If you don’t know, now you know.

Our redder, older-looking sister planet has always been an object of interest to us Earthlings – from the giant face to the possibility of Martian life. But more boringly, scientists have always wondered if water, at some point, existed on Mars. There has been a lot of speculation that it had once existed on the red planet, but we have never really known for sure. Until now!

Apparently, more than 3 billion years ago, in the most Northern parts of Mars, an ocean took up more than one third of the surface. With research into ancient river valley networks and deltas, scientists have suggested that early Mars could have had a global water cycle much like our current hydrological configuration – proving that Earth is the younger sister and not yet all dried up. But where did all the water go? Hopefully future missions to the 4th rock from the sun will tell.

More info here.

Design week in New York has more than enough to keep one busy, but an even that we just couldn’t miss was the AIGA/NY Fresh Dialogue 26: Type Forecast. It featured four typographers (three speakers and a moderator). Jessica Hische, Georg Seifert, Joshua Darden, & Matteo Bologna (moderator).

The speakers come from three different schools of typographic discipline. Jessica Hische specializes in illustrative type and hand lettering – coming from a more organic, freeform point of view. Joshua Darden and Georg Seifert are much more technical, but differ in style and background. Joshua Darden seems to have a strong interest and respect for the roots of typography and bringing that into current and future technologies, whereas Georg Seifert, who studied at Bauhaus-University Weimar, seems to be primarily focused in the future and creating fonts from his own world and surroundings.

The flavorful panel provided interesting discussions through sometimes contrasting views. What was really interesting was when the technical crossed over with the organic and found a common ground. For most of the discussion it seemed that the whole point was moot and actually an oxymoron as the future of type relies heavily on what technological advances make themselves available in the next few years, which is almost impossible to predict.

Brilliantly moderated by Mucca Design founder Matteo Bologna, the mood stayed light and the discussion never became long winded. Bologna also served as a prodding tool for more information whenever things would get too technical, which is when I found myself learning a thing or two about what will soon be available in the online realm of typography.

In the end it was mostly just a typography geek fest, but still proved to be quite valuable and insightful. Although they never said for certain what the forecast will be, it seems like clear sunny skies where possibilities can grow and go beyond anything we can expect.