Freedom? Knowing Who You Are Creates Dominion Over Fearmongers – Huffington Post

Greg Frucci Published Author, Speaker and Adventurer, Greg Frucci serves highly successful corporate leaders and entrepreneurs who desire to expand their power and influence in a positive and loving way. This post is hosted on the Huffington Post's Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and post freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

If I state, "I am a Christian [or any other religion]," I would be in separation by drawing a line between me and all other humans who are not part of those human created systems of control. Further, I would be living in a self imposed form of limitation while in agreement with a group idea of the right way or the highway. Further still, if I separate myself from my fellow humans for any reason, I would be separating myself from God. Why build a wall around myself when I just want to be free?

"But Greg, if you don't pray as I do, or believe in the religious ways I do, you'll rot in hell forever."

Yeah I know, not every Christian believes that way. However, some do and Ive been at the receiving end of that kind of fear mongering both as a child and as an adult. Have you?

People who proclaim those words of fear to other people, exist in fear while creating more fear. Fear is the mind-killer which blocks the Soul from emerging. To argue with fear is pointless, just walk the other way and smile.

Im not bashing religion. There are fearless people who are members of all religions. They become the beacons of light for those who are in fear. Religious organizations can and do serve people who are suffering, yet there will always be temptation for certain people of power within religious organizations, to control those whom they intend to serve.

Read human history. Many religions were created by humans after the appearance on this planet by a single human with a message of Love. Each and every one of those single humans, had their message of Love bastardized by other humans whose only purpose was to control the masses by instilling fear. The fear of being punished if they did not believe what they were told. Why? Money to support their greed driven control over the masses.

I am not a member of any religion primarily because I do not feel that its my way or the highway. Being a member of any human created religion is not required to Know that I Am a child of God. For me, if I know what I Am, I can know that I am already in the Kingdom of the Creator, because God is in all of us. Therefore, no separation is necessary.

As a child of God, I Know my Soul is indestructible. Sure, you can destroy my body, but you cannot destroy who I Am. So, why exist in fear and stay within mind created walls?

We are all part of God [or whatever you choose to call It, I do not care because human given names are meaningless]. If you drop out of your head for a wee bit, perhaps you'll feel It.

Can you feel the love of your life partner? Is this an energy? You can extend that feeling if you choose, to every human on our planet. Every human can, even the ones you do not like. Yet, some religious dogma will tell you that you must not try or you will perish. Why? Perhaps it is because if you knew who and what you truly are, you may not need the religion anymore. Control.

Separation exists because some humans make the choice to exist that way while being in fear of thinking otherwise. Which is cool. I used to be that way, yet I grew out of it. I choose not to build walls between myself and others who make different choices. Who am I to judge others? Has any human been granted the job of judging how any other chooses to believe? Nope. We all have free human will, so choose whatever you wish.

But think about this: If we make the choice of separation, we will continue to suffer in anger, hatred, sadness and isolation. The result will be war with other humans and war takes form in many ways even if it is just a thought.

So, I separate myself from that separation, which frees me from fear because I un-tether myself from the control of others. I stand fearlessly in my Freedom with Love as the Light for my path of life. And God is with me always regardless of any book I read.

So, if religion was too soft of a topic, lets talk about race...

If I state, "I am a white guy," I would be in separation by drawing a line between me and all females. Further, I would be drawing a line between me and my fellow humans who do not have the same thin skin color as me.

"But Greg, that is who you are."

To some perhaps, as they see me in a picture or walking down the street. If that is as far as they can go, then they are stuck in their ego...the small, finite self. That is simply the surface of my human body. That is not who I am.

Again, who I Am, is a child of God, just like you and everyone else on this planet despite what any religion, government or any human created system of control wants you and I to believe.

So, I separate myself from that separation, which becomes a path to Freedom. Choice is our Divine Right as humans and I stand in my dominion over any human who would try and force me to believe otherwise.

The only thing I separate myself from...

Oops, wait a second. Thats just like saying, There are no absolutes, which is an absolute statement.

Hum...Ill just leave it here. 🙂

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Freedom? Knowing Who You Are Creates Dominion Over Fearmongers - Huffington Post

Eugenics and social agendas – Irish Times

A chara, Juliana Adelmans article on the dark history of the eugenics movement is very welcome (Social agendas dressed up as science, February 9th). Great credit to the author is due for her reference to the strong links between eugenics proponents and the the birth control movement and its leaders in the US and Britain. These leaders included Margaret Sanger, a pioneer of Planned Parenthood in the US, and Marie Stopes in the UK. The legacy of both of these leaders includes two of the largest abortion providers in the US and UK.

Perhaps the most chilling reminder of the eugenic philosophy today is the systematic elimination through abortion of Down syndrome babies in such countries as Denmark and Sweden, with government programmes promising to reduce the incidence of Down syndrome to zero in the next 10 years. The dark shadow of eugenics closer to home is the fact that, according to UK NHS records, over 90 per cent of babies in the womb identified with Down syndrome are aborted. Yours, etc,

RAYMOND McINTYRE,

Mullingar,

Co Westmeath.

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Catholic Archbishop compares abortion to Nazi eugenics program – RT

Brisbanes Archbishop Mark Coleridge has compared Queenslands proposed decriminalization of abortion to Nazi Germanys eugenics program. The priest is facing backlash over his comments from politicians pushing for reform.

The Catholic bishop drew comparisons to both China and Nazi Germany in his statements which described his fears that the proposed legislation would decriminalize late-term abortions.

The classic term for it is eugenics, he told the Courier Mail, referring to his fear that women would terminate fetuses with a disability. It is the kind of thing that went on in Nazi Germany.

READ MORE:Trump White House endorses anti-abortion march

Coleridge was concerned women could choose to end their pregnancies if they dont get the gender they desire, citing China where the government previously imposed a one child limit on parents, with many placing more value on a male fetus. The policy was phased out in 2015.

He also stated concerns that women worried about their figure would choose to get abortions, claiming that women use abortions to avoid gaining weight.

We know this is happening in China, he said. There are even women having abortions because they are worried about their figure. At that point you have a culture in trouble.

In Queensland, abortion is a crime and can only be carried out to prevent serious danger to the womans physical or mental health.

READ MORE:New Arkansas law allows rapists to sue victims seeking abortion

Proposals put forward by Cairns MP Rob Pyne aim to remove abortion from the states criminal code, and to set limits for when abortions can be carried out, as well as creating protected areas around abortion facilities.

One of the bills says a woman can have an abortion after 24 weeks only if two doctors agree that continuing the pregnancy would be too physically or mentally dangerous to the patient.

Coleridge also criticized fellow Catholics Labor premier Annastacia Palazczuk and deputy premier Jackie Trad, who have supported the proposal.

I think a government that is very strongly opposed to domestic violence but strongly in favor of greater access to abortion has a kind of a contradiction at its heart, he claimed. Its a contradiction and probably is hypocrisy.

Trad responded to the Archbishops criticism. With all due respect to Archbishop Coleridge, I dont need counselling about my position on abortion. I have been pro-choice all my adult life, she wrote.

She explained that although she is a Catholic, she simply disagrees with the Churchs views on a womans right to choose.

Its also sad that we have reached a new low in this debate when women who have abortions are compared to Nazis, she added.

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Catholic Archbishop compares abortion to Nazi eugenics program - RT

Botswana’s national innovation ecosystem at centre of new MoU – ITWeb Africa

Published on 13 February 2017 By Matshelane Mamabolo

Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) and African Innovation Foundation (AIF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to enhance the Southern African country's innovation ecosystem and empower its youth.

The MoU has coincided with the official opening of the inaugural ABM University College Entrepreneurship Conference and launch of the University's new Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Gaphatswa.

BIH and AIF say the new agreement is based on collaboration with the ABM Entrepreneurship Development Centre to support stakeholders in the ecosystem to develop and grow competitive, technology-driven and knowledge-based businesses.

'The Botswana Innovation Hub and the African Innovation Foundation have since [the 2016 Innovation Prize for Africa awards] identified synergies to foster innovation and creativity in Africa with emphasis on Botswana," stated the BIH.

Daisy Mmabatho Molefhi, ABM University College Executive Director explained the need for the cooperation between all the parties for the benefit of innovative youth.

"Many students once they leave the institution, their expectation is to excel in business. They cannot be able to use skills because of lack of financing. We are committed to ensure young Batswana get the best out of education hence the need for this development center. Botswana Innovation Hub is fostering a relationship with ABM in launching the center of entrepreneurship and innovation."

Jean Kimani, The High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya emphasised the value of innovation and stressed that the success of young people is linked to a nation's success.

"Entrepreneurship is a critical component in the growth of any country's economy. Fostering entrepreneurship is a priority for the government/private sector to create new jobs, economic growth and have more revenue. Innovation is the cornerstone of every strategy."

Dr Alfred Madigele, Botswana's Minister of Tertiary Education Research Science and Technology praised the three institutions for finding ways to collaborate. "Partnerships with renowned institutions are important, and they promote research through financial distribution" said Minister Madigele.

Alan Boshwaen, CEO of the BIH and President of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) in Africa also stressed the value of the new partnerships.

"We found it fitting to reach out to international partnerships for the development of innovation in Botswana. Key to reaching our mandate is the availability of finances for innovators. So through Hon Madigele we will launch the Innovation Fund. We have already established administrative structures to facilitate the roll out of the Fund. We are forging this partnership with AIF, who operate from Zurich to facilitate the commercialisation of innovation. Our aim is to grow the wealth of Botswana through its people and its creativity "

ALSO ON ITWEB AFRICA

Ruckus, through its reseller IT-IQ Botswana, was awarded the contract following an extensive tender process.

Technology service provider MobileData has introduced its next generation service delivery platform TradeSwitch to support businesses on the continent in their digital transformation.

A new GSMA report details lessons learnt from Kenya's success for countries whose migration to digital broadcasting is ongoing or still in planning stages.

Botswana Innovation Hub has entered into a partnership with African Innovation Foundation in a move to enhance the country's innovation ecosystem.

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Is It Time To Remove UK Banks From the Bitcoin Ecosystem? – newsBTC

A solution has to be created which makes moving fiat in and out of bitcoin exchanges more frictionless.

Over the past few years, a lot of bitcoin exchanges had to deal with issues related to UK banks. Even though bitcoin is legal in an unregulated manner in the UK, banks are not too keen on cryptocurrency. Some experts argue it is due time to take British banks out of the bitcoin exchange industry altogether. Doing so would have catastrophic events, though, as it limits both deposit and withdrawal options for a lot of users. Then again, with banks continuing to deny service to bitcoin companies, something has to change sooner or later.

Quite a few bitcoin exchanges have seen their share of issues with UK banks. Just a few weeks ago, bitcoin broker Cryptopay announced they are no longer accepting GBP deposit and withdrawals. That is not entirely surprising, as the company deals with UK bank issues on a regular basis. After so many issues, their decision to get rid of GBP support altogether makes some sense. British users of the Cryptopay platform are disappointed by this decision, albeit there is little that can be done.

CryptoPay is not the only exchanges taking such a drastic decision. Nearly a dozen other exchanges have seen issues with UK deposits and withdrawals throughout their existence. For some reason, the UK banking system does not take kindly to bitcoin companies. It is not unlikely that the situation will only get worse once the Brexit occurs. British bitcoin enthusiasts have no other feasible option at their disposal, but to use local exchanges who still support GBP transactions.

Peer-to-peer bitcoin services are gaining more popularity all across the UK, though. Since there are no companies involved in handling consumer funds, sellers and buyers have a bit more freedom to trade bitcoin. Payments often occur through UK banks, but without making any mention of bitcoin whatsoever. At the same time, there is some degree of anxiety over how much longer this ecosystem will continue to exist moving forward.

In the end, it is not surprising fiat-to-bitcoin services dont work all that well in some regions. Fiat currency is centralized and controlled by banks, whereas bitcoin is the exact opposite. Opposing bitcoin companies is not the best idea for any region looking to position itself as a fintech hub, though. Considering how the UK is focusing a lot of effort on fintech right now, they should open up to bitcoin as well. For now, that will not be the case anytime soon, though.

A solution has to be created which makes moving fiat in and out of bitcoin exchanges more frictionless. That is much easier said than done, though. People who receive bitcoin should not necessarily look for ways to convert to fiat immediately, yet most still do so. No one is pressured into cashing out bitcoin, albeit few people are willing to hold onto bitcoin for the long term. Decentralized exchanges are direly needed to alleviate concerns related to UK banks, that much is certain.

Header image courtesy of Shutterstock

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Is It Time To Remove UK Banks From the Bitcoin Ecosystem? - newsBTC

Tenable Expands Partner Ecosystem and Delivers Better Visibility to … – Business Wire (press release)

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tenable Network Security, Inc., a global leader in cybersecurity, announced today at RSA Conference 2017 it is giving customers access to rich vulnerability data for better visibility into their risk posture through the Tenable.io partner ecosystem.

Solutions that exist in a silo fail to give security teams the visibility and context needed to accurately assess risk in a modern IT environment, said Renaud Deraison, co-founder and chief technology officer, Tenable. Thats why Tenable.io was built from the start with openness and collaboration at its core, giving it the power and flexibility to meet the security needs of any business.

As the first cloud-based vulnerability management platform built for todays elastic IT environment, Tenable.io delivers a fully documented and easy-to-use application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK) to help customers and partners simplify the export and import of vulnerability, asset, threat and other data. In addition, Tenable is working closely with technology partners to deliver a wide range of pre-built integrations.

As organizations accelerate their cloud migration initiatives, the new tools and applications used to connect to these dynamic IT environments also have the ability to expand the attack surface exponentially, said Adam Bosnian, executive vice president, global business development, CyberArk. The Tenable.io platform integrated with CyberArk privileged account security capabilities makes it easier for our customers to holistically manage and secure privileged application credentials, and consistently apply security policies across cloud and on-premises environments to reduce risk.

Technology is evolving faster than the industry can keep up, said Pedro Abreu, chief strategy officer, ForeScout Technologies, Inc. The proliferation of IoT devices connecting to the network significantly expands the attack surface and creates visibility gaps for enterprises. ForeScout helps make the invisible visible. Our end-customers have reported seeing up to 60 percent more devices on their network than what was previously known. The ability to leverage complementary capabilities from Tenable gives our end-customers the ease and flexibility to identify and mitigate threats faster, thereby improving their overall security posture and extending the value of existing security investments by interconnecting fragmented tools.

Through the Tenable Technology Integration Partner (TIP) program, technology vendors can collaborate with Tenable to build joint integrations that draw on each companys unique capabilities to help customers gain intelligent security visibility. Tenable has worked with Tenable.io launch partners BMC Software, Bradford Networks, CyberArk and ForeScout to give customers pre-built integrations with their complementary systems, including patch management, automation and orchestration, password vault and network access control solutions.

To learn about the range of vendors that already integrate with Tenable.io, or to join the TIP program, visit the Works with Tenable.io page.

For more information on Tenable.io products, capabilities, pricing, or to sign up for a demo, visit tenable.com/io, or stop by Tenable booth 4301 (North Expo Hall) to speak with Tenable and select launch partners during RSA Conference 2017 from Feb. 13-16, 2017.

About Tenable Network Security

Tenable Network Security transforms security technology for the business needs of tomorrow through comprehensive solutions that provide continuous visibility and critical context, enabling decisive actions to protect your organization. Tenable eliminates blind spots, prioritizes threats, and reduces exposure and loss. With more than one million users and more than 20,000 enterprise customers worldwide, organizations trust Tenable for proven security innovation. Tenable customers range from Fortune Global 500 companies, to the global public sector, to mid-sized enterprises in all sectors, including finance, government, healthcare, higher education, retail and energy. Transform security with Tenable, the creators of Nessus and leaders in continuous monitoring, by visiting tenable.com.

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Tenable Expands Partner Ecosystem and Delivers Better Visibility to ... - Business Wire (press release)

Cris Cyborg sends a strong message to new UFC champ Germaine de Randamie – FOXSports.com

Just seconds after Germaine de Randamie was crowned the first ever UFC womens featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg Justino was shown on camera with a smile on her face while sitting cage side just a few feet away from the action in the Octagon.

Cyborg has been the reigning queen at 145-pounds for the better part of a decade after decimating any and all opponents who stepped into the cage with her during stints with several different promotions including Strikeforce and Invicta FC.

Most recently, Cyborg finally made her UFC debut while competing at 140-pounds, but now the promotion has made a division specifically with her in mind. Unfortunately due to the rigorous weight cuts involved with getting down to 140-pounds, Cyborg was unable to accept a fight with de Randamie or Holly Holm at UFC 208.

Regardless of who is wearing the title right now, Cyborg sent a strong statement to de Randamie in a conversation with FOX Sports that with or without a UFC belt, shes still the best womens fighter on the planet.

ESPN and FOX Sports both have me ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound in womens mixed martial arts. I havent lost in 10 years, Cyborg said.

Until someone beats me I am No. 1 in the world no matter what belt is around my waist.

Theres little doubt that Cyborg has earned her position at the top of the featherweight division, but she still had to sit and watch two other fighters battle for the inaugural belt at 145-pounds in the UFC.

Because she was unable to take the fight on the proposed date, Cyborg says it wasnt difficult to sit and watch de Randamie and Holm battle for the title but clearly she knows that a championship belt doesnt necessarily make you the best fighter in the world.

I was not ready to fight Feb.11th. Germaine is a great fighter and a win over Holly only helps increase her star power, Cyborg said. It wasnt disappointing to be sitting cage side, I was excited because the UFC has made the division. I am ranked No. 1 in the world at 145-pounds and feel confident the fans know that too.

Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The title fight at UFC 208 on Saturday night was a closely contested bout with de Randamie edging out Holm after five rounds. Afterwards, Holm stated that she thought she deserved the win, but Cyborg actually agrees with the judges decision the way it was rendered at the event with de Randamie being awarded the victory.

I had Germaine de Randamie winning. It was a close fight but the damage done by significant strikes by de Randamie made the difference in my opinion, Cyborg said. Holly needed to chain her wrestling transitions better to get that takedowns.

Once the fight was over, de Randamie was immediately asked about a fight with Cyborg, who is undoubtedly the top contender in the division whenever she returns to action. While de Randamie stated that shes headed for hand surgery to fix some existing ligament damage, she welcomed the chance to face Cyborg in the Octagon to defend her title.

Clearly, Cyborg welcomes that chance as well.

Its an exciting matchup, Cyborg said about the proposed fight with de Randamie. My team has been watching her for awhile and I feel confident they see opportunities to exploit her weaknesses in MMA.

On Saturday night after de Randamie said that she was headed for surgery, Cyborg even turned her attention to Invicta FC interim featherweight champion Megan Anderson, who is another top contender who is likely to receive looks from the UFC as they continue to bolster the new division.

Cyborg suggests that if de Randamie isnt ready to fight soon that she would gladly welcome Anderson to the UFC with a matchup at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June.

I am ready to enter fight camp now. If [de Randamie] is injured and cant fight I would like a chance to fight Megan Anderson, Cyborg said. She is an interim champion for the belt I own and calling out fighters in the UFC.

It only makes sense if [de Randamie] is not ready to fight that the UFC would offer her a contract and a chance to fight me on the biggest stage, inside the UFC octagon. I think it would be a great addition to the June event in Rio if shes ready to fight.

Right now, Cyborg is still provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance from an out-of-competition sample collected by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) but she is currently in the process of applying for a retroactive therapeutic use exemption for the drug that was administered by her physician.

White recently spoke about the issue and sounded positive that Cyborg would hopefully be cleared to return to action sooner rather than later. Obviously with the legalities surrounding the proceedings, Cyborg couldnt speak about the ongoing situation but sounded hopeful that she would be able to resume her career in the near future.

I needed to give my body time to recover from my past two weight cuts. Ive given my body a proper off season allowing it to recover and am ready to start training camp soon, Cyborg revealed.

My USADA situation is still ongoing and at this time I have no comment, but am hopeful my lawyer and doctors will resolve this and are cooperating fully with USADA.

Finally, Cyborg was asked for a statement to send to de Randamie, who will more than likely be her targeted opponent when shes cleared to return to the UFC.

Lets go champ, Cyborg said in closing.

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

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Cyborg Future? Elon Musk’s Plan to Compete with AI – Live Science

Elon Musk speaks at the Tesla Design Studio on April 30, 2015, in Hawthorne, California.

How can humans stay relevant in an age of artificial intelligence? Elon Musk thinks cyborgs are the answer.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO discussed the need for a "merger of biological intelligence and digital intelligence" during a talk today (Feb. 13) at the World Government Summit in Dubai, CNBC reported.

One of the main advantages computers have over humans is the speed at which they can send out information, Musk said. While humans are limited by the the speed of theirtyping, a computer can send out information at "a trillion bits per second," Musk said. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more advanced, humans will also need to evolve to remain relevant, he added. [Super-Intelligent Machines: 7 Robotic Futures]

"Some high-bandwidth interface to the brain will be something that helps achieve a symbiosis between human and machine intelligence, and maybe solves the control problem and the usefulness problem," Musk said of the need for humans to merge their minds with computers, according to CNBC.

Musk has previously discussed a system that could link human brains to a computer interface. This so-called "neural lace" concept, which would add a digital layer of intelligence to the human brain, was first mentioned at Recode's Code Conference last year. Since introducing the idea, Musk has hinted at the interface's progress and has further discussed his views on an artificially intelligent future.

Musk has also expressed his fear of "deep AI," explaining that an artificial general intelligence would be "smarter than the smartest human on Earth." Though this technology is not an immediate threat, Musk said the combination of human brains with machine intelligencewill ensure humanity's continued relevance.

However, one aspect of AI that is an immediate threat is the displacement of jobs, Musk said. During the World Government Summit talk, Musk specifically noted that with autonomous cars, an industry in which Tesla is a leader, AI will displace people in driving-focused positions such as truck drivers, delivery drivers and taxi drivers.

"The most near-term impact from a technology standpoint is autonomous cars," Musk said at the Summit, according to CNBC. "But there are many people whose jobs are to drive. In fact, I think it might be the single largest employer of people ... driving in various forms."

Musk estimated that 12 to 15 percent of the global workforce will be out of a job once autonomous vehicles AI take over driving duties, CNBC reported.

Original article on Live Science.

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Scarlett Johansson Goes Full-On Cyborg in Badass New ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Trailer — Watch Now! – Entertainment Tonight

Playing Scarlett Johansson Goes Full-On Cyborg in Badass New 'Ghost in the Shell' Trailer -- Watch Now!

We didn't actually have to travel to Tokyo for the latest Ghost in the Shell trailer, but we sure as hell were transported nonetheless.

A new preview for Scarlett Johansson's live-action take on the cult classic manga dropped at midnight and, though we've seen Johansson kick a** as superhero assassin Black Widow and merciless antihero Lucy and whatever she was in Under the Skin, GITS features a new side to the star -- the cyborg side.

EXCLUSIVE: Scarlett Johansson Likes What Her 'Ghost in the Shell' Role Can Teach Her Daughter About Risk Taking

In Ghost in the Shell, Johansson plays The Major, a special ops hybrid who hunts down the most dangerous criminal as part of an elite task force called Section 9. This is but the latest look at the flick. A sneak peek dropped during the Super Bowl that ripped open Johansson's face to show her robotic inner workings:

When ET traveled to Japan for the first trailer's premiere, director Rupert Sanders revealed why -- despite any controversy -- Johansson was his only choice to play The Major, explaining, "She's the best actress of her generation, and I was flattered and honored that she would be in this film."

"There are very few actresses who've had 20 years of experience, who have the cyberpunk aesthetic already baked in," he added. "She comes from such edgy films, from Lost in Translation to Under the Skin. She's got an incredible body of work and her attitude and toughness is, to me, The Major."

Ghost in the Shell hits theaters on March 31, 2017.

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Scarlett Johansson Goes Full-On Cyborg in Badass New 'Ghost in the Shell' Trailer -- Watch Now! - Entertainment Tonight

The Cyborg Villain Kuze Is Revealed in the New Ghost In The Shell Trailer – Gizmodo

With a little over a month to go before the live-action Ghost in the Shell movie hits theaters, a new trailer is here, and it reveals a lot.

After the mostly visual first trailer, here we get a good sense of the story, the fact this version will dive deeper into The Majors past and get to meet Kuze, the villain of the film. Check it out.

Of course, the film is based on the iconic Japanese franchise created by Mamoru Oshii. In this futuristic world, the human essence, also known as a ghost, can be transferred to different cyborg bodies, called shells. Scarlett Johansson is the Major, a highly-trained cyborg who has to get to the bottom of a conspiracy plot.

Directed by Rupert Sanders, Ghost in the Shell stars Scarlett Johansson, Michael Pitt, Takeshi Kitano, and Juliette Binoche. It opens March 31.

[YouTube]

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The MMA Hour with Fedor Emelianenko, Cris Cyborg, Michael Bisping, Rory MacDonald, Paul Daley, Derek Brunson … – MMA Fighting

The MMA Hour is back in your life. Below is a rundown of Monday's show:

1 p.m. ET -- We'll recap the weekend that was in MMA.

1:25 p.m. -- Rory MacDonald will stop by to preview his Bellator debut against Paul Daley.

1:45 p.m. -- We'll also be joined by Daley to discuss his Bellator 179 fight against MacDonald.

2:05 p.m. -- Cris Cyborg will talk about the UFC women's featherweight title fight and her future.

2:25 p.m. -- Luke Rockhold will update us on what's next for him.

2:45 p.m. -- Fedor Emelianenko will preview his fight against Matt Mitrione on Saturday night.

3:10 p.m. -- UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping will discuss his recent knee surgery and what's next for him.

3:30 p.m. -- Jon Anik will look back at UFC 208 and discuss becoming the lead play-by-play man for the UFC.

3:50 p.m. -- Derek Brunson will talk about his controversial loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 208.

4:10 p.m. -- We'll look ahead to the weekend and discuss other MMA news.

Plus, we'll be taking your calls on anything and everything. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at1-888-418-4074.

Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. GMT.

Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes (audio feedhere; video feedhere), Soundcloud or Google Play. Listen to the show via Stitcherhere or via TuneInhere.

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The MMA Hour with Fedor Emelianenko, Cris Cyborg, Michael Bisping, Rory MacDonald, Paul Daley, Derek Brunson ... - MMA Fighting

Enhancing humans: Becoming a cyborg could end up as a privilege of the wealthy – Genetic Literacy Project

What is the greatest achievement of evolution? Here are some popular choices:the development of the genetic code inprimitive microorganisms; the ability to thrive on oxygen (which previously had been toxic to most of Earths life forms); the emergence of eukaryotic cells; multicellular organisms; or, very recently, the development of the human brain, which more than tripped in size over the last 5 million years. But several future-minded thinkers believe that the biggest advances are yet to come.

For billions of years, all of the beneficial innovations of life on Earth came from changes in the genes, imparted to future generations by the sieve of natural selection and other evolutionary forces. In our ancestors, intelligence was a survival advantage, so the brain got bigger and soon we were using it to invent technologies, which improved life by altering the environment outside of the body.

Now, with our knowledge of biology at the cellular and molecular level growing byleaps and bounds, and with our computer and electronics technology exponentiating, great thinkers are considering the emergence of high scale artificial intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for humanity. Intelligent, sentient robots could be coming and people like Bill Gates and Elon Musk want to make sure that AI develops in a way thats not harmful to humans. We want machinesto replace us in certain functionsparticularly dangerous tasks like pulling people out of firesbut with safeguards built in so that even when AI exceeds that of humans it wont replace our species, or seek to enslave us.

As AI advances, machine technology is expected to merge with humans, as it has already begun to do. Today, its routine for people to have implanted drug infusion pumps, cardiac pacemakers, and other devices, and the day is coming when artificial organsmachine hearts, livers, and kidneyswill not only be available, but preferable to a donor organ. Along with that will come true, fully-functinal and cosmetically appealing bionic limbs, eyes, and ears, and brain implants and interfaces could be possible to give people a boost in memory capacity and even information. Imagine having the Internet connected directly to your brain.

The options for human enhancement seem endless and Hebrew Universitys ProfessorYuval Noah Harari believesthat many humans will eventually take on new forms.

I think it is likely in the next 200 years or so Homo sapiens will upgrade themselves into some idea of a divine being, either through biological manipulation or genetic engineering of by the creation of cyborgs, part organic part non-organic.It will be the greatest evolution in biology since the appearance of life. Nothing really has changed in four billion years biologically speaking. But we will be as different from todays humans as chimps are now from us.

Regarding nothing has really changed in four billion years biologically speaking, on this point Harari is completely wrong. In the last four billion years, life emerged on Earth, learned how to thrive in oxygen instead of dying from it, and through biological evolution the cosmos learned to taste, smell, see, hear, and speak. In our corner of space, the cosmos started thinking about itself in the form of sentient human beings. Since human divergence with apes a few million years ago, brain size has more than tripled and independently of size the brain has become far more complex. Only a million years ago, though boasting brains 2/3 the size of ours, our ancestors still could not speak, because the spinal canal was too narrow for the needed control of breathing and other muscles. The changes enabling speech, writing, and a plethora of other physical and mental skills were anatomical. They developed as a result of Darwinian evolution, and so, biologically speaking, in four billion years, everything has changed.

But Harari is right that were moving into an age of human enhancement, and hes fairly hopeful that there will be positive consequences. In particular, he expects the cyborgazation of humans to end religion. That may be a tall order at Hebrew University, located in Jerusalem, where people still come from all over the planet to pray to a stone wall, but Harari is thinking in terms of centuries. In Western Europe, North America, and other developed countries, people are dropping organized religion.The new religion,Harariobserves, is technology and a blind belief in the infinite power of innovation.

As long as humans believed they relied more and more on these gods they were controllable.But what we see in the last few centuries is humans becoming more powerful and they no longer need the crutches of the gods. Now we are saying we do not need God, just technology.The most interesting place in the world from a religious perspective is not the Middle East, its Silicon Valley where they are developing a techno-religion. They believe even death is just a technological problem to be solved.

The challenge is that the technology will cost money. Harari warns that the futurethe bionic body parts and all the enhancements to prolong human lifecould end up as a privilege of only the wealthiest segment of society.

David Warmflash is an astrobiologist, physician and science writer. Follow @CosmicEvolution to read what he is saying on Twitter.

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Enhancing humans: Becoming a cyborg could end up as a privilege of the wealthy - Genetic Literacy Project

Mexico Beach ‘Leave No Trace’ referendum Feb. 21 – The News Herald

A year-long initiative from a group of Mexico Beach citizens is nearing its destination.

MEXICO BEACH A year-long initiative from a group of Mexico Beach citizens is nearing its destination.

The city of Mexico Beach will hold a special referendum Feb. 21, during which citizens will vote on a resolution that would become an ordinance on Leave No Trace right away if the measure passes.

After seeing a worsening situation of personal items being left on the beach over the past few years, a citizens group decided enough was enough and went door-to-door collecting signatures.

We went around and got over 300 signatures, which was more than enough for a ballet initiative, said Mary Lee Raulerson, the spokesperson for the group.

According to Raulerson, the ballot is just the latest step in curbing a problem.

The last couple years we tried Keep It Neat, and that just didnt work, she said. People were leaving things on the beach all night long. Some people were leaving things there for weeks at a time. Tents, chairs, flotation devices; all these things that the wind can blow into the water, if it gets bad, or back up into the dunes.

The beach was just a mess, and the last two summers it has just gotten worse.

If the referendum is approved, Mexico Beach would be following other local communities that have passed a Leave No Trace ordinance in the recent years. Panama City Beach passed an ordinance in 2012, and Gulf County passed one in 2015.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit any obstruction or personal property being left on the beach between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Raulerson isnt just worried about the appearance of the beach, though.

Its not just for the looks of the beach either its for our turtles, she said. The turtle patrol is behind this 100 percent. They go down every morning and see the turtle tracks.

They have gone down and seen where the turtles have gotten up to this stuff that is left and they just turn around and go back and they dont nest. Or they get tangled in it.

Raulerson wants the tourism industry to thrive in Mexico Beach and sees the proposed ordinance as a tool to achieve continued tourism activity in Mexico Beach.

It is real important to keep the beaches in good condition, in pristine condition, because that is what draws people here, she said.

Voting will take place at the Mexico Beach Civic Center between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT. No early voting will be allowed. Mexico Beach registered voters can request absentee ballots at bayvotes.org.

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Mexico Beach 'Leave No Trace' referendum Feb. 21 - The News Herald

Isis ‘recruiting Spanish fighters to attack beaches in Spain’ – Metro

People sunbathing in Benidorm, Spain (Picture: Getty)

Isis has reportedly made direct threats to attack beaches in Spain.

A report from the Spanish government is said to set out concerns that the terror group has started a campaign to hire translators, prompting concerns that the purpose is to attract Spanish fighters.

There has apparently been an increase in pro-Isis social media posts in Spanish, and of propaganda videos with Spanish subtitles.

The claims were reported in the Expressand expat paper the Olive Press, and have since been covered widely in the UK media.

According to the Express, the government document says: ISIS has been publishing in Spanish, which means an increase in the risk of its influence on radicals living in our country.

It said that the drive to hire Spanish translators suggests a growing interest in attracting Spanish-speaking foreign fighters.

The report is said to warn of directthreats issued to Spain over social media, over the countrys role in a global coalition targeting Isis in Iraq and Syria.

Metro has not been able to verify the document.

Isis claimed a 2015 massacre on a beach in Sousse, Tunisia, where 38 mainly British holidaymakers were gunned down by a man with aKalashnikov hidden in a parasol.

Another attack on tourists came on the promenade of Nice in the south of France in July last year, when 84 people were killed by a truck deliberately driven into a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day.

There are fears that the group could try for a repeat this summer.

The FCO has not changed its advice on travelling to Spain: There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. The Spanish authorities take measures to protect visitors, but you should be vigilant and follow the instructions of the local authorities.

In 2015, Spanish police disrupted a number of groups suspected of recruiting individuals to travel to Syria and Iraq. Some of them expressed an intention to carry out attacks in Europe. Several further police operations have taken place in 2016. Spanish authorities believe that a number of Spanish nationals have successfully travelled to Syria and Iraq.

There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.

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Isis 'recruiting Spanish fighters to attack beaches in Spain' - Metro

High bacteria levels at majority of local beaches – KEYT

High bacteria levels at majority of...

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - WARNING: High bacteria levels found at 15 Santa Barbara County beaches.

The Santa Barbara County Health Department is asking the public to please stay at least 50 yards away from creek mouths and storm drains at these area beaches: Arroyo Burro Beach, Butterfly Beach, Carpinteria State Beach, East Beach @ Mission Creek, East Beach @ Sycamore Creek, El Capitan State Beach, Gaviota State Beach, Goleta Beach, Guadalupe Dunes, Hammonds, Hope Ranch Beach, Leadbetter Beach, Refugio Beach, Sands Beach @ Coal Oil Plant, and Summerland Beach.

Jalama Beach is open.

In Ventura County the mass majority of beaches also have a warning, for not meeting state requirements and having a high level of bacteria. For details on Ventura County beaches bacteria levels, go to the Environmental Health Department's webpage.

The precautionary warnings are issued during significant storms. When rainfall is significant enough to result in runoff flow into storm drains, channels, creeks, and rivers that empty onto the beach of Ventura County. In general, 0.2 inches of rainfall may be enough to create significant runoff conditions.

The Ventura County Environmental Health Division says storm water runoff has the potential to carry disease causing bacteria to the beaches and into the ocean water. Contact with this runoff water will result in an increased risk to human health and should be avoided for at least 72 hours after all rainfall activity has ended. If contact occurs wash thoroughly with soap and water.

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High bacteria levels at majority of local beaches - KEYT

Rare pics show Hawaii locals carrying surfboards along pristine beaches 120 years ago in one of earliest EVER … – The Sun

The retro snaps were captured by Manchester-born photographer Herbert Smith

FASCINATING images taken 120-years-ago show native surfers in Hawaii carrying their boards along a sandy beach have been unearthed.

They provide a snapshot into life on the tropical paradise island and include intimate images of the native population.

Bonhams/BNPS

Bonhams/BNPS

Bonhams/BNPS

The photographs were taken by Herbert Smith, a draper from Manchester, who was living in Hawaii in the 1890s and have remained in the family since then.

But they have now decided to put the collection, which includes letters documenting his travels, up for auction and it is tipped to sell for 2,500.

Included in the collection are photographs of natives cutting up a turtle, Japanese and Portuguese female plantation labourers hard at work, a railway truck loaded with sugar cane and children eating sugar cane.

A picture of a family gathering outside a traditional home which shows four generations of Hawaiians, a Hilo-Chinese kindergarten school and girls fishing for small-fry also feature.

The stunning scenery is on display in many of the photographs with Hawaii famed for its beaches and volcanoes.

In one image you can see surf riders with their boards in Hilo Bay, while another shows an old Hawaiian fisherman with a throw net.

Surfing is believed to have been invented in the Polynesian islands in the 18th century.

Lieutenant James King was the first person to write about the art of surfing on Hawaii when he was completing the journals of Captain James Cook upon Cooks death in 1779.

When journalist Mark Twain visited Hawaii in 1866 he wrote: In one place we came upon a large company of naked natives, of both sexes and all ages, amusing themselves with the national pastime of surf-bathing.

Bonhams/BNPS

Bonhams/BNPS

Bonhams/BNPS

However, at the time these photographs were taken, surfing had yet to properly spread to the rest of the world. This would not occur until the 20th century.

As well as taking photographs, Smith documented his day-to-day experiences on the island in a series of letters to his family which also form part of the collection.

He sailed from Liverpool to the nearby island of Honolulu in 1893 and spent a year in Hawaii, birthplace of former US president Barack Obama.

Luke Batterham, book specialist at Bonhams who are auctioning off the photographs, said: These are quite nice early photographs which are particularly interesting because Hawaii was not as well visited at that time as some other places.

Bonhams/BNPS

Bonhams/BNPS

Bonhams/BNPS

Its nice that we have the story of Herbert Smith and its interesting to see the juxtaposition between modern and old Hawaii in the photographs.

The highlight is a really good surfing picture showing early surfers at Hilo Bay, a famous surf spot to this day.

Hawaii in the 1890s experienced a turbulent time with the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in a coup dtat in 1893.

The island was annexed by the USA in 1898 and in 1959 became the 50th state to join the superpower.

In 1993, the US Congress passed a joint Apology Resolution regarding the overthrow which was signed by President Bill Clinton acknowledging that the United States had annexed Hawaii unlawfully.

The 62 strong photograph album is being sold on March 1.

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Rare pics show Hawaii locals carrying surfboards along pristine beaches 120 years ago in one of earliest EVER ... - The Sun

Atop Mt. Wilson, retired engineers keep alive astronomy’s ‘Sistine Chapel’ – Los Angeles Times

Dressed in parkas and knit caps, the three volunteerslug crates of power tools and spooled wireinto thegleaming mountaintop edifice that some have called astronomys Sistine Chapel and immediately start tinkering.

In 1904, workers installed the first telescope at the still uncompleted Mt. Wilson Observatory. For much of the 20th century,astronomers with names like Hale and Hubble used it and the new telescopes it sprouted the 100-inch reflector and three solar telescopes followed the initial 60-incher as a figurative launch pad for exploration that changed our understandingof the cosmos.

Gradually, though, financial support waned along with the observatorys cutting-edge status, and for the last 20 yearsits telescopes, still impressive by any standard, rely on the kind attention of a small volunteer team of retired space industry electrical engineers, most now in their 70s and 80s.

So it is that on a morning when parts of the San Gabriels are topped with snow, Kenneth Evans is on a ladder, his head lamp fixed on a new sensor switch for a 100-inch reflecting telescope that dominated the world of astronomy for more than three decades.

Nearby, William Leflang and Gale Gant test the wiring of a control console.

Dusting off his hands, Evans tells Leflang to give it some power.

He pivots to eyeball the sensor, which willimprove the scopes ability to track the movement of celestial objects, and with a grand wave of his grease-covered hands, says, Works great.

Satisfied smiles break out on the faces of men who seem confident that they were born to fix things.

The volunteers took up their cause in the late 1990s after the Carnegie Institution for Science, whose namesake had invested the initial funds for construction,transferred ownership of the Mt. Wilson Observatory to the nonprofit Mt. Wilson Institute.

Now, they shoulder much of the responsibility for keeping the observatorys cluster of vintage telescopes from deteriorating into non-functioning museum pieces.

Other volunteers include John Harrigan, a former power distribution expert at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Richard Johnston, an information technology consultant, and his son, Eric Johnston, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristols Center for Quantum Photonics. Taking on problems one weekend work partyat a time, the team has solved hundreds of pressing issues at the 40-acre observatory complex.

They have patched holes in walls, strengthened ceilings and walkways with wooden beams, fixed broken water mains and used steel wool and solvents to scour rust and old axle grease off flywheels and gearsat the observatory, which looks much as it did when it was completed in 1917.

Mt. Wilson aficionados still talk about how Evans and his brother Larry refurbished a 1911 50-horsepower 2-cylinder vertical Fairbanks-Morse Type RE engine with brass plumbing and 22,000 pounds of machinery so that it could be used in demonstrations.

Now theyre laboring to improve the giant reflectors potential as an educational tool and tourist draw.

But money for maintaining the observatory remains tight, the institute says, and the fate of the reflector,hailed as the mightiest instrument in astronomy when it was built, remains uncertain.

For Thomas Meneghini, the institutes executive director, the facilitys dual nature conjures a peculiar charm: rooms where Albert Einstein once bunkedbunched around picnic grounds, a museum, hiking trails and vista points that offer views from Pasadena, directly below, out across Southern California.

But raising funds has been a challenge. Thats why our volunteer engineers are heroes. They are keeping it alive. Without them and other supporters, these magnificent instruments would just be cold hunks of steel and glass.

A 150-foot-tall solar facility at Mt. Wilson has already deteriorated to the point that it can be used only for school programs and public demonstrations. That instruments 1970s-era computer system is a shambles. Its magnetograph an instrument allowing detailed observations of the suns magnetic fields was shut down in 2013, a year after its tower received a new coat of paint funded with a $1.5-million federal grant.

A separate solar telescope installed in 1904 to make photographic images of the wavelengths of the suns light has come to be known as Leflangs baby. Thats because he maintains that instrument, which is used only two weeks a year for educational purposes.

Mt. Wilsons biggest draw remains the 100-inch reflector, which reigned supreme until completion of Caltechs 200-inch telescope on Mt. Palomar in San Diego County after World War II.

While Los Angeles slept, astronomer Edwin Hubble and others used the reflector to discover billions of galaxies where none were known before, most of them speeding away from each other in all directions. Theseobservations led to the Big Bang theory, which suggests the universe began in a single explosive moment.

Keeping it in reliable shape, however,has been a work in progress since 1985, when the Carnegie Institution for Science put it in mothballs due to light pollution in the Los Angeles Basin and a commitment to expand its Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, which was more suitable for focusing on distant faint objects.

The telescope was reopened in 1994, nine years after Carnegie officials transferred ownership to the institute.

But it needs upgrades to continue operating.

And so the unusual fraternity gathers,trash-talking one another in termsthat perhaps only those who recite antique gas engine minutiae like baseball stats can appreciate.

Theres a lot of epic history in here, Leflang says, proceeding gingerly past colossal marvels of World War I-era engineering and astrophysics.

The 87-ton scope has 2,000 moving parts including a cast-iron worm gear 18 feet in diameter. Steel cables as thick as mooring ropes attached to a crane used to service its 9,500-pound primary mirror. A 450-ton dome rotatesoverhead on trolley tracks.

Framed photographs of Hubble, George Ellery Haleand other pioneer astronomers are displayed on walls and scaffolding studded with rivets, and in the drawers of a wood filing cabinet are hundreds of original blueprints of the facility dated Jan. 17, 1917.

It takesthe team about an hour to complete the modification, which they accomplished without altering the telescopes basic design or optics.

Some folks refer to this scope as the grand dame of astronomy, Gant sayswith a boyish grin. We call it a complex beast.

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Atop Mt. Wilson, retired engineers keep alive astronomy's 'Sistine Chapel' - Los Angeles Times

A team of astronomers open dataset of nearby stars to the public – Astronomy Magazine

A team led by the Carnegie Institution for Science along with MIT has given the public a chance to assist with exoplanet research.

The team has released two decades worth of data, a software package, and an online tutorial to the public to bring a fresh look into the observations of more than 1,600 nearby stars.

This is an amazing catalog, and we realized there just arent enough of us on the team to be doing as much science as could come out of this dataset, Jennifer Burt, a Torres Postdoctoral Fellow in MITs Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, said in a press release. Were trying to shift toward a more community-oriented idea of how we should do science, so that others can access the data and see something interesting.

The team has found more than 100 potential exoplanets during a study has appeared in The Astronomical Journal. The released data is from the High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES), which is designed to help astronomers measure wavelengths to determine characteristics of the starlight.

[HIRES] wasnt specifically optimized to look for exoplanets, Burt says. It was designed to look at faint galaxies and quasars. However, even before HIRES was installed, our team worked out a technique for making HIRES an effective exoplanet hunter.

HIRES helps astronomers by splitting incoming light from the star into the color of certain elements (most commonly known as spectrum), making it easier to measure the wavelengths with accuracy. HIRES really came in handy, though, by finding when a stars spectra moves in a regular pattern, indicating a potential exoplanets orbit of Earth.

The data collected from HIRES has more than 1,600 neighborhood stars within 325 light years from Earth, and the team has highlighted more than 100 stars that may host exoplanets. These observations require more research, though, so nothing has been confirmed yet.

I think this opens up possibilities for anyone who wants to do this kind of work, whether youre an academic or someone in the general public whos excited about exoplanets, Burt says. Because really, who doesnt want to discover a planet?

The team will continuously update the public dataset with new data while HIRES continues observing nearby stars.

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A team of astronomers open dataset of nearby stars to the public - Astronomy Magazine

See planet Venus hit peak brightness in the evening sky – Astronomy Now Online

Planet Venus graces the west-southwest horizon of UK skies at dusk, attaining its greatest brilliancy of magnitude -4.8 on 17February. To put this in context, Venus is now in excess of twenty times more luminous than brightest star Sirius currently low in the southeast. Planet Mars, magnitude +1.2, lies just 7degrees (the field of view of a 7x binocular) to Venus upper left. Gas giant planet Uranus also lies close by. AN graphic by Ade Ashford.Currently setting over four hours after the Sun as seen from the heart of the British Isles and visible in the west-southwest at dusk, dazzling Venus is about to hit peak brightness in the constellation of Pisces. The planet attains magnitude -4.8 on Friday 17February, some 21 times the luminosity of Sirius the brightest star gracing the southeast horizon as darkness falls.

At UK dusk on 17February, Venus lies 0.42 astronomical units (AU), or 39million miles (63million kilometres) from Earth. It has a 39.4-arcsecond-wide, 27percent illuminated crescent that requires a telescope magnification of just 48x to make it appear the same size as an average Moon to the unaided eye. As the days pass, Venus phase decreases and its apparent size increases as the planets orbital motion carries it further around the Sun and nearer the Earth.

Planet Mars lies less than a span of a fist at arms length to the upper left of Venus until about the third week of the month, so it is easy to identify. On the night of Venus peak brightness the Red Planet shines at just magnitude +1.2, making it a full six magnitudes or 250 times fainter than its dazzling sibling. In a telescope, Mars disc is a tiny 4.8arcseconds wide one-eighth that of Venus on account of a distance of 1.96AU or 182million miles (294million kilometres).

To complete the evening planet ensemble, you may wish to seek out Uranus. The magnitude +5.9 gas giant lies 6.2degrees (or slightly less than a 7x binocular field of view) to Mars upper left. Some 3.4arcseconds in size, Uranus lies 20.52 astronomical units or 1,908million miles (3,070million kilometres) from Earth on 17February.

Can Venus cast a shadow? Returning to the brightest planet, there is a fun experiment that you might like to conduct if you live in (or have access to) an area where there is no light pollution especially now that the Moon is rising after 8pm. Using our Almanac, select the city nearest you and note the time at which astronomical twilight ends for the centre of the British Isles, this is currently about 7:20pmGMT.

Allowing at least 15minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted, turn your back to Venus close to the time astronomical twilight ends and see if you can discern your shadow cast solely by the light of Venus on a west-facing fence or wall. You may need to use your peripheral vision to see it. While Venus remains visible until 9pm for much of the UK, you need to conduct this little experiment with Venus highest in the sky as soon as darkness falls.

I have twice seen my shadow cast by the light of Venus while working at the Mount John University Observatory under the pristine, exceptionally dark skies found at the heart of New Zealands South Island.

For a comprehensive guide to observing all that is happening in the coming months sky, tailored to Western Europe and North America, obtain a copy of the February 2017 edition of Astronomy Now.

Never miss an issue by subscribing to the UKs biggest astronomy magazine. Also available for iPad/iPhone and Android devices.

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See planet Venus hit peak brightness in the evening sky - Astronomy Now Online

Astronomers Find First Ever White Dwarf Pulsar – Sci-News.com

Astronomers have identified AR Scorpii a binary stellar system in the constellation Scorpius, 380 light-years from Earth as the first example of a white dwarf pulsar.

AR Scorpii, the first discovered white dwarf pulsar. In this unique double star a rapidly spinning white dwarf (right) powers electrons up to almost the speed of light. These high energy particles release blasts of radiation that lash the companion red dwarf (left) and cause the entire system to pulse dramatically every 1.97 minutes with radiation ranging from UV to radio. Image credit: M. Garlick / University of Warwick / ESO.

AR Scorpii is composed of a cool, low-mass star in a tight, 3.55-hour orbit with a more massive white dwarf.

The distance between the two stars is around 1.4 million km which is three times the distance between the Moon and the Earth.

The low-mass companion in AR Scorpii a red dwarf star is about one-third the mass of the Sun. The white dwarf is the size of Earth but 200,000 times more massive.

This system was recently discovered to pulse in brightness every 1.97 min from UV wavelengths into the radio regime.

AR Scorpiis white dwarf lashes its red dwarf companion with powerful beams of electrical particles and radiation.

According to new research in the journal Nature Astronomy, the lash of energy is a focused beam, emitting concentrated radiation in a single direction much like a particle accelerator something which is totally unique in the known Universe.

The new data show that AR Scorpiis light is highly polarized, showing that the magnetic field controls the emission of the entire system, and a dead ringer for similar behavior seen from the more traditional neutron star pulsars, said co-author Prof. Tom Marsh, from the University of Warwick, UK.

With an electromagnetic field 100 million times more powerful than Earth, AR Scorpii produces lighthouse-like beams of radiation and particles, which lash across the face of the red dwarf.

AR Scorpii is like a gigantic dynamo: a magnet, size of the Earth, with a field that is roughly 10,000 stronger than any field we can produce in a lab, and it is rotating every two minutes, said co-author Prof. Boris Gnsicke, also from the University of Warwick.

This generates an enormous electric current in the companion star, which then produces the variations in the light we detect.

_____

D. A. H. Buckley et al. 2017. Polarimetric evidence of a white dwarf pulsar in the binary system AR Scorpii. Nature Astronomy 1, article number: 0029; doi: 10.1038/s41550-016-0029

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Astronomers Find First Ever White Dwarf Pulsar - Sci-News.com