sciencetrack blog

Learning Topology Best Book

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 17:20:00 +0000

If you want to learn about the amazing subject of math, topology and its real-life applications; I would suggest Introduction to Topology book. The book achieves to provide all essential theories like knots, dynamical systems, chaotic systems, spaces, compact and connected spaces, topological transformations. Besides, the reader can learn where the topology theories are applied. It includes explaining cosmology with topological models, computerized graphics, DNA structure and more.

More detailed review on Topology Book here.

Sizing Up the Universe

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:43:00 +0000

This is a breathtaking publication on sizes in the Universe. This effectively illustrated book, Sizing up the universe, distinctively represents the vastness and charms of the cosmos.

What I identified most successful was the conversation of the apparent measurements physical objects, like the comparing of our Moon with the Andromeda Galaxy, the distances inside our very own solar system and Milky Way galaxy, and the universe beautifully illustrated with a fold out Gott-Juric Map representing the comparable distance of the major objects and constructions of the identified universe.

The photographs are awe-inspiring and offer a recognition of the vastness of objects and distances in the cosmos.

This book is a pleasant acquisition to my hobbyist astronomy selection. Even though I have several books and magazines on the subject of the universe, our galaxy, the solar system and all related structures and objects, this book stands apart because of its power to evidently connect complicated aspects using words, breath-taking images, and drawings.

More on Sizing up the universe book

p.s : Neutrino book and Cycle of time book are worth checking as well.

Nuclear Fusion Fuel Age is coming

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:06:00 +0000

According to an article at The Independent Science, scientists are planning to see the first results of nuclear fusion used as a real fuel in this October, at the new National Ignition Facility (NIF in California. The dreams of ultimate clean green energy can really become a reality in near future according to the scientists with this crucial step. There are over 190 laser beams at the facility, which are ready to start self-sufficing fusion reaction on a very small target.

As you know, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and the natural fuel of our Sun and the other stars in the universe using the nuclear fusion. As atomic nuclei collide so fast & hard to each other, they release an incredible amount of energy. Remember the bad guy, hydrogen bomb. Think nuclear fusion fuel as a controlled hydrogen bomb which up to now, it couldn't be achieved.

Self-sustaining fusion reaction even needs more extreme conditions than the center of the Sun. Imagine an increadible temperature of 100 million centigrade. We will surely hear more successful results from NIF, hopefully in this year.

via Independent Science

128 Great Places Where Most Important Scientific Events Occured

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:10:00 +0000

I am not talking about traditional science museums but unique places where every science and technology enthusiast try to visit at least once in life. In his 500 pages book, John Graham Cumming takes us into a breath-taking journey. Starting in Kiev Chernobyl museum where one of the biggest nuclear disasters of world happened in 1986, he continues the journey to Deutsches Museum in Munich where more than 20,000 science related objects are in exhibitions. Surely, one day will not be enough to visit every section. Geek Atlas, most wished-for science journey atlas with illustrations is a perfect choice for geeks, science geeks and non-geeks as well.

Amazing Fractal Plants - Romanesco Broccoli

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:39:00 +0000

I hate broccoli but not this one. Because it is mathematically so beautiful !

The flower has one of the most simplistic and beautiful natural 3D fractal forms. Mathematicians especially adore this plant because somehow it makes identical smaller spiral shaped copies of itself and it goes eternally towards center logarithmically. One of the wonders of world like fibonacci numbers and Golden Ratio.

I should also add that it tastes delicious and widely cooked in Italy like other normal broccoli. If you want to plant yours, Amazon sells Romanesco Broccoli seeds very cheap, just $2 for 50 seeds.

Did you see incredible Twining Motion of Morning Glory Vines?

Smithsonian : Magazine For The Curious

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:27:00 +0000

If you are looking for a great magazine covering the topics like the arts, environment, science and popular culture, Smithsonian is one of the most quality magazines. It is very creative and educational and I can clearly say that it is for new knowledge and information hunters.

Amazon made a great discount that now we can have all the 12 issues for a year at just $12. It's actual price were $58.88 before the discount. Don't miss this deal!

A Meteorite or Not A Meteorite?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:01:00 +0000

Did you know that every day lots of enthusiastic people from all over the world claim that they have found a meteorite? These photos with explanations will give you some valuable information about the meteorites. Maybe one day you will meet a real one :)

What to do if you find a meteorite? Read more

Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Best Mid-Range Telescope

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 07:30:00 +0000

Are you interested in astronomy and want to able to find, identify planets, moon craters, saturn's rings, stars, galaxies, nebulas and view them like they are near you?

If so, never buy a telescope which looks like a junk toy, because you or your child will be bored soon and you would spend money for extras like lenses in any case. It is better to buy a serious intermediate class telescope like Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope which has 18"-long tube and 4.5" mirror which is quite effective with eyepieces of 26x and 72x magnification. Plus you get one of the most appreciated astronomy software for free, Starry Night.

If you prefer you can read Amazon exclusive review and other recommendations of the Amazon customers here before buying. Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope

Best Astronomy Books for Amazon Kindle 2

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Amazon's top selling book reader Kindle 2 becomes more and more popular each day. Being a Kindle 2 owner and a popular science blog, I would like to introduce you some of the

Top rated Amazon Astronomy and Space science books for Kindle 2.

These include Elegant Universe (Powerful book about Superstring theory), Pluto Files (Everything about our tiny old-planet friend), The Secret History of Nasa, Death by Black Hole ( Entertaining and informative mind expansion book ), The Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinov (True Popular Science Book for science-fiction lovers) and other popular, highly recommended astronomy books for Kindle 2.

Robot Building? Which set is the best?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:34:00 +0000

LEGO Mindstorms NXT is the correct choice if you are new to robot building and want to create amazing robots very fast which do almost everything possible including walking, running, seeing (yes, thanks to ultrasonic sensor) giving feedback to sounds, voices, touch, light and more.

There is a common scenario for many hobby starters. They are afraid to try such hi-tech hobbies because of the prejudice that it is so hard to build robots and program them.

First of all, LEGO Mindstorms NXT doesn't require any prior programming language and doesn't enforce you to learn. All you need to do is drag&drop. In later stages, you can surely continue with the programming tools which is provided in the system. You can transfer your program to robot's brain (NXT Intelligent Brick) through USB or Bluetooth wirelessly. So, you can control your robot in any bluetooth powered device including PDAs, laptops or even mobile phones.

What you get :

• 3 interactive servo motors feature inbuilt rotation sensors to align speed for precise control
• New ultrasonic sensor makes robots "“see" by responding to movement
• New sound sensor enables robots to react to sound commands, including sound pattern and tone recognition
• Improved light sensor detects different colors and light intensity
• Improved touch sensor reacts to touch or release and allows robots to feel
• 519 hand-selected, stylized elements from the Lego Technic building system ensure robot creations will be sturdy and durable while also looking authentic
• Opportunities for physical programming of robots and interaction with robots during programming
• 18 building challenges with clear, step-by-step instructions help acclimate users to the new system to create robots ranging from humanoids and machinery to animals and vehicles
• Digital wire interface allows for third-party developments

LEGO Mindstorms NXT is available on Amazon store with special promotions and free discounts.

Creativity is the key to happiness in this life!

Related article : Ready for the challange? Roboreptile or Lego Mindstorms NXT

The Nightmare of Stephen Hawking !

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Scientific Cat-fight ! These were the first words when I have seen the cover of this cool science book on the first sight, The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics which is authored by Leonard Susskind, Felix Bloch Professor in theoretical physics at Stanford University.

What happens when something is sucked into a black hole? Does it disappear? Three decades ago, a young physicist named Stephen Hawking claimed it did-and in doing so put at risk everything we know about physics and the fundamental laws of the universe. Most scientists didn't recognize the import of Hawking's claims, but Leonard Susskind and Gerard t'Hooft realized the threat, and responded with a counterattack that changed the course of physics. THE BLACK HOLE WAR is the thrilling story of their united effort to reconcile Hawking's revolutionary theories of black holes with their own sense of reality-effort that would eventually result in Hawking admitting he was wrong, paying up, and Susskind and t'Hooft realizing that our world is a hologram projected from the outer boundaries of space.

It is one the most entertaining popular science books which is also brilliant and mind opening on the subjects like quantum mechanics, black holes, string theory, general relativity. Recommended for brain fun !

Trillions of Planets with Alien Life

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Well, actually it is a long debate that there could be many earth-like planets where other alien life forms can exist. Actually Drake Equation was trying to formulate this mind blasting question for around 50 years. Now, a leading Cambridge Institution astronomer Alan Boss states that the number of earth-like planets could be at least 100 hundred billion trillion which results in an unavoidable fact for extraterrestrial life according to him. He also added that if there is an habitable planet, it would certainly appear some kind of life form there by time, in a few billion years. He believes that we will find such planets with the proven fact of simple life forms. How about the intelligent life besides bacteria? Well, according to him, it would be a big coincidence to find such creatures at the same time of ours because we will survive further 100,000 years further, very unlikely !

Time Lapse Video of Mushroom and Mold Growth

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:46:00 +0000

This cool video is from BBC Planet Earth series. You should check as well extreme nutational movements of morning glory vines Quite interesting.

Most spectacular images from the Hubble Space Telescope

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:16:00 +0000

One of the most impressive books of 2008 in the science field is Hubble: Imaging Space and Time. This book shows the reader more than 200 of the most spectacular images in full color format from the Hubble Space Telescope taken during its lifetime. A breathtaking journey to the solar system’s workings: the expansion of the universe, the birth and death of stars, the formation of planetary nebulae, the dynamics of galaxies, and the mysterious force known as "dark energy."

A look to stunning Carina Nebula, being an eyewitness to star birth in many photos, a jet from a black hole in one galaxy striking a neighboring galaxy; a jewel-like collection of galaxies from the early years of the universe taken from the farthermost; and a giant galaxy cruelly swallowing a smaller galaxy.

One of the best space photo books of Amazon in 2008.

Hubble: Imaging Space and Time

Strange Fact Video - Worm Charming

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:11:00 +0000

I noticed this interesting experiment video while stumbling upon youtube and was shocked to see such a clever method. First of all, what are exactly these mysterious words? Worm Charming: Worm charming, worm grunting, and worm fiddling are methods of attracting earthworms from the ground. In 2008 researchers from Vanderbilt university proved that the worms surface because the noise is similar to a hungry mole.

This video shows how worm charming works replicating the mole sound. I learned that there is also a "World Worm Charming Championship" started in 1980 and is now an annual event in a sport form. The current world record, as listed by Guinness World Records, was established at that first event with teenager Tom Shufflebotham collecting 511 worms in 30 minutes.

Life is really strange.

Amazing! How to synchronize 5 metronomes?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:21:00 +0000

Synchronisation of 5 coupled metronomes done in Lancaster University, Physics Dep, Nonlinear dynamics and medical physics group. Watch the video carefully and try to understand the science behind it.

And the explanation. Here you go: metronomes (or "pendula") when on table, oscillate with random phases, since that is how they started and they are "uncoupled" (no energy/information flows from one to other so they do not "know" each other.) When they are all together on the cans, notice that the cans themselves oscillate little, providing coupling/information crossover. which forces "synchronization" in periodic systems (discovered by Huygens in 17th century).

You can watch other cool science videos here.

Nano-Technology For Gadget Protection

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:34:00 +0000

Latest developments in nano-technology introduces us with new amazing products. One of the most popular of such products for this year is ZAGG's invisibleSHIELD. It is an ultra-tough, transparent patented film which is designed to precisely match the contours of every device, providing unbeatable scratch protection.

Actually, its story extends to military purposes. The military grade invisibleSHIELD film was originally developed for the U.S. Military to protect helicopter blades from dust, dirt and debris.

This is exceptionally clear and virtually indestructible product, you can show off your gadget and use it without fear of scratching.

Obviously, the best part is that the ultra-thin film is only 0.2 mm thick and will not add bulk to your device.

Protect your Digital Life from Scratches. Buy the invisibleSHIELD. Free Shipping. Lifetime Guarantee.

12 Principle Brain Rules for the Optimum Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:10:00 +0000

This is among the most engaging books on the topic of brain science and learning.

In Brain Rules, molecular biologist Dr. John Medina shares his lifelong interest in how the brain sciences might influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule--what scientists know for sure about how our brains work--and then offers transformation ideas for our daily lives.

Medina's fascinating stories and sense of humor breathe life into brain science. You'll learn why Michael Jordan was no good at baseball. You'll peer over a surgeon's shoulder as he finds, to his surprise, that we have a Jennifer Aniston neuron. You'll meet a boy who has an amazing memory for music but can't tie his own shoes.

The Coldest Place in the Universe !

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:06:00 +0000

The LHC (Large Hadron Collider) is entering the final stages of being lowered to a temperature of 1.9 Kelvin (-271C; -456F) - colder than deep space.

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a particle accelerator complex intended to collide opposing beams of 7 TeV protons built by CERN. Its main purpose is to explore the validity and limitations of the standard model, the current theoretical picture for particle physics. This model is known to break down at a certain high energy level.

The LHC has thousands of magnets which will be maintained in this frigid condition using liquid helium. The magnets are arranged in a ring that runs for 27km through the giant tunnel.

Once the LHC is operational, two particle beams - usually consisting of protons accelerated to high energies - will be fired down pipes running through the magnets.

These beams will then travel in opposite directions around the main ring at close to the speed of light.

At allotted points along the tunnel, the beams will cross paths, smashing into one another with cataclysmic force. Scientists hope to see new particles in the debris of these collisions, revealing fundamental new insights into the nature of the cosmos and how it came into being.

The most powerful physics experiment ever built, the LHC will re-create the conditions just after the Big Bang.

Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on the grounds that high-energy particle collisions performed in the LHC might produce dangerous phenomena, including micro black holes, strangelets, vacuum bubbles and magnetic monopoles.

In response to these concerns, the LHC Safety Study Group, a group of independent scientists, performed a safety analysis of the LHC and concluded in a report published in 2003 that there is "no basis for any conceivable threat".

In 2008, drawing from new experimental data and theoretical understanding, the LHC Safety Assessment Group (LSAG) published a report updating the 2003 safety review, in which they reaffirmed and extended its conclusions that LHC particle collisions present no danger.

Going crazy about DNA

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:58:00 +0000

Genetic instructions that makes us unique or from another approach, cruelly just a clone from similar patterns. I have compiled the most interesting news and articles about DNA for this year. Let's start to discover!

5 Things You Didn't Know about DNA :

1- The human genome was almost commercialized
2- DNA testing is used to authenticate foods like caviar
3- Full genome DNA testing can be had for as little as $1,000
4- The first-ever DNA evidence cleared a murder suspect almost 20 years ago
5- DNA says Genghis Khan was a prolific lover

First DNA Molecule Made Almost Entirely Of Artificial Parts
A team in Japan has created the world's first DNA strand made from artificial bases. The discovery could be used in the fields of gene therapy and other futuristic high-tech advances, such as nano-sized computers

Genetic structure of the cacao tree
The chocolate company Mars has announced that it is to decode the genetic structure of the cacao tree.

Oldest human DNA recovered: Dating to 14,300 years ago
DNA from dried human excrement recovered from Oregon's Paisley Caves is the oldest found yet in the New World -- dating to 14,300 years ago, some 1,200 years before Clovis culture -- and provides apparent genetic ties to Siberia or Asia, according to an international team of 13 scientists.

DNA leads police to salami-loving thief
German authorities were able to pin a burglary committed in April on a suspected serial thief after he left a half-eaten slice of salami carrying a sliver of his DNA at a crime scene

Experts Fear New DNA Tests May Become Fuel for Racists
Nonscientists are already beginning to stitch together highly speculative conclusions about the historically charged subject of race and intelligence from the new biological data.

I hope you enjoyed my quick the most interesting DNA news compilation.

And a perfect documentary DVD about the secrets of DNA as a bonus to the topic.

Ghost in Your Genes

Identical twins share the same genes and are often startlingly alike. Why, then, should they often meet such different fates one twin developing a serious disease like cancer while the other remains unscathed? In a compelling scientific detective story, The Ghost in Your Genes explores the provocative idea that there may be more to inheritance than genes alone. New clues reveal that a second epigenetic chemical code sits on top of our regular DNA and controls how our genes are expressed, turning them on or off with dramatic consequences for our health.

This revolutionary finding has vital implications not only for treating disease but for how we take care of ourselves. While we inherit the epigenome much as we do DNA, it appears to respond far more to our environment and lifestyles. So our stress levels and what we eat, drink, and breathe may leave an enduring imprint, not just on our own bodies but on the generations to come. In a tour-de-force of scientific sleuthing, NOVA reveals the discoveries that have overturned the old story of inheritance and have profound relevance for how we choose to lead our lives.

Excellent Albert Einstein Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:32:00 +0000

The father of theory of relativity and specifically mass-energy equivalence, E = mc2. Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect." Here, you will find very interesting and educative Albert Einstein videos.

The voice of Albert Einstein. He explains the equivalence of energy and matter in this video.

The life of Albert Einstein - part 1

The life of Albert Einstein - part 2

The life of Albert Einstein - part 3

The life of Albert Einstein - part 4

The life of Albert Einstein - part 5

Mind Opening Carl Sagan Science Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:00:00 +0000

"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. " - Carl Sagan

Although his Cosmos series is nearly 20 years old, it remains as relevant today as it did in the early 1980s. Here are some excellent video excerpts from the series.

One Thousand Years of Darkness : Sagan discusses the destruction of the Library of Alexandria and why the momentous discoveries of the ancient world were unable to prevent the dark ages from virtually banishing scientific thought for a millennium. A sobering statement on what ignorance, apathy and fanaticism can do if left unchallenged.

4th Dimension Explanation : from world famous astronomer and astrophysicist legendary Carl Sagan

Drake Equation :

Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence :

A New Vision : Two-Timing Universe

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:05:00 +0000

For nearly a century, physicists have tried to reconcile Einstein’s vision of the universe (including three dimensions of space and one of time) with the bizarre realm of quantum physics, rife with such oddities as instant communication at a distance and being in two places at once. The effort to unify the views has resulted in a stream of elaborate hypotheses positing worlds with multiple dimensions of space, most notably string theory and its successor, M-theory.

Itzhak Bars, a theoretical physicist at the University of Southern California, thinks these hypotheses are missing a crucial ingredient: an extra dimension of time. By adding a second dimension of time and a fourth dimension of space to Einstein’s standard space-time, Bars has come up with a new model providing “additional information that remained hidden in previous formulations” of physics, including current versions of M-theory. Such a model could better explain “how nature works,” he says.

Physicists had never added a second dimension of time to their models because it opens the possibility of traveling back in time and introduces negative probabilities and other scenarios that seem nonsensical. In his equations Bars has solved these problems with a new symmetry that treats an object’s position and its momentum as interchangeable at any given instant.

Does this mean we could actually experience a second dimension of time? “Yes,” Bars says, “but only indirectly,” by thinking of the world around us as many shadows that look different depending on the perspective of the light source. “The predicted relations among the different shadows contain most of the information about the extra dimensions,” he explains. Next, Bars and his team are developing tests for two-time physics and investigating how to apply the theory to all the natural forces, including gravity. Adding two-time physics to M-theory, he says, should help us close in on “the fundamental theory that so far has eluded all of us.”

Source : Discovery Magazine

Absolute Hot versus Absolute Cold

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:46:00 +0000

As you know, physics is consists of constants which amazes us. Surely, you have heard about the Absolute Zero where you can't go more colder than -273,15C or -459F or 0 Kelvin. Scientists achieved to reach the coldest temperature in lab environment which is -273,149999999. So it seems that there is no way under. But what about the Absolute Hot, maximum possible temperature? The answer is both yes, no or maybe? Standard theory accepts the Planck Temperature (100 million million million million million degrees, or 10³² Kelvin) which occurred 10^-43 seconds after the Big Bang got under way. At that instant, known as one Planck time, the entire universe is thought to have been the Planck length, or 10^-35 meters. You can read more about this very important subject here. There is also a very interesting animation which scales the known temperature ranges. Check it here too.

Imagine: Playing with Dimensions Video

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:31:00 +0000

Width, Length and Height. Do you think that it is what all we have in a 3D world. How about further dimensions? How to visualize them up to tenth dimension!? An interesting science video which can hint you another undiscovered area of thinking. Here is the video