I'm re-writing the end to a novel that has had a bit of interest from two agencies/publishers.

 It has mild sci-fi undertones and deals with astronomy to some degree.  I have a few questions about a few lesser know qualities and features of the universe such as nebulas and stellar nurseries.  

 If you are knowledgeable in these areas and would be willing to answer a few basic questions, please message me on here and let me know.

 Thanks!

 We should all have the right information for you. Just post your questions and we'll answer.

Welcome back the discussion group after your long hiatus, BWFM.

As Oliver implies, this is a forum.  The answers that you obtain here will be appreciated by others.  So feel free to ask your questions within this thread.

Here is some information on a couple of active nebular star forming regions.

http://www.delphes.net/messier/m/m016.html

http://www.delphes.net/messier/m/m042.html

JJ

Sorry for the delay guys.

Here's what I need...of course, there are sci-fi elements, so there doesn't need to be any exact science to it.

Basically, I am curious as to what energy-filled phenomena occur in the universe that we know very little about.  Here's the approach I am taking:

Sometime in the future, NASA (or some other agency, not sure) detects the birth of not just a star, but of an entire stellar nursery.  This is their chance to conduct an experiment that they have been working in tandem with UVA Medical Science Labs to achieve.  The plan is to take 5 frozen human bodies into space to see if the properties that "birth" a star can regenerate human life.  That is, if one character has been in a coma for several years, would the properties of space in the midst of the birth of a star or stellar nursery be able to revive him?

Again, it's very sci-fi.  I think basically what I am looking for is what would be the OPPOSITE of a black hole?  Rather than sucking things in and destroying them, what would actually PROMOTE life?  Again, I don't need exact scientific answers...just a phenomena that science can't yet explain so that my plot is immediately torn down.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Birdwatching From Mars:

 Here's what I need...of course, there are sci-fi elements, so there doesn't need to be any exact science to it.

Maybe not exact, but it will need to be plausible science. The challenge will be to come up with the needed elements in space, to sustain life as it is on earth. While there may not be any of these known elements in the cosmic atmosphere, it will be up to you as the writer to create them in a way that your agent (if you're using one), your publisher, and most importantly, your readers will believe them. You're really going to have to dig deep into the sci-fi realm to come up with a good one. Good luck with your efforts.

The problem, in my mind, is that the processes which give birth to stars are destructive to life.  It's only after stars are mature and stabilize that life can take hold (as we understand it).  Perhaps your scientists could find a young planet around a distant star which shows evidence of life thriving in a "super incubator" of evolution.  New space telescopes, like the Keppler, are just now starting a search for that sort of planet in ernest.

Good luck.

Hello,

This should give you a good list of star formations...

http://cxc.harvard.edu/ANCHORS/

Glad to assist.

Bruth

Great article in September issue Astronomy mag re the Origin of Life (On Earth).

Bruth

“The world is already mean enough…we don’t have to add to it.”

zachsdad:

The problem, in my mind, is that the processes which give birth to stars are destructive to life.  It's only after stars are mature and stabilize that life can take hold (as we understand it).  Perhaps your scientists could find a young planet around a distant star which shows evidence of life thriving in a "super incubator" of evolution.  New space telescopes, like the Keppler, are just now starting a search for that sort of planet in ernest.

Good luck.

That's a good idea!  Something down those lines sounds more believable than the direction the OP wants to take...for the exact reason you stated.

My hat is off to those who can write in a way to capture and hold our attention for a few hundred pages!!  GOOD LUCK!

Star Trek : The Search for Spock???

I think that Star Trek was at the leading edge of Sci Fi and has set the standard for subsequent media in a huge way.

“We learn that appears to us as empty space is in reality a wildly dynamical medium.”