December 29, 2009
Here are the stories that stood out:
9. Oddball Objects
Earth had a front row seat to a multitude of space objects in 2009, with stunning meteor showers, wayward space rocks buzzing the planet and weird lights in the sky – both natural and man-made.
Annual light shows such as the Leonid meteor shower continued to dazzle, but some space rocks came a bit too close for comfort. An asteroid exploded over Indonesia with the force of several Hiroshima bombs on Oct. 8, 2009, and became the biggest space rock to take aim at Earth in more than a decade.
Weird and wonderful man-made lights also joined the natural light displays this year. NASA launched an experimental rocket that briefly recreated eerie night-shining clouds in September. But the strangest display of all came from a spiraling shape that appeared above Norway in December and sparked massive speculation about extraterrestrials or rogue meteors – before Russia's defense ministry confirmed that a failed launch had sent a missile spiraling out of control.
8. Mercury, Unmasked
Planet Mercury received a major scientific makeover in 2009, when NASA's MESSENGER probe completed a third and final flyby in September 2009 that should help guide the spacecraft into a Mercury orbit in 2011.
A third encounter with Mercury not only helped map up to 98 percent of the planet's surface, but also showed that the surface contains high amounts of heavy metals such as iron and titanium. The surprise has forced scientists to rethink how the small planet evolved.
The latest close-up also revealed changing seasons on the planet closest to the sun. Such seasonal shifts take the form of varying chemical compositions in Mercury's thin atmosphere.
7. The Most Massive Black Hole
There's big, and then there's galactic big. A supermassive black hole became the reigning heavyweight champ this year with 6.4 billion times the mass of the sun, after astrophysicists revised earlier estimates of the monster's size by two or three times through computer modeling and telescope observations.
The behemoth sits at the heart of the giant galaxy M87, not unlike the massive black hole at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy. Other black holes in nearby large galaxies may now also get a second look, so don't rule out a new black hole challenger in the coming years.
9 Astronomy Milestones in 2009
This year provided plenty of cosmic eye-openers for astronomers and casual stargazers alike. Neighborhood planets such as Mercury and Jupiter received makeovers in both a scientif…
This year provided plenty of cosmic eye-openers for astronomers and casual stargazers alike. Neighborhood planets such as Mercury and Jupiter received makeovers in both a scientific and literal sense. The discovery of water on the moon and Mars provided clues to the past, not to mention hints for the future of space exploration. A class of newly-detected "Super-Earth" planets around alien stars may ultimately prove more habitable than Earth. And a growing fleet of existing, new and revived space telescopes promises another stellar year ahead.
Here are the stories that stood out:
9. Oddball Objects
Earth had a front row seat to a multitude of space objects in 2009, with stunning meteor showers, wayward space rocks buzzing the planet and weird lights in the sky – both natural and man-made.
Annual light shows such as the Leonid meteor shower continued to dazzle, but some space rocks came a bit too close for comfort. An asteroid exploded over Indonesia with the force of several Hiroshima bombs on Oct. 8, 2009, and became the biggest space rock to take aim at Earth in more than a decade.
Weird and wonderful man-made lights also joined the natural light displays this year. NASA launched an experimental rocket that briefly recreated eerie night-shining clouds in September. But the strangest display of all came from a spiraling shape that appeared above Norway in December and sparked massive speculation about extraterrestrials or rogue meteors – before Russia's defense ministry confirmed that a failed launch had sent a missile spiraling out of control.
8. Mercury, Unmasked
Planet Mercury received a major scientific makeover in 2009, when NASA's MESSENGER probe completed a third and final flyby in September 2009 that should help guide the spacecraft into a Mercury orbit in 2011.
A third encounter with Mercury not only helped map up to 98 percent of the planet's surface, but also showed that the surface contains high amounts of heavy metals such as iron and titanium. The surprise has forced scientists to rethink how the small planet evolved.
The latest close-up also revealed changing seasons on the planet closest to the sun. Such seasonal shifts take the form of varying chemical compositions in Mercury's thin atmosphere.
7. The Most Massive Black Hole
There's big, and then there's galactic big. A supermassive black hole became the reigning heavyweight champ this year with 6.4 billion times the mass of the sun, after astrophysicists revised earlier estimates of the monster's size by two or three times through computer modeling and telescope observations.
The behemoth sits at the heart of the giant galaxy M87, not unlike the massive black hole at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy. Other black holes in nearby large galaxies may now also get a second look, so don't rule out a new black hole challenger in the coming years.
aliens
list
Mars
December 29, 2009
Researchers have discovered an antibody which, when injected into mice, will bond with prostate cancer tissue and "initiate direct cell death" in it. If results carry over to humans, this discovery would almost be a cure to prostate cancer.
I say that it would almost be a cure for that particular type of cancer, because in initial trials with mice "F77 bonded with tissue where prostate cancer was the primary cancer in almost all cases (97 percent) and in tissue cores where the cancer had metastasized around 85 percent of the time." This means that while the antibody even attacked advanced stage cancer cells, it did not attack them all. Still, this is fantastic news and I hope that further research lives up to the initial optimism. [PhysOrg]
Scientists Find an Antibody Which Hunts and Kills Prostate Cancer
Researchers have discovered an antibody which, when injected into mice, will bond with prostate cancer tissue and "initiate direct cell death" in it. If results carry ov…
Researchers have discovered an antibody which, when injected into mice, will bond with prostate cancer tissue and "initiate direct cell death" in it. If results carry over to humans, this discovery would almost be a cure to prostate cancer.
I say that it would almost be a cure for that particular type of cancer, because in initial trials with mice "F77 bonded with tissue where prostate cancer was the primary cancer in almost all cases (97 percent) and in tissue cores where the cancer had metastasized around 85 percent of the time." This means that while the antibody even attacked advanced stage cancer cells, it did not attack them all. Still, this is fantastic news and I hope that further research lives up to the initial optimism. [PhysOrg]
cancer
disease
medicine
December 27, 2009
1- Boston - Augustana (2005)
2- My Immortal - Evanescence (2004)
3- Because of You - Kelly Clarkson (2004)
4- Flowers for a Ghost - Thriving Ivory (2009)
5- Shape of My Heart - Back Street Boys (2000)
6- Beautiful - Christina Aguilera (2002)
7- Fix You - Coldplay (2005)
8- Save the Last Dance for Me *Re-release* - Michael Buble (2005)
9- Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt (2004)
10- My Love - Westlife (2000)
11- Unfaithful - Rihanna (2006)
12- The Scientist - Coldplay (2002)
13- No Promises *Re-release* - Shayne Ward (2006)
14- Kryptonite - Three Doors Down (2000)
15- Bye Bye Bye - NSYNC (2000)
16- Like We Never Loved At All - Faith Hill and Tim McGraw (2005)
17- Over My Head (Cable Car) - The Fray (2005)
18- Secret Life - Thriving Ivory (2008)
19- Every Other Weekend - Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney (2007)
20- Where is the Love? - Black Eyed Peas (2003)
21- Everytime - Britney Spears (2004)
22- Run - Snow Patrol (2004)
23- Lost Without You - Darren Hayes (2003)
24- Sweet and Low - Augustana (2008)
25- Somewhere Only We Know - Keane (2004)
26- Incomplete - Back Street Boys (2005)
27- How to Save a Life - The Fray (2005)
28- Unwritten - Natasha Beddingfield (2004)
29- My Wish - Rascal Flatts (2006)
30- A New Day has Come - Celine Dion (2002)
31- Love Story - Taylor Swift (2008)
32- Wherever You Will Go - The Calling (2001)
33- Irreplacable - Beyonce (2006)
34- My Boo - Alicia Keys and Usher (2004)
35- Stereo Love - Edward Maya (2009)
36- When You're Gone - Avril Lavigne (2007)
37- If You're Not the One - Daniel Beddingfield (2002)
38- Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word *Re-release* - Blue and Elton John (2002)
39- Tongue Tied - Faber Drive (2007)
40- No Body Wants to be Lonely - Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin (2001)
41- On Fire - Switchfoot (2003)
42- Broken - Lifehouse (2008)
44- Black Tables - Other Lives (2008)
45- Thoughtless - Korn (2002)
46- Forever - Chris Brown (2008)
47- Desert Sunshine - Brett Dennen (2004)
48- Jai Ho - Pussy Cat Dolls and A.R. Rahman (2008)
49- Lose Yourself - Eminem (2002)
50- Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood (2006)
My Top 50 Songs of the Decade
Since the 00's decade is almost over, I thought it would be a great idea to list my top 50 songs of this decade.. So here goes: 1- Boston - Augustana (2005) 2- My Immortal - Ev…
Since the 00's decade is almost over, I thought it would be a great idea to list my top 50 songs of this decade.. So here goes:
1- Boston - Augustana (2005)2- My Immortal - Evanescence (2004)
3- Because of You - Kelly Clarkson (2004)
4- Flowers for a Ghost - Thriving Ivory (2009)
5- Shape of My Heart - Back Street Boys (2000)
6- Beautiful - Christina Aguilera (2002)
7- Fix You - Coldplay (2005)
8- Save the Last Dance for Me *Re-release* - Michael Buble (2005)
9- Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt (2004)
10- My Love - Westlife (2000)
11- Unfaithful - Rihanna (2006)
12- The Scientist - Coldplay (2002)
13- No Promises *Re-release* - Shayne Ward (2006)
14- Kryptonite - Three Doors Down (2000)
15- Bye Bye Bye - NSYNC (2000)
16- Like We Never Loved At All - Faith Hill and Tim McGraw (2005)
17- Over My Head (Cable Car) - The Fray (2005)
18- Secret Life - Thriving Ivory (2008)
19- Every Other Weekend - Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney (2007)
20- Where is the Love? - Black Eyed Peas (2003)
21- Everytime - Britney Spears (2004)
22- Run - Snow Patrol (2004)
23- Lost Without You - Darren Hayes (2003)
24- Sweet and Low - Augustana (2008)
25- Somewhere Only We Know - Keane (2004)
26- Incomplete - Back Street Boys (2005)
27- How to Save a Life - The Fray (2005)
28- Unwritten - Natasha Beddingfield (2004)
29- My Wish - Rascal Flatts (2006)
30- A New Day has Come - Celine Dion (2002)
31- Love Story - Taylor Swift (2008)
32- Wherever You Will Go - The Calling (2001)
33- Irreplacable - Beyonce (2006)
34- My Boo - Alicia Keys and Usher (2004)
35- Stereo Love - Edward Maya (2009)
36- When You're Gone - Avril Lavigne (2007)
37- If You're Not the One - Daniel Beddingfield (2002)
38- Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word *Re-release* - Blue and Elton John (2002)
39- Tongue Tied - Faber Drive (2007)
40- No Body Wants to be Lonely - Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin (2001)
41- On Fire - Switchfoot (2003)
42- Broken - Lifehouse (2008)
44- Black Tables - Other Lives (2008)
45- Thoughtless - Korn (2002)
46- Forever - Chris Brown (2008)
47- Desert Sunshine - Brett Dennen (2004)
48- Jai Ho - Pussy Cat Dolls and A.R. Rahman (2008)
49- Lose Yourself - Eminem (2002)
50- Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood (2006)
Augustana
Avril Lavigne
Backstreet boys
December 26, 2009
(Credit: Burger King)
Burger King has put out some interesting campaigns as of late ("Whopper Virgin," "Subservient Chicken"), but this one piques our interest because of how gleefully it pokes fun at our social-networking obsessions. "Now is the time to put your fair-weather Web friendships to the test," the Whopper Sacrifice site explains. "Install Whopper Sacrifice on your Facebook profile, and we'll reward you with a free flame-broiled Whopper when you sacrifice ten of your friends.
Delete 10 Facebook friends, get a free Whopper
(Credit: Burger King) Facebook's developer platform has been used for a zillion marketing campaigns so far, but this one is actually dead-on hilarious. Fast-food chain Burger K…
(Credit: Burger King)
Facebook's developer platform has been used for a zillion marketing campaigns so far, but this one is actually dead-on hilarious.
Fast-food chain Burger King has created "Whopper Sacrifice," a Facebook app that will give you a coupon for a free hamburger if you delete 10 people from your friends list.
Burger King has put out some interesting campaigns as of late ("Whopper Virgin," "Subservient Chicken"), but this one piques our interest because of how gleefully it pokes fun at our social-networking obsessions. "Now is the time to put your fair-weather Web friendships to the test," the Whopper Sacrifice site explains. "Install Whopper Sacrifice on your Facebook profile, and we'll reward you with a free flame-broiled Whopper when you sacrifice ten of your friends.The funniest part: The "sacrifices" show up in your activity feed. So it'll say, for example, "Caroline sacrificed Josh Lowensohn for a free Whopper." Unfortunately, you can't delete your whole friends list and eat free (however unhealthily) for a week. The promotion is limited to one coupon per Facebook account.
ad
facebook
food
December 26, 2009
Hers: "Someone left their dishes in the sink! Someone who eats Lucky Charms! Didn't you buy Lucky Charms? I really don't want to point fingers, I want to share the responsibilities of living together, but it just upsets me when people don't respect my space and thus, don't respect me. We can all be adults about this and talk it out. If it doesn't change, I'm going to schedule a mediation with the RA."
His: "Whoa, check out this mold! Cool!"
Hers: "Hey, um, so, I noticed your light is still on, and it's, like, 3AM."
"I'm just having a hard time falling asleep."
"Oh my God, is there something you need to talk about?! Is this about Brad? It is, isn't it."
"I don't understand why he doesn't want to be with me!"
"You're so much better than him! I'm coming over there and we are spooning until you feel better!"
His: "Shut off that fucking light or I will smother you to death with this pillow once you do finally fall asleep."
Hers: "Help! The tub isn't draining because of all of this mold! I don't understand how it happened, I cleaned the bathroom last Saturday and then this Saturday...as long as you cleaned it...this shouldn't be happening! Maybe we have an extreme drainage mold problem and we need to call maintenance! That is...if you cleaned on Saturday like the bathroom chart said you were supposed to..."
His: "Isn't your mom visiting this weekend? Do you think you can get her to clean the bathroom?"
Hers: "Someone is using my bath towels because I keep finding them folded a different way. I really don't want to make things weird, I'm sure it's my problem, but it bothers me...I don't want to resort to writing a passive-aggressive article on College Humor so you get the picture!"
His: "Dude, seriously. Is that my towel?"
"My bad. Wanna play XBox?"
"Sure."
Hers: "Nice!"
His: "Nice."
Handling Roommate Problems - His and Her Reactions
Situation: Not Doing the Dishes Hers: "Someone left their dishes in the sink! Someone who eats Lucky Charms! Didn't you buy Lucky Charms? I really don't want to point …
Situation: Not Doing the Dishes
Hers: "Someone left their dishes in the sink! Someone who eats Lucky Charms! Didn't you buy Lucky Charms? I really don't want to point fingers, I want to share the responsibilities of living together, but it just upsets me when people don't respect my space and thus, don't respect me. We can all be adults about this and talk it out. If it doesn't change, I'm going to schedule a mediation with the RA."His: "Whoa, check out this mold! Cool!"
Situation: Keeping the Lights/Music on Late
"I'm just having a hard time falling asleep."
"Oh my God, is there something you need to talk about?! Is this about Brad? It is, isn't it."
"I don't understand why he doesn't want to be with me!"
"You're so much better than him! I'm coming over there and we are spooning until you feel better!"
His: "Shut off that fucking light or I will smother you to death with this pillow once you do finally fall asleep."
Situation: Not Cleaning the Bathroom
His: "Isn't your mom visiting this weekend? Do you think you can get her to clean the bathroom?"
Situation: Using Your Stuff
Hers: "Someone is using my bath towels because I keep finding them folded a different way. I really don't want to make things weird, I'm sure it's my problem, but it bothers me...I don't want to resort to writing a passive-aggressive article on College Humor so you get the picture!"His: "Dude, seriously. Is that my towel?"
"My bad. Wanna play XBox?"
"Sure."
Situation: Bringing Home a Special Friend
His: "Nice."
bathroom
boys
class