don, Sep 26 (IANS) Scientists relied on a NASA supercomputer to figure out how our solar system would look like to aliens looking for other planets.
New simulations have tracked the interactions of myriads of dust grains to show that this view might have changed as our planetary system matured.
And astronomers hope that the new view could help them learn how to spot planets orbiting distant stars, the Daily Mail reported.
The dust originates in the Kuiper Belt, a cold storage zone beyond Neptune where millions of icy bodies, including Pluto, orbit the Sun, according to the Astronomical Journal.
Kuiper Belt objects occasionally crash into each other, and this relentless bump-and-grind produces a flurry of icy grains.
'Our new simulations also allow us to see how dust from the Kuiper Belt might have looked when the solar system was much younger,' said Christopher Stark, Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington D.C.
'In effect, we can go back in time and see how the distant view of the solar system may have changed,' he added.
Marc Kuchner, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre who led the study, said: 'The planets may be too dim to detect directly, but aliens studying the solar system could easily determine the presence of Neptune -- its gravity carves a little gap in the dust.'
'We're hoping our models will help us spot Neptune-sized worlds around other stars,' he added.
Monday, September 27, 2010
How Egyptians erected their giant pyramids
ashington, Sept 26 (ANI): A researcher has the answer to an ancient, unsolved puzzle - how the Egyptians erected their giant pyramids.
searchers have been so preoccupied by the weight of the stones that they tend to overlook two major problems: How did the Egyptians know exactly where to put the enormously heavy building blocks? And how was the master architect able to communicate detailed, highly precise plans to a workforce of 10,000 illiterate men?
These were among the questions that confronted Ole J. Bryn, an architect and associate professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) when he began examining Khufu's Great Pyramid in Giza. Khufu's pyramid, better known as the Pyramid of Cheops, consists of 2.3 million limestone blocks weighing roughly 7 million tons. At 146.6 meters high, it held the record as the tallest structure ever built for nearly 4000 years, reports Science Daily.
What Bryn discovered was quite simple. He believes that the Egyptians invented the modern building grid, by separating the structure's measuring system from the physical building itself, thus introducing tolerance, as it is called in today's engineering and architectural professions.
Bryn has studied the plans from the thirty oldest Egyptian pyramids, and discovered a precision system that made it possible for the Egyptians to reach the pyramid's last and highest point, the apex point, with an impressive degree of accuracy.
By exploring and making a plan of the pyramid it is possible to prepare modern project documentation of not just one, but all pyramids from any given period.
As long as the architect knows the main dimensions of a pyramid, he can project the building as he would have done it with a modern building, but with building methods and measurements known from the ancient Egypt, Bryn says.
In a scientific article published May 2010 in the Nordic Journal of Architectural Research, Bryn discusses aspects that can explain the construction of a multitude of the Egyptian pyramids by taking the building grid, and not the physical building itself, as the starting point for the analysis.
If the principles behind Bryn's drawings are correct, then archaeologists will have a new "map" that demonstrates that the pyramids are not a "bunch of heavy rocks with unknown structures" but, rather, incredibly precise structures.
searchers have been so preoccupied by the weight of the stones that they tend to overlook two major problems: How did the Egyptians know exactly where to put the enormously heavy building blocks? And how was the master architect able to communicate detailed, highly precise plans to a workforce of 10,000 illiterate men?
These were among the questions that confronted Ole J. Bryn, an architect and associate professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) when he began examining Khufu's Great Pyramid in Giza. Khufu's pyramid, better known as the Pyramid of Cheops, consists of 2.3 million limestone blocks weighing roughly 7 million tons. At 146.6 meters high, it held the record as the tallest structure ever built for nearly 4000 years, reports Science Daily.
What Bryn discovered was quite simple. He believes that the Egyptians invented the modern building grid, by separating the structure's measuring system from the physical building itself, thus introducing tolerance, as it is called in today's engineering and architectural professions.
Bryn has studied the plans from the thirty oldest Egyptian pyramids, and discovered a precision system that made it possible for the Egyptians to reach the pyramid's last and highest point, the apex point, with an impressive degree of accuracy.
By exploring and making a plan of the pyramid it is possible to prepare modern project documentation of not just one, but all pyramids from any given period.
As long as the architect knows the main dimensions of a pyramid, he can project the building as he would have done it with a modern building, but with building methods and measurements known from the ancient Egypt, Bryn says.
In a scientific article published May 2010 in the Nordic Journal of Architectural Research, Bryn discusses aspects that can explain the construction of a multitude of the Egyptian pyramids by taking the building grid, and not the physical building itself, as the starting point for the analysis.
If the principles behind Bryn's drawings are correct, then archaeologists will have a new "map" that demonstrates that the pyramids are not a "bunch of heavy rocks with unknown structures" but, rather, incredibly precise structures.
Bihar poll exercise to be set in motion tomorrow
New Delhi, Sept 26 (PTI) The month-long Bihar Assembly poll exercise, which is expected to be a triangular affair among the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)-BJP ruling alliance, RJD-LJP combine and the Congress, will be set in motion tomorrow. This is the first Assembly election during the current year and the Election Commission is leaving nothing to chance keeping in view the fact that majority of the districts in the state were hit by Naxal menace.
State Governor Devanand Konwar will tomorrow issue the notification for the first phase of Assembly polls. Over 5.50 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise to elect a new 243-member House.
The term of the Assembly will end on November 27. The polls will be held in six phases on October 21, 24, 28, November one, 9 and 20 for the 243 seats.
47 of the seats are in 33 Maoist-hit districts and the EC has decided to deploy central para-military forces to ensure a free and fair polling. There are a total of 38 districts in the state.
Counting of votes will take place on November 24. The bye-elections for Banka Lok Sabha seat, which fell vacant following the death of sitting MP Digvijay Singh, will be held on November one.
The election is expected to be a triangular affair with the ruling JD(U) and BJP continuing their poll alliance and Lalu Prasad''s RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan''s LJP joining hands to oust it from power. The Congress has announced that it will go it alone in the state, unlike in the past when it played a second fiddle to RJD. RJD and LJP overcame last-minute hiccups and clinched an alliance, deciding to contest 168 and 75 seats, respectively.
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar has already made it clear that that he would not contest the elections as he is already a member of the Legislative Council. Lalu Prasad, who is being projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the RJD-LJP alliance, is also not contesting the polls.
Congress has not projected anyone as its Chief Ministerial candidate. Hectic activity is on in all the three rival camps for selection of candidates.
Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, who recently reviewed the poll preparations in the state, has expressed satisfaction over the arrangements for the conduct of the assembly elections in Bihar in a free, fair and transparent manner.
State Governor Devanand Konwar will tomorrow issue the notification for the first phase of Assembly polls. Over 5.50 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise to elect a new 243-member House.
The term of the Assembly will end on November 27. The polls will be held in six phases on October 21, 24, 28, November one, 9 and 20 for the 243 seats.
47 of the seats are in 33 Maoist-hit districts and the EC has decided to deploy central para-military forces to ensure a free and fair polling. There are a total of 38 districts in the state.
Counting of votes will take place on November 24. The bye-elections for Banka Lok Sabha seat, which fell vacant following the death of sitting MP Digvijay Singh, will be held on November one.
The election is expected to be a triangular affair with the ruling JD(U) and BJP continuing their poll alliance and Lalu Prasad''s RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan''s LJP joining hands to oust it from power. The Congress has announced that it will go it alone in the state, unlike in the past when it played a second fiddle to RJD. RJD and LJP overcame last-minute hiccups and clinched an alliance, deciding to contest 168 and 75 seats, respectively.
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar has already made it clear that that he would not contest the elections as he is already a member of the Legislative Council. Lalu Prasad, who is being projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the RJD-LJP alliance, is also not contesting the polls.
Congress has not projected anyone as its Chief Ministerial candidate. Hectic activity is on in all the three rival camps for selection of candidates.
Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, who recently reviewed the poll preparations in the state, has expressed satisfaction over the arrangements for the conduct of the assembly elections in Bihar in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Chennai Super Kings win Champions League
Murali Vijay and Mike Hussey cracked a sparkling half-century each as Chennai Super Kings were crowned the Champions League Twenty20 winners with their eight-wicket victory over Warriors in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Vijay (58 off 53 balls), who was let off when on 34, cracked his third half century of the tournament while the other opener Hussey played sheet anchor and remained not out on 51 as Chennai chased down the small target of 129 with one over to spare.
Earlier, spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (3/16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/16) shared five wickets as Chennai restricted Warriors to 128 for seven after the South African champion side elected to bat at the New Wanderers Stadium.
Vijay underlined his emergence as a fine Twenty20 batsman by becoming the highest run getter of the tournament with 294 runs from six matches, eight more than Warriors captain Davy Jacobs.
Vijay's 53-ball innings was studded with six fours and two sixes while Hussey hit only three fours from 46 balls in his unbeaten knock.
Chennai were richer by $2.5 millions for winning the second edition of the tournament, their second crown in five months after their IPL triumph in April. Warriors received $1.3 million for finishing runners-up
Chennai players with the trophyThe grand finale of the multi-dollar tournament, however, turned out to be a lopsided match with the Warriors bowlers failing to make any impact on the batsmen of the opposition who have beaten them in their last Group A league fixture four days ago.
The total of 128 was too small to defend and Chennai was always in control of the run chase though it got a bit tight with Suresh Raina , who was mainly responsible for Chennai's semi-final win against Royal Challengers Bangalore with an aggressive 94, out cheaply for just two.
Hussey and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17 n.o.), however, held on their nerves to pull off the win with a 25-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket.
Dhoni hit the winning runs -- a four off Juan Theron -- as Chennai scored 132 for two in 19 overs to lift the title.
Vijay and Hussey did not need to take too much risk as they ran mostly in singles in their 103-run opening wicket stand in front of a capacity crowd.
Vijay lived dangerously on a couple of occasions with an edge from his bat flying past wicket-kepeer Mark Boucher and Justin Kreusch for a four. He was also lucky to survive in the ninth over with wicket-keeper Mark Boucher missing a simple stumping chance off the bowling of Nicky Boje when on 34.
But he made amends of these lapses later as he struck some fine shots, including two sixes off Nicky Boje.
Vijay fell to Boje in the 15th over after taking his side to the threshold of victory. Earlier, Muralitharan snapped three wickets as Chennai restricted Warriors to 128 for seven.
Muralitharan, who took three for 16, got able support from his spin colleague Ashwin (2/16) as Chennai restricted the Warriors to a meager total.
Pacers Dough Bollinger and Albie Morkel bagged a wicket each while Laxmipathy Balaji was unsuccessful.
Ashwin ended as tournament highest wicket taker with 13 from six matches, one more from Muralitharan. He also was named as man of the tournament.
Jacobs (34) continued with his terrific form in the tournament with some lusty strokes and his side looked like to post a big total by racing to 39 runs at the end of the fourth over before they lost way later.
Jacobs treated Chennai opening bowler Dough Bollinger with disdain hitting him for two consecutive fours and another two boundaries in the second over of the same bowler to give their innings to a flier.
Jacobs also gave the same treatment to the other bowler Albie Morkel hitting him for three fours.
The other opening batsman Ashwell Prince however, continued his struggling form as he was out to Bollinger for a mere six and Warriors score of 39 for one.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's shrewd move to introduce off-spinner Ashwin also paid dividends as he removed the dangerous-looking Jacobs in the sixth over as the IPL side put brakes on the South African champion team.
Jacobs' aggressive 34 came from 21 balls and was studded with eight fours.
Run rate slowed down with the introduction of Balaji, who got a bit of swing from the Wanderers pitch, and spin wizard Muralitharan as Warriors scored just 19 runs from the four overs from seventh to 10th.
Colin Ingram (16) fell victim to Morkel in the 11th over while trying to push up the run rate before Muralitharan put the Warriors in trouble by claiming two wickets in the 14th over.
Veteran Mark Boucher (5) was deceived by a beautiful Muralitharan delivery which got the turn to beat the batsman's bat before crashing into the stumps.
Four balls later, Justin Kreusch (17) charged out to hit a Muralitharan delivery only to chip it to Suresh Raina at mid-wicket and Warriors were 82 for five then.
In the 17th over, Craig Thyssen took 18 runs from Balaji with the help of a six and a four but any threat of death over run riot was cut short with Ashwin snapping Johan Botha's wicket.
Thyssen was the only other Warriors batsman besides Jacobs to give some resistance to the CSK bowlers with a 18-ball 25 which he made with the help of three fours and a six before being out in the last over.
Vijay (58 off 53 balls), who was let off when on 34, cracked his third half century of the tournament while the other opener Hussey played sheet anchor and remained not out on 51 as Chennai chased down the small target of 129 with one over to spare.
Earlier, spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (3/16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/16) shared five wickets as Chennai restricted Warriors to 128 for seven after the South African champion side elected to bat at the New Wanderers Stadium.
Vijay underlined his emergence as a fine Twenty20 batsman by becoming the highest run getter of the tournament with 294 runs from six matches, eight more than Warriors captain Davy Jacobs.
Vijay's 53-ball innings was studded with six fours and two sixes while Hussey hit only three fours from 46 balls in his unbeaten knock.
Chennai were richer by $2.5 millions for winning the second edition of the tournament, their second crown in five months after their IPL triumph in April. Warriors received $1.3 million for finishing runners-up
Chennai players with the trophyThe grand finale of the multi-dollar tournament, however, turned out to be a lopsided match with the Warriors bowlers failing to make any impact on the batsmen of the opposition who have beaten them in their last Group A league fixture four days ago.
The total of 128 was too small to defend and Chennai was always in control of the run chase though it got a bit tight with Suresh Raina , who was mainly responsible for Chennai's semi-final win against Royal Challengers Bangalore with an aggressive 94, out cheaply for just two.
Hussey and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17 n.o.), however, held on their nerves to pull off the win with a 25-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket.
Dhoni hit the winning runs -- a four off Juan Theron -- as Chennai scored 132 for two in 19 overs to lift the title.
Vijay and Hussey did not need to take too much risk as they ran mostly in singles in their 103-run opening wicket stand in front of a capacity crowd.
Vijay lived dangerously on a couple of occasions with an edge from his bat flying past wicket-kepeer Mark Boucher and Justin Kreusch for a four. He was also lucky to survive in the ninth over with wicket-keeper Mark Boucher missing a simple stumping chance off the bowling of Nicky Boje when on 34.
But he made amends of these lapses later as he struck some fine shots, including two sixes off Nicky Boje.
Vijay fell to Boje in the 15th over after taking his side to the threshold of victory. Earlier, Muralitharan snapped three wickets as Chennai restricted Warriors to 128 for seven.
Muralitharan, who took three for 16, got able support from his spin colleague Ashwin (2/16) as Chennai restricted the Warriors to a meager total.
Pacers Dough Bollinger and Albie Morkel bagged a wicket each while Laxmipathy Balaji was unsuccessful.
Ashwin ended as tournament highest wicket taker with 13 from six matches, one more from Muralitharan. He also was named as man of the tournament.
Jacobs (34) continued with his terrific form in the tournament with some lusty strokes and his side looked like to post a big total by racing to 39 runs at the end of the fourth over before they lost way later.
Jacobs treated Chennai opening bowler Dough Bollinger with disdain hitting him for two consecutive fours and another two boundaries in the second over of the same bowler to give their innings to a flier.
Jacobs also gave the same treatment to the other bowler Albie Morkel hitting him for three fours.
The other opening batsman Ashwell Prince however, continued his struggling form as he was out to Bollinger for a mere six and Warriors score of 39 for one.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's shrewd move to introduce off-spinner Ashwin also paid dividends as he removed the dangerous-looking Jacobs in the sixth over as the IPL side put brakes on the South African champion team.
Jacobs' aggressive 34 came from 21 balls and was studded with eight fours.
Run rate slowed down with the introduction of Balaji, who got a bit of swing from the Wanderers pitch, and spin wizard Muralitharan as Warriors scored just 19 runs from the four overs from seventh to 10th.
Colin Ingram (16) fell victim to Morkel in the 11th over while trying to push up the run rate before Muralitharan put the Warriors in trouble by claiming two wickets in the 14th over.
Veteran Mark Boucher (5) was deceived by a beautiful Muralitharan delivery which got the turn to beat the batsman's bat before crashing into the stumps.
Four balls later, Justin Kreusch (17) charged out to hit a Muralitharan delivery only to chip it to Suresh Raina at mid-wicket and Warriors were 82 for five then.
In the 17th over, Craig Thyssen took 18 runs from Balaji with the help of a six and a four but any threat of death over run riot was cut short with Ashwin snapping Johan Botha's wicket.
Thyssen was the only other Warriors batsman besides Jacobs to give some resistance to the CSK bowlers with a 18-ball 25 which he made with the help of three fours and a six before being out in the last over.
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