Thursday, December 13, 2012

Ssshhh......

Have you ever been watching and enjoying a program or movie on TV, and all of a sudden got shocked and irritated by loud commercial breaks?  Then you turned the sound volume level down, and then got annoyed when your favorite program got back on just to realize you are not hearing a word because now the volume is too low?  And worse, got into a fight over remote or sound levels with whoever you are watching TV with?  If you live in the U.S., chances are you know what I am talking about.  Well, no more of that starting today!

As of today a law is in effect that mandates commercials' sound level be the same as that of the TV programs.  This is probably one of the best regulations FCC has passed, saving people's mental health, sanity, and relationships!  Learn more here.

Reference:
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/loud-commercials


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

OSIRIS REx

OSIRIS REx is the name of a mission to an asteroid that is expected to launch in 2016.  This mission is tasked to study a 1900 feet near Earth asteroid called 1999 RQ36.  OSIRIS REx is scheduled to arrive at its destination after a three year journey in 2019.  This mission studies and examines this asteroid and its regolith for possible resources like water and metals and for organic molecules that originated life on Earth.  OSIRIX REx will return the asteroid samples to Earth in 2023.  To learn more please visit here.



Reference:
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/osiris-rex.html

Monday, December 3, 2012

Time Reversal Process

Researchers at University of Maryland at College Park have come up with a new technique that has the potential of making many science-fiction scenarios, realities of everyday life.

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Using a time-reversal technique, the team has discovered how to transmit power, sound or images to a nonlinear object without knowing the object 's exact location and without affecting objects around it.

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That means one day you can charge your cell phone remotely without any cable, without even knowing where your cell phone is! and many other cool applications!  Learn more here.