So this Sunday I've got a lot of stories and I don't think Blogspot or Twitter would be very pleased if I posted them all out separately so here they are:
- Beauty and Brains: a Gorgeous Result with Interesting Potential:
Scientists at HAARP (the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program) in Alaska have been using radio waves to study the ionosphere and magnetic field of the Earth but with a massive power increase at the facility they’ve managed to surprise even themselves.
Previous experiments have generated small patches of light in the sky similar to the natural aurora phenomenon but when power was increased they generated a ‘bullseye’ symbol in the sky.
In an article for Nature Mike Kosch, who is the chair of Experimental Space Science at Lancaster University, stated that “The novelty is not seeing the aurora — it's the fact that we can actually create enough high-energy electrons to form plasma…It shows something completely different and new that we hadn't expected. We didn't know we could do that from a radio array on the ground.”
Personally I would love to see an occasional advertisement glowing from the sky every now and then, however, apart from the publicity potential Nature also states that there could be other uses such as reflecting submarine communications or using the plasma to reflect radio transmissions around the world without loosing power.
If you want to read the article in full on the Nature website here’s the link:
http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091002/full/news.2009.975.html
- Top Gear Airship Fiasco:
Anyone else excited about the next series of Top Gear? After the latest unfortunate incident I know I can’t wait.
One of the presenters, James May, was filming a segment for the show involving a caravan being attached to an airship and being flown across Cambridgeshire. Though it was meant to land on a cricket pitch it was blown off course due to strong winds and ended up downing in a field.
May himself was unhurt and no information was given about the incident with a spokeswoman for the show stating that “Viewers will have to wait until the next series to find out what happens.”
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8283798.stm
- Fat Fad – Simpsons to be Television Role Models:
In a scheme to reduce obesity in the UK the government is to sponsor the cartoon for 3 months.
Though at first glance they may not seem to have a healthy lifestyle (specifically Homer who is obese and even once tried to gain weight in an attempt to work from home) it has been decided that they represent healthy eating somehow.
The sponsoring advertisement will be created by Aardman Animations who should be using models representing the characters eating junk food, which gets replaced with more healthy alternatives.
For more information on this check the link.
Link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6860247.ece
- Holey Site – Bluehenge, the Missing Neighbour:
Researchers have found a series of holes in the ground that they believe had monoliths of the blue hued dolerite stones that it was made of.
It is believed to have been constructed at a similar time and in a similar style to the still standing Stonehenge and is connected to the site by a pathway known as the “Avenue”.
More details about the site are to be released in February of next year.
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8288567.stm
- Next – the Look for Doctor Number 11:
I must admit to being a big fan of Doctor Who, especially with David Tennant as the current Doctor. It will be sad when he leaves as I’m sure many of you will agree and possibly like many others it will be uncertain as to whether I’ll be able to accept Matt Smith as the new Doctor.
I really hope however his acting is better than the new signature outfit they’ve put him in. See the picture and read the views in the link.
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8160710.stm
- Manipulated Marking? A Level Results Plagued by Rigging Accusations:
With the thought that a record number of students were to apply for university positions and the increasing number of passes for 27 years along with other factors it seems strange that instead of another predicted increase there has been a noticeable decrease of passes in all subjects.
At the moment any evidence gathered is only anecdotal however and all official bodies involved with marking are denying any wrongdoing.
Link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article6860175.ece
- Find Friends (and Burglars) on Facebook:
Upon returning to his home to find it burgled he noticed that his computer had been used. Upon touching it the website Facebook was loaded with the name of the individual who had broken in. Police obviously were quick to arrest the culprit.
Link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6257729/Burglar-arrested-after-logging-onto-Facebook-during-break-in.html
- Drunk, Disorderly and the Dead – Priest Ruins Funeral:
A priest is accused of being so drunk he needed to support himself using an altar and being inappropriate with a female mourner.
Link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/sweden/6258966/Priest-accused-of-being-drunk-during-funeral.html
- Powerful Persuasion – the Portable Pain-Generator:
Development is continuing for a beam weapon capable of producing a burning sensation without actually causing damage.
At present safety is a major concern with trying to identify the minimum threshold to use, which would allow the weapon to work whilst still causing no damage. One concern would be damage to the eye as it is a beam weapon however the issue is being addressed by having the weapon affect the skin but not the cornea and being at a wavelength that shall not penetrate the retina.
Currently there is a similar large-scale weapon called the ‘Active Denial System’ that can disperse a crowd by producing a 2-metre wide microwave beam causing a heating sensation within a group.
Full story:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427286.100-portable-pain-weapon-may-end-up-in-police-hands.html
- Simulated Suicide – How Computers are Being Used to Tackle Group Suicide:
A computer model was made to study the social influences that lead to copycat suicides and have discovered some results that not everyone will find surprising.
Apparently people commit suicide in clusters as it is a ‘learned trait’ from friends or it may be that suicidal people would tend to hang around together.
Another factor is the mass reporting of celebrity suicides, which could encourage others to take their own life.
For more on this and to see which social factors such as age/ethnic origin/gender affect suicides check out the main article.
Link:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17889-copycat-suicides-fuelled-by-media-reports.html
- Zombie Attack – Where Will You Be Safe?!
Because we all know that everybody needs a zombie plan physicist Davide Cassi has finally proved where the safest place to be is. The result: the mall! (Shopping Centre for us Brits)
The research shows that the more complex the hideout the less likely that a random ‘walker’ (in reality this would refer to any organism that would prey on any passing human but for as it is so perfectly fitting the idea of a zombie has been used) would be able to pick off the person hiding in it. This means that if there isn’t any malls handy just pick a complicated building with lots of corridors such as a school, university or office block.
See you after the invasion; I’m using this as an excuse to shop.
Full story:
http://current.com/items/91075875_physics-proves-the-mall-is-the-best-zombie-hideout-after-all.htm
- The Return of the Bride? Tarantino Speculates on Kill Bill Vol. 3:
Though he isn’t interested right now he does think that he’d be ready to start on it in a couple of years time but there would have to be a ten year gap between vol. 2 and vol. 3.
He’d like for the character to have 10 years of setting up a home with her daughter and settling down before its time for her to start fighting again.
Here is the link to the article and a video though to understand the video it seems like you’re going to need to know at least some (I hope this is the right language) Italian.
Link:
http://current.com/items/91076764_tarantino-promises-kill-bill-vol-3.htm
- Fishy Ideas from Nissan:
Nissan, the Japanese car manufacturer, have developed a robotic school of fish that use lasers to allow them to not crash into one another. They are hoping to use this behaviour to develop their crash avoidance systems. I however just want a group of them for fun and let them loose at work!
Full Story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8286500.stm
- Sunken Cities – Las Vegas:
The BBC news article about the slums underneath Las Vegas shocked me; I didn’t know such places existed! The article itself takes us on a short tour of a couple of locations and introduces us to a couple of residents there and how they make they survive. In a way it reminds me of a darker version of Neil Gaiman’s book Neverwhere for obvious reasons. I suggest you check the full story out.
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8239319.stm
- Urban Reclamation – New York:
Another BBC news article this time focusing on New York’s latest park. Want to guess where it is? I’ll give you a hint; it’s above ground and runs between the Manhattan landscape.
If you haven’t guessed it yet I’m talking about a railway line! After being abandoned 20 years ago the talks about demolishment were put on hold due to a group being formed by an old rail worker who wished to save it. The group have since been developing it into a lush park with walkway that would allow users to get a different view of the city.
The whole thing should be completed in the next year or two if you fancy a visit but for now why not check out the full article to find out more?
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8287091.stm
- In Our Sights – Tailor Made Vision:
The newest surgical fad to appear in the world is tailor made laser eye surgery offering an individual to be able to see the world however they want to.
The defence of this is that it would allow lorry drivers to be able to see further at night or allow office workers to be able to read screens more clearly.
Though an interesting idea I do think it’s a waste of money.
Link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6859483.ece
- Do You Want Art With That?
In a move that has shocked many McDonalds will be opening a restaurant and café in the entrance to the world famous Louvre museum.
Link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6259044/McDonalds-restaurants-to-open-at-the-Louvre.html
- Stephan Gately Dead
Boyzone singer Stephan Gately died this morning during his sleep whilst on Holiday in Majorca.
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8301627.stm
- Oasis Over
Liam Gallagher from Oasis has confirmed that the band has officially ended after Noel left in August.
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8297283.stm
- Do Ask, Do Tell?
After a disappointing start to Obama’s presidency for LGBT persons regarding marriage and the military he has finally said that he will end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (but without a set timeframe).
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8301120.stm
- A Delayed Funeral
After 160 years the writer Edgar Allan Poe will receive a funeral service to mark 200 years since his birth. At his 1849 funeral hardly anyone appeared, his tombstone was destroyed and one of his enemies wrote his obituary.
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8301128.stm
- It Was Acceptable in the 80s
It has been discovered that glaciers have been storing pollution that had settled there before there was a ban put on potentially harmful chemicals. Due to the melting of the glaciers the pollution may once again be released into the environment.
Link:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17956-melting-glaciers-bring-1980s-pollution-revival.html
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