http://www.bell-labs.com/new/gallery/bits.html Homepage of Dr. Tsai's research group (contains Chinese characters)
http://pnstl.phys.ntu.edu.tw/english/introductio n. htm
The official list of new stuff
on
Apple Drops Mac OS 9
·
· Score: 2, Informative
This from Apple's press release:
iChat, Apple's new AIM-compatible instant messaging software that is built into Mac OS X and integrated with the new Mail and Address Book applications;
QuickTime® 6, the first complete solution for industry standard MPEG-4 video and AAC audio streaming;
Rendezvous, Apple's proposed new industry standard for automatic discovery of computers, devices, and services on IP networks (i.e., Ethernet, AirPort®);
Address Book, Apple's new system-wide database for managing contact information;
Finder(TM), now enhanced with spring-loaded folders and new instant searching;
Sherlock® 3, Apple's all-new Internet search and services tool;
Quartz(TM) Extreme, the hardware accelerated Quartz graphics and compositing engine;
UNIX Tools, the latest UNIX advancements including FreeBSD 4.4 updates, the new GCC 3 compiler, IPv6 and IPSec; and
Windows Support, for increased compatibility with Windows networks with SMB browsing and sharing as well as built-in PPTP VPN security.
Now that the G4 has finally gotten past the 1GHz mark, and Apple has a brand spanking new Unix based OS running on it(and if you don't like it you can run others), this opens a whole new choice for the researcher looking for a new platform.
If all goes well the Stardust mission will be returning to Earth with cosmic dust particles from the comet WIld 2 sometime in 2006
From what is mentioned on the project webpage it seems that they plan to return the sample to Earth via a capsule to be jettisoned from the space probe when it returns.
While the chances for contamination are relatively low, it certainly can't hurt to be prepared.
More info at
http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html
In A.D. 2002
Marrage was beginning.
Taco: What happen ?
CowboyNeal: Somebody set up us the post!
Hemos: We get answer!
Taco: What !
CowboyNeal: Main screen turn on
Taco: It's You !!
Kathleen: How are you Taco !!
Kathleen: All your base are belong to me
Kathleen: You are on the way to married life
Taco: What you say !!
Kathleen: You have no chance to survive make your time
Kathleen: HA HA HA HA....
... is certainly an option for long duration missions, currently we have little to no technology available for long range missions to the outer planets and beyond, aside from chemical thrusters and gravity assists, which tend to lead to extremely long flight times. And I haven't heard much about ion propulsion since DS 1, anyone have news on that?
Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part but with all the emphasis on new propulsion technologies, I wonder if NASA's gearing up for expanded missions or maybe even the long delayed mission to Mars?
While I'm all for NASA and space exploration, I doubt this survey will have the intended effect of gauging the opinion of the general public. The people who would actually care enough to vote in something like this are typically a small minority of the (usually ignorant) public.
What I'd like to see, which I personally think would be more effective would be an effort to increase public awareness of space and science in general. As long as the public's impression of scientists and engineers is of some socially inept pocket protector packing nerd who spends his days working on some insignificant project with no tangible benefit to society in general, then public support for the space program will continue to remain low.
Hey, a physics undergrad can always dream can't he?
One of the original goals of science was the pursuit for the truth, and to these ends scientists shared information freely, with the belief that no matter who made the breakthrough discovery, everyone could and would benefit... it was THE ultimate open source as so many people have pointed out.
Now with all the rampant patenting and profiteering going on, it's no longer about knowledge for the good of humanity but cold hard profits. Even scientists who normally share information may feel pressured to patent or keep secret their discoveries, if only to prevent someone else from depriving them of it.
Thankfully, most scientists in the fields of "pure science" haven't really been affected by this. But scientists working in fields in which profits can be made (biotech, computer science...etc) will likely find their research threatened.
Re:A Tribute to the Pioneers
on
Apollo 1
·
· Score: 1
From John Denver, originally a tribute to the Challenger astronauts, but works well for the crew of Apollo 1 as well...
Well, I guess that you probably know by now
I was one who wanted to fly
I wanted to ride on that arrow of fire right up
into heaven
And I wanted to go for every man, every child, every mother of children
I wanted to carry the dreams of all people right up to the stars
And I prayed that I'd find an answer there
Or maybe I would find the song
Giving a voice to all of the hearts that can not be heard
And for all of the ones who live in fear
And all of those who stand apart
My being there would bring us a little step closer together
They were flying for me, they were flying for everyone
They were trying to see, a brighter day for each and everyone
They gave us their light, they gave us their spirit, and all they could be
They were flying for me
And I wanted to wish on the Milky Way and dance upon a falling star
I wanted to give myself, and free myself, and join myself with it all!
Given the chance to dream, it can be done
The promise of tomorrow is real
Children of spaceship Earth, the future belongs to us all
She was flying for me, she was flying for everyone
She was trying to see, a brighter day for each and everyone
She gave us her light, she gave us her spirit, and all she could be
She was flying for me
They were flying for me, they were flying for everyone
They were trying to see, a brighter day for each and everyone
They gave us their light, they gave us their spirit, and all they could be
They were flying for me
For a simpler introduction to Quantum Gravity...
on
Quantum Gravity Observed
·
· Score: 5, Informative
...has a pretty interesting explaination of quantum gravity and how it ties in with Einstien's Relativity and quantum mechanics, the two bedrocks of modern physics.
Sure, it's got a 20gig drive and an FM radio, but given the fact that it still uses a USB connection, how long is it gonna take me to transfer all my fmp3's?
I, for one, will stick with my iPod.
Well, according to the article...
"The production process is difficult and expensive. The world's largest maker of antimatter, the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, makes only one billionth of a gram a year at a cost of $80 million.
At that rate, it would take one million years and $80 quadrillion (80,000 trillion) to produce one gram. Unfortunately, a spacecraft would need several pounds, not grams, to travel to the nearest star."
Hopefully, we won't have to worry about explosions for a while.
Slashdot Mirror
The Taipei Times
y /0 000136369
o n. htm
http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2002/05/17/stor
Bell Labs: Info on the technology itself.
http://www.bell-labs.com/new/gallery/bits.html
Homepage of Dr. Tsai's research group (contains Chinese characters)
http://pnstl.phys.ntu.edu.tw/english/introducti
This from Apple's press release:
iChat, Apple's new AIM-compatible instant messaging software that is built into Mac OS X and integrated with the new Mail and Address Book applications;
QuickTime® 6, the first complete solution for industry standard MPEG-4 video and AAC audio streaming;
Rendezvous, Apple's proposed new industry standard for automatic discovery of computers, devices, and services on IP networks (i.e., Ethernet, AirPort®);
Address Book, Apple's new system-wide database for managing contact information;
Finder(TM), now enhanced with spring-loaded folders and new instant searching;
Sherlock® 3, Apple's all-new Internet search and services tool;
Quartz(TM) Extreme, the hardware accelerated Quartz graphics and compositing engine;
UNIX Tools, the latest UNIX advancements including FreeBSD 4.4 updates, the new GCC 3 compiler, IPv6 and IPSec; and Windows Support, for increased compatibility with Windows networks with SMB browsing and sharing as well as built-in PPTP VPN security.
iMac uMac we all Mac for emacs!
(Sorry, couldn't resist)
iTunes 2.04 was also (quietly) released, nothing new here except better stability.
Also, the Bluetooth update won't be avaliable for download till April (this from Apple's site).
Now that the G4 has finally gotten past the 1GHz mark, and Apple has a brand spanking new Unix based OS running on it(and if you don't like it you can run others), this opens a whole new choice for the researcher looking for a new platform.
If all goes well the Stardust mission will be returning to Earth with cosmic dust particles from the comet WIld 2 sometime in 2006
From what is mentioned on the project webpage it seems that they plan to return the sample to Earth via a capsule to be jettisoned from the space probe when it returns.
While the chances for contamination are relatively low, it certainly can't hurt to be prepared.
More info at
http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html
**sniff** **sniff**
....
Congrats Taco...
In A.D. 2002
Marrage was beginning.
Taco: What happen ?
CowboyNeal: Somebody set up us the post!
Hemos: We get answer!
Taco: What !
CowboyNeal: Main screen turn on
Taco: It's You !!
Kathleen: How are you Taco !!
Kathleen: All your base are belong to me
Kathleen: You are on the way to married life
Taco: What you say !!
Kathleen: You have no chance to survive make your time
Kathleen: HA HA HA HA
Good luck Taco and Kathleen!!!
... is certainly an option for long duration missions, currently we have little to no technology available for long range missions to the outer planets and beyond, aside from chemical thrusters and gravity assists, which tend to lead to extremely long flight times. And I haven't heard much about ion propulsion since DS 1, anyone have news on that?
Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part but with all the emphasis on new propulsion technologies, I wonder if NASA's gearing up for expanded missions or maybe even the long delayed mission to Mars?
While I'm all for NASA and space exploration, I doubt this survey will have the intended effect of gauging the opinion of the general public. The people who would actually care enough to vote in something like this are typically a small minority of the (usually ignorant) public.
What I'd like to see, which I personally think would be more effective would be an effort to increase public awareness of space and science in general. As long as the public's impression of scientists and engineers is of some socially inept pocket protector packing nerd who spends his days working on some insignificant project with no tangible benefit to society in general, then public support for the space program will continue to remain low.
Hey, a physics undergrad can always dream can't he?
One of the original goals of science was the pursuit for the truth, and to these ends scientists shared information freely, with the belief that no matter who made the breakthrough discovery, everyone could and would benefit... it was THE ultimate open source as so many people have pointed out.
Now with all the rampant patenting and profiteering going on, it's no longer about knowledge for the good of humanity but cold hard profits. Even scientists who normally share information may feel pressured to patent or keep secret their discoveries, if only to prevent someone else from depriving them of it.
Thankfully, most scientists in the fields of "pure science" haven't really been affected by this. But scientists working in fields in which profits can be made (biotech, computer science...etc) will likely find their research threatened.
From John Denver, originally a tribute to the Challenger astronauts, but works well for the crew of Apollo 1 as well...
Well, I guess that you probably know by now I was one who wanted to fly
I wanted to ride on that arrow of fire right up into heaven
And I wanted to go for every man, every child, every mother of children
I wanted to carry the dreams of all people right up to the stars
And I prayed that I'd find an answer there
Or maybe I would find the song
Giving a voice to all of the hearts that can not be heard
And for all of the ones who live in fear
And all of those who stand apart
My being there would bring us a little step closer together
They were flying for me, they were flying for everyone
They were trying to see, a brighter day for each and everyone
They gave us their light, they gave us their spirit, and all they could be
They were flying for me
And I wanted to wish on the Milky Way and dance upon a falling star
I wanted to give myself, and free myself, and join myself with it all!
Given the chance to dream, it can be done
The promise of tomorrow is real
Children of spaceship Earth, the future belongs to us all
She was flying for me, she was flying for everyone
She was trying to see, a brighter day for each and everyone
She gave us her light, she gave us her spirit, and all she could be
She was flying for me
They were flying for me, they were flying for everyone
They were trying to see, a brighter day for each and everyone
They gave us their light, they gave us their spirit, and all they could be
They were flying for me
http://simscience.org/membranes/advanced/essay/qua ntum_grav1.html
...has a pretty interesting explaination of quantum gravity and how it ties in with Einstien's Relativity and quantum mechanics, the two bedrocks of modern physics.
Sure it can:
0:00 Please activate this copy of Windows
0:10 *user enters information*
0:15 *MS recieves user's name, address, birthdate, SSN, credit card info...etc*
Sure, it's got a 20gig drive and an FM radio, but given the fact that it still uses a USB connection, how long is it gonna take me to transfer all my fmp3's?
I, for one, will stick with my iPod.
Well, according to the article... "The production process is difficult and expensive. The world's largest maker of antimatter, the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, makes only one billionth of a gram a year at a cost of $80 million. At that rate, it would take one million years and $80 quadrillion (80,000 trillion) to produce one gram. Unfortunately, a spacecraft would need several pounds, not grams, to travel to the nearest star." Hopefully, we won't have to worry about explosions for a while.