Ancient Navigation and Mapping
November 17, 2007
DR. SENTIEL ROMMEL:
As part of the research team that sought to know how advanced the ancient navigational equipment and computers or astrolabes were, this man deserves credit he has not received; although it might be that credit would come in the form of ridicule such as was directed at Barraclough Fell. Here is an excerpt from The Epigraphic Society Occasional Publication no. 20 on pages 2-3 which makes mention of his assistance in these regards that prove Maui was not the only possessor of a Torquetum or Tanawa in pre-Christian times.
"Navigation equipment depicted in the Irian Caves"
From Commander F. E. Bassett, USN, Chairman, Navigation Department, United States Naval Academy (Annapolis):
22 November 1974
‘Your letter concerning the West Irian cave discoveries was received with great interest? The following comments are offered concerning the sketches. They are only educated guesses based on the collective knowledge of navigation department personnel of celestial navigation (we have no experts on navigation prior to the European "Age of Discoveries". But we do have a number of texts that may point you in the correct direction in your search for a leading authority)?
a. no apparent significance.
The Intricacies of a Compound Microscope
November 16, 2007
Have you ever used a compound microscope? Your first thought may be to answer “no” but chances are if you had Biology in high school or college that you have used a compound microscope. What do you remember about this microscope? You may remember what it looks like but can you recall how it worked? If not, this article is for you!
A compound microscope uses light to illuminate the sample or object so that you can see it with your eye. It has two lenses that are used in combination to give you a greater view of the sample or object. One lens is called the objective lens and the other is called the eyepiece lens. The one nearest the sample you are looking at is called the objective lens. This is the lens that sticks out at the bottom and is the one you can change the magnification with. The eyepiece lens is mounted in the microscope cylinder nearest your eye. The combination of these two lenses give you your magnified image and magnification abilities.
Life Under Mars Ice Shelf?
November 16, 2007
When looking for life on Mars we should be thinking of how life forms on Earth. Not because it will be similar, although it possibly could be, but because we know the things, which inhibit life and the things which help it flourish. This is not to say that life does not exist inside the rocks or under the surface in underground aquifers or that the rocks themselves are not alive, but in all probability we will find the life or remnants of previous life in those places where we find life on Earth which are similar to those places on Mars. That makes sense right?
Well, we just found life beneath the ice shelf accidentally on Earth when a large piece of ice broke away. It was living in its own ecosystem, cut off from the rest of the world quite content and flourishing in near freezing water of the Antarctic. What was living in such hostile conditions? Oh, vast communities of clams and bacteria; an area, which has been cut off from other eco-systems for at least 10,000 years or more.
Is Thought Evident in Plants?
November 15, 2007
Who would have thought that a plant could be a witness to a crime ? and even testify against the perpetrator? Well, it is true! In the early 1970’s experiments were done on ordinary houseplants, by researchers who connected a polygraph machine to a plant.
An interesting thing happened ? the researchers discovered that their plants actually recognized their owners, they responded to being talked to and praised, and they also fainted when exposed to negative thoughts or words, or violence directed at them. One experiment involved two plants in a room and an anonymous person was instructed to go into the room and violently destroy one of the plants. Later, the untouched “witness” plant was connected to the polygraph machine and the researchers had several people, one at a time, come into the room where the plant was hooked up to the polygraph machine. When the guilty person entered the room the needle on the machine went crazy!
Plants do have some kind of thought process, and they react to love and hate, and physical violence. But thought also has another vital purpose; evolution.
Living In Arizona Boulders–Where Did They Come From?
November 14, 2007
When most people think of building a secluded home, they think of tall trees and large bushes. But what about boulders?
Granite Park, located in Prescott, Arizona, which is in the north central part of the state, is one such place filled with 1.4 billion-year-old towering granite rock formations.
Rock formations of this type are rare in the United States. Northern Arizona to southern California are the most common locations for these statuesque boulders.
Formed in the Precambrian age, 1.4 billion years ago, these rocks started life under the earth’s surface as large masses of molten rock, according to Dr. Archie M. Dickey, professor of environmental science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The rocks then cool before reaching the surface.
“This procedure is referred to as an intrusive igneous rock formation,” said Dr. Dickey. “The molten rocks cool slowly and in the process form large, course-grained rocks.”
After the granite was exposed at the surface, it was then at the mercy of the elements. Wind, rain, snow all started eroding the rocks. However, in the case of these particular formations, they produced their unique shapes and vistas because the granite first weathered in blocky, rectangular joints. You can actually see this throughout Granite Park ? the blocky reddish-brown linear lines on the boulders.
DNA Testing Breaks Down Barriers in the Court Room
November 13, 2007
DNA testing has three major applications for forensic studies: identification of missing persons; identification of victims of wars, accidents, and natural disasters; and crime investigation. Annually, more than 20,000 forensic DNA tests are performed in the UK. Two out of three of all criminal cases using DNA evidence involve sexual assault, the rest are cases dealing with burglary, murder, and other types of violent crime. During the last 15 years, DNA analysis became an indispensable police tool in fighting crime because it allows unambiguous identification of the criminal by traces of biological material left at the crime scene. It can also acquit innocent suspects based on DNA evidence.
Criminal justice system now relies heavily on DNA-based evidence. Since it was first used in the Enderby murder case (1986), thousands of perpetrators has been convicted of various crimes with the help of DNA evidence, and hundreds wrongfully convicted people have been exonerated.
The most common samples collected at the crime scene are blood, semen, and saliva; virtually any biological material or objects handled by a perpetrator can be now used for forensic DNA testing. Clothing, furniture, and other items which may have traces of DNA, are now routinely used for obtaining DNA evidence. The technology is so sensitive that it allows identification of a person by analysing DNA collected from a fingerprint left on the surface of an object or from a single hair left at a crime scene.
DNA Testing Has Changed Everything
November 12, 2007
Since its discovery 20 years ago, the use of DNA for human identity and relationship testing has emerged as a powerful tool in both civil and criminal justice systems. DNA testing can reveal whether two or more individuals are related as well as determining the nature of their relationship. Today, it is possible to identify people by a single hair, as well as obtain information about their gender and ethnic background, and, within the next couple of years, identify their age.
Before the advent of DNA testing, human identity testing was largely carried out through blood typing. DNA analysis has now superseded blood testing and is the most accurate method currently available for human identification.
The possibility that DNA could be used for human identity and relationship testing had been discussed from the time DNA was first revealed as the molecule which makes people unique. Yet, it was not until the discovery of DNA fingerprinting by Prof. Alec Jeffreys (now Sir Alec) of Leicester University in 1984 when the first practical testing system became available. As with conventional fingerprinting, where various loops and whorls are compared between two fingerprints, DNA testing relies on comparing certain DNA features called DNA markers between two individuals. If DNA patterns between the samples are identical, then they are likely to come from the same person. If the profiles are not identical but big similarities are observed, then the samples most probably come from related individuals. The degree of the similarity between DNA profiles is a representation of the degree of relatedness between people.
Dream Therapy and Learning thru Human Hibernation
November 11, 2007
Want to learn a new language? Would you like to earn a PhD in Physics; perfect your backstroke tennis swing, golf finesse or fly-fishing techniques, while you sleep? While, your immune system catches your body back up on your lack of exercise, fitness and proper diet? How about if I told you, that you most likely will shed about 20-25 lbs of extra weight while all this is going on? Well, if we further develop our sleep research, human hibernation studies and mind or brain advances we will be able to do all this and more in the near future, perhaps less than 5-years.
Let me tell you about a few of the latest new rapidly approaching and potentially converging technologies, which will make all this possible. First human hibernation, suspended animation and cryogenics are moving forward. Recently Mark Roth and his medical research team were able to use Hydrogen Sulfide gas, usually a deadly toxin, at a certain ration to induce hibernation in mice, slowing the mammalian bodies down by 90%. Second the Brain research being funded by DARPA is coming along well. Third we have Stanford Sleep Researchers making break thrus on a weekly basis.
Pandemic Crisis Cure Concept
November 11, 2007
What happens if the world is faced with a Pandemic, for which no cure currently exists but one is on the verge of being discovered? Here is a concept, which with the proper protocols could save the human race from near extinction. Human Hibernation. Put as many of the Pandemic victims to sleep as possible before they succumb to the virus or pathogen. Then isolate a team of scientists to figure out a cure. Once the cure is discovered inoculate the scientific team and have them go around to wake everyone up. Wake up the largest groups first and train them with videos how to inoculate the all those people that there is enough vaccine for.
Each time enlisting more recovering people to help and train others; eventually over many months waking back up the entire human race from their suspended animation or hibernation event. Think it sounds to Sci Fi like for you? Well think again, because within a couple of years it will be possible. One groups of scientists have discovered that using a certain ratio of hydrogen sulfide gas that they could induce hibernation in mice. Bears and ground hogs and many other mammals can hibernate and it is likely that all mammals can do this, yes, including human beings. Therefore as this technology becomes available and with the proper protocols it is possible to save the entire human race from such a Pandemic or possible extinction. We need to have a plan, think on this.
Saving People in Disaster Crisis, Concept
November 10, 2007
So often when we see huge Natural Disasters there are many people killed, but for everyone who perishes there are 5-10 people injured; many very seriously. So often too the region of the world were the disaster occurs does not have enough hospital beds, medical professionals or the right equipment needed to help save those lives. Well, there is a new discovery, which might change all that. Mark Roth and his colleagues have made a rather fascinating discovery; they have found a way to put mice into a suspended animation state. They used a very toxic gas; hydrogen sulfide, which when used in smaller amounts puts these small mammals into temporary hibernation. Similar to a bear when it hibernates.
If we had tanks of hydrogen sulfide and put accident victims which needed help but there was not enough staff or facilities to help them into suspended animation or temporarily induced hibernation, that would buy us additional time to handle the crisis. Here is how it might work; each victim is administered the necessary temporary help to stop the bleeding. Those which need additional help, which is unavailable are put into a room which has the proper percentage of gas in it, which puts them to sleep. Their bodies like the mice would slow down 90% and thus we could work on the victims which staff was available for. Protocol would need to be worked out of course, but by doing this we could save lives and not have so many injured die due to lack of medical facilities or medical staffing in that time of need. Think on this please.
