Do You Know?

iPad survives 400 meters drop without any damage

2011-11-17T22:32:00.001+07:00

Your iPad maybe will break when dropped from the table, but what if the iPad is dropped from a height of more than 1300 feet or about 400 meters? It was not damaged.

A group of people from the company's G Form tried to do the testing. They threw the iPad from a plane with a height of 1300 feet in a state of the iPad was playing the video.

Apparently, when examined, the iPad is still active and the screen is still showing the video. Prior to this, G Form also had success throwing the iPad from a height of 500 feet or about 150 feet and struck by a bowling ball.

Quoted from the Daily Mail, 17 November 2011, the secret is casing or sheath which is much thicker than usual. This glove is made of material specially designed military ballistic withstand pressure when falling on the surface.

In another demonstration, G Form also demonstrate how the iPad is able to withstand the blows of a kung fu master.

G Form itself is not the only company that makes special gloves to withstand extreme conditions. Previously, iOsafe has designed a special hard protective bulletproof.

Rolex has also made waterproof tool that is able to create objects in it can last up to a depth of 12 thousand feet or approximately 3,600 meters, a depth which will certainly crush the human body.

REAL-f creating copies of human faces in 3D

2011-10-17T13:33:00.000+07:00

Real-f, a startup company from Japan, provides an opportunity for you to see yourself in new ways.

With rates 2,500 pounds, the Japanese company REAL-f would make a photo of your face and then print them in 3D models to be used as the 'face' which is made of solid vinyl chloride. The result, a model called the 3DPF or 3 Dimensional Photo Form.

If the face is not enough, you could even create a 3D photocopy of your head in full, including the shoulders.

Real-f is not the first company to attempt to create a mask of human face. However, the model generated by Real-f is the most realistic.

Real-f claimed, you could even see the veins and membrane of the eyeball. They even mention the technology that they created a process of 'copy' of man.

"We have switched from monochrome to color. Now is the time for the era of three-dimensional stereoscopic effect, "said Real-f, as quoted from dailymail, October 17, 2011.

Real-f does not explain what their purpose to make these technologies. However, there are indications that the user can install the 'head' them on mannequins. Whatever its use, the buyer needs to wait two weeks until your head is finished.

The ROSAT, a 2.5 tons Satellite will fall to earth

2011-10-11T11:23:00.000+07:00

More recently the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) Falling to Earth belonging to the United States space agency, but another falling satellites threat awaits.

People should be aware of the possibility of falling satellites weighing nearly three tons of spinning out of control and is expected to fall back to Earth.

It is the ROSAT satellite, X-ray telescope made by German-owned British and American technology has been orbiting Earth since 1990. The satellite has been providing much valuable information about the star.

In 1999, scientists lost contact with the ROSAT that weighs 2.5 tons. The experts predict, ROSAT will enter Earth's atmosphere later this month.

German Aerospace Center estimates, there are 30 satellite debris, weighing a total of 1.67 tons, which will reach the Earth's surface. Heat-resistant mirror that is in ROSAT estimated will not burn out during re-entry to Earth. The rubble that fell sharply, including fractions that can be dangerous for the Earth's creatures.

However, people should not be too worried. "Until now, more than 50 years of aerospace history, none of the people affected by satellite debris fractions," said Professor Heiner Klinkrad of the European Space Agency was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

Although it is unlikely anyone would be injured, emergency service workers in Germany are being trained to deal with cases of injury from the debris of space junk.

Last month, Germany's space center has the opportunity to estimate the ROSAT injure someone, 1: 2,000. More risky than UARS satellite which crashed some time ago 1:3.200. However, the possibility of someone falling satellite debris was very small, 1: 14 trillion.

Meanwhile, Klinkrad Heiner, the head of affairs office space debris, the European Space Agency said the unlikely ROSAT produced accurate predictions of the fall today.

Uncertainty will be reduced by increasing the satellite close to Earth. At which point the collapse of the new satellites can be predicted one or two hours before he was pierced through the Earth's surface.

For information, NASA's satellite, the UARS crashed in a remote area in the Pacific Ocean, the entry point satellite carcasses around Christmas Island, south of Indonesia. Exact coordinates of the crash site, as noted by NASA, was at 14.1 degrees south latitude and 189.8 degrees east longitude (west longitude 170.2).

UARS is much smaller than the Mir space station that weighs 135 tons - that fell to Earth in 2001. Also more mini than the Skylab re-entry into Earth in 1979.

Mir fell in the South Pacific, while Skylab crashed in the Indian Ocean - as well as some other parts to fall in Western Australia. Because two-thirds of the earth is ocean, often times falling space junk in the water.

Cosmo Noah, Rescue capsule from tsunami hit and as playhouse

2011-10-10T21:36:00.000+07:00

Japan is known as a country often hit by earthquakes and tsunamis. This is why a Japanese company, Cosmo, creating a rescue capsule specially designed to anticipate the tsunami disaster,which named Cosmo Noah.

Expected to function just like Noah's ark, the rescue capsule is then called Cosmo Noah. Has a shape such as round-yellow like tennis ball, Cosmo Noah will float when the tsunami came.

The experts who make the Cosmo Noah capsule said, Cosmo Noah made of special fiberglass material compacted. So, if there are earthquakes and tsunamis devastating, just as happened on 11 March, is expected to rescue capsule could save people who are on it.

Cosmo company president, Shojo Tanaka said, this capsule has been pilot-tested and resilient to various shocks. This capsule can contain up to four adults.

In addition, the capsule also has a window and a hole to breathe. If not used during the tsunami, these capsules can be used as a playhouse for children.

Cosmo company president said the Cosmo Noah capsule is ready to be launched since the beginning of September. The company has received orders at least as many as 600 pieces at the end of September.

Join Google+, Dalai Lama uses Hangout features

2011-10-10T16:49:00.000+07:00

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has been officially have a Google+ account. After opening the social networking accounts, The 14th Dalai Lama original name Tenzin Gyatso whose was later perform teleconferencing using Hangout feature, with South African Archbishop, Desmond Tutu.

Conversations with the Dalai Lama with Desmond Tutu made in the inauguration ceremony for Peace Desmond Tutu's speech, October 8 yesterday. Dalai Lama are in India, while Desmond Tutu are in South Africa.

Conversation two recipient of the Nobel Peace lasted for over an hour (the Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, while Desmond Tutu in 1984). The video is also available in the Dalai Lama Google+ account.

Both talk about the universal message of peace, which is taught in every religion and culture. Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu also hope love and peace can be created, although at this time of war, poverty, and exploitation still takes place in every region of the world.

Previously, the Dalai Lama was planning to meet Desmond Tutu in South Africa directly. However, due to visa issues permits still not finished, meetings were held with the existing Hangout features in Google+.

During this time, the Dalai Lama is known as a religious leader, who was not anti against technology, including social networking. Previously, the Dalai Lama also has an active Twitter account, and followed by over 2.5 million followers. While the Facebook fan page belongs to the Dalai Lama now has more than 2 million fans.

Meanwhile, the Hangout feature long as it's deemed to be excess Google+ compared with other social networks. With this feature, users can conduct teleconferences Google+ simultaneously with up to 10 users.

The Eye of Horus house for Naomi Campbell

2011-10-10T13:47:00.001+07:00

As a proof of love, the lover of supermodel Naomi Campbell, Vladislav Doronin, offered a Eye of Horus house as a birthday gift to Naomi-41. Not only luxury, the house is unique because of its shape as the eye of Horus, the god of ancient Egyptian society.

As quoted by the Daily Mail, Eye of Horus house was built on an island off the coast of Sedir, Turkey. The rooms are designed architect Luis de Garrido has 25 luxurious rooms.

When viewed from the air, then the Eye of Horus house This does look like the eyes in the reliefs from ancient Egypt, depicting the god Horus. Dome-shaped house, which resembles the pupil of the eye. While eyebrows, a solar panel as the sole power of existing homes on the island.

This Eye of Horus house is environmentally friendly. In fact, for pumping water, electricity using geothermal energy. It at once became heated water.

The main part or the 'pupils' homes will consist of three levels. It includes five main rooms are very luxurious and park in the building. A number of natural ventilation complements the 'greenness' of this house.

Vlad plans to build this Eye of Horus house seems to also be an indication that the real estate entrepreneur from Russia will be proposed to Naomi Campbell. Vlad and Naomi have been dating for three years. Although new to divorce from his wife, Ekaterina, Vlad reportedly already engaged to Naomi.

The Mystery of the Monkeys on the Rock

2011-08-13T16:17:00.001+07:00

When you think of monkeys, you probably think of the Tropics. Few species of monkeys venture into temperate lands. Nevertheless, there are one or two notable exceptions.

In the high Atlas Mountains of North Africa, where snowfall is common during the winter, small groups of Barbary apes roam through forests of cedar and oak. One isolated group of these monkeys can be found 200 miles [300 km] to the north, marooned on the Rock of Gibraltar, at the southernmost tip of Europe.

How do naturalists explain this mystery? Some believe that the monkeys colonized other areas of Europe in the distant past and that those of Gibraltar are the only surviving group. Others think that Arabic or British colonizers brought them to the Rock. Legend has it that the monkeys crossed the narrow straits dividing Europe from Africa by means of a long-lost underground tunnel. Whatever their origin, they are now the only free-range monkeys found in Europe.

The Barbary apes inhabit the pine woods that cover the upper part of the Rock. Although they number only a hundred or so, they have become “the peninsula’s most famous residents,” according to the International Primate Protection League.

Since seven million tourists visit Gibraltar every year, the mischievous monkeys have an ample food supply. Although they forage for wild plants, they have become adept at begging—and occasionally stealing—food from visitors. Local authorities also provide the monkeys with fruit and vegetables.

Apart from feeding, the monkeys spend 20 percent of their day grooming each other. Both male and female monkeys care for and play with the young ones. They live in close-knit groups, where stress sometimes leads to confrontation. While the older monkeys use threats and screams to chase away the younger ones, they also have an unusual tooth-chattering behavior that seems to calm them down.

Their arrival on Gibraltar may remain a mystery; still, these sociable monkeys add a special charm to the limestone headland that guards the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. Gibraltar would not be the same without them.

The Early History of Balloon Flight

2011-08-04T11:57:00.000+07:00

Joseph Michel and Jacques Étienne Montgolfier, sons of a wealthy paper manufacturer of Annonay, France, are honored in history for building and launching the first hot-air balloon. Their initial experiments during the early 1780’s involved paper balloons, which they believed were made to rise because of the smoke from burning straw and wool. Before long, they realized that it was the heated air that created the lift.

Later, as they began making cloth balloons, they observed that by launching progressively larger balloons, they were able to achieve higher altitudes and they could lift additional payload. In June 1783, from the public square in Annonay, they released the largest balloon they had built to date. It floated skyward for about ten minutes before descending to earth.

With that achievement, they concluded that it was time to launch a balloon that carried people. First, though, in September 1783, thousands of spectators gathered at Versailles to witness the release of a balloon with a rooster, a duck, and a sheep on board. All three survived the eight-minute flight with no ill effects. Shortly thereafter, on November 21, 1783, the first flight with humans on board was attempted. Louis XVI was persuaded to allow two noblemen to have the honor. They were launched from Château de la Muette and floated over Paris for about five miles [8 km]. After about 25 minutes, they made a forced landing when the balloon caught fire.

About this time, the Academy of Sciences in Paris showed interest in this invention. Professor Jacques Charles, one of the best-known physicists of the day, collaborated with two clever mechanics, Charles and M. N. Robert, and built the first hydrogen-filled balloon, testing it on August 27, 1783. It floated for 45 minutes, covering about 15 miles [24 km], and became known as a Charlière. This type of balloon remains in use to this day in almost its original form.

The Terrible Price

2011-08-03T10:39:00.000+07:00

This meteoric rise in popularity, however, was not without its rumblings of foreboding. In fact, as far back as some 19 centuries ago, the Roman historian Pliny had noted that slaves who worked in asbestos mines seemed to have respiratory problems. His was only the first of many warning voices.

In the early 1900’s, doctors in Europe began to notice that asbestos workers were dying of respiratory ailments. By 1918 some insurance companies were already refusing to cover asbestos workers, noting their unusually short life spans. By the 1930’s, autopsies had established that massive exposure to asbestos could indeed be fatal. The tiny, needle-shaped crystals of many types of asbestos can work their way far down into the lungs, or even into the abdominal cavity, and remain there, sometimes bringing on disease decades later. Following are some of the more common asbestos-related diseases:

Asbestosis. The most common affliction, particularly among those who have had a long-term exposure to asbestos. A scarring of lung tissue that gradually causes the lung to rigidify and that obstructs the air spaces within the lung. Asbestosis causes labored breathing and makes lungs more vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis, which in turn are much more dangerous to people with the condition. Asbestosis is incurable, and it can kill.

Lung Cancer. Also very common, it kills more people than does asbestosis. Interestingly, though, when exposure to asbestos is combined with the smoking habit, the incidence of lung cancer really soars—far higher than if the risks of smoking and of asbestos exposure were simply added together.

Mesothelioma. A rare but extremely lethal form of cancer. It attacks the membrane that lines the chest or abdominal cavity. It may occur even after limited exposure to the mineral, and it may show up after a delay of as long as 40 years.

According to the International Journal of Health Services, asbestos will cause from two to three hundred thousand premature and painful deaths between 1986 and the year 2000 in the United States alone. If that holds true, it would about equal the number of U.S. military personnel who died in combat in World War II.

Social Skills in Infants?

2011-08-01T16:19:00.001+07:00

Babies as young as six months develop “social judging skills before they [can] talk,” say researchers at Yale University, U.S.A. Babies aged six months to ten months watched a large-eyed toy try to climb hills, while other toys either helped it or pushed it backward. The children were then “presented with the toys to see which they would play with,” explains the Houston Chronicle.

“Nearly every baby picked the helpful toy over the bad one.” So to some extent, “even infants can tell the difference between naughty and nice playmates, and know which to choose,” says the newspaper.

Doomsday Clock Advances

2011-07-30T09:39:00.000+07:00

The doomsday clock, conceived by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (BAS) to illustrate how close mankind is to nuclear disaster, has been advanced two minutes, to read five minutes before midnight—the “figurative end of civilization.” The clock has only been reset 18 times in its 60-year history.

The last change was in February 2002, after the World Trade Center attacks in New York. Continued development and presence of nuclear weapons as well as failure to make nuclear materials secure are “symptomatic of a failure to solve the problems posed by the most destructive technology on Earth,” said a BAS statement. Moreover, it continued, “the dangers posed by climate change are nearly as dire as those posed by nuclear weapons.”

Prescription for Danger

2011-07-29T11:03:00.000+07:00

“Medicines claimed more lives in Germany last year than traffic accidents did,” reported the newspaper Stuttgarter Nachrichten. Reportedly, some 25,000 people died in 1998 from wrongly prescribed drugs. This is three times as many as were killed in traffic accidents during the same period. Self-medication is said to play only a secondary role. The main problem seems to be a lack of information and training among doctors about the medicines and their effects. Pharmacologist Ingolf Cascorbi said that according to one estimate, “in Germany each year, 10,000 deaths and 250,000 cases of persons suffering from serious side effects could be avoided if research and training were optimized,” states the report.

Similarly, the French magazine Sciences et avenir reports on a recent study in France revealing that of 150,000 prescriptions given to people over 70 years of age, some 10,700 were either wrong or ineffective. Nearly 1 in 50 was potentially dangerous because of possible reactions with other prescribed drugs or other risks. In France elderly people spend an estimated one million days each year in the hospital as a result of negative reactions to medicine.

An Explosion of Technology

2011-07-28T11:07:00.001+07:00

In Albania it is not unusual to see an older person riding a donkey while talking on a cell phone. In India a beggar might pause in his solicitations to make or take a call on his phone. Yes, from cell phones to computers to television, technology has found its way into every corner of the world—even crossing the divide between rich and poor—and has become a part of life for many.

The pervasiveness of technology is perhaps most apparent in the proliferation of cell phones, many of which are no longer just phones. Advanced models enable users to access the Internet, send and receive e-mail and text messages, watch TV, listen to music, take photos, navigate by the Global Positioning System (GPS), and—oh, yes—phone someone!

According to a report in the Washington Post newspaper, a multimedia smartphone “now has more processing power than did the North American Air Defense Command in 1965.” The Post also states: “There is now one cellphone for every two humans on Earth,” and at least 30 nations have more cell phones than people. Indeed, we are witnessing “the fastest global diffusion of any technology in human history,” says the paper.

Worldwide, almost 60 percent of users live in developing lands, making the cell phone the first high-tech communications device to have the majority of its users in those lands. Afghanistan, for example, added about 140,000 subscribers a month in 2008, while in recent years Africa has seen cell-phone use grow nearly 50 percent annually.

But the communications revolution has its downside. Cell phones, pagers, and laptop computers make people accessible almost anytime, anywhere, causing some users to feel caught in an electronic web. At the other extreme are technology “addicts,” who have a compulsion to be connected, to know what is going on.

“Addiction,” distraction, interruption—these are perhaps the most recognized problems associated with popular communications and media technology. But the same devices also have much power for good. How, then, can you use them in a balanced, wise, and considerate way? The following articles address this question.

Studying The Squid’s Beak

2011-07-27T20:37:00.001+07:00

The beak of the squid baffles scientists. They wonder: ‘How can something that is so hard be attached to a body that has no bones? Should not the combination of materials cause abrasion and hurt the squid?’

The tip of the squid’s beak is hard, whereas the base of the beak is soft. The composition of the beak—which is made up of chitin, water, and protein—changes in density so gradually from soft to hard that the squid can use its beak without causing any harmful abrasion.

Professor Frank Zok, at the University of California, says that studying the squid’s beak could “revolutionize the way engineers think about attaching materials together in all sorts of applications.” One potential application is in the making of prosthetic limbs. Ali Miserez, a researcher at the same university, imagines “creating a full prosthesis that mimics the chemistry of the beak, so that it matches the elasticity of cartilage on one side and, on the other side,” is made of “a material which is very stiff and abrasion resistant.”

Glass spells danger for birds

2011-07-26T13:14:00.000+07:00

When windows are clean and clear, birds often see only what is on the other side, which may include greenery and sky. As a result, unsuspecting birds sometimes fly straight into the glass at full speed. Also, they may see decorative plants inside glass lobbies or homes and try to land on them.

Coated reflective glass can also be a problem. Under certain conditions, birds may see, not the glass, but a reflection of the surrounding area or sky and, here again, come to grief. Birds have even been killed by glass at visitors’ centers and on observation towers at bird sanctuaries and wildlife refuges! Ornithologist and biology professor Dr. Daniel Klem, Jr., believes that more birds are killed by flying into windows than by any other cause related to human activity, except perhaps habitat destruction.

Some birds are especially vulnerable to crashes. Most migratory songbirds, for example, fly toward their destination at night and navigate, at least in part, by the stars. As a result, they may become confused by bright lights on tall buildings. Indeed, some birds have become so disoriented that they have flown around aimlessly until they dropped from exhaustion. Another danger occurs during nights of rain or high cloud cover. On such occasions, birds tend to fly at lower altitudes, which increases their risk of crashing into tall buildings.

The Impact on Bird Populations

Just one tall building in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., caused an average of about 1,480 known deaths during migration season, according to one report. Thus, over a period of 14 consecutive years, that one building caused the death of some 20,700 birds. Of course, the total number of bird strikes was no doubt much higher. Moreover, these birds “are not the pigeons, gulls, or geese,” says Michael Mesure, director of the Fatal Light Awareness Program of Toronto, Canada, but “birds with endangered populations.”

For example, in Australia in one recent year, glass killed about 30 swift parrots, of which only 2,000 remain. In the United States, many museum specimens of Bachman’s warbler, now possibly extinct, were gathered from collisions with one particular lighthouse in Florida.

Of the birds that survive building strikes, many are injured or weakened. This can be especially hazardous for migratory birds. If they are hurt and come down within a concentration of buildings, they may die of hunger or predation by other animals, some of which have learned to exploit this occasional food source.

The Appeal of Online Dating

2011-07-22T12:44:00.000+07:00

Do you fear rejection? Or do you simply feel there is a lack of potential marriage mates in the area where you live? Then computer dating may appeal to you. For one thing, on-line matchmaking services promise you control over your “dates.” Search boxes that display age groups, countries of residence, personality profiles, pictures, and anonymous screen names are provided. Armed with the power of choice, it may seem that dating on-line is more efficient and less stressful than face-to-face encounters.

What is the reality? Does dating in cyberspace really lead to lasting happiness? Well, consider this: During a six-year period, one matchmaking service had 11 million subscribers. Yet, only 1,475 marriages took place among them. Another dating service with over a million members listed only 75 confirmed marriages! What is wrong with this trend?

Lost Work Ethic

2011-07-21T13:14:00.000+07:00

Many Finnish employers are perplexed by a new generation of job applicants who do not seem to have a clue about the social skills necessary to hold a job. “The recruits tend to interpret work hours freely and think that they can clock in and out whenever they please,” says Anne Mikkola, a restaurateur, in an interview made by a Finnish national service broadcasting company.

Codes of conduct and dress also present difficulties. Especially in the service sector, employers often have to point out which types of attire are not appropriate. That the line between work and private life has blurred is also seen when recruits’ friends drop in at the workplace just to visit.

Youths and The Internet

2011-07-20T15:15:00.001+07:00

“The Internet provides an unprecedented number and variety of meeting places, from message boards to instant messaging to so-called social networking sites,” says Science News magazine.

Young people have quickly adjusted to life online. Indeed, in 2004 nearly 9 of every 10 people in the United States between the ages of 12 and 17 used the Internet, which is accessible in virtually every corner of the globe.

Few people would deny the usefulness of the Internet. But no one should be oblivious to the dangers it poses. For instance, many youths are wandering alone in the online neighborhood, and some are creating social networks with people whom you—and even your child—would never invite into the home.

Some naive young ones even post inappropriately personal details, thoughts, and images on the Internet. According to Professor Zheng Yan of the State University of New York, youths “often don’t realize how many people have access to that information, including sexual predators.”

Let us take a closer look at what many young people are doing online. This will enable us to see potential problems, to determine just what our children are looking for, and to see how we can help them satisfy their legitimate needs.

Loango - Beach Like No Other

2011-07-19T12:08:00.001+07:00

Loango National Park is possibly one of the most outstanding wildlife destinations in Africa. It conserves miles of unspoiled beaches fringed by freshwater lagoons and dense equatorial forest. But what really make Loango’s beaches unique are the animals that walk along the sand—hippos, forest elephants, buffalo, leopards, and gorillas.

Why does the beach attract those animals of the forest? Lining Loango’s white, sandy beaches are pastures where hippos and buffalo can graze. Rônier palm trees, which grow alongside the beach, produce abundant fruit that attracts forest elephants almost as much as ice cream attracts children. But most important of all is the solitude. The only footprints on the sand are those of animals.

The absence of human intrusion encourages the endangered leatherback turtles to choose these lonely beaches as a place to lay their eggs. Rosy bee-eaters have similar nesting tastes, and they excavate their colonial nests in the sand just a few yards above the high-water mark. During the summer months, over a thousand humpback whales congregate in Loango’s undisturbed waters to mate.

Two immense lagoons separate the beaches of Loango from the equatorial forest, and they provide an ideal habitat for crocodiles and hippos. Fish are plentiful in these inland seas, whose banks are lined with mangrove forests. African fish eagles and ospreys scour the open water of the lagoons, while several species of colorful kingfishers search for fish in the shallow waters. Elephants, who love water, happily swim across the lagoons to reach the beach and gorge on their favorite fruit.

Inside the equatorial forest, monkeys scamper along the upper branches of the canopy, while colorful butterflies glide around the sunny clearings. Fruit bats roost in their favorite trees during the day and then, during the night, go about their vital work of spreading seeds throughout the forest. At the forest edges, glittering sunbirds sip nectar from flowering trees and bushes. Understandably, Loango has aptly been described as “a place where you can experience the mood of equatorial Africa.”

The Shark - Action Is Essential for Survival

2011-07-18T18:11:00.000+07:00

Should the plight of the shark concern us? It may be difficult to feel the same sympathy for sharks as we might for elephants or whales. However, we must recognize their vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the oceans. For example, their feeding habits currently serve as a check on other fish populations.

Shark fishing is unregulated in many countries. After a ten-year debate, Mexico, a major shark-fishing nation, where over 30,000 tons a year are harvested, recently passed a law prohibiting shark finning. Further highlighting the difficulties involved, demand for shark fins has led to the proliferation of illegal fishing in marine reserves in different parts of the world. For example, the director of the Galápagos National Park Service laments: “The illegal fishing for shark fins in the Galapagos has increased dramatically in the past few years. It’s very profitable and has created a mafia here.”

A positive step has been taken toward saving the shark—the practice of finning was banned by some countries. However, Charlotte Mogensen, a policy officer for the World Wildlife Fund, warns that much more is needed. She states: “Sharks remain in peril all over the world. We urge all fishery management organizations to adopt not only finning bans, but requirements for shark data collection, bycatch reduction and sustainable catches.”

Jai Singh - Devoted to the Study of Mathematical Science

2011-07-18T14:47:00.002+07:00

Jai Singh was born in 1688 in the Indian state of Rajasthan. His father, a maharaja in Amber, the capital of the Kachavaha clan of Rajputs, was under the authority of the Mogul powers in Delhi. The young prince was educated in such languages as Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic. He also received education in mathematics, astronomy, and the martial arts. But one subject was closest to the prince’s heart. A text of his times states: “Sawai Jai Singh from the first dawning of reason in his mind, and during its progress toward maturity, was entirely devoted to the study of mathematical science (astronomy).”

In 1700, at the age of 11, Jai Singh ascended the throne of Amber, following the death of his father. Soon the young king was called by the Mogul emperor to his court in south India, where Jai Singh met Jagannātha, a man well versed in mathematics and astronomy. This man later became the king’s principal assistant. The young maharaja’s political fortunes fluctuated until 1719, when the reign of Muḥammad Shāh began. Jai Singh was then called to the capital, Delhi, for a meeting with the new Mogul ruler. At this meeting, held in November 1720, Jai Singh apparently proposed the building of an observatory, which probably became a reality in 1724.

What motivated the maharaja to build an observatory? Jai Singh realized that the almanacs and astronomical charts in India were sadly inaccurate and that little progress was being made in the field of astronomy. So he decided to make new charts that would correspond to the actual visible heavenly bodies. He also had a desire to make instruments for astronomical observations available to every person devoted to the study of astronomy. Jai Singh thus acquired a vast library of books from France, England, Portugal, and Germany. In his court, he welcomed scholars from Hindu, Islamic, and European schools of astronomy. He even sent the first fact-finding mission from the East to Europe to collect information on astronomy, and he commissioned them to bring back books and instruments.

Punjabis and Kidney Stones

2011-07-17T21:10:00.000+07:00

People from the state of Punjab and surrounding areas of India are more prone to get kidney stones than any other community in the world, reports India Today International. Punjabis are known for working hard and eating heartily, but often they do not drink enough water in the scorching summer months, says the report. For this reason, their region was described at a recent international urologic conference as the “stone belt” of the world. The average size of a kidney stone there is between two and three centimeters [about an inch], compared with one centimeter [less than half an inch] in Europe and the United States. The report attributes this to many Indians’ tendency to ignore minor pains or put off treatment. Urologists say healthy people should drink at least two quarts of clean water every day.

Temperatures in Parked Cars

2011-07-17T11:23:00.000+07:00

During 2004, 35 children died of heat stroke in the United States after being left in parked vehicles, says Pediatrics magazine. Studies show that when outside temperatures exceed 86 degrees Fahrenheit [30°C], temperatures inside a vehicle can quickly reach 134 to 154 degrees [57 to 68°C]. Even with an outside temperature of 72 degrees [22°C], the temperature in a car can still rise by about 40 degrees [22°], with most of the increase taking place within 15 to 30 minutes after parking. Leaving the windows one and a half inches [4 cm] open made little difference, as did running air-conditioning before turning the car off. The authors of the article believe that public awareness of the risks could save lives.

Is Obesity Really a Problem?

2011-07-16T10:05:00.002+07:00

“Adolescent obesity is like an epidemic.”—S. K. Wangnoo, senior consultant endocrinologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, India.

As the above comment shows, many middle-class Indian families have changed to a life-style that is resulting in teenage obesity. This epidemic has become a pandemic that is spreading in many countries as more people exercise less and become addicted to junk food. A consultant in adolescent medicine stated: “The next generation [in Britain] will be . . . the most obese in the history of mankind.” The Guardian Weekly reported: “Obesity was once mainly an adult problem. Now Britain has a young generation whose eating habits and sedentary culture is leading them towards problems first seen in the US. Long-term obesity will predispose them to illnesses such as diabetes to heart disease and cancer.”

The writers of the book Food Fight state: “Overconsumption has replaced malnutrition as the world’s top food problem.” Don Peck, writing in The Atlantic Monthly, states: “Some nine million Americans are now ‘morbidly obese,’ meaning roughly a hundred pounds [45 kg] or more overweight.” Weight-related conditions lead to some 300,000 premature deaths a year in that nation, “more than anything else except smoking.” Peck concluded: “Obesity may soon surpass both hunger and infectious disease as the world’s most pressing public-health problem.” Therefore, who can afford to ignore the threat of obesity? Dr. Walter C. Willett writes in the book Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy that “next to whether you smoke, the number that stares up at you from the bathroom scale is the most important measure of your future health.” The key word here is future health.

How Do You Define Obesity?

When is a person considered obese and not just somewhat overweight? The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.A., states: “In simplest terms, obesity is being seriously overweight because of excess body fat.” But how do you determine what overweight is for each person? Height-weight tables can give an approximate guideline as to whether one is simply overweight or has passed into the obese stage. (See the table on page 5.) However, these don’t account for differences in body composition. The Mayo Clinic says: “Body fat, instead of weight, is a better predictor of health.” For example, an athlete is likely to have more weight because of muscle mass or large bone structure. What are the basic causes of overweight or obesity? The following article will discuss that question.

Do You Need Insurance?

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In some lands certain kinds of insurance are compulsory. In others, most kinds are practically unknown. In addition, the cost of insurance and the type of coverage provided vary widely from country to country. But the fundamental principle of insurance—sharing risk—remains the same.

Naturally, the more property a person owns, the more he has to lose. Similarly, the more family responsibility a person has, the greater the impact if he or she dies or becomes physically disabled. Having insurance can alleviate one’s concern about the possibility of suffering a loss of property or a disabling accident.

Yet, is it wise to spend money on insurance even though a claim may never be made? Well, is keeping a spare tire in the car a wasted investment, even if the tire is never needed? The sense of security to the car driver may make the expense of the extra tire worthwhile. While financial compensation cannot make up for certain losses, it may compensate for other losses.

What types of loss do insurance policies cover?

Types of Insurance

Much of the insurance purchased by individuals falls into the categories of property, liability, health, disability, and life insurance.

Property insurance: Insuring against the loss of property—home, business, car, or other possessions—is among the most common forms of risk management. This is the insurance that John, mentioned in the preceding article, decided not to buy for his carpentry shop and tools.

Some home-insurance policies include coverage of certain items inside the home. If you buy this type, it is wise to make an inventory of your insured household possessions, if possible including photographs or a videotape. This inventory along with any appraisals or purchase receipts for the items should be kept in a safe location outside the home. Having these records could make settling a claim much easier.

Liability insurance: Anyone who drives a car, owns a home or other real estate, operates a business, or employs others runs the risk of liability for an accident. And that accident may result in property damage or injury or death to another person. The car driver or the owner of property or a business may become liable to pay for property repair or for the medical treatment or even the pain and suffering of another. In many countries employers and drivers are required by law to carry liability insurance to help pay these expenses. Even where insurance is not a legal requirement, a driver, property owner, or employer may be held legally or morally responsible to help victims of an accident or their families.

Health insurance: Many countries have some form of state-sponsored insurance that provides such benefits as pensions for seniors and medical care. Even where this is the case, however, such insurance may pay only a portion of medical expenses or may pay for only certain ones. Some individuals, therefore, obtain additional private insurance to help them pay the remainder. In many places workers may receive health insurance as a condition of their employment.

Some health-care plans, including managed care arrangements and health maintenance organizations (HMOs), provide comprehensive medical care for a set monthly or annual fee. These organizations endeavor to lower costs by providing less-expensive medical care and by promoting preventive medicine. However, in an HMO, a patient’s choice of doctors or treatment may be more limited than with traditional health insurance.

Disability insurance and life insurance: Disability insurance provides some income if a person is injured and cannot work. Life insurance provides financial assistance to a person’s dependents in case of his or her death. Such insurance has enabled many families to pay off outstanding debts and carry on their routine of life after the injury or the death of their main breadwinner.

Finding Reliable Insurers

Insurance is based on the principle of paying money now for financial protection in the future, so it is not surprising that the insurance industry attracts more than its share of swindlers. This is true in developed as well as developing economies. Therefore, one is wise to beware of so-called low-cost insurance and to be alert to any other questionable insurance scheme. Too many hopeful buyers have ended up with nothing when such companies failed to pay on their policies—or just vanished overnight!

So, as with any other important purchase, comparison shopping is wise, and it often saves money. For instance, some companies offer lower rates on health insurance to nonsmokers and on car insurance to those who have passed driver-education courses. But how can a potential buyer find reliable insurance?

A first step can be to find out what others have experienced with various insurance companies and agents. Friends and neighbors may know a company’s reputation for service or an agent’s reputation for integrity and personal concern. It is also good to stay alert to news reports indicating which insurance companies may be having problems.

Additionally, a company’s record and financial standing may be checked by consulting insurance rating guides at a library or a bookstore or on the Internet. These can provide the answers to such questions as: Is the company financially secure? Has it been in business successfully for many years? Is it known for handling claims quickly and amicably?

Insurance rating guides, however, should not be considered infallible. One long-established, multibillion-dollar insurance company had to be taken over by the government only one week after it had been rated as superior in a well-known handbook!