Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory are using the IBM Blue Gene supercomputer to model supernovas, and New Scientist has published a gallery of snapshots from the fiery visualizations. The images uncover the beautiful symmetry — and chaos — flowing through these explosive events.

Visit the gallery now >>

TEDTalks stars Carolyn Porco, Brian Cox and George Smoot also use powerful computers to model big bangs and other phenomena in astrophysics.

(Look for Henry Markram’s talk from TEDGlobal 2009 on TED.com in the coming weeks. Markram uses the Blue Gene supercomputing architecture for a different purpose: modeling the intricate workings of the brain.)

On Dan Ariely’s talk: Are we in control of our own decisions?:
So where’s that slightly uglier version of myself ; D ? — Evelyn via facebook

On Mary Roach’s talk: 10 things you didn’t know about orgasm:
.. and that’s why we have swine flu. Good God Man, put on some gloves! — Brenda via facebook

Disclaimer: That pig video does not represent the view of all Danes. ;-) — Klaus

Mary Roach makes pig insemination fun — rutila via Twitter

On Carolyn Porco’s talk: Could a Saturn moon harbor life?:
So? IS THERE OIL THERE?! ;) — Tom via facebook

On Yves Behar’s talk on supercharged motorcycle design:
They should make these with baseball cards in the spokes. — Mayo via facebook

But how about ending things on a sweeter note?

On the exclusive content provided to facebook fans after reaching 100,000 members:
Thank you for daily inspiration and my Master’s thesis topic. Thank you for helping me blow minds, challenge preconceptions and change the world. I’m not ready yet, but someday I’d like to present my research at TED, I would consider it a lifetime accomplishment. — Spencer via facebook

Watch Carolyn Porco’s talk from TED University 2009 on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 400+ TEDTalks.

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Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, feminism — and the power of passionate thinkers and doers:

The former Finance Minister of Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, talks about one key opportunity to grow African economies — by investing in women and the businesses they start:

(For more, watch Jacqueline Novogratz >>)

Scientist Nalini Nadkarni explores the world of the forest canopy — and shares her findings with the world below, through dance, art and bold partnerships. She’s working to inspire the next generation of women scientists:

The wonderful Nellie McKay sings “Mother of Pearl” (with the immortal first line “Feminists don’t have a sense of humor”) and “If I Had You” from her sparkling set at TED2008:

Find these four and many more astonishing women (including the legendary primatologist Jane Goodall, oceanographers Sylvia Earle and Tierney Thys, games theorist Brenda Laurel, Zipcar inventor Robin Chase … ) on TED.com >>

Tidally bound to face its mother planet, Europa consistently offers breathtaking views of Jupiter’s turbulent atmosphere, while its breezy hardly-there chemise of molecular oxygen is delicate enough to leave the magnificent sight unobstructed. (But, beware the occasional barrage of comets yanked in by Jupiter’s gravity.) Adventurers wishing to forgo Europa’s “spa experience” will be at home, too: drill through miles of icy crust to access this satellite’s vast subsurface ocean of liquid saltwater — and whatever may lurk there.

Unlike visitors to other Jovian moons, sailors to Callisto can leave their ionizing radiationscreen at home: though excessively pockmarked by impacts, its outer orbit saves it from the effects of Jupiter’s monstrous magnetosphere. Hiking enthusiasts can traverse its gigantic basin of concentric rings, Valhalla, spanning 600 kilometers, kicking through wisps of condensed oxygen. This moon’s lack of tectonic activity makes for easy access to its likely ocean of liquid saltwater. (Robert Ballard has made the case that Earth’s own oceans are still deeply mysterious.)

Athletes and thrill-seekers delight at Enceladus‘ suite of extreme winter features and low gravity: spirally slalom the slopes of its unforgettable impact craters; gawk at the ivory, propane-scented violence of erupting cryovolcanoes as the panorama of Saturn‘s rings sets below the horizon; bobsled along thousand-mile escarpments of fresh chemical ice. Meanwhile, geology geeks can enjoy exploring this highly reflective moon’s incredible tectonic scars and stripes. But let divers beware: the existence of a liquid subsurface is only speculative.

Titan‘s atmosphere, unique among moons, makes it a mysterious entity among other natural satellites and an attractive destination for Saturn-bound families seeking an exotic experience without patent danger (asteroid strikes are rare). Visitors willing to endure its unusual weather — the nitrogen-humid nights with the sky awash in orange; monsoons of methane and other hydrocarbons — will be rewarded by its Earth-like terrain: newly discovered lakes of ethane, vast sand dunes, a probable ocean of water-ammonia under the surface, and perhaps even microbial life. (Get your vaccinations!)

Our solar system is truly a cornucopia of enchanting and enigmatic phenomena. Make sure your frequent-flyer miles go to good use on your next trek by studying TEDTalks by Carolyn Porco, Bill Stone, George Dyson, Freeman Dyson and other adventurers. – Matthew Trost

The Cassini mission to Saturn (see Carolyn Porco’s stunning TEDTalk on this mission) today makes its closest flyby yet of Enceladus, a geologically active moon. With its frozen surface and plumes of ice, Enceladus is a fascinating body, and the Cassini probe will be imaging the moon in several areas with many different instruments. From the mission notes:

At 17:40:12 UTC … UVIS will scan across the disk of Enceladus to measure the ultraviolet albedo of the surface and look for oxygen in the environment around Enceladus which may have dissociated from water molecules in the plumes.

The Cassini probe is set to pass through one of Enceladus’ ice plumes as it passes closest to the surface of the moon — flying by at about 70 km, or 50 miles up.

Carolyn Porco, leader of the imaging team for the Cassini space mission to Saturn and the opening speaker at TED 2007 (watch her talk), will be the recipient of this year’s Isaac Asimov Science Award, given by American Humanist Association. Porco will receive the award in June in Washington.

To both, congratulations!

Among the more than 160 essays from leading thinkers — scientists, philosophers, artists — look for Wired’s Chris Anderson, Nick Bostrom, Stewart Brand, Richard Dawkins, Aubrey de Grey, Juan Enriquez, Helen Fisher, Neil Gershenfeld, Daniel Gilbert, Daniel Goleman, Kevin Kelly, Steven Pinker, Carolyn Porco, Martin Rees, Michael Shermer and Craig Venter. Block out some time to sample these — it’s an addictive read.

Earth-rise:

Earth-set:

(Cross-posted on LunchOverIP)

Photo, released Oct 15, 2007: On the Final Frontier: Saturn sits nested in its rings of ice as Cassini once again plunges toward the graceful giant. Courtesy CICLOPS.