AWB Monthly Hangout for October – Astronomy for Tibetan Monks – Video

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AWB Monthly Hangout for October - Astronomy for Tibetan Monks
This month we talk to Vivian White of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific about her adventure in India teaching astronomy to Tibetan monks. Vivian had some real surprises in store when...

By: Astronomers Without Borders

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AWB Monthly Hangout for October - Astronomy for Tibetan Monks - Video

Astronomy & Astrophysics: Planck 2013 results

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Oct 29, 2014 The stack of images in the figure shows: in the center, the nine all-sky images ranging from 30 GHz (left) to 857 GHz (right); at far left, a combined view of all frequencies; at far right, the all-sky image of the temperature anisotropies of the CMB derived by Planck.

Astronomy & Astrophysics is publishing a special feature of 31 articles describing the data gathered by Planck over 15 months of observations and released by ESA and the Planck Collaboration in March 2013. This series of papers presents the initial scientific results extracted from this first Planck dataset.

The Planck satellite was launched in May 2009. With the highest accuracy to date, it measures the remnants of the radiation that filled the Universe immediately after the Big Bang. It is the oldest light in the Universe, emitted when it was 380000 years old. This light is observed today as the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Its maximum intensity is at about 150 GHz (2 mm), and its temperature about 3K. The study of the CMB is currently a very active field of research in cosmology because it provides strong constraints on the cosmological models. In particular, observations of the CMB confirms the key prediction of the Big Bang model and, more precisely, of what cosmologists call the concordance model of cosmology.

Planck was designed to measure the emission from the entire sky at nine distinct wavelengths, ranging from the radio (1 cm) to the far-infrared (300 microns). Several distinct sources of emission both of Galactic and extragalactic origin contribute to the features observed in each of the nine images shown here. Radio emissions from the Milky Way are most prominent at the longest wavelengths, and thermal dust emission at the shortest. Other galaxies contribute to the mix, mostly as unresolved sources. In the middle of Planck's wavelength range, the CMB dominates the sky at intermediate and high Galactic latitudes. The spectral and spatial signatures of all these sources are used to extract an all-sky image of the tiny temperature anisotropies of the CMB with unprecedented accuracy. The properties of these fluctuations are used to derive the parameters characterizing our Universe at early times.

Papers II to X in the series describe the huge dataset obtained from the Planck satellite and released in March 2013. Using this dataset, the Planck team established the new "cosmic recipe", i.e., the relative proportions of the Universe's constituent ingredients. Normal matter that makes up stars and galaxies contributes just 4.9% of the energy of the Universe. Dark matter, to date detected only indirectly by its gravitational influence on galaxies and galaxy clusters, is found to make up 26.8%, more than previous estimates. Conversely, dark energy, a mysterious force said to be responsible for accelerating the expansion of the Universe, accounts for 68.3%, less than previously thought. The Planck team also published a new value for the age of the Universe: 13.8 billion years (see Paper XVI).

The Planck team also studied the statistical properties of the CMB in great detail. Papers XXIII, XXIV, and XXVI explore the statistical distribution of its temperature anisotropies. There is no evidence of any deviations from isotropy on small angular scales. While the observations on small and intermediate angular scales agree extremely well with the model predictions, Planck has now provided the first indisputable evidence that the distribution of primordial fluctuations was not the same on all scales and that it comprises more structure than expected at larger scales. One anomalous signal appears as a substantial asymmetry in the CMB signal observed in the two opposite hemispheres of the sky, which is that one of the two hemispheres appears to have a significantly stronger signal on average. Among the other major results, Paper XXIII of the series explores how the Planck data can constrain theories of cosmic inflation; this paper currently puts the tightest constraints on inflation.

The CMB is not only a picture of the Universe taken 13.8 billion years ago, but it was also distorted during its journey because the CMB photons interacted with the large-scale structures that they traveled through (such as galaxy and galaxy clusters). In Paper XVII of the series, the team extracts from the Planck data a map of the gravitational lensing effect visible today in the CMB and covering the whole sky. The map published in this paper provides a new way to probe the evolution of structures in the Universe over its lifetime.

A byproduct of the Planck all-sky maps are catalogs of compact sources. Paper XXIX describes the production of the largest catalog of galaxy clusters based on the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, a distortion of the CMB spectrum caused by very energetic electrons in a galaxy cluster, which kick CMB photons to higher energies. This catalog was used to estimate cosmological constraints, as described in Paper XX.

With the 2013 release of the intensity signal measured during the 15 first months of observation, Planck data are providing new major advances in different domains of cosmology and astrophysics. In the very near future, the Planck Collaboration will release a new dataset that includes all of its observations in intensity and in polarization. This new dataset will be a lasting legacy for the community for many years to come.

Explore further: Evidence of gravity waves clouded by interstellar dust

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Astronomy & Astrophysics: Planck 2013 results

Planck 2013 results

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Astronomy & Astrophysics is publishing a special feature of 31 articles describing the data gathered by Planck over 15 months of observations and released by ESA and the Planck Collaboration in March 2013. This series of papers presents the initial scientific results extracted from this first Planck dataset.

The Planck satellite was launched in May 2009. With the highest accuracy to date, it measures the remnants of the radiation that filled the Universe immediately after the Big Bang. It is the oldest light in the Universe, emitted when it was 380000 years old. This light is observed today as the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Its maximum intensity is at about 150 GHz (2 mm), and its temperature about 3K. The study of the CMB is currently a very active field of research in cosmology because it provides strong constraints on the cosmological models. In particular, observations of the CMB confirms the key prediction of the Big Bang model and, more precisely, of what cosmologists call the concordance model of cosmology.

Planck was designed to measure the emission from the entire sky at nine distinct wavelengths, ranging from the radio (1 cm) to the far-infrared (300 microns). Several distinct sources of emission both of Galactic and extragalactic origin contribute to the features observed in each of the nine images shown here. Radio emissions from the Milky Way are most prominent at the longest wavelengths, and thermal dust emission at the shortest. Other galaxies contribute to the mix, mostly as unresolved sources. In the middle of Planck's wavelength range, the CMB dominates the sky at intermediate and high Galactic latitudes. The spectral and spatial signatures of all these sources are used to extract an all-sky image of the tiny temperature anisotropies of the CMB with unprecedented accuracy. The properties of these fluctuations are used to derive the parameters characterizing our Universe at early times.

Papers II to X in the series describe the huge dataset obtained from the Planck satellite and released in March 2013. Using this dataset, the Planck team established the new "cosmic recipe," i.e., the relative proportions of the Universe's constituent ingredients. Normal matter that makes up stars and galaxies contributes just 4.9% of the energy of the Universe. Dark matter, to date detected only indirectly by its gravitational influence on galaxies and galaxy clusters, is found to make up 26.8%, more than previous estimates. Conversely, dark energy, a mysterious force said to be responsible for accelerating the expansion of the Universe, accounts for 68.3%, less than previously thought. The Planck team also published a new value for the age of the Universe: 13.8 billion years (see Paper XVI).

The Planck team also studied the statistical properties of the CMB in great detail. Papers XXIII, XXIV, and XXVI explore the statistical distribution of its temperature anisotropies. There is no evidence of any deviations from isotropy on small angular scales. While the observations on small and intermediate angular scales agree extremely well with the model predictions, Planck has now provided the first indisputable evidence that the distribution of primordial fluctuations was not the same on all scales and that it comprises more structure than expected at larger scales. One anomalous signal appears as a substantial asymmetry in the CMB signal observed in the two opposite hemispheres of the sky, which is that one of the two hemispheres appears to have a significantly stronger signal on average. Among the other major results, Paper XXIII of the series explores how the Planck data can constrain theories of cosmic inflation; this paper currently puts the tightest constraints on inflation.

The CMB is not only a picture of the Universe taken 13.8 billion years ago, but it was also distorted during its journey because the CMB photons interacted with the large-scale structures that they traveled through (such as galaxy and galaxy clusters). In Paper XVII of the series, the team extracts from the Planck data a map of the gravitational lensing effect visible today in the CMB and covering the whole sky. The map published in this paper provides a new way to probe the evolution of structures in the Universe over its lifetime.

A byproduct of the Planck all-sky maps are catalogs of compact sources. Paper XXIX describes the production of the largest catalog of galaxy clusters based on the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, a distortion of the CMB spectrum caused by very energetic electrons in a galaxy cluster, which kick CMB photons to higher energies. This catalog was used to estimate cosmological constraints, as described in Paper XX.

With the 2013 release of the intensity signal measured during the 15 first months of observation, Planck data are providing new major advances in different domains of cosmology and astrophysics. In the very near future, the Planck Collaboration will release a new dataset that includes all of its observations in intensity and in polarization. This new dataset will be a lasting legacy for the community for many years to come.

Further information: http://www.aanda.org/index.php?option=com_toc&url=/articles/aa/abs/2014/11/contents/contents.html

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Planck 2013 results

Astrophysics Colleges, Degrees and Schools …

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U.S. College Search is a great place for senior high school students, parents, and anybody seeking for Astrophysics Colleges. U.S. College Search keeps a database of over 9,000 4 year Universities, Technical Colleges, Vocational Schools, Job Training Programs, Technical Certification Programs, 2 Year Colleges, and Junior Colleges.

Search by Degree If you have a particular academic degree program in mind like Astrophysics, this is the search for you. Pick from several main major categories. You will then be able to narrow your search by City.

Search Colleges by Name Learn about your favorite college. Want to find out about a peculiar college a guidance counselor depicted? Check over our huge list of school names, listed alphabetically.

Online Colleges For people on the run, online university courses are becoming a popular way to work toward a major or pick up a new tradeskill. Even though rather new, on-line courses are becoming just as worthy as physical classroom programs.

Don't forget to view our additional resources: College Funding Center - Study about the most expert sites on the web to find loans, subsidizations, and scholarships for Astrophysics Colleges. Occupations Guide - Learn about wage ranges, working environments, and employment opportunities in over one hundred occupations in the Astrophysics field.

USCollegeSearch is committed to furnishing the most complete list of Astrophysics schools and universities in the US. We currently list Astrophysics school name, address, phone, website, Astrophysics degree program offering, Astrophysics degree type, and student statistical data. Future students are encouraged to contact Astrophysics colleges and get additional facts for any university they are interested in.

Selecting the best Astrophysics School: Tips

Tip 1: Ascertain what you may like to study or major in at college. You dont need to develop a firm knowledge here - numbers of 1st year students are "undeclared" -- however if you do know, then you'll be able to search for colleges that feature a program that corresponds your pursuit.

Tip 2: Write a list of criteria you want to use to measure and comb out Astrophysics schools. There are piles of available specifications, such as degrees offered, major programs and minor degrees, location, prices, sizing, caliber, standing, ranking, positioning record, staff sizing, and others...

Tip 3: Compile a group of potential schools and universities. There are heaps of resources to aid you to produce a listings of possible Astrophysics universities.

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Astrophysics Colleges, Degrees and Schools ...

AI researchers say Elon Musk's fears 'not completely crazy'

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High-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk made headlines when he said artificial intelligence research is a danger to humanity, but researchers from some of the top U.S. universities say he's not so far off the mark.

High-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk made headlines when he said artificial intelligence research is a danger to humanity, but researchers from some of the top U.S. universities say he's not so far off the mark.

"At first I was surprised and then I thought, 'this is not completely crazy,' " said Andrew Moore, dean of the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. "I actually do think this is a valid concern and it's really an interesting one. It's a remote, far future danger but sometime we're going to have to think about it. If we're at all close to building these super-intelligent, powerful machines, we should absolutely stop and figure out what we're doing."

Musk, most well-known as the CEO of electric car maker Tesla Motors, and CEO and co-founder of SpaceX , caused a stir after he told an audience at an MIT symposium that artificial intelligence (AI), and research into it, poses a threat to humans.

"I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence," Musk said when answering a question about the state of AI. "If I were to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably that... With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon. In all those stories with the guy with the pentagram and the holy water, and he's sure he can control the demon. It doesn't work out."

He added that there should be regulatory oversight -- at the national and international level -- to "make sure we don't do something very foolish."

Musk's comments came after he tweeted in early August that AI is "potentially more dangerous than nukes."

His comments brought images of movies like The Terminator and Battlestar Galactica to mind. The science-fiction robots, stronger and more adaptable than humans, threw off their human-imposed shackles and turned on people.

The statements come from the man who founded Tesla Motors, a company that has developed an Autopilot feature for its dual-motor Model S sedan. The Autopilot software is designed to enable the car to steer to stay within a lane and manage speed by reading road signs.

Analysts and scientists disagree on whether this is artificial intelligence. Some say it's not quite AI technology but is a step in that direction, while others say the autonomy aspect of it goes into the AI bucket.

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AI researchers say Elon Musk's fears 'not completely crazy'

On GMO Labeling, Oregon and Colorado Learn from California Ballot Defeat – Video

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On GMO Labeling, Oregon and Colorado Learn from California Ballot Defeat
After initiatives to label genetically engineered foods failed to pass in California and Washington state, activists have changed their strategy as they prepare for votes in Oregon and Colorado...

By: QUEST Science

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On GMO Labeling, Oregon and Colorado Learn from California Ballot Defeat - Video

Free urban data — what’s it good for?

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

29-Oct-2014

Contact: Kathryn Ryan kryan@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News @LiebertOnline

New Rochelle, October 29, 2014 Cities around the world are increasingly making urban data freely available to the public. But is the content or structure of these vast data sets easy to access and of value? A new study of more than 9,000 data sets from 20 cities presents encouraging results on the quality and volume of the available data and describes the challenges and benefits of analyzing and integrating these expanding data sets, as described in an article in Big Data, the highly innovative, peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The Open Access article is available free on the Big Data website.

In the article "Structured Open Urban Data: Understanding the Landscape," Luciano Barbosa and Marcos Vieira, IBM Research, Brazil, and Kien Pham, Claudio Silva, and Juliana Freire, New York University School of Engineering and NYU Center for Urban Science and Progress, NY, present several promising findings. These include a steadily increasing volume of open urban data, the ability to integrate different data sets, and the finding that much of the available data is published in standard types of formats. The authors also discuss the main challenges that make it difficult to take full advantage of these data sources.

"Big urban data is a powerful new phenomenon that has the potential to transform everyday lives of hundreds of millions of people quickly via personal devices that integrate, filter, and create useful personalized information. This paper documents the sources and value of these data," says Big Data Editor-in-Chief Vasant Dhar, Co-Director, Center for Business Analytics, Stern School of Business, New York University.

###

About the Journal

Big Data, published quarterly in print and online, facilitates and supports the efforts of researchers, analysts, statisticians, business leaders, and policymakers to improve operations, profitability, and communications within their organizations. Spanning a broad array of disciplines focusing on novel big data technologies, policies, and innovations, the Journal brings together the community to address the challenges and discover new breakthroughs and trends living within this information. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Big Data website.

About the Publisher

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Free urban data -- what's it good for?

Scientists find genetic variants influence a person’s response to statins

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

28-Oct-2014

Contact: Charli Scouller c.scouller@qmul.ac.uk 44-770-982-5741 Queen Mary, University of London @QMUL

A large analysis of over 40,000 individuals on statin treatment has identified two new genetic variants which influence how 'bad' cholesterol levels respond to statin therapy.

Statins are widely prescribed to patients and have been shown to lower bad cholesterol levels by up to 55%, making them a highly effective method of reducing risk of heart disease. However, despite this success, patient response can vary widely.

The study, led by Queen Mary University of London and published in Nature Communications, is the largest to date and involved analysing data from six randomised clinical trials and 10 observational studies to look for genetic variants influencing patients' response to statins.

Together with multiple universities around the world, the researchers validated their findings in a further 22,318 individuals and found two new common genetic variants which significantly affected the degree to which bad cholesterol was lowered during statin treatment.

Professor Mark Caulfield, Lead Author, Queen Mary University of London and the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, comments: "This study marks an important step toward understanding how genetic variations influence statin response. However, further research is needed to find out how we can apply this in care of patients receiving statins. We must build up a bigger picture of the genetic variation that predicts statin response. Only then will we be in a position to tell whether testing for these genetic variants is of benefit to patients who take statin therapy."

The effects of all four associated genetic variants collectively account for about 5% of the variation in inter-individual response to statins. One of the identified genetic variants was shown to enhance statin response. In contrast, the second variant, thought to have a role in the uptake of statins by the liver, decreased the effects of the drug. Together, these findings may enhance our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying bad cholesterol response to statin therapy.

Dr Michael Barnes, Co-author, Queen Mary University of London and the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, comments: "Statins are one of the safest and most effective drugs in clinical use. Although all share a common target, some statins are more effective than others in different individuals. This study highlights a network of interacting genes which may individually or collectively influence the way that statins act in the body. In the future, this information could help us to select the most effective statin for each patient."

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Scientists find genetic variants influence a person's response to statins

Sue Carter Named Director of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University

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Newswise BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University has appointed Sue Carter, a pioneering leader in the field of behavioral neuroendocrinology, as director of The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, effective Nov. 1.

The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University Bloomington was founded in 1947 by its namesake, zoologist Alfred Kinsey. Carter plans to support and extend the efforts begun by Kinsey with an added emphasis on understanding the science of love, nurture and longevity.

Sue Carter is an outstanding scientist whose innovative research will contribute significantly to The Kinsey Institute, Vice President for Research Jorge Jos said. I have asked Dr. Carter to develop a strategic plan for the institute that expands its research focus into the biological bases of love and sexual behavior. Just as Dr. Kinseys research in the 20th century broke new ground in our understanding of sexual behavior, Dr. Carters research into the mechanisms underlying social bonds, love and other positive emotions will break new ground in the 21st century.

Recent findings, many of which are built upon scientific research models originated by Carter, have revealed that the same basic neurobiological processes and systems that support healthy sexual responses are necessary for love and well-being. At the biological heart of the experience of love, as well as sexual behavior, is a small hormone known as oxytocin. Oxytocin, and the neural systems that oxytocin regulates, in turn protect and heal. An initial focus of Carters plans for The Kinsey Institute will be the development of a Kinsey Institute Resource Center, intended to increase collaborations among members of the IU academic community, and globally. This center will offer access to noninvasive technologies necessary to understand the biology and health benefits of human social and emotional relationships.

Currently Carter is the principal investigator of a $4.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for research involving the developmental consequences of birth interventions. This work, which uses an animal model to examine the possible effects for infants of the use of oxytocin (medically known as Pitocin) to induce labor, will continue at IU Bloomington.

Carter has a long history of federal funding; her other NIH grants have examined the neurobiology of social bonding and social support, the effects of early experiences on brain development, and the role of peptides in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. She also pioneered studies of the beneficial effects for the mother of breast feeding; and recently, working with collaborators from around the world, she has studied the role of oxytocin in mental illnesses including autism, schizophrenia and postpartum depression.

Dr. Carters work at the intersection of science and society -- balancing rigorous research and the challenges of humankind -- is most impressive, said Lynn Luckow, chair of The Kinsey Institutes Board of Trustees. This rich combination of her capacity to engage a variety of research disciplines, utilize and expand the research collections and archives, and offer more opportunities for education and training made Sue stand out as the leader most able to move the institute toward even greater relevance and impact in the daily lives of people worldwide.

Carter comes to IU Bloomington from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was professor of psychiatry. She was previously co-director of the Brain-Body Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and prior to that Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland. Her prior appointments have been in the departments of psychology, zoology and biology, and she helped found the interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in neural and behavioral biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Carter is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, and she was awarded the Matthew J. Wayner-NNOXe Pharmaceutical Award for Translational Research.

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Sue Carter Named Director of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University

What is anti-aging medicine?

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What comes to mind when you hear the term "anti-aging?" Most would think some type of beauty product, whether that means a topical facial cream, masks, shampoos, conditioners or laser treatments. However, anti-aging and regenerative medicine is actually a "medical specialty of active scientific research aimed at the early prevention, detection, treatment and reversal of age-related decline." It has become a remarkably cutting-edge field of medicine. A legitimate, well-trained anti-aging and regenerative medicine specialist will be certified as a diplomat of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. I have earned this certification and practice in the Liberty Lake area.

The objectives of treatment using the anti-aging approach are innumerable, and can range from correction of hormonal and metabolic imbalances including diabetes, neurological problems including cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, musculoskeletal diseases and impairments, gastrointestinal disturbances, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, immune system and infectious diseases; as well as depression, stress and inflammation. In order for our bodies to hum the way they were designed, there needs to be a balance in system functions. The importance of pinpointing the sources of problems caused by changes that accompany the process of aging is where it begins.

Obtaining an in-depth health history, along with extensive saliva and blood testing, is the base to see where your body is now. My goal is discussing your test results and helping you to understand them and what they will mean for lifestyle changes needed to work toward optimal health. It is important to remember most disease processes did not develop overnight, so beginning on the pathway to health can be challenging at times, while also exciting when you start feeling better, stronger, and happier.

I use bio-identical hormone replacement therapy to correct and restore hormone balances to an optimal level. In the past, all values situated inside a reference lab range were considered to be optimal. This concept lacks supporting scientific evidence. The prevailing concept now is that optimal hormone levels may vary from person to person. An optimal hormone level should be a level that allows an individual to be free of the complaints and physical signs of hormone deficiency, without provoking signs of excess.

Begin now with Living Life Optimally!

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What is anti-aging medicine?