UARS Final Resting Place Identified

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Final Update: NASA's UARS Re-enters Earth's Atmosphere

"NASA's decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite fell back to Earth at 12 a.m. EDT (0400 GMT), as Friday, Sept. 23, turned to Saturday, Sept. 24 on the United States east coast. The Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California has determined the satellite entered the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean at 14.1 degrees south latitude and 189.8 degrees east longitude (170.2 west longitude). This location is over a broad, remote ocean area in the Southern Hemisphere, far from any major land mass. The debris field is located between 300 miles and 800 miles downrange, or generally northeast of the re-entry point. NASA is not aware of any possible debris sightings from this geographic area."

Fuel Depots and Congress

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Rohrabacher Demands Release of NASA's Recent On-Orbit Fuel Depot Analysis

"Today, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) continued his criticism of NASA's new design for deep space exploration by sending a letter to former NASA's Administrator Dr. Michael D. Griffin asking him to join Rohrabacher's call for NASA to release their recent analysis and conclusions regarding on-orbit fuel depots. Dr. Griffin spoke about on-orbit technology during his testimony before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee on September 22rd, 2011."I'm certain you are aware that on-orbit fuel depots were included in NASA's initial Human Exploration Framework...as presented on May 25, 2010," writes Rohrabacher. "Somewhere in the intervening time, depots were dropped from the plan. It is important for Congress and the American people to understand how and why that decision was made."

House Appropriators Ask NASA For Webb Cost Info (Again)

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Letter from Rep. Frank Wolf to OMB Director Jacob Lew Regarding James Webb Space Telescope

"In the coming weeks, the House and Senate will sit down to negotiate final appropriations bills for fiscal year 2012, and the appropriate level of funding for JWST will be one of the most significant issues considered. For us to make a truly informed decision that takes into account both the value of JWST and the value of opportunities that may be precluded by the JWST replan, we must have the offset information. If such information is not provided by the time that conference negotiations begin, I will consider that to be an indication that JWST is no higher in priority than any other existing or planned NASA activity."

Another Crashing Satellite

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Second big satellite set to resist re-entry burn-up, New Scentist

'On its ROSAT website, DLR estimates that "up to 30 individual debris items with a total mass of up to 1.6 tonnes might reach the surface of the Earth. The X-ray optical system, with its mirrors and a mechanical support structure made of carbon-fibre reinforced composite - or at least a part of it - could be the heaviest single component to reach the ground.""

Is There Ever Enough Time?

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This month, we talk about "must do" lists, highlighting a compilation of top priority goals from more than a dozen maintenance leaders in industries across the manufacturing spectrum. But is there enough time to plan ahead, much less make a plan real? Are software systems helpful, or just another th

Do You Want Paper or No Paper?

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Do you prefer electronic books or traditional paper books? The digital medium can be less expensive and lighter and can simplify access to almost limitless titles, but paper books have tradition on their side. They also permit easier random browsing. Which medium do you find easier and more satisfyi

Responsible Water Stewardship

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Some experts are saying that water will be more important than oil for the future economic and political stability of the planet. Food and beverage companies are beginning examine their water usage and move towards more sustainable processes. PepsiCo, for example, is working with GE to better manage

Do You Work for a "Zero Landfill" Company?

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Consumer brands giant Unilever is working to recycle 97% of its waste and reuse the remaining 3% for energy production, making it a "zero landfill" company. The company is using the famous "3 R's" mantra: reduce, reuse, and recycle. They have reduced their total waste in manufacturing by 77% since 1

Heinz Invents Ketchup Pack For In-Car Use

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The question of how to induce people to consume more fast food while behind the wheel has always been an issue of huge import for the fast-food industry. And as it has long been known that drive-thru customers are foregoing fries with their orders because of the hassle and even danger of tryin

Gold Nanowires to Treat Heart Attack Patients

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Heart attacks are a devastating occurrence. Each year, approximately 1.5 million heart attacks occur in the United States and cause 500,000 deaths. A new technology, developed by researchers at MIT and Children's Hospital Boston, could someday help these millions of sufferers.

A heart attack occ

Severinis for sale at upcoming notable Sotheby’s auction

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Sotheby’s
20th Century Italian Art Including Italian Identity – an Important Private Collection
October 13, 2011
London

Gino Severini, Train arrivant à Paris, 1915

Train arrivant à Paris was originally given to the Dutch collector H. van Assendelft by Severini himself in 1916. Van Assendelft was an early friend and patron of Kandinsky, Mondrian and Severini, and was the first owner of the Stedelijk Museum’s train painting. (Tate)

Train arrivant à Paris is estimated at £500,000-700,000.

Natura morta con arance, 1917, is estimated at £400,000-600,00.

Let us not forget the Severini which sold in 2008 for £15.04 million (NYTimes) – making it the most expensive Futurist work ever sold at auction.

More on the sale here.

More images of Severini’s work here on Mid-Centuria.

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New method for single-cell analysis may improve cancer treatment

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A collaboration between Danish and American researchers has resulted in the development of a new method that enables the measurement of enzyme activities in individual human cells. This method can be used to measure how cell-to-cell variation in tumours affects the overall response to chemotherapy and thus clarify some of the molecular causes of the chemo-resistance often seen in cancer patients.