If you believe there must be extra-terrestrial life somewhere in the immensity of the universe, here’s some good news: Top National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists agree with you and at a panel discussion on Monday, they said they were closer than ever to finding out for sure.Though some NASA scientists are looking for signs of life in our solar system – most aggressively on Mars, but perhaps soon on one of the ice moons – the scientists on the panel spoke exclusively about looking for signs of life on planets around other stars…and truly there were in for a big shot!
Meet Kepler-186f, the closest thing to our planet ever discovered—and maybe our best shot at locating life elsewhere in the universe.
Right now, 500 light years away (one light year is nearly 6 million miles) from Earth, there’s a planet that looks a lot like our own. It is bathed in dim orangeish light, which at high noon is only as bright as the golden hour before sunset back home.
NASA scientists are calling the planet Kepler-186f, and it’s unlike anything they’ve found. Kepler-186f is the closest relative to the Earth that researchers have discovered.
It’s the first Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone of another star—the sweet spot between too-hot Mercury-like planets and too-cold Neptunes— and it is likely to give scientists their first real opportunity to seek life elsewhere in the universe. “It’s no longer in the realm of science fiction!
But if there is indeed life on Kepler-186f, it may not look like what we have here. Given the redder wavelengths of light on the planet, vegetation there would sprout in hues of yellow and orange instead of green. It’s perhaps more like Earth’s cousin than Earth’s twin.
Kepler-186f is about 10 percent larger than Earth and it orbits a sun that is cooler, dimmer, and about half the size of our own. The effects of gravity would be “slightly” more apparent there, so you would feel heavier.
Our cousin avoids many of the problems that reduce the likelihood of life on other Earth-like planets. Some are too big, too cold, too gaseous, or have gravity problems that scorch oceans. So far, Kepler-186f appears almost to be a Goldilocks — not too big, not too far from its star, maybe just right.
The planet has a shorter year than we do, orbiting its star once every 130 days. On Earth, of course, we take 365 days to make it around the sun. (Though that hasn’t always been the case. Scientists believe that something like 380 million years ago, there were 410 days in an Earth year.)
Researchers aren’t yet sure what Kepler-186f is made of, but given its size and other characteristics, they think it’s a rocky combo like Earth.
Today we know that Earth is special. What we don’t know is how long we’ll be able to say that.

ELECTRONIC NOSE THAT DETECTS CANCER
It’s the second most common cancer for men worldwide, but prostate cancer remains difficult to diagnose, with standard blood tests criticized for delivering a high rate of false positives.

But in a study presented a few weeks, trained detection dogs were able to identify prostate cancer from a few sniffs of a urine sample with a staggering 98% accuracy, with few false positives. Although the study is by no means conclusive, it joins a growing body of research suggesting dogs could be able to smell out cancers.
Electronic noses are not a new concept. Medical sensors first emerged in the 1980s, but were unable to deliver reliable diagnoses. But in this new generation of devices, experts believe the field has matured.
Companies are already moving toward consumer healthcare applications for the electronic nose. British start-up Owlstone is working on a mobile breath-testing system that would give users instant analysis of their breath, offering early detection of conditions such as diabetes, TB or cancers. NASA technology is also being researched as a mobile sensor for lung cancer.
Smart Helmet for pilots
A new smart helmet that allows fighter pilots to see in the dark via an integrated night vision camera has been unveiled a few days ago.
The Striker II, built by BAE Systems, features a visor that also acts as a high-definition display, which can project useful information to the user. The helmet also boasts head-tracking technology. It has been described as a “significant advance” by one expert.
Previous generations of fighter pilot helmets have been fitted with exterior night vision goggles, which added to the overall weight on a pilot’s head.
Goggles also change a helmet’s centre of gravity. This causes neck strain and restricts the pilot’s movement when flying in the dark.
The Striker II, which builds on its predecessor’s “x-ray” display, moves night vision inside the helmet by using an image from a digital camera that is relayed through the helmet mounted display on the visor.
Night vision is vital to pilots when they are flying in close formation, refuelling in mid-air, assisting troops on the ground, and even launching a ground attack.
The Striker II also has higher definition display than the earlier model, and head-tracking sensor technology. This means that operational information can be accurately displayed to the pilot within his or her field of vision.