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Region One Sciences RDC FCapt. Richard Heim AlaricRH@sprynet.com Welcome to the March 2000 issue of the Region One Sciences newsletter, the premiere issue of our new electronic version! It took a while to convert to this new format, but it should now streamline the publication of the newsletter. I patterned the html after the electronic version of the U.S.S. Alaric's newsletter, Carolina Communicator. I hope you like our new format! As I write this, the Region One Science Awards Program is currently undergoing voting for the winners of the 1999 Hawking and Galileo Awards. I emailed ballots to all R/1 CSO's that I had email addresses for, and mailed via US Postal Service ballots to those I didn't have email addresses for. Deadline for getting your ballots back to me is Monday, April 17, 2000. We have three candidates for the Hawking Award and two candidates for the Galileo Award. To those of you who have already turned in your ballot--THANKS!! Those of you who haven't still have time! The winners will be announced at this year's Region One Summit. Speaking of the Summit, David and I have some special activities planned. We'll be announcing the winners of the R/1 Science Awards as noted above, and David is organizing a Name That Alien contest. Also, we'll have a lot to cover during the Sciences RDC meeting. I find my real-life responsibilities are impinging on my Fleet activities more and more nowadays. This is because I'm doing a lot more travelling for work this year than in the past. As a result, I'm now asking you R/1 CSO's who report monthly, to cc our ARDC David Klingman in addition to sending your reports to me. This will assure that one of us will get you a timely answer if you have an urgent question or need. If you haven't checked out the Region One Sciences web page, I urge you to do so! We have articles, info, and the new Chief Science Officer Handbook at the site. Instructions for subscribing to the science listservers are also there. That's all I have for this issue. Live Long and Prosper! Click Here to Return to Table of Contents Region One Sciences ARDC Capt. David Klingman mirodon@carolina.rr.com Region 1 Sciences continues to interact with its CSOs through the Fleet Science list, Starfleet-Science@onelist.com, as well as the Regional Science list, Region1-RDCScience@onelist.com As ARDC Science Region 1, I have been maintaining a list of the Region 1 CSOs: 35 chapters currently have a CSO that I know about 16 chapters are 'status pending' (either they have no CSO or I am waiting for a response from them). I plan to attend the Region 1 Summit in Gatlinburg, TN, April 28-30, 2000 with Greg Phillips from the USS Hornet as my travelling partner. I recently upgraded from personal shuttle to runabout status (I purchased a 2000 Toyota 4Runner with lots of bells and whistles). I have already ordered my Starfleet sticker and have unofficially named it the Region 1 Science Pod ;-) At the Summit, I will be running a gameshow/contest called 'Name That Alien' (this will be included to the scheduled list of gaming events for Friday night). Participants can access the information for the game show questions at the Starfleet Exobiology pages at: http://www.angelfire.com/nc2/sardis/exobio.html Click Here to Return to Table of Contents

Vol. 5 No. 1 March 2000 Contents This Issue: Things You Need To Know Newsletter Deadline Submissions Subscriptions CSO Reports R/1 Science Webpage RDC Report ARDC Report Special Reports Science Quiz: Phobias The Borg Are Coming...Sooner Than You Think! Science Factinos Science Around The First Fleet: U.S.S. Alaric U.S.S. Carolina U.S.S. Hawkeye U.S.S. Heimdal U.S.S. Jurassic U.S.S. Tycho U.S.S. Yorktown Federation Communications Region One Sciences recognizes Paramount's Star Trek copyrights, and all other copyrights. This newsletter is published on a quarterly basis. Deadline for submissions to next issue: June 20, 2000. Submissions. The Region One Sciences newsletter welcomes any science-related submissions from anyone. Our primary purpose is to serve as a communications medium for Starfleet's Region One Chief Science Officers, so we summarize interesting things from your monthly CSO reports. Other types of submissions can include articles, editorials, news (of your ship or of real-world science developments), etc. Send your submissions to editor Richard Heim at AlaricRH@sprynet.com or by regular mail to: Region One Sciences Newsletter P.O. Box 2072 Asheville, NC 28802 U.S.A. Subscriptions to the electronic version of this newsletter are free. All you need to do is surf to the url of the most recent issue. If you want a paper copy subscription to this newsletter, send 4 long SASE's for a year's subscription to the address above. A SASE is a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope. On the first page is a series of 3 boxes indicating your SASE status. Thanks to those of you who already have SASE's on file! The Monthly CSO Reports are a monthly writeup telling us (R/1 Sciences) what your ship's science departments have been up to. They can be a couple sentences, or a long missive, or anything in between. If there's anything in your report that you don't want us to mention in this newsletter, then let us know that, too. CSO reports are due by the first week of the month (i.e., no later than the 7th day of the month). Email them to the RDC at AlaricRH@sprynet.com with a cc to the ARDC at mirodon@carolina.rr.com. If you send your reports via regular mail, use the P.O. box above. Reporting Guidelines ..... include: 1. Your name and address (email if applicable); 2. Chapter name; 3. Date of report; 4. Total members in department (including yourself). If you have any members who have been promoted, completed Starfleet Academy courses, or any members who have received any special awards (within Starfleet or outside), please list their names and accomplishment. Also, if you have any departmental project planned or in the works, please include that as well. If you have any concerns or just want to tell us what your ship has been doing, by all means include that too! Region One Sciences has a web page. Point your browser to: http://alaricrh.home.sprynet.com/science/R1Science.htm and enjoy!

Take a close look at a candle flame. How many different zones does it have? From the wick outward and upward, first there is a transparent zone, then usually a blue zone, then a yellow zone, and possibly a short red one. Sometimes there is even a black zone after that one.

The transparent zone nearest the wick is where wax vapor steadily streams off the wick. There isn't enough oxygen in that zone for it to burn, because the steady stream of vapor keeps it out. But something else important happens here: the heat from the burning part of the flame starts breaking up the chains of carbon atoms in the wax. The long chains of carbon atoms immediately condense into extremely tiny particles of soot, which are carried into the main flame.

The blue zone is colored by the burning of a particular kind of molecular fragment called diatomic carbon (C2). The yellow zone is colored by the burning of the soot particles. If not all the soot burns, then the red zone forms from cooling soot particles, and you might even see the black zone which is smoke (large soot particles) in the process of condensing.

Recent discoveries made by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft show that the two poles of Mars are very different, indicating that the climate may have been different at the two poles for quite a long time.

The south pole has a permanent cap of frozen carbon dioxide mixed with layers of other material. Since the carbon dioxide ice evaporates directly into the thin Martian air, rather than melting the way water ice does on Earth, the landscape shows features unlike anything on Earth. There are flat-bottomed circular depressions and round-walled plateaus, and complex fingerprint-like whorls of grooves.

The north pole's ice cap, while about the same size, is simply a layer on top of the ground, with small pits probably caused by evaporation of the ice. Its structure seems simpler, and it may be composed mainly of water ice rather than frozen carbon dioxide.

Why are the two poles of Mars so different? Scientists hope to discover the answer as exploration of the red planet continues.

In 1911 a Dutch physicist named Heike Kamerlingh Onnes noticed that when he cooled mercury metal to a temperature just above absolute zero its electrical resistance completely disappeared. He had discovered superconductivity, a property that some materials have at very low temperatures.

When all electrical resistance disappears, some strange things happen. Electric currents can flow forever in closed loops through the material. External magnetic fields cannot enter because they cause exactly equal and opposite currents to flow, repelling them.

Scientists are still trying to understand superconductivity. One of the great mysteries is whether there are materials that can show superconductivity at high temperatures. New superconducting materials are discovered every year, but so far they all must be cooled to very low temperatures before they become superconductors.

If you hear a cricket chirping and you have a watch, you can estimate the temperature where the cricket is. If you can hear more than one, you can tell whether they are experiencing different temperatures.

To calculate the "cricket temperature," count the number of chirps in a 14-second period. Add forty to the result, and you have a rough estimate of the Fahrenheit temperature of the cricket.

This method works best with the snowy tree cricket, whose song sounds like gently ringing sleigh bells. Depending on the species of cricket, you might have to adjust the counting time by one or two seconds, up or down.

Why does it work? Because crickets are cold-blooded creatures, the rate of their metabolism is strictly determined by temperature. The warmer it is, the faster they move and the faster they chirp. The same method would work equally well with other insects if they had the regular chirping habits of crickets.

Have you seen seagulls or migrating geese flying in a "V"? Through evolution, flocks of birds have spontaneously developed the best instinctive strategy for long-distance flight as a group.

Freeway drivers may be familiar with the "wake effect" that reduces gas usage when one follows just behind and to one side of a large truck. The "V" flying flock takes advantage of exactly the same effect.

By flying in a "V", birds minimize the energy used by the whole flock to get where it's going. Recent research shows that even the leader of the "V" benefits from the formation. A "V" flock of 25 birds can travel 70% farther than an unformed flock, and it also flies faster

Every day, more than 1,000 gallons of water are lost into space from the top of Earth's atmosphere. Most of the water is lost near the magnetic poles, where charged particles from the Sun split water molecules into electrically charged hydrogen and oxygen ions.

The charged ions move in paths that follow the lines of Earth's magnetic field. Since that field points straight up near the poles, they can escape there. The amount lost can be much larger during solar storms when the solar wind becomes more powerful. If Earth had no magnetic field, the amount lost would be far greater and the oceans would have evaporated millions of years ago.

Before the bow and arrow were invented about 15,000 years ago, a simpler weapon was used to throw long darts with great power and accuracy. The atlatl [at-LAT-ul] was invented at least 25,000 years ago, and is still used by Australian aborigines.

The atlatl is a stick about 60 centimeters (24 inches) long, with a notched hook at one end. Into the notch is placed the end of a flexible, feathered "dart" that is at least 150 centimeters long (59 inches) and possibly longer. By flicking the atlatl quickly forward, the user is able to fling the dart toward the target with tremendous speed.

Recently, there has been a surge of interest in the atlatl. Its physics are surprisingly sophisticated, involving temporary storage of energy in the flexing of the dart as it is thrown. Enthusiasts are now designing ever-better atlatls using high-tech materials, and there are world-wide competitions.

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Chief Science Officer Report: FCapt. Richard Heim, CSO USS Alaric -- Asheville, NC AlaricRH@sprynet.com

USS Alaric's Sciences Roster:

FCapt. Richard Heim - Chief Science Officer
Capt. Susan Vaughn - Chief/Astrophysics

FCapt. Richard Heim - Specialist/Astronomy
FCapt. Richard Heim - 2nd Watch/Fortean Research Dept.
FCapt. Richard Heim - Specialist/Lost Civilization Relics, Oop-Arts, Lost Continent Civilizations, Unexplained Phenomena
FCapt. Richard Heim - 2nd Watch/Planetary Sciences
Cmdr. Mark Gassman - Specialist/Geology
Capt. Susan Vaughn - Specialist/Zoology
FCapt. Richard Heim - Specialist/Climatology
C/3 Joe McCollum - Specialist/Mathematics, Ecologist-Environmentalist
LT.jg. Dale Anderson - Chief/Social Sciences
LT.jg. Dale Anderson - Specialist/Anthropology, Archaeology
Cmdr. Mark Gassman - Specialist/Klingon Culture
Cmdr. Ian "Krell" Johnsson - Specialist/Ferengi Culture
RAdm. Susan Bolick - CMO, Chief/Medical Sciences

Alaric Ship Log

The Alaric participates in several community activities, including supporting Manna Food Bank with canned food and Eliada Children's Home with Campbells product labels. We also recycle aluminum, both as a community activity and as a fund raiser. Another fund raiser is auctioning items donated by members over eBay.

Alaric Science Log

The primary emphasis of Sciences aboard the Alaric continues to be education through newsletter articles, both in Alaric publications (the Carolina Communicator) and others. In the months ahead, I'll be converting my science articles, that have been printed in the Carolina Communicator and The Alaric Heim Page, to html format for the sciences web site.

Speaking of which, the Alaric Science Department's web page url is:

http://alaricrh.home.sprynet.com/science/AlaricSci.htm

The Alaric sent an away team to the Fantasm convention in Atlanta, GA on March 17-19. This convention was not related to the movies by the similar name. It was, instead, a really great fantasy/erotic convention. My favorite parts were the Miss Fantasm Contest, Costume Contest, and the Cam Girl Show. Oh yes, and the parties! On Friday night a "Fuzzy Dice" event was held where you rolled large fuzzy dice and could win a free membership to next year's Fantasm or free t-shirts or free buttons. But if you rolled double sixes, you had to choose between cleaning up after the party wars or being in the slave auction. I chose the slave auction (but that's another story!).

In addition to being the fictional Science Officer aboard the Alaric, I'm a scientist (meteorologist/ climatologist) in "real life". During the first half of March I attended an Automated Weather Station Workshop and presented an oral paper on the development of the U.S. Climate Reference Network. The workshop was held in Lincoln, Nebraska. Shirley and I drove and stayed with relatives.

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Chief Science Officer Report: Commander Dee Okolotowicz, CSO USS Carolina -- Greenville, SC cmdrde@usscarolina.com

Science Officer's Log:

We are closely observing what seems to be a new life form in the Gamma Quadrant. It is apparent that it is humanoid in nature (outwardly), however, one important difference is quite evident. This particular "humanoid" has no DNA molecules. And yet, certain common elements are present in it's chemical composition.

This life form is traveling with a large group or "pod" as we are calling them. They are apparently migrating, although we have no evidence as to where the're final destination will be. On an interesting note, they seem to be consuming local food stuffs, something I, as a Vulcan, have never been able to do. Most importantly, they seem to take "rest" periods, what we might call sleep, every two or three hours. I speculate that it is due to their metabolic functions.

I am hopeful that these beings will be in the quadrant long enough to make many more observations and discoveries, since they are completely unfamilar to the Federation. Due to our strict prime directive, I have been ordered by the captain to observe only from a distance. This will make my job as Chief Science Officer much more challenging than it has been in the past. I look forward to the challenge and the knowledge.

I am looking into several magazines for circulation within this department. If anyone has any suggestions, they will be considered. There are several very interesting and infomative ones, and it is difficult to decide which to subscribe to. However, I will choose on the basis of being easy to understand or layman's reading. No point in subscribing to something that may be a bit over our heads in comprehending.

I mentioned in my last report that I want to start a science department newsletter, and I definitely do. I'm not trying to make an excuse for not having begun this project, but the fact is, since I have taken on the responsibility of newsletter editor and webmaster, I simply have not had an opportunity to actually, start it. Although, I am taking any articles, artwork, or anything that would be pertinent for the newsletter and putting them into my files for use once I do begin publishing one. I estimate that once the webpage is fully operational, and the newsletter templates are finalized, I will have the time and opportunity to start this project. However, anyone new joining the science department is certainly welcome to take on this monthly or bi-monthly project.

One last topic to touch on.... the Region 1 Summit. I am looking forward to the Summit with a lot of anticipation. It has been some time since I have attended a Starfleet function of this type. It should be a great deal of fun as well as being informative and interesting. I look forward to meeting old Starfleeters and new ones. I am particularly pleased that several of us are going. It will be good to present ourselves as a "ship" at our first SF function, rather than just as an individuals.

I am posting this one notice publicly... Since I am not a navigator or pilot, I will probably not be piloting the shuttlecraft. I believe our Captain and First Officer will be piloting the shuttles. I plan to use that time to "rest."

Science Officer out.

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Chief Science Officer Report: Capt. David Klingman, CSO USS Hawkeye -- Greensboro, NC mirodon@carolina.rr.com

Please note my new email address.

Members in Department: 1 (Captain David Klingman, Chief Science Officer/Exobiologist).

Current Project(s):

Developing an interim web site for Starfleet FDC Medical (since the post is currently vacant) at http://www.angelfire.com/nc2/sardis/medical.html - the site will have information on providing CPR and First Aid, links to medical and health sites, and updates on medical news. Developing the NAME THAT ALIEN gameshow for R1 Summit, will be part of Friday night's party/ceremonies.

Received the Starfleet Region One Sciences Award Contest prize for the design of R1 RDC Science Awards certificates.

I recently changed pager services so my new pager is (704) 513-6248 - please feel free to page me if you need something quickly. The new Toyota 4Runner (which I have unofficially named "The Science Pod") is running well and I look forward to driving to the R1 Summit in the new wheels :)

• New findings support prospect of life on Jupiter's moon Europa (Mark Schwarz, Stanford University) http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/pr/00/000126Europa.html
• New energy in debate over alien life by Alan Boyle (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.com/news/362046.asp
• Researchers have merged a live cell with a tiny computer chip (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.com/news/374626.asp http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/02/25/bio.chip.ap/index.html

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Chief Science Officer Report: RAdm. Willy Smith, CSO USS Heimdal -- Amherst, VA R1RDC@aol.com

USS Heimdal Science Department Members: Willy Smith, Bonnie Davis

Newsletter: Science Matters

Activities: None ... but we have plans to unite with Computer Operations to hold a Heimdal meeting and possibly update our "Trek Jeopardy" game. More plans for activities once the spring arrives.

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Science Department Report: Lt. (j.g.) Joe Lamantia, CSO USS Jurassic -- Reston, VA Joe_Lamantia@knight-hub.com

A long series of articles can be found in Scientific American's latest issue (March 2000) on the sending of humans to Mars. At least to me one of the most interesting is a concept dealing with the establishment of a 'space bus' which rides a specific orbit from earth to Mars and return. Astronauts will 'hitch' a ride from earth on the way out, land on Mars and perform their research, then as the next bus approaches launch and lock on for the ride back. Simple, cheap, reasonable. That's the ticket.

Visit Scientific American at http://www.sciam.com

Yet more planets have been located within a 150 light year range of Earth. As all of us know who believe in a future where there are no limits on a race but the ones they impose themselves the galaxy looks to be a lively place. Perhaps not life as we are but no doubt better and worse forms.

More interesting work going on with a quantum computer. My old brain has troubles with this type of processing but if it in fact can get past a single gate (like to know more, just drop me a line) it will make the Giga Hertz PC's about to pop out of the chip makers seem like tinker toys in comparison.

Something not to think about - scientists are in preparation to run physics experiments in a major laboratory later on this year. There is a small possibility (very small) that the impacts might have the capability of producing a miniature black hole at the impact site. If it did resolve it should last only microseconds. I'm reminded of the hydrogen bomb tests in the Pacific and the very small possibility of setting the atmosphere on fire. Science will either take us to the stars or end or race right here. Do we have the right to experiment like this? Of course!

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Chief Science Officer Report: FCaptain David Rose, CSO USS Tycho -- Fremont, OH tycho59325@aol.com

USS Tycho's Science Department:

Total Members in Department (including the chief): 10

FCaptain David J. Rose - Chief Science Officer
Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam J. Gorrell - Science Officer
Civilian Advisor Guy Sutherland - Science Technician
Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin M. Lawson - Computer Technician
Commander Jeff Lawson - Chief History Officer
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mary Jo Lawson - Yeoman
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeremy Klosowski - Planetary Science Technician
Lieutenant j.g. Marchelle Lee - Chief Botany Officer
Petty Officer 3rd Class Sherryl Klosowski - Chemistry Technician
Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Steiner - Anthropology/Archeology Technician

On February 20, 1962 John Herschel Glenn, Jr., became the first American, and the third person, to orbit Earth. Aboard the capsule Friendship 7, he made three orbits of Earth. The spacecraft was a Mercury-Atlas 6. In 1998 the 77-year-old Glenn went into space again on the space shuttle Discovery to test the effects of aging.

On February 8, 1828 French writer Jules Vern , sometimes called "the father of science fiction," was born at Nantes, France. His best known works include Around the World in Eighty Days and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. He died at Amiens, France, on March 24, 1905.

We will have our third video night on January 12th. This time we will watch episodes of "Night Stalker." As of right now plans are on hold for a laser tag night, more on this to follow.

The C.O. , X.O. and the Tycho are on the move! The Tycho will be leaving Fremont, Ohio and now be based in Toledo, Ohio as of March 4, 2000. As soon as we get our new address we will pass it on.

The Tycho will be sending a very small away team to this year's Region One Summit. We look forward to seeing all our friends again. More to follow on the makeup of this away team.

We are still collecting stamps for the STARFLEET Stampede, coupons for the STARFLEET Overseas Coupon Project, and various items for our ongoing food bank donations project.

Personal Note: This is my final monthly science briefing as Chief Science Officer of the U.S.S. Tycho. I originally took on this role in April of 1998 when the previous CSO found real life too demanding. Now it is my turn to depart because of real life. CSO of the Tycho was a position that I thought I'd never hold. I took on the role because of it's importance to us since we are designated a scientific research vessel by STARFLEET.

I never really considered myself much of a scientist or science buff. All you have to do is look back at my school science grades. I hope I have interested and enlightened you with some of the things I've found along the way as I performed my duties as the Tycho's Chief Science Officer. I know you have sure enlightened and interested me!

At this time I would like to introduce my successor, PO3 Adam Gorrell. PO3 Gorrell recently joined the crew of the Tycho and expressed an interest in becoming the CSO. The more I have gotten to know Adam, I know he is the right person for the job. He has a huge interest in science, how things work and he is a dreamer. He has relayed to me many things he has found interesting in magazine's like Popular Mechanics and Discover. I know he will be more than able to fill the role of the Chief Science Officer of the U.S.S. Tycho.

It has been a pleasure working we everyone involved with Region One Science and I will miss you all. You are the best!!!

Live Long And Prosper!

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Chief Science Officer Report: Ens. Tina Walker, CSO USS Yorktown -- Rock Hill, SC 6855 Mandarin Drive Rock Hill, SC 29732

Science Log, Stardate 0002.02: Ship experienced a major Static Particle Storm, which caused the power to fluctuate and finally go out. Power was restored the following day.

Total members in department: 1.

I recently passed my Starship Operations course and Treknology course. On Stardate 0001.20, I witnessed a spectacular sight! For an hour, I watched a lunar eclipse. The moon turned a brick red.

Things were really hectic this March. Besides running the Science Department, my Counseling duties, and being Morale Officer, I've been helping my in-laws move into a brand new double-wide trailer, as well as starting a new job (on March 17). I've also been keeping up on department reports and getting ready for the away mission coming up in April. I will be attending the Region One Summit with my 5-year-old daughter. She is looking forward to going with her mommy. I hope to see all or many of you there.

March 3 - James Doohan (Lt.Cmdr. Scotty) March 22 - William Shatner (Capt. James T. Kirk) March 26 - Leonard Nimoy (Cmdr. Spock) Our Great Science Officer! March 29 - Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi)

April 1 - Grace Lee Whitney (Yeoman Janice Rand) April 18 - Avery Brooks (Capt. Benjamin Sisko) April 20 - George Takei (Lt.Cmdr. Sulu) April 29 - Kate Mulgrew (Capt. Kathryn Janeway)

Jo Lantru,

Walker out.

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R/1 RDC Sciences, FCapt. Richard Heim

Starfleet FDC Science, Capt. David Klingman:

I'm continuing to get input on the Starfleet Science list with a broadened scope of submissions including NASA news, weather and climatology, science history, and a variety of other topics.

I have set up a network of Regional Science Correspondents.

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