Paul Painter, professor of polymer science in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State, and his group have spent the past 18 months developing a technique that uses ionic liquids (salt in a liquid state) to facilitate separation.
The separation takes place at room temperatu
You know the dri-fit type shirts people use when they work out? Yeah, the fabric that wicks sweat away and keeps you cool and dry. These bed sheets, by Sheex, are made from that same material. The idea is that the microfiber polyester/Lycra Spandex fabric blend makes your bed sheets breathable, keeps them stretchy and wicks the sweat from your body from tumbling around with your workout partner. That way you can focus on performance rather than getting sweaty and stuffy. More »
The rabble rousers at 4chan are creating fake OkCupid profiles in an attempt to create an involuntary flashmob in New York City. It's sad for the potential victims but I gotta admit, sorta funny! More »
Oil Eucalyptus is generally insoluble in water (actually very slightly soluble). I would like to make it water soluble. Can anyone help me in doing so? I saw this type of product few years ago in a local market which is not available now.
The premise of The Drill Plus, a top down, uh, drill-em-up, is your scrawny hero transforms into a drill in times of need, in this case, an invasion of monsters who look like they came from a Frankenberry commercial. This is like Beck lyrics. Actual words strung together in a grammatically correct fashion that make no sense, but seem to have a cool meaning behind them. More »
UPDATE: SOLVED by Jerry at 12:01 CDT
Good afternoon, sports fans. I trust everybody made it through the week in one piece; and that you’re feeling fine, frisky, and ready to solve today’s riddle.
Excellent! I have a nice little riddle for you today… nothing that will leave you long discombobulated. Just enough to shake off that Saturday stupor. Ready? Today’s solution is a “thing” found in the real world.
Image by Mila Zinkova 092108 from Hawaii - Ms. Zinkova takes outrageously beautiful images.
This is a single object.
It is a modern discovery, but our ancestors may have been aware of something going on 4,000 to 6,000 years ago.
It’s responsible for the object from which it takes its name.
NASA/HST-NICMOS, very lovely
In some ways, this diva is very young; in other ways, she’s very old. Well, what do you expect when you burn the candle at both ends?
Not just another pretty face, this diva is making scientists re-think long held beliefs about the birth of her kind.
And a temper? Wow! In about 1 to 3 million years this diva will be putting on quite a show for us.
(boom)
This is a social diva; she’s a member in good standing of our local “brat pack”.
Even running with a fast crowd, this diva will produce as much energy in 20 seconds as our Sweet Sol will in a year.
You might associate this diva’s discovery with NICMOS.
And THAT takes care of THAT. I’m hanging out in the comments, as usual, waiting for someone to talk to me! I’ll see ya’ there…
oops
Just because you own an iPad 2, it doesn't mean you have to purchase the Apple-official Smart Cover—but it's likely that you'll still want to take advantage of its (incredibly cool) auto-wake feature. So we've rounded up all the third-party iPad 2 cases with magnetic sensors, just for you. More »
There’s now a page in Sterling’s fall catalog for my book of science tattoos. Here’s the cover. You won’t be able to appreciate its full die-cut splendor, however, till you hold it in your hands when it comes out in October 2011. More details to come!
Radioactivity levels have spiked in seawater just offshore the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Tests have found that the radioactivity is 1,250 times higher than normal with radioactive water being found in 3 of the 6 reactors. Three workers have actually sustained burns after being exposed to the radiation. [Reuters] More »
As a reminder, these are the three countries who don't use the incredibly sensible metric system: Liberia, Myanmar and of course, the United States of America. U-S-A! U-S-A! Hell, we should all form some sort of alliance! Non US-people, feel free to tell us why we're dumb for not using the metric system. [Wikimedia via ZME Science] More »
It's highly unlikely that you're going to see any new nuclear power plants built any time in the future, given the now worsening situation at Fukushima. But knee-jerk reactions to the accident are not what's really to blame for the inevitable decline in nuclear production. Even before this month's nuclear disaster in Japan, the economics of nuclear power were bleak. More »
Go away...Gulls mobbing the Buzzard (Graeme Duncan)
Good birds continue, Buzzard over (Graeme Duncan)
Three-headed Puffins.... (Graeme Duncan)
Puffins galore (Graeme Duncan)
A Farnes favourite (Graeme Duncan)However once all the large Gulls had took to the air of the nearby West Wideopens, we knew something was up. Seconds later, a Buzzard drifted into view, as it headed east towards the outer group of islands. Realising there wasn’t much life out on Brownsman or beyond, the bird returned, heavily mobbed by everything on its return. Finally it departed west, to the relative safety of the mainland away from the angry Gulls but the delighted wardens.
On the islands, the Puffins returned again to the islands, with one or two noted sorting out nest burrows in preparation for the forthcoming breeding season. On the cliffsides, its still early days although the Shag still has a single egg on Lighthouse cliff.
Thursday 24th March highlights
Red-throated Diver 1N, Peregrine female, Buzzard, Sandwich Tern 2, Mediterranean Gull adult summer plumage in roost, Skylark, Blackbird 2,
Friday 25th March highlights
Shelduck 2, Teal 2, Goosander 2 north, Meadow Pipit 24N, Skylark, Blackbird 2, Wheatear (first of the year), Goldcrest 3.
From Eric Dondero:
Yesterday in Bismark, a coalition of taxpayer rights advocates handed in approximately 28,0000 signatures to the Secretary of State's Office to qualify a ballot measure to completely abolish property taxes.
From the AP (via The Republic) "Amendment would abolish ND property taxes, order Legislature to figure out new revenue plan":
BISMARCK, N.D. — Backers of a constitutional amendment to abolish North Dakota property taxes believe they have enough petition signatures to put the idea on the ballot, even though the number they thought they needed has risen.
The proposed amendment's supporters delivered almost 1,000 petitions, bearing what they said were more than 27,800 names, to Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office Friday.
Jaeger has until April 29 to review the documents and determine whether there are enough names to qualify for the ballot. If the signature goal is met, the amendment would go to a statewide vote in June 2012.
The coalition of activists included, the Libertarian Party of ND, Taxpayer Rights groups, Tea Party groups based in Williston and Grand Forks, Christian Right conservatives, and a cadre of stridently individualist Cowboy and Bikers from Valley City.
"It's a new idea. It's something a lot of people hadn't even considered until we put it in front of them," said Charlene Nelson, of Casselton, who is chairwoman of the initiative campaign.
The Amendment if passed would force the legislators in Bismark to use other revenue sources, rather than property taxes. But the State currently has an approximate $2.6 billion budget surplus, largely as a result of oil revenues from taxes on oil production in northwestern ND.
Tuesday is the final deadline for petition signatures to be handed in. And the taxpayer coalition hopes to have over 30,000 for the final turn-in.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's prayer from the eighteenth century Hasidic sage for contentment and trust.
Release...
Friday March 25th
EX-MADAM WILL RUN FOR MAYOR IF SPITZER THROWS HIS BLACK SOCKS IN THE RING
To mark the third anniversary of her arrest Ex-Madam Kristin Davis who supplied high priced call girls for former Governor Eliot Spitzer said she will jump in the 2013 New York City Mayor's Race if the former Governor, now a CNN talk show host makes a bid.
Davis filed 18,000 signatures to get on the ballot last year, participated in the televised debate between Democrat Andrew Cuomo and Republican Carl Paladino last year and got nearly 30,000 votes in the race for Governor running on a libertarian platform.
"If Spitzer throws his black socks in the ring I may have to throw in my lacy brassiere" said Davis who once ran the most successful high end escort service in US history.
"I had pretty much decided to focus on the sex trafficking issue and not to run for public office again " said Davis " I am working to take the GOLD program, put forward by an advocacy group in Miami (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/19/2124399/a-walk-on-the-seamy-side-to-help.html) to combat sex trafficking nationwide" . Davis kicked off Hope House, a New York based non profit to fight the conscription of women into prostitution last month.
"The women who worked for me chose to be sex workers" said Davis " 80 % of the women working as escorts are doing so against their will" said Davis "Until prostitution is decriminalized we must provide an escape from this life for thousands of young women"
"Running for Governor was great fun and very educational but I decided to pursue advocacy activity and some entrepreneurial efforts in legal industries. " said the ex Hedge Fund Vice president. "The one thing that could probably get me off the bench is a Mayor candidacy by Eliot Spitzer. I'd have to look at it. The opportunity to expose the inequality in our Justice system may be too great"
From the Editor - Kristin and her longtime political consultant Roger Stone are friends of this website.
From Eric Dondero:
Ken Moellman, a friend of this website, has announced his intentions to run for Kentucky Secretary of State. (The LPKY still needs to qualify for the ballot by collecting over 10,000 signatures.)
Moellman is the immediate past Chair of the Libertarian Party of Kentucky. He is head of a local Tea Party chapter in northern KY. He has also been the most vocal opponent and organizer against a proposed smoking ban for Newport and northern KY-area bars and restaurants. Finally, Moellman was a staunch supporter of Rand Paul for US Senate.
We here at Libertarian Republican wish Ken all the best of success. Although, there is a Republican in the race. (So, we cannot endorse him.) The seat is currently held by a Democrat.
See related LR story "Nanny-State loving newspaper in Kentucky attacks Libertarians, Tea Party over opposition to Smoking Ban."
From Eric Dondero:
A curious development out of the Hoosier State. It seems for some reason, internet hoaxers pulled a fast one on the Libertarian Party of Indiana, for reasons unknown. A Republican State Senator was also apparently victimized.
From WBIX.com:
The Libertarian Party of Indiana wants answers after a being a victim of a hoax email.
Executive Director Chris Spangle says they received the email on February 9, from whom they believed was Republican State Senator Connie Lawson.
Spangle says the email was about the party's opposition to the gay marriage constitutional ban and threatened if they didn't change their opinion on the issue, that "structural changes would be made."
The OhioRepublic blogspot reports:
The Indiana Libertarian and Republican Parties are co-operating in the investigation.
Heavy Lift Rocket Standoff on Capitol Hill, SpaceRef
"There is a cottage industry these days - inside and outside of NASA - wherein people speculate what Heavy Launch Vehicle (HLV) design NASA is or is not pursuing. Everyone has Powerpoint charts, meeting notes, etc. but no one has all the facts. Nor are they likely to for months. The leaks have become a blur. NASA has not made its mind up yet and is not due to report back to Congress until June 2011 according to senior agency sources. That lack of clarity was evident in a presentation made by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at a Space Transportation Association (STA) lunch briefing in Washington, DC on 25 March 2011."
Bolden Wants to Build Evolvable HLLV, Not the One Congress Wants, Space Policy Online
"In response to a question from NASAWatch editor Keith Cowing, Mr. Bolden explained that he does not think that the 130 metric ton lift capability prescribed in the law is necessary today and is not sure the agency can do it. He wants to build an "evolvable" launch vehicle, working in "small incremental steps [to] demonstrate that we can keep to cost and schedule and then people will begin to have confidence that we know what we're talking about.... There are things I do not know. ... I don't know what my 2011 budget is ... and that plays a critical role in what I can do."
Bolden and "evolvable" heavy-lift launch vehicles, Space Politics
"However, it wasn't clear from Bolden's comments whether what emerged from those studies would meet the act's requirements for payload capacity and schedule. Asked why the agency could't just announce that it would develop the vehicle in the act, Bolden said, "Because I don't want to, for one thing, and because it may be that we can't do that. We don't know." (It's unclear whether Bolden meant that he doesn't want to build the SLS as specified in the act, or instead meant that he doesn't want to say now that NASA will build such a vehicle; he later claimed he meant neither of those things.)"
One of my favorite asteroids is Kleopatra: a big, 217 km (135 mile) long main-belt rock that’s a wee bit weird. This image may give you a hint as to why:
It’s shaped like a cartoon dog bone! It circles the Sun out past Mars, tumbling end-over-end, and its origins have always been something of a mystery. However, new observations and analysis reveal quite a bit about how this asteroid got its unusual shape. I won’t spoil it, but instead simply point you to Emily Lakdawalla’s excellent summary of Kleopatra on The Planetary Society blog. It’s a tale of collisions, spin, and eventual reconciliation, as many good stories are.
One thing I didn’t know is that Kleo has two moons: Alexhelios and Cleoselene. They orbit the asteroid in the plane of the its rotation, and may be cast-offs from the formation of Kleo itself. Read Emily’s article for the whole scoop.
Man, the solar system is a cool place. And there’s still so much left to see!
