Science Horizons

There are only 6 flights of the space shuttle left! Yes, it is almost the end of NASA’s space shuttle program. A proud period of exploration and innovation is coming to an end. After almost 30 years of shuttle flights, NASA will retire the spacecraft soon. By late 2010 or early 2011, there will be no more space shuttle missions.

As the world’s first reusable spacecraft, the space shuttle has been able to accomplish things that no other spacecraft can do. The space shuttle can launch like a rocket, maneuver in orbit like a spacecraft, and then land on a runway like an airplane. NASA’s space shuttle is the first space vehicle ever developed that can bring large satellites up into orbit and then also bring them down from orbit and back to Earth.

Even though it is the most complex spacecraft ever designed and built, the space shuttle has been a hard worker. Heavy space station modules, parts, and supplies have been ferried to the International Space Station in the shuttle’s large cargo bay. Since the first shuttle flight on April 12, 1981, the shuttle has boosted more than 3 million pounds of cargo into orbit.

More than 600 men and women have flown as crew members on space shuttle missions since the first operational space shuttle flight in 1981. Compared to when it was first launched, the space shuttle is a much better spacecraft. Over almost 30 years, NASA made thousands of improvements to the original design. These improvements make it safer and more capable than ever.

The Space Transportation System (STS) is the official name of the space shuttle orbiter, the large external tank, and the two slender solid rocket boosters. The space shuttle orbiter vehicle houses the crew and payload. About two minutes after lift-off, the shuttle drops the used solid rocket boosters and they fall into the ocean, where they are picked up by boats and taken to be cleaned and reused.

Once the shuttle orbiter and the attached external tank reach orbit, the main engines are shut down, and the external tank is released to fall through the atmosphere and burn up. While in orbit, the shuttle opens its large payload bay doors. The space shuttle can use the robotic remote manipulator arm to take satellites from the payload bay or to move items to the International Space Station.

What is in NASA’s future? If Congress will provide some funding, NASA may be able to delay the start of space shuttle retirement, or even of have some additional shuttle missions before the space shuttle programs cancels. NASA’s planned new space program is called the Constellation program. The part of the Constellation program which houses the crew is similar to an Apollo capsule. It was originally called a crew exploration vehicle, and is now named Orion.

The plans are for the Orion capsule to be used to ship crew and cargo to the International Space Station. Eventually, advanced versions of the Constellation program may be able to travel to the Moon or Mars. The Constellation program has many years of design work before it can be built and tested. If space shuttle retirement can be delayed, that will avoid a large gap in NASA’s manned space flight program.

Amy Adams Science knowledge, NASA, Science, space exploration

Whale echolocation could be described as the sound based form of sight that whales use in navigating the waters. Most of us learned about echolocation as it applies to porpoise and dolphin. The use of sound based sight is common among mammals that live in the sea.

If you think about it, once you get more than ten to twenty feet under the water, there is a great deal of darkness. The further you go under water the darker the water becomes. The illuminated versions of nature shows do not give an accurate representation of the murky waters that whales must navigate.

By definition, whale echolocation is the act of bouncing sound off of the objects in the environment in order to develop a clear understanding of what is in that environment. For a whale, the dark waters of the ocean leave very little room for any type of visual capabilities.

Thus, whales use a series of small clicking sounds in order to bounce these sounds around their environment and decipher images from the way the clicks return to them.

From these small series of sounds, which is often referred to as a train of sounds, the toothed whales can actually come up with what could be called a picture of their surroundings in their minds.

The whales echolocation system still offers several wonderful mysteries. Perhaps because humans can not determine how sound can reflect directly into a form of “sight” we are perpetually intrigued by this process that is so natural for the marine mammals of our deep, dark oceans. Either way, the echolocation mysteries will most likely never be completely unraveled, but it will continue to capture our imaginations.

Johannes Vermeer Science Animal Behavior, Animalia, biology, Cetacea, Chordata, Endangered Animals, Flora and Fauna, Mammalia, Science, wildlife, zoology

Clairvoyant powers have been shrouded in mystery for a long time and that is really no surprise. The special gift that clairvoyants have been given often confuses and can even scare people that possess no paranormal powers. Why is this? This is because clairvoyants have the knowledge of things that are unknown. People without these powers will often resent the ability clairvoyants have to look into the future, present, and past.

Specifically, clairvoyant powers refer to the ability to see beyond what can be perceived by the five basic senses. This extrasensory perception gives a clairvoyant person second sight, the ability to see people, events and objects that are beyond the happenings of the natural world, giving them the ability to know what will happen before it happens. Those who have truly harnessed their powers can even look backwards, this is known as retrocognition.

Clairvoyance has long been included in human history. It is not uncommon these days for psychics to give readings to individuals to help them solve some of life’s problems or to determine the right career path, or to find their one true love. Fortunately, there is no longer the inclination to be fearful or jealous of individuals with clairvoyant powers. Everyone has the ability at birth to become clairvoyant, but they must be willing to develop the powers they possess.

Are you ready to get started? The first step to becoming clairvoyant is to clear up your psyche and the best way to do this is through meditation. Clairvoyant people have released a lot of the negative thoughts, feelings, and energies that separate them from everyone else. These negative feelings and thoughts clog your internal sensors blocking you from seeing the truth.

With consistent meditation, you will begin to sense and feel the strength within yourself which will allow you to reach your full potential. Always reject the negative feelings and embrace those that are positive. Once you learn to meditate and release your stress, you will see that you become happier and more creative.

You should take the time to meditate for at least 30 minutes each and every day. You need to find a place that is quiet and has no distractions. It is also important to choose a place to meditate that has not negative energy. Some people that are learning to unleash their potential might decide to mediate outdoors, allowing the universe and nature to help them release their negative energies.

Pay attention to your feelings as you meditate and use deep breathing to release those negative energies. This will make you more aware of natural vibrations and changes that happen in the world a skill that allows those with clairvoyant powers to see and sometimes feel events before they happen.

You should also try to think like a child. It is a little known fact that all children are clairvoyant before logic and age tell them that such ideas do not exist. Learn to free your mind to pursue thoughts and ideas that you have always shut off before. Release your inhibitions and let all fear go, allow yourself to connect with the universe around you and realize that everything and everyone is connected.

To harness your now more powerful energy and use it to hone clairvoyant powers purchase a deck of tarot cards. Both tarot cards and palmistry require the person receiving a reading to physically participate resulting in a more accurate reading and allowing you to better interpret the symbols that are appearing to you.

Start making use of your newly found powers by doing free clairvoyant readings. You will be able to see the auras that surround people as you continue your meditations. Making you more intone with will happen in their lives and making you see deeper, enhancing your ability to perceive not only the present and future but also the past, the most difficult of clairvoyant powers to harness.

One of the least talked about areas of clairvoyance is the ability to talk to the dead. To develop this ability you will have to release your fears of seeing or interacting with ghosts. Though it may seem scary or odd to interact with a dead being there is no risk of harm or injury to you. Your clairvoyant powers have just progressed to the point where you can see and hear those who are closed off from those with undeveloped senses.

As you begin to travel along this path you will begin to see that everyone has the ability to be clairvoyant. It just takes some effort to develop the skills. As you begin to dig deep into your internal system you will begin to change not only your life, but that of others as your clairvoyant powers develop.

Gina Eastman Science become clairvoyant, clairvoyance, clairvoyant, clairvoyant powers, learn clairvoyance, Science

Learn how solar energy is generated and discover hidden secrets of gaining from this powerful energy source.

How do we get solar energy and what exactly is this?

Solar energy, as the name itself suggests, is derived from the sun and is sourced from the radiant energy that is emitted by the sun. Solar energy thus obtained is transformed into various other useful forms of energy such as electricity, heat, light, mechanical and chemical power, and used for a most diverse range of purposes. The radiant energy is emitted through the rays of the sun which are primarily made up of radioactive waves. Of the entire amount of sun’s energy incumbent on the earth’s surface, the upper layers of the planet usually absorb around 70% of it through the various water bodies, landmasses and the atmosphere, while the rest is reflected back into space. Solar energy is an important alternative source of power for today’s world and is finding wider acceptance everywhere with every passing day. In this respect, it is of much importance to learn about all the pros and cons of solar energy.

What are the plusses and minuses of solar energy?

Solar energy applications are multiplying rapidly as it is being used in an increasing number of areas. Apart from the widespread domestic use of solar power, it is also being used extensively in various other fields such as agriculture, architecture, urban planning, solar lighting, solar thermal, solar chemical, solar vehicles, cooking and so on. Based on the application of solar power, it can be broadly divided into two classes – active solar power and passive solar power. The former stresses the use of solar panels and photovoltaic cells to capture and convert the sun’s energy into various forms of energy, while the latter is more concerned about reducing the dependence on active solar power and instead, directly use sunlight by citing buildings optimally to the sun, designing well-lit and well-illuminated spaces in the buildings and so on. Let’s face it, solar energy has become inseparably intertwined with our lives. However, much remains unknown about this wonderful source of power.

The advantages of using solar energy are far many than the handful of disadvantages that it might have. The sun, which is a gigantic storehouse of energy, can act as an excellent alternative source of energy. Modern science and technology has made it possible for us to tap into this vast resource and harness the sun’s energy to put it to various uses. Solar energy is for free, and once one has invested in setting up the system, there’s no recurring cost. As long as the sun shines, one can keep enjoying its energy for free without entailing high costs or endangering the environment. As the concern over gradually diminishing natural resources continues to grow, alternative sources of energy are being looked into with renewed enthusiasm. Moreover, this environment-friendly and ‘green’ source of energy is a boon to our already heavily polluted environment. Solar power has the ability to produce electricity at remote locations, for example, the satellite in the space is catered by high efficiency photovoltaic or solar cells that are not connected to any grid. This also supports installation of solar cells in rural or remote areas which is actually more economic than the usual high voltage wire installation. Recent advancements in solar power technology has made it possible to generate appreciable amounts of power even when the sun is not shining very brightly. What’s more, the energy produced during the day allows itself to be stored for use at night.

How to gain from solar energy?

Let’s take a look at some of the disadvantages of using solar power. The most serious complaint against its use is the high cost associated with it. Solar panels and other related equipment are usually quite expensive. Even the cheapest of solar power generators would easily cost one no less than a grand. Another problem of using solar power is the fact that most solar systems are not yet capable of generating sufficient amounts of electricity under less than optimal circumstances. In other words, a steady supply of bright sunlight for a fairly long stretch of time is something that is absolutely required by most solar systems today to be of any real use to us. Moreover, their performance can get seriously affected by the presence of pollutants in the air. In fact, few solar power systems today are able to give 100% output because of this reason. This is also the reason why installing a solar power generator at a remote locality usually makes better sense as it yields more output than in the city where the level of pollution is higher.

Solar power is really a great choice for reasons both financial as well as environmental. That is why so many people are enthusiastically considering installing a system in their homes. The best thing is that you can too. But for that you need to know where to put it up, how to install and wire it, where to get the parts and the batteries from and also the safety regulations that have to be followed. A step-by-step guide in this respect can be really helpful. You should seriously consider getting hold of one such good guide before you take the plunge into the wonderful world of solar power.

Jim Martin Science advantages and disadvantages of solar power, home solar power, portable solar power, power save solar, residential solar power, Science, solar energy, solar power, solar power for homes, solar power panels, solar power system, solar power systems

Whales are a huge and amazing mammal that has peaked the interest of many people all over the world. If you are thinking of going to see various types of whale displays there are many places that you can go to do this. A person can travel the world viewing many different whale displays.

One of the most spectacular places that offer whale displays is in Alaska. Here you can see the humpback whales in huge numbers in many different parts of the state. Here a person can view the humpback whales doing the things that they love in their natural environment that they are accustomed to. Some of the whales have even been known to come very close to the side of the boat that people are in. This can just add to the excitement of the trip.

Maui is another place that people can opt to go to see amazing whale displays. Being set in a tropical location also can make this a wonderful way to spend a vacation. You can see whales in vast numbers particularly during the months from December to February. This is when you can see male humpbacks trying to get the attention of the females. Occasionally you will see the mama whales with their little ones which is another amazing site to behold.

Marineland is also a great place for tourists to see whale displays. Being situated in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, makes it accessible to both sides of the border very easily. They offer amazing shows with killer whales that captivate audiences all through the summer months.

One of the other neat things that can be found here is Friendship Cove. This is the largest known beluga whale habitat in the world and has thousands of people that visit it every year. This offers tourists with numerous walkways that have been designed to allow people to view the whale displays from both below and above the water. This can allow you to see how they truly act when they are swimming beneath the water. Feeding the whales is another thing that this spot also offers at periodical times throughout the day.

These are only some of the areas that are around that offer people the opportunity to view whales displays. Making the time to visit one of these attractions, or any of the others that offer the displays can make for the adventure of a lifetime. You will be simply amazed by the things that you see these incredible mammals do. It can be one of the best trips that you will have in your life.

If travelling is not in your budget there is no need to despair. You can still view whale displays that are offered all over the internet. Museums are also another option that is offers displays like this as well. No matter what type of whale display you are looking for there is something available for everyone.

Johannes Klipdrift has been watching whales around the world all his life and is fascinated by their displays.

Johannes Klipdrift Science Animal Behavior, Animalia, biology, Cetacea, Chordata, Endangered Animals, Flora and Fauna, Mammalia, Science, wildlife, zoology

3D scanning and reverse engineering are two examples of methods that yield impressive results and are useful in a variety of industries- everything from food safety to the military. Some examples of how and when one might use each method are below.

Scanning is used for a wide variety of applications- everything from invention prototypes to artistic creations. A real-world object is scanned and then the data is converted to a three-dimensional digital object.

The scanning analyzes a real-world object for its data, measurements and properties and converts that into an on-screen experience in a three-dimensional, digitalized form. This process can be used for a range of different applications- anything from prototypes for inventions, machines or what have you, to artistic creations like sculptures, buildings or paintings.

After the scan is complete, in however many scans the artist decides is necessary, an immense amount of data is uploaded to the computer and a complete 360 degree view of the object is received. Incredible detail makes for incredible realism, while still giving the artist the opportunity to stretch, mold, sculpt or paint whatever his/her artistic inclination calls for.

After the scan is completed, an immense amount of data is transferred to the computer. Incredible detail allows for incredible and organic realism, which every artist yearns for. Plus, the image offers 360 degrees of viewing. In the end, artists can stretch, sculpt, paint or mold whatever they want in order to create the creature of their desire with relative ease.

For example, during WWII, the German gasoline can was superior to that of the American can. Either troops from the field or intelligence operations gathered samples and brought it to the American scientists. After scientists took it apart to understand its efficiency, they created their own version and named it the “Jerry Can”.

Another example is the B-29 American bomber, which was the envy of Soviet military. The Soviets wanted their own version of the bomber, so they kidnapped three B-29 bombers that were forced to land in the USSR during a mission to Japan. They took it apart to see how it worked and started making another one of their own, which they called the Tu-4.

As you can see, both technologies and methods yield fantastic results and an immense amount of data. They both can produce a shocking amount of insightful information as well as impressive results.

Are you intrigued in reverse engineering or would like to learn more about 3D scanning then keep on looking because there’s plenty of information.

Dayna Fields Science 3D scanning, Science

The invention of the modern microscope is a combination of several iterations of constructing a tube to magnify objects through the use of lenses and light. The microscope is the perfect tool for scientists and other professionals to see objects through a lens to magnify it exponentially. There were many versions of the microscope that were conceived of during the time of the ancient Egyptians in 2600 B.C. Lots of other civilizations throughout the world took a try at developing this instrument and all helped to shape and form what the microscope is today. After these times though, The French, English, and Germans all contributed to various models that came closer to what we consider a microscope in today’s world.

In the early days, a father and son, Hans and Zacharias Janssen, came up with one which was only a tube including a lens put on the end. This early inception of microscopes magnified things near three to nine times their actual size. It is debated whether it was Hans that actually invented this microscope because his son Zacharias was just a little boy at the time.

Robert Hooke, an inventor of England of the sixteen hundreds is well known for many important inventions and realizations in science and math. Hooke was a chemist, mathematician, physics guru, and inventor. In 1660, he developed a design of the microscope making them strong enough to view cells of plant life. As a matter of fact, he was the inventor of the word cells that described these microscopic organisms that were viewed in a microscope. He was referred to as the gentleman whom lead to the birth of physics that Isaac Newton later developed and expanded on.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek, of the 17th century was an astute young man of science. Although Leeuwenhoek didn’t possess fortune or inheritance to carry his research, he did develop many useful experiments which lead to the development of the microscope as we know it in today’s world. Leeuwenhoek was known as a protege to Hooke because he read Hooke’s books. This fact though is much debated as to which one of these men were the most contributory. Since both were at it at the same time, some think Hooke got his inventions from Leeuwenhoek while other individuals believe it to be the opposite.

Bettering of the design of the microscope in the 18th century were slow going, then in the middle portion of the 1800’s when Charles A. Spencer invented a microscope with the ability and power to magnify objects way more than before. These powerful machines are said to see figures at thousands of times of magnification; enabling us to view things that would, any other time, be unfathomable to view. This man is said to be the godfather of present day microscope manufacturing and sales.

There were many other individuals who were credited for their great contributions to microscopes. However, the men listed previously are known as pioneers of this great instrument. Without the hard work and consistency of these pioneers, the microscope might not be what it is today. Or, it could be that, this incredible instrument could have been left by the wayside.

Jim Samposzi Science laboratory equipment, microscope, optics, Science, stereo microscope

One of the largest animals that are on earth is the elephant. There are a lot of things that we can learn about these animals. Let us take a look at elephants life cycle and see what we can find out.

First thing that we can note that happens with elephants are that they tend to live in small, family type of groups that have the old females heading them. Depending on the abundance of food in the area that they are residing, some of the groups can join together. If this happens though the males will tend to stick to being around other males and the females will associate with other females. Although quite different in one respect, this is very similar when you think of the way that teenagers are. They too tend to hang out in their perspective groups the majority of the time.

However, during a certain time frame the males will enter a period that is called “musth” and will release a fluid that is thicker than the one that is released normally. Musth is generally the time that reproduction occurs, both in the wild or in tamed environments.

The amazing sense of smell that they have enables them to know exactly what state they are in when it comes to reproduction. They have a sense of smell that is vastly larger than what we have as humans. This is what enables them to sense the hormones through the air.

Once the female delivers the baby elephant, we find that it will way in at about 200 lbs. This is a huge birth weight, but is understandable when you consider the massive size of the parents. They will nurse like our babies do, but they can take a far longer time to wean off nursing then our babies. Some baby elephant nurse until they are 10 years of age!

As we go further along in elephants life cycle we find that they often are still bearing young at the age of 50. That is somewhat understandable when we look back at the length of time that the gestation period is for them. They also have a lengthy interval between their pregnancies that can range from 2 and two and a half years upwards to 4 years in length. That is not at all like us humans that can often get pregnant right after having a baby if not careful.

We also find that during the later years in elephants life cycle that they acquire similar diseases that humans due as they age. Cardiovascular diseases and arthritis type of ailments are very common in elephants. This does not prevent them from living to a good age, as many of them live until they are 70 years of age, some live even longer than that. Others are faced with death at an earlier time, but this is generally due to poachers.

Andrew Keet Science Animals, biology, Elephants, Endangered Animals, mammals, Science, wildlife, zoology

It is undeniable that in these days we live at a much higher speed than in the past. Everybody rushes from one place to another, nobody cares about each other. You can see an example of this watching the most crowded streets on a certain city. Traffic is terrible, and everybody becomes angry, shouting to the car in front of them because they want to arrive a few minutes earlier to their destiny.

Our mind needs to rest and we don’t care very much about it. The way to make it work on these days is terrible and it sometimes gives signs of being tired. A great technique to let our mind rest is astral projection.

The idea behind out of body experience or astral projection is that your mind lets you travel anywhere. Lets say you are at a very hot place without air conditioning. Your mind can let you travel to a colder place and you are able to feel better.

The difficult part of astral projection is the ability to control your mind. We usually follow our conscious part, but in this case we should make our subconscious do the main work. Yoga or meditation are tools to be able to do that, but it would take a very long time to train your brain.

What prevents many people from trying to astral project is that they are afraid that something bad can happen to them if they achieve astral projection. But it is not dangerous at all.

Although astral projection can be frightening, and you may get scared as it is something knew, the is no danger associated.

What is not easy for people is to realize when they have managed to astral project. It is not easy to differentiate between lucid dreaming and astral projection, and in fact, some people think they are the same. The difference is that in astral projection you have more control and awareness.

The best way for beginners to do astral projection is with the use of binaural beats. Almost 100% of the people who try binaural beats are able to astral project and improve their lives quality.

Myron Summers Science astral projection, astral travel, Metaphysical, out of body experience, paranormal, Science, stress

Research design is an important first step in planning a research project. It is a decision making procedure that provides a tentative outline for the project. Listed here are the major types of research design used in clinical studies.

CASE REPORTS. The case report looks at one patient only. It describes in depth the patient’s history, physical exam, and laboratory tests. It can be especially useful in academic settings where teaching takes place. It’s useful in the evaluation of a potentially new disease.

ECOLOGIC. The ecologic research design looks at the environment and how it affects people’s health. It doesn’t just look at the human body, but at how humans fit into their surroundings. This study looks at the global implications of the disease condition.

CROSS-SECTIONAL. A cross-sectional design looks at a large group of people at just one point in time. The assessment is made by interviewing, surveying, or examining the people in the study group. This determines if they do or do not have the disease of interest. It also looks at the exposure people have had to risk factors.

This type of research design has the benefit that both the exposure and the disease is looked at in the same person. It can determine the prevalence of disease. It is often very cost-effective.

However, this type of research design only measures prevalent cases. This has the effect of leaving out people who have previously died from the disease, i.e. the one’s with the most severe form of the disease. This means that you will not find out the risk factors for the people who got the disease but died before you did the study. Thus, you can often miss critical information.

It’s important to realize that in cross-sectional designs, the time course of a disease cannot be established. You do not learn how the disease changes over time. You don’t know the outcome of the disease and thus cannot determine the prognosis.

CASE-CONTROL. The case-control design is an observational study. It compares the history of exposure in the cases with the history of exposure in the controls. It is a retrospective type of design.

In this type of research design, the subjects are selected based upon whether they have the disease or not. After this, the history of risk factor exposure is evaluated in depth. It is vitally important that the study group of patients with the disease are typical for all people suffering from that disease.

Likewise, the controls need to be truly representative of a matched population that does not have the disease. These controls are usually matched for age, sex, and the presence of other diseases. The control group needs to be as similar to the cases as possible, although the controls do not have the disease.

With a case-control research design, we can examine several different exposures but we look at only one outcome – the disease. It can be very difficult to find an appropriate, matched control patient population. Also, since subjects are selected specifically based upon whether they have the disease or not, this kind of research study doesn’t determine the incidence of a disease.

COHORT. In a cohort study, a group of people (the cohort) are looked at over time. The cohort is selected based upon exposure to a risk factor, and looks that the multiple outcomes resulting from that exposure. A cohort study determines the time relationship between risk factor exposure and the various manifestations of a disease.

In the cohort research design, the group being evaluated is selected based upon an exposure to a potential risk factor. At the beginning, patients don’t have the disease. Cohort studies look at the group over time, and thus can help determine disease incidence.

Cohort study subjects can be assembled in the present and followed into the future. This is called a concurrent cohort. It is a prospective type of research design.

Alternatively, cohort study subjects can be assembled from historical data, and followed from an initial start date onward. This is called a historical cohort. It is a type of retrospective research design.

RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL. Randomized clinical trials are the gold standard for many types of research, for example, when looking at the benefits of a new treatment. Ideally, they are double-blinded in that neither the researcher nor the patient knows if they are getting the experimental treatment, standard treatment, or a placebo. Subjects are randomly allocated to groups.

Vincent Sparks Science Education, knowledge, medical, Medicine, molecular imaging, nuclear medicine, research, Science, statistics, Technology