Word: planetful
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Even though it is named for the mythic goddess of love, there is nothing very fetching about the planet Venus. It is veiled in a dense atmosphere of carbon dioxide, laced with corrosive clouds of sulfuric acid, and its surface temperatures hover around 900° F. Liquid water, if it ever existed, has long since vanished. Nothing, not even the hardiest microbes, could survive for long in this cauldron...
...Venus, the second planet from the sun (Mercury is closest), shares significant characteristics with its neighbor, earth. It is nearly the same size and density, and by astronomy's vast measures, is a similar distance from the sun (67 million miles vs. 93 million for the earth). Now it appears that Venus resembles the earth in still another way. Scientists announced last week that Venus seems to be pockmarked with giant volcanoes, at least one of which erupted as recently as five years...
...researchers are elated about their long-distance snooping, but not simply for scholarly reasons. They note that a planet like Venus provides a real-life laboratory for understanding such essential questions as global weather patterns and the spread of acid rain, whose most corrosive ingredient is sulfur dioxide. Venus is also valuable for studying the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which increases global temperatures. Says the U.S. Geological Survey's Harold Masursky of the latest Venus findings: "These are not just nice things to know. They may be vital to our survival...
...linkage, Linkage is the policy of recalling treaties because of "bad" Soviet behavior. This policy is based on the ridiculous belief that treaties are rewards to the Soviet Union for good behavior. Bilateral disarmament is beneficial to both nations and is necessary for the survival of our planet. Andrew Popell '87 Michael Magoon Freshman, U.C. Berkeley
...settled in for what may be an attempt to eclipse the 211-day orbital endurance record set by the Soviets in 1982. With their three-man launch, the Soviets inadvertently joined with the Americans in establishing another mark. For almost four days last week, eight humans were circling the planet, two more than ever before...