Private company to offer rides to moon by 2020

Golden Spike says it hopes to sell missions to the moon for over $1 billion.

By Clara Moskowitz,?SPACE.com / December 7, 2012

This undated image made available by NASA and photographed by the Expedition 28 crew aboard the International Space Station, shows the moon, at center with the limb of Earth near the bottom transitioning into the orange-colored troposphere, the lowest and most dense portion of the Earth's atmosphere.

NASA/AP

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A new private venture aims to sell manned trips to the moon by 2020, its founders announced today (Dec. 6).

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The company, called Golden Spike (after the final spike built into the First Transcontinental Railroad), plans to sell each moon mission for about $1.5 billion ? a relative bargain, said the company's president and CEO Alan Stern, a former director of NASA?s Science Mission Directorate.

For the same price as many unmanned robotic missions, Golden Spike will provide a round trip for two humans to the moon.

"We're selling to nations, corporations and individuals," Stern told SPACE.com. "Get in line ? and I think it's going to be a long one." [How Golden Spike's Moon Landing Plan Works (Infographic )]

Stern and Golden Spike's chairman of the board of directors, Gerry Griffin, a former Apollo flight director and NASA Johnson Space Center director, announced their plans today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Shopping for a rocket

The company's leaders have not yet chosen a launch vehicle or space capsule to transport their passengers; Stern expects to make the final selections in 2014.

To keep costs low, Golden Spike will likely use existing or already-under-development rockets and spacecraft. However, the company will need to commission its own lunar lander and specially designed spacesuits. Stern called rumors that Golden Spike had already chosen SpaceX's Falcon 9 Heavy rocket "not true."

The company has been in the works, and under wraps, for two and a half years, Stern said.

"I don?t think anybody's got us beat," he added. "This is state-of-the-art cool."

The missions are being targeted at countries without their own space agencies or that can't afford to launch people to the moon independently, as well as scientific organizations and even private individuals looking to take the trip of a lifetime.

"We have spoken to space agencies from both Asian and European countries and found real interest," Stern said.

Private moon race

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/UbH0hPTO37Q/Private-company-to-offer-rides-to-moon-by-2020

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Commission Welcomes Approval

With a not so surprising headline the European Commission has welcomed the European Councils approval as regards the laying down new safety and environmental requirements for the type-approval of motorcycles and other L-category motor vehicles ? the so-called ?anti-tampering? regulation.

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: ?I welcome today?s Council decision to adopt our proposal to improve safety of this wide range of light vehicles. The new law will streamline EU legislation, as promised in our automotive action plan on 8th of November. Less legislation means less costs and administrative burden for industry. At the same time we will considerably increase the safety of these vehicles and reduce their harmful emissions.?

One of the main issues for riders has been the fear that they will not be able to ?positively? modify their bike, the Commission have stated, ?Anti-tampering requirements will also be introduced but will only apply to manufacturers of new types of light vehicles and to new vehicles with maximum speed or power limits. Their aim is to prevent modifications which would adversely affect environmental protection or functional safety. As these measures will not apply to current light vehicle owners they will not, for example, prevent motorcycle owners from modifying or customising their own vehicles.?

As we have previously reported, ?the higher powered motorcycles i.e. L3e equal to a full A licence and L4e (motorcycles and sidecars) also equal to a full A licence will be excluded from anti-tampering measures.?

Improved safety for motorcycles: European Commission welcomes Council approval

Original Source: European Commission

The European Commission welcomes the final approval by the EU?s Council of Ministers of new rules for motorcycles and other light vehicles. The fitting of advanced braking systems will now become obligatory for two-wheel motorcycles and automatic ?switching-on? of headlamps will be mandatory for all light vehicles. L-category vehicle is the family name for such light vehicles and they include engine powered bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles with and without a side-car, tricycles, quads and quadri-mobile vehicles. The Regulation also sets ambitious emission lowering requirements for these vehicles.

By introducing enhanced market surveillance requirements, a level playing field will be created for all L-category vehicle manufacturers in a sector where presence of non-compliant products may cause significant safety risks and environmental threats. In addition, the Commission proposes to radically simplify its current set of laws for light vehicles and reduce them from fifteen Directives to five Regulations. The entire package would be applicable as of 1 January 2016, offering sufficient lead-time for the industry to adapt to the new set of rules.

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: ?I welcome today?s Council decision to adopt our proposal to improve safety of this wide range of light vehicles. The new law will streamline EU legislation, as promised in our automotive action plan on 8th of November. Less legislation means less costs and administrative burden for industry. At the same time we will considerably increase the safety of these vehicles and reduce their harmful emissions.?

More information - Approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles

The Regulation will bring the following improvements:

1) Simplification; Framework Directive 2002/24/EC and its 14 implementing Directives will be repealed and replaced by a Regulation. Besides ?cleaning-up the house? and streamlining the existing provisions, the new Regulation will apply global harmonised vehicle regulations to the largest extent possible, and closely follow the UNECE regulations

2) Significantly better safety, in particular:

1. making advanced brake systems on two-wheel motorcycles obligatory. This means an anti-lock brake system for medium and high performance two-wheel motorcycles and either a combined brake systems or an anti-lock brake system for low performance two-wheel motorcycles;
2. the obligatory fitting of automatic head lamps or day-time running lights for all L-vehicle categories.

3) Better environmental performance of L-category vehicles, specifically:

1. the introduction of Euro 4 (2016) and Euro 5 (2020) emission steps.
2. Supplemental environmental measures: the introduction of evaporative emission limit and test requirements, durability testing and making CO2 emission and fuel consumption data available to the consumer.

4) Improving vehicle construction requirements, including the introduction of requirements regarding on-board diagnostics for the vehicle?s effective and efficient repair as well as making access to repair and maintenance information available to independent repair shops. Anti-tampering requirements will also be introduced but will only apply to manufacturers of new types of light vehicles and to new vehicles with maximum speed or power limits. Their aim is to prevent modifications which would adversely affect environmental protection or functional safety. As these measures will not apply to current light vehicle owners they will not, for example, prevent motorcycle owners from modifying or customising their own vehicles.

5) Introduction of market surveillance provisions to define the roles and responsibilities of the actors in the distribution chain (such as the manufacturer, importer, distributor and economic operator) and to strengthen rules for technical services. These will help create a level playing field for manufacturers in the sector.

Original Source: European Commission - Click Here

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Source: http://www.righttoride.eu/?p=10746

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Scientists demonstrate unjammable radar based on quantum imaging

Unfortunately for those in the enemy tracking game, sophisticated aircraft-equipped anti-detection systems can outfox radar by intercepting the signal and sending back a false image, as shown above. However, researchers from the University of Rochester have figured out a technique to defeat such a jamming system that harnesses the quantum properties of light. By polarizing photons before sending them toward objects to be scanned, any attempt at modifying the returning photons caused quantum interference that was easy to detect, in the form of the very high polarization errors shown in the second false image. According to the team, such a a system could "easily be realized and integrated into modern optical ranging and imaging systems," with a little work, making it infinitely more difficult to defeat radar systems. Check the source for more "light" reading, provided that quantum mechanics doesn't break your brain.

Filed under: Science, Alt

Comments

Via: MIT Technology Review

Source: Arxiv (PDF)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/14/scientists-demonstrate-unjammable-radar-using-quantum-imaging/

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Key gene for brain development

Dec. 13, 2012 ? About one in ten thousand babies is born with an abnormally small head. The cause for this disorder -- which is known as microcephaly -- is a defect in the development of the embryonic brain. Children with microcephaly are severely retarded and their life expectancy is low. Certain cases of autism and schizophrenia are also associated with the dysregulation of brain size.

The causes underlying impaired brain development can be environmental stress (such as alcohol abuse or radiation) or viral infections (such as rubella) during pregnancy. In many cases, however, a mutant gene causes the problem.

David Keays, a group leader at the IMP, has now found a new gene which is responsible for Microcephaly. Together with his PhD-student Martin Breuss, he was able to identify TUBB5 as the culprit. The gene is responsible for making tubulins, the building blocks of the cell's internal skeleton. Whenever a cell moves or divides, it relies on guidance from this internal structure, acting like a scaffold.

The IMP-researchers, together with collaborators at Monash University (Victoria, Australia), were able to interfere with the function of the TUBB5 in the brains of unborn mice. This led to massive disturbances in the stem cell population and impaired the migration of nerve cells. Both, the generation of large numbers of neurons from the stem cell reservoir and their correct positioning in the cortex, are essential for the development of the mammalian brain.

To determine whether the findings are also relevant in humans, David Keays collaborates with clinicians from the Paris-Sorbonne University. The French team led by Jamel Chelly, examined 120 patients with pathological brain structures and severe disabilities. Three of the children were found to have a mutated TUBB5-gene.

This information will prove vital to doctors treating children with brain disease. It will allow the development of new genetic tests which will form the basis of genetic counseling, helping parents plan for the future. By understanding how different genes cause brain disorders, it is hoped that one day scientists will be able to create new drugs and therapies to treat them.

The new findings by the IMP-researchers are published in the current issue of the journal Cell Reports. For David Keays, understanding the function of TUBB5 is the key to understanding brain development. "Our project shows how research in the lab can help improve lives in the clinic," he adds.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, via Newswise.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Martin Breuss, Julian?Ik-Tsen Heng, Karine Poirier, Guoling Tian, Xavier?Hubert Jaglin, Zhengdong Qu, Andreas Braun, Thomas Gstrein, Linh Ngo, Matilda Haas, Nadia Bahi-Buisson, Marie-Laure Moutard, Sandrine Passemard, Alain Verloes, Pierre Gressens, Yunli Xie, Kathryn?J.H. Robson, Deepa?Selvi Rani, Kumarasamy Thangaraj, Tim Clausen, Jamel Chelly, Nicholas?Justin Cowan, David?Anthony Keays. Mutations in the ?-Tubulin Gene TUBB5 Cause Microcephaly with Structural Brain Abnormalities. Cell Reports, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2012.11.017

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/cN3TNyN104g/121213151446.htm

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Green Blog: E.P.A. Readies Stricter Soot Rule

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Acting under a court deadline, the agency is proposing a limit of 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air, a significant tightening from the previous standard of 15.

Source: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/14/e-p-a-readies-stricter-soot-rule/?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Graduate Program Spotlight: Computer Science

IBM?s Blue Gene Supercomputer.

It is safe to say that in the modern world, a Masters or Ph. D. in Computer Science is a safe investment; multiple professional fields have sprung up around or become increasingly associated with computer technologies. Given the increasing demand for computer experts, and the wonderful insights and benefits computer technologies afford other professional and academic fields, it is no surprise Computer Science has become a subject of significant academic importance.

Well-known institutions like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, etc. consistently rank at the top of almost every graduate program they offer; however, the fact of the matter is you do not have to attend one of these schools in order to get a great education out of a Masters or PH.D. program. At ?It?s Not GREek!? we want our readers to be aware of the multitude of options they have when it comes to picking a graduate school. These are some schools, along with the usual suspects, you may not be aware of, but that experts in your field of study certainly are.

Before continuing with our Graduate Program Spotlight: Computer Science, let?s discuss some important and relevant information about the opportunities a Masters or Ph. D. in Computer Science might provide you with; specifically, opportunities in the context of potential employment and annual salary.

In computer terms, this is definitely the ?Before? picture.

Computer Science is a prodigious and perpetually burgeoning field; as the influence of electronics and computers continues to expand and permeate everyday life, so too has the demand for computer tech experts increased. The field is so diverse that the US Bureau of Labor, a very reliable and trustworthy source for statistical information for any profession, has over eight general-employment categories relating to the field of Computer Science. There is no doubting that a graduate degree in Computer Science is viable; according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor most professions requiring a graduate degree in C.S. are significantly out performing the national average in terms of both job growth and median annual salary. According to the Bureau of Labor?s Occupational Handbook, the median salary for a Doctoral or professional degree in computer science, with no experience outside of the classroom (though admittedly, many graduate programs will require work experience as criteria for admission) is $100,660, and the job market demand for an advanced degree in computer science is projected to increase between 19% ? 22% through 2020.

Again, it is manifest that an advanced degree in Computer Science is a safe investment; it?s not quite gold, but it?s not far off either. Now that this has been made abundantly clear to any interested potential graduate school candidates, let?s take a look at some of the best Computer Science schools in the country (according to US News).

TOP 5:

#1) Carnegie Mellon University

This university played a significant role in the initial development of ?thinking computers,? and Carnegie Mellon continues to be among the foremost researchers of computer technologies in the world. The School of Computer Science includes the Computer Science Department (CSD), The Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), The Institute for Software Research (ISR), Lane Center for Computational Biology, Language technologies Institute (LTI), Machine Learning Department (ML), and the Robotics Institute (RI). Interestingly, Carnegie Mellon?s Masters program in Computer Science does not require an undergraduate degree in computer science, only ?a strong aptitude for mathematics, programming, and logical reasoning.? Annual tuition costs are approximately $39,000. Though exact admittance data is hard to find, it seems that each program only accepts around 25 students annually; if this is true, it makes Carnegie Mellon?s Computer Science Department one of the most exclusive in the country.

#1) Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT?s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department is the largest in the School of Engineering, another testament to the growing importance of Computer Science in a contemporary setting. Currently, the EECS Department has about 700 students in their doctoral program. Admission to MIT is extremely competitive, and applicants are expected to possess a very strong background in math, physics, computer science, or engineering. For their M.S. and Ph. D. programs, the average GRE scores are Verbal: 158, Quantitative: 159, and Writing: 5.3. Though expensive, this program is quite obviously worth the yearly tuition cost of $41, 770.

#1) Stanford University

Not much needs to be said about any of Stanford University?s programs.? The average GRE score is Verbal: 159, Quantitative: 158, Writing: 4.8. Full-time Master?s students (taking between 11-18 credits) can expect an annual tuition of $29,300.

#1) University of California ? Berkeley

Though the minimum prerequisites to apply to any of Berkeley?s graduate programs are not especially imposing, a Bachelor?s degree and a 3.0/4.0 undergraduate GPA, in addition to a GRE score, it?s important to note these are the minimum requirements to apply! The average GRE score is Verbal: 153-156, Quantitative: 167, Writing: 4.5; a competitive GPA for admissions purposes is a 3.5 or higher.

#5) Cornell University

Cornell?s suggested minimum GPA for admission is 3.5/4.0. The tuition cost for the 2012-2013 calender year will be approximately $30,000, about $14,750 (Note: this does not include the cost of attendance, i.e. room, board, etc.). Cornell has done a very effective job of not releasing a specific GRE score needed for admittance; however, it would be very safe to assume admission as a MS or Ph. D. student would require a GRE score of 310 or higher.

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It is unsurprising that these schools are listed as the best in the country; they typically dominate across the board in terms of ranking and national prestige. Though these schools might afford you the best opportunities in terms of post-graduation employment, they are by no means the only options. There are a number of reasons a potential graduate student would look outside the top tier schools in the country: geography/logistics, finances, admission requirements, program requirements, etc., so it is good to know that even if you can?t get in or go to Harvard (or in this case, Carnegie Mellon) there are still plenty of options available that can give you the education and expertise you are looking.

HONORABLE MENTION:

#39) University of Utah

The University of Utah offers two degree programs for Masters and Ph. D. students through their School of Computing, one in Computer Science and the other in Computing. Emphasis areas include Computer Engineering, Data Management and Analysis, Digital Media, Game Engineering, Graphics and Visualization, Image Analysis, Robotics, and Scientific Computing. Approximately 100 individuals enter the University of Utah?s graduate School of Computing each year, with an almost even split between M.S. and Ph.D. students. The average new GRE score for the University of Utah is above 314.

#61) University at Buffalo ? SUNY

The University of Buffalo ? The State University of New York ? offers two degree plans through its Department of Computer Science and Engineering: the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) and the Master of Science (M.S.). SUNY?s DCSE consistently ranks in the 60 in programs in the world. Full-time non-resident total cost of attending the University of Buffalo is approximately $9,200/semester. Though the University of Buffalo has a large graduate/professional student population, almost 10,000 students, there are only 80 Ph. D. students in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering; this means there is both a vibrant graduate community and a more intimate support network related to your specific field on interest.

#63) Iowa State University

Iowa State University?s M.S. program has approximately 50 students. ISU?s grade requirements are a grade of B- or better in each course and an overall average GPA of 3.0, in addition to other grade requirements. In order to be considered for the Master?s program students must have at least 3 Computer Science courses from 2 different ?breadth areas,? for a total of 9 credits. Out of state Graduate student tuition costs per semester are approximately $9,900. Many applicants might appreciate the ISU Department of Computer Science motto, ?All science is Computer Science.?

#63) University of Tennessee ? Knoxville

The University of Tennessee?s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is the largest in the College of Engineering. They offer three programs: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science; all three programs offer degrees at the M.S. and Ph. D. levels. UT ? Knoxville offers concentrations in a variety of specialized fields, including Artificial Intelligence, Circuit Theory, Computational Biology, Robotics, and many more. Graduate admissions require a 3.0/4.0 minimum undergraduate GPA, at least two semesters of calculus and two additional semesters of college mathematics, and a course in formal languages as well as in systems programming. Students may use a valid GRE score received within the last three years for admissions purposes.

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Still interested in graduate school, but not sure what field is right for you? Click here for more information! Want to know more about the GRE? Click here! Interested in GRE courses in your area? Click here to find out more!

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Source: http://www.newgre.org/admissions/graduate-program-spotlight-computer-science/

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2043 Census Projection: Minority-Majority America

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/12/2043-census-projection-minority-majority-america/

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