Scientists have discovered a new type of alien planet
The standard-bearer for this new class of exoplanet is called GJ 1214b, which astronomers first discovered in December 2009. New observations by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope suggest that GJ 1214b is a watery world enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere.
“GJ 1214b is like no planet we know of,” study lead author Zachory Berta of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., said in a statement. “A huge fraction of its mass is made up of water.”
To date, astronomers have discovered more than 700 planets beyond our solar system, with about 2,300 more “candidates” awaiting confirmation by follow-up observations.
These alien planets are a diverse bunch. Astronomers have found one planet as light and airy as Styrofoam, for example, and another as dense as iron. They’ve discovered several alien worlds that orbit two suns, like Luke Skywalker’s home planet of Tatooine in the “Star Wars” films. [The Strangest Alien Planets]
But GJ 1214b, which is located 40 light-years from Earth in the constellation Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer), is something new altogether, researchers said.
GJ1214b, shown in this artist’s view, is a super-Earth orbiting a red dwarf star 40 light-years from Earth. New observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope show that it is a waterworld enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere. GJ 1214b represents a new type of planet, like nothing seen in the Solar System or any other planetary system currently known. CREDIT: NASA, ESA, and D. Aguilar (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
I wouldn’t get your hopes up that human-like life lives there. With an estimated surface temperature of 446 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius) you’d know what is what like to be a boiled lobster.
Nike HTM Flyknit – Innovations in sustainability and design unveiled and immediately remixed
This time around the brand has just unveiled a slew of Olympic-focused, sustainably-driven innovations for the upcoming 2012 summer games in London. Of the products announced the ultra-lightweight Flyknit running shoes have drawn much attention weighing in at only 160g, with the HTM variant designed by the wonder-trio Hiroshi Fujiwara, Tinker Hatfield and Mark Parker taking center stage among those equally interested in performance and style.
Nike HTM Flyknit
I only had time to do a little snooping around so I am not sure exactly what it is about this shoe that is particularly sustainable. I’m not saying that its not, I just can’t find the materials or manufacturing specs. perhaps it is that the shoe uses a minimal amount of materials at 160g.
Rare fungus kills endangered rattlesnakes in southern Illinois
University of Illinois comparative biosciences visiting instructor Matthew Allender discovered that Chrysosporium, a fungus not normally seen in free-living wildlife, was killing eastern massasauga rattlesnakes in southern Illinois.
The eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus), a candidate for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act, suffers from habitat loss and environmental stresses wherever it is found, said University of Illinois comparative biosciences visiting instructor and wildlife veterinarian Matthew Allender, who led the health investigation.
While common to find Chrysosporium among caged or zoo animals, it is rare to find it infecting animals in the wild. Rattlesnakes do not have the cute cuddly appeal of other endangered animals, but they do play an essential role in having a healthy ecosystem. If a fungus is infecting them today it, or a variant could infect other animals in the future.
Future Apps Will Help Detect Mood And Prevent Depression
Soon, substance abuse could become a thing of the past and those inclined towards addiction and troubled by stress will be able to carry help, be it rehab or therapy or just plain support, in their pockets; in their smartphones actually.
While celebrities might miss their occasional vacations to up-market rehab and de-addiction centres, they are not likely to complain as there is nothing like keeping one’s insecurities and problems within the safe confines of their secure mobiles, away from the prying eyes of the media and cameras of paparazzis. Besides, preventing a problem before it happens is always better, right, and the new apps being developed for smartphones are intended for just that: to prevent depression.
A system called iHeal is being developed by a team led by Edward Boyer at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, it’s basically meant for people who have inclinations towards addiction or substance abuse. It can also help ex marines and people with post traumatic stress disorders. The core of iHeal involves monitoring the subject using biosensors built into a wristband. The sensor measures body motion, skin electrical activity, temperature and heart rate.
The data collected is sent to the smartphone of the user where a specially designed app will analyse the situation the person is going through. The app basically does the math based on the profile being built in its database through monitoring as well as occasional feedback from the user.
While not a substitute for therapy this might well help people between office visits. One can see where the phone via a sensor on the individual could send data back to a doctor so they could make a recommendation to take your meds or get some rest.
Republicans Tell Navy: Use more oil, demand more money. Decadence and waste are apparently the new values.
Secondly, says CQ, Forbes and other Republican lawmakers …
… appeared to mock the Navy’s enthusiasm for efforts to save energy. Forbes said he perused the Navy secretary’s website, where he found Mabus bragging that the Navy would lead the nation in its green efforts. The secretary, Forbes said, might better have focused on making a strong case in defense of the Navy’s fleet and the Marines and sailors facing significant spending reductions.
So, just to get this straight: Forbes wants the Navy to spend less time reducing its dependence on oil, less time becoming lighter and more self-sufficient, and more time advocating for military bloat. Use more oil, grow the military, forever and ever amen.
The U.S. Department of Defense is almost entirely dependent on oil, which represents about 80 percent of its energy consumption. It goes through 360,000 barrels of the stuff a day. This is an enormous expense and a growing strategic and tactical risk, especially in an era of rising and volatile oil prices. Commitment to reducing exposure to oil prices, oil regimes, and oil convoys has now spread across all branches of the military. Last year I wrote a story for Outside about the Marines’ efforts to reduce expeditionary energy use. When I spoke to Colonel Bob Charette, who runs the USMC Expeditionary Energy Office, he was blunt: “We equate resource efficiency with combat efficiency.”
The Forbes referred to is Randy Forbes (R-Va.). With geniuses like Randy in Congress no wonder that Congressional public approval reached an all time low in 2011. He doesn’t care about military effectiveness or wasting tax funds, just making sure that the Navy uses more and more resources and money because decadent waste has historically always worked out really well. Right?
Mountain Top Removal – A little bluegrass with a message about what mining companies are doing to the mountains and the people that live there.
“The Hand of Man”, from the 2011 “Music for the Mountains” compilation album and benefit concert spearheaded by Mark Utley of the Cincinnati roots/Americana band Magnolia Mountain. This song also appears on Magnolia Mountain’s 2012 album “Town and Country”.
