Space plant biology research in Lithuania.

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial Earth satellite, initiating its space exploration programs. Throughout the rest of the twentieth century, the development of these space programs received special attention from Soviet Union authorities. Scientists from the former Soviet Republics, including Lithuania, participated in these programs. From 1971 to 1990, Lithuanians designed more than 20 experiments on higher plant species during space flight. Some of these experiments had never before been attempted and, therefore, made scientific history. However, the formation and development of space plant biology research in Lithuania or its origins, context of formation, and placement in a worldwide context have not been explored from a historical standpoint. By investigating these topics, this paper seeks to construct an image of the development of a very specific field of science in a small former Soviet republic.

[On polysemy of term "regeneration". Dedicated to memory of Grigorii Ivanovich Voronin].

Comparison of the meaning contents of regeneration processes in different branches of engineering and industry, and space biology and medicine brings to the conclusion that polysemy of term "regeneration" causes certain terminology difficulties in communication of members of various professional communities. To avoid ambiguity in each specific case, term "regeneration" is proposed to be accompanied by a minimum of appropriate explicative words. In the context of growing concern about the global ecological trouble, the biological regeneration processes developed for support of human life in space vehicles have much promise for designing bio-regeneration technologies to be used in preservation of environment, and industrial biosynthesis.

NASA and the search for life in the universe.

Almost from its beginnings in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) set up a life-science program. Because one of the priorities of the organization is to search for life beyond Earth, NASA began designing spacecraft to unravel the mysteries of Mars. The effort to search for life on Mars culminated in the landing of two Viking spacecraft on the surface of the planet in 1976. Although the biology experiments conducted as part of these missions provided some evidence for the possibility of life, the scientific consensus was that they drew a blank. In 1996, however, the 'Mars rock' rekindled interest in life in our solar system. The discovery of an ocean on the Jovian moon Europa, of organic molecules on the Saturnian moon Titan and persuasive evidence that water once flowed on Mars suggests that the solar system is still of considerable exobiological interest. In addition, since 1995 approximately 175 planets have been found beyond our solar system. Although these discoveries are gas giants, NASA spacecraft might soon detect Earth-sized planets. The search for life in the universe continues.

Amateur scientists, the international geophysical year, and the ambitions of Fred Whipple.

The contribution of amateur scientists to the International Geophysical Year (IGY) was substantial, especially in the arena of spotting artificial satellites. This article examines how Fred L. Whipple and his colleagues recruited satellite spotters for Moonwatch, a program for amateur scientists initiated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) in 1956. At the same time, however, the administrators with responsibility for the IGY program closely monitored and managed--sometimes even contested--amateur participation. IGY programs like Moonwatch provided valuable scientific information and gave amateurs opportunities to contribute actively to the research of professional scientists. Moonwatch, which operated until 1975, eventually became the public face of a vast satellite-tracking network that expanded the SAO's global reach and helped further Whipple's professional goals. Understanding amateurs' interactions with the professional science community enables us better to understand the IGY as a phenomenon that enlisted broad participation and transcended traditional boundaries between professional and amateur scientists.

[Studies of A L. Chizhevskii: Milestones in space biology and biorhythmology]. / Issledovaniia A. L. Chizhevskogo: veki kosmicheskoi biologii i bioritmologii.

The authors review the experimental and theoretical studies of eminent Russian scholar A.L. Chizhevsky, and his fruitful collaboration with K.E. Tsiolkovsky, a pioneer of the science of rocket navigation. Highlighted are postulates of the modern space biorhythmology furthering the notions of A.L. Chizhevsky about the harmony in nature, and significance of rhythmic phenomena for living organisms.