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Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Olympic Green in Beijing, July 16, 2008

This image provided by NASA from the Spitzer Space Telescope shows the newly discovered second brighterst star in the our Galaxy, the "Peony Nebula Star," in the central region of our Milky Way. While the existance of the star was already known, it wasn't until the Spitzer telescope with infrared instruments were able to pierce the dust in the nebula so scientists calculate it's brightness. According to NASA the star puts out light equivalent to 3.2 million suns

The "Peony nebula" star, circled, is now the second-brightest star in our galaxy. A contender for the title of brightest star in our Milky Way galaxy has been unearthed in the dusty metropolis of the galaxy's center. Nicknamed the "Peony nebula star," the bright stellar bulb was revealed by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and other ground-based telescopes. It blazes with the light of an estimated 3.2 million suns. The reigning "brightest star" champion is Eta Carina, with a whopping solar wattage of 4.7 million suns. But according to astronomers, it's hard to pin down an exact brightness, or luminosity, for these scorching stars, so they could potentially shine with a similar amount of light.

This image provided by NASA from the Spitzer Space Telescope shows the newly discovered second brighterst star in the our Galaxy, the "Peony Nebula Star," in the central region of our Milky Way. While the existance of the star was already known, it wasn't until the Spitzer telescope with infrared instruments were able to pierce the dust in the nebula so scientists calculate it's brightness. According to NASA the star puts out light equivalent to 3.2 million suns

The "Peony nebula" star, circled, is now the second-brightest star in our galaxy. A contender for the title of brightest star in our Milky Way galaxy has been unearthed in the dusty metropolis of the galaxy's center. Nicknamed the "Peony nebula star," the bright stellar bulb was revealed by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and other ground-based telescopes. It blazes with the light of an estimated 3.2 million suns. The reigning "brightest star" champion is Eta Carina, with a whopping solar wattage of 4.7 million suns. But according to astronomers, it's hard to pin down an exact brightness, or luminosity, for these scorching stars, so they could potentially shine with a similar amount of light.

An F-22 Raptor aircraft flies during an air display on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in south England July 14, 2008

British Formula One McLaren Mercedes racing driver Lewis Hamilton races against a Learjet (not pictured) on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in south England July 14, 2008

Visitors pass near an Airbus A-380 passenger plane on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in south England July 14, 2008

Visitors pass near an Airbus A-380 passenger plane on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in south England July 14, 2008

An F-22 Raptor aircraft flies during an air display on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in south England July 14, 2008

British Formula One McLaren Mercedes racing driver Lewis Hamilton races against a Learjet (not pictured) on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in south England July 14, 2008

Visitors pass near an Airbus A-380 passenger plane on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in south England July 14, 2008

Visitors pass near an Airbus A-380 passenger plane on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in south England July 14, 2008

The High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express has returned images of Echus Chasma in this image made available on July 14, 2008. Echus Chasma is an approximately 100 km long and 10 km wide incision in the Lunae Planum high plateau north of Valles Marineris, the Grand Canyon of Mars

An impressive cliff, up to 4000 m high, is located in the eastern part of Echus Chasma shown in this image made available on July 14, 2008. Echus Chasma is an approximately 100 km long and 10 km wide incision in the Lunae Planum high plateau north of Valles Marineris, the Grand Canyon of Mars
Do these valleys on Mars come from gushes of water from past rainfall, or groundwater springs, or could they have possibly been formed from magma flows on Mars surface?

That's the debate surrounding the many valleys, chasms and dry gullies found on the Red Planet. The majority of planetary geologists seem to favor the idea of water flowing on Mars surface in the past.

The images shown here of Echus Chasma are from the European Space Agency's Mar's Express, and its High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). Echus Chasma is believed to be one of the largest water source regions on the Red Planet. The valleys, cut into the landscape look similar to drainage networks found on Earth. The image here has a ground resolution of approximately 17 m/pixel, and is so clear and distinct it almost makes you feel like you're there!

The High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express has returned images of Echus Chasma, one of the largest water source regions on the Red Planet. Echus Chasma is the source region of Kasei Valles which extends 3,000 km to the north. The image was made available on July 14, 2008

The High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express has returned images of Echus Chasma, one of the largest water source regions on the Red Planet. Echus Chasma is the source region of Kasei Valles which extends 3,000 km to the north. The image was made available on July 14, 2008

The High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express has returned images of Echus Chasma in this image made available on July 14, 2008. Echus Chasma is an approximately 100 km long and 10 km wide incision in the Lunae Planum high plateau north of Valles Marineris, the Grand Canyon of Mars

The High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express has returned images of Echus Chasma in this image made available on July 14, 2008. Echus Chasma is an approximately 100 km long and 10 km wide incision in the Lunae Planum high plateau north of Valles Marineris, the Grand Canyon of Mars

An impressive cliff, up to 4000 m high, is located in the eastern part of Echus Chasma shown in this image made available on July 14, 2008. Echus Chasma is an approximately 100 km long and 10 km wide incision in the Lunae Planum high plateau north of Valles Marineris, the Grand Canyon of Mars
Do these valleys on Mars come from gushes of water from past rainfall, or groundwater springs, or could they have possibly been formed from magma flows on Mars surface?

That's the debate surrounding the many valleys, chasms and dry gullies found on the Red Planet. The majority of planetary geologists seem to favor the idea of water flowing on Mars surface in the past.

The images shown here of Echus Chasma are from the European Space Agency's Mar's Express, and its High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). Echus Chasma is believed to be one of the largest water source regions on the Red Planet. The valleys, cut into the landscape look similar to drainage networks found on Earth. The image here has a ground resolution of approximately 17 m/pixel, and is so clear and distinct it almost makes you feel like you're there!

The High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express has returned images of Echus Chasma, one of the largest water source regions on the Red Planet. Echus Chasma is the source region of Kasei Valles which extends 3,000 km to the north. The image was made available on July 14, 2008

The High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express has returned images of Echus Chasma, one of the largest water source regions on the Red Planet. Echus Chasma is the source region of Kasei Valles which extends 3,000 km to the north. The image was made available on July 14, 2008

The High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express has returned images of Echus Chasma in this image made available on July 14, 2008. Echus Chasma is an approximately 100 km long and 10 km wide incision in the Lunae Planum high plateau north of Valles Marineris, the Grand Canyon of Mars

A man plays with mud during the Boryeong Mud Festival at a beach in Boryeong, about 190 km (118 miles) southwest of Seoul, July 13, 2008. For nine days of dirty fun, the quaint South Korean coastal city of Boryeong paints the town a dull shade of mud

People play with mud during the 11th Boryeong Mud Festival at a beach in Boryeong, about 190 km(118 miles) southwest of Seoul, July 13, 2008

A man plays with mud during the Boryeong Mud Festival at a beach in Boryeong, about 190 km (118 miles) southwest of Seoul, July 13, 2008. For nine days of dirty fun, the quaint South Korean coastal city of Boryeong paints the town a dull shade of mud

People play with mud during the 11th Boryeong Mud Festival at a beach in Boryeong, about 190 km(118 miles) southwest of Seoul, July 13, 2008