CURIOSITY AND THE GOOSE

August 5, 2012

Tomorrow morning at 05.31 GMT the rover Curiosity is due to land on Mars' Gale Crater that is thought to have once contained water and possibly the right conditions for the development of life. Its mission is to delve into the surface and transmit data back to the Control Centre in California which will be able to analyse the information in order to ascertain whether primitive life existed on the Red Planet. The mission can be followed on the NASA Website which has just confirmed:

"Curiosity remains in good health with all systems operating as expected."

California was also in the spotlight on July 1, 2012, this time for banning foie gras. The two events are not as unconnected as may appear. Imagine the thrill, if Curiosity came up with proof that some Martian micro-organisms existed, or still exist in water trapped beneath the surface. The discovery would cause a furore. And yet, here are these evolved and graceful birds who are bound and force-fed for nine days to three weeks, so that their livers swell to ten times the natural size. When the geese or ducks are at the point of death they are killed and their livers used to make the "delicacy". French president, Francois Hollande rallied to support of the farmers and defended the practice. Just as well he has nothing to do with the mission to Mars: should any life form be discovered, he would no doubt be wondering how to transform it into a culinary delight!