To show that you can build a low-price, high-capacity Internet line over long distances, a Swedish IT guru has equipped his mother’s PC with the fastest connection on the planet. The 75-year-old will be able to download a full, high-definition DVD in just two seconds. (Sweden’s The Local) Thanks, Andrew!
Take a Look at the GNN-i Team
EDITOR’S BLOG — I wanted to express my gratitude to the people who make my job a lot easier. They are the volunteers who give their time so that GNN-i might flourish. This is a wonderful group: Kerrie, my proof-reader; Michael, our new science writer; Cristina, our summer intern; Andrew, a dedicated viewer who uncovers good news links and sends them by e-mail… Our Team Page is now edited (in the About Us section) to reflect these new faces and tell who they are. If you want to offer your talent and enthusiasm to the group (maybe you’re a tax preparer, or a photographer) we’d love to hear from you. Go to the Team Page for details.
Seven-Part Harmony Live on Paris Subway (Video!)
New York City hip-hop artists N7 were riding the Paris subway when they broke into song — an incredible a capella rendition of Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight. They treated the commuters to seven-part harmony — beatbox style — and though some were annoyed at first, the beautiful rhythm and vocals warmed their hearts, eliciting applause at the finish. N7’s music is solely created by voices, no instruments whatsoever. (2006) More free Naturally 7 videos
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Dave Matthews Goes Green with Cloth Diapers
This week People magazine reported that Dave Matthews’ new son only uses reusable cloth diapers, out of consideration for the environment.
“We use cloth diapers for our new baby because I think diapers might be the number three piece of garbage [in terms of environmental damage],” Matthews said at a Live Earth press conference on Saturday.
His new son’s name is August Oliver Matthews.
(Ed. note: I used cloth diapers for our first child — they were great and I felt good about it… Coincidentally, his middle name is August.)
Scientists Discover Square Red Star
Stars are some of the most ubiquitous and wondrous celestial bodies we see when looking up at the night sky. Those round pinpoints of light appear far more interesting when viewed through powerful telescopes such as those available at observatories. In fact, sometimes they don’t appear round at all. Scientists recently stumbled upon a star formation that was perfectly square.
Square? They described it as a hidden jewel, appearing like a ruby, and have dubbed it the “Red Square.”
Peter Tuthill from the University of Sydney leads the team that discovered the formation. A few other nebulas, strangely shaped formations of gas or material around stars, have been found to be similar, but the high degree of symmetry of the Red Square is particularly astonishing.
“If you fold things across the principal diagonal axis, you get an almost perfect reflection symmetry, making the red square nebula the most symmetrical object of comparable complexity ever imaged.” said Tuthill. “Discoveries as beautiful as this one don’t come around very often and it took some of the world’s most advanced telescopes, together with a good dose of luck, to find this jewel hidden among the myriad stars in the galaxy.”
One of the stars is losing matter which is then held in a dense disc by the combined gravity of the two stars. Light and material can only escape from the poles of the disc by being blown by the stellar wind of the central star. This gives the appearance of two cones that are touching at their tips creating a bipolar nebula and the square shape. Its name implies a relation to its close cousin, the “Red Rectangle Nebula.”
Another interesting feature is the radial spokes pointing away from the center which is rarely seen in nebulae. These may be related to periodic ripples on the surface of an inner disk of material close to the central star.
Acquiring images of such clarity is due to the use of new imaging technology called adaptive optics which keeps objects in focus like a pair of glasses does for myopic vision. The technology makes use of a mirror capable of being deformed in order to adjust its focal point in order to correct distortions introduced by the Earth’s atmosphere.
“A system as complex and fascinating as this is bound to keep us guessing for years to come,” exclaimed Tuthill.
Michael Little is an analytical chemist currently working at a research centre for an international pharmaceutical company. Originally from Nova Scotia, Michael now resides in Laval, Quebec with his wife and two children. Michael joined the GNN-i team as a science writer in May 2007.
Malawi Youth Builds $16 Windmill to Power Village
"Malawi youth William Kamkwamba, without formal education or training, and having dropped 
out of school for lack of funds, constructed a windmill that could generate enough energy for a few light bulbs and a radio, changing his family’s life forever." No more expensive paraffin candles, with the smoke that burned his eyes. The household is bright and clean even on non-windy days since William rigged a car battery to store the energy. Blogs carrying his inspiring story led to an American speaking engagement and funds for his education. (Inhabitat)
Florida to Introduce Tough Greenhouse Gas Targets
Florida is setting new emissions targets for power companies, cars and trucks and will toughen conservation goals for state agencies while requiring government vehicles to use alternative fuels. (Reuters)
Young Scholars Tell the President “No” on Torture
141 Presidential Scholars were being honored recently at the White House. After the president told them that it was important in their future careers to treat others as they would like to be treated and to make choices they would be able to live with, they handed him a letter signed by close to 50 of the students that read…
“As members of the Presidential Scholars class of 2007, we have been told that we represent the best and brightest of our nation. Therefore, we believe we have a responsibility to voice our convictions. We do not want America to represent torture. We urge you to do all in your power to stop violations of the human rights of detainees, to cease illegal renditions and to apply the Geneva Convention to all detainees, including those designated enemy combatants.”
The mother of one of the students was also a Scholar, and she has forever regretted not speaking up to President Johnson regarding the war in Vietnam, when she had her chance. (Column by Amy Goodman)
Link submitted by Christophe Bedeaux
In Clubby France, a Muslim Woman as Justice Minister
A Muslim woman, who grew up in public housing, was recently appointed Justice Minister of France. A success story of determination and hard work, she is considered a role model for other minorities living in the suburbs of Paris, proving that high achievement is not only reserved for others.
(Christian Science Monitor)
Baseball Team Rescues Grounds Crew Engulfed by Sudden Storm
The best scene in Major League Baseball this year. In Colorado, watch the visiting team swarm onto the field to rescue a grounds crew in big trouble when a storm rolls in. The Philadelphia Phillies: not a prima donna in the bunch.
Saudi Minister Challenges Imams to Stand Up
Imams and khatibs must play a greater role in the fight against terrorism. This was the message of Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif to 600 imams and khatibs who deliver Friday sermons in mosques across Saudi Arabia. He urged them to expose the falsehood of deviant ideology that continues to dupe Saudi youths…
NJ Enacts Anti-Global Warming Law
"New Jersey became the third state in the nation to enact a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction law Friday, requiring the Garden State to significantly cut emissions of global-warming gases." (AP)
Editor’s Blog: Contact Form Out of Order, July 4-9
For the few people who used my contact form to send me a message between July 3-July 9, I didn't receive it. The mail server on my isp was "acting up", bouncing e-mail messages and, then, deleting some mail while I watched the screen in disbelief. (Have you ever heard the song by Todd Rundgren, I Hate My Fricken' ISP?) Anyway, I'm moving to a different hosting company within the week and will make a special announcement regarding the fact. For now, resend your messages!
Spain to Plant Millions of Trees to Offset Emissions
"Two of Spain’s regional governments and its capital city plan to plant millions of trees to help offset the impact of the country’s spiraling greenhouse gas emissions, environment officials said. Madrid, despite its snarling traffic, already claims to be one of the cities with most parks and gardens in the world." (Reuters)
Colombia to Destroy Almost 14,000 Firearms Today
Nearly 14,000 firearms will be melted down today in Colombia in a ceremonial action highlighting the danger of illegal arms proliferation and to mark International Gun Destruction Day. The molten metal will be used to make school chairs and build a monument in memory of the victims of violence and kidnapping in Colombia, said the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in a press release.
Arab League To Make Historic Visit To Israel
"For the first time ever, the 22-nation Arab League is set to send a delegation to Israel. Its mission: to discuss a sweeping peace initiative with the Jewish state, as well as the threat posed by Hamas and other Islamic extremist movements." (RadioFreeEurope)
Sun-Scorched Phoenix Takes More Heart for its Homeless
"After 30 homeless people died during a hot streak in 2005, officials and faith-based groups in Phoenix redoubled efforts to serve the homeless, adding hydration stations and large, cooled rooms with cots or mats on the floor to temporarily house people." (CS Monitor)
Live Earth Concert Series (Video Review)
The ‘Live Earth’ concerts wrapped up at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, part of a world-wide music marathon raising awareness about global warming for two billion listeners. Here’s a TV review of the music and the message from CBS and AP.
World’s Biggest Solar Farm Planned for California
Bill Barnes, CEO of Cleantech wants to create a tipping point for renewable energy by building the world’s largest solar farm. "We think the impact will be similar to the impact of the computer chip, once (it was) made on a large scale," Barnes said. "So too will the farm drive down the cost of solar." (Reuters)
Teenagers Use Internet to Raise $300K for Darfur
“In a campaign to raise money for the people of Darfur, two high school students, using social networking sites Facebook and MySpace, have raised more than $300,000 from students at 2,000 high schools, showing the strength of banding together over the Internet.” (USA Today)
