Fuel from Seawater?

scientist's quest for an inexpensive and renewable energy source continues. and how their sight is set upon the largest body of water that is the sea.
turning seawater into fuel is indeed a noble pursuit. but how would scientists do this?
the method - nuclear fusion (the same the way the sun produces its energy) - isn't easy, but the 30-nation conglomerate that spearheads the world's quest for alternative fuel source is well on its way to power the world with energy from seawater. its ITER (international thermonuclear experimental reactor), the world's first nuclear fusion reactor found in France, is envisioned to be operational in seven years (although critics argue that it would take at least 50 years before a commercially feasible reactor is constructed.)
the $15.7-billion experimental reactor, which promises a 500-megawatt output, will use deuterium (extracted from seawater) as its major fuel. a giant electromagnetic ring will be used to fuse atomic nuclei at extremely high temperatures.
in the past, scientists have been harnessing power from fusion in laboratories. despite the decades of research, a commercially viable reactor had never been built. the biggest challenge lies on building a reactor that is capable of sustaining temperatures at about 100 million degrees Celsius, long enough to produce power.
Ian Fells of the Royal Academy od Engineering gave the project a 50:50 chance of success. "but the engineering is ver difficult. if we can really make this work, there will be enough electricity to last the world for the next 1,000 to 2,000 years," he says.

(France to Host World's First Fusion Reactor, What is ITER?)

holographic versatile disc

a holographic versatile disc is a memory storage device that uses an advanced optical disc technology known as collinear holography. it offers far greater storage capacity (up to 3.9 terabytes) and faster transfer rate compared to existing compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile disc (DVDs). even the touted next-generation optical disc formats Blue-ray (27GB) and high density-DVD (15GB) pale in comparison with HVDs.
collinear holography - an advanced technique that allows an image to be recorded in three dimensions-uses two lasers (one red and one blue-green), which are combined and made parallel into a single beam. the red laser is of similar wavelength that common DVD technologies are using, while the blue laser technology affords higher storage capacity and superior resolution.
in HVDs, the blue-green laser reads the data encoded as laser interference fringes from a holographic layer near the top of the disc, while the red laser is used to read the servo information from aluminum layer near the bottom. servo or "positional control" information is used to monitor the position of the red head over the disc, similar to the head, track, and sector information on a conventional hard disc drive.
the main advantage of HVD over other disc formats is the used of dichroic mirror layer - between the holographic data and the servo data - which reflects the blue-green laser while letting the red laser pass through. this prevents refraction interference of the blue-green laser (of servo data pits), making the HVD compatible with current CD and DVD drive technology.

physicists explore "dark energy"

cosmologists, believe that a mysterious force known as "dark energy" is behind the reason why the universe is expanding at a faster rate. now, scientists are comparing seemingly unrelated astronomical observations to study the mysterious energy.

american scientists Eric Linder of Berkeley Lab and Robert Caldwell of Dartmouth in the United States are working to discover how dark energy interacts with the universe. in their paper, to be published in Physical Review Letters, Linder and Caldwell described two scenarios that could be used to rule out Einstein's cosmological constant and explain the nature of dark energy. the cosmological constant is a vacuum energy-the energy of empty space-that keeps gravity from pulling the universe into itself.

Linder and Caldwell call the two scenarios as "thawing" and "freezing." these scenarios are models that point toward distinctly different fates for a permanently expanding universe. in the thawing scenario, the acceleration of the expansion will gradually decrease and eventually come to a stop. expansion may continue more slowly, or the universe may even collapse. on the other hand, under the freezing scenario, acceleration continues indefinitely.

both of these scenarios rule out Einstein's cosmological constant.

"a problem with the cosmological constant is that it has the same energy density and pressure over time. dark energy, however, had to be negligible in the universe's earliest stages; otherwise the galaxies and all their stars would never have formed," said Linder.

Linder added that dark energy will govern the expansion of the universe and ultimately, its fate, because "dark energy makes up about 70% of the content of the universe, so it dominates over the matter content."

(the search for dark matter and dark energy, physicists propose search for dark energy)

artificial intelligence in your cars

the technology behind vehicles powered with artificial intelligence is heading toward popular cars - with features like collision and lane-departure warnings and adaptive cruise controls using external sensors. researchers hope the technology will help car makers include features that could cut down on the number of traffic deaths caused by inattention or intoxication. it is envisioned that vehicles powered with artificial-intelligence software (sporting the ability to "see") will be staple in the United States military within 10 years.

all things small

nanoscience is an interrelated disciplinary field of science devoted to the study of nanoscale phenomena. it involves the manipulation of atoms, molecules, macromolecules, quantom dots, and macromolecular assemblies.
nanotechnology, on the other hand, is the practical application of nanoscience. it is the general term for activities at the level of atoms and molecules that have applications in the real-world. it is a field of technology development and application involving very small things. it involves creations and inventions that utilize sizes in the nanometer scale, usually measuring 0.1 to 100 nanometers (one nanometer is equal to one billion of a meter. nanotechnology includes many strategies to create structures at a size scale below 100 nanometer(nm)).

the ns2 defense

just this morning, as a last day of our final exam, we also had our defense of our experiment in our major project.

throughout the experiment making, i was really pressured and we don't know what to do. even deciding on what to do first because everything seems to be our priority. there are a lot of paper works to submit for one subject and we were really complaining in ourselves since we can't complain in front of our professor...

we divided the paper works among my group mates but still it wasn't enough to lighten the burden. everything seems to be really messy and unorganized.

when we did our experiment, it was like a bad luck. we tour around the market to look for the materials we needed. and the worst is we broke a 1000ml PYREX beaker that cost 375 php. we damaged the table in the laboratory because we placed the very hot surface of the beaker into the table that damaged the paint.

then later that afternoon, we were suppose to rest because we don't have our 1pm class. but instead of taking a rest, my other group mates decided to replace the beaker that afternoon immediately. so we went to different branches of drugstores where equipments was also sold. we had the very hard time looking for that type of beaker because mostly were out of stock until we reached UM bolton, near the annex building just barely walking from the main campus in bankerohan and the weather was also quite bad because it was drizzling.

but at the end, we still succeeded replacing the beaker and going up and down the stairs with about 120 steps (it wasn't that exhausting!!!)

great lesson I've learned, DO THINGS ON TIME and THINK BEFORE YOU ACT (dili mag tinanga!!!)

going back with our defense last morning, it was also successful. we were able to answer the questions raised by our professor amidst the fact that we weren't totally ready. we were rushing in doing the visual aid but still gave us a good comment from our professor.

glad we made it up!!!

Panda's Mating Habit Under Surveillance

deep in the wild of Foping nature reserve in central Shaanxi province in Beijing, China, global positioning systems (GPS) is being used to keep watch on giant pandas and their mating behavior.
no, this is definitely not a modern-day style of seeking sordid or scandalous sex in the animal kingdom. scientists in China believe GPS is a good way to avoid panda extinction.
according to Wei Fuwen of the China Academy of Sciences' Institute of Zoology (CASIZ), tracking the pandas with advanced technology and observing their sexual activities "might help us find ways to avoid their extinction. giant pandas are inaccessible for long periods of time, and traditional observation cannot unravel the ecological mystery of the animals."
studies show that pandas in the wild are recovering from the brink of extinction, but they are not yet out of danger. this is due mainly to the great difficulties in producing cubs. almost 80% of female pandas were unable to conceive while 90% of males were sterile, according to a study by CASIZ researchers conducted in 2001 to 2004.
statistics show that barely 1600 of the pandas are alive in the wild today. these animals mostly inhabit the high, fog-covered mountains of China's southwest Sichuan province while more than 150 live in captivity.
giant pandas are unusually discreet animals when it comes to mating. the $660,000 joint project between China and the United States Zoological Society of San Diego is vouching on the use of GPS sensors to find out what is really happening behind the bamboo leaves.

(Scientist Spy on panda sex habits. www. abc.net, china to use GPS to peep on Panda sex. www.cnn.com)

Beef Tapa

can't get enough of your favorite tapsilog? here's a quick way to prepare your own beef tapa just in time for tomorrow's breakfast.

what you need:

1 kg lean meat(beef)
knife
plastic or metal pan
bowl
5 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons sugar
7 teaspoons vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
5 teaspoons soy sauce

what to do:

slice the partially frozen meat to about 1/8 inch thickness, making sure that you are cutting across the muscle fiber.
mix the spices (salt, sugar, vinegar, garlic, powder, pepper, and soy sauce) thoroughly in a bowl.
spread on a tray a very thin layer of the spices
place on a tray a very thin layer of the spices
place on the tray one layer of sliced meat on top of the spice
spread a very thin layer of spices on top of the meat
arrange another layer of sliced meat on top of the first layer
repeat the operation until all meat is put into layers with the spices
keep the meat in a refrigerator overnight to cure it
after curing, the tapa may now be cooked or packed

(carl b. monterey)

Does Cirrhosis Caused only by Alcoholism?

Cirrhosis is a chronic disease that results in scarring and decreased function of the liver. initial symptoms of the disease include red palms, red spots in the upper body, increased in size of the parotid glands, and fibrosis of tendons in the hands.

contrary to popular belief that alcoholism is the only cause of the disease, cirrhosis has many possible causes, and sometimes more than one cause is present in the same patient.

hepatitis B is the most common cause of cirrhosis worldwide, especially in Southeast Asia. hepatitis B causes liver inflammation and injury that over several years can lead to cirrhosis.

in the US, alcoholism and hepatitis C are the most common causes of cirrhosis. cirrhosis may also result from hepatitis B or C, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease and even severe reactions to prescription drugs. in children, cirrhosis may be cause by cystic fibrosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and glycogen storage disease.

liver damage due to cirrhosis is irreversible, but treatment can prevent or delay further progression and reduce complications. healthy diet is encouraged as cirrhosis is conceivably an energy-consuming process. salt intake and high-protein foods are restricted. alcohol and other potentially damaging substances are discouraged.

a liver transplant is necessary if complications cannot be controlled or when the liver ceases to function. liver transplantation procedures have been increasingly successful since the 1990s. presently, the rate of survival from liver transplantation has reached 90 percent.

(http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov)

On Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a long-term digestive disorder caused by gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats) and affects both children and adults. it is a disease that damages the small intestines and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food (such as carbohydrates, fat, proteins, and vitamins).
Celiac disease is sometimes regarded as a childhood disease, because its symptoms, such as diarrhea, growth failure, and failure to thrive, occur during childhood. but the disease can also manifest its initial symptoms in adults of any age. symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, skin rashes, anemia, and even osteoporosis. celiac disease is a hereditary disease with sometimes vague symptoms are attributed to other conditions. it may cause such nonspecific symptoms for several years before being correctly diagnosed and treated.
it was generally believed that the disease was a rare, but recent data prove otherwise. in the United States, alone, one out of 133 Americans has the disease. it can even be more common in Africa, South America, and Asia than previously believed. tracing the family tree of a person diagnosed with the disease can zero in at one out of 22 people having the disease.
People who have been diagnosed of the disease should avoid taking any food containing gluten, with or without the symptoms.

(http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov)

Cholesterol is Bad for Your Health

Do you know that fifty years of intensive studies led the American Heart Association to conclude that there is no proof that a low-cholesterol diet is observed from early adulthood decreases the incidence of heart attacks. Medical science has firmly established that high cholesterol levels found in atherosclerosis (a constriction of blood vessels that can lead to heart attack or stroke) are a result of complex disorders of lipid metabolism and artery wall damage, not a result of the cholesterol we ingest.
Cholesterol is a fat-like steroid that plays essential role in many biochemical processes for the body’s healthy operation. it is an important component of the cell membranes that provide stability, and has important functions in the synthesis of steroid hormones. majority of the cholesterol found inside the body is produced in the liver and this internally formed cholesterol has the same likelihood of depositing as plaques in the artery as much as dietary cholesterol.
Having a high cholesterol count is only one symptom of an extensive somatic disorder. if excess cholesterol is eaten, the body immediately reduces production of cholesterol for people within normal ranges of cholesterol counts. this indicates that powerful internal controls of cholesterol levels are present. pathological levels of cholesterol in the blood result from disorder of these controls and not the cholesterol eaten.
(health myths and fallacies. www.nutritionfarm.com)

1st Day of March

this night was a parade of the gorgeous and handsome sophomore students of the uic college dep’t on their second p.e night with the theme "fine dining". students, especially the lady naturally has to prepare. they got to wear their best dresses with there outstanding hair do and make up that would make them feel beautiful and confident.
man also have to prepare themselves and make them feel handsome for it is a rare occasion where they can mingle with own peers and other sophomore students in the different programs.
it was a night of glamour, chatting, picture taking to reminisce with the moment in the future and of course disco! everyone had really fun. everyone were sweating swaying their bodies and doing their moves in the groove with their favorite party music and also love songs with their partners. it was just so romantic when a love song is being played. how i wish my crush had invited me to dance with him. but unfortunately,he did not. i didn’t even saw him in the dance floor. i still had enjoyed the night with my friends and former IT classmates. we were doing some foolishness to make the most of our one-of-a-kind night.
it’s all thanks to our p.e instructors.and also congratulations to those who have won the crown as star of the night.