the size of our home planet, and orbits close to its sun, with a year of just 13 days. The planet's orbit brings it 14 times closer to its star than Earth is to the sun. But Gliese 581 burns at only 3,000C, half the temperature of our own sun, making conditions on the planet comfortable for life, with average ground temperatures estimated at 0 to 40C. Researchers claim the planet is likely to have an atmosphere. The discovery follows a three-year search for habitable planets by the European Southern Observatory at La Silla in Chile.

"We wouldn't be surprised if there is life on this planet," said Stephane Udry, an astronomer on the project at the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland.

Two years ago, the same team discovered a giant Neptune-sized planet orbiting Gliese 581. A closer look revealed the latest planetary discovery, along with a third, larger planet that orbits the star every 84 days. The planets have been named after their star, with the most earthlike called Gliese 581c. The team spotted the planet by searching the "habitable zone".

I think this is the first rocky "Earth-size" extrasolar planet ever found.

The Post's commuter column, Dr. Gridlock, cited the Virginia law about making right and left turns on red ... which leads me to ask, aren't you supposed to stop on red?

yeah, I seem to remember some wacky rule about being able to make a left on a red light (after coming to a stop, of course ;) ) if turning from a one way street onto a one way street.

ION, the yummy Old Guard is on campus today. They're the ceremonial unit that does funerals and events in the army. They are required to be a certain level of hot.

I seem to remember some wacky rule about being able to make a left on a red light (after coming to a stop, of course ;) ) if turning from a one way street onto a one way street.

Yep. You can turn left on red if both streets are one-way. I find this useful in Houston's downtown.

paperdol, your neighbors are so sweet! Also? For your cough, go get yourself some Delsym. All it does is calm/shut off the cough impulse, so its great if your don't want the rest of the stuff in nyquil. It'll let you sleep.

In Baltimore, red lights at downtown intersections are usually treated as an advisory.

Hehe. Not just downtown. Light turns green, you wait for the intersection to clear. There are 3 red-light cameras on my drive to work. They seem to have made no difference. I've had to go to court to contest a red-light camera ticket. Picture wasn't of my car and I have no idea how they managed to interpret the plate id in the picture as mine. This might be why they've made no difference.

They are required to be a certain level of hot.

I'm a sucker for uniforms anyway, but those boys are all hot.

Cool beans about GlieseC!

I'm a sucker for uniforms anyway, but those boys are all hot.

especially when they're flipping rifles back and forth. Mmmmm. they're out there in their Army shorts and tshirts. Makes me wish for ROTC :)

Wow, that's kind of amazing, Fred. Good luck to all of you!

Um, Jesse, isn't it like not-even-properly-morning, in your timezone?

Yeah, it was still dark when I got to the event. And now I need a nap! But so do all of my coworkers, and none of us are going to get one.

That seems only fair, Fred!

That's our thought.

The University explained to us how they get potential donors -- from research labs and shelters. They get cats that are too old to be cute adoptable kittens but young enough to have good kidneys. Testing is done to make sure they're suitable donors -- for example, one cat they now have has cystitis or something similar on one kidney, so they're trying to adopt him out without him becoming a donor.

And adopting the donor is a non-negotiable condition. (It'll be interesting to have four cats in the house. I just hope the donor and Teddy will have enough time to bond while in the hospital.)

Once we get Teddy to Philadelphia, he goes through a tissue match test. Apparently finding a suitable match isn't too difficult for cats -- we're more likely to have to choose which of the suitable matches to take than to have to wait for them to find a suitable match. He also gets a cyclosporin test, and once that's done, the operation.

He'll be on cyclosporin (morning and evening) for the rest of his life, and at least in the short term, a weekly vet visit for blood work to adjust the dosage. Plus acupuncture will continue.

It'll still be a lot less time and effort than what we're going through now.

Survival rate (one year) is 60-70 percent. Which is far better than his chances if we don't have the surgery.

And adopting the donor is a non-negotiable condition.

This is just awesome. As is the whole having some hope thing, of course.