Science & TechnologyS


Satellite

Destination Asteroid: NASA Probe Arrives at Ancient "Mini Moon"

Brian Vastag
The Washington Post
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00 UTC
Image
© AP Photo/NASAAn artist's concept showing Dawn spacecraft with Ceres and Vesta.
After spiraling outward from Earth for four years, NASA's Dawn probe is set to slide into orbit around the potato-shaped asteroid Vesta early Saturday for a year-long look at an ancient "mini moon."

Three hundred fifty miles wide and heavily cratered, Vesta formed some 4.5 billion years ago, when the sun was still young. By probing its secrets, scientists hope to catch a glimpse of how the planets, including Earth, formed out of a swirling disk of gas and dust.

"We are exploring backward in time as far as we can," said lead mission investigator Christopher Russell of the University of California at Los Angeles. "There's going to be a whole bunch of surprises."

Unlike most smaller asteroids - thought to be nearly uniform lumps of rock - Vesta is a "mini moon," Russell said, made up of three layers: an iron core, a rocky mantle and an upper crust. Early in Vesta's existence, Russell said, lava welled up from its interior and cooled to form a crust of volcanic rock.

"Vesta is unique among the large asteroids," said Richard Binzel, professor of planetary sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "It's the only one covered with a volcanic surface."
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Satellite

Two New Brown Dwarf Solar Neighbors Discovered


PhysOrg
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00 UTC
Image
© AIP, NASA/IPAC Infrared Science ArchiveFalse-colour images of the two brown dwarf discoveries WISE J0254+0223 and WISE J1741+2553.
Scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) have discovered two new brown dwarfs at estimated distances of only 15 and 18 light years from the Sun. For comparison: The next star to the Sun, Proxima, is located slightly more than 4 light years from the Sun, whereas the nearest known brown dwarfs, epsilon Indi Ba and Bb, also found at the AIP several years ago, are about 12 light years away.

Ralf-Dieter Scholz and his AIP colleagues used the recently published data of the NASA satellite WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) for their discovery. The two new Solar neighbors, named WISE J0254+0223 and WISE J1741+2553, attracted attention by the extreme contrast between their strong brightness in the infrared and their almost invisible appearance in optical light. In addition, both objects move at comparably large speed across the sky (proper motion), i.e. their positions are remarkably different with respect to earlier observations. This was a first hint of their vicinity that was confirmed by the comparison of their colours and magnitudes with those of other similar objects. The brighter of the two objects was visible on the night sky at the time of its discovery so that the AIP team could use the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in Arizona/USA for determining the spectral type and distance more accurately. Both objects belong to the coolest representatives of T-type brown dwarfs, just at the boundary to the predicted but not yet well-defined class of Y-type ultracool brown dwarfs.

Brown dwarfs are also called failed stars, since during their formation, they could not accumulate enough mass to ignite the natural nuclear fusion reactor in their core, that is the long-living energy source of stars. Therefore, their brightness decreases strongly with time. Presumably, most brown dwarfs have reached surface temperatures below the "oven temperature" of about 500 Kelvin (about 230 degrees Celsius), may be even as cool as the temperature at the surface of the Earth.
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Magnify

New Gene for Intellectual Disability Discovered


ScienceDaily
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00 UTC
A gene linked to intellectual disability was found in a study involving the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) -- a discovery that was greatly accelerated by international collaboration and new genetic sequencing technology, which is now being used at CAMH.

CAMH Senior Scientist Dr. John Vincent and colleagues identified defects on the gene, MAN1B1, among five families in which 12 children had intellectual disability. The results will be published in the July issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Intellectual disability is a broad term describing individuals with limitations in mental abilities and in functioning in daily life. It affects one to three per cent of the population, and is often caused by genetic defects.

The individuals affected had similar physical features, and all had delays in walking and speaking. Some learned to care for themselves, while others needed help bathing and dressing. In addition, some had epilepsy or problems with overeating.

All were found to have two copies of a defective MAN1B1 gene, one inherited from each parent. These were different types of mutations on the same gene -- yet the outcome, intellectual disability, was the same in different families -- confirming that this gene was the cause of the disorder.
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Evil Rays

The South Atlantic Anomaly: Understanding the SAA Phenomenon

Mohit
Marine Insight
Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:22 UTC
Image
© Unknown
The South Atlantic Anomaly, more commonly known as SAA is an occurrence that takes place due to something known as the Van Allen Radiation Belts. These Van Allen radiation belts are responsible for trapping radioactive particles near the coast of Brazil, which creates the SAA phenomenon.

However, one good thing about the South Atlantic Anomaly caused due to the naturally occurring Van Allen radiation belts is that, they do not cause any harm to humans and their bodies. The main effects of the SAA phenomenon are exhibited only in air crafts and air vessels which take that route while flying.

Comment: Despite the article's claim that Van Allen radiation belts do not cause any harm to humans and their bodies (and there is no way of knowing it for sure), there is a high chance that these belts carry serious implications for the Earth's climate.

From Chemtrails? Contrails? Strange Skies by Laura Knight-Jadczyk:
Comment: Regarding these layers of electromagnetism surrounding the Earth, in 1958 some things were done that may very well have a strong bearing on the conditions of our planet in the present day. I would like for you to think about this in respect of climate change, so-called "chem-trails" and HAARP.
"Between August and September of 1958, the US Navy exploded three fission type nuclear bombs 480 km above the South Atlantic Ocean, in the part of the lower Van Allen Belt closest to the earth's surface. In addition, two hydrogen bombs were detonated 160 km over Johnston Island in the Pacific. The military called this "the biggest scientific experiment ever undertaken." It was designed by the US Department of Defense and the US Atomic Energy Commission, under the code name Project Argus. The purpose appears to be to assess the impact of high altitude nuclear explosions on radio transmission and radar operations because of the electromagnetic pulse (EMP), and to increase understanding of the geomagnetic field and the behavior of the charged particles in it. This gigantic experiment created new (inner) magnetic radiation belts encompassing almost the whole earth, and injected sufficient electrons and other energetic particles into the ionosphere to cause world wide effects. The electrons traveled back and forth along magnetic force lines, causing an artificial "aurora" when striking the atmosphere near the North Pole. This was reported only much later, on August 13-20th of 1961 in Keesings Historisch Archief (K.H.A.). The report said that the US Military planned to create a "telecommunications shield in the ionosphere at 3,000 km height, by bringing into orbit 350,000 million copper needles, each 2-4 cm long [total weight 16 kg], forming a belt 10 km thick and 40 km wide, the needles spaced about 100 m apart." This was designed to replace the ionosphere "because telecommunications are impaired by magnetic storms and solar flares." The US planned to add to the number of copper needles if the experiment proved to be successful. This plan was strongly opposed by the International Union of Astronomers."
Then:
On July 9th, 1962, the US began a further series of experiments with the ionosphere. From their description: "one kiloton device, at a height of 60 km and one megaton and one multi-megaton, at several hundred kilometers height". (K.H.A., 29 June 1962).

These tests seriously disturbed the lower Van Allen Belt, substantially altering its shape and intensity. "In this experiment the inner Van Allen Belt will be practically destroyed for a period of time; particles from the Belt will be transported to the atmosphere. It is anticipated that the earth's magnetic field will be disturbed over long distances for several hours, preventing radio communication. The explosion in the inner radiation belt will create an artificial dome of polar light that will be visible from Los Angeles". (K.H.A. 11 May 1962).

This was the experiment which called forth the strong protest of the Queen's Astronomer, Sir Martin Ryle in the UK. On the 19th of July... NASA announced that as a consequence of the high altitude nuclear test of July 9th, a new radiation belt had been formed, stretching from a height of about 400 km to 1600 km; it can be seen as a temporary extension of the lower Van Allen Belt" (K.H.A. 5 August 1962).

"... Starfish made a much wider belt [than Project Argus] that extends from low altitude out past L=3 [i.e. three earth radiuses or about 13,000 km above the surface of the earth]."Later in 1962, the USSR undertook similar planetary experiments, creating three new radiation belts between 7,000 and 13,000 km above the earth. According to the Encyclopedia, the electron fluxes in the lower Van Allen Belt have changed markedly since the 1962 high-altitude nuclear explosions by the US and USSR, never returning to their former state. According to American scientists, it could take many hundreds of years for the Van Allen Belts to destabilize at their normal levels."
Keep in mind now that, while they are out there blowing up our atmosphere, they want to blame Global Warming on the masses of regular people!


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Info

Monkey-Killing Virus Sickens Lab Workers

Jennifer Welsh
Live Science
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:28 UTC
Titi Monkey
© Kathy WestThe adult male titi monkey and his infant, at the California National Primate Research Center in Davis, Calif., which might have harbored a new-to-science virus that infects and is contagious to both monkeys and humans. The virus killed a third of the monkeys at the colony, but only seemed to cause cold-like symptoms in humans.
An outbreak of a monkey-killing cold virus is the first example of an adenovirus that can infect both monkeys and humans.

Since they were discovered in the 1950s, researchers have thought each adenovirus strain could infect only one species of animal. One species of adenovirus might be able to infect only a hamster while another might infect only a cat. This is the first example of an adenovirus infecting two different types of animals, in this case, titi monkeys and lab-worker humans.

"Now adenoviruses can be added to the list of pathogens that have the ability to cross species," study researcher Charles Chiu, director of the viral diagnostics center at the University of California, San Francisco, said in a statement.
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Sherlock

Astronomers Find Spinning Neutron Star Tied to Mysterious Tail


International Business Times
Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:52 UTC
Image
© NASA
A mysterious long X-ray tail spanning more than 4 light years across may be stretching away from a spinning neutron star, or pulsar, according to astronomers who discovered the event using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

The pulsar, named PSR J0357+3205, is located about 1,600 light years from Earth and was originally discovered by the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope in 2009.

Astronomers calculate that the pulsar is about half a million years old, which makes it roughly middle-aged for this type of object.

Pulsars are highly magnetized, rotating neutron stars emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation, which can only be observed when the beam of emission is pointing towards the Earth. This is called the lighthouse effect and gives rise to the pulsed nature that gives pulsars their name.

Neutron star, as its name implies composed almost entirely of neutrons, is a type of stellar remnant resulting from the gravitational collapse of a massive star during a supernova event.
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Arrow Up

Sudden Glacial Rebound: Fast-shrinking Glacier Experienced Rapid Growth During Cooler Times


Bio Scholar
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:18 UTC
Image
© Alley et al, 2005.Satellite view of the ice front and grounding line position of the JIG. The color lines show the locations of the ice tongue's front at several times
A study has found that large, marine-calving glaciers have the ability not only to shrink rapidly in response to global warming, but to grow at a remarkable pace during periods of global cooling.

The finding, by University at Buffalo geologists working in Greenland, stems from new research on Jakobshavn Isbrae, a tongue of ice extending out to sea from Greenland's west coast.

Through an analysis of adjacent lake sediments and plant fossils, the UB team determined that the glacier, which retreated about 40 kilometres inland between 1850 and 2010, expanded outward at a similar pace about 200 years ago, during a time of cooler temperatures known as the Little Ice Age.

"We know that Jakobshavn Isbrae has retreated at this incredible rate in recent years, and our study suggests that it advanced that fast, also," said Jason Briner, the associate professor of geology who led the research.

Comment: Now, imagine a sudden drop in global temperatures, due to external and cosmic related influences, then consider the following excerpts from Superluminal Communications:

February 22, 1997:
A: ...One change to occur in 21st Century is sudden glacial rebound, over Eurasia first, then North America. Ice ages develop much, much, much faster than thought.
March 18, 2000:
Q: You also made a remark once that ice ages occur much, much faster than people ever thought...
A: Yes.
Q: Do we need to invest in some mukluks and snowshoes?
A: ??
Q: Well, what I am trying to get at is: should we start stockpiling firewood?
A: Maybe.
Q: So, it could be that fast?
A: Oh yes, and faster when in response to global" warming."
Q: When you put "warming" in quotes, you obviously mean warming in more than just an ordinary sense? Is that correct?
A: And/or not really "warm."


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Blackbox

Spooky Quantum Communication?


Space Weather
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:15 UTC
"The skies over the Spanish island of La Palma offer many beauties, but on July 4th I witnessed something unusual: a ghostly green laser beam crossing the Milky Way," reports Jan Hattenbach from the Canary Islands. "I have learned that it was part of an experiment in quantum communication." Scroll past the laser for more information:
Image
© Jan Hattenbach

"Rupert Ursin of the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information at the Austrian Academy of Sciences explained to me that the laser was part of an inter-island quantum-cryptography experiment," says Hattenbach. "Physicists send entangled UV-photons from the Roque de los Muchachos observatory (ORM) on La Palma to the European Space Agency's Optical Ground Station 144 km away on the island of Tenerife. The goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of quantum communication over very long distances in space--e.g., to the International Space Station or other satellites.
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Beaker

Scientists grow whole tooth units


Press TV
Wed, 13 Jul 2011 07:20 UTC
Image
A bioengineered tooth engrafted into the lower jaw of a mouse
A team of Japanese scientists have created complete tooth units by using mouse stem cells and successfully transplanted them into mice.

The tooth units, which also contain connective fibers and bones, were attached successfully to the lower jaw bones, and helped the rats to chew normally, researchers wrote in PLoS One.

As the first step, researchers isolated two types of stem cells from the molar teeth of mice and grew them in the laboratory.

The cells formed a tiny "tooth bud" within five days, which were then placed in a mold. The primary structures were then placed inside the body of the mouse until a complete tooth unit was formed.

"The bioengineered teeth were fully functional ... there was no trouble (with) biting and eating food after transplantation," wrote Masamitsu Oshima from the Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science.
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Robot

CIA's DARPA working on human-brain-mimicking tech

Lewis Page
The Register
Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:42 UTC
Company that built the first internet node hired

The company which built the first ever internet nodes back in the 1960s - and which gave the world the "@" symbol in email, among other things - has been hired by the US intelligence community to work on technology which could mimic "the brain's ability to make sense of large amounts of haphazard, partial information".

Back in the late 1960s, Boston-based BBN technologies was hired by the US military Advanced Research Projects Agency (later renamed DARPA) to develop the first nodes of the ARPAnet, which later became the internet we all know and love. DARPA's various successes for the military over the decades since have inspired the CIA and allied US intelligence agencies to start up their own version of the famous bureau, dubbed the Intelligence Advanced Research projects Agency (IARPA).
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