Top 10 Upcoming Astronomical Events Of 2013
At various points throughout the year, I have people asking me if I saw the meteor shower the night before. Almost every time, that question is the first time I even heard of said shower.
So this time, we’ve made a list of some of the most impressive astronomical events of the upcoming year. Many of these will be visible throughout the world, while some are specific to certain continents. You don’t have to have an interest in science to find these feats of the sky amazing, and hopefully this will help you avoid missing them.
Supercharging methanol for fuel cells
Scientists in Germany and Italy have discovered a way to derive hydrogen gas from methanol at low temperatures and pressures using soluble ruthenium-based ‘pincer’ catalysts. The finding is potentially significant because it opens the way to using methanol as a hydrogen carrier for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells in vehicles. Such fuel cells consume hydrogen gas to create electricity, with water as [...]
Aspirin study reaches 10,000 participants
The largest primary prevention aspirin study ever undertaken in older people has reached an important milestone, signing up 10,000 participants in Australia. The landmark ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) study is investigating whether a daily low dose of aspirin can potentially delay or prevent the onset of common age-related diseases, such as heart attack, certain types [...]
Engineering control theory helps create dynamic brain models
BOSTON — Models of the human brain, patterned on engineering control theory, may some day help researchers control such neurological diseases as epilepsy, Parkinson’s and migraines, according to a Penn State researcher who is using mathematical models of neuron networks from which more complex brain models emerge. “The dual concepts of observability and controlability have [...]
A collection of intriguing and quite useless maps (20 pictures)
1. The world during the last ice age 2. If Great Lakes were in Europe 3. Light pollution in USA 4. All countries with only one neighbour 5. Antarctica time zones 6. All the landlocked countries 7. If the Earth was flat 8. A different perspective 9. Population [...]
Does racism affect how you vote?
Nate Silver has data that answers big questions about race in politics. For instance, in the 2008 presidential race, did Obama’s skin color actually keep him from getting votes in some parts of the country? Stats and myths collide in this fascinating talk that ends with a remarkable insight. Talk by Nate Silver.
Supermassive breakthrough: Scientists now know how fast a black hole spins
NASA/JPL-Caltech For the first time ever, scientists have been able to measure the precise spin rate of a ‘supermassive black hole’. The findings will provide some clue as to how some of the most mysterious objects in our universe began to form. The black hole is located in the NGC 1365 galaxy, located 56 million [...]
Printable 3D Ear
An area of interest for any living beings is 3D bio-printing. Cornell doctors and engineers built a lifelike artificial ear made of living cells using 3D printing technologies! Please take the time to review their published paper. Kids born with underdeveloped outer ears from congenital defects like microtia now have an opportunity to have an ear created from the [...]
Amazing Space Photography by Astronaut Andre Kuipers (20 pictures)
Photographs by André Kuipers/ESA/NASA See Astronaut André Kuipers’ Entire Gallery on Flickr!
