Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that could change the way we think
about air pollution. (CREDIT: Creative Commons)
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that could change the way we think about air pollution. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have found that a strong electric field between airborne water droplets and surrounding air can create a molecule called hydroxide (OH) by a previously unknown mechanism.
This molecule is crucial in helping to clear the air of pollutants, including greenhouse gases and other chemicals.
The discovery is outlined in a new paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which suggests that the traditional thinking around the formation of OH in the atmosphere is incomplete. Until now, it was thought that sunlight was the primary driver of OH formation, but this new research shows that OH can be created spontaneously by the special conditions on the surface of water droplets.
“You need OH to oxidize hydrocarbons, otherwise they would build up in the atmosphere indefinitely,” said Sergey Nizkorodov, a University of California, Irvine professor of chemistry, who was part of the research team.
“OH is a key player in the story of atmospheric chemistry. It initiates the reactions that break down airborne pollutants and helps to remove noxious chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide, which are poisonous gases, from the atmosphere.”
The implications of this discovery are significant. It could change the way we model air pollution, as the assumption has always been that OH comes from the air and is not produced in the droplet directly. This means that existing models may need to be revised to take into account this new source of OH. READ MORE...
A new diffracton study sends lasers through 'slits in time' in a novel take on the classic double slit experiment. (Image credit: Thomas Angus, Imperial College London)
In a first, scientists have shown that they can send light through "slits" in time.
The new experiment is a twist on a 220-year-old demonstration, in which light shines through two slits in a screen to create a unique diffraction pattern across space, where the peaks and troughs of the light wave add up or cancel out. In the new experiment, researchers created a similar pattern in time, essentially changing the color of an ultrabrief laser pulse.
The findings pave the way for advances in analog computers that manipulate data imprinted on beams of light instead of digital bits - it might even make such computers "learn" from the data. They also deepen our understanding of the fundamental nature of light and its interactions with materials.
For the new study, described April 3 in the journal Nature Physics(opens in new tab), the researchers used indium tin oxide (ITO), the material found in most phone screens.
Scientists already knew ITO could change from transparent to reflective in response to light, but the researchers found it occurs much faster than previously thought, in less than 10 femtoseconds (10 millionths of a billionth of a second).
"This was a very big surprise and at the beginning it was something that we couldn’t explain," study lead author Riccardo Sapienza(opens in new tab), a physicist at the Imperial College London, told Live Science.
Eventually, the researchers figured out why the reaction happened so fast by scrutinizing the theory of how the electrons in ITO respond to incident light. "But it took us a long time to understand it." READ MORE...
Happy Trails to You, Until We Meet Again - The Happiest Trails
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU — THE END OF AN ERA
The young guns may not understand the meaning of this, but you will.
The Roy Rogers Museum in Branson, MO has closed its doors forever.
The contents of the museum were sold at a public auction.
Roy Rogers told his son, if the museum ever operates at a loss, close it, and sell the contents. He complied.
Here is a partial listing of some of the items that were sold at auction:
Roy's 1964 Bonneville (Pontiac) sold for $254,500. It was estimated to sell between 100 and 150 thousand dollars.
His script book from the January 14,1953 episode of "This Is Your Life" sold for $10,000 (EST. $800-$1,000).
A collection of signed baseballs (Pete Rose, Duke Snider, and other greats) sold for $3,750.
A collection of signed bats (Yogi Berra, Enos Slaughter, Bob Feller, and others) sold for $2,750.
Trigger ’s saddle and bridle sold for $386,500.
One of many of Roy’s shirts sold for $16,250 and one of his many cowboy hats sold for $17,500.
One set of boot spurs sold for $10,625. (He never used a set of spurs on Trigger).
His set of dinnerware plates and silverware sold for $11,875.
The Bible they used at the dinner table every night sold for $8,750.
One of several of his guitars sold for $27,500.
Nellybelle (the Jeep) sold for $116,500.
Bullet (stuffed) sold for $35,000 (EST. 10-15K). He was their real pet.
Dale’s parade saddle, estimated to sell between 20-30K, sold for $104,500.
One of many pairs of Roy’s boots sold for $21,250.
Trigger (stuffed) sold for $266,500.
Do you remember the 1938 movie The Adventures of Robin Hood, with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland? Well, Olivia rode Trigger in that movie. Trigger was bred on a farm co-owned by Bing Crosby. Roy bought Trigger on a time payment plan for $2,500. Roy and Trigger made 188 movies together. Trigger even outdid Bob Hope by winning an Oscar in the movie Son of Paleface in 1953.
It is extremely sad to see this era lost forever. Despite the fact that Gene and Roy’s movies, as well as those of other great characters, can be bought or rented for viewing.
Today's kids would rather spend their time playing video games. Today it takes a very special pair of parents to raise their kids with the right values and morals.
These were the great heroes of our childhood, and they did teach us right from wrong, and how to have and show respect for each other and the animals that share this earth.
You and I were born at the right time. We were able to grow up with these great people even if we never met them. In their own way they taught us patriotism and honor.
We learned that lying and cheating were bad, and that sex wasn't as important as love. We learned how to suffer through disappointment and failure and work through it.
Our lives were drug free. THANKS BE TO GOD. So, it's good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy (Hopalong Cassidy), the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Farewell to Sky King (and Penny) and Superman and (Dragnet) Sgt Friday.
Thanks to Capt. Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers, and Capt. Noah and all those people whose lives touched ours, and made them better.
Happy Trails! It was a great ride through our childhood.
P.S. Don't send this to anyone under 60... they just wouldn’t understand.
I enlisted into the military, not because I wanted to go fight in the Vietnam War, but because I dropped out of college and could not find a job because I did not have my military obligation behind me... so, I decided... what the hell... I might as well get that behind me. Had I not enlisted, I would have been drafted in the Army/Marines and sent to Vietnam.
Fortunately, I used the GI BIll to pay for my college education which included Graduate School. I earned a BA and an MBA using my own money and the GI Bill and had NO STUDENT LOAD DEBT.
Had I not gone into the military, I would have continued to work while attended college and graduated with NO STUDENT LOAD DEBT.
Either way... NO STUDENT LOAN debt...
Working full time and going to school full time is not easy but it can be done.
Does it make you appreciate your education more? NOT SURE... But, it makes you appreciate the fact that you DID IT ON YOUR OWN.
Would I recommend a college education? NO!!!
WHY?
It costs too much
It is not worth the return on investment
Very little knowledge is retained
What you learn in college is not really used in the real world
Are the TRADES better?
Not necessarily... it depends on what you want to do.
Trades might include:
Welding
Electrical
Plumbing
Heating/Air
Construction
Mechanic
And, while they pay high wages now, it still might not be what you really want to do... plus, it can be dirty work.
You could work in a bank.
You could work as a chef.
You could work as a waiter/waitress.
You could work as a truck driver.
You could manage a restaurant/hotel.
You could be a pilot.
You could join the armed forces.
NOTE: if you joined the armed forces, I would recommend the air force...
There is also going to a Community College and earing an Associates Degree in 2 years... not as costly... and if you are in TN, those 2 years are FREE...
Dental Assistant
Paralegal
Nurse
Pharmacy Technician
Massage Therapist
Physical Therapist
Business/Accounting
There is a local franchise restaurant near where I live called PERKINS... The owner of the local restaurant started out as a bus boy, became a cook, then a waiter, then assistant manager, then manager, then purchased the franchise... The only education that he had was high school.
A neighbor of mine is a legal Mexican immigrant who is now a US citizen who quit high school and learned the trade of making cabinets on the job. From there he went into building homes and a few years later, got his building license, formed a crew and started building houses. Over the years, he purchased several house and started renting them out. His rental income has allowed him to retire at the age of 55.
Don't just go to college and acquire debt because someone told you that a white collar job is the best job to have... First of all, that is not true and very misleading. Second, it is your life not their life... as a result, you should decide what you want to do.
FINALLY, if you simply want to find a way to become wealthy and you don't care what you do, then perhaps you should think about moving south and joining the Mexican Drug Cartels.
All wealthy people, except those who simply inherited the wealth, had to pay their dues for 10-20 years before they could claim they were BILLIONAIRES...
The South China Morning Post claims that China's new ground-effect "wingship" has just completed 30 sea trials. According to the state-run media company, the new vehicle could be used to airdrop supplies on islands and beaches and conduct quick search and rescue missions.
The "wingship," which seems to be an example of a ground-effect vehicle or wing-in-ground-effect craft, combines an air-cushioned vehicle and an aircraft that glides close to the ground. From the images in the article, it has a propeller engine that allows it to travel over the water's surface, and its wings allow it to fly and support itself in the air.
A ground effect vehicle (GEV) uses the "ground effect," which is the decrease in aerodynamic drag that an object experiences when it approaches a surface to achieve lift and boost efficiency. This air cushion between the surface and the object reduces drag and enables the object to gain lift at lower speeds.
One famous example of this kind of vehicle was the Soviet-era ekranoplan which could travel only a few meters above the water's surface and had a massive, 70-meter-long wing. The vehicle, built for military applications such as moving people and equipment over water, could move at speeds up to 400 km/h.
According to a report from Science and Technology Daily on Monday, the new Chinese vehicle can travel for six hours continuously at speeds of up to 150 mph (240 kph). The vehicle reportedly has a total takeoff weight of 4.5 tonnes and a passenger capacity of up to 12. READ MORE...
"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass every day..." is an East TN expression that I have grown to like as it applies to so many Liberals of which I have become aware in the Washington, DC area of this country... representing us in Congress or in the WHITE HOUSE.
The sad thing is that our votes put them there... and, I cannot imagine that there are that many Democrats who really believe in a weak military, illegal immigration, unregulated crime and violence in our major cities, and the WOKENESS that seems to be flowing through our society like the BLACK PLAGUE... Pun intended.
We are on the verge of change and most old people need to frigging get out of the way and let change happen, even if we older people perceive that this change is NOT FOR THE BETTER.
Our Democratic Republic was nothing more than an experiment that NO OTHER country had ever tried before. We grew incredibly strong, incredibly fast and tried to control the world because we believed our way of life was the best for everybody.
WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG...
Some people want to be controlled by a dictator
Some people want to be controlled by a communist country
Some people want to be controlled by Arabs who believe in SHARIA LAW
Some people want to be controlled by an inherently corrupt government
Some people just do not want the responsibility of having FREEDOMS as they have no self discipline
Some people want to keep their childish mentalities
Some people enjoy living without anything but their spiritual faith and guidance
Net worth is not always an accurate measurement of WEALTH or being WEALTHY. Financial Liquidity is a measure of WEALTH. If you have a liquidity of $5 million or more, then you are WEALTHY and governments will leave you alone once they realize you have hidden your money away from them. If you try to arrest them, the odds are they will be informed will enough time to leave the country.
Stupid dictators have tried to control the wealthy and all of them have failed miserably.
There are more people than you realize that have a liquidity of $5 million or more living in the USA... These people believe in liberal governments as long as they don't try to take their money.
Most of you middle class workers made these people millionaires because of the things that you buy like:
computers
tablets
cell phone
cinema tickets
automobiles
tickets to concerts
tickets to professional sports
alcohol and tobacco
ILLEGAL DRUGS
clothes and shoes
cosmetics
NOTE: did you know the first black female millionaire in the USA sold cosmetics door to door...
A vast majority of Americans want to be kept in a cage like a Labrador Retriever who appears to want as much freedom as it can get, when it reality, it comfortable with the security of a cage. They only have freedom because we gave it to them... they are not good at handling their freedom.
People remain in the lower classes financially, even though they bitch about it, because they feel comfortable there. They have no desire to think for themselves or take responsibility for their actions or lack of actions.
Death is the great equilizer... We all die, regardless of how much money we have or how much control we have or how big our cage is. Death always has the last word.
The notion of parallel universes leapt out of the pages of fiction into scientific journals in the 1990s. Many scientists claim that mega-millions of other universes, each with its own laws of physics, lie out there, beyond our visual horizon. They are collectively known as the multiverse.
The trouble is that no possible astronomical observations can ever see those other universes. The arguments are indirect at best. And even if the multiverse exists, it leaves the deep mysteries of nature unexplained.
In the past decade an extraordinary claim has captivated cosmologists: that the expanding universe we see around us is not the only one; that billions of other universes are out there, too. There is not one universe—there is a multiverse.
In Scientific American articles and books such as Brian Greene’s latest, The Hidden Reality, leading scientists have spoken of a super-Copernican revolution. In this view, not only is our planet one among many, but even our entire universe is insignificant on the cosmic scale of things. It is just one of countless universes, each doing its own thing.
The word “multiverse” has different meanings. Astronomers are able to see out to a distance of about 42 billion light-years, our cosmic visual horizon. We have no reason to suspect the universe stops there. Beyond it could be many—even infinitely many—domains much like the one we see.
Each has a different initial distribution of matter, but the same laws of physics operate in all. Nearly all cosmologists today (including me) accept this type of multiverse, which Max Tegmark calls “level 1.” Yet some go further. They suggest completely different kinds of universes, with different physics, different histories, maybe different numbers of spatial dimensions.
Most will be sterile, although some will be teeming with life. A chief proponent of this “level 2” multiverse is Alexander Vilenkin, who paints a dramatic picture of an infinite set of universes with an infinite number of galaxies, an infinite number of planets and an infinite number of people with your name who are reading this article.
Similar claims have been made since antiquity by many cultures. What is new is the assertion that the multiverse is a scientific theory, with all that implies about being mathematically rigorous and experimentally testable. I am skeptical about this claim.
I do not believe the existence of those other universes has been proved—or ever could be. Proponents of the multiverse, as well as greatly enlarging our conception of physical reality, are implicitly redefining what is meant by “science.” READ MORE...
You and I were born at the right time. We were able to grow up 
with these great people even if we never met them. In their own way they taught us patriotism and 
honor.
