Double-star explosions, the Search for Extraterrestrial Artifacts and astronauts’ bones

Welcome! “Alien Life” tracks the latest discoveries and thoughts in the various elements of the famous Drake Equation. You may notice that this and future entries are shorter than usual; Career, family and book deal commitments have forced me to cut back some of my projects. Now, here’s today’s news:
g Stars - Proof that certain double star systems can erupt in full-blown explosions and then continue to flare up with smaller bursts has been spotted by the ultraviolet eyes of NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. See http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0703/07galex/.
g Abodes - In the final part of this five-part lecture given at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Michael Brown answers questions from the audience. Questions include “Why did the name of Xena get changed to Eris?” and “Could there be another undiscovered planet in our solar system?” http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.phpop=modload
&name=News&file=article&sid=2263mode=thread&order=
0&thold=0.
g Message - The Search for Extraterrestrial Artifacts, or SETA, is about delineating between the artificial and the real. In the case of radio detection from other stellar systems, the artificial is what is labeled the real signal that intelligent communications are on-air. See http://seti.astrobio.net/news/article84.html. Note: This article is a couple of years old.
g Cosmicus - Are bigger bones stronger bones? Not necessarily, according to a recent NASA study that seeks to ensure healthy bones in astronauts. See http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0703/05spacebones/.
g Learning - Are we alone? Are humans unique in the universe, or is our existence the natural outcome of universal processes that produced complex life on Earth and elsewhere? As we observe the universe beyond Earth, we find that we are fundamentally a part of it. To understand the relationship of humanity to stardust requires understanding evolution in its broadest sense. See http://www.space.com/searchforlife/devore_seti_010130.html. Note: This article on teaching evolution in schools is from January 2001.