SEARCH:
washingtonpost.com
Web
| Search Archives
Science

Science

(John Mcconnico -- Associated Press)

TOOLBOX

Resize
Save/Share +

COMMENT

Discussion Policy
CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

Who's Blogging

» Links to this article
Monday, July 21, 2008; Page A06

TO COLDLY GO . . .

Scientists are testing miniature robot snowmobiles as a way to study climate in remote, icy places too dangerous for scientists to go. Inspired by the success of the Mars rovers, Ayanna Howard of Georgia Tech, working with scientists at Penn State, created the SnoMotes and tested prototypes in Alaska. The "mobile weather stations" successfully roamed Mendenhall Glacier in June, gathering data on barometric pressure, temperature and relative humidity. Researchers hope someday to deploy networks of 30 to 40 machines to study the Arctic and improve climate models.

Staff writer Marc Kaufman and planet-hunter Paul Butler will be online at 11 a.m. today to discuss the search for alien life. Go to washingtonpost.com/science.


© 2008 The Washington Post Company