NASA Finds Ice on Mercury
KAYE: We want to continue our conversation we started before the break with Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist. We're talking about ice being found on Mercury. Lawrence, glad you're back with us. So, according to NASA, there could be as much as 1 million metric tons of ice on the planet. Why should this matter to us?</s>KRAUSS (via telephone): Well, it's, of course, a big surprise. Although, some people thought there might be ice in the deep craters on Mercury because Mercury has very little tilt, unlike the earth, which is tilted. And that means that the north pole, it is essentially never pointing towards the sun. So, if the deep craters get near the north pole, those never get sunlight. In fact, that's where the ice is found. But the other interesting thing is the ice is covered by a little layer of organic material. And that's probably because the ice was probably delivered by comets, the same way the water on Earth was probably delivered to Earth. So, that makes it interesting because you have water and organic material. Now, it's not the best place to look for life. You wouldn't want to choose Mercury over any other place. But what it means is even the most extreme environment in the solar system, Mercury, which goes from this incredible heat to this incredible cold, has water and organic material.</s>KAYE: Yes.</s>KRAUSS: It means that as we look for life in the universe, even in the most extreme environments we may find the basic building blocks.</s>KAYE: So does this ice on Mercury actually change, you know, what we know and what we think about for the formation of all the rocky planets?</s>KRAUSS: Well, it means our suppositions about what might be possible are there. Basically, anything that's possible happens. I think, you know, it's not a huge surprise that there's water there, but I think many people thought, well, it's still so close to the sun that perhaps there aren't places that are hidden from the sunlight, but there are. And as I say, that really means the extremes in our solar system are even -- are still more interesting in looking for life or different conditions than we would have imagined. I think the fact that there's water on Mercury tells us that when we look for life in our solar system and more importantly perhaps in other planets in the universe, other extreme environments, we should not throw our hands up and say we don't see anything just like Earth before we give up and look for life.</s>KAYE: Yes, it's so interesting. And I think pretty exciting as well. Lawrence Krauss, thank you so much for coming on this morning.</s>KRAUSS: OK. Sorry we couldn't get the video earlier.</s>KAYE: Oh, that's OK. We're glad we got you back.</s>KRAUSS: Nice talking to you.</s>KAYE: Well, it's a big night for seven artists set to receive the 35th annual Kennedy Center honors in Washington. They represent some of the biggest names and most influential contributors to the stage and screen. CNN's Emily Schmidt introduces the winner with a look at what's in store for them tonight</s>EMILY SCHMIDT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Randi, the Kennedy Center says there's one primary criteria for picking an honoree: excellence -- easy to say, more difficult to define. There's no set category for the honorees. This year, they bring comedy, music, dancing, and acting to a highly regarded stage. (voice-over): The Kennedy Center honors are a bit like Washington's Oscars. Red carpet out front, President and Mrs. Obama inside to greet seven very different artists.</s>BOB DICKINSON, LIGHTING DIRECTOR: It's very rare to see Led Zeppelin songs being sung at the same time as David Letterman jokes are being told. I think it's going to be a great show.</s>SCHMIDT: This will be Bob Dickinson's 20th Kennedy Center honor show. He says there's magic in the room because there are no nominees here, no losers. All honorees have earned their place. They include the three surviving members of British rock and roll band Led Zeppelin. This was their concert in 2007 -- John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant. Their songs like "Stairway to Heaven" are as epic as their more than 100 million records sold in the U.S. It's one kind of electric performance. This is another. The Russian-born prima ballerina Natalia Makarova danced with the American Ballet Theater and Royal Ballet. She performed during the Kennedy Center honors in 1981. Now, others will perform for her.</s>BUDDY GUY, KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE: Chicago, thank you very much. I love you. I never will leave. I'll leave but I'll be back.</s>SCHMIDT: Blues man Buddy Guy got a Chicago sendoff for the honors. He was born into a Louisiana sharecropper's family and went on to win six Grammy Awards. Honoree Dustin Hoffman said when he grew up, movie stars didn't look like he did. More than 50 films later, he has two best actor Oscars, including this one, "Kramer vs. Kramer".</s>DUSTIN HOFFMAN, ACTOR: But she signed over custody.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not saying we don't have a shot.</s>SCHMIDT: Honoree David Letterman has more than 5,000 television broadcasts under his belt. He's being recognized for finding the humor in anything, even winning this honor. He talked about it on "The Late Show with David Letterman."</s>DAVID LETTERMAN, KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE: When I stopped laughing, I was very excited. I'm very -- I'll tell you, because this is great for my family. They think I'm working at a Jiffy Lube in Mexico.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why not?</s>SCHMIDT: People who cover the honors say there's more than comic relief at play. It is a break from partisan politics.</s>NED MARTEL, WASHINGTON POST: At this moment when we're all tired from the election, you can see a break in the action. That adds to the momentousness of the evening.</s>SCHMIDT: David Letterman joked on his show that Kennedy Center honorees also receive an adjustable mattress and a new car. It was just a punch line, but they do get something else -- a chance to nominate potential future honorees -- Randi.</s>KAYE: Emily Schmidt for us -- thank you very much. Well, it's almost here. Our live broadcast of "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute". It's our annual salute to those who make life better for those in need. Here's music superstar Gloria Estefan, whose inspiration to give back comes from understanding the struggle of recovery. Take a look.</s>GLORIA ESTEFAN, MUSIC SUPERSTAR: I love CNN Heroes because people are used to seeing celebs on TV, politicians on TV. But the people we should celebrate are the people out there doing things that help other human beings.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We did a good job.</s>ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, you're going to meet real super men and super women from across the globe.</s>ESTEFAN: So, shining the light on these heroes that do amazing things helps all of us say, I can do it too. St. Jude, it's really an amazing place. The incredible research they do. They make it a soothing place for both the family and the child. They bring kids from all over. It's not just the United States. It's important when someone is in recovery or facing a tough battle that their spirit and their mind will be taken care of. Believe me, I've been there.</s>REPORTER: Estefan's back was broken during a collision.</s>ESTEFAN: When I was coming back from that bus accident 22 years ago, my husband pulled me back into my songwriting and my music. That allowed me to flourish and grow even that much quicker. In my own life, I don't think there's anything more satisfying than helping out another human being. I'm very happy that CNN Heroes is doing what they're doing. When you see these people that are sacrificing themselves for others, to me that's a hero -- every step of the way.</s>KAYE: And tonight, be sure to catch the "CNN Heroes" preshow special, "Sharing the Spotlight." That's at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. And then right after that, at 9:00, the main event, "CNN Heroes: An All- Star Tribute." It all happens tonight, right here, only on CNN.