DLESE description of Water on Mars? / Genetically Engineered Organisms / Spring Sky

This 46 minute radio broadcast discusses the NASA announcement in March 2004 that the rover Opportunity explored a crater on Mars that was once soaked with water - the most convincing evidence yet of a warm, wet past on Mars. Though the question of whether that water may have supported life remains, it certainly improves the odds. The second part of the broadcast discusses genetically engineered organisms. Researchers are investigating many different kinds of genetically-modified organisms, from plants that make their own pesticides, to faster-growing fish. There is discussion about the safety of such research, and what can be done to ensure that the environment is protected. Finally, there is a rundown of the spring 2004 highlights in the sky.