The Brazilian Goverment announced that deforestation in the Amazon has dropped over 40 percent since last year, the biggest drop in 20 years.
When reading about the rain forest in the Amazon, one starts to feel adventurous, like something in a 1980's Indiana Jones movie. Online shopping also comes to mind, but that's a completely unrelated deal. The Amazon rain forest is the largest in the world and has notably decreased in size over the past century and a half. Settlers move in, with an insatiable lust for materials and space and shred the complex ecosystem and source of much of the world's oxygen.
The Brazilian Government decided to act in 1988 to slow the flow of wood out of the forest. Drops in deforestation have been modest until now. This year only 2,705 square miles of forest were cut down, the size of Austin, Texas. This is real progress, many people agree that the decrease will increase. One day we may see an Amazon that is no longer ravaged for its old growth trees as tree farms are established in previously deforested areas. The Brazilian goverment has also reported that 8.1 million cubic feet of illegally harvested wood has been confiscated between August 2008 and July 2009.
Information Found on:
USAToday.com:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2009-11-12-brazil-deforestation-drop_N.htm
Austin City Information:
http://www.jerryrusso.com/aus_info.html
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Antimatter Occurs Naturally on Earth
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has discovered the presence of positrons also known as antimatter in lightning announced Michael Briggs of the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Thursday.
When NASA launched Fermi to gather information about gamma-ray emissions in the universe, nobody expected it to find out that antimatter happens before, during, and after lightning streaks through the sky. Fermi did not actually detect the particles, but the specific type of gamma-ray emissions that the elusive form of matter leaves behind.
"It’s a surprise to have found the signature of positrons during a lightning storm," Briggs said.
It has been known since the 1990s that gamma-rays occur when lightning flashes, but not the presence of antimatter. Scientists around the world have yet to react to this announcement. But it sheds some light on antimatter and opens many inroads into the mysteries surrounding antimatter. We stand to gain a great deal more information by pointing specialized telescopes earthward in the hopes of some unknown knowledge coming to light.
Fermi has recorded at least 17 occurrences of antimatter since it was launched over 14 months ago. Researchers link the presence of antimatter to an unusual reversal of the electric field which generates lightning.
Information Found on:
ScienceNews.org
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/49288/title/Signature_of_antimatter_detected_in_lightning
When NASA launched Fermi to gather information about gamma-ray emissions in the universe, nobody expected it to find out that antimatter happens before, during, and after lightning streaks through the sky. Fermi did not actually detect the particles, but the specific type of gamma-ray emissions that the elusive form of matter leaves behind.
"It’s a surprise to have found the signature of positrons during a lightning storm," Briggs said.
It has been known since the 1990s that gamma-rays occur when lightning flashes, but not the presence of antimatter. Scientists around the world have yet to react to this announcement. But it sheds some light on antimatter and opens many inroads into the mysteries surrounding antimatter. We stand to gain a great deal more information by pointing specialized telescopes earthward in the hopes of some unknown knowledge coming to light.
Fermi has recorded at least 17 occurrences of antimatter since it was launched over 14 months ago. Researchers link the presence of antimatter to an unusual reversal of the electric field which generates lightning.
Information Found on:
ScienceNews.org
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/49288/title/Signature_of_antimatter_detected_in_lightning
Friday, October 30, 2009
Hulu Considers Subscription Fee
In the near future, the Hulu Board will decide whether to charge users a subscription fee or keep the online television site free of charge.
Over the past few years, Hulu has become the place go if a person wanted to watch television for free online. Hulu operates on the concept that all of the major networks already have streaming video on their individual sites. This streaming video allows users to view content online for free, whether it be clips or entire T.V. shows. Hulu took that concept and centralized it, bringing all of these individual videos together onto one site.
There are three possible outcomes from the Hulu Board's decision. The first is that Hulu will remain free and users will continue to make it the thirty-sixth (or greater) most popular website on the web. Second, Hulu will charge a minimal subscription fee, about $1 to $10 monthly thus retaining many users, but still losing many more. Third, Hulu will charge a larger subscription fee, about $10 to $50 monthly, causing only die hard fans to stay with the site, while losing most of its 19+ Million users.
If Hulu gets commercialized, it will profit extremely or it will go bust. This all depends on how well it can compete with satellite and cable providers. We may even see shows that will come out exclusively on Hulu as the first major Internet Television Provider.
Information found on:
CNN.com
http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/23/hulu-to-charge-subscription-fee/
Quantcast.com
http://www.quantcast.com/top-sites-1
Over the past few years, Hulu has become the place go if a person wanted to watch television for free online. Hulu operates on the concept that all of the major networks already have streaming video on their individual sites. This streaming video allows users to view content online for free, whether it be clips or entire T.V. shows. Hulu took that concept and centralized it, bringing all of these individual videos together onto one site.
There are three possible outcomes from the Hulu Board's decision. The first is that Hulu will remain free and users will continue to make it the thirty-sixth (or greater) most popular website on the web. Second, Hulu will charge a minimal subscription fee, about $1 to $10 monthly thus retaining many users, but still losing many more. Third, Hulu will charge a larger subscription fee, about $10 to $50 monthly, causing only die hard fans to stay with the site, while losing most of its 19+ Million users.
If Hulu gets commercialized, it will profit extremely or it will go bust. This all depends on how well it can compete with satellite and cable providers. We may even see shows that will come out exclusively on Hulu as the first major Internet Television Provider.
Information found on:
CNN.com
http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/23/hulu-to-charge-subscription-fee/
Quantcast.com
http://www.quantcast.com/top-sites-1
Friday, October 23, 2009
Panel Says NASA Should Not Return To Moon Yet
On Thursday, a US Panel told the White House that it should scrap plans to return to the Moon in favor of visiting asteroids or the moons of Mars.
The Panel says that the amount of fuel required to leave the Moon or Mars isn't worth the trip. Due to the gravity of these celestial bodies, spacecraft would have to carry extra fuel for the journey which would increase costs by requiring double the fuel normally needed to leave the Earth. The 155-page report also stated that starting in 2014 NASA would need an additional $3 Billion dollars if astronauts are to travel beyond the Earth's orbit. This budgetary problem would lead to a change in plans which President Obama will give the final word to either continues the Moon Program or elect the other less-costly options.
One news agency reported this information incorrectly in saying that the panel suggested sending Astronauts to Venus or Mars. Venus is not an option, its atmospheric pressure and temperature of 700+ degrees Fahrenheit has destroyed numerous probes that have landed on the surface. Mars was also not an option listed in the report, but rather the moons of Mars.
Information found on:
USAToday.com
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2009-10-22-nasa-panel-skip-moon_N.htm
The Panel says that the amount of fuel required to leave the Moon or Mars isn't worth the trip. Due to the gravity of these celestial bodies, spacecraft would have to carry extra fuel for the journey which would increase costs by requiring double the fuel normally needed to leave the Earth. The 155-page report also stated that starting in 2014 NASA would need an additional $3 Billion dollars if astronauts are to travel beyond the Earth's orbit. This budgetary problem would lead to a change in plans which President Obama will give the final word to either continues the Moon Program or elect the other less-costly options.
One news agency reported this information incorrectly in saying that the panel suggested sending Astronauts to Venus or Mars. Venus is not an option, its atmospheric pressure and temperature of 700+ degrees Fahrenheit has destroyed numerous probes that have landed on the surface. Mars was also not an option listed in the report, but rather the moons of Mars.
Information found on:
USAToday.com
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2009-10-22-nasa-panel-skip-moon_N.htm
Friday, October 9, 2009
Nasa Hits Grand Slam
At 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time, NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, crashed into a crater near the Moon's South Pole. The probe was hoping to measure the presence of water on and in the Lunar surface.
Weeks ago, LCROSS found evidence that there is more water in Lunar soil than previously thought. The crash today was meant to 'kick up' some of that dust in order to get a better estimate of how much water is contained in the soil.
Hundreds of telescopes including the powerful Hubble Space Telescope confirmed the presence of a plume after the impact. It is hoped that the combined power of these observations will provide useful data to the NASA researchers. "We have the data we need to actually address the questions we set out to address," said Anthony Colaprete a researcher on the LCROSS project.
Some people, however, are skeptical that the $79 Million price tag was far too high for the data recovered. This is an important step towards building a permanent outpost on the moon and exploring the solar system. We may be able to get some of the water needed from the moon and devote more payload to other crucial supplies.
Information taken from:
NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/index.html
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/10/09/probe.moon.crash/index.html
Weeks ago, LCROSS found evidence that there is more water in Lunar soil than previously thought. The crash today was meant to 'kick up' some of that dust in order to get a better estimate of how much water is contained in the soil.
Hundreds of telescopes including the powerful Hubble Space Telescope confirmed the presence of a plume after the impact. It is hoped that the combined power of these observations will provide useful data to the NASA researchers. "We have the data we need to actually address the questions we set out to address," said Anthony Colaprete a researcher on the LCROSS project.
Some people, however, are skeptical that the $79 Million price tag was far too high for the data recovered. This is an important step towards building a permanent outpost on the moon and exploring the solar system. We may be able to get some of the water needed from the moon and devote more payload to other crucial supplies.
Information taken from:
NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/index.html
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/10/09/probe.moon.crash/index.html
Friday, October 2, 2009
Rio de Janeiro Scores 2016 Olympic Games
Rio de Janeiro has broken new ground as the first South American city to host the Olympic Summer Games in 2016.
One of the greatest human spectacles is going Brazilian. The ancient Olympic tradition revived over one hundred years ago and has since traveled the globe. This is where legends are born and peace dominates an ever-increasing playing field. The Olympics originally had track and decathlon events but now feature BMX and basketball.
This year the competition has been intense between Rio, Madrid, Tokyo, Chicago and Prague. Most notable is the competition between Rio and Madrid. Overall Rio offered more benefits and the largest budget ever for the games. Rio beat out Madrid 66 votes to 32.
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of geography and population. The country has embraced democracy and revels in its heritage and economic prowess as the tenth largest economy in the world.
Past host cities of the games include: Seoul, Sydney, Salt Lake and Stockholm. The United States has only hosted the Summer Games once, but has hosted the Winter Games four times, more than any other nation. One can only wonder what history will be made at the Rio Games in 2016.
Information from:
CNN.com
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-10-02-rio-2016-olympics_N.htm
Wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Olympic_Games
One of the greatest human spectacles is going Brazilian. The ancient Olympic tradition revived over one hundred years ago and has since traveled the globe. This is where legends are born and peace dominates an ever-increasing playing field. The Olympics originally had track and decathlon events but now feature BMX and basketball.
This year the competition has been intense between Rio, Madrid, Tokyo, Chicago and Prague. Most notable is the competition between Rio and Madrid. Overall Rio offered more benefits and the largest budget ever for the games. Rio beat out Madrid 66 votes to 32.
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of geography and population. The country has embraced democracy and revels in its heritage and economic prowess as the tenth largest economy in the world.
Past host cities of the games include: Seoul, Sydney, Salt Lake and Stockholm. The United States has only hosted the Summer Games once, but has hosted the Winter Games four times, more than any other nation. One can only wonder what history will be made at the Rio Games in 2016.
Information from:
CNN.com
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-10-02-rio-2016-olympics_N.htm
Wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Olympic_Games
Friday, September 25, 2009
Global Bee Populations Declining
The future of flowering plants is at stake, not to mention the global food supply.
Apiarists, or beekeepers, say that bees pollinate one out of every three bites of food. Bees carry out most of the pollination throughout the world. Flowering plants depend on bees in order to reproduce.
Recently, over a third of the domestic honeybee colonies in the United States has disappeared. Beekeepers call it Colony Collapse Disorder (CCS), it is slowly destroying honeybees worldwide. Many people say that pesticides are to blame for weakened bee immune systems, which could open a way for CCS to infect a colony.
If bees were to die out, one of two things would happen: We would lose most of the flowering plants throughout the world or we would have to pollinate trillions of flowers by hand in order for flowering plants to survive.
In China, honeybees have died out in one province, forcing the residents to pollinate thousands of pear trees by hand in order to maintain their struggling agrarian economy. Residents say that this process is very difficult and time-consuming, but it is the only way to keep their livelihood.
Despite all of these losses, beekeepers remain optimistic that honeybees will recover, citing that they have lost fewer colonies this years than last year. Maybe this positive trend will continue.
Information found at CNN.com and PBS.org
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/09/10/last.beekeeper.film/index.html
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/silence-of-the-bees/introduction/38/
Apiarists, or beekeepers, say that bees pollinate one out of every three bites of food. Bees carry out most of the pollination throughout the world. Flowering plants depend on bees in order to reproduce.
Recently, over a third of the domestic honeybee colonies in the United States has disappeared. Beekeepers call it Colony Collapse Disorder (CCS), it is slowly destroying honeybees worldwide. Many people say that pesticides are to blame for weakened bee immune systems, which could open a way for CCS to infect a colony.
If bees were to die out, one of two things would happen: We would lose most of the flowering plants throughout the world or we would have to pollinate trillions of flowers by hand in order for flowering plants to survive.
In China, honeybees have died out in one province, forcing the residents to pollinate thousands of pear trees by hand in order to maintain their struggling agrarian economy. Residents say that this process is very difficult and time-consuming, but it is the only way to keep their livelihood.
Despite all of these losses, beekeepers remain optimistic that honeybees will recover, citing that they have lost fewer colonies this years than last year. Maybe this positive trend will continue.
Information found at CNN.com and PBS.org
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/09/10/last.beekeeper.film/index.html
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/silence-of-the-bees/introduction/38/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)