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11/30/11

Dying Planet Leaks Carbon-Oxygen !


 A well-known extrasolar planet nicknamed Osiris has surprised astronomers again.
 This artist's illustration shows a dramatic close-up of the scorched extrasolar planet HD 209458b in its orbit only 4 million miles from its yellow, Sun-like star. The planet is a type of extrasolar planet known as a "hot Jupiter."
Credit: ESA, Alfred Vidal-Madjar (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS, France) and NASA Scientists have detected oxygen and carbon in its atmosphere, the first time these elements have been observed in a planet beyond our Solar System. The oxygen and carbon found in its atmosphere are evaporating at such an immense rate that the existence of a new class of extrasolar planets - 'the chthonian planets' or 'dead' cores of completely evaporated gas giants - has been proposed. Using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, scientists have observed the planet (officially known as HD 209458b) passing in front of its parent star, and found oxygen and carbon surrounding the planet in an extended ellipsoidal envelope - the shape of a rugby-ball. These atoms are swept up from the lower atmosphere with the flow of the escaping atmospheric atomic hydrogen, like dust in a supersonic whirlwind.
The team led by Alfred Vidal-Madjar (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS, France) reports this discovery in a forthcoming issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters. The team observed four transits of the planet in front of the star with Hubble in October and November 2003. The observations of structure and chemical make-up of the atmosphere were made in ultraviolet light, using Hubble's spectrograph STIS. Hubble's position above the atmosphere makes it the only telescope that can currently perform these types of ultraviolet studies.
The planet HD 209458b may sound familiar. It is already an extrasolar planet with an astounding list of firsts: the first extrasolar planet discovered transiting its sun, the first with an atmosphere, the first observed to have an evaporating hydrogen atmosphere (in 2003 by the same team of scientists) and now the first to have an atmosphere containing oxygen and carbon. Furthermore the 'blow-off' effect observed by the team during their October and November 2003 observations with Hubble had never been seen before.
In honor of such a distinguished catalog this extraordinary extrasolar planet has provisionally been dubbed "Osiris". Osiris is the Egyptian god who lost part of his body - like HD 209458b - after his brother killed and cut him into pieces to prevent his return to life.
  Oxygen is one of the possible indicators of life that is often looked for in experiments searching for extraterrestrial life (such as those onboard the Viking probes and the Spirit and Opportunity rovers), but according to Vidal-Madjar: "Naturally this sounds exciting - the possibility of life on Osiris - but it is not a big surprise as oxygen is also present in the giant planets of our Solar System, like Jupiter and Saturn." What, on the other hand was surprising was to find the carbon and oxygen atoms surrounding the planet in an extended envelope. Although carbon and oxygen have been observed on Jupiter and Saturn, it is always in combined form as methane and water deep in the atmosphere. In HD 209458b the chemicals are broken down into the basic elements. But on Jupiter or Saturn, even as elements, they would still remain invisible low in the atmosphere. The fact that they are visible in the upper atmosphere of HD 209458b confirms that atmospheric 'blow off' is occurring.
The scorched Osiris orbits 'only' 7 million kilometers from its yellow Sun-like star and its surface is heated to about 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Whereas hydrogen is a very light element - the lightest in fact - oxygen and carbon are much heavier in comparison. This has enabled scientists to conclude that this phenomenon is more efficient than simple evaporation. The gas is essentially ripped away at a speed of more than 35,000 km/hour. "We speculate that even heavier elements such as iron are blown off at this stage as well" says team member Alain Lecavelier des Etangs (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS, France).
The whole evaporation mechanism is so distinctive that there is reason to propose the existence of a new class of extrasolar planets - the chthonian planets, a reference to the Greek God Khtôn, used for Greek deities from the hot infernal underworld (also used in the French word autochton). The chthonian planets are thought to be the solid remnant cores of 'evaporated gas giants', orbiting even closer to their parent star than Osiris. The detection of these planets should soon be within reach of current telescopes both on the ground and in space.
The discovery of the fierce evaporation process is, according to the scientists, "highly unusual", but may indirectly confirm theories of our own Earth's childhood. "This is a unique case in which such a hydrodynamic escape is directly observed. It has been speculated that Venus, Earth and Mars may have lost their entire original atmospheres during the early part of their lives. Their present atmospheres have their origins in asteroid and cometary impacts and outgassing from the planet interiors", says Vidal-Madjar.

What's Next
NASA's planned Kepler mission will monitor thousands of stars over a four-year period, searching for transiting planets. Kepler will be sensitive enough to detect Earth-sized worlds, if any exist, around several hundred nearby stars. These studies will then lead to the ambitious Terrestrial Planet Finder mission (2012-2015), which will examine extrasolar planets for signs of life.
In December 2001, NASA selected the Kepler Mission, a project based at NASA Ames, as one of the next NASA Discovery missions. The Kepler Mission, scheduled for launch in 2006, will use a spaceborne telescope to search for Earth-like planets around stars beyond our solar system. A key criterion for such suitable planets would be whether they reside in habitable zones, or regions sometimes protected by gas giants but with temperate climates and liquid water.

  SIM, scheduled for launch in 2009, will determine the positions and distances of stars several hundred times more accurately than any previous program.
Credit: NASA / JPL One NASA estimate says Kepler should discover 50 terrestrial planets if most of those found are about Earth's size, 185 planets if most are 30 percent larger than Earth, and 640 if most are 2.2 times Earth's size. In addition, Kepler is expected to find almost 900 giant planets close to their stars and about 30 giants orbiting at Jupiter-like distances from their parent stars. After Kepler, NASA is considering a 2009 launch for the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM). SIM's primary mission will be to measure distances to stars with 100 times greater precision than currently is possible. This will improve estimates of the size of the universe, and help determine the true brightness of stars, allowing us to learn more about their chemical compositions and evolutions. SIM also will look for Earth-sized planets in the habitable zones around some 200 stars.
SIM will be an interferometer, which means it will combine interacting light waves from three telescopes. This interaction, called interference, makes the individual telescopes act as though they were a single, larger telescope with greater light-gathering ability.

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/newworlds/Osiris_leaks.html

Simple Slits for Phones


This design rings home a bell because right this minute, the inside flap of my iPhone case has a sticky-note to-do list stuck to it! 
If it was not enough to expect zillions of functions from our smartphones, apparently now their protective covers need to come handy too! 
This clever silicone rubber case has five slits that are good enough to tuck in bills, pen, stylus or credit cards. 
Elasty is an awesome thought and has even won the Korean Belkin Design Awards!
Designer: Yoori Koo



11/29/11

Zimbabwe: Women Rapists Terrorise Men !


Police in Zimbabwe are on the trail of a group of women who have been raping men, usually at gunpoint, since last year. Cases of men who have been sexually abused by women are common in the country and hardly a week passes without such a report being made in the media.
The motives of these women are not known, but there is speculation that they may be doing this for ritual purposes.
Since the rape cases began, no one has been arrested.
On Monday, the Herald reported that two men were kidnapped last week and forced to have sex with women at gunpoint.
In one of the incidents, a 30-year-old man was kidnapped by three women and forced to have sex with them for five days.
In some cases, the women use protection and collect the mens sperm, leading to speculation that they were in the activity for ritual purposes.
At times, the women are helped by armed men.
Since the strange rape cases began sometime last year, no one has been arrested.
Police have said the women cannot be charged with rape because Zimbabwean law does not recognise that women can rape men.
But they will be charged with indecent assault, which carries a lesser sentence.
Listen to Global News on RHI ever week day 7am, 12 noon, 2pm, 6pm, 8pm, 11pm
Source: The Nation (Nairobi)

11/28/11

12 Low-Cost Ways to Save Energy — and Money — Now




Four out of 10 consumers are worried about money or the economy this holiday season, according to a poll by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. As a result, many are cutting back on gifts, travel and decorations. But here's an idea for a gift that keeps on giving: 12 energy retro-fits that quickly pay for themselves and that will save you money well after the holidays have come and gone.
Use an Incense Stick to Spot Air Leaks
Turn on your home’s exhaust fans (or wait for a windy day) and hold an incense stick near your windows, doors, and electrical outlets. If the smoke blows sideways, you’ve got a leak that should be plugged with weatherstripping, caulk, or expandable foam. The incense trick can slash your energy bills by hundreds each year while chasing away the chills.

Check Furnace Filters
Do it once a month during the heating system to keep your system at peak efficiency. Vacuum and wash reusable filters. And replace disposable filters; new ones cost about $25—much smarter than shivering and paying a pro $200 to $300 if a clogged filter shuts down your heat.

Install a Programmable Thermostat
About 25 million homes now have one—but more than 90 million don’t. That could be costing them big bucks, since programmable thermostats help slice up to 10 percent off your yearly heating bills by automatically turning down temperatures 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours a day. Consider going for a full 15 degrees when you’re away.

Insulate Hot-Water Heaters and Pipes
Does your water heater feel warm to the touch? Keep more of that heat inside the heater by wrapping it in an insulating blanket—about $20 or less at home centers. You can wrap hot pipes that run from the heater with foam. Also consider lowering your water-heater temperature from 130 degrees to 120 for a total annual savings of roughly $100.

Put in a Low-Flow Showerhead
Water heating alone accounts for nearly 15 percent of your energy bill. Low-flow showerheads can trim your home’s water use by up to 50 percent. Better yet, our sensory experts found many low-flow showerheads that provide a pleasing shower experience while still meeting the toughest, two-gallon-per-minute standard.
Stop Pre-Rinsing Dishes
Our dishwasher tests show that you can skip this work detail with most of today’s dishwashers—and save about $75 and up to 6,500 gallons of water per household per year.

Insulate Your Attic Door
Yes, heat rises. That’s why you want to keep it from escaping into an unheated attic. Whether you have pull-down stairs, an attic door, or a hatch, insulate that access with fiberglass or rigid foam-board insulation and weather stripping. You’ll even find pre-made insulated attic-stair covers at home centers or online.

Switch to Smarter Lightbulbs
CFL and LED bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. That adds up to a savings of some $52 per bulb for CFLs and $65 to $400 per bulb for LEDs over the life of the bulb. Today’s cost much less and work much better than earlier versions. And since both types last far longer, you won’t have to change bulbs as often.
Make your TV more efficient
That’s right—today’s TVs can eat up just as much energy as refrigerators. If you have a set-top box, like most homes, consider trading it for one that meets Energy Star’s tougher new 3.0 specification. And if you buy a new TV, make sure it’s set to “home mode” which is more efficient than the retail mode typically used when sets are shipped. The $30 to $60 in yearly savings could pay for dinner—and a movie.
Toss Old Plasma TVs and Refrigerators
Some of the early plasma televisions we tested in 2004 could cost more than $200 per year to run. Old energy-hungry fridges are no bargain either. Many home centers offer free haul-away and recycling of old fridges—if you buy the new refrigerator from them, of course.

Unplug Video Games
These do more than just eat into your kids’ homework time: They also draw lots of power, even when they’re off or in standby mode. Simply pulling the plug can put some $125 a year back in your pocket.

Put Your Computer to Sleep
Save $75 or more per computer per year by using the standby or hibernate setting. Just be sure to turn it completely off if you take it on the road, to protect the hard drive.

11/27/11

Gliese 518; is look a like Earth !


Gliese 5178 g The horrendous news that comes in September 2010. An Earth-like planets are thought to really - really exist in space. This is not just an illusion or a dream of all people in the world. Almost all of them identical alias similar to the condition of the earth, even to its size!. The Earth-like planet is named Gliese 581g

Gliese 581 is just like an Earth

The horrendous news that comes in September 2010. An Earth-like planets are thought to really - really exist in space. This is not just an illusion or a dream of all people in the world.
Almost all of them identical alias similar to the condition of the earth, even to its size!.
The Earth-like planet is named Gliese 581g The findings were described by astronomers from the University of California Santa Cruz. Steven Vogt.
One member of the team of astronomers, said there are conditions that support for the presence of water there. Therefore Vogt believes humans could live and settle in the Gliese 581 g.
However, several other astronomers cautioned that this finding is still too early to be trusted.

Definition of Gliese 581

This is just an excerpt from wikipedia about the planet Gliese 518 g. Gliese 581 g (pronounced / ɡli zə ː /), also known as Gl 581 or GJ 581 g of g is a planet that has not been confirmed in a group of extrasolar planets.
Gliese 581 g of red dwarf stars orbiting near the planet Gliese 581. Located 20.5 light-years (1.94 × 10 14 km) from Earth in the constellation of Libra.
The discovery was announced by the Lick-Carnegie Exoplanet Survey in late September 2010, after a decade of observation.
The study shows the planet lies near the middle of the habitable zone of its parent star, where temperatures are not too hot or too cold.
If a rocky planet, favorable atmospheric conditions could allow the existence of liquid substances, the need for all known life, on its surface.
With 3.1 to 4.3 times the mass of Earth, Gliese 581 g is considered as a super-Earth, and is the closest planet to Earth in size are known in the habitable zone.
This makes the most Earth-like Goldilocks planet found outside our solar system and extrasolar planet with the largest recognized the potential to hide the life.
Detection of Gliese 581 g after a short time looking for and at such close range to bring astronomers to believe the proportion of stars with planets may be greater than ten percent.
 
Gliese 5178 g
Gliese 5178 g
Gliese 5178 g
Gliese 5178 g

Rare Live Battle between Lions, Crocodiles and Buffalos in South Africa






This is an amazing video contains the jungle rule. This is very rare opportunity to capture this kind of real battle between lions, buffalo and crocodile. This happened in 2004 Sept in Kruger national park south Africa.

Start the battle, 3 of buffalos walking parallel to the river, and then group of lions attack them and tackle the small buffalo in to the river. Then lions try to take their food out of the river, but group of crocodiles came out and fight for the small buffalo, finally lions won with crocodile and takes the small buffalo out of the river.

Then the best part of the video, hundreds of buffalo come out and tries to protect their baby buffalo and they successfully attack the lions and protect their baby. Really amazing video highly recommends watching.

11/26/11

The Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu Resort in the Maldives



For those in need of a hot getaway, dreaming of white sandy beaches, blue ocean, palm trees and lush tropical vegetation there is a spot in the Maldivian archipelago, an island called Dhuni Kolhu that belongs to the Baa Atoll.
On it, one can find the Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu villa complex, a luxurious resort that meets its guests with open arms.
All sorts of amenities are provided here, like exotic, elegant interiors, great panoramas and deluxe design. Some villas are lifted off the ground, providing breathtaking views of the ocean, while others are built to assure guests a little bit of privacy, being hidden among huge palm trees.
Some of the homes are provided with sunken baths inside their garden bathrooms, plunge pools on the terrace, four-poster beds with white mosquito nets.
Open air garden bathrooms are also available, for those in need of feeling close to nature.


Furthermore, one can spend their time in Jacuzzi’s, bathrooms overlooking the lagoon, large sundecks, plunge pools and of course a load of exclusive, luxurious finishes.
Besides all these, for the ones in need of a truly extraordinary holiday, a huge, 1657 sqft suite greets its occupants, offering direct access to the lagoon.

20 Best of Best "red dot award" design concept 2011



Here are  20 of the Best of  Best red dot award : design concept 2011. 
Congratulations winners!

The red dot design award is one of the largest design competitions in the world. 
The red dot award: design concept is the third installment of the red dot design award. 
It focuses on new conceptual ideas for product design, which is a great platform for new, upcoming designers to display their talent as well as for studios to showcase their creativity and innovativeness.  
The red dot award: design concept 2011 is calling for entries from now to 10 July 2011. 
More information the award.
Air-curtain Shower Cabin by Liu Yi, Luo Jing & Jiang Yuning
 
A’konkret Furniture by Tjiang Supertini Yuwono

ARROW by Prof. Jeon Sung-su, Prof. Kim Ki-Pil, Han Kyung-Chan, Kang Kyung-Rok, Kang Dong-Woo & Jeon Ji-Yong

Creative Helmets by Igor Mitin
Digimo, Camera for Creatives by Lee Sang Ik

FRIDA Concept Robot by Kenny Wong
GEM by Jarkko Saunamäki, Dr. Hannu Nieminen, Marko Luomi, Yan Qifeng & Heikki Naulapää

Kulou Cigar by Prof. Gao Liqun, Wang Jun, Zhang Nan, Li Yulin, Liu Rumiao, Ding Ning, Du YaNan & Wang Yancai

Little Explorer by Chen Liao-Hsun, Chen Wei-Ting, Tsai Hui-Jou, Dai Siao-Ying & Chen Jia-Wen

Magic Carp-pet Rug by John Leung

Mole’s Hide and Seek Bike Rack by You Song Young, Park Soyoung, Hong Sung Min & Hong Se Won

Nursing Kit by Lee Sheng-Hung & Chen Yu-Lin

Paper Chair-piao by Lei Zhang, Christoph John & Jovana Bogdanovic

Parking Guide by Shih Chang-Chi, Huang Shao-Heng, Wang Shou-Yu

Piling Eating by Lu Ying-Jung & Chou Ya Shang

Microbial Home by Philips Design

SoundsGood by Tang Peiqi

Tea-Time by Yu Pengtao

Topless Shoes by Prof. Ying Fangtian, Zhao Xiaoliang, Han Like, Liu Peng, Meng Qingbao, Ren Mingjun, Yang Xiao, Chen Xuan & Lin Lin

Wormhole Folding Seat by Igor Lobanov

11/25/11

Otherworldly Sprites May Signal Alien Life

Enigmatic and exotic, sprites are large electrical discharges that flash high in the upper atmosphere -- usually above powerful lightning storms. Often bright red in color with streaming tendrils of blue and purple stretching down beneath, they hadn't even been photographed in color until 1995!
Sprites are one of the most elusive phenomena occurring in Earth's atmosphere -- and researchers at Tel Aviv University now suggest they may also be found on other worlds as well.

SCIENCE CHANNEL: What are the chances of being struck by lightning?
Although sprites are fairly common on Earth they have not been well documented because of their location high in the mesosphere, well above the range of weather balloons. They only last a few tens of milliseconds and are basically high-altitude offshoots of lightning events closer to the ground. Lighting is not only found in large quantity on Earth but also on other planets in our solar system.
Venus has been shown to have Earthlike lightning, while Jupiter and Saturn experience lightning a thousand times more powerful than Earth's.
Tel Aviv University Ph.D. student Daria Dubrovin, along with her supervisors Colin Price of TAU's Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, and Professor Yoav Yair of the Open University of Israel, as well as collaborators Ute Ebert and Sander Nijdam from the Eindhoven Technical University in Holland, have re-created other planetary atmospheres in the lab to study the presence of extraterrestrial sprites.

ANALYSIS: Thunderstorms as Nature's Particle Accelerators
Sprite Using chemical mixtures that mimic the atmospheres of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn, and electrical circuits that simulate lightning, Dubrovin's team studied how sprites would be created -- and what they would look like -- on other worlds.
"We make sprites-in-a-bottle," Dubrovin said.
Because sprites are connected to lightning, and lightning plays a key role in many theories concerning how life first developed on Earth, it stands to reason that the existence of sprites on other planets (both in our own solar system and others) may be something to look out for when searching for signs of alien life, according to Dubrovin.

ANALYSIS: NASA Spots Signs of Life... On Earth
Not only would sprites indicate lightning further down in a planet's atmosphere but also what kinds of molecules exist there, and may explain the presence of exotic compounds. Sprites would also provide information on the conductivity of a planet's atmosphere.
The team's research was presented in October at the European Planetary Science Congress in France.
Dubrovin's research is funded by the Israeli Science Foundation and by an Ilan Ramon Scholarship and Endowment, which is named after the Israeli astronaut who flew on the STS-107 Columbia shuttle mission that ended in tragedy on Feb. 1, 2003. Part of the scientific research aboard that shuttle was on sprites, and Dubrovin is proud to continue Ramon's legacy.

Top image: A sprite captured on video over a thunderstorm above the U.S. midwest on July 3, 1995. The top of the sprite is 280,000 feet (85 km) above the Earth. Credit: Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Inset image: TAU lab-created sprite streamers as they would appear on Saturn.
Analysis by Jason Major
 

Best Cure for Cold is to Have Enough Sleep


People who do not get enough sleep are more susceptible to common cold, the new study revealed.
Sheldon Cohen, a leading author of the study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa., said that lack of sleep can really make difference for people's susceptibility to common cold.
As much as 153 healthy men and women aged between 21 and 55 took part in the research to find how sleep deprivation may affect immune function.
During the study, the researchers monitored the sleeping habits of the participants, including the time they spent asleep and quality of their rest for two weeks.
Then all the participants were deliberately infected with the help of nasal drops containing rhinovirus.
For the next five days the researchers monitored the cold symptoms, like congestion, sneezing and other in all the volunteers.
The blood samples were taken to find antibodies to rhinovirus.
The findings showed that those participants, who had less than 7 hours of sleep a day, were three times more likely to get cold in comparison to men and women who had 8 or more hours of sleep.
It was also found that sleep efficiency can also play an important role for people's susceptibility to common cold.
Sleep efficiency is the quantity of sleep spent asleep in bed. Sleep efficiency of less than 80 percent is regarded as insomnia.
The study revealed that participants with lesser sleep efficiency were four times more likely to get sick than those who had almost 100 percent of sleep efficiency.
It is known that lack of sleep may lead to certain changes in the immune system, such as the decrease in the number of killer T-cells, fighting with viruses and bacteria, and a protein that stimulates the growth of these cells.
This explains why people deprived of sleep have more chances of getting ill.
Another factor that can make you more vulnerable to common cold is stress that may impair immune function and increase the susceptibility to other diseases.