For Kevin

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Lastnight's Mars Experience

Last Night frrsawyer took me and our house guest to the Sceince Museum's storage facility in Wroughton to a presentation on Mars. The billing was mostly to see Mars through a telescope given its proximity. Sadly it was cloudy but lucky for us (well me more specifically) there where some presenters who battled absolutely lousy accoustics to speak to us.

The first presenter was one of my heros of the moment Professor Colin Pillinger. He did a great presentation and then I was able to go up and meet him. I was well made up and that was a good birthday surprize.

The other presenter was Dr Alan Longstaff who gave an absolutely fascinating presentation on Astrobiology which we all enjoyed but with differring experiences. F enjoyed it from her life sciences point of view, our house guest enjoyed it as good information and I enjoyed it for all the detail of the chemistry involved which I could just about follow.

Mind you if a chemist reads this and can explain how the chemical process C02 + 4H2 -> CH4 + 2H20 releases energy to power Archae bacteria I would be most appreciative as I would have thought that would have been energy using equation not producing one like the glucose reaction in cells of C6H12O6 + 6O2 --> 6CO2 + 6H2O.

Then I am not a chemist so what do I know.

Still a good way to celebrate my birthday.