Posted by admin on January 11th, 2010 — Posted in Hall Of Science
Oil Forever ? We all know that this country needs to reduce its dependency on Foreign oil. The question is how (and how long). Recently Ford Motor CEO Bill Ford addressed his concerns, perhaps leading one to question how long it will be before demand exceeds production. Also; one hopes that his calls for Energy summits are of value. Perhaps Mr. Fords concerns will nudge the members of congress and the white house to get off their duffs and adopt some energy policies that will make us less dependent and not locked into an inflated oil price venue. I’m sure Mr. Ford realizes they developed the Gas Guzzlers and some adjustments need to be made.
Lets look at some facts: Foreign oil dependency has not been reduced. New regulations simply slowed the growth. The average gas mileage for new vehicles has gone down for the last 15 years. Technological advances did not improve efficiency during these years. Manufacturers created Faster, Larger and more Powerful vehicles. Should the people who choose to continue buying these gas guzzlers be charged higher fees on certain items to offset the loss of reserves, etc? (Probably won’t happen).Yes; Demand was there for these vehicles and still is for some models, but these types of vehicles have proven to be a burden on our oil imports and reserves. If you feel you deserve a Credit, there is an Energy Bill Credit for buyers of Hybrid vehicles in 2006 (limited amount).
The high cost of Oil, etc. will have a huge impact on many consumers this heating season with many experts predicting heating bills expected to surpass last years by as much as 50 to 75 percent. This places a huge burden on many households (lower incomes, etc) and always comes at the time of the year when they can least afford it. Gas prices (at this writing) have come down somewhat but still quite high by most standards. Speaking of Gas prices, some states are asking for a vote each year in order to justify a Gas Tax increase , no increase, or would you believe - a decrease ? Well, the latter would probably not come into play.
Many question why we don’t have an alternative to Fossil fuel. Well; there is. Usually the problem is they are to expensive and or simply just not available to some. One such fuel would be ethanol - from Grain. Lets look at one particular form of Ethanol - E85. E85 is a blend of 85 percent Ethanol and just 15 percent gasoline. Just that statement alone sounds good. But wait, Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, produced in our own country, renewable, good for the environment, (reduces emissions) and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. E85 can also be purchased for less - some areas as much as 40 to 50 cents a gallon cheaper than we pay for other gasolines. So what is the problem ? E85 can only be burned in certain vehicles and is not available in many areas although distribution points are increasing. This (E85) seems to be one of the more attractive alternatives at this time and we can hope for further use of our resources. Another form is Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. Fuel Cells are like batteries. Fuels similar to Hydrogen gas or Methane are combined with Oxygen. The result - Electricity. Some cities are testing the Fuel Cell powered vehicles but it would appear that this form of power is more costly than anyone (lets say most) could afford, at least for now.
Some interesting figures on Oil production (and probably higher at this writing).
World production ————- 75 Million Barrels a Day 27 Billion Barrels a Year US Consumption ————– 19 Million Barrels a Day 7 Billion Barrels a Year US Production —————– 8 Million Barrels a Day ( a shortfall of 11 Million Barrels).
Question - Can we run out of Oil? Surely; but probably not in the near future. If we estimate our consumption, reserves, etc, it appears we have enough oil to last us somewhere in the 25 to 30 years area. This assumes present consumption. If we consume more, we have less time. If we are more conservative, that gives us more time. Many people would not know we (US) are the second largest producer of Oil(very close to Saudi Arabia’s production). Reserves are also very interesting. Many people also would not believe our neighbor to the north (Canada) has the second highest amount of oil reserves (Saudi Arabia is number one).A survey done recently estimates that there are three or four times the amount of oil reserves we have today waiting to be pumped to the surface. We have the time to develop an alternative means of Fuel, Power, etc. Business leaders along with the Government can make it happen if they work together. It will never be easy but we have no alternative and Wait and See is not an option.
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Posted by admin on January 10th, 2010 — Posted in Hall Of Science
Do you share your home with ants? How about bees or wasps? Perhaps you don’t want to admit to hosting roaches. You are in good company. Millions of homeowners struggle with evicting unwanted insects and bugs that invade their homes and take up residence, establishing colonies that can number in the thousands. Some bugs, like spiders, are relatively clean and do their share of chores by eating other insects, such as flies. But there are those that harbor bacteria or leave feces lying around that can stir up allergies or contaminate food left sitting out. Some flying insects can be downright lethal for those who are allergic to bee or wasp venom, should they be stung. To keep your home pest-free as much as possible, follow a few simple tips like these to discourage bugs from moving in with you.
1. Keep food and beverages covered. While a bowl of apples and oranges sitting on the dining room table might prove harmless, don’t let kids toss peels on the floor or leave cores lying on tables. Their sweet scent can attract bugs from quite a distance if the windows or doors are open, albeit covered by screens. Keep lids on the butter dish and cookie jar, and put away any food that will not be eaten soon.
2. Clean up promptly. Don’t let sugar granules sit on the kitchen counter. Pop stains need to be blotted and then cleaned with soapy water. Empty pop cans or dirty dishes should be put in their respective receptacles immediately. Chip bags or cookie pouches need to be tightly closed and clipped or folded. Remember that the scent of food, though almost indiscernible to humans in these amounts just described, may prove irresistible to lurking ants, bees, or other types of bugs who are hungrily sniffing the air.
3. Eliminate standing water. Fix leaky faucets, unclog drains, and clean up yard puddles. Check under the sinks or in the tubs as well as around hoses or water tanks to patch leaks. Many types of insects are drawn to damp or moist areas, especially those that are located in the dark. Get rid of these watering holes to keep bugs at bay.
4. Seal cracks, holes, and openings. Inspect your home’s foundation outside and patch any openings where insects could get inside your home. Do the same indoors by checking around window and door frames, as well as baseboards and cupboards. Look through the basement and attic to see if you can find areas where bugs might be able to find an entrance.
5. Don’t let pet food or snacks sit out in the open. Give your dog or cat just enough to eat for each meal, if possible. Certain insects, like flies, love pet food and will make every effort to reach it, attracted by the strong scent, in your garage or inside your home.
6. Keep the yard clean. Pick up fallen fruit from apple trees or other fruit-bearing plants, especially those located near your home. Keep garbage cans tightly closed and clean outside as well as inside, as much as possible.
Lacking food, water, and a welcome, most bugs won’t hang around very long. If they do, you can always resort to natural pesticides or bug traps.
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Posted by admin on January 10th, 2010 — Posted in Hall Of Science
Aside from home ornaments and jewelries, you have probably heard the term brass on brass bands. Do you know why a brass band is called a “brass band”?
Some people may actually believe that brass bands are called as such because the instruments the musicians use are made of brass.
By definition, a brass band is a group of musicians who plays brass instruments along with percussion instruments. Brass instruments are technically defined as instruments whose tones are produced by vibrating the lips through a resonator. Examples of such brass instruments are the trumpet and the horn.
According to music scholars, the term “brass instruments” is a misnomer. Not all brass instruments are made of brass. Some brass instruments are actually made of wood like the cornett. Some other woodwind instruments, on the other hand, are made of brass but are not exactly categorized under the brass instrument family. An example of this brass woodwind instrument is the saxophone.
Therefore, brass bands are not called “brass bands” because the instruments the musicians use are made of brass. The word “brass” in the term brass band actually refers to the type of sound an instrument makes.
But what exactly is “brass”?
Brass is an alloy or a combination of copper and zinc. Usually, brass contains more than fifty percent of copper but it is generally harder compared to copper. It is a malleable and ductile alloy that can be hammered into leaves or strips and designed according to one’s desire. These characteristics make brass a prevalent option for decorating wares.
Brass has a yellowish color which makes it look so much like gold. Because of this, brass has been used as a cheap substitute for gold and the term “brassy” used to refer to denote one being tasteless and showy.
There are different categories of brass depending on its zinc and copper ratio. Alpha brasses contain less than thirty-five percent zinc and are best utilized when they are cold.
Alpha-beta brass is 35%-45% zinc and is commonly used while it is hot.
Beta brasses have 45%-50% zinc content. It can only be used while hot and is preferred by metalworkers to use for casting. Beta brasses are also harder and stronger compared to other types of brass.
Brass that contains more than 50% percent zinc is called white brass and is usually too brittle to use.
Calamine brass is a combination of calamine (a zinc ore) and copper. It is a specialized type of brass because it uses a different type of zinc (calamine) instead of the usual metallic zinc used to create brass.
Another particular type of alpha brass is a brass that contains 75% zinc and 25% copper. It is called Prince’s metal or Prince Rupert’s metal named after Prince Rupert of the Rhine who was a commander of the Royalist cavalry during the English civil war.
Brass has been used all through out history in different fields - may it be in art, or in trade and commerce. In ancient times, Romans used brass to make coins, decorate their jewelry and to adorn their armor.
After the middle ages, the use of brass increased as craftsmen incorporated it in making clocks, plates, chandeliers and other household items. A particular town called Dinant (currently called Belgium) was the most profuse creators of brassware during those times. They created large brass dishes and exported these wares into the Netherlands.
The Islamic East was also known for creating brass wares and braziers. Evidences of their craftsmanship can be found in Venice where 15th century well-wrought bowls, dishes, and candlesticks were shipped there by Eastern merchants.
Brass was also particularly popular in 18th century colonial homes in North America. Brass chandeliers made in England and the Netherlands in the 17th century are quite prevalent adornments in these colonial houses. In addition to this, brass drawers incorporated into furniture were considered to be well-liked during that era.
Although brass has survived the time and enjoyed its popularity during those ages, brass is considered as a modern alloy. It was only utilized up until the 16th century. In ancient times, people use the word “brass” as a term to refer to any alloy mixed with copper. The brass that ancient people used to refer to was probably bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Nowadays, people already have a clear distinction between brass and bronze.
Aside from being a popular material all through out history, brass has also undergone different “misrepresentations” when it comes to its name. But even if it is less regarded than gold, brass has stood the test of time and has proven to be a material of high class.
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Posted by admin on January 5th, 2010 — Posted in Hall Of Science
For those of us who were fortunate enough to catch Discovery Channel’s latest spine-gripping, docudrama, SuperVolcano this past weekend, we were made aware of the chance that Yellowstone National Park’s Super Volcano could be a literal, explosive and catastrophic time bomb.
Though many common, external traits of volcanos are viewed as Mountainous peaks and regions like that of Mount St. Helens Yellowstone’s ’supervolcano’ is unique. It is one of the world’s largest active volcanic systems. In the last few million years, it has spawned several, massive volcanic eruptions; and relatively, it is likely to occur again. Because of its possible danger, the US Geological Survey, the University of Utah and the Yellowstone National Park combined forces to create the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory This observatory keeps a vigilant watch of regional activity.
Mesmerizing
Yellowstone’s effervescent hot springs and magical geysers woo visitors by the millions every year. Unwittingly, most of these spectators have no clue as to how these natural wonders come to surface. Merely miles beneath them, brews a huge reservoir of an estimated 1,475-degree Fahrenheit, magma that fuels heat to produce these wondrous spectacles.
Meanwhile, its breathtaking scenery and natural wildlife illudes patrons of its below-ground, boiling carnage.
Destructive
If and when Yellowstone blows, it could possibly emit massive volumes of magma that would evolve into a Pyroclastic Flow. This flow would catapult in multiple directions, causing the ground to collapse, and create large volcanic calderas
Based on the film, worst-case scenerio would prove cataclysmic. Not only would nearly everything in its deadly path be destroyed, but its treachery would amiss worldwide in large-scale environmental hazards.
In all of its awesome and hypnotic beauty, Yellowstone typically incurs anywhere between one to three-thousand earthquakes annually. Though scientists lay claim that renewed volcanic activities will more than likely be nonexplosive lava eruptions, Yellowstone has had several, lethal volcanic events. Its last catastropic eruption occurred 640,000 years ago. To date, modern science cannot reliably make accurate predictions of when another cataclysimic event will inevitably occur at Yellowstone.
In a race against time and eruption-cycle averages, one can only hope that FEMA and other worldwide organizations will come up with life-preserving measures that will, at least, keep the spark of life alive on planet Earth should such a cataclysmic eruption happen.
Would you like to add your thoughts and opinions to this segment? Feel free to interact with Holistic Junction’s forum on Yellowstone by going to our Home Page and clicking on the hot topic forum thread: Yellowstone - A Ticking Time-Bomb?
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Yellowstone - A Ticking Time-Bomb?
Copyright 2005 - All Rights Reserved
by C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
About the Author
C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations’ Director &
Staff Writer
Holistic Junction
Media Positve Radio
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Posted by admin on October 24th, 2009 — Posted in Hall Of Science
I have to produce?The majority of homes use approximately 9,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year (about 780 kWh per month)Depending on the wind speed and size of the home you would need to generate between 25 and 30 kWh per day. Will I help the environment if I use wind power?Yes! Wind power does not produce pollution like other sources of energy. Over it’s lifetime a wind power system can save approximately 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other gases which cause climate damage).This is the reason why there are many utility companies which offer you to buy the electricity back when they are not required by you. The wind turbine used for the domestic wind power production is smaller than the commercial ones but they are sufficiently effective. Moreover this is going to cut down the electricity bills significantly. Benefits of Wind PowerThe most important and significant benefit of using wind power is that this reduces the level of pollution remarkably. The wind turbines work on the simple principles of transformation of energy and this is the reason why there is no way the environment will get polluted because of this. If you have ever wondered about whether or not wind power is a viable option for you, you have without a doubt asked yourself about what the benefits and disadvantages of wind power are. In this article, I want to briefly explain about some of these advantages and disadvantages that I have learned about in my research. As for benefits of wind power, there are many.
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Posted by admin on September 11th, 2009 — Posted in Hall Of Science, Help For You
Wind power plants, or wind farms, as they are sometimes called, are clusters of wind machines used to produce electricity. A wind farm usually has dozens of wind machines scattered over a large area. The world’s largest wind farm, the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Texas, has 421 wind turbines that generate enough electricity to power 220,000 homes per year. Many wind plants are not owned by public utility companies. Instead, they are owned and operated by business people who sell the electricity produced on the wind farm to electric utilities. These private companies are known as Independent Power Producers. back to top File Scrub L3 ::::: EE … wind_home-basics … wind_history-basics History of Wind Power Grade: A. Reason: ready The Oldest Windmills Were in Ancient Persia Traditional Dutch-type Windmill Since ancient times, people have harnessed the wind’s energy. Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians used wind to sail ships on the Nile River. Later, people built windmills to grind wheat and other grains. The earliest known windmills were in Persia (now called Iran). These early windmills looked like large paddle wheels. Centuries later, the people of Holland improved the basic design of the windmill. They gave it propeller-type blades, still made with sails. Holland’s windmills are world renowned. American colonists used windmills to grind wheat and corn, to pump water, and to cut wood at sawmills. As late as the 1920s, Americans used small windmills to generate electricity in rural areas without electric service. When power lines began to transport electricity to rural areas in the 1930s, local windmills were used less and less, though they can still be seen on some Western ranches. Read more about wind power
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Posted by admin on June 29th, 2009 — Posted in Hall Of Health, Hall Of Science
Malignant mesotheliomahas a few primary symptoms. The primary symptom of pleural mesothelioma is having trouble breathing due to pleural effusion ” the increase of fluid in the membrane, or pleura, around the lung. The second most common symptomis chest pain because the tumor is attacking the chest wall. Additional symptoms include night sweats, weight loss and exhaustion.
The most common sign of patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, which originates in the abdomen, is the swelling of the abdomen because of fluid accumulation (ascites), abdominal pain, and bowel obstruction.
Its vital to know that other afflictions or diseases could be causing these symptoms. Nevertheless, you should see a doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos and have experienced any of these symptoms.
Pleural mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms are also experienced in less serious health issues. Typical symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest or lower back pain associated with an excess of fluid in the pleura
- Fever
- Upset stomach
- Raspy voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- Coughing blood
Self-diagnosis should never be attempted. One suffering from any of the above symptoms should see a doctor and remain calm. Performing a biopsy is the standard way to confirm the condition. A pathologist takes a small tissue sample from the suspicious area and examines the biopsy which results in a very precise diagnosis. Usually, biopsies do not hurt.
CT scans (Computed Tomography) are an option to avoid a biopsy. This is an X-ray procedure where a scanner takes many cross-sectional images as it rotates around the body. Sometimes, the patient ingests a dye that helps define the picture. CT scans might be advantageous because of their simplistic and non-invasive nature, and they are known to be an effective diagnostic tool. Opinions vary whether a CT scan or biopsy is cheaper. If there are abnormalities, a biopsy may be needed on top of the CT scan to confirm whether or not the irregularity is a tumor, and if so, if the tumor is benign or malignant. Pleural mesothelioma can also be diagnosed by testing a sample of fluid from the pleura for cancer cells.
Any of these methods may also be used to screen for mesothelioma. Patients are screened when they suspect they may be at risk but do not have typical symptoms, to make sure they are not in danger or to catch the cancer as early as possible. Patients should be screened for mesothelioma if they have a history of asbestos exposure.
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Posted by admin on June 4th, 2009 — Posted in Education, Hall Of Science, House Of Mathematics
Algebra is one of the most influential and major arms of mathematics. Although at first it may seem to just fly over your head, a lot practicing helps students to understand the study. One has to stay learning this subject area at higher educational stages like college, thus it is critical to create a sound base from the start.
Areas that are Problematic
Algebra includes many fields of study, graphing curves being one of them. This could include graphing a circle, graphing systems of radical equations, graphing inequalities or graphing quadratic equations . Some Other topic that is part of algebra has to do with exponents. This can range from subtracting exponents, dividing exponents or just using the laws of exponents. Rationalizing, factorizing, matrices, hyperbolas and quadratics all have to do with algebra.
Some students find algebra rather awful. Even So, in today’s day and age that is not a trouble as virtually every pupil is capable of accessing and using a computer. A student can easily use online math computer programs that instruct and test pupils. For practicing and improving accomplishments, there are worksheets available in these software program. Online tutors are also accessible and are easy to reach. The charges can be based on number of hours or per module and this works as if the student and the tutor were face to face.
How to Get Help for Algebra
For helping pupils, there are a large number of software package available on the Net. These programs provide step-by-step guides to help pupils through their troubles. These software packages can aid you with your homework, test readiness and even exam preparation! As algebra has a wide number of sub-sections you can pick out packages that link to your particular difficulty or problem. This could be basic algebra, algebra 1, algebra 2 or just graphs. Some computer software packages also include games and videos that could further develop your algebraic skills.
Algebra calculators are one of the most principal tools available for aiding your skills in algebra. They can help resolve many types of algebraic questions. Mostly these will include questions that have to do with radical equations or quadratic inequalities . Various types of calculators help students to stress on various areas of algebra.
Though these software programs and other aids can aid many pupils solve a great number of problems, it is important that they are employed for the proper intention. Using these facilities for cheating would only be a loss to yourself. It is better to use them to check the answers of your assignments rather than using them to complete your homework.
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Posted by admin on April 17th, 2009 — Posted in Education, Hall Of Science, House Of Mathematics
We can assert that Algebra is the heart of math. If you really want to know about mathematics and its basics then you should have a complete and in depth knowledge of algebra. If someone asks you to calculate the product of 223 and 112, you can easily do it manually or with a calculating machine. But when it comes to exponential (e) of 223 and logarithmic (log) of 112 then most definitely, you will need some kind of algebraic calculator or algebra solver. Graphing a circle will be easy for this given formula X 2 + Y2 = 4 but when it comes for an inequality like (X-2)2 + (Y-4)2 > 20 then it will be quite harder to plot the graph. In this situation algebra software system can help you immensely since you only need to enter the inequality and graph will be plotted within no time. These kinds of software packages can easily work out any kind of algebraic, arithmetical and radical expressions of any level of complexity.
Finding Domain and Range of a Function
Now it is very easy to calculate the domain and range of functions like Y = X2, you can just tell that X and Y can take any real number from the X-Y plane but have you ever thought of defining the domain and range of log(tan 2x + sin 3x) = cosine(-4)(2x). But thanks to algebra calculating systems, you can now solve these complicated problems in no time while being able to understand every step of the way that it takes you to successfully solve the mathematical question.
Coordinate Geometry
Now you can easily find the focus and directrix and whether parabola opens up or down by just feeding the equation into algebra software package. Addition, subtraction and multiplication of binomials are quite deadening, since they involve lots of terms to manipulate. However, by leaving the job up to algebra calculators, you will be able to get results within a shorter period with 100% accuracy. Solving determinants and matrices of 3×3 or 4×4 order can become very tough since it involves lots of calculation; getting inverse of matrices even more so. However using algebra estimators will make this task much simpler.
So, with the introduction of algebra software programs, the times where you feared the sight of indices, rational numbers or quadratic equations , comes to an end. If you could not stand geometry, you may even start liking it henceforth thanks to the computerized algebra calculators that will automatically plot everything you ever need.
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Posted by admin on February 4th, 2009 — Posted in Hall Of Science
Glaciers are dethawing at a quicker pace than at any point since recordings were started, reports The Express. Researchers from the International Glacier Monitoring Service, which follows 26 glaciers in 9 mountains, judge that from 1848 to 1969 glaciers were shrinking at a median rate of 27 cm a yr.. In between 1972 to 2000 the amount retreating increased to 60 to 95 centimeters per yr. From then the average has comprised more than one metre a yr. The last season recorded the highest recedings thus far of 1.1 m.
Worldwide glaciers are receding leastwise as swiftly as those glaciers in the representative sample with potentially fateful outcomes for nearby towns. In the short term there are likely to be a lot more deluges, and in the not so distant future, streams will disappear, leading to critical mains water deficits.
Chamonix, with its big no. of glaciers, the consequences of climate change and the retreating of glaciers will probably be keenly sensed. Possibly this is why a lot of shops, and locals appear to be more cognizant of these issues so are therefore seeking to take measures to restrain the energy consumption. Hopefully it is not too belated to stem the effects of global warming and secure a future for our children. Therefore think about how you travel when you go for your ski breaks in Chamonix.
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