Thursday, May 28, 2009

Next Generation Cellphone Of Nokia





Nokia's research and development team have kicked it up a gear with an attractive "aeon" concept phone showing up in the research & development section of the company's website. The most prominent design feature of aeon is a touchscreen that stretches over the full surface area of the phone.
Nokia have introduced another concept phone which is quite smart. It is based on 2 touch sensative screens fastened together by fuel cell battery. Nokia is keen to have phones like this hit the market and also have them wearable.


Nokia Aeon
Nokia Aeon has a flexible interface




The 2 touch screens can act as anything you like, such as the buttons on one side, the screen on the other, or in any form you like.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Black hole confirmed in the center Milky Way galaxy


There is a giant black hole at the centre of our galaxy, a 16-year study by German astronomers has confirmed.

They tracked the movement of 28 stars circling the centre of the Milky Way, using two telescopes in Chile.


The black hole, said to be 27,000 light years from Earth, is four million times bigger than the Sun, according to the paper in The Astrophysical Journal.

Black holes are objects whose gravity is so great that nothing - including light - can escape them.

According to Dr Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), the results suggest that galaxies form around giant black holes in the way that a pearl forms around grit.

'The black pearl'

Dr Massey said: "Although we think of black holes as somehow threatening, in the sense that if you get too close to one you are in trouble, they may have had a role in helping galaxies to form - not just our own, but all galaxies.

 The most spectacular aspect of our 16-year study, is that it has delivered what is now considered to be the best empirical evidence that super-massive black holes do exist 
Professor Reinhard Genzel
Head of the research team

"They had a role in bringing matter together and if you had a high enough density of matter then you have the conditions in which stars could form.

"Thus the first generation of stars and galaxies could have come into existence".

The researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany said the black hole was 27,000 light years, or 158 thousand, million, million miles from the Earth.

"Undoubtedly the most spectacular aspect of our 16-year study, is that it has delivered what is now considered to be the best empirical evidence that super-massive black holes do really exist," said Professor Reinhard Genzel, head of the research team.

"The stellar orbits in the galactic centre show that the central mass concentration of four million solar masses must be a black hole, beyond any reasonable doubt."

Observations were made using the 3.5m New Technology Telescope and the 8.2m Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. Both are operated by the European Southern Observatory (Eso).

Blink-182’s Summer Of ’09 "They are back to their own position"




 

Earlier this year band members Travis Barker, Tom Delonge and Mark Hoppus announced the band was reuniting for a summer tour, but left fans guessing at details until today.

Supporting blink-182 on the summer outing are several bands and artists described as “friends” of the band. Look for Fall Out BoyWeezerPanic At The DiscoAll-American RejectsTaking Back SundayChester French and Asher Roth supporting on selected dates.

Playing all the major amphitheatres that made America strong, blink-182 has a special deal for shows playing at Live Nation sheds – an all-inclusive $20 lawn ticket, as in no additional charges, no ups no extras.

Blink-182’s summer / fall sojourn begins in Las Vegas at The Joint on July 24 and runs through October 3 when the band rolls into Atlantic City for a gig at the Borgata Events Center.


 Stops include Vancouver’s GM Place July 28; Milwaukee’s Marcus Amphitheatre August 4; Cincinnati’s Riverbend August 13; Pittsburgh’s Post Gazette Pavilion August 14; Chicago’s First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre August 15; Detroit’s (Clarkston’s) DTE Energy Music Theatre August 22; Toronto’s Molson Amphitheatre August 23; and Denver’s Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre September 6.

How do the members of blink-182 feel bout the upcoming tour? Bassist Hoppus is very excited.

“We can't wait to get out on tour this summer. After a four year break, we're ready to get out on the road and play what we hope will be the most amazing tour of the season. The lineup is awesome. We've got an ever-changing roster of bands, from the most established and successful names in rock and roll, to the hottest up and coming artists on the scene.

“For production, we're putting together the most ambitious stage show of our career. Working with Martin Phillips (stage designer for Daft Punk, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, etc), you can expect the most ridiculous display of lights and images we can imagine. And the best part is that we're bringing all of this together for one of the lowest-priced tours of the summer. We've worked very hard with the promoters to make possible something that has never been done by any major touring act. 20 dollar tickets. 20 dollars gets you into the blink-182 tour this summer. No hidden fees, no parking fees, no extras, no processing charge. 20 dollars and you're at the show. Good Times!”


Friday, May 15, 2009

The Best Way Of Preventing Swine Flu



The Best Way Of Preventing Swine Flu


There are few people who are not aware of the current public health concern surrounding the “Swine Flu”. Words like “pandemic” and “quarantine” are being bandied about in such a way that it could very well provoke anxiety and, even, panic. In particular, many citizens of Mexico and the United States are on edge right now because this threat is at our doorstep. But even those living in other parts of the world understand the potential of a highly infectious virus to spread beyond manmade borders.

I won’t cite figures and theoretical projections about the course of this most recent “crisis”. Instead, I’d like to focus on the positive side of things.


 As hard as it may be to believe, there is something constructive that can come out of situations such as this. There are proactive measures that can be taken to help support immune function and, possibly, improve the odds of avoiding any viral invaders you encounter on a daily basis.

Flu Symptoms at a Glance

Symptoms

Cold

Flu

FeverFever is pretty rare with a cold.Fever is usually present with the flu. A temperature of 101°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
AchesSlight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
ChillsChills are uncommon with a cold.Chills are fairly common in most flu cases. Chills and shivering are a normal reaction to a cold environment, but unexplained chills can also be a sign of the flu.
TirednessTiredness is fairly mild with a cold.Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu. It’s normal to feel tired at the end of a long day or when yo don’t get adequate sleep, but unexplained tiredness can be a sign of the flu.
Sudden SymptomsCold symptoms are not sudden and develop over a few days.The flu has a rapid onset with 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
CoughingA hacking, productive (mucus producing) cough is often present with a cold.A dry, nonproductive cough that does not produce mucus is usually present with the flu.
SneezingSneezing is commonly present with a cold.Sneezing is not as common, but can accompany the flu.
Stuffy or Runny NoseA stuffy or runny nose usually accompanies a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.Stuffy or runny nose can be present with the flu.
Sore ThroatSore throat is commonly present with a cold. A sore throat is pain and inflammation is in the throat that usually comes with a cold.Sore throat is not as common, but can be present with the flu.
Chest DiscomfortChest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu. Chest discomfort is pain or abnormal sensations that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.
HeadacheA headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.

The three best ways to protect yourself from this current threat and any that may follow are: 1) maintain a potent immune system; 2) use common sense measures to protect yourself; and 3) encourage the same in those around you (see the second image below).

There are many natural substances that help support immunity. Below, I’ve put together a list of several inexpensive options that are widely available and that also promote other aspects of good health. All of these measures are very safe and have what I call “side benefits” (as opposed to “side effects”).

  • Don’t Panic: Stress suppresses your ability to fight infections (1,2). You can literally worry yourself sick or find a way to constructively process these very real feelings. Go for a walk with a friend. Practice deep breathing or guided imagery. Meditate. Get a massage. Watch funny movies - laugh! (1,2) You may not be able to control the viral realm of the world, but you can help your body and mind be strong in the face of any viral challenge.
  • Don’t Comfort Yourself with Sugar: As tempting as it may be, try to avoid reaching for starchy and sugary snacks to soothe negative feelings. A famous study from 1973 indicates that consuming large amounts of carbohydrates and sugar can drastically lower the activity of neutrophils. Neutrophils account for about 50-70% of white blood cells and are the first responders when an infection is detected by the body. The effects of these unhealthy carbohydrates can last for over 5 hours.
  • Sleep It Off: When in the midst of an illness the body often demands more sleep, simply because sleep helps strengthen the body’s defenses. The same is true when trying to stay well. The key is to get adequate sleep (usually between 7-9 hours) in a completely dark environment. Darkness is necessary in order for the brain to produce adequate/optimal levels of melatonin, which may be responsible for some of the immune-boosting effects of sleep. (1,2)
  • Let the Sunshine In: There’s a growing body of evidence that vitamin D is imperative for optimal immune function. You can prime your body’s immune system by getting regular sun exposure. The key is to spend time in the sun during the morning and evening hours so as not to get a sunburn. Some experts recommend 15 minutes or more of “smart sun exposure” several times a week.Nutritional supplements can also be used to ensure a consistent and adequate supply of vitamin D.
  • Know Your Berries: Black currant and black elderberry extracts (1,2) may help combat influenza. Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, an Israeli virologist, proposes that black elderberries may interfere with the flu virus’ ability to attach to healthy cells.
  • Drink and Gargle with Tea: A study from September 2006 found that gargling with a green tea extract helped to prevent the incidence of influenza in a nursing home setting. Subjects gargled 3 times a day for 3 months with a green tea concentrate that was standardized for catechin and ECGC content. A 1997 study also found anti-influenza activity in patients who gargled with a black tea extract. Many other laboratory experiments suggest a role for tea in the prevention of flu-related illnesses and in supporting the immune system (1,2,3)
  • Take Your Multi: There are many nutrients that are absolutely vital to ensure healthy immunity. The simplest way to nutritionally “cover your bases” is to take a high potency multivitamin/mineral. Ideally, this means taking a supplement that needs to be consumed 2-3 times a day with meals or snacks.