BREAKING NEWS: “Time Travel is Possible, Says Noted Physicist”

Physics Professor Brian Cox has determined that time travel is theoretically possible and that time machines could one day be a reality.

The British professor, who is also a TV Presenter and pop musician (having some success with the Northern Irish band D:Ream in the 1990’s), used Dr. Who’s famous TARDIS as a broad example of the type of time machine that he believes to be theoretically possible as well as scientifically sound.

“Can you build a time machine?” asked Cox during his speech at the British science festival, before answering his own question with a resounding “yes”.

However, according to Cox’s research, whilst time travel to the future is theoretically possible, time travel to the past is completely impossible. In addition, the trip would only be one way; there would be no going home.

Cox isn’t the first person to make this announcement; in fact, he’s borrowing directly from Einstein’s theory of special relativity when he states that movement at speeds close to the speed of light would theoretically cause time to slow down, but only for the individual travelling at such speeds.

Says Cox, “If you go fast, your clock runs slow relative to people who are still. As you approach the speed of light, your clock runs so slow you could come back 10,000 years in the future,”

Some scientists have suggested that the use of ‘wormholes’ would be a theoretically acceptable form of time travel. In fact, wormholes are a staple of science fiction stories. A wormhole (perhaps better referred to as an Einstein-Rosen Bridge) is, effectively, a passageway, or ‘shortcut’, through spacetime. The effect of a wormhole would be the spacial equivalent of writing ‘A’ on the far end of a piece of paper and ‘B’ on the other side, then putting the two letters together and punching a hole through the paper with a pencil.

However, in his speech, professor Cox refuted the idea that such a ‘bridge’ could ever be truly stable, saying,

“In General Relativity, you can do it in principle. It’s to do with building these things called wormholes; shortcuts through space and time. But most physicists doubt it. Hawking came up with the ‘chronology protection conjecture’ – physics we don’t yet understand that means wormholes are not stable.”

On the heels of this announcement, Professor Cox, an ardent fan of Dr. Who, will be delivering a 60-minute speech about the popular TV show, which will be screened by the BBC on November 23^rd. In the speech, the professor will share his thoughts on the possibility of extraterrestrial life, the potential discovery of new dimensions and, of course, time travel. 

BREAKING NEWS: “Time Travel is Possible, Says Noted Physicist”

’Earth-Like’ Asteroid Devoured by Dead Star

The Hubble Space Telescope has recorded an intriguing event some 150 light-years from Earth.

A large asteroid was pulled into the White Dwarf star (named ‘GD 61’ by astronomers) and utterly destroyed. This is not an unusual event, as even dead stars still exhibit a very high level of gravity. However, scientists are interested because the chemical signatures left in the star’s atmosphere indicate the presence of water and a rocky surface, both considered to be key building blocks for the creation of life on our planet.

Until this event was observed, water and a rocky surface had never been found together on an object outside our solar system.

The asteroid consisted of the elements magnesium, silicon, iron and oxygen, all of which are usually found in rock minerals, but scientists believe that the abundance of oxygen indicated the heavy presence of H20.

The object was at least 90KM across and as much as 26% of that is thought to have been water. Earth is considered to be just 0.02% water.

This discovery is important because it gives scientists a vindicating glimpse of how inhabitable environments may have been formed, receiving key components (such as water) from outside sources such as meteorites.

It is thought that water first arrived on our planet by similar means and that other planets in the GD 61 system would once have received water this way as well. According to BBC News, scientists consider the presence of rocky planets in the GD system to have been “very likely”.

Scientists have observed over 1,000 planets outside our solar system, but none is thought to contain water.

Closer to home, some planets and heavenly bodies are thought to contain water. Mars is considered by many to once have had liquid water, but if this is still the case, it is a greatly reduced amount.

Elsewhere, Jupiter’s moon Europa raises a tantalizing prospect that there are oceans under its icy surface. This has led to some convincing research into the possible presence of ocean currents there. However, Europa is not alone, its fellow moons Callisto and Ganymede have also been suggested as candidates for liquid water.

In addition, Rhea (moon of Saturn), Titania (moon or Uranus), Oberon (also orbiting Uranus), Triton (moon of Neptune), Pluto (dwarf planet), Eris (dwarf planet), Sedna (possible dwarf planet) and Orcus (another possible dwarf planet) are all speculated to have oceans, some of which may be in contact with the rocky core of the respective body, which would hypothetically result in a steady stream of minerals and salts into the water – an important factor in creating life.

Saturn’s moon Enceladus has geysers, which is seen as proof of the presence of water or at least water vapours. It has even been theorized by some that Neptune contains oceans of liquid diamond.

The heavy presence of water on this asteroid is a vital clue for scientists and their understanding, not only of the cosmos, but also of how our home planet came into being.

 

SOURCES

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24491845

’Earth-Like’ Asteroid Devoured by Dead Star

Stallone To Play ‘Rocky’ Yet again

Rumours thrive that Sylvester Stallone will probably be playing the personality of ‘Rocky Balboa’ again, in a new film set inside the ‘Rocky’ world.

The incredibly popular character Rocky Balboa formerly appeared in the Oscar-winning 1976 movie ‘Rocky’ and has been the central hero in no less than six movies to date.

MGM films have officially offered the brand new project, at present recognized only as ‘Creed’ to director Ryan Coogler.

The proposed movie is invariably a spin-off as opposed to a straight sequel.

Michael B. Jordan, star of this year’s ‘Fruitville Station’ and also HBO television drama ‘The Wire’, will play the grandson of habitual series character Apollo Creed. The planned plot would call for young Creed to enter the world of boxing, with Stallone’s Balboa playing the role of his counselor.

Director Ryan Coogler, who worked with Jordan on the aforementioned ‘Fruitville Station’ film, is said to be enthusiastic about the idea and is eager to co-write the screenplay.

Apollo Creed, as portrayed by Carl Weathers, was originally presented as Rocky’s antagonist. In his initial position, Creed (who was apparently similar to a combination of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Joe Louis) was the World Heavyweight Boxing Champ as well as a confidence entrepreneur. When challenged with the lack of appropriate opponents, Creed decided to put his title on the line against a local, unknown fighter.

The first film largely centred round the elected fighter Rocky Balboa as he trained for the biggest fight of his life. In the later movies, Apollo Creed grew to becomte a mentor plus a close friend to Rocky.

Weathers played Creed in every ‘Rocky’ film until ‘Rocky IV’, where the character was killed in a fight with Russian boxer Ivan Drago (portrayed by Dolph Lundgren).

Despite the character’s downfall, he’s significantly mentioned in both follow-up films and remains popular with fans of the series.

The final film within the original Rocky series, ‘Rocky Balboa’ was released in 2006 to strong critical and commercial reception. In 2010, Sylvester Stallone was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum for his formation and depiction of Rocky, as well like the many tributes he has paid to boxers and the sport of boxing in his profession.

SOURCES:

http://www.sylvesterstallone.com/stallone-inducted-into-boxing-hall-of-fame/

http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/stallone-to-play-rocky-again-in-spin-off-creed-053257511.html

Stallone To Play ‘Rocky’ Yet again

Microsoft returns to CES Las Vegas tech show

Latest News - With Steve Ballmer leaving microsoft as chief executive, we are starting to see signs that microsoft is aligning itself with google and apple. After pulling out of the 2012 CES show they have announced that they will return in 2013, obvioulsy with the Xbox one and windows 8 improvements, along with several windows 8 tablets, they will use this exposure to showcase a new look microsoft.

 

The organiser of the US’s biggest tech show has revealed to the BBC that Microsoft is returning to the event.

Microsoft announced it was pulling out of CES in 2012, saying that its “product news milestones” did not align with the January tradeshow.

Although it is not scheduled to host a keynote speech at 2014′s event, the firm has booked meeting rooms again.

One analyst said the news reinforced the Las Vegas show’s claim to be the year’s most important tech event.

Others had previously suggested Microsoft’s departure might mark “the beginning of the end” of the show.

A spokesman for Microsoft said he was unable to comment.

‘Tactical blunder’

Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association – the lobby group which hosts CES, disclosed the news during a visit to London.

“Microsoft is officially back in the International CES,” he told the BBC.

“They are taking out significant space in meeting rooms – it’s actually a larger presence than I believe they have ever had.

“Microsoft will have to make the decision who the rooms are open to or not, but I imagine they’re very open to the press.

Steve Ballmer made a guest appearance during another firm’s press conference in 2013

“We have had a tremendous partnership [with Microsoft] going back to the very beginning. You know, we had one little blip this year… but now we’re happy to have them back with a physical presence.”

The company was not totally absent at 2013′s event. Chief executive Steve Ballmer made a brief surprise appearance during chipmaker Qualcomm’s keynote event, and Microsoft’s chief technology strategy officer spent a few minutes on stage at a Samsung press conference.

But one tech consultant who regularly attends the show said the US company had made a “tactical blunder” by not hosting its own event or having space to show off its wares.

“There was an opportunity to really assert the Windows 8 story and they completely missed it,” said Ben Wood, from CCS Insight.

“So, you had a show floor full of convertibles, tablets and all-in-one Windows 8 PCs but no narrative to go with them. You can align that to the fact that Google’s Android was omnipresent and Windows Phone didn’t really get a look-in at all.

“If you look at the assets that Microsoft has now, I’d argue that it’s virtually essential that it steps up its efforts at not just CES but also other shows like Barcelona’s Mobile Wold Congress where its absence has been noted.”

Microsoft is in the process of taking over Nokia’s handset unit; recently launched the second generation of its Surface tablet, despite missing sales targets with the first one; and is about to put its Xbox One games console on sale.

Tech titans

More than 152,000 people attended 2013′s CES, according to an independent audit, with 3,282 exhibitors taking part across a range of venues totalling 1.92 million sq ft (178,370 sq m).

Bill Gates appeared alongside musician Slash at Microsoft’s 2008 CES keynote event

The event is not open to the public, but presents an opportunity for firms to host public and private meetings with the media, analysts, retail chains and other industry professionals.

Although there has been a trend in recent years for tech-makers to hold special events to launch products, rather than competing for attention at a tradeshow, many of the industry’s biggest names continue to hold gadgets and other announcements back for CES.

Intel and Audi are both holding what is termed “tech titans keynote” events at the forthcoming show, which runs from 7 to 10 January.

Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Huawei and Toyota are among others hosting both press conferences and stands. Google, Yahoo and Dropbox prefer to just book private meeting rooms. Apple does not attend in any formal capacity.

‘Set the agenda’

Microsoft is currently going through a period of upheaval. Last week Mr Ballmer gave a tearful farewell to staff having previously announced his resignation.

Gary Shapiro had previously described Microsoft’s pull-out as a “pause” rather than a permanent departure

Reuters is now reporting that some of the firm’s biggest investors are pressing for Bill Gates, its chairman and co-founder, to also step down.

Mr Shapiro did not speculate whether changes in management might see Microsoft further bolster its presence in later years. However, Mr Wood had little doubt this would happen.

“I can see a renaissance, particularly given Microsoft’s move into hardware,” he said.

“It’s going to be in the heartland of consumer electronics – you’re looking at tablets, Xbox and mobile phones all working together for not just a mobile story but a connected homes story, and that’s the epicentre of CES.

“It’s all about how these different bits of gadgetry hang together, and CES helps set the agenda.”

 

Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24364985

Microsoft returns to CES Las Vegas tech show

Other ways to power your mobile, Pee as you go

Scientists functioning at the University West of England (UWE) in Bristol, United kingdom, have discovered a way to power a cell phone with Human pee.

The team have been in a position to recharge a Samsung mobile by putting the liquid through a cascade of microbial fuel cells. Using this process, enough power is produced to send text messages, browse the Net and also make a quick phone call.

Based on the scientists responsible, the next stage is to fully recharge the phone with urine…Seemingly cleaning their hands immediately afterwards.

Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulos has worked for ages with microbial energy cells; he’s considered a specialist in harnessing power from strange options. The possibe applications of his work are very interesting from an environmental viewpoint.

Dr. Ieropoulos said, “We’re very excited as this is a world first, no-one has harnessed energy from pee to do this so it’s an interesting finding. Using the ultimate waste product as a supply of energy to provide electrical power is about as eco as it gets.” Eco-friendly tech is, obviously, the great doctor’s main area of curiosity.

The microbial cells work as a energy converter, they take the natural substance straight into electrical energy, via the metabolism of live microbes. The electrical power is a by-product of a microorganism’s natural life phase, meaning that as they ‘eat’ the pee, they generate energy the energy that powers the mobile. Now that is what we call ‘pee as you go’.

Bathroom humour aside, the team have engineered a world first, as nothing as large as a mobile battery has ever been charged using this method before.

There is, nowadays, no plans to promote this tech on a large scale, but perhaps someday we could be signing a ‘P’ mobile agreement, the trick, as they are saying, might be pissistance.

PS – I’m sorry about this one. The task and its implications are instead astounding. All credit to the UWE team. However, I continuously needed to do one of those ‘And Finally’ type stories and now I finally get to. Please forgive me, one and all.

SOURCES:

 

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/urine-could-charge-mobile-phones-152225132.html

Other ways to power your mobile, Pee as you go

What are the very best ways to improve your hearing

Recently, when I was at my younger brother’s birthday celebration, my Dad made a reference to having tinnitus (fundamentally an occasional-level ringing within the ears) and I told him that I had made a gag about tinnitus in a recent post (for those concerned, the funny story was that it made things sound ‘a bit tinny’ – Not one of my better japes, I acknowledge, but whatever…). He looked at me like I had just farted in church while I rapidly changed the topic.

So, if you’re suffering from hearing loss or tinnitus, what is it possible to do about it?

The truth is that hearing troubles are mostly attributable to damage to the inner ear. A method this will happen is due to constant bombardment of noises over 110 decibels. According to new information, the noise wears away the myelin sheath, which is a outside layer that protects the nerve cells of the inner ear.

The good news is, yet, the myelin sheath will, in most cases, repair itself, so all you have to do is TURN THE VOLUME DOWN or simply leave your iPod in the home for a number of days and you must start seeing improvements.

Now and then, however, damage to the inner ear is so great that the body basically will not manage to fix itself. In this instance, you will need to coach yourself to deal with your newfound disability. It’s a process that can produce serious depression and nervousness if not adequately confronted and dealt with.

The Beaumont Health System gives some useful tips for dealing with hearing loss on their internet site. As outlined by them, hearing loss can be combated if you follow these 3 steps:

1. Be an advocate for yourself. Others cannot guess what you need. By hiding a hearing loss you will miss conversation and may respond inappropriately and cause further miscommunication. Tell others if you are having difficulty understanding. If you don’t understand what someone has said ask him or her to rephrase the message, not just repeat it.  Often this will help improve your understanding.

2. Educate others regarding hearing loss. Many do not understand why you can hear that they are talking but cannot understand what you are saying. They also don’t know what they can do to help.  Ask others to talk more slowly and clearly and not to obstruct their mouths.

3. Manipulate your environment to your advantage.  Hearing clearly when there is background noise is probably the biggest challenge for people with hearing loss. When you can, choose quiet listening environments. In a restaurant, request to be seated in a quiet area away from the door and the kitchen. Partitions and low ceilings may be helpful to reduce noise. Also carpet and upholstery may help to reduce echo, which may help you to understand speech more clearly. Good lighting may also be helpful so that you can see the speaker’s face and gestures.

Another ordinary (and fixable) problem is a build up of earwax. Which is straightforward enough to solve via regular use of the cotton bud. If that does not work, it’s consistantly doable to have your ears syringed, which is really a totally disgusting (but genuinely effective) method for clearing out one’s lugholes. 

Your hearing will degrade as you age (like most things you hold dear I am afraid, up to and including: your metabolism, sexual potency, muscle tone, skin, charisma and hair colour). Yup. Sucks getting old.

In conclusion, if you are facing serious hearing troubles, try to minimize any upcoming harm. As it says on WikiHow:

“Although you can’t reverse the hearing loss you’ve already suffered, you can take steps to keep it from getting worse. Reduce your exposure to loud, sustained noises[. If noisiness like this is part of your job (say you’re a construction worker or employed at a concert venue), consider wearing specialty ear plugs or changing jobs. If you wear earbuds or headphones to listen to music, keep the volume low or moderate. Try to reduce your exposure to high volumes overall, and you’ll reduce future hearing loss”.

It is also recommended to see a doctor. I am not a doctor. I’m a contract writer with access to Google. If you suspect that everything mentioned in the above piece is affecting you, then please make an appointment with your local Doctor.  

What are the very best ways to improve your hearing

Scientists Settle on Size of Largest Ever Sea animal

A joint Scottish-Canadian group has verified the primitive sea animal leedsichthys problematicus is the biggest boned fish ever to roam the seas of our earth.

Growing to lengths of 16.5 metres over a projected growth period of forty years, the Jurassic-era sea animal would have outgrown even today’s massive whale sharks. Although its grand dimension, yet, leedsichthys is believed to have been a filter feeder, akin to baleen whales, basking sharks and whale sharks are now.

Found from the late 19th century and formally named (after English farmer and fossil collector Alfred Leeds) in 1889, relics of leedsichthys have been unearthed throughout Europe, and also in South America.

The ‘problematicus’ portion of its scientific name stems from the proven fact that leedsichthys fossils are disreputably tricky to recognize. This is due to a indisputable fact that leedsichthys’ skeleton #was not# made entirely of bone. Large portions #of the# animal’s internal structure were actually #made from# cartilage, just #as a# shark’s bone structure is. Cartilage #does not# mineralize as eagerly as bone and, as the result, fossil cartilage is somewhat uncommon.

Out of context, the fossilized bones can represent a problem to palaeontologists. Over the years, remains of leedsichthys have even been posited as belonging to bone-plated dinosaur stegosaurus!

Because leedsichthys vertebrae was cartilaginous, it has been very difficult to see how long the fish may have been, with some unconfirmed estimates signifying that it was as long as 30 m.

Nonetheless, each time a new, more complete, fossil was found near Peterborough, UK, scientists were at last in a position to take an accurate measurement. Professor Jeff Liston, of our National Museum of Scotland, said, “We sat down and checked out a large series of specimens, not only at the bones, but their inner development set ups as well – much like the expansion rings in trees – to find some ideas about the ages of these animals, along with their estimated measurements,”

The team finally determined that a small adult leedsichthys would grow to eight or 9 metres after some 20 years and, in another 20 years; it could reach about 16.5 m in length. This is greater than the whale shark, the biggest bony fish existing now, despite persistent and credible reports of whale sharks growing as long as 14 metres in length.

This information is exciting to scientists and natural history fanatics because it guarantees a functional insight into the alterations in ocean life that occurred around and through the Jurassic period.

Scientists now accept as true that filter-feeding sea animals started out as quite small animals, before growing to huge sizes we know today. The outstanding mass of leedishthys problematicus thus implies that there was an enormous surge in the plankton populace of the Mesozoic seas.

The invention also involves a major change to the records.

 

SOURCES:

Scientists Settle on Size of Largest Ever Sea animal