'Dancing Planets' Share Closest Orbits in Solar System

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It’s the latest discovery from NASA’s Kepler mission to find planets of habitable life. Sorry, we’re not moving anytime soon, but researchers at the University of Washington and Harvard University found what they are calling a planetary “tug of war.” Here’s Red Orbit.

This adapted image uses Neptune to reflect the image of how the new gaseous planet, 36c, would orbit the rocky-surfaced 36b planet, which is shown from the point of view of the Seattle skyline. They are the closest orbiting planets in our solar system.

Both planets orbit a star nearly 1,200 light years away in the Cygnus constellation. The Space Daily reports, it’s there that researchers believe an anomaly is occurring.

“The discovery of the Kepler-36 planetary system...is an example of planets breaking with the planetary pattern of our solar system: rocky planets orbiting close to the sun and gas giants orbiting farther away.”

Here’s a thought, they’re the closest planets in the solar system, their orbits are only 10 percent different and both planets formed with comparable masses at their birth. So, why aren’t their compositions the same and are they at risk of running into each other? The Register reports...

“Despite the tug-of-war, the planets are in no danger of colliding because of the timing of their orbits...Although the planets' densities differ by a factor of eight...which makes it difficult to explain the differences in composition using current models of planet formation; usually the type of stuff on a planet depends on how close it is to its star.”

But let’s talk about the big blue marble in the room--could either planet sustain life? The Christian Science Monitor reports...

“Life is highly unlikely on these orbs. They are so close to their host star (Kepler 36) – that temperatures hover between 1,200 and 1,300 degrees F...Like the sun's end-of-life sequence, Kepler-36's fiery atmosphere will expand much farther into space than it does now, engulfing the odd couple.”

Since the launch of the first Kepler observatory to seek out planetary life in 2009, the Kepler mission has confirmed 74 planets out of more than 2300 planet “candidates.” 

New York Times Seeking Tech-Savvy CEO?

The Gray Lady is looking to put a techie in its top spot, according to Bloomberg.

Here’s more on The New York Times’ search for a new chief executive.

“It has a big want ad. Apparently it’s looking for a tech-savvy CEO. … the company is hoping to reverse its six-year sales slump.”
On the short list — former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Akamai chief Paul Sagan.
A writer for Business Insider questions whether the Times knows what business it’s in.
“ … apparently because the NYT regards its future as "digital" and these two executives are from the ‘digital’ industry. Now, Eric and Paul are also two smart, excellent, butt-kicking chief executives, and if the NYT is just looking for a ‘capable CEO who understands the Internet,’ the NYT could certainly do worse.”
Other outlets report someone else is in talks for the Times’ number-one job — outgoing BBC chief, Mark Thompson. New York Magazine writes Thompson …
“ … has some experience as a new boss replacing a predecessor who was abruptly shown the door. He became BBC director general after Greg Dyke … was ousted because of a politically loaded scandal over the BBC's reporting on the lead-up to the Iraq War. That could come in handy.”
The Chicago Tribune points out a potential drawback for the talented chief exec …
“Cerebral and well read, with a background in BBC journalism, Thompson is not a born communicator and has sometimes struggled to get his message across, both to staff and to U.K. opinion formers.”
Thompson isn’t touted as one of the top tech-savvy candidates for the job. But a writer for Forbes says Hearst Magazines CEO David Carey could be.
“Hearst, though not a public company, is one of the more aggressive innovators among the big publishers when it comes to digital and mobile media. [Carey is] also a former longtime publisher of The New Yorker … his seven-year tenure marked the magazine’s return to profitability after many years of losses.”

Victim No. 6: Violation and vindication

His heart pounded under his striped, maroon polo shirt as the one they call Alleged Victim No. 6 waited in a packed courtroom Friday night to hear the verdicts in the Jerry Sandusky child molestation case.

He is 25 now, lean and broad shouldered with short brown hair and big dark eyes. For years, he struggled with the fact that Sandusky, a local football hero, crossed the line with him in a locker room shower in 1998.

No. 6 was the only one of the accusers, the so-called "Sandusky 8," to come to court for the verdicts. He chewed gum with intensity, his jaws clenching and releasing as Sandusky, looking wan and bent in a brown sports jacket, lumbered into the courtroom shortly before 10 p.m.

The jurors took their seats, looking tired and sad. One woman appeared to be crying.