science
and technology 8
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effects
of smoking on new-borns
scanning recommended—ab
“Women who smoke just 6 to 7 cigarettes per day give birth to
babies who more jittery, more excitable, stiffer and more difficult
to console than newborns of nonsmokers, report Brown Medical School
researchers in the June issue of the journal Pediatrics. The higher
the dose of nicotine measured in a mother, the greater the signs of
stress in her new baby.
“This is the first research paper to show that nicotine exposure
in the womb produces behavioral changes in babies similar to those found
in newborns of women who use crack cocaine or heroin while pregnant.
The data suggest 'neonatal withdrawal' from nicotine, said the authors.”
Interesting to note that the hype, suggesting that ‘withdrawal’
is some dark terror, is treated casually when endured by a baybee.
“Previous research has linked as few as 10 cigarettes daily during
pregnancy to low birth weight babies. The Brown study lowers the threshold
for causing fetal impairment to 6 to 7 cigarettes a day. This new study
opens the door to further research, said Law. "We don’t know
if a woman quits smoking six months into pregnancy will that make a
difference? Given that we have found a behavioral outcome in newborns
at a lower dose of six cigarettes a day, would we find an effect at
three cigarettes as well?" ”
related
material
drugs,
smoking and addiction (section on withdrawal)
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science030603 |
03.06.2003
related material
drugs,
smoking and addiction (section on withdrawal) |
the
earth is a mote in the chimney
“The first detailed map of space within about 1,000 light years
of Earth places the solar system in the middle of a large hole that
pierces the plane of the galaxy, perhaps left by an exploding star one
or two million years ago. The new map, produced by University of California,
Berkeley, and French astronomers, alters the reigning view of the solar
neighborhood. In that picture, the sun lies in the middle of a hot bubble
-- a region of million-degree hydrogen gas with 100-1,000 times fewer
hydrogen atoms than the average gas density in the Milky Way -- and
is surrounded by a solid wall of colder, denser gas.”
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science310503 |
31.05.2003 |
new data on gamma ray bursts
“NASA's RHESSI satellite may have uncovered one of the most important
clues yet obtained on the mechanism for producing gamma-ray bursts,
the most powerful explosions in the universe. This was the result of
a chance observation by a satellite designed to study the Sun.”
Go
here for animation and follow up.
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science300503 |
30.05.2003 |
tsunamis
and asteroids
“If an asteroid crashes into the Earth, it is likely to splash
down somewhere in the oceans that cover 70 percent of the planet's surface.
Huge tsunami waves, spreading out from the impact site like the ripples
from a rock tossed into a pond, would inundate heavily populated coastal
areas. A computer simulation of an asteroid impact tsunami developed
by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, shows waves
as high as 400 feet sweeping onto the Atlantic Coast of the United States.”
—
“Planetary scientists, meanwhile, are getting a better handle
on the risks of asteroid impacts. A NASA-led campaign to detect large
asteroids in near-Earth orbits is about half way toward its goal of
detecting 90 percent of those larger than 1 kilometer in diameter (the
size of 1950 DA) by 2008.”
related material
once
upon a time i used to wander on this neat solid ball of mud
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science290503 |
29.05.2003
related material
once
upon a time i used to wander on this neat solid ball of mud
|
| solar
eclipse reminder WARNING
“An annular solar eclipse occurs on Saturday, 31 May, 2003, in
the Arctic, north Atlantic, and Scotland. The path of the annular eclipse
just grazes the Earth, resulting in a very small eclipse in the far
north; however, the annular phase will be visible from Greenland, Iceland,
the Faeroes, and north-west Scotland. The annular phase begins at 03:45
UT,
and ends at 04:31 UT.”
—
“Since the eclipse occurs just as the Sun is rising, it will be
right on the horizon, particularly if you are watching it from Scotland.
So, you will miss it unless you have an absolutely clear view of the
horizon in the direction of the Sun, which will be to the northeast.
Make sure that there are no hills in the way, and hope that there are
no low-lying clouds. Alternatively, go somewhere where the Sun will
be higher dring the eclipse, such as the Faroes or Iceland.
“The partial eclipse will be visible over most of Europe, northern
Asia and Russia, northern Canada, and Alaska.”
This
map from NASA shows the extent and timings of the eclipse.
glossary:
[Links provided have diagram/s]
- annular
eclipse
- A solar eclipse in which the solar disk is never completely covered
but is seen as an annulus or ring at maximum eclipse.
An annular eclipse occurs when the apparent disk of the Moon is smaller
than that of the Sun.
This can happen when the Sun is in a part of its orbit that is closer
to the Earth, or when the Moon is in a part of its orbit that too far
from Earth to block out the Sun completely. Then, a ring of sunlight
appears around the Moon.
[This page has details for solar and lunar eclipses from 2003 to 2010.]
- umbra
and penumba
- [adjectival/descriptive word-forms: umbral and penumbral]
A source of light does not cast a distinct shadow of an interfering,
opaque object, but casts a shadow having two parts: 1. the umbra, or
the central, totally dark part of the shadow; and 2. the penumbra, or
the partially darkened, outer area. When the source is relativistically
larger than the intervening object, the umbra does not exist.
BUT remember, NEVER
look directly at the sun with the naked eye or, even more foolishly, through
a simple telescope or binoculars. You
must use appropriate and adequate safety equipment, such as solar filters,
or viewing methods.
It is not possible to improvise and it is dangerous to try. Obtain
advice from your local optical suppliers or astronomy club.
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science270503_2 |
27.05.2003 |
rural
broadband by balloon claimed
“If and when such a solution comes along, it could provide an
answer to the problem of rural broadband as well as shooting BT's business
model "out of the water" said Professor Norton.”
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science270503 |
27.05.2003 |
| robotics:
steady development
in various applications—light item
“Another robot, the COMET III, is a spider-like robot designed
by Professor Kenzo Nonami of Chiba University as part of a state-funded
project to develop de-mining technologies for use in Afghanistan. Four
metres long and weighing one tonne, the COMET III walks on six sturdy
metal legs. An additional limb in front is equipped with a metal detector
and radar to find mines, while a second sprays paint on the ground to
mark the spot.”
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science220503 |
22.05.2003 |
strengthening
steel by surface diamond deposition
“A surface treatment of steel with boron was also found to result
in a good intermediate layer, even on stainless steel. An advantage
of this treatment is that the difference in expansion between diamond
and steel is gradually dissipated.”
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science210503 |
21.05.2003 |
| brother
chimp, sister bonobo
Any advance on 99.4%?
“Traditionally chimps are classified with the other great apes,
gorillas and orangutans, in the family Pongidae, separated from the
human family Hominidae. Within Hominidae, most paleoanthropologists
now class virtually all hominid fossils in three genera, Homo, Australopithecus,
or Ardipithecus.
“On the basis of the new study, Goodman would not only put modern
humans and all fossils back to the human-chimp divergence into Homo,
but would also include the common chimp (Pan troglodytes) and the bonobo
(Pan paniscus).”
related material
human
classification systems—taxonomy
human-chimp
genome percentage difference may require review
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science180503 |
18.05.2003
related
material
human classification
systems—taxonomy
human-chimp
genome percentage difference may require review |
ice,
fire and water :
impressive image from space as a volcano blows in far far siberia
Image credit: MODIS Rapid Response Team,
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
This volcano is Chikurachki, on Paramushir Island, in
the Kuril Islands. The Sea of Okhotsk is to the west (left) and the
Pacific Ocean to the east (right). Siberia is to the north of the string
of Kuril Islands, which meet northern Japan further south-west.
There is a map and some description of the area here,
with a ground-level photo of the volcano and some topographic details
here.
Chikurachki volcano last erupted in 1973.
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science160503 |
16.05.2003 |
jackpot—four
lunar eclipses in seventeen months
“The most recent total lunar eclipse occurred on January 9,
2001.”
Then we have one on Thursday night, then ....
“The next chance to catch a total lunar eclipse will be November
9, followed by total lunar eclipses on May 4 and October 28 in 2004.
After this run, the moon will not completely slip into Earth's umbra
until March 3, 2007.”
related material
total
eclipse of the moon, coming very soon
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science140503 |
14.05.2003
related material
total
eclipse of the moon, coming very soon
|
Fibonnacci
numbers and packing problems
There are various sites exploring Fibonnaci numbers and packing problems,
relative to flora and other matters.
Here are links to three with plentiful illustrations:
Fibonacci Numbers in Nature
Fibonacci
numbers and nature
Fibonacci
Numbers
related material
human
classification systems-taxonomy
the web address for this article is
https://www.abelard.org/news/science8.htm#science120503 |
12.05.2003
related material
human
classification systems-taxonomy |
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