Russian scientists have drilled into the vast, dark and never-before-touched Lake Vostok 2.2 miles below the surface of Antarctica, according to a source quoted Monday by Ria Novosti, a state-run Russian news agency. Read full article > >

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Russians drill into previously untouched Lake Vostok below Antarctic glacier

There was something ethereal about the best of Helen Frankenthaler ’s work, perhaps because her paintings often seemed to float ecstatically just under the surface on which they were painted. She died today, at the age of 83, after a long and distinguished career and a life lived at the center of the New York social and artistic world. She was one of the best of the second generation of abstract painters in the United States, with a deeply personal vision that reconciled abstraction with the lighter, finer and more poetic emotions. Her work was profoundly untroubled, lyrical and unapologetically beautiful. Read full article > >

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Helen Frankenthaler, color field painter, dies

With thousands on the streets of Moscow and a new billionaire challenger emerging against President Vladimir Putin, it looks like Russia's on the brink of a democratic uprising. But not so fast, says Paul Starobin at The New Republic . “Russian liberalism—which identifies itself with Western-style democracy—has a tepid mass following, its ranks consistently overestimated over the last twenty years by ever-hopeful Western governments, analysts, and journalists. And the current groundswell of protest, while promising on the surface, looks more like a popular rejection of a strongman who has overstayed his welcome—not like a rejection of the model of strongman rule.”

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Post-Putin Russia Won’t Be Democratic

NASA’s most high-stakes, ambitious planetary mission in decades is scheduled to launch next week with a goal right out of science fiction: to learn whether Mars was, or ever could be, home to extraterrestrial life. If the unmanned Mars Science Laboratory lifts off and travels a 354 million-mile path to Mars, it will lower to the surface a sedan-size rover called Curiosity, which has the potential to change our understanding of the cosmos. Read full article > >

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NASA Mars mission to test planet for ability to sustain life

5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe. If you're stuffed to the waddle year after year with the usual Thanksgiving suspects, take one giant leap for turkey kind with self-proclaimed “Gastronaut” Nate Keller. Keller is a former Google executive chef and current executive chef, alongside Mirit Cohen, of  Gastronaut Catering in San Francisco . Five Way to Reimagine Family Traditions for Thanksgiving: Nate Keller 1. Pumped up pumpkins “Remember the vegetarians at your table. Stuffing a turkey seems to mark the grandness of the occasion. If you or your guests are vegetarian, or you simply want to have a beautiful and delicious centerpiece, consider stuffing a pumpkin or large winter squash to pay homage to tradition. A stuffed pumpkin is a flavorful (and colorful) way to please both vegetarians and omnivores at your Thanksgiving feast. Pick one out at your local farmers market that is roughly 12-18 inches in diameter (or bigger, but makes sure the whole thing will fit in your oven).” Stuffed Pumpkin 1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. 2. Wash the pumpkin and rub it with olive oil. 3. Place the whole pumpkin (on a cookie sheet) in the oven and roast for about 20-25 minutes, or until you can just pierce the flesh with a knife. 4. Meanwhile, make your stuffing. You can use your favorite traditional stuffing recipe or the quinoa recipe below. 6. Remove the squash from oven, let cool and carve the top off, making a lid. 7. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Season the inside with olive oil, salt and pepper. 8. Loosely pack the squash with the stuffing, and top with a little extra cheese. Do not replace lid. 9. Return to oven and roast for another 20-25 minutes or until squash is nicely browned on the outside, it can be pierced easily with a knife and the top is bubbly and brown. 2. Beans, beans they’re good for your…traditions! “The grand story of Native Americans sharing local food traditions with the Pilgrim immigrants still resonates today, but often our Thanksgiving dishes awry from the traditional ones served by our ancestors. Remember and honor this customary gift by serving a bean, chile or corn dish made with heirloom varieties (passed down over generations from America’s native ancestors).” Good Mother Stallard Beans With Wild Mushrooms, Ham Hocks and Chard 1 cup heirloom Good Mother Stallard beans (can substitute navy beans) 4 cups chicken stock 1 yellow onion, chopped 1 ham hock 1 cup oyster mushrooms, cleaned and cut in half 1 bunch chard, cleaned, washed, and chopped 2 large sprigs parsley, chopped 2 sprigs thyme, chopped 1 spoonful mascarpone 1. Soak beans overnight in water in a 2-quart container (they will expand and double in size). 2. Heat medium pan over high heat and add olive oil. 3. Sauté onions until translucent. 4. Add the beans, 4 cups of the chicken stock and ham hock and bring to a boil. 5. Lower heat and cover to simmer until beans are thoroughly cooked. Pull out ham hock and take off meat. 6. Add meat back into beans and continue to simmer, add mushrooms and chard and cook until the chard is tender. 7. Stir in chopped parsley and thyme and serve hot, with mascarpone dollop on top. 3. Stuffed with stuffing: gluten-free is the way to be “With infinite varieties of bread – sourdough, wheat, Dutch crunch and rye to name a few – choosing which loaf will yield the perfect stuffing (or dressing as some families may call it) becomes a breaded battle. Forget bread and gluten. This recipe for stuffing incorporates the ever-popular quinoa and lentils for a more health-conscious and equally delicious spin on stuffing.” Quinoa and Lentil Stuffing With Kale, Butternut Squash and sage 2 cups quinoa 2 cups lentils 1 ounce butter or olive oil 4 ounce white wine 4 quarts of gluten-free vegetable stock (can substitute water for low-sodium alternative) 1 bunch kale, cleaned, washed and chopped into bite-sized pieces 1 yellow onion, diced 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 small butternut squash 1 bunch sage, chopped 2 ounces Humboldt Fog or a similar soft goat cheese Salt and pepper For the quinoa 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 2. Cut off the top and bottom of the butternut squash then peel, using a strong peeler as the squash has very thick skin. 3. Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and the soft innards. 4. Cut into one-inch cubes, toss in olive oil and salt and pepper and roast in oven on a sheet pan until soft and browned. 5. While squash is roasting, heat a small pot over high heat with half of the butter or olive oil. 6. When butter is hot, add the quinoa and toast over high heat – stirring constantly. 7. When the quinoa starts to brown very lightly, add the vegetable stock and season with salt and pepper. 8. When stock comes to a boil, turn down to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Quinoa should be cooked and there should be little to no liquid left. Set aside. For the lentils 1. Add 2 cups of lentils to a small pan and add 4.5 cups of vegetable stock and bring to a boil over high heat. 2. When stock boils, turn down heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes checking and stirring every 5 minutes so lentils don’t burn. 3. When lentils are tender, season with salt and pepper and set aside. 4. In a large sauté pan over high heat, melt the remaining butter and a little olive oil and sauté onions until translucent. Make sure to season each item individually at each step. 5. Add kale and sauté until kale is wilted. 6. Add garlic and sauté for about 20 seconds and add the white wine. 7. Cook kale until it’s tender. Set aside. 8. When all items are cooked, toss together in a large bowl with a little stock and butter, add the sage and season. Top with Humboldt Fog cheese and bake until the cheese is melted. 4. Roll up a fiesta with turkey “Give your Turkey Day a festive Mexican twist. It is easy: Heat turkey in the gravy. Reheat mashed potatoes and stuffing. Take a hot flour tortilla and add a layer of mashed potatoes, followed by a layer of stuffing, hot turkey and garnish the top with Monterey jack or cheddar cheese. Put your rolling skills to the test and pop out a Thanksgiving burrito. Dip in cranberry sauce or serve on top 'burrito mojado' style.” 5. Turkey soup for the post-Thanksgiving soul ” Got leftovers including a huge turkey carcass taking up valuable space in your refrigerator? You have sent everyone home with overflowing Tupperware containers , you have had turkey sandwiches and slices of pie until you can’t see straight and yet the thought of composting your epic Thanksgiving feast brings tears to your eyes. Well, we can sympathize with you, and have an answer – soup !” For the stock: 1 turkey carcass stripped of all meat possible 4 medium onions cut into quarters 2 carrots cut into 1-inch pieces 2 celery ribs cut into 1-inch pieces 2 bay leaves 8 quarts of cold water Salt and pepper 1. Combine all ingredients except the salt and pepper into a large stock pot and place over high heat. 2. Once a boil is reached, reduce the heat to a simmer and skim the surface periodically of all impurities that form. 3. After 2 1/2 to 3-hours, you should have a flavorful turkey stock. Strain through a mesh strainer and discard all solids. 4. Season to taste with salt and pepper and let cool. 5. Once the stock has cooled enough, a layer of fat will form at the surface that should be removed. For the soup: 6 to 8 quarts of turkey stock All of the scraped turkey meat and bits that were picked from the carcass 1 medium onion 1 cup carrots 1 cup of diced celery 1 cup of diced squash 1 cup of diced zucchini 1 cup of sliced mushrooms of your choice 1-2 tablespoons of fresh herbs (your choice) 1 cup of white wine 4 slices of thick cut bacon, extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil Salt and pepper 1. Cook the 4 slices in your stock pot over medium heat to render all of the fat. Remove the bacon from the pot and discard or keep for later. 2. Using the bacon fat or your choice of oil, sauté the onions, carrots and celery in a large pot over medium heat until the onions are translucent. 3. Add the squash, zucchini and mushrooms and sauté for 2 minutes before adding the fresh herbs and white wine. 4. Once the wine has reduced by half, add the turkey stock and meat and bring to a light simmer. 5. Cook until the vegetables are soft, season with salt and pepper and you are pleased with the flavor. 6. Serve immediately or save for later. Is there someone you'd like to see in the hot seat? Let us know in the comments below and if we agree, we'll do our best to chase 'em down.

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5@5 – Reimagine Thanksgiving traditions

Ambitious writers are often said to challenge their readers. That’s certainly true in the case of Umberto Eco and his latest novel, “ The Prague Cemetery ,” but not, perhaps, in quite the expected way. Let’s backtrack for a moment. Eco’s first work of fiction, “ The Name of the Rose ” (1980), was set in an isolated medieval monastery, densely written and larded with passages in Latin, replete with theological speculation, almost entirely without female characters and concerned, in large part, with a lost manuscript by Aristotle. On the surface, none of this cries out international bestseller. Nonetheless, because “The Name of the Rose” was also a clever murder mystery, featured a Sherlock Holmes-like monk- detective and made readers feel intelligent just to have it on their shelves, whether they read it or not, the book made Eco’s name and fortune. Read full article > >

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Umberto Eco’s ‘The Prague Cemetery,’ reviewed by Michael Dirda

Tiny filaments growing from the surface of bacteria could help to improve the efficiency of uranium removal from contaminated waters.

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Bacteria ‘wires’ clean up uranium

The Coast Guard and BP have returned to the scene of last year’s Deepwater Horizon disaster after a newspaper reported numerous oily blobs rising to the surface of the Gulf of Mexico a mile from the site. BP is sending a robotic submersible to examine the blown-out well that was cemented last August and declared dead a month later. An initial search turned up no sign of oil at the surface, and BP said in a statement late Thursday that there is no indication that its Macondo well is leaking. But the report by the Press-Register in Mobile, Ala., has incited a flurry of investigatory activity around the well, which blew out on April 20, 2010, in what became the worst oil spill in U.S. history . Read full article > >

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Coast Guard, BP return to scene of Gulf of Mexico spill after reports of oil blobs

The Coast Guard and BP have returned to the scene of last year’s Deepwater Horizon disaster after a newspaper reported numerous oily blobs rising to the surface of the Gulf of Mexico a mile from the site. BP is sending a robotic submersible to examine the blown-out well that was cemented last August and declared dead a month later. An initial search turned up no sign of oil at the surface, and BP said in a statement late Thursday that there is no indication that its Macondo well is leaking. But the report by the Press-Register in Mobile, Ala., has incited a flurry of investigatory activity around the well, which blew out on April 20, 2010, in what became the worst oil spill in U.S. history . Read full article > >

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Coast Guard, BP return to scene of Gulf of Mexico spill after reports of oil blobs

On the surface, Indiana seems to have weathered the recession rather well, but large cracks have opened in its economic foundation, a sign of just how severe the downturn remains.

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The Indiana Exception? Yes, but…

A solar flare has erupted from the sun in an impressive display captured by NASA cameras. NASA says the flare peaked on Tuesday and created a large cloud that appeared to cover almost half the surface of the sun. (June Read full article > >

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Solar flare caught on camera

John Beck likens the last three years to being in a hole. He slipped into it somewhere between his rookie and sophomore seasons in the NFL, and he’s been trying to scratch and claw his way out ever since. Now, just maybe, he’s finally getting to the surface. It appears that the 29-year-old quarterback’s first real chance of starting in the NFL again could be within reach. Last month, Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan passed on the opportunity to draft Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert – one of the top two quarterbacks in the NFL draft – and didn’t take a passer with any of Washington’s other 11 picks. Once the draft concluded, Shanahan said the Redskins already have a promising young quarterback on the roster. Read full article > >

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Redskins quarterback John Beck’s chance to start may be nearing

A strong earthquake stuck Burma near the Lao and Thai borders, killing at least 60 people and injuring over a 100 more. The 6.8 magnitude temblor was near the surface, only 6.2 miles down, which usually makes for more destructive shaking. State radio…

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Quake Kills Dozens in Burma

The crew of a simulated mission to the Red Planet walk across a sandpit, pretending they are on the surface of Mars.

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Men on simulated Mars mission walk on ‘surface’

Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons, is a fascinating place. The moon, discovered back in 1877, is small — only about 17 miles long — and orbits incredibly close to the surface of its host planet. Phobos, in fact, is so close to Mars that it moves around the planet faster than the planet itself rotates. If you were standing on the surface of Mars, you would see Phobos rise in the west and move across the sky in only a little more than four hours before disappearing to the east. And it’s speeding up. As the orbital radius decreases, Phobos moves closer to the planet’s surface and will one day either smash into Mars or break up into a planetary ring. “[Its] origins are still something of a mystery, and the surface featured on Phobos are not totally understood either,” Phil Plait wrote at Discover last week after these new photographs were taken. “Specifically, all those parallel grooves are pretty weird! The current thinking is that they were actually caused by impacts on Mars! It works like this: some giant rock hits Mars and blasts vast quantities of material up and out, some of which reaches up into space. Phobos plows into this material, and the direct impacts with big chunks can form craters.” These new images were taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) aboard the European Space Agency’s Mars Express probe after it passed within 66 miles of Mars’ surface. View more Pictures of the Day . Image: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum).

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Picture of the Day: Phobos, Mars’ Large and Incredibly Close Moon