science and technology

Heliophysics

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:52:00 +0000

Heliophysics

NASA’s recently launched Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, is returning early images that confirm an unprecedented new capability for scientists to better understand our sun's dynamic processes.

We live in the extended atmosphere of an active star. While sunlight enables and sustains life, the Sun's variability produces streams of high energy particles and radiation that can harm life or alter its evolution.

Under the protective shield of a magnetic field and atmosphere, the Earth is an island in the Universe where life has developed and flourished. The origins and fate of life on Earth are intimately connected to the way the Earth responds to the Sun's variations.

Understanding the Sun, Heliosphere, and Planetary Environments as a single connected system is the goal of the Science Mission Directorate's Heliophysics Research Program. In addition to solar processes, our domain of study includes the interaction of solar plasma and radiation with Earth, the other planets, and the Galaxy. By analyzing the connections between the Sun, solar wind, planetary space environments, and our place in the Galaxy, we are uncovering the fundamental physical processes that occur throughout the Universe. Understanding the connections between the Sun and its planets will allow us to predict the impacts of solar variability on humans, technological systems, and even the presence of life itself.

We have already discovered ways to peer into the internal workings of the Sun and understand how the Earth's magnetosphere responds to solar activity. Our challenge now is to explore the full system of complex interactions that characterize the relationship of the Sun with the solar system. Understanding these connections is especially critical as we contemplate our destiny in the third millennium. Heliophysics is needed to facilitate the accelerated expansion of human experience beyond the confines of our Earthly home. Recent advances in technology allow us, for the first time, to realistically contemplate voyages beyond the solar system.

There are three primary objectives that define the multi-decadal studies needed:

To understand the changing flow of energy and matter throughout the Sun, Heliosphere, and Planetary Environments.
To explore the fundamental physical processes of space plasma systems.
To define the origins and societal impacts of variability in the Earth-Sun System.

A combination of interrelated elements is used to achieve these objectives. They include complementary missions of various sizes; timely development of enabling and enhancing technologies; and acquisition of knowledge through research, analysis, theory, and modeling.

New Discoveries at Mercury

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:47:00 +0000

July 3, 2008: Mercury's magnetic field is "alive." Volcanic vents ring the planet's giant Caloris Basin. And Mercury has shrunk in on itself more than previously suspected.

These are just a few of the new discoveries by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, which flew past Mercury on January 14, 2008. The results are described in a series of 11 papers published in a special July 4th issue of Science magazine.

Six of the papers in Science report studies of the planet's surface--its colors, mineralogy, and the shape of its terrain. For instance, the color enhanced image below reveals evidence of volcanic vents along the margins of Caloris basin, one of the Solar System's largest and youngest impact basins:

Above: A color image of the Caloris basin and adjacent regions. Orange hues just inside the Caloris basin rim mark the locations of features thought to be volcanic. Courtesy of Science/AAAS

"By combining Mariner 10 and MESSENGER data, the science team was able to reconstruct a comprehensive geologic history of the entire Caloris basin interior," says James Head of Brown University, lead author of one of the Science reports. "The basin was formed from an impact by an asteroid or comet during a period of heavy bombardment in the first billion years of Solar System history. As with the lunar maria, a period of volcanic activity followed, producing lava flows that filled the basin interior. This volcanism is responsible for the comparatively light, red material of the interior plains intermingled with [newer] impact crater deposits."

Finding volcanic vents around Caloris resolves an old debate among planetary scientists: Are smooth plains on Mercury, such as the interior of Caloris basin, caused by erupting lava or some other process? Lava has won the day.

Right: Near the rim of Caloris basin, this broad, smooth dome or shield-like feature is interpreted to be a volcano. The bright halo surrounding the kidney-shaped depression is probably an explosive volcanic eruption deposit. Courtesy of Science/AAAS

One of the most exciting results announced in Science involves Mercury's magnetic field. Until Mariner 10 discovered Mercury's magnetic field in the 1970s, Earth was the only other terrestrial planet known to have a global magnetic field. Earth's magnetism is generated by the planet's churning hot, liquid-iron core via a mechanism called a magnetic dynamo. Researchers have been puzzled by Mercury's field because its iron core was supposed to have cooled long ago and stopped generating magnetism. Some researchers have thought that the field may have been a relic of the past, frozen in the outer crust.

MESSENGER data suggest otherwise: Mercury's field appears to be generated by an active dynamo in the planet's core. It is not a relic.

"MESSENGER's measurements indicate that, like Earth, Mercury's magnetic field is mostly dipolar, which means it has a north and south magnetic poles," says lead author Brian Anderson of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md. "The fact that it is dipolar, and that we did not find the signature shorter-wavelength anomalies that would signify patches of magnetized crust, supports the view that we’re seeing a modern dynamo. We are eager for the October flyby and the year in orbit to see if this is the case elsewhere on the planet and confirm that the field comes from the core."

Right: A crater deformed by a lobate scarp. Courtesy of Science/AAAS

Mercury's core makes up 60% of its mass, which is at least twice as large as any other planet. Cooling of this outsized core has led to a remarkable contraction of the planet, revealing itself in the form of cliff-like "wrinkles" called lobate scarps (pictured right). MESSENGER Principal Investigator Sean Solomon, at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, explains:

"The dominant tectonic landforms on Mercury are lobate scarps, huge cliffs that mark the tops of crustal faults that formed during the contraction of the surrounding area. They tell us how important the cooling core has been to the evolution of the surface. After the end of the period of heavy bombardment, cooling of the planet's core not only fuels the magnetic dynamo, but also led to contraction of the entire planet. And the data from the flyby indicate that the total contraction is a least one third greater than we previously thought."

The flyby also made the first-ever observations of charged particles in Mercury's unique exosphere. The exosphere is an ultrathin atmosphere where the molecules are so far apart they are more likely to collide with the surface than with each other. Material in the exosphere comes mainly from the surface of Mercury itself, knocked aloft by solar radiation, solar wind bombardment and meteoroid vaporization:

"MESSENGER was able to observe Mercury's exosphere in three areas—the dayside, the day/night line, or terminator, and its 25,000 mile-long (40,000 km) sodium tail," says author Bill McClintock of the University of Colorado. "Atoms of hydrogen, helium, sodium, potassium, and calcium have been seen in the exosphere, and many other elements almost certainly exist there. These atoms are accelerated away from Mercury by solar-radiation pressure and form a long tail of atoms flowing away from the Sun. But their abundances differ depending on whether it's day or night, effects from the magnetic field and solar wind, and possibly the latitude."

"Mercury's exosphere is remarkably active," he marvels.

Another significant scientific surprise involves Mercury's magnetosphere--the bubble of magnetism surrounding the planet. Thomas Zurbuchen of the University of Michigan explains: "Mercury's magnetosphere is full of many [kinds of charged particles], both atomic and molecular. What is in some sense a 'Mercury plasma nebula' is far richer in complexity and makeup than the Io plasma torus in the Jupiter system." The composition of the nebula doesn't match that of the solar wind, leading researchers to conclude "that this material came from the planet's surface. This observation means that this flyby got the first-ever look at surface composition."

Right: Data from MESSENGERS FIPS sensor reveal the composition of Mercury's plasma nebula. Courtesy of Science/AAAS

"When you look at the planet in the sky, it looks like a simple point of light," remarked MESSENGER Project Scientist Ralph McNutt, of APL. "But when you experience Mercury close-up through all of MESSENGER's 'senses' seeing it at different wavelengths, feeling its magnetic properties, and touching its surface features and energetic particles, you perceive a complex system and not just a ball of rock and metal."

"It's remarkable that this rich lode of data came from two days of imaging, just 30 minutes of sampling the planet's magnetosphere and exosphere, and less than ten minutes carrying out altimetry and collecting other data near the time of its closest approach," adds Solomon. "MESSENGER's flyby was a huge success."

And it was just the beginning. Two more flybys are scheduled for Oct. 2008 and Sept. 2009. Then, MESSENGER will actually go into orbit around Mercury in 2011. Exciting times lie ahead. Stay tuned to Science@NASA for updates.

Project - The diptych dial

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 16:46:00 +0000

DIRECTIONS FOR DIPTYCH DIAL ASSEMBLY

The folding sundial you are about to make is called a diptych dial. Such dials have been made for four or five centuries and were traditionally made of ivory or boxwood. The diptych dial provided here was designed by Dr. Allan Mills, Astronomy Group, Leicester University, UK . The scanned images and text have been prepared by Dr. Randall Brooks, National Museum of Science and Technology, Ottawa, Canada. The template was later updated and redrawn by Anders Bergströmwho also wrote the Capuchin dial project below

Step 1: Print the template dial (provided as JPEG graphics to download) on a piece of A4 or letter sized paper. The downloaded files may be resized if desireable. Paste the paper dial onto a piece of bristol board or heavy card making sure that glue is spread evenly over the entire surface. To download the full size template

Step 2: Trim along the outside lines on the template diagram.

Step 3: To provide accurate time, the sundial must be orientated properly. The first step is to determine the latitude of the site using an atlas. On the right and left of the lower half of the dial (the base), you will see two scales marked 35°-55°. Once you have determined the required latitude, mark the latitude angle off on both scales drawing lines through each of the X symbols at the top. Cut the flaps off along these lines.

At the top you may want to write the location and latitude and/or perhaps your name, i.e. "Sam Smith, Fecit" (Fecit is Latin for "maker" and often appears on early instruments).

NB: If your site is outside the 35-55° latitude range, you can move the position of the "X" until you get the required tilt to the dial's base.

Step 4: Note the dashed lines; two of these are marked "score on back, fold forward" and two marked "score on front, fold down". Folds must be made along these lines and if you score these lines lightly with a sharp craft knife, the folds will be sharper and the sundial will stand better and look more finished. However, in making these scores, do not cut all the way through the card backing! After scoring, make the necessary folds in the direction indicated.

Step 5: Along the line with "Noon" above and "a.m. p.m." below, make another score line on the back and fold the upper section forward so that the two panels make a right angle.

Step 6: To finish the dial attach a string (preferably elastic string) through holes at the top and bottom at the points where all the hour lines converge. The easiest way to accomplish this is to use a thick needle and thread the string through tying knots on each end so that the string is taught when the dial is folded and ready for use. This string is the gnomon (pronounced no-mon) and casts the shadow to indicate the time.

Step 7: You may wish to embellish the back of your dial with an old-style graphic from a book on sundials, a drawing of your pet or whatever appeals to you. This is where you can individualize your diptych dial!

Positioning your sundial:

The sundial must be orientated with the gnomon pointing north/south and, of course, the dial must be located where a shadow will be cast by the gnomon most of the day (though one can move the dial from window to window as the day progresses if necessary).

Method 1: (The Purist's Method) To determine the orientation without reference to other mechanical devices, North can be found by observing Polaris, the North Star, at night. In orientating the sundial, the gnomon is actually being pointed to the North Celestial Pole which is within 1° of the North Star. Thus, if you can find Polaris at the end of the Little Dipper, line up your dial by pointing the gnomon towards Polaris. You might want to record the orientation for your dial by making light pencil marks on a window sill for future reference. Those in southern latitudes will not be able to use this method as there is no bright star near the South Celestial Pole.

Method 2: (The Practical Method) A magnetic compass may be used to determine the north/south line, but, because of the difference between magnetic north and true north, the dial reading could be out by an hour or more depending on the local difference between magnetic and true north (or south if in southern latitudes).

Method 3: (The Lazy Person's Method) To a first approximation, the orientation can be found by finding the orientation at any time from a clock or watch and orientating the dial so the shadow shows the correct time. However, if left in this position, there could be an error of up to 30 minutes over the year as a result of what is known as the "equation of time". Because of the Earth's orbital motion around the Sun, the solar day (apx. 24 hours) is not exactly the same length from day to day varying by up to ±16 minutes a day. However, if the orientation is carried out on April 15, June 10, Sept. 1 or Dec. 20, this error will be negligible and any orientation made between April 15 and 1 Sept. will be in error by, at most, a few minutes (but don't forget the effect of daylight savings time).

Happy dialling!

INDIAN SCIENCE

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:38:00 +0000

A New Frontier

The tradition of science and technology (S&T) in India is over 5,000 years old. A renaissance was witnessed in the first half of the 20th century. The S&T infrastructure has grown up from about Rs. 10 million at the time of independence in 1947 to Rs. 30 billion. Significant achievements have been made in the areas of nuclear and space science, electronics and defence. The government is committed to making S&T an integral part of the socio-economic development of the country.

India has the third largest scientific and technical manpower in the world; 162 universities award 4,000 doctorates and 35,000 postgraduate degrees and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research runs 40 research laboratories that have made some significant achievements. In the field of Missile Launch Technology, India is among the top five nations of the world.

Science and technology, however, is used as an effective instrument for growth and change. It is being brought into the mainstream of economic planning in the sectors of agriculture, industry and services. The country's resources are used to derive the maximum output for the benefit of society and improvement in the quality of life. About 85 per cent of the funds for S&T come directly or indirectly from the Government. The S&T infrastructure in the country accounts for more than one per cent of the GNP. S&T in India is entering a new frontier.

Atomic Energy

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:38:00 +0000

The prime objective of India's nuclear energy programme is the development and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes such as power generation, applications in agriculture, medicine, industry, research and other areas.

India is today recognized as one of the most advanced countries in nuclear technology including production of source materials. The country is self-reliant and has mastered the expertise covering the complete nuclear cycle from exploration and mining to power generation and waste management. Accelerators and research and power reactors are now designed and built indigenously. The sophisticated variable energy cyclotron at Kolkata and a medium-energy heavy ion accelerator 'pelletron' set up recently at Mumbai are national research facilities in the frontier areas of science.

As part of its programme of peaceful uses of atomic energy, India has also embarked on a programme of nuclear power generation. Currently eight nuclear stations are producing eight billion kilowatt of electricity. Four more nuclear power stations are planned. The new nuclear reactors are designed in India. The peaceful nuclear programme also includes producing radioisotopes for use in agriculture, medicine, industry and research.

Space

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:37:00 +0000

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), under the Department of Space (DOS), is responsible for research, development and operationalisation of space systems in the areas of satellite communications, remote sensing for resource survey, environmental monitoring, meteorological services, etc. DOS is also the nodal agency for the Physical Research Laboratory, which conducts research in the areas of space science, and the National Remote Sensing Agency, which deploys modern remote-sensing techniques for natural resource surveys and provides operational services to user agencies. India is the only Third World Country to develop its own remote-sensing satellite.

India joined a select group of six nations on October 15, 1994, when the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) successfully accomplished its mission of placing the 800 Kg remote sensing satellite, IRS-P2, in the intended orbit. Earlier in May, the fourth developmental flight of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) achieved its mission by placing the 113 Kg SROSS-C2 scientific satellite in a near-earth orbit. India is well on its way to developing a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) capable of putting 2000 Kg satellites into space. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is currently trying to develop an indigenous cryogenic engine for GSLV. A GSLV model has already been tested in wind tunnel.

The INSAT series of satellite launched earlier are performing well and provide vital services for telecommunications, television, meteorology, disaster warning and distress detection. The latest INSAT series include new features like Ku-band transponders and mobile satellite services transponders.

The remote-sensing satellites, launched in 1988 and 1991, have already become the mainstay of the natural resource management system of the country.

The projected launch of advanced remote sensing satellites will not only enhance the scope of their application, but will also offer commercial service to other countries.

The Indian achievement in the application of space-based remote sensing technology has led a US company to enter into an agreement for marketing the data from Indian satellites globally.

India's progress in space technology has attracted worldwide attention and demand, with leasing agreements for marketing of IRS data and supply of space hardware and services. India also believes in co-operation in space with agencies all over the world. A high-level UN team selected India for setting up a UN Centre for Space Science and Technology Education. India is on the threshold of achieving self-reliance in the launch capability. It will be a befitting tribute to the father of the Indian space programme, Dr. Vikaram Sarabhai, whose 80th birth anniversary was observed in August 1996.

Electronics

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:36:00 +0000

The Department of Electronics plays the promotional role for the development and use of electronics for socio-economic development. Many initiatives have been taken for a balanced growth of the electronics industry. The basic thrust has been towards a general rationalization of the licensing policy with an emphasis on promotion rather than regulation, besides achieving economy of scale with up-to-date technology. A multi-pronged approach has been evolved for result-oriented R&D with special emphasis on microelectronics, telematics, and high-performance computing and software development.

Application of electronics in areas such as agriculture, health and service sectors has also been receiving special attention. For upgrading the quality of indigenously manufactured products, a series of test and development centers and regional laboratories have been set up. These centers for electronic design and technology help small and medium electronics units. A number of R&D projects have been initiated to meet the growing requirements of the industry.

Oceanography

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:36:00 +0000

India has a coastline of more than 7,600 km and 1,250 islands, with its Exclusive Economic Zone covering over 2 million sq. km and continental shelf extending up to 350 nautical miles. The Department of Ocean Development was established in 1981 to ensure optimum utilisation of living resources, exploitation of non-living resources such as hydrocarbons and minerals, and to harness ocean energy. Two research vessels, ORV Sagar Kanya and FROV Sagar Sampada, are assessing and evaluating the resource potential.

Survey and exploration efforts have been directed to assess seabed topography, and concentration and quality of mineral nodules. In August 1987, India was allotted a mine site of 150,000 sq. km in the central Indian Ocean for further exploration and development of resources. India is the only developing country to have qualified for Pioneer Status by the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1982, and it is the first country in the world to have secured registration of a mine site.

India has sent 13 scientific research expeditions to Antarctica since 1981, and has established a permanently manned base, Dakshin Gangotri. A second permanent station, an entirely indigenous effort, was completed by the eighth expedition. The objective is to study the ozone layer and other important constituents, optical aurora, geomagnetic pulsation and related phenomena. By virtue of its scientific research activities, India acquired Consultative Membership of the Antarctic Treaty in 1983 and acceded to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in July 1985. India is also a member of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, and has played a significant role in adopting a Minerals Regime for Antarctica in June 1988.

A National Institute of Ocean Technology was set up for the development of ocean-related technologies. It is also responsible for harnessing resources of the coastal belts and islands.

Biotechnology

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:35:00 +0000

India has been the forerunner among the developing countries in promoting multi-disciplinary activities in this area, recognizing the practically unlimited possibility of their applications in increasing agricultural and industrial production, and in improving human and animal life. The nucleus of research in this area is the National Biotechnology Board, constituted in 1982.

A Department of Biotechnology was created in 1986. Recently, the Biotechnology Consortium India Ltd. was set up. It will play the role of a catalyst in bridging the gap between research and development, industrial and financial institutions. Some of the new initiatives taken include developing techniques for gene mapping, conservation of biodiversity and bio-indicators research, special biotechnology programmes for the benefit of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and activities in the area of plantation crops.

The areas which have been receiving attention are cattle herd improvement through embryo transfer technology, in vitro propagation of disease resistant plant varieties for obtaining higher yields, and development of vaccines for various diseases.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:34:00 +0000

CSIR was established in 1942, and is today the premier institution for scientific and industrial research. It has a network of 40 laboratories, two cooperative industrial research institutions and more than 100 extension and field centers. The council's research programmes are directed towards effective utilisation of the country's natural resources and development of new processes and products for economic progress. It is now playing a leading role in the fulfillment of the technology missions evolved by the Government.

indian science

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:10:00 +0000

IP CAMERA

noreply@blogger.com (DigiWind Global Solutions) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 12:32:00 +0000



Features
Infrared LED, Support 6 infrared LED, Automatic operation in dark environment Compress format : M-JPEG Motion Detection: Motion Detection and Alarms Features

Specifications
Image Sensor : CMOS ,VGA,1/4 inch Lens : High and clear degree CCD lens Infrared LED : Support 6 infrared LED, automatic operate in dark environment Resolution : VGA (640x480)/ CIF(320x240)/ the QCIF(160x120) Compress format : M-JPEG Frame rate : 30fps Under the better bandwidth condition Moving set : Control moving set in the distance , move 120°up and down, 180°left to right Display : LCD display the IP address /Network mask/gateway IP etc. Storage mode : Storage picture use CF card socket, support Max.2GB CF card Input / Output port : Connect 2 switches sensor outside and 1 relay output to alarms Moving detection : Moving detection and alarms features Video Transmission : Support 10 customers to visit at the same time Visit : Build-in Web server, visit the IP camera directly through the web browser. Certification/ Encryption : Visit the IP camera use password. 3 classes visit authority setting Network protocol : TCP/ IP, UDP, IMCP, SMTP, HTTP, FTP, DNS, the DDNS DHCP, PPPoE etc Network connections : Ethernet 10/100Base-T, RJ-45 connector Software : IP Camera Tool and 16 picture tracking Software upgrade : Support the FTP software upgrade Power : 5V / 1A DC

Package Contents
Web Camera + 1.5m Cable CD Driver (Software and Manual) User Manual Adapter Bracket