The rise and fall in the popularity of major religions can be described using the same mathematics that is used to model crystallization processes, claim physicists in Belgium. The researchers have modelled the time evolution of the numbers of adherents to religions and claim that their work sheds light on an important social phenomenon -- how a religion such as Christianity can grow rapidly from very small beginnings (Europhysics Letters (EPL) to be published).
Science & Technology
It appears Google has replaced recent satellite imagery of British military bases in Basra with pre-war snaps following Army claims that terrorists were using Google Earth to plan attacks on its facilities.
According to a recent report in the Telegraph, "documents seized during raids on the homes of insurgents last week uncovered print-outs from photographs taken from Google". The images showed in detail "the buildings inside the bases and vulnerable areas such as tented accommodation, lavatory blocks, and where lightly armoured Land Rovers are parked".
According to a recent report in the Telegraph, "documents seized during raids on the homes of insurgents last week uncovered print-outs from photographs taken from Google". The images showed in detail "the buildings inside the bases and vulnerable areas such as tented accommodation, lavatory blocks, and where lightly armoured Land Rovers are parked".
An unusual dwarf planet discovered in the outer Solar System could be en route to becoming the brightest comet ever known.
THE brightest comet in Australia's skies for more than 40 years will be visible from Jan 15th, astronomers have said.
Dr James Biggs, director of the Perth Observatory, said the McNaught Comet is currently at its closest approach around the Sun and will be visible to West Australians from Monday 15th for about a week.
"It should be easy to locate. Find a vantage point with an unobstructed view and look low on the horizon near where the Sun has set, in the direction of south-west, around 9pm (WDT)," Dr Biggs said.
Dr James Biggs, director of the Perth Observatory, said the McNaught Comet is currently at its closest approach around the Sun and will be visible to West Australians from Monday 15th for about a week.
"It should be easy to locate. Find a vantage point with an unobstructed view and look low on the horizon near where the Sun has set, in the direction of south-west, around 9pm (WDT)," Dr Biggs said.
CHICAGO -- It was the ancient version of a last stand: Twelve clay bullets lined up and ready to be shot from slings in a desperate attempt to stop fierce invaders who soon would reduce much of the city to rubble.
The discovery was made in the ruins of Hamoukar, an ancient settlement in northeastern Syria located just miles from the border with Iraq.
The discovery was made in the ruins of Hamoukar, an ancient settlement in northeastern Syria located just miles from the border with Iraq.
Scientists have found the oldest evidence for modern humans in Europe at a site in Russia. The location, which includes evidence of ivory carving and the use of traps to catch small mammals such as hares, reinforces the view that stone age humans used technology and innovation to expand into new areas.
The find dates the European leg of our ancestors' journey out of Africa at between 42,000 and 45,000 years ago. Scientists had previously thought that modern humans spread across western and central Europe between 40,000 and 42,000 years ago.
The find dates the European leg of our ancestors' journey out of Africa at between 42,000 and 45,000 years ago. Scientists had previously thought that modern humans spread across western and central Europe between 40,000 and 42,000 years ago.
Cometary experts have calculated that the orbit of Comet McNaught should come as near as 15.8 million miles (25.4 million kilometers) from the Sun (what is called perihelion) on January 12, 2007. Thus, its brightness should peak on that date. At that time, it could be tens of times brighter than the planet Venus.
The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has decided to open the question of whether to allow animal-human hybrid embryos to be developed for research purposes to public debate. The HFEA licenses and monitors IVF and donor insemination clinics, and research centres that use embryos. They also regulate the storage of embryos, eggs and sperm.
The HFEA has received two requests from scientists who want to use human cells and animal eggs to produce stem cells for research.
The HFEA has received two requests from scientists who want to use human cells and animal eggs to produce stem cells for research.
LOS ANGELES - A major earthquake along the San Andreas fault could bring Hurricane Katrina-scale devastation and disruption to Southern California, earthquake scientists and government officials warned Tuesday as they kicked off a yearlong campaign to ratchet up emergency planning and encourage residents to prepare for the inevitability of a powerful quake.
Hands over her eyes and her face gripped with terror, the woman's fear of death is all too obvious.
The remarkable mummy was found in a hidden burial vault in the Amazon.
It is at least 600 years old and has survived thanks to the embalming skills of her tribe, the Chachapoyas or cloud warriors.
The remarkable mummy was found in a hidden burial vault in the Amazon.
It is at least 600 years old and has survived thanks to the embalming skills of her tribe, the Chachapoyas or cloud warriors.
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| ©Signs of the Times |
| The horror: This woman is thought to have lived 600 years ago |
