The first truly simultaneous X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer covering almost all elements of the periodic table in one run.
Greener Nano – Advancing applications and reducing risk
GN11 will address challenges and opportunities for nanotechnology, and delineate how companies can incorporate green nanotechnology into its products and processes. The meeting will focus on two key research areas where reduction to practice has the most potential to significantly advance the field. It will highlight state-of-the-art in materials and characterization challenges, and biological impacts of nanotechnology.
The past, present and future of cancer
Researchers gather to discuss the state of their field and the potential for new treatments.
Breakthrough makes large bandgap materials useful for photovoltaics
In a standard dye sensitized solar cell, an organic molecule adsorbed on the surface of a porous electrode absorbs light and then initiates the charge separation process eventually leading to generation of photocurrent. While the dye appears to have "sensitized" the large bandgap material, it never actually does, because only the dye molecules absorb the light and generate the carriers, the large bandgap material primarily serves the function of a conducting channel to take the electrons out. While wide bandgap materials alone can not absorb the sun light efficiently, it has been predicted that if two large bandgap materials with type-II band alignment form coaxial nanowires, the effective indirect bandgap could be substantially smaller than either of the individual materials. After a few years effort, one research team has now demonstrated a real functional device that exhibits the key feature of the idea: the use of two large bandgap materials to make a solar cell behaving like a small bandgap material.
Correlated Electromagnet Array Selected as Industry Game Changer
Programmable "correlated" electromagnet array technology from Correlated Magnetics Research (CMR) was recently selected by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers as one of the 2011Innovations That Could Change the Way You Manufacture.
Beach, Food; Puerto Rico
In early March 2011 we had the chance to go to Puerto Rico for a few days. It was great to get some sun and the food there was fantastic (if you don’t mind fried…well, everything). We had a car for one day and decided to go to a stretch of beach not too far away from San Juan, Condado and the Isla Verde area. This stretch of beach is called Piñones and the best thing about this area are all the street food vendors that line up along the side of the road.
The Supermoon Was Really Super Huge [Image Cache]
The Year in Android Phones So Far [Republished]
We've seen a flood of Android phones so far in 2011. We got our first whiff of the coming deluge in January when we went to the Consumer Electronics Show and saw around a dozen really impressive models on the show floor, all with big displays, 4G radios, beefy processors and promises of epic battery life. Some had interesting add-ons, like big physical keyboards for thumb commandos, or the Motorola Atrix's whacky full-sized laptop dock. More »
Today’s the vernal equinox! | Bad Astronomy
Today, at 23:21 UT (19:21 p.m. Eastern US time), the Sun’s odometer resets, and it once again finds itself at the celestial coordinates of 0h0m0s Right Ascension, 0°0m0s declination.
Or, in other words, it’s the vernal equinox!
A lot of folks will say this is the first day of spring. I think it makes more sense to call this the mid-point of spring — as do many countries — but I’m less inclined to argue about it as much as I used to. What the heck; it’s getting warmer in the northern hemisphere after quite a long and adventurous winter, and I went biking in the sunshine yesterday. It’s sure starting to feel like spring. Good enough for me!
In real terms, the equinox means a few things, too:
Day and night are about the same length (12 hours each)… although the Earth’s non-circular orbit and atmospheric distortion mess that up a bit.
The Sun rises pretty much due east and sets due west.
In the northern hemisphere the length of daylight is increasing the fastest. That sounds funny, but it’s not too hard to understand. In the northern hemisphere, just after the winter solstice, ...
Book Excerpt: The World We Have
Thich Nhat Hanh on being grateful for this land.
Olson/Adams: Its OK to Cut NASA – Just Not Our State’s Stuff
GOP Lawmakers Appeal for Manned Exploration Funds Space News
"To be clear, we believe that NASA's budget can be reduced," the lawmakers wrote, urging Ryan to take aim at climate-monitoring programs poised for a funding boost over the next five years under the $18.72 billion budget blueprint U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled Feb. 14. "Within the NASA budget specifically, we believe there is an opportunity to cut funding within the Earth Science account where an overabundance of climate change research is being conducted."
Libertarian Republican Super Gal off to Afghanistan
From Eric Dondero:
Tea Party and libertarian Republican activist Katherine Jenerette got a warm send off to Afghanistan recently, at the Airport near Washington, DC. Katherine, an active duty Reservist, was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress last year, supported heavily by this website. She lost to her friend and fellow Tea Partyer Tim Scott, and promptly endorsed him. Cong. Scott is now one of two leaders of the Freshman Class of Republicans.
Sent to us from Katherine, appearing in the Charleston Post & Courier:
[US Congressman Tim] Scott was on his way to Baltimore-Washington International Airport to see off 35 troops to Afghanistan.
Most of the men and women are from Arizona, California and Oregon, but two were from South Carolina, Capt. Katherine Jenerette of North Myrtle Beach and Sgt. 1st Class Marticia Maxie of North Charleston.
Scott's legislative correspondent, Brandon Rowland, drove the congressman to the airport in his BMW. Rowland worked to help get Scott elected and moved from Charleston to Washington in January to join his staff. Earlier in the day, he also traded the congressman his garnet-colored tie for Scott's orange one for a meeting with Harris Pastides, the University of South Carolina president.
Scott tells people all day long that his election to Congress was "a blessing," and on the road to the airport, he explained more about what that meant.
"The time I am investing in D.C. is for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to make sure that America gets stronger, starting in South Carolina and the first congressional district," Scott said. "It's a privilege, a blessing from God to serve your country.
Photo h/t Post & Courier
Newly-discovered Libertarian City Councilman in California
Home to CA's famed Joshua Trees
Libertarian elected officials keep popping up all over the U.S. The Libertarian Party does its best to keep track of them, but more often than not, they don't make list of Libertarian affiliated elected officials.
Meet Chad Mayes, City Councilman for Yucca Valley, California. The town lies in San Bernadino County not far from the big US Marine base at Twenty-Nine Palms. The population is approximately 16,000.
A Letter to the Editor of the local paper exposes Mayes as a "Libertarian."
From the Hi-Desert Star "What do parties have to do with it?" John Fretter:
Councilman Chad Mayes stated that as a Libertarian, he struggled with a council decision (Hi-Desert Star, Feb. 5).
That led me to wonder whether the Town Council members shouldn’t be elected on the basis of each candidate’s political stripes.
If candidates promised to make decisions based on their political allegiances, voters would better know what they’d be voting for.
In contrast, I voted for Chad Mayes three times based on his being a lifetime resident of this place, his youth and idealism and his family background.
I didn’t expect libertarianism might come into play.
Freter goes on to criticize libertarianism itself:
Years ago, I was interested in the subject of libertarianism. Liberty has visceral appeal. But my research was disillusioning. Though Libertarian stances on some social issues are laudable, the economic ideas of libertarianism are often at best naive, at worst cruel and would work directly against the blessings of liberty that Libertarians claim to stand for.
Plus, I looked for their record. There is no historical example ever of a successful libertarian government — at any level — anywhere.
He concludes:
Maybe it’s naïve, but I’d prefer that the issues the town of Yucca Valley faces should be dealt with objectively, logically and with no councilperson struggling with personal politics.
Yuri’s Night 2011
$18,000 in Prizes Offered by Yuri's Night in "Call to Humanity" Space Exploration Ad Competition
"Yuri's Night is excited to commemorate the 50th anniversary of human spaceflight by launching two contests: the "Call to Humanity" Space Exploration Ad Competition, which calls on talented graphic designers, artists, and other creative individuals to create a powerful and inspiring print campaign that will move people to think about and support humanity's future in space, and the "International Space Sweepstakes," a free global drawing."
Books by Mark Spragg – StandardNet
 StandardNet | Books by Mark Spragg StandardNet Einer's old friend, Barnumn McEban, is caring for a 10-year-old boy whose mother has gone looking for spiritual enlightenment. Spragg is currently working on a new novel, but doesn't want to disclose many details. "It's still too new. ... |
Private school funding draws ire – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Private school funding draws ire Atlanta Journal Constitution They also argue that taxpayer-supported medical schools and engineering scholarships at private colleges fill a need for more doctors and engineers. But, some lawmakers and students wonder if state leadership — which includes prominent private school ... |
Painting Master: Shen Yun Dance Like ‘Floating Clouds and Flowing Water’ – The Epoch Times
Painting Master: Shen Yun Dance Like 'Floating Clouds and Flowing Water' The Epoch Times As long as you are a human being, you should watch it often and should have some spiritual enlightenment. Of course, nowadays people are living a modern life. In addition to preferences of arts and literature, they also have religious feelings. ... |
State money may be used to move New Orleans school away from new medical … – The Republic
State money may be used to move New Orleans school away from new medical ... The Republic 11 School in New Orleans now have been earmarked to move the structure off the site of the new University Medical Center. In a Friday news release, the state said the commitment comes after a request from the New Orleans City Council that the state ... |
Gary Busey Launches GPS Voice App, Advises Drivers to "Honk at Geese" – PR-USA.net (press release)
Gary Busey Launches GPS Voice App, Advises Drivers to "Honk at Geese" PR-USA.net (press release) Exclusively from NavTones.com - the leading independent developer of celebrity GPS voices - Gary treats drivers and passengers to turn-by-turn driving directions and provides spiritual enlightenment along all routes, or "journeys", as Gary fondly ... |
Medical school gains high ranking – Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Medical school gains high ranking Sioux Falls Argus Leader The Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota is one of the top 10 medical schools in the country for its rural medicine program, according to US News and World Report. The magazine's "America's Best Graduate School's 2012" guide ... |