Intensive And Immense Knowledge

Chewing Gum Makes Brain Stronger

2013-08-08T00:10:00.002-07:00

Chewing gum makes your brain stronger

Gum has been studied for its beneficial effects on memory, alertness, anxiety reduction, appetite suppression, mood and learning. Attributes of gum that have gone under the microscope include its flavor, texture and density, to name a few.

The hunch that spawned gum studies was that chewing gum might increase blood flow to the brain, and that may in turn spark other important effects. Studies like one from Cardiff University in the UK take a comprehensive view of gum’s potential across multiple areas: learning, mood, memory and intelligence. chewing-gum-strengthens-brain The findings in this case were that both alertness and intellectual performance were increased in gum-chewing subjects, while memory showed no significant improvements.

Other studies, like the one highlighted in a New Scientist article have found that some aspects of memory seem to be improved by chewing gum, particularly immediate and delayed word recall, while others are not.

An especially significant 2011 study, reported on by Live Science found that chewing gum before taking a test improved performance, but chewing gum throughout the test did not. The possible reason for this result is that chewing gum may warm-up the brain, something gum researchers refer to as ‘mastication-induced arousal’.

Bypass your Gag Reflex

2013-08-07T00:26:00.002-07:00

If you make a fist with your left hand and squeeze your left thumb, this will bypass your gag reflex.

One of the most uncomfortable feelings you can experience is involuntary gagging. Unchecked, it can leave your throat raw and sore, and give you a painful case of laryngitis. If you have a sensitive gag reflex,Restraining-gag-reflex-by-squeezing-fist you might have trouble swallowing pills, visiting the dentist, or eating foods that you’re not particularly fond of. Perhaps every time you go to the doctor and have your sore throat cultured for strep, you almost lose your lunch on the poor doctor!

The gag reflex is your body’s natural defense against choking on foreign objects, but up to one-third of healthy people don’t even have it! Fortunately, there are ways to ease your gag reflex, and one of these many of us may not have heard of before.

All you have to do is make a fist with you left hand, and squeeze your thumb (inside the fist). It actually works and was proven in a 2008 study by three scientists which was to be published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA).

Blue Whale's Heart

2013-08-06T05:13:00.003-07:00

A blue whale’s heart is the size of a Volkswagen Beetle!

Being the largest animal on earth, the blue whale weighs as much as 33 fully-grown elephants, that is about 200 tons. With that said, you can now begin to understand why the heart could measure as big as it does – the size of a Volkswagen Beetle.blue-whale-heart

That’s the heart. What about the stomach? The blue whale’s stomach is capable of holding a ton of krill (shrimp-like crustaceans) but that’s not all – its daily requirement is four tons of krill! The blue whale is simply a biological phenomenon. Did you know which is the loudest animal on earth? Well, you just reading about it. The sound is produces is enough to rival a jet engine’s!

Their calls register 188 decibels, and if you care to check, a jet engine hits just 140 decibels. Why haven’t you heard this sound you might be curious? The sound is low frequency and isn’t audible by the human ear alone and requires special equipment to be able to. It travels hundreds of miles and is believed to be communication amongst the blue whales. Such a splendid creature this.

Cat’s Brain

2013-07-31T00:57:00.002-07:00

A cat’s brain is million times faster than an iPad and it is able to store 1,000 times more data.

A cat’s brain bears a lot of resemblance with the human brain. Studies conducted over four years ago point to numerous similarities between the two. We often think of man’s best friend – dogs – as the smartest domestic pet. But according to some feline intelligence experts, cats are as smart as dogs — just in different ways.

A cat can fend for herself — she is not a pack animal as is a dog, who often depends on others for hunting food. And when have you seen a healthy cat who could not take care of most of her own grooming needs? Adding to cats’ high intellectual standards and their cautious behavior is their outstanding curiosity.

Even after years of studying the cat’s brain, which is highly developed, we will probably never learn all there is to know about feline intelligence levels. But an article by the Scientific American on how different brains compare versus computers put a cat’s data storage capability at 1,000 times more than the iPad with the speed a million times faster!

Top 10 Best Cities To Live In The World

2013-07-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

10. Auckland, New Zealand (the city rates 95.7 out of 100)

Auckland, which remained capital of New Zealand from 1841 to 1865, has a rating of 95.7/100. Auckland is the largest city of New Zealand with population of 1,397,300. The city not only offers great accommodation solutions but also provides best transportation facilities.

9. Perth, Australia (the city rates 95.9 out of 100)

Perth is the city that hosts exciting events and other cultural activities that attracts people from all over the world. People are mostly attracted towards the Swan valley that is not only worth sightseeing but also worth living. According to Economist Intelligence Unit’s ‘liveable’ study, Perth has a rating of 95.9 out of 100.

8. Helsinki, Finland (the city rates 96.0 out of 100)

The capital of Finland, Helsinki is a large city with a population of 602,200 residents and has a rating of 96.0. If you get a chance to visit it during winter then ice-park at railway station is the most attractive place to enjoy.

7. Sydney, Australia (the city rates 96.1 out of 100)

Australia’s largest and oldest city, Sydney offers one of the best education and healthcare facilities and that is why it has a rating of 96.1.

6. Adelaide, Australia (the city rates 96.6 out of 100)

In addition to Perth and Sydney who are considered as one of best livable cities in Australia, Adelaide comes with an overall rating of 96.6 according to ‘liveable’ study. Therefore, it is also declared as one of the best places to live in.

5. Calgary, Canada (the city rates 96.6 out of 100)

Connecting Queen Elizabeth Park to Henrietta Louise Edwards Park, Nellie McClung Park is full of natural beauty and best for walking as well as biking. Having such beautiful attractions and much more Calgary is a city that everyone would love to live in.

4. Toronto, Canada (the city rates 97.2 out of 100)

Toronto, Canada Toronto, the largest city of Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario with rating points of 97.2 is not only a beautiful city with lots of natural beauty and modern architectures but also considered as a popular business hub.

3. Vancouver, Canada (the city rates 97.3 out of 100)

Everyone desires to live in a beautiful and affordable city with all possible facilities. Along with Toronto (97.2) and Calgary (96.6), Vancouver with a rating of 97.3 is another popular city of Canada.

2. Vienna, Austria (the city rates 97.4 out of 100)

Vienna is not only the Capital but also the largest city. A city having buildings of latest architecture along with more than 100 museums is rated 97.4.

1. Melbourne, Australia (the city rates 97.5 out of 100)

Most populated city of Victoria (state) and second most populated city of Australia, Melbourne has an overall rating of 97.5/100 according to the Economist Intelligence Unit global “livability” study. This city offers great accommodation solutions, education facilities and transportation.

The Richest People Of All Time

2013-06-13T04:32:00.000-07:00

A look back at the unbelievable wealth of the richest people throughout history:

Arnd Wiegmann/Newscom/RTR-According to Forbes’ most recent rich list, the wealthiest man on earth is Carlos Slim, he of the $69 billion (as of March 2012) Mexican telecom fortune. A staggering net worth, to be sure, but how does it rank when viewed through the lens of history? The folks at CelebrityNetWorth.com recently compiled a list of the richest people that ever lived, gathering a group of well-known luminaries and translating their wealth into today’s "dollars". The rundown features names you know well, though no women, and no tycoons, tyrants or royals who are still alive today. Who, then, was the richest person of all-time?

10. Cornelius Vanderbilt

Net worth: $185 billion
Source of wealth: Shipping, railroads
Lived: 1794-1877
Born in Staten Island, New York City, N.Y., Cornelius Vanderbilt dropped out of school at 11 and started his own New York Harbour ferry service at just 16. From a $100 loan from his mother, the tycoon was able to grow a steamboat and shipping empire so large it left him money to earn an even bigger fortune in railroads. Vanderbilt entered the railroad business later in life, buying up interests in railroads across the northeast United States and Canada. In 1877, at age 82, Vanderbilt died of exhaustion and left behind a lasting legacy, including a university (Vanderbilt) that is named after him, and a great-great-great-grandson, TV host Anderson Cooper.

9. Henry Ford

Net worth: $199 billion
Source of wealth: Auto-mobiles
Lived: 1863-1947
The father of the assembly line, Henry Ford is often mistakenly credited with inventing the automobile, which he did not. Ford did, however, bring the car to the consumer, developing and manufacturing the automobile into a product the public could buy and drive. Ford founded the car company that took his name in 1903, and his family has since presided over a century of auto sales success. Ford’s great-grandson, William Clay Ford, Jr., is the current executive chairman of the Ford Motor Company.

8. Moammar Gadhafi

Net worth: $200 billion
Source of wealth: Oil
Lived: 1942-2011
The man that began a million revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa last year was also stinking rich. Moammar Gadhafi, Libya’s tyrant leader for over four decades, also allegedly used his power to line his pockets as the domineering controller of the country’s plentiful oil fields. Using Libya’s coffers as his bank account, Gaddafi reportedly spent freely, amassing a personal fortune that included real estate and corporate investments all over the world. At the time of his capture and death in 2011, Gadhafi was the richest man on earth.

7. William the Conqueror

Net worth: $229.5 billion
Source of wealth: Royalty
Lived: 1027-1087
A descendant of Vikings, William the Conqueror is remembered for invading and overtaking England in 1066. As Duke of Normandy, William led an army of Norman and French soldiers in the conquest of England. Ten weeks after the invasion was complete, William crowned himself King of England, a title that brought with it exquisite riches he would leave to his sons upon his death.

6. Mir Osman Ali Khan

Net worth: $230 billion
Source of wealth: Royalty
Lived: 1886-1967
The stories of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam (ruler) of Hyderabad before the state was taken over by India, are the stuff of legend. Reportedly, the ruler of Hyderabad had more than 50 Rolls-Royces, and claimed to use the famous Jacob Diamond as a paperweight in his office. The Nizam was thought to be the richest man in the world, until his reign ended in 1947 with the invasion of Hyderabad. He died 20 years later in 1967.

5. Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov

Net worth: $300 billion
Source of wealth: Royalty
Lived: 1868-1918
The last Emperor of Russia, Nicholas II’s reign has not been viewed kindly by historians. The ruler is often criticized for driving his once powerful nation into economic and military collapse. The son of Emperor Alexander III, Nicholas II (pictured right, with son Alexei) eventually left the throne in 1917, hoping to seek asylum in the UK. He was denied a safe haven in England, and in 1918 Nicholas II and his family were assassinated by Bolshevik revolutionists.

4. Andrew Carnegie

Net worth: $310 billion
Source of wealth: Steel
Lived: 1835-1919
One of America’s most celebrated industrialists, Andrew Carnegie is actually Scottish, born in 1835 in a town called Dunfermline. Carnegie came over to the U.S. as a boy, where he got a job as a steel factory worker. In 1892, the Carnegie Steel Company was created in Pittsburgh, Pa. The company grew and, after Carnegie sold it in 1901, later merged with U.S. Steel, a corporate giant that is still active today. A great philanthropist, Carnegie gave much of his fortune to schools, libraries and universities before his death at 83.

3. John D. Rockefeller

Net worth: $340 billion
Source of wealth: Oil
Lived: 1839-1937
Tycoon John D. Rockefeller brought on a new era of wealth in America, where he nearly monopolized the oil industry in the late 1800s. The famous New Yorker founded the Standard Oil Company in 1870, capitalizing on a time when soaring demand for kerosene and gasoline grew Rockefeller’s fortune. He became so wealthy that he left his company in 1897 and spent the last 40 years of his life retired. In his later days, Rockefeller endowed much of his fortune to schools and medical research, and founded the University of Chicago.

2. The Rothschild Family

Net worth: $350 billion
Source of wealth: Banking
The wealthiest family there ever was, the Rothschilds are a banking dynasty unlike any other, with a total fortune of $350 billion, according recent estimates. While many of the family members are still alive today, the Rothschilds were richest, and perhaps most powerful, in the 1800s, when their fortune was believed to be the largest in the world. The German-Jewish family all but established banking and finance houses in Europe in the late 18th century, and today are said to hold over $1 trillion in real estate and banking assets.

1. Mansa Musa I

Net worth: $400 billion
Source of wealth: Royalty
Lived: 1280-1337 The wealthiest man of all-time died nearly 700 years ago and you may never have heard his name. But where pure fortunes are concerned, there is no person in history that boasts a larger worth than Mansa Musa I, the ruler of the Malian Empire. Mansa Musa I was known as the “king of kings,” the emperor who controlled what is today the nations of Ghana, Timbuktu and Mali. The king’s outlandish wealth came from the Malian Empire’s vast reserves of salt and gold, which serviced as much as half the world at the time. Dazzling African mosques built by Mansa Musa I still stand.

Largest Offshore Wind Farm

2013-04-09T11:53:00.002-07:00

A new champion! The builders of the London Array just turned on their 175th turbine, making it the largest offshore wind farm in the world.

World's largest thermal solar plant

2013-03-31T12:35:00.000-07:00

World's largest thermal solar plant (377MW) under construction in the Mojave.

The largest concentrating solar power plant (100 MW) in operation is currently in Abu Dhabi, but it won't stay at the top of the list for too long. Brightsource Energy is putting the finishing touches on its massive Ivanpah concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in the Mojave desert, and if all goes well, the switch should be flipped this year.

Implantable Robotic Arm Controlled By Thought

2013-03-01T11:36:00.001-08:00

A team of researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, say that they have created the world’s first implantable robotic arm controlled by thoughts. Prosthetic leg technology has ad vanced rapidly in the past decade, but prosthetic arms have been much slower to catch up. Since the 1960s, upper limb amputees have been taught to use prostheses that are controlled by electrical impulses in the muscles. Many still have hooks for “hands.” And, the technology for controlling these prostheses really has not evolved to any great extent since then. There are, to be sure, some advanced electric hand prostheses available, but their movements must be preprogrammed. Rehabilitation is slow and frustrating. And, since there’s no sensory feedback, the sense of touch is a greatly missed.

Most standard socket prostheses are attached to the body using a socket tightly fitted on the amputated stump. Many users say that these are uncomfortable and limiting. In order to pick up electrical signals to control a prosthetic arm, electrodes are placed over the skin. The problem is that the signals can change when the skin moves, since the electrodes move to a different position. Signals can also be affected when users sweat, since the resistance on the interface changes.

Max Ortiz Catalan demonstrates how the system works with the aid of electrodes, which capture bio-electric signals from the surface of the arm.

How It Works:
In this research project, the researchers plan to implant the electrodes directly onto the nerves and remaining muscles instead. Since the electrodes are closer to the source and the body acts as protection, the bio-electric signals should become much more stable. By incorporating “osseointegration,” they will anchor the prosthesis directly to the skeleton. This method for anchoring the prosthesis directly to bone, also called the OPRA Implant System, was first developed by Swedish Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark in the 1960s when he discovered that titanium is not rejected by the body but instead integrates with the surrounding bone tissue.
Osseointegration enables the electrical impulses from the nerves in the arm stump to be captured by a neural interface, sending them to the prosthesis through the titanium implant. These are then decoded by sophisticated algorithms that allow the patient to control the prosthesis using his or her thoughts.
In most prostheses, amputees have only visual or auditory feedback. This means, for example, that users must look at or hear the motors in the prosthesis in order to estimate grip force applied to objects, such as a cup. With the new method, patients receive neural feedback as the electrodes stimulate the neural pathways to the patient’s brain, in the same way as the physiological system. This should allow users to control the prosthesis in a more natural and intuitive way than has been previously possible.
Max Ortiz Catalan, an industrial doctoral student at Chalmers, said, “We have developed a new bidirectional interface with the human body, together with a natural and intuitive control system. Our technology helps amputees to control an artificial limb, in much the same way as their own biological hand or arm, via the person’s own nerves and remaining muscles. This is a huge benefit for both the individual and to society.” (See Figure )
“Many of the patients that we work with have been amputees for more than 10 years, and have almost never thought about moving their missing hand during this time”, explained Catalan. “When they arrived here, they got to test our virtual reality environment or our more advanced prostheses in order to evaluate the decoding algorithms. We placed electrodes on their amputation stumps, and after a few minutes, they were able to control the artificial limbs in ways that they didn’t know they could, most of the times. This made the patients very excited and enthusiastic.”

What’s Next:
After testing the method on a few patients, the researchers expect that they will prove that the technology works and then hope to get enough grants to continue clinical studies and further develop the technology.
Catalan said, “We want to leave the lab and become part of the patients’ everyday life. If the first operations this winter are successful, we will be the first research group in the world to make ‘thought-controlled prostheses’ a reality for patients to use in their daily activities, and not only inside research labs.”

Video of Max Ortiz Catalan demonstrating the hand

The Loudest Creature On Earth

2013-02-20T10:35:00.001-08:00

The tiger pistol shrimp is arguably the loudest creature on earth. This little shrimp is capable of snapping its claw and emitting a sound up to 200 decibels which it uses to stun its prey. This process also creates a little bubble which – for a fraction of a second – is hotter than the surface of the sun at 8,000F (4,426C).

The Tiger Snapping Shrimp may also be called Symbiosis Shrimp and Snapping Shrimp. The body is tan with rust colored broken stripes running across the back. These beneficial shrimp will constantly move gravel making them excellent sand stirrers in the reef aquarium, as well as scavenging any uneaten food.

The sound it makes comes from an appendage on the pincher which moves when the pincher is opened or closed and water is ejected. The Snapping Shrimp can be easily confused with Mantis Shrimp if judged by sound only. Unlike the Mantis Shrimp, it is not harmful and will not pose any threat in the tank, with the possible exception of very small shrimp.

The name Symbiotic Shrimp comes from the equally beneficial relationship the Pistol Shrimp has with gobies (e.g. Amblyeleotris or Stonogobiops). The goby, with better eyesight, warns the shrimp of predators. The shrimp share its food with the goby.

Tiger Snapping Shrimp thrive in environments with sand, rock caves, and dim light. If in pairs, one will often stand guard at the burrow while the other is inside. The Pistol Shrimp are intolerant of copper or high nitrate levels, but need a correct level of iodine in the water to promote proper molting.

Snapping Shrimp will accept any meaty freeze-dried and frozen foods and bottom feeder tablets.

Rotary UPS

2013-01-30T11:01:00.001-08:00

A flywheel driven rotary UPS is used for applications requiring ride-through of short duration power system outages, voltage dips, etc. The flywheel driven rotary UPS typically does not include batteries, and support times are usually on the order of a few seconds to a few minutes. The use of a generator driven rotary UPS can provide extended power for an indefinite power outage and also supply air-conditioning and lighting loads. Data processing equipment rooms will typically overheat within a 15- to 30-minute period if the ventilation system is not working, making the generator set a near necessity for outages in excess of this time. Analysis of battery cost will often justify a generator set at lower cost than choosing a long battery support time with an accompanying restriction of eventually implementing an orderly critical load shutdown. A battery support time of as little as a few minutes may be specified with generator set backup; however, longer support times in the range of 15 minutes are more typical.

1) Diesel engine
3) Electromagnetic clutch
6) Synchronous motor /alternator
4) Flywheel

Some of rotary UPS systems consists of an AC Motor Generator (M-G) set with a flywheel, as well as a rectifier, storage batteries, inverter, static switch and solid state circuitry. Both the motor generator set and the rectifier/battery/inverter combination are supplied by the incoming utility service. They represent parallel supply paths and either path is capable of supplying the load. A static switch selects the path to be utilized to supply the load. During normal operation, the M-G set powers the computer loads, while the off-line static section is on "stand-by" and charges the system batteries. Upon loss of the utility feed, the control circuitry will disconnect the M-G set from the utility by opening the static switch and closing the inverter-output circuit breakers, allowing the system batteries to power the M-G set through the inverter. Mechanical energy "stored" in the flywheel allows the M-G set to continue to deliver its full-rated output for (generally) a minimum of 200 milliseconds. This provides sufficient time for the control system to sense a loss of utility supply and to transfer to the battery/inverter combination for supply of loads.

Ta Prohm Temple

2012-12-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

Ta Prohm is the modern name of a temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara. Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university.

Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found. The photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors. UNESCO inscribed Ta Prohm on the World Heritage List in 1992. Today, it is one of the most visited complexes in Cambodia’s Angkor region.

The temple of Ta Prohm was also used as a location in the film Tomb Raider.

World's longest Bullet Train Service

2012-12-26T11:07:00.003-08:00

China started service Wednesday on the world's longest high-speed rail route, the latest milestone in the country's rapid and - sometimes troubled - super fast rail network.

The opening of the new 2,298-kilometre (1,425-mile) line between Beijing and Guangzhou means passengers will be whisked from the capital to the southern commercial hub in just eight hours, compared with the 22 hours previously required.

Trains will travel at an average speed of 300 kilometres per hour over the line, which includes 35 stops in major cities such as Zhengzhou, Wuhan on the Yangtze River and Changsha.

China's high-speed rail network was established in 2007, but has fast become the world's largest with 8,358 kilometres of track at the end of 2010. That is expected to almost double to 16,000 kilometres by 2020

Solar Powered Electric Bonsai Tree

2012-12-04T11:14:00.002-08:00

Created by French designer Vivien Muller, the Electree+ conceals a USB connection underneath its wood-topped base unit.The designer said he was inspired to make the product after observing real trees, noticing that their leaves acted as natural solar panels.

The designer is waiting to receive 400 presale orders for the product before commencing production.
But while the gadget may cut down on your energy bills, it might take you a while to recoup the savings, as it will costs £283.

It looks like a bonsai tree and features solar panels that gather energy to charge an iPhone or other electronic device. The electree+ harvests solar energy through 27 high-quality amorphous-silicon square solar panels, each 3.7 inches wide.

Energy is stored in a 14,000mAh internal battery capable of recharging an iPhone5 over nine times, a Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone seven times, or an iPad 2 twice, without needing light exposure on a single charge.

Fluke 434 Energy Analyzer

2012-12-02T10:38:00.004-08:00

The Fluke 434 II Energy Analyzer is the ideal tool for energy logging. Utilizing the new Energy Loss Calculator function, the 434 II measures the fiscal cost of energy wasted due to poor power quality. This energy monetization capability allows you to identify the most energy-wasteful areas of your facility so you can determine potential energy saving solutions. Add basic power quality measurements to the package and you’re got yourself one powerful troubleshooting tool.

Applications:
Energy monetization – calculate the fiscal cost of energy waste due to poor power quality
Energy assessment – quantify the before and after installation improvements in energy consumption to justify energy saving devices
Frontline troubleshooting – quickly diagnose problems on-screen to get your operation back online
Predictive maintenance – detect and prevent power quality issues before they cause downtime
Long-term analysis – uncover hard-to-find or intermittent issues
Load studies – verify electrical system capacity before adding loads

Top 10 Private Jets

2012-11-24T02:41:00.002-08:00

10. John Travolta’s Boeing 707

This Hollywood celebrity is also an avid flyer. His interest in aircraft can be judged from the fact that John literally lives on a runway. His private mansion boasts parking for jets along with automobile. Travolta has achieved Captain qualification for numerous jets including Gulfstream II, Learjet 24, Hawker 1A, Citation 1 and 2, Tebuan and Vampire Jet. Recently this experienced pilot flew a cargo flight of his Boeing 707 for Haiti earthquake victims.

9. Harrison ford’s Cessna 525B CJ3

This cinema sensation is also an able pilot. His private Cessna 525B CJ3 is a very popular private jet among corporates. This flying luxury costs around 6 million USD. The CJ3 can carry six people non-stop to any destination within 1900 nautical miles. Harrison Ford who loves to pilot his jet himself is also the FAA spokesman for the runway incursion awareness and prevention campaign that the agency started in 2001.

8. Donald Trump’s Boeing 727

This vintage jet once formed a part of American Airlines fleet. Bought in 1968, the jet was given an overhaul to provide luxury travel for upto 23 passengers. The interior boasts comfy furniture,oil paintings, gold plated seat buckles and ambient lighting. The paint job of this jet is also very unique and extravagant. The 30 feet long Trump logo on the fuselage is made from 23 carat gold leaf.

7. Bill gates Bombardier BD-700 Global Express

This is a top of the line corporate business jet available in aviation market. This flying luxury is the number 1 choice of travel for numerous tycoons around the planet. The Chairman of MS Corp. also owns one such beauty for his travel.The Bombardier can cruise at 51,000 feet with a payload of 8 VIPs. It has an excellent range of 6,500 nautical miles allowing non-stop Tokyo-New York or Los Angeles-Moscow flights.

6. Roman Abramovich’s Boeing 767

Roman Abramovich is a russian businessman with an estimated fortune of $ 11.2 billion. The owner of of the private investment company Millhouse LLC, Roman is the fourth richest man in Russia. The insides of this flying private palace are little known though it is reportedly outfitted with chestnut and decorated with gold. The Chelsea club owner extends seclusion of his daily life to air travel through this private 767.

5. Elvis Presley’s Convair 880

Elvis Presley bought this jet in 1975 after its expulsion from Delta Airlines. The vintage Convair 880 was purchased for the then substantial amount of $250,000. The aircraft was extravagantly customized to a 28 seater from the usual 110. The post over haul cost was estimated to be $600,000. Elvis rechristened his private aircraft after his daughter “Lisa Marie”. The aircraft survives today in good condition.

4. Mark Cuban’s Boeing 767

Billionaire Mark Cuban the owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team also owns a healthy fleet of private jets. His private fleet includes Gulfstream V, Boeing 757 and 767. In addition to other lavish upgrades, the 767 is reportedly fitted with custom made seats that are large enough to accommodate the tallest team player.

3. Brunei Sultan’s Boeing 747

When it comes to lavish life style the Sultan of Brunei is one of the most extravagant ruler in the world. The Sultan was literally fed with gold spoons after his birth. His private Boeing 747 is considered to be the most luxurious jet in the world. Bought in an excess of $100 million, an additional $120 million were spent to plush the interior with gold furniture and fittings. The over haul included bedrooms, lounges, bars and the installation of a whirl pool bath made entirely out of gold.

2. USA President’s Air Force 1

Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. Since 1990, the presidential fleet has consisted of two specifically configured, highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft with serial numbers “28000″ and “29000″ with Air Force designation “VC-25A”. While these aircraft have the call sign “Air Force One” only while the president is on board, the term is still used colloquially to describe either of the two aircraft normally used and maintained by the U.S. Air Force solely for the president, as well as any additional Air Force aircraft used by the president. The aircraft might not be the most luxurious but it surely is the safest plane in the world. Air Force 1 is heavily modified with state of the art defense counter measures providing fool proof safety to its precious cargo.

1. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud’s A380

The Saudi Prince has decided to invest a major chunk of his oil wealth in buying a flying palace. Prince Al-Waleed is set to become the owner of the first private custom built A380 jet at a whopping cost of $485 million. The lavish interior is being designed by the prestigious British firm “Design Q”. The plane initially designed for a staggering 600 passengers will be cleared up to provide unimaginable amenities in flight including on-board garage, prayer room with computer generated mats that always face Makkah and luxury bedrooms for upto 20 guests. Other major attractions for this exotic comfort opulence include a concert hall that seats ten and has a baby grand piano; a boardroom with a holographic projector; and a full size steamroom. The most entertaining perk is a “Wellbeing Room” which has a floor upon which is projected an enormous image of what the plane is flying over, thus creating a “magic carpet” effect. The most incredible touch might just be the approximately $58 million he is spending to have the plane painted in gold leaf on the outside.

Lake Hillier

2012-11-21T10:29:00.001-08:00

Lake Hillier, is a lake on Middle Island, the largest of the islands and islets that make up the Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia. It is the most prominent lacustrine feature on any island of the archipelago and air passengers often take note of it.

The specialty of this lake is its flamboyant colour, rose pink. The colour is permanent, as it does not alter when the water is taken in a container. The length of the lake is about six hundred meters. A narrow strip of land composed of sand dunes covered by vegetation separates it from the ocean. The lake is surrounded by a rim of white salt and a dense woodland of paperbark and eucalypt trees with sand dunes separating the lake from the Southern Ocean to the north.

The island and lake are thought to have been first charted by the Flinders expedition in 1802. Captain Flinders is said to have observed the pink lake after ascending the island's peak. John Thistle, the ships master, collected some of the lake's water which he found to be saturated with salt.The reason for the lake's colour is still under investigation, and so far no one has come up with a reasonable explanation. However, the most probable explanation according to some scientists involves the low nutrient concentrations and different types of bacteria and algae that are responsible for the lake's pink colour. The lake is one of the natural wonders of Australia.
The pink coloration of the lake water could be from a sea salt and nahcolite (sodium bicarbonate) deposit reaction as well as red halophilic bacteria in the salt crusts.

Heaven Gate Mountain

2012-11-21T10:26:00.001-08:00

This is called"Gate to Heaven"

About 8KM from downtown of Zhangjiajie lies the Tianmen Mountain, also known as Heaven Gate Mountain.

This beautiful site is quite a journey to get to through a 7 mile hike. The Chinese people believe that t
his is the Closest Earth Landmark To God.

For those unable to trek, they have a cable car that is considered the longest cable ride in the world- A distance of 7455m Also on the top is a 500 year old Temple.

Electrical Power Substations

2012-11-18T03:12:00.001-08:00

Outdoor Substations are used for all voltage levels from 52 to 765 kV. They are built outside cities, usually at points along the cross-country lines of bulk transmission systems.

They comprise switchgear like circuit breakers, disconnectors, instrument transformers, power transformers, surge arrestors and busbars.

The control and protection equipment is housed in central buildings or in small switching bay oriented containers in the switchyard

Electrical Power Substations

2012-11-10T23:41:00.001-08:00

The hybrid HVDC breaker

ABB has successfully designed and developed a hybrid DC breaker after years of research, functional testing and simulation in the R&D laboratories. This breaker is a breakthrough that solves a technical challenge that has been unresolved for over a hundred years and was perhaps one the main influencers in the ‘war of currents‘ outcome. The ‘hybrid’ breaker combines

mechanical and power electronics switching that enables it to interrupt power flows equivalent to the output of a nuclear power station within 5 milliseconds – that’s as fast as a honey bee takes per flap of its wing – and twice as fast as it takes Usain Bolt to react to the starter’s gun! But its not just about speed. The challenge was to do it ‘ultra-fast’ with minimal operational losses and this has been achieved by combining advanced ultrafast mechanical actuators with our inhouse semiconductor IGBT valve technologies or power electronics (watch video: Hybrid HVDC Breaker – How does it work).

In terms of significance, this breaker is a ‘game changer’. It removes a significant stumbling block in the development of HVDC transmission grids where planning can start now. These grids will enable interconnection and load balancing between HVDC power superhighways integrating renewables and transporting bulk power across long distances with minimal losses. DC grids will enable sharing of resources like lines and converter stations that provides reliability and redundancy in a power network in an economically viable manner with minimal losses. ABB’s new Hybrid HVDC breaker, in simple terms will enable the transmission system to maintain power flow even if there is a fault on one of the lines.

This is a major achievement for the global R&D team in ABB who have worked for years on the challenge and finally come up with a circuit breaker capable of blocking and breaking DC currents at thousands of amperes and several hundred thousands of volts - corresponding to the average power consumption of one million Europeans ! It amounts to stopping power capable of feeding a large city much faster than an eye blink ! This speed helps protect the DC transmission system and prevent power outages in new low loss compact power superhighways. The next step is to install the breaker in pilot installations.

HVDC transmission remains a technology of choice for bulk power transmission over long distances with minimum losses. HVDC lines also require less space and are capable of going underground or underwater. Voltage source converter based HVDC applications in embedded AC grids and for offshore connections have grown substantially, in line with quantum leaps in power ratings and significant loss reductions. ABB pioneered HVDC transmission nearly 60 years ago and accounts for half the world’s HVDC installed base. It is befitting that the company that commissioned the world’s first 800 kilovolt UHVDC systems, the longest overhead HVDC link to go into commercial operation, the world’s longest underwater and underground HVDC links now writes the next chapter in the history of this technology and marks an important milestone in the legacy of electrical engineering.

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)

2012-10-19T11:45:00.002-07:00

Concentrating solar power plants produce electric power by converting the sun's energy into high-temperature heat using various mirror configurations. The heat is then channelled through a conventional generator. The plants consist of two parts: one that collects solar energy and converts it to heat, and another that converts heat energy to electricity.

Concentrating solar power systems can be sized for village power (10 kilowatts) or grid-connected applications (up to 100 megawatts). Some systems use thermal storage during cloudy periods or at night. Others can be combined with natural gas and the resulting hybrid power plants provide high-value, dispatchable power. These attributes, along with world record solar-to-electric conversion efficiencies, make concentrating solar power an attractive renewable energy option in the Southwest and other sunbelt regions worldwide. There are four CSP technologies being promoted internationally. For each of these, there exists various design variations or different configurations. The amount of power generated by a concentrating solar power plant depends on the amount of direct sunlight. Like concentrating photovoltaic concentrators, these technologies use only direct-beam sunlight, rather than diffuse solar radiation.

Freefall Record

2012-10-15T10:47:00.002-07:00

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner will attempt to make history with the Red Bull Stratos project by leaping from a capsule attached to a helium balloon at a height of more than 36 kilometres – breaking four world records in the process.

The Largest Greenhouse in the World

2012-10-09T11:33:00.007-07:00

The Eden Project is a visitor attraction in Cornwall, UK, and it is home to the world’s largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world. The project is located in a reclaimed Kaolinite pit (clay China), located 1.25 mi (2 kilometres) from the town of St Blazey and 5 kilometres (3 mi) from the larger town of St Austell, Cornwall.

The complex is dominated by two huge enclosures consisting of adjoining domes that house thousands of plant species. Each enclosure emulates a natural biome. The first dome emulates a tropical environment, and the second a Mediterranean environment. The domes consist of hundreds of hexagonal and pentagonal, inflated, plastic cells supported by steel frames.

Here is a photo of this incredible place. Enjoy! And be sure to check out edenproject.com for all visitor and event information.

The Eden Project Biomes

The Tropical Biome, covers 1.56 hectares (3.9 acres) and measures 55 metres (180 ft) high, 100 metres (328 ft) wide and 200 metres (656 ft) long. It is used for tropical plants, such as fruiting banana trees, coffee, rubber and giant bamboo, and is kept at a tropical temperature and moisture level.

The Mediterranean Biome covers 0.654 hectares (1.6 acres) and measures 35 metres (115 ft) high, 65 metres (213 ft) wide and 135 metres (443 ft) long. It houses familiar warm temperate and arid plants such as olives and grape vines and various sculptures.

The Outdoor Biome (which is not covered) represents the temperate regions of the world with plants such as tea, lavender, hops, hemp and sunflowers.

All Terrain Wheelchair

2012-10-04T07:23:00.001-07:00

The TC Mobility Tank Chair is a wheelchair that can take you nearly everywhere. This allows people who usually are unable to navigate the outdoors to keep up with friends and join in on the fun.

The Tank Chair is powered by a high-torque electric motor. Rubber tracks and treads allow the chair to go through any terrain. The creators include streams, snow, gravel and mud as examples of things that won’t stand in this wheel chair’s way. This chair can even climb up small steps.

Wind Power Without the Blades

2012-09-28T04:15:00.001-07:00

Noise from wind turbine blades, inadvertent bat and bird kills and even the way wind turbines look have made installing them anything but a breeze. New York design firm Atelier DNA has an alternative concept that ditches blades in favor of stalks. Resembling thin cattails, the Windstalks generate electricity when the wind sets them waving. The designers came up with the idea for the planned city Masdar, a 2.3-square-mile, automobile-free area being built outside of Abu Dhabi. Atelier DNA’s "Windstalk"project came in second in the Land Art Generator competition a contest sponsored by Madsar to identify the best work of art that generates renewable energy from a pool of international submissions.

The proposed design calls for 1,203 "“stalks," each 180-feet high with concrete bases that are between about 33- and 66-feet wide. The carbon-fiber stalks, reinforced with resin, are about a foot wide at the base tapering to about 2 inches at the top. Each stalk will contain alternating layers of electrodes and ceramic discs made from piezoelectric material, which generates a current when put under pressure. In the case of the stalks, the discs will compress as they sway in the wind, creating a charge.

“The idea came from trying to find kinetic models in nature that could be tapped to produce energy,” explained Atelier DNA founding partner Darío Núñez-Ameni.

In the proposal for Masdar, the Windstalk wind farm spans 280,000 square feet. Based on rough estimates, said Núñez-Ameni the output would be comparable to that of a conventional wind farm covering the same area.

“Our system is very efficient in that there is no friction loss associated with more mechanical systems such as conventional wind turbines,” he said.

Each base is slightly different, and is sloped so that rain will funnel into the areas between the concrete to help plants grow wild. These bases form a sort of public park space and serve a technological purpose. Each one contains a torque generator that converts the kinetic energy from the stalk into energy using shock absorber cylinders similar to the kind being developed by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Levant Power .

Wind isn’t constant, though, so Núñez-Ameni says two large chambers below the whole site will work like a battery to store energy. The idea is based on existing hydroelectric pumped storage systems. Water in the upper chamber will flow through turbines to the lower chamber, releasing stored energy until the wind starts up again.

The top of each tall stalk has an LED lamp that glows when the wind is blowing -- more intensely during strong winds and not all when the air is still. The firm anticipates that the stalks will behave naturally, vibrating and fluttering in the air.

“Windstalk is completely silent, and the image associated with them is something we're already used to seeing in a field of wheat or reeds in a marsh. Our hope is that people living close to them will like to walk through the field -- especially at night -- under their own, private sky of swarming stars,” said Núñez-Ameni.

After completion, a Windstalk should be able to produce as much electricity as a single wind turbine, with the advantage that output could be increased with a denser array of stalks. Density is not possible with conventional turbines, which need to be spaced about three times the rotor's diameter in order to avoid air turbulence. But Windstalks work on chaos and turbulence so they can be installed much closer together, said Núñez-Ameni.

Núñez-Ameni also reports that the firm is currently working on taking the Windstalk idea underwater. Called Wavestalk, the whole system would be inverted to harness energy from the flow of ocean currents and waves. The firm’s long-term goal is to build a large system in the United States, either on land or in the water.