Monday, 30 July 2012
New NASA photos reveal American flags planted during moon landings proudly yet wave FOUR DECADES after last Apollo mission
Four decades after the last astronauts landed on the moon and planted an American flag in lunar soil, scientists wondered: 'Does that star spangled banner yet wave?'
Finally new images from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) have given proof in the night, that the flags are, indeed, still there.
All but one of the six flags left by American astronauts remain standing, according to an analysis of the shadows they cast on the surface of the moon.
Still there: The flag planted by Apollo 17 astronauts in December 1972 -- the last manned mission to the moon -- is seen here in this image taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera
Planted: Astronauts in each of the six Apollo moon landings planted American flags in lunar soil. The Apollo 15 mission in 1971 is seen here
During each of the six American moon landings, astronauts left American flags behind as symbols of their nation's scientific and engineering achievement.
The first was the monumental July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landing -- in which Neil Armstrong declared on live television, 'one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'
The final mission was Apollo 17 on December 14, 1972.
Scientists used new, detailed images from NASA's lunar camera to determine that the flags were casting shadows that circled them as the moon moved in its normal orbit -- proving that they were still standing on their poles.
'From the LROC images it is now certain that the American flags are still standing and casting shadows at all of the sites, except Apollo 11,' Mark Robinson, an investigator with the lunar satellite program, wrote on Friday.
O say, do you see? This is the flag planted by the Apollo 16 mission in April 192
Long shadow: Pete Conrad planted this flag on the Apollo 12 mission in November 1969 -- it is still standing
'Astronaut Buzz Aldrin reported that the flag was blown over by the exhaust from the ascent engine during liftoff of Apollo 11, and it looks like he was correct!'
The American missions to the moon remain the only manned flights to touch down on a heavenly body.
Dr Robinson wrote that one of the most common questions he and his team have received since the launch of the lunar orbiter in 2009.
'Personally I was a bit surprised that the flags survived the harsh ultraviolet light and temperatures of the lunar surface, but they did,' he wrote.
'What they look like is another question (badly faded?).'
The conditions on the surface of the moon are harsh. Temperatures swing between 250 and -280 degrees Fahrenheit
Mother visits Ethiopian wells built by late daughter's wish
One year after 9-year-old Rachel Beckwith's death from a car crash inspired people around the world to donate more than $1 million to a charity in her honour, her mother was in Ethiopia last week visiting the water wells her philanthropy paid for.Rachel had hoped to raise $300 to bring clean water to an African village when she asked her friends and family to give money to the group charity: water, instead of buying her presents. She was close to that goal in July 2011 when she was killed in a 13-car pileup near her Bellevue, Washington, home. Support for her cause surged and nearly 32,000 people donated $1.25 million by the time the charity closed her campaign in October. Many of those gifts from strangers were for $9 each - a dollar for each year of her short life.
Her mother, Samantha Paul, said on Tuesday her trip to the Tigray region of Ethiopia one year after her daughter died hasn't been as hard as she thought it would be. Seeing the need for water in this area and the people that Rachel's fundraising campaign have helped Paul focus on Rachel's gift, instead of her death, she said. "It made me realize how blessed I am even though I don't have Rachel with me anymore." After arriving on Sunday, Paul, her parents, her pastorand some leaders from charity: water visited two villages that still don't have clean water, so people must collect it from ponds and carry it home. Next, the group stopped to see a well in progress and help with the drilling.
On Monday, they went to some villages that already have wells from Rachel's campaign and were greeted with a parade, welcome parties, signs, poems, speeches and an invitation to plant a tree in a new community park named for Rachel. Paul has been impressed by how far the Ethiopian people have gone to make her feel welcome and to show their appreciation for Rachel. "I feel inadequate. What did I do? They were so grateful and humble - just amazing people," she said. Paul doesn't take credit for Rachel's generosity, saying her child inspired her, not the other way around.
Vimeo link.
Rachel had a strong feeling of empathy for others, naturally reaching out to other kids who were struggling at school or with problems at home. In kindergarten, she donated her hair to a charity that makes wigs for kids who lost their hair because of cancer treatments. Twice in her short life, she gave up Christmas presents so her family could adopt others in need, her mother said. After their church, Eastlake Community Church in Bothell, Washington, raised more than $400,000 for charity: water, Rachel expressed her desire to raise money for the charity and help children in Africa. "There's something about Rachel and her story that has touched people and inspired them," Paul said. "She was such a special girl."
Her mother, Samantha Paul, said on Tuesday her trip to the Tigray region of Ethiopia one year after her daughter died hasn't been as hard as she thought it would be. Seeing the need for water in this area and the people that Rachel's fundraising campaign have helped Paul focus on Rachel's gift, instead of her death, she said. "It made me realize how blessed I am even though I don't have Rachel with me anymore." After arriving on Sunday, Paul, her parents, her pastorand some leaders from charity: water visited two villages that still don't have clean water, so people must collect it from ponds and carry it home. Next, the group stopped to see a well in progress and help with the drilling.
On Monday, they went to some villages that already have wells from Rachel's campaign and were greeted with a parade, welcome parties, signs, poems, speeches and an invitation to plant a tree in a new community park named for Rachel. Paul has been impressed by how far the Ethiopian people have gone to make her feel welcome and to show their appreciation for Rachel. "I feel inadequate. What did I do? They were so grateful and humble - just amazing people," she said. Paul doesn't take credit for Rachel's generosity, saying her child inspired her, not the other way around.
Vimeo link.
Rachel had a strong feeling of empathy for others, naturally reaching out to other kids who were struggling at school or with problems at home. In kindergarten, she donated her hair to a charity that makes wigs for kids who lost their hair because of cancer treatments. Twice in her short life, she gave up Christmas presents so her family could adopt others in need, her mother said. After their church, Eastlake Community Church in Bothell, Washington, raised more than $400,000 for charity: water, Rachel expressed her desire to raise money for the charity and help children in Africa. "There's something about Rachel and her story that has touched people and inspired them," Paul said. "She was such a special girl."
2pm
Men Fall in Love Faster Than Women, Say Researchers
Researchers have found that men fall in love more easily than women, most males reckon they know whether or not it’s ‘the real thing’ after a single date while females wait until at least the sixth date before making their mind up.
A study found most men reckon they know whether or not it's 'the real thing' after just one date.Photo: Vladimir Nikulin/Flickr
It might have come as a surprise to Casanova but men fall in love more easily and more often than women, new research suggests. Most British men say they know whether they are in love after just one date and the rest are likely to know within three.
Nearly a quarter said they had believed in love at first sight and knew whether a girl was ‘the one’ within seconds. Women, on the other hand, are more indecisive on the issue, consulting with friends and family and waiting at least a month before making their minds up.
The research shows that the average British man falls in love just over three times compared to the average woman who says she has only been in love once. But while they may fall in love more easily, men also get their hearts broken more often with more men claiming to having loved someone who didn’t love them back.
The research was commissioned to launch bestselling author Elizabeth Noble’s new novel, ‘The Way We Were.’ Elizabeth Noble says: “I was surprised at all this evidence that men fall further and faster in love, more often, than women do. I’d have guessed women were more in love with love than men were, but it seems I’m wrong.
“I’ve been in love more than once, and had my heart seriously broken (shattered, even) before I met my husband. If you’re lucky, you have fond memories of first loves, but even if you’ve been damaged, I’d argue you learn, and take things forward into future relationships that can make those work better and stay stronger.”
Men were more likely to say ‘I love you’ first and were also more likely than women to pine after their first love. Both sexes agreed that their first love was the one they took the longest to get over and one in four said they didn’t think they would ever fully recover from the heartbreak their first love caused them.
Men are also more likely to regret splitting up with their first girlfriend and to think that they were happier with their first love than they are now. A quarter of Brits think about their first love at least once a week and those that are still searching for the right partner are more likely to reminisce than anyone else.
Meanwhile, women were more likely to be happy with the decisions they have made and more realistic about how happy they were in the first place. Although, women were more likely to try and track their ex-partner down over the internet and keep track on him and who he is dating.
Author Elizabeth Noble said: “It’s much easier than it used to be to track down people from your past, using Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media. That doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea!”
“I was in a good place in my present life and relationship when I met up with an old boyfriend, who had recognized my author picture in a novel, and tracked me down.”
“It was incredibly interesting, and fun, to meet up, see him in the flesh, and find out where his life had taken him. Not all those stories have such happy, simple endings though.”
Despite this, a quarter of Brits still think they haven’t been in love. Men in the north fell in love quicker than men down south, with Londoners cynically taking the longest. [via The Telegraph (UK)]
Mother and calf rescued from abandoned elephant trap
Two elephants, a calf and its mother that fell into an abandoned elephant trap at Vallakadavu in Kuttampuzha Forest range in India were rescued on Thursday. The trap was used by the Forest Department in the 1960s to catch wild elephants for domestication.
The animals fell into a 15ft deep well, which was covered with bamboo leaves, in the early hours. By evening, the animals were rescued after a pathway was created from the trap by levelling its banks. The mother and the calf later walked into the forest area.
As the area was inaccessible the rescue team had to face difficulties. The area could be reached only by crossing the river in bamboo rafts. This prevented the possibility of using mechanical devices or trained elephants for the rescue operation. Forest officials led by Divisional Forest Officer P. Nagaraj led the rescue operation.
YouTube link.
V. K. Venkitachalam, secretary of the Heritage Animal Task Force, an NGO specialising in the protection of elephants, demanded that abandoned traps should be levelled as it posed serious threat to wildlife. Protective structures should also be constructed for wells in forest settlements. He also demanded action against those who failed to cover open traps in the Kothamangalam forest area.
The animals fell into a 15ft deep well, which was covered with bamboo leaves, in the early hours. By evening, the animals were rescued after a pathway was created from the trap by levelling its banks. The mother and the calf later walked into the forest area.
As the area was inaccessible the rescue team had to face difficulties. The area could be reached only by crossing the river in bamboo rafts. This prevented the possibility of using mechanical devices or trained elephants for the rescue operation. Forest officials led by Divisional Forest Officer P. Nagaraj led the rescue operation.
YouTube link.
V. K. Venkitachalam, secretary of the Heritage Animal Task Force, an NGO specialising in the protection of elephants, demanded that abandoned traps should be levelled as it posed serious threat to wildlife. Protective structures should also be constructed for wells in forest settlements. He also demanded action against those who failed to cover open traps in the Kothamangalam forest area.
Dial carefully! Meet Kuratas, the million dollar robot which weighs four tons, shoots when you smile and is controlled by iPhone
- Robot unveiled in Japan today will go on sale for £900,000
- Kuratas can be controlled by motion sensor technology in the one-man cockpit or through any phone with a 3G connection
- As well as auto targeting your enemy it is easy for those looking for sweet vengeance - the robot's heavy artillery fires 6,000 bullet per minute when the pilot smiles
A Japanese electronics company has unveiled a 13ft super-robot which can be controlled by an iPhone.
But be careful with the jokes if you are on the phone to the pilot as the robot, made by Suidobashi Heavy Industry in Tokyo, brings a whole new meaning to ‘trigger-happy’.
'Kuratas' is fitted with a futuristic weapons system, including a gatling gun capable of shooting 6,000 BB bullets a minute, which fires when the pilot smiles.
Transformers assemble: The 13ft, four ton, super-robot is going on sale for £900,000 - but you have to pay extra for the cup holder
Kuratas, made by Suidobashi Heavy Industry, can be controlled either through the one-man cockpit or from the outside using any smartphone connected to the 3G network.
The robot, which is set will go on sale for £900,000, has around 30 hydraulic joints which the pilot moves using motion control.
As it is made to order the style conscious buyer will not have to worry about sticking to the grey exterior - it comes in 16 colours, including black and pink, and for an extra £60 they will sort you out with a cup holder.
Simple touch: All you need to remote control the robot is a 3G connection and works particularly well with iPhone's touchscreen
You can also use the MasterSlave control system where you move a tiny version of the Kuratas - with an iPhone strapped to its back - to get the life-sized one to follow your bidding
Engineers Wataru Yoshizaki and Kogoro Kurata were saluted in front of Kuratas together with their pilot Anna when they showcased the robot at the Wonder Festival in Chiba, suburban Tokyo earlier today.
The team have been working on the robot since 2010.
The company also released a video where very attractive Anna gives step by step instructions of how to operate the Kuratas.
Rush hour: If you have grown weary of a traditional commute Kuratas is fully functioning on the road - but will not get you to work any faster as its top speed barely hits 7 mph
The video reminds the viewer of the security instructions on an airplane with Anna taking on the role as futuristic airhostess.
If you are not the piloting kind of millionaire, Kuratas can be operated using what Suidobashi calls the ‘Master-Slave system’ where you control the robot’s movements from outside using any device with a 3G network such as an iPhone.
‘Automatic alignment allows you to lock on your enemy target. Kuratas will not allow any targets to escape.
'With the alignment set appropriately the system will fire BBs when the pilot smiles.’
Pilot Anna is set to enter the robot's cockpit and poses with the two men behind it: Wataru Yoshizaki, left and Kogoro Kurata after whom the robot has been named
Female 'pilot' Anna looks out the cockpit of Kuratas - with onlookers breathing a sigh of relief at the stern look on her face as the trigger for the heavy artillery is a smile
Realising that there may be a flaw with this system of opening fire, the video warns the pilot against smiling too much whilst operating the Kuratas weaponry.
Kurayas is 13ft tall and weighs four tons – not including the pilot.
The four wheeled legs ensures that it is easy to transport and the pilot will be able to drive it at a top speed of just under 6.5 mph.
It¿s been an honour serving with you all: Engineers Wataru Yoshizaki left, Kogoro Kurata, right, and Anna, centre, pose in front of Kuratas after Anna disembarks
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