Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics, behaviors, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities (e.g. animals, objects, even cartoon characters). The term “anthropomorphism” is a combination of two Greek words, “anthropos,” which means man, and “morphe,” which means form.
This term can also be understood theologically. God uses anthropomorphism in the Old Testament when He attributes human characteristics, behaviors, emotions, and intentions to Himself. God the Father is Spirit, so He does this to help us understand who He is and what He does. Of course, human characteristics, behaviors, emotions, and intentions are accurately applied to Jesus. In His incarnation, the second Person of the Trinity became human. But we must remember that in Jesus’ glorification we do not know what human characteristics He fully maintains because He is not constrained by human flesh or by man’s world.
Biblical Anthropomorphism Describing Physical Characteristics
The Old Testament speaks of God’s “face” (Ex 33:20, Num 6:25), His hand (Ex 3:20, 33:23, Ps 81:14), His arm (Ex 6:6, Ps 89:21), His foot (Isa 66:1), His eyes (Ps 32:8), etc. Does God have a face, hands, arms, feet, eyes, etc? The Bible says He does, but we must remember God’s face, hand, arms, etc. are not human and we should not limit our understanding of God by these words. We can agree, His face is more beautiful than any human face, His hands more gentle than any human touch, His arms stronger, His feet swifter and His eye brighter than we can know.
Anthropomorphism Describing Actions
The Bible records God the Father talking (Gen 1:3ff, Gen 17:3), touching (Dan 10:18), looking (Gen 9:16, Deut 11:12, Ps 34:15), stooping (Ps 113:6), smelling (Gen 8:21), hearing (Exo 2:24, Psa 66:19), walking (Gen 3:8), holding (Psa 18:35, Psa 139:10), fighting (Jer 21:5), guiding (Ps 32:8), etc. Does God speak, see, smell, touch, even taste, as we do? What about hearing and walking? Again, God is Spirit and while these human characteristics are used to describe God’s actions, we must not limit Him to human capabilities in His actions. His words are truer, His touch more gentle, His sight is clearer, His hearing keener, etc.
Anthropomorphism Describing Emotions
Human emotions are also used by God in His Word to help us understand His nature: sorrowing(Gen 6:6), remembering (Gen 9:16), pitying (Jud 2:18), relenting ( Ex 32:14), grieving (Gen 6:6), regretting (1 Sam 15:35), jealousy/zealousness (Exo 20:5), anger (Job 32:5, Ps 7:11), etc. We know God is emotional because the Bible applies these human emotions to Him. But again remember that we understand these characteristics constrained by human understanding. God is omnipotent so even His emotions would be different than man’s which are generated by man’s limited knowledge.
Created in His Image
In every human characteristic, action, and emotion we are like God, not God is like us. We are made in His image, but He is not in our image. We are finite. God is infinite. Our characteristics, behaviors, emotions, and intentions are constrained by our time and space dimensions, as well as our finite knowledge. God is outside of time and space and He is all knowing, all powerful, everywhere present, and all good. Therefore, just as human attributes applied to animals do not make them human, God’s use of applying human attributes to Himself does not make Him human. Again, God does this so we can understand Him, but we must never use them to limit Him.
We should always stand in awe of the magnificence and majesty of our God. He is greater than any human characteristic we can observe, bigger and more amazing than any knowledge of Him we can have, and far beyond anything our imaginations can fathom.
Several human emotions that we share with God should not be thought of as anthropomorphism (attribution of human characteristics to a non-human entity). Those emotions include mercy, grace, compassion, longsuffering, and more — especially LOVE! These are inherent to who God is. They are part of His very nature.
God is Love/God Loves
Love illustrates, most clearly, the differences in our human characteristics, actions, and emotions and those of God. We are fallen. God is perfect and holy. God loves fully with a steadfast love (Deut 7:9, Ps 86:15, Ps 136:26), a comforting love (Zeph 3:17), an abiding love (John 15:9), a compelling love (John 3:16, 12:32), a demonstrated love (Ro 5:8), a bestowed/lavished love (1 John 3:1), an unfailing love (Heb 13:5b). Read about God’s love: How Can I Understand the Love of God? Stand in awe of God’s great love for us, and rejoice in the magnitude of His great love:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
God is outside of our time and space dimensions and far beyond anything our finite minds can fathom. Therefore, although anthropomorphism can be very helpful in comprehending our incomprehensible, infinite God, don’t use the attribution of human characteristics to create a false image of God the Father. Be very careful. (Read: Does God Eat?) God is not flesh and blood, as humans are. He is Spirit. And even Jesus, who in His incarnation was fully human, is now glorified and unconstrained by human characteristics.
Anthropomorphism will always fall short of fully revealing God to us. Magnify God above all human characteristics, human actions, and human emotions. Stand in awe of His incomparable and incomprehensible Person and works. Someday we will see Him in all His glory, with eyes, minds, and understandings that are unencumbered by human restraint.
Isa 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Be Ready Always...
to give a reason for the Hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15). When you can’t share the gospel with your words, share it by leaving tracts that tell people about God's grace.
When leaving a tract, always be diligent to pray about the short gospel message. Pray that it be found by someone who is in need of Jesus’ saving grace, and pray that the person will have a tender heart and open ears to receive the gift Jesus desires to give them.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, even a small tract can help in turning a broken sinner from darkness to light.
SHARE THE GOSPEL!
The Top Ten from 2018
- JESUS WEPT. Why? And…it’s not the shortest verse in the Bible!
- The GATE OF THE YEAR: A Message to a Troubled Nation
- TWO WOMEN—Two Stories—Two Songs
- “LAUGHTER is the Best Medicine” Who Said That?
- The WIZARD OF OZ and God
- Following the Good, Great, and Chief SHEPHERD
- The best EULOGY to remember a father!
- ISRAEL Celebrates 70 YEARS As A Nation & the Significance for Christians
- HELLO DARKNESS, My Old Friend: The Sounds of Silence
- CHARLIE BROWN THEOLOGY
Our Ministry’s Two Favorite Articles from 2018:
Facing Terminal Cancer with Hope & Joy
When the Battle is Lost but the Victory is Won — Saying Goodbye to a Friend
- The Meaning of NUMBERS in the Bible?
- The Meaning of COLORS in the Bible?
- Is my TATTOO a sin?
- What do the 12 stones UNDER the JORDAN River mean? (Joshua 4)
- What Does It Mean to TASTE & SEE That God Is Good? (Psalm 34)
- Where did OT Saints go at death?ABRAHAM'S BOSOM? Where was that?
- Why Does the LGBT Use God’s Rainbow For Its Flag?
- Should we call HIS NAME Jesus? Or Yahweh?Or Yeshua?
- Jesus said, I NEVER KNEW YOU. Why?
- CanJEWS go to HEAVEN without knowing Jesus?
Other Popular Questions:
- Is Satan’s Real Name LUCIFER? Or Should We Call Him Satan?
- If BAPTIZED as an Infant, Do I Need to Be Baptized Again?
- Was Jesus CRUCIFIED on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday?
- Why Is PRAYER Important?
- Is There a Hidden Message in Revelation 7?
- What is the Significance of the Wise Men's THREE GIFTS?
- Is It a Sin to Drink ALCOHOL?
- What Did Jesus Say About HEAVEN (and HELL)?
- Is SUICIDE an Unforgivable Sin?


Miscellaneous Mechanical Components
The valve is attached to the bellows in such a way that the valve closes when the bellows
expands. The valve remains closed, trapping steam in the valve body. As the steam cools and
condenses, the bellows cools and contracts, thereby opening the valve and allowing the
condensate to drain.
Impulse Steam Trap
Impulse steam traps, illustrated in Figure 19, pass steam and condensate through a strainer before
entering the trap. A circular baffle keeps the entering steam and condensate from impinging on
the cylinder or on the disk. The impulse type of steam trap is dependent on the principle that
hot water under pressure tends to flash into steam when the pressure is reduced.
The only moving part in the steam trap is the disk. A flange near the top of the disk acts as a
Figure 19 Impulse Steam Trap
piston. As demonstrated in Figure 19, the working surface above the flange is larger than the
working surface below the flange.


Ikea’s indoor garden system is the perfect option for those who wish to grow their own food all year round but don’t have the garden space to be able to do it. Ikea’s indoor hydroponic garden allows anyone to grow fresh produce at home without the need for soil or any previous gardening experience.
The hydroponic system of the garden means that adequate light and water are everything that is needed to grow the plants successfully, meaning that there is no need for soil. According to the report, many of the vegetables that are widely available today are grown using this method. The absorbent foam plugs that come with the Ikea system enable the seeds to sprout and then proceed to keep the seeds moist without over-watering them. Following the germination of the seeds, all that needs to be done is to transfer the entire foam plug into its own separate small pot and fill it with pumice stones, which can retain a lot of water.
The pots can then be transferred to a growing tray that is equipped with a solar lamp, which will provide the plants with enough nourishment to last all year round. The system is so efficient that it can even be successful in rooms without any sunlight, although they can be placed on a windowsill that gets a lot of sun if it is convenient. The growing tray is additionally equipped with a built-in water sensor, which ensures that the plants are given the perfect amount of water. Helena Karlén, from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, said, “The challenge was to make growing plants in a hydroponic system simple so that anyone could succeed…”
Named in the KRYDDA/VÄXER series, the design was born out of a collaboration with agricultural scientists in Sweden, with a target audience of those who live in apartments or don’t have a garden, as well as people who want completely fresh produce even during the cold winter months. Whilst the system is not the first indoor hydroponic system, it is a more affordable option than most, and ideal for those with minimal space. It also fits with Ikea’s notably forward-thinking over the past few years, as they follow an eco-friendly trend towards sustainability.
What are your thoughts on this story? Please share, like, and comment on this article!
By: Jess Murray


Frequently Asked Questions on Natural Capital Accounting (NCA)
GDP only measures gross output. It tells us nothing about income for the long term. It does not answer questions like Are income and growth sustainable? Will the same level of income be available for our children?
That’s because GDP looks at only one part of economic performance—output—but says nothing about wealth and assets that underlie this output and the generation of income. For example, when a country exploits its minerals, it is actually depleting wealth.
The other major limitation is the poor representation of natural capital. Important contributions to the economy of forests, wetlands, and agricultural land are not fully captured in national accounts or may be hidden. Forestry is an example—timber resources are counted in national accounts, but forest carbon sequestration is not included. Other services like water regulation that benefits crop irrigation are hidden and the value is (wrongly) attributed to agriculture in a country’s GDP.
It is in the interest of developed and developing countries to move beyond traditional GDP and start incorporating their natural capital into their national accounts to make better economic decisions.
Natural capital includes, first of all, the resources that we easily recognize and measure such as minerals and energy, forest timber, agricultural land, fisheries and water. It also includes ecosystems producing services that are often ‘invisible’ to most people such as air and water filtration, flood protection, carbon storage, pollination for crops, and habitat for fisheries and wildlife. These values are not readily captured in markets, so we don’t really know how much they contribute to the economy and livelihoods. We often take these services for granted and don’t know what it would cost if we lose them.
The concept of accounting for natural capital has been around for more than 30 years. However, progress in moving toward implementation has been slow.
A major step towards achieving this vision came recently with the adoption by the UN Statistical Commission of the System for Environmental-Economic Accounts (SEEA). The SEEA provides an internationally agreed method, on par with the current SNA, to account for material natural resources like minerals, timber, and fisheries. The challenge now is to build capacity in countries to implement the SEEA and to demonstrate its benefits to policy makers.
Natural capital is a critical asset, especially for low-income countries where it makes up a significant share (36%) of total wealth. For these countries, livelihoods of many subsistence communities depend directly on healthy ecosystems. Incorporating natural capital into national accounts can support better decisions for inclusive development.
Natural capital accounting can provide detailed statistics for better management of the economy. For example land and water accounts can help countries interested in increasing hydro-power capacity to assess the value of competing land uses and the optimal way to meet this goal. Ecosystem accounts can help biodiversity-rich countries design a management strategy that balances tradeoffs among ecotourism, agriculture, subsistence livelihoods, and ecosystem services like flood protection and groundwater recharge. Ecosystems accounting not only provides a tool to maximize economic growth but is also a means to measure who benefits and bears the cost of ecosystem changes, helping governments gauge whether their growth is inclusive.
Following the recent adoption of the System for Environmental-Economic Accounts, there is now wide acceptance of the need to put natural capital accounting into action. As a result, there is renewed momentum with finance ministries and ministries of environment who want to show the contribution of natural capital to national income.
Countries that have started implementing the SEEA have a road map to guide them through this process. They begin by establishing institutional structures with clear lines of responsibility and commitments across government departments. Rather than taking on the challenge of compiling all natural capital accounts at once, countries are prioritizing which sub-accounts to begin with, based on important development challenges facing them.
The Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES) is a global partnership, which World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick announced in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010. It has been supporting a number of countries as they prepare to implement natural capital accounting based on the SEEA.
The WAVES partnership include the United Nations Environment Programme, the UN Development Programme, and the UN Statistical Commission; the countries of Botswana, Colombia, Costa Rica, Madagascar, and the Philippines, which are implementing programs; as well as financial or other support from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, and several NGOs.
The partners want to take natural capital accounting beyond the SEEA-approved material resources, such as timber and minerals, to include ecosystem services and other natural resources that are not traded or marketed and are therefore harder to measure. That includes the “regulating” services of ecosystems, such as forests for pollination and wetlands for reducing the impact of floods. A Policy and Technical Experts Committee, working closely with the processes set up by the UN Statistical Commission, has been established to take this forward.
Already, countries in the Partnership are making major inroads into developing natural capital accounts. Botswana, Colombia, Costa Rica, Madagascar, and the Philippines have embarked on work plans that have been endorsed at the highest level of their governments.
Natural Capital Accounting is more about measurement and information—for example, how much water is being used by which sector. The objective is better government decision making, better planning using this information.
Knowing the total value of natural capital can help us better address poverty issues. Not knowing the value of natural capital is more likely to result in losses that affect the poor, such as:
- Lack of valuation of coastal protection services of mangroves led to massive conversion of mangroves to shrimp farms, with the poor losing livelihoods (from loss of fish habitat and other products from mangroves), as well as suffering increased damages from storms
- Lack of information about the value of forests for hydrological services downstream, livestock grazing for local communities, and soil retention services, has led to clear-cutting of timber and the loss of these services
The key is not only to measure the total value natural assets, but also to measure the distribution of benefits, how much goes to each stakeholder group and the dependence of each group on natural capital, especially the poor.


It is Britain’s oil and gas capital but Aberdeen comes last in the solar energy stakes after scientists found it has the least sunshine and some of the lowest average temperatures in Britain. Its position as the dullest – and, at an average 9.2C, one of the coldest – cities is linked to the fogs that roll in from the North Sea, plus clouds sweeping down from the Cairngorms, say researchers. The survey – designed to find the best places to site solar farms – also found that Plymouth was the sunniest and warmest place. The data gathered included the yearly “global horizontal irradiance” at 27 sites, in kilowatt-hours per square metre. Plymouth, the sunniest and warmest city at 12.2C, received 103, but Aberdeen only 77. London, second highest, scored 97.
Times 23rd Sept 2018 read more »
Warnings about the dangers of global warming are being watered down in the final version of a key climate report for a major international meeting next month, according to reviewers who have studied earlier versions of the report and its summary. They say scientists working on the final draft of the summary are censoring their own warnings and “pulling their punches” to make policy recommendations seem more palatable to countries – such as the US, Saudi Arabia and Australia – that are reluctant to cut fossil-fuel emissions, a key cause of global warming. “Downplaying the worst impacts of climate change has led the scientific authors to omit crucial information from the summary for policymakers,” said one reviewer, Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. The report – to be presented at a meeting in Korea in early October – will make clear that allowing temperatures to rise by 2C will have devastating consequences, including rising sea levels, spreading deserts, loss of natural habitats and species, dwindling ice-caps and increases in the number of devastating storms.
Observer 23rd Sept 2018 read more »


This is an introduction to mapping and localization. This module provides an overview of the issues in how the robot can map a buildings layout, and know where it is. When completed, the reader should be ready to further explore these core ideas.
Pyro Module Mapping
This module is designed to allow a robot to create a map of its environment. This is done by combining Bayesian probabilities to create an occupancy grid representation of the environment. Each location in the occupancy grid contains a probability representing the robot's best estimate of whether that location is occupied. A probability of 0.5 indicates no knowledge about the location, a probability of less than 0.5 indicates that it is likely to be unoccupied, while a probability of greater than 0.5 indicates that it is likely to be occupied.
In order for an occupancy grid based mapping system to be successful, a robot must be able to accurately estimate its current position and heading. This ability is known as localization. In a simulator, it is possible for the robot to know its exact location at all times, which is a very unrealistic assumption in the real world. The mapping system given here does not do localization, but assumes that the robot's estimate of its location is correct. This works well in simulation, but would need to be combined with a localization technique to be successful in the real world.
This mapping system was written entirely in Python and the source can be accessed in the $PYROBOT/map/ directory. There are two classes that are necessary to use this module, the pyrobot.map.lps.LPS and pyrobot.map.gps.GPS classes. When used in combination, these two classes provide a powerful, yet simple to use mapping system.
We will first examine the LPS class. This class is used to gain information about the Local Perceptual Space. What this means is that the LPS class reads and stores sensor information to create a mini-map of the robot's immediate surroundings. In the LPS, the robot only maps what is clearly visible at the current time, and no memory of past readings is stored.
The LPS data is based on readings from a robot's range sensors. Each range sensor is assumed to return a distance to the nearest obstacle in its vicinity. If a range sensor returns its max distance, then we can assume that it does not sense any obstacles in its range. Therefore all of the locations along its line of perception should be unoccupied. However we cannot make any assumptions about the locations beyond its range. If a range sensor returns a value below its max distance, then we can assume that there is an obstacle at this distance. In addition, we can assume that the space in front of this distance is unoccupied, but again we can make no assumptions about what lies beyond this distance.
The image below shows an example of the LPS for a simulated Pioneer robot. The robot is represented as a red circle at the center of the image and the attached blue square indicates its heading. Recall that a Pioneer robot is equipped with a set of 16 sonar sensors, which are numbered 0-15 below. The LPS is represented as a small occupancy grid, where the color of each grid location indicates its probability of being occupied: gray=unknown, white=unoccupied, black=occupied. Each white and black location is inscribed with a number indicating the sonar sensor that provided the information. For instance, sonars 4-5, 7-10, and 14 are all returning values at their max distance, while the remaining sonars are indicating hits at various distances from the robot. Based on this LPS information, the robot has mostly clear space on its right side, but is close to some obstacles on its left side.
The GPS class is slightly different. This class is used to gain information about the Global Perceptual Space. This basically means that, unlike the LPS class, the GPS class reads and stores information about the world and adds this to an already existing map of all previously visited areas of the world. This is done by reading sensor information directly from the LPS's local map and modifying the corresponding locations in the GPS's global map.
Maps: A Basic Skeleton
This example creates a graphical window on your display. You need to be running a graphical windows system on your computer, not just a console window, for this demonstration.
We will begin with a skeleton of a mapping program. The following brain is also provided as JoystickMap in the loadable brains directory.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
from pyrobot.brain import * from pyrobot.tools.joystick import Joystick import pyrobot.system.share as share from pyrobot.map.lps import LPS from pyrobot.map.gps import GPS import thread class Map(Brain): def setup(self): # We want our map to measure in MM, so we first store our current unit of measure units = self.robot.range.units # We then reset our measurements to MMs self.robot.range.units = 'MM' # Calculate the maximum range of our sensors rangeMaxMM = self.robot.range.getMaxvalue() sizeMM = rangeMaxMM * 3 + self.robot.radius # Reset our unit of measure self.robot.range.units = units # Now, we create our Local Perceptual Space window - this will hold our local map # Map will be 20px by 20px and will represent a height and width of sizeMM (total sensor range) self.lps = LPS( 40, 40, widthMM = sizeMM, heightMM = sizeMM) # Then create our Global Perceptual Space window - this will hold our global map # This map will be 500px by 500px and will represent an area ten times the size of our maximum range self.gps = GPS( cols=300, rows=300, heightMM = sizeMM * 5, widthMM = sizeMM * 5) self.joystick = Joystick(share.gui) self.need_redraw = False self.lock = thread.allocate_lock() def step(self): if not self.lock.acquire(False): return #print "Stepping...", # First we clear out all our old LPS data self.lps.reset() # Next we update our LPS with current 'range' sensor readings self.lps.sensorHits(self.robot, 'range') # Now redraw our LPS window - the LPS redraw can be improve performance # Then update our GPS with the new information in the LPS self.gps.updateFromLPS(self.lps, self.robot) # Finally, we redraw the GPS window self.need_redraw = True self.move(self.joystick.translate, self.joystick.rotate) self.lock.release() #print "done stepping!" def redraw(self): if (not self.lock.acquire(False)): return #print "Redrawing...", if self.need_redraw: self.lps.redraw(drawLabels=False) self.gps.update() self.gps.redraw() self.need_redraw = False self.lock.release() #print "done redrawing!" def destroy(self): # Make sure we close down cleanly self.lps.destroy() self.gps.destroy() self.joystick.destroy() def INIT(engine): return Map("Mapping Brain", engine)
To test out this brain, start up Pyro, first select the Stage simulator and everything.world, next select the robot Player6665.py, and finally select the brain JoystickMap. Once you press the Run button, you can begin to move the robot around the environment using the joystick.
To control the joystick, shown below, drag the mouse from the center of the circle toward the outside of the circle in the direction you wish the robot to move. In the example shown, the robot would be moving forward right. The further you go toward the outer edge of the circle, the faster the robot will move. If you let go of the mouse button the robot will stop.
Notice that initially the GPS window is empty, but that the LPS window will immediately display the robot's local view of the world. If you manage to joystick the robot throughout the entire environment, you'll see that the GPS window's results will closely resemble the actual environment as shown below. Like the LPS, the GPS is also an occupancy grid where the color of each grid location indicates its probability of being occupied.


Decontaminating surface soils and subsurface sediments is an ongoing process, but it is facilitated by a vast array of nature’s widely distributed microorganisms. INL researchers are working to define how microbes live and interact in surface soils and saturated and unsaturated subsurface materials. The aim is to describe and control the intrinsic biogeochemical processes that destroy or immobilize contaminants. We focus on three areas:
- Techniques for obtaining aseptic samples from the deep subsurface
- Geochemical and micro-biological approaches to resolve environmental contamination issues
- Low-cost solutions to waste problems
Sampling processes include innovative techniques for recovering and handling of subsurface core from saturated and vadose zones in consolidated and unconsolidated media. Tracer strategies are employed to ensure sample quality. Specific projects include:
- Using microbial community-level bioassays and molecular tools to distinguish microbial populations within distinct chemical or geophysical regimes
- Determining the survival and transport of microorganisms in the context of geological constraints
- Assessing how fine-scale vertical heterogeneity determines the characteristics of microbial communities
- Testing samples from both pristine and contaminated subsurface environments to determine the environmental conditions that dictate distribution, types, and numbers of organisms that catalyze biogeochemical reactions.
We have found that microorganisms in the subsurface of the Snake River Plain live primarily in basalt fractures and sediments. In areas where chlorinated solvents have been disposed, cores from the subsurface yield viable communities of methanotrophs and phenol-oxidizers, which are microorganisms known to degrade chlorinated solvents. Groundwater contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE), a waste formerly placed in an injection well at INL’s Test Area North site, has shown favorable bioremediation progress as indigenous microbes have responded to the introduction of nutrients. The TCE concentration levels and plume dimensions in the aquifer have shown encouraging reduction as bioremediation trials have proceeded. The methanotrophs in the aquifer subsist upon methane dissolved in the groundwater and may play a role in the natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents. When stimulated by the addition of urea and molasses, some aquifer microorganisms alter the water chemistry to encourage calcite precipitation. We are studying accelerated calcite precipitation as a method of removing hazardous wastes, such as 90strontium, from groundwater.
- Rope, A.M., Reed D.W., and Y. Fujita. Development of an Improved Standard for Quantification of the amoA Gene in Environmental Samples, DOE Office of Science Journal of Undergraduate Research. In Press
- Reed, D.W., Smith, J.M., Francis, C.S. and Y. Fujita. 2010. Response of Ammonia-oxidizing Bacterial and Archaeal Populations to Organic Nitrogen Amendments in Low-Nutrient Groundwater. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 76(8), 2517-2523
- Fujita, Y., Smith R.W., and J.L. Taylor. 2009. In situ Calcite Precipitation for Contaminant Immobilization. In Proceedings of the 10th International In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium, May 5-9, 2009, Baltimore, MD. Columbus, OH: Battelle.
- Fujita, Y., J.L. Taylor, Gresham, M.E. Delwiche, F.S. Colwell, T.L. McLing, L.M. Petzke, R.W. Smith. 2008. Stimulation of Microbial Urea Hydrolysis in Groundwater to Enhance Calcite Precipitation. ES&T ASAP. DOI: 10.1021/es 702643g.
- R. M. Lehman, F. S. Colwell, and G. A. Bala, “Attached and Unattached Microbial Communities in a Simulated Basalt Aquifer under Fracture- and Porous-Flow Conditions,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 67, 2001, pp. 2799–2809.
- K. J. Tobin, F. S. Colwell, T. C. Onstott, and R. W. Smith, “Recent Calcite Spar in an Aquifer Waste Plume: A Possible Example of Contamination Driven Calcite Precipitation,” Chemical Geology, Vol. 169, 2000, pp. 449–460.
- Y. Fujita, F. G. Ferris, R. D. Lawson, F. S. Colwell, and R. W. Smith, “Calcium Carbonate Precipitation by Ureolytic Subsurface Bacteria,” Geomicrobiology,” Journal, Vol. 17, 2000, pp. 305‑318.
- F. S. Colwell, “Method and Apparatus for Determining Nutrient Stimulation of Biological Processes,” Patent 5,922,559, 1999.
- F. S. Colwell, T. C. Onstott, M. E. Delwiche, D. Chandler, J. K. Frederickson, Q. J. Yao, J. P. McKinley, D. R. Boone, R. Griffiths, T. J. Phelps, D. Ringelberg, D. C. White, L. LaFreniere, D. Balkwill, R. M. Lehman, and J. Konisky, P. E. Long, “Microorganisms from Deep, High Temperature Sandstones: Constraints on Microbial Colonization, FEMS Microbiology Reviews,” Vol. 20, 1997, pp. 425–435.
- J. P. McKinley, T. O. Stevens, J. K. Frederickson, J. M. Zachara, F. S. Colwell, K. B. Wagnon, S. C. Smith, S. A. Rawson, and B. N. Bjornstad, “Biogeochemistry of Anaerobic Lacustrine and Paleosol Sediments within an Aerobic Unconfined Aquifer,” Geomicrobiol Journal, Vol. 14, pp. 23–39, 1997.
- W. T. Griffin, T. J. Phelps, F. S. Colwell, and J. K. Frederickson, “Sampling by Drilling, in The Microbiology of the Terrestrial Deep Subsurface, P.S. Amy and D. L. Haldeman, eds., New York: CRC Press, 1997, pp. 23–44.
- F. S. Colwell and R. M. Lehman, “Carbon Source Utilization Profiles for Microbial Communities from Hydrologically Distinct Zones in a Basalt Aquifer,” Microbial Ecology, Vol. 33, 1997, pp. 240–251.
- J. K. Frederickson, J. P. McKinley, B. N. Bjornstad, P. E. Long, D. B. Ringelberg, D. C. White, J. M. Suflita, L. Krumholz, F. S. Colwell, R. M. Lehman, and T. J. Phelps, “Pore-size Constraints on the Activity and Survival of Subsurface Bacteria in a Late Cretaceous Shale-Sandstone Sequence, Northwestern New Mexico,” Geomicrobiology Journal, Vol. 14, 1997, pp. 183–202.
- J. P. McKinley and F. S. Colwell, “Application of Perfluorocarbon Tracers to Microbial Sampling in Subsurface Environments Using Mud-Rotary and Air-Rotary Drilling Techniques,” Journal of Microbiological Methods, Vol. 26, 1996, pp. 1–9.
- S. Story, P. Amy, C. Bishop, F. S. Colwell, “Bacterial Transport in Volcanic Tuff Cores under Saturated Flow Conditions,” Geomicrobiology Journal, Vol. 13, 1995, pp. 249–264.
- F. Colwell, G. Stormberg, T. Phelps, S. Birnbaum, J. McKinley, S. Rawson, C. Veverka, S. Goodwin, P. Long, B. Russell, T. Garland, D. Thompson, P. Skinner, and S. Grover, “Innovative Techniques for Collection of Saturated and Unsaturated Subsurface Basalts and Sediments for Microbiological Characterization,” Journal of Microbiological Methods, Vol. 15, 1992, pp. 279–292.


|View animated image|
|View static image|
|Number of cells||36|
|Discovered by||Gabriel Nivasch|
|Year of discovery||2002|
Gabriel's p138 is a period-138 oscillator discovered by Gabriel Nivasch on October 13, 2002. In terms of its 36 cells, it is, by far, the smallest known period 138 oscillator. Within a month of its discovery, Jason Summers found a 12-glider synthesis for this oscillator.
- 36P136.1 at Heinrich Koenig's Game of Life Object Catalogs (note: site incorrectly lists period as 136 instead of 138)


All it is is file folders with the foamy stickers in them. That's it.
Then you either ask questions to your students from these folders content, or let them come up with their own questions. It's a good small group activity, or something to give to that early finisher and ask them to write their own problems.
Let me demonstrate:
This first folder was a bit of a fail. I did two different colors, but I should have also varied the sizes to give it another dimension.
But I could ask questions like:
- What part of the whole are the green/blue flowers? (part-part-whole concept).
- How many total petals are there? (multiplication).
Here we have a lot of ways we could go:
-How many total sheep/cows? (counting)
-How many are purple animals out of the whole? (part-part-whole)
-What fraction of the purple animals are sheep? (fractions)
-How many more purple cows are there than yellow sheep? (comparative subtraction)
When the animals (or object) are all the same in the folder, you can do multiplication problems.
-How many total legs?
-How many total spots on their backs?
And if they are different colors you can do part-part-whole/fraction problems.
-What part/fraction are red?
Get the idea?
The possibilities are endless!


Note: This is the first part of a two-part series on readability in digital texts and literacy. The first post defines readability and why it matters. The second post elaborates on recent research done to better understand readability preferences, as well as opportunities to get involved
By Kathy Crowley and Marjorie Jordan, Readability Matters
The world is growing increasingly more digital; from education to the workplace, to news and media, the demands for reading digital text expand daily. In the face of this large demand for reading, nearly 2/3 of the population could be better at reading. This trend begins in fourth grade and extends through life (The Nation’s Report Card).
To improve readability, we must know what is and is not working for readers. One key consideration is that individuals respond differently to the appearance of the text on the screen. Research shows that making subtle changes to text format to support an individual’s unique visual processing capability can create dramatic changes in reading speed, comprehension, and accuracy. This is true across young and old, good and poor readers, and those with good vision. Learn more.
What is Readability?
Readability is the ease with which a reader can understand a written text. The readability of text depends on its content (the complexity of its vocabulary and syntax) and its presentation (the typographic style of the text). Traditional paper-based publishing generally requires the use of a one-format-fits-all model. Readability Matters suggests, “Expecting one text format to be best for all readers is like expecting there is a single eyeglasses prescription that is best for all people.”
Tune Your Text to Improve Readability
To improve reading performance, individuals need the ability to “Tune their Text” or change how words appear on the screen using a full set of “Readability Features”. These include character shape (base font determines character shape and also weight; additional features can provide width expansion of characters), size (the size of the characters), spacing (inter-character space and line space) and background color (black on white, or white on black). The result is reading faster with greater ease and accuracy, therefore allowing for enhanced comprehension.
Our work demonstrates that readability formatting changes can make both adults and children faster, more accurate readers. These changes can increase an adult’s speed of accurate reading by 20% or more, and that of children up to 50% or more. In short:
- There is no best format for all readers, personalization is required
- Children and adults benefit from the use of Readability Features
- Performance improvements occur across all levels of readers
- Reading proficiency improvement is instantaneous
In a recent study co-authored by University of Central Florida, Brown University and Adobe Research, changing the font for adult readers produced impressive gains.
Can I Tune my Text Today?
While researchers continue the work to identify ideal solutions, simple implementations are possible today in many edtech and reading platforms. Adding the capability for the reader to change the base font and text size is already possible in several eBook reader apps. More can be done; adding more Readability Features will make additional gains in reading comprehension and accuracy possible.
Have you noticed the difference that switching base font can make to your reading experience? Do you prefer a heavier or a lighter weight font? Do you like a serif font like Times New Roman, or a sans serif font like Arial? Do you like extra line spacing? All of these can be used to create a better reading experience for the reader.
Readability Matters invites tech, edtech and publishing companies to make Readability Features available for all readers. Better readers are more confident and have more educational, career and life opportunities (Ritchie & Bates). When we invest in raising individual reading performance everyone benefits.
Join our work to put the option for enhanced readability into the hands of those who seek knowledge, learn in school, track trends, and enjoy reading. Visit ReadabilityMatters.org for more information and register for updates. Click the link below to read the second article in this two-part series to learn more about current research and opportunities to get involved.
About Readability Matters
The not-for-profit Readability Matters advocates for a world where everyone has easy access to reading material personalized to make them the best reader they can be. Our mission is to support the scalability of individual reading formats for implementation in education, business, and beyond. Readability Matters ignites research to support data-driven work with tech, publishing, and education partners.


What’s the difference between oral (PO) and IV medications? When do you use PO vs. IV antimicrobials? When are they interchangeable? These are the questions we’ll address in this post.
Bioavailability is an important concept to understand when considering IV to PO interchange.
Bioavailability = the measure of the amount of an orally administered medication that reaches the bloodstream.
Antimicrobials with >90% bioavailability are the antimicrobials we can target for
IV to PO interchange.
Antimicrobials where bioavailability >90%:
(therefore, can be switched to PO)
- Fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, *ciprofloxacin has ~70% bioavailability but still has enough to achieve adequate levels in the bloodstream)
- Tetracyclines (doxycycline, minocycline)
- Azithromycin (only ~40% bioavailable, but the concentration achieved by
oral ingestion is just as effective as IV for treatment)
IV medication = medication given intravenously
– medication takes effect immediately after the infusion
– administers a bolus of the medication quickly (within 5 minutes)
– requires an IV line
– bypass first pass metabolism in the liver
PO medication = medication administered per oral route
– medication takes effect in ~30 minutes to 6 hours
– requires ability to swallow, absorb the medication, and also undergoes
first pass metabolism prior to reaching the circulatory system
Why is PO preferable to IV?
- Does not require IV access
- Easier and faster to administer
- No IV complications (i.e. phlebitis, thrombosis, bloodstream infection)
- Avoidance of a long-term catheter such as a PICC line
- Less unnecessary fluid administration
When to consider IV antimicrobials?
- when patient is unable to take PO or unable to absorb the medication
- when you want immediate effect of the medication
- when the spectrum of activity desired is only available with IV antibiotics
- when no PO option is available to treat the pathogen
- when PO medications will not achieve high enough concentrations or penetrations to the location of the infection
- Critically ill patients; sepsis/bacteremia
- CNS/ocular infection
- Osteomyelitis/Septic arthritis (*a study is currently under way, looking at whether certain oral antibiotics are non-inferior to IV antibiotics in
*You may occasionally see these syndromes treated with oral antibiotics, because each case is different. But in general, consider these syndromes as ones where IV antibiotics are preferred, especially as initial therapy.
TAKE HOME POINTS:
- IV antimicrobials are NOT “stronger” or “better” than oral antimicrobials
– it depends on each individual medication
- PO antibiotics should be used unless there is a reason to use IV antibiotics (and not the other way around)
- When PO and IV versions of an antimicrobial are similar, make every concerted effort to make sure your patients are not on IV medications unnecessarily
Questions? Comments? Suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment below.
- Kwong, L.H et al. (2015). An unsupported preference for intravenous antibiotics. PLoS medicine, 12(5): e1001825. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001825
- MacGregor, R.R. et al. (1997). Oral administration of antibiotics: a rational alternative to the parenteral route. 24: 457-467. PMID: 9114201
- Chan, R. et al. (1995). Oral versus intravenous antibiotics for community acquired lower respiratory tract infection in a general hospital: open, randomized, controlled trial. BMJ. 310: 1360-1362. PMID: 7787537
- Baddour et al. (2016). Infective Endocarditis in Adults: Diagnosis, Antimicrobial Therapy, and Management of Complications. Circulation. 132: 1435-1486.
- Tunkel, A.R. et al. (2004). Practice Guidelines for the Management of Bacterial Meningitis. CID. 39: 1267-1284. DOI: 10.1086/425368
- World Health Organization, Occupational Health. (date published unknown). Comparison of pharmacokinetics and efficacy of oral and injectable medicine [Powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/occupational_health/activities/5injvsora.pdf
- Li, H.K et al. (2015). Oral versus intravenous antibiotic treatment for bone and joint infections (OVIVA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Trials. 16:583. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-015-1098-y
- Wisplinghoff, H. et al. (2004). Nosocomial bloodstream infections in US hospitals: analysis of 24,179 cases from a prospective nationwide surveillance study. Clin Infect Dis. 39(3): 309-317. DOI: 0.1086/421946
Peer-reviewed by Jeff Pearson, 2nd year PharmD resident


World-Wide Directory of SIT Facilities
DIR-SIT has been established with the objective of aiding the retrieval of information on
facilities in the world mass rearing sterile insects, for purposes of using them to develop autocidal approaches or as part
of operational area-wide integrated pest management programmes integrating the sterile insect technique, inherited sterility
and related biological control approaches.
For each facility and target pest the database compiles information on production
capacity, the radiation process, quality control parameters and dosimetry. The major groups of insect pests for which DIR-SIT
includes mass rearing information are fruit flies, mosquitoes, moths screwworm flies, and tsetse flies.
|| Selective - Selection is done by groups of insect pests, and by facilities aimed to use the insects produced in operational programmes. Any facility dedicated to research, academic, and or other purposes are not included
|| Updated continually
|Last Resource Update
||Insect Pest Control, Food Irradiation, Food and Environment
||Sterile Insect Technique; area-wide; Integrated Pest Management; Food ＆ Agriculture; insect pest control; insect sterilization; insect mass rearing
|CARDOSO PEREIRA, Rui|


| See also Beersheba, a genuine photograph of the charge?
See also Photographs of Australian Light Horse going into action at Beersheba.
The village of BIR SABA lay on the northern edge of the Sinai Desert in a shallow saucer at the foot of the judean Hills, Beerhseba was protected by Tel El Saba, a 300 metre feature on the northern bank of the Wadi Saba 3 kilometres to the east. It was a great mound which had a commanding view of the surrounding plain. The Wadi ran across the south of the town from east to west.
The enemy was Turkey, Imperial Germany's eastern ally. They held the line, Gaza-Beersheba. At Beersheba were the 27th Division and Battalions from the 16th and 24th Divisions, supported by artillery. The enemy's defence extended from Tel El Saba on the eastern flank. Two lines of trenches were dug into the cliff face of the Tel. A series of inferior trenches extended along the Wadi; they were not protected by wire. These extended to a group of detached trenches on the south-west flank. The enemy had good zones of fire.
General Sir Edmund Allenby commanded the British Eastern Expeditionary Force of two corps.
Lt-Gen Sir Harry Chauvel commanded the Desert Mounted Corps. He had no misgivings about his troops; they had sheer quality, leadership and experience; many had been at Gallipoli. These men of the Light Horse were without peer.
Lt Gen. Sir Philip Chetwode commanded the British XX Corps. He had defined the Gaza - Beersheba line.
Chauvel's Desert Mounted Corps were to capture Beersheba.
Chauvel's orders were to straddle the Beersheba-Hebron Road at Sakati 8 kilometres north-east of Beersheba, capture Tel El Saba, then storm the town. The mission was to be executed on the first day of the battle.
He had two divisions, each of three brigades. The ANZAC Mounted Division (ANZACs) included the 1st and 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigades and the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade.
The Australian Mounted Division included the 3rd and 4th Austrlian Light Horse Brigades and the 5th (British) Yeomanry Brigade. In support were the Light Batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery.
The Battle of Beersheba was to be a three-phase operation supported by the British. The first phase was to be a night ride from wells at Asluj and Khalasa 20 kilometres to the south in the Sinai, to positions south and south-east of the town. In the second phase, the 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade was to advance to Sakati and act as a cut-off force. The 1st Australian Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigades were to capture Tel El Saba. Finally, with the road and Tel secure, the ANZAC's were to storm the town. This did not eventuate. This was the most significant factor in the Battle of Beersheba, forcing Chauvel to commit his reserve - the Australian Mounted Division. In a preliminary operation, the British Infantry of XX Corps were to secure positions to the south-west astride the Khalasa-Beersheba Road.
At Asluj and Khalasa the men of the Desert Mounted Corps watered; they carried three days rations. Despite great loads, the horses were touched with excitement. Smoking was forbidden and talking subdued. The bare hills of Sinai sounded with the beat of thousands of shod horses. They rode 30 kilometres through the night.
Positions at Beersheba
Click on map for larger image approx 30k
30th October 1917
1800: Asluj and Khalasa were cleared.
31st October 1917
0555: 100 British guns opened in support of the preliminary operation.
0700: The Desert Mounted Corps halted, and patrols were pushed forward. Beersheba with its mosque was clearly in view; it offered no prize in rations or quarters, but something more coveted were the ancient wells to water those parched men and their Waler mounts. A large pool could be seen shimmering in the Wadi; there had been a storm on the 27th.
0830: The British rushed forward and captured their objectives to the south-west and brought forward their guns.
0900: The ANZAC's were ready to seize the road and the Tel. The enemy was observed reinforcing the Tel.
0930: The 2nd Brigade moved into artillery formation, advanced through a Bedouin camp, and thundered to the Hebron Road Sakati without slackening. Turkish batteries fired, but formation and ground gave them protection. With this task accomplished, they remained in a Wadi for the day.
1000: The Somerset Battery opened up on Tel El Saba from 3000 metres to cover the ANZAC assault. The 3rd Australian Light Horse Regiment was ordered to attack from the south-east. A spirited gallop under heavy fire brought the 3rd to within 1500 metres of the enemy. They dismounted. The Auckland Regiment conformed to the north. The Inverness Battery gave covering fire to the Somersets as they galloped to within 1000 metres of the Tel. The ANZAC's were severely punished but they continued their advance, eventually bringing effective Hotchkiss fire onto the cliff. The prospect of the 3rd scaling the 200 metre cliff was not good, so they gave full opportunity to the Aucklanders.
1300: The 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment was ordered to support the 3rd. They advanced at the gallop, dismounted and rushed their horses back so quickly that the enemy though they had retreated. They fired on the horses; this enabled the 2nd to advance unharmed. Meanwhile, the 3rd had gained the bank. The Wellington's were thrown in to support the Aucklanders. The enemy was now under heavy fire.
1500: The New Zealanders rose and dashed up the slopes with the bayonet. The 3rd continued, but the Aucklanders were first in. Some Turks surrendered; others fled into the town. The 2nd and 3rd gave chase then fought off a counter-attack. At last the ANZAC's had secured the Hebron Road and Tel El Saba. Chauvel had not expected to lose as much time. He had already detached the 9th and 10th Regiments from the Australian Mounted Division in support of the ANZAC's.
1430: With the day on the wane, it was now neck or nothing; the time had come to commit the reserve. Chauvel issued decisive orders for the occupation of Beersheba. Brig. Grant of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade and Fitzgerald of the Yeomanry were at Headquarters; they pleaded for the honour of the charge. Put Grant straight at it was Chauvels terse order.
1630: The 4th and 12th Australian Light Horse Regiments drew up behind a ridge. From the crest, Beerhseba was in full view. The course lay down a long, slight slope which was bare of cover. Between them and the town lay the enemy defences. The 4th was on the right; the 12th was on the left. They rode with bayonets in hand. Each drew up on a squadron frontage. Every man knew that only a wild, desperate charge could seize Beerhseba before dark. They moved off at the trot, deploying at once into artillery formation, with 5 metres between horsemen. Almost at once the pace quickened to a gallop. Once direction was given, the lead squadrons pressed forward. The 11th Australian Light Horse Regiment and the Yeomanry followed at the trot in reserve. The Turks opened fire with shrapnel. Machine guns fired against the lead squadrons. The Royal Horse Artillery got their range and soon had them out of action. The Turkish riflemen fired, horses were hit, but the charge was not checked. The Lighthorsemen drove in their spurs; they rode for victory and they rode for Australia. The bewildered enemy failed to adjust their sights and soon their fire was passing harmlessly overhead. The 4th took the trenches; the enemy soon surrendered. The 12th rode through a gap and on into the town. Their was a bitter fight. Some enemy surrendered; others fled and were pursued into the Judean Hills. In less than an hour it was over; the enemy was finally beaten.
From his headquarters, Chauvel had watched the battle develop. He saw the New Zealanders swarming the Tel; on their right the 9th and 10th LH Regiment were trotting in pursuit under shrapnel. On the Wadi the 2nd and 3rd LH Regiments were pressing forward in their attempt to take the town from the east. The Royal Horse Artillery were firing in support. Then over the ridge rode the 4th and 12th . . . shrapnel . . . the signal to charge! Not for almost an hour did Chauvel learn that Beersheba had been won.
Then disaster. The 9th and 10th in pursuit were bombed by a lone German aircraft; they suffered heavy casualties. The Desert Mounted Corps watered at the wells of the patriarchs and in the pool. For days, the charge was the talk of the camps and messes.
The Australian Light Horse had galloped into history.
South Australians can be proud of the contribution of the 3rd and the 9th in the Battle of Beersheba.
A Squadron 3rd/9th South Australian Mounted Rifles began as the Reedbeds Cavalry in 1841 and is privileged to have inherited the honors, the history and the tradition of the Australian Light Horse.
See also Beersheba, a genuine photograph of the charge?
See also Photographs of Australian Light Horse going into action at Beersheba.


There have been various methods tried for reducing fossil fuel dependency and containing carbon footprints for a healthier and more eco-friendly future. Corn-produced ethanol has been used for mixing with gasoline but there have been side effects like corrosion from ethanol. Also huge tracts of precious farmlands need to be diverted for corn production. But now new research has thrown up results that show common algae can be used for biofuel production. View Comments
Biofuels are produced from living organisms or from metabolic by-products (organic or food waste products). In order to be considered a biofuel the fuel must contain over 80 percent renewable materials. It is originally derived from the photosynthesis process and can therefore often be referred to as a solar energy source. There are many pros and cons to using biofuels as an energy source. This page contains articles that explore the many biofuel technologies.
Currently biofuel is produced from plants as well as microbes. The oils, carbohydrates or fats generated by the microbes or plants are refined to produce biofuel. This is a green and renewable energy that helps in conserving fossil-fuel usage. But a new research has led to a new discovery of getting the microbes to produce fuel from the proteins instead of utilizing the protein for its own growth. The research is being done at the premises of University of California in Los Angeles. View Comments
Wind data provider Onesemble has developed sensors which can keep note of wind date for around 95% of the wind farms existing in the Texas area. The help of cell phone towers is sought for this purpose. Onesemble Network Sensors collect accurate data by getting to know the wind speed at a great height. This is done by placing the sensor at the height of the turbine rotor or the blades. Onesemble Network Sensors assembles figures on wind speed, direction and temperature in a cell phone tower, which are then analyzed on a computer to point out what is going to happen in times to come. View Comments
Research is on for the organic production of isobutene (isobutylene). Thomas Bobik, Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and David Gogerty, a doctoral student are doing pioneer research for producing isobutylene with the help of a new but natural enzyme rather than from the traditional petroleum-based products. The enzyme is awaiting patent process completion. View Comments
This could very well be the magic formula for future power generation. Yes, scientists are busy crafting what is now called as "solid organic electric battery based upon treated potatoes." These are absolutely eco-friendly batteries - based on the hidden powers of potatoes - which will be an economical answer to the growing power needs of developing and developed countries. View Comments
Really amazing are the innovative ways solar power is put into use. Now a team of scientists working in Sandia National Laboratories is focusing on exploring basic steps to make synthetic liquid fuel with the help of solar panels. The goal is that this will help considerably reduce carbon dioxide emissions. View Comments
This summer, piloted by Captain Allan Judd, Bullet 580 will usher in the return of inflatable giant airships. The 235 ft long and 65ft diameter ship is covered with a type of Kevlar, a material 10 times-stronger than steel but only one sixteenth of an inch thick. An E-green design special costing £5.5million, this giant runs on algae - latest bio-fuel that can be developed from brackish and waste water. View Comments
Now big companies are going green and proudly proclaiming it too from rooftops. Google Inc. has invested $38.8 million in two North Dakota wind farms. This is the first direct investment by Google in utility-scale renewable energy generation. These two wind farms produce 169.5 megawatts of power. These two wind farms can light up around 55,000 homes. These wind farms are designed by General Electric Co and created by NextEra Energy Resources. They generate power from one of the world's richest wind resources in the North Dakota plains. There is no need to lay down extra infrastructure for the two wind farms. Current transmission facilities are able to transmit power to the nearby areas. Google's official blog claims, "Through this $38.8 million investment, we're aiming to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy — in a way that makes good business sense, too." View Comments
Researchers at Wake Forest University's Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials are trying to achieve source of clean and green power through pokeberries! Pokeberries could be helpful in making solar power accessible to many. Nanotech Center scientists have extracted the red dye from pokeberries to paint their efficient and low-cost fiber-based solar cells. The dye acted in a desirable manner. It acts as an absorber, helping the cell's minute fibers entrap more sunlight to convert into power. View Comments
With the help of photosynthesis plants convert light energy to chemical energy. This chemical energy is stored in the bonds of sugars they use for food. Photosynthesis happens inside a chloroplast. Chloroplasts are considered as the cellular powerhouses that make sugars and impart leaves and algae a green hue. During photosynthesis water is split into oxygen, protons and electrons. When sunrays fall on the leaves and reach the chloroplast, electrons get excited and attain higher energy level. These excited electrons are caught by proteins. The electrons are passed through a series of proteins. These proteins utilize more of the electrons' energy to synthesize sugars until the entire electron's energy is exhausted. View Comments
Since time immemorial human beings are trying to use solar energy for their survival and day to day use. We know that green plants create their own food and energy with the help of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis happens in the presence of sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. The end results are food, chemical energy and release of oxygen gas. Whenever scientists tried to harness the solar energy they were quite unsuccessful in utilizing a major part of solar power. The conversation rate of solar energy into electrical energy is quite inefficient. Now engineering researchers at the University of Cincinnati are trying to overcome this problem. View Comments
If we go by the stats, every year 11 billion pounds of poultry industry waste accumulates annually, because we have gigantic appetite for poultry products. They can't be stuffed into pillows. Mostly they are utilized as low-grade animal feed. Scientists in Nevada have created a new and environmentally friendly process for developing biodiesel fuel from 'chicken feather meal'. Professor Manoranjan 'Mano' Misra and his team members at the University of Nevada discovered that chicken feather meal consists of processed chicken feathers, blood, and innards. Prof. Misra has been honored as the 2010 Regents' Researcher by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents. View Comments
Nanoscience is quite fascinated with the process of photosynthesis. They want to duplicate this process exhibited by green plants and utilize the solar power for energy use. Till now power generating solar panels are not in a position to replace the fossil fuels. They produce little amount of energy and quite expensive also. Generation of solar energy also depends on geographical locations. Deserts are more suitable locations for solar power than areas experiencing temperate climate. But we can have a new source of solar power that also delivered a power packed performance for us when it is on our dinner/lunch plate i.e. pea power. View Comments
Google's Bill Weihl expresses his opinion, "We see a chance to make a difference in the field of renewable energy and energy information that can help bring the world to a lower carbon and more efficient economy." Google is known for its Internet search engine. Now they want to make inroads into green technology too. They declared in 2007 that they want to invest in clean and green technology and want to do research of their own in the field of alternative energy. Now Google's engineers are putting their effort and energy into solar technology. We all know that solar power is clean and green fuel. But the cost of solar panels prevents us from utilizing solar energy extensively. Now Google Inc. is trying to come up with its own solar panel with a reduced cost of 25%. View Comments
While new energy solutions are being discovered, refined and brought further and further into the public light, something that does not get a lot of headlines is waste to energy. How something like this continues to not be used in the United States is incredible as countries like Japan have been using it for quite some time and dramatically improving their waste disposal problems in highly populated areas. View Comments
Parents everywhere probably just sat up in their chairs reading that. Regardless of whether they are buying rechargeable batteries or getting Duracell batteries when they go on sale at Staples, batteries of any kind put a hurting on the wallet and to landfills. This is especially true around Christmas when toys demand that they load up. This could all change if the Ene Pocket meets with success. The Ene Pocket is a prototype toy car by Takara Tomy that runs on something kids absolutely love, sugar! View Comments
As the world continues its quest to use less fossil fuels, the latest possible solution comes from the most unlikely of sources: the tobacco plant. This latest news comes from the University of California, Berkeley. It will be nice to see tobacco used for something other than lung cancer. This new discovery is based on the possibility of literally programming the cells of the plants to get solar cells from tobacco plants. The science behind it is actually pretty simple (at least in explanation form) and pretty amazing. By using a genetically engineered virus, scientists were able to literally transform the cells of the plants to create synthetic solar cells. View Comments
Few people that are ripping around the streets in today’s gas guzzlers will remember wood-powered cars, but if things continue the way they are, they may be lucky enough to see one pull up next to them at the light. Wood-powered cars are starting to pop up again as yet another means of saving our fossil fuels. Wood-powered cars made their first big appearance in Europe during WWII. A wood gas generator was attached to the vehicle so that the drivers could save fuel, yet still keep their cars operational. Looking at some of the pictures from back then, the cars literally look like they have a wood-burning furnace attached to the hood or trunk. It may have looked funny, but it was actually very efficient. View Comments
A biofuel is tricky to define because the usual fossil fuel we use, is in a way biofuel too. But we can safely say that most of the biofuels don’t add up their quota of carbon dioxide to the environment. The biofuels are therefore considered to be "CO2 neutral." Researchers from the Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University have developed a new method to increase the quantity of oil in tobacco leaves. So that oil in tobacco leaves can be utilized as biofuels in future. Their paper was published in Plant Biotechnology Journal which is an online journal. View Comments
More and more people are becoming aware of the harmful effects of greenhouse gases. Common people and scientists both are gearing up to reduce carbon footprints. Now more investments are available for research in alternative energy. Researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have genetically been working on a cyanobacterium. Their research paper was published in the Dec. 9 print edition of the journal Nature Biotechnology. They successfully modified a cyanobacterium to consume carbon dioxide and generate the liquid fuel isobutanol. This isobutanol can prove to be of great potential as a gasoline alternative. The whole process happens with the help of sunlight through photosynthesis. View Comments
Alternative Fuel Directory
Web directory of information about alternative fuel sources and many types of alternative fuels.
The second of four interlinked biomass conversion blogs (BIOblogs), this one covers international issues, process R&D, facility deployments, and new developments.
Biofuels: Journey to Forever
How to make your own clean-burning biofuel, biodiesel from cooking oil, make an advanced ethanol still, alcohol distillation, renewable energy, glycerine, soap making.
Oil from Algae
Biodiesel from Algae Oil – Information, News, Links for Algal Fuel, Alga Bio-diesel, Biofuels, Algae Biofuel and Energy.
Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass – recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows.


What is a Sacral Dimple?
A sacral dimple, also called a pilonidal dimple, is a small hole located at middle of the back just above the buttocks.
You could have sacral dimple if you notice an indentation in the skin on the lower back — usually just above the crease between the buttocks. Sacral dimples are small and shallow with fluid draining from the dimple; and/or swelling, redness or tenderness around the dimple.
When to See a Doctor
Some of the reasons to consult your doctor include: if you notice fluid draining from the dimple; if the dimple is very large or is accompanied by swelling, discoloration, drainage or tenderness. The dimple might be infected and form a cyst.
Your doctor may have you take one of the following tests: ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), physical examinations.
You can help heal sacral dimple by doing the following: keep the sacral dimples clean, dry and free of debris through good hygiene, including regular bathing. Remove hair regularly to prevent infection.
Preventatives and Precautions
A sacral dimple is a congenital condition, meaning it is present at birth. There are no known causes.
Chances of Getting
This sacral dimple problem is more likely to occur in people who: are obese, experienced trauma or irritation in the area, have excess body hair, sit for long periods of time, wear tight clothing, have hair growing into the skin in the crease between the buttocks.
Keep sacral dimples clean and free of debris through good hygiene, including regular bathing.


Meditation affects our physiology in subtle but obvious ways. Even a beginner can notice muscles relaxing, the breath becoming smoother and the mind slowing down during a meditation session. From these humble beginnings, many other benefits may accrue.
Meditation teachers often see such benefits first hand in the students they teach. Meditation can lead to huge improvements in physical and mental health, and it can transform people in ways that any psychologist or physician would envy.Doctors understand how a patient’s state of mind affects his or her health, but they are often cautious about recommending meditation as a treatment. There are many charlatans in the alternative health field, selling hope and promise but little else.
However, meditation itself has passed the test. Decades of scientific research has confirmed its usefulness. We know that it helps with many common ailments, and allows the body and mind to function better. Many doctors realize that this can be enough to markedly improve a patient’s health.
Although the connection between body and mind is self-evident, it is difficult to scientifically investigate. Psychologists evaluate mental states and scientists measure biological functions but there is no lingua franca between them. The units of measurement and methodologies used in these two disciplines are so different it is all but impossible to connect them.
We know, for example, that fear and anger (which are the province of psychology) activate the sympathetic nervous system (the province of medicine). We can measure the chemistry involved in exquisite detail, but how on earth do you measure fear or anger? Or even scientifically define the difference between them?
Managing one’s health is complicated. There is rarely a single cause to any illness. The body operates as an interlocking network of multiple functions. Staying healthy is not a matter of knocking out individual illnesses when they arise. It is more about paying attention to an array of small details on a daily basis and thereby slowing the rate of ageing, or “wear and tear” in the body.
While meditation can produce dramatic turnarounds in illness, it is even more valuable as a preventive measure. Meditation can help us maintain optimum function and delay the inevitable effects of ageing. It helps us keep our blood pressure under control before it leads to a stroke. By sleeping better, we have more energy and our immune system is more efficient. We breathe better, manage pain better and digest food better. Meditation helps us manage our health intelligently before the damage becomes irreparable.
Meditation is easy to do. It has clear physical results that you can see if you look for them. The medical evidence clearly shows how relaxation is essential for the healthy functioning of the body. Whether you are sick, or want to maintain your health, or simply want to enjoy life more, you will find that meditation is worth looking into.
Our bodies are extremely good at maintaining balance, so why do we still get sick? There are some causes that are largely beyond our control. The ravages of age or severe outer stressors such as war or starvation will wear us down, no matter what we do.
In theory, we could pace ourselves well and be in a balanced state all day long – eating, working, exercising and resting well. If we kept this going all our lives, there is a good chance we would live to a hale and hearty old age.
But, being conscious animals, we frequently ignore the signs of stress and overrule the intelligence of our bodies. We get overexcited and push ourselves to the limits. We eat and drink and work too much and eventually lose all concept of a balanced life. And though we often grind to a halt out of exhaustion, we usually don’t let ourselves fully recover before plunging back into the fray.
We can also be mildly stressed for years at a time. To be 10% more stressed than you need to be can make you just as prone to middle-aged illness as extreme stress. Because mild continual stress is so common, we often take it as being “normal,” and don’t realize how insidious it is.
Many people are ill because they look for purely physical solutions to their health. In many ways, the more specific the medical intervention, the less it contributes to total health, and vice versa. If you take pills for high blood pressure, they are unlikely to improve your insomnia or indigestion or chronic pain. So you need to take pills for each of those, and maybe some antidepressants as well.
However, if you meditate to lower your blood pressure, the effect is less direct but can have wider benefits. Your hypertension improves but you also have less abdominal gas, you sleep better and your pain bothers you less. Meditation is less precise in effect than a diuretic, but it goes one step further back to a more fundamental cause: our over-active anxious minds.
Perhaps the best foundation for health and long life is to be profoundly content or happy, and there aren’t any simple recipes for this. For most of us, a balanced and harmonious life usually requires decades of trail-and-error and a high degree of self-awareness. Fortunately, we don’t have to get everything right all at once. The meditation tradition is very clear in that you start right where you are. You just do what you can in the moment, rather than trying to plan the perfect life.
by Eric Harrison, Perth Meditation Centre
To find out more about why meditation is good for your health and how to use it for this purpose see Meditation & Health, available as a downloadable e-book.
You may also read about how meditation can help with cancer and other serious illnesses in this chapter excerpted from the same book.


Many human diseases start with a defect in the genome. Cancer, for example, is a genetic disease that arises from a single cell that behaves abnormally, dividing uncontrollably and leading, eventually, to the development of a tumor. A critical step in diagnosing and treating cancer is to detect cancer cells that result from the mutated genes. In spite of the extensive biomedical research efforts during the last few decades, it is still difficult to detect cancer at its early stages — when a cancer is diagnosed it is often too late to cure. A novel way of achieving early detection of cancer is to detect mRNA transcripts that arise from mutated genes in living cells . We have developed a FRET-enhanced molecular beacons methodology which, combined with the state-of-the-art fluorescence imaging techniques, has the potential to detect cancer cells. FRET (Fluorescence resonance energy transfer) refers to the non-radiative transfer of energy from a donor molecule to an acceptor molecule through dipole-dipole coupling. As shown schematically in Figure 1, molecular beacons are dual labeled antisense oligonucleotides (ODNs) with a fluorophore (A or D) at one end and a quencher (Q) at the other; they are designed to form a hairpin structure in the absence of a complimentary target such that fluorescence of the fluorophore is quenched. Upon hybridization with the target mRNA, the molecular beacon opens up, leading to fluorescence [2,3].


Kavik the Wolf Dog. Walt Morey
Dutton, 1968; Awarded 1971.
Synopsis: Kavik, a dog with wolf ancestry, leads an Alaskan sled dog team to victory and is then sold to Mr. Hunter, a rich tycoon. The plane carrying Kavik to his new home in Seattle crashes, killing the pilot and seriously wounding Kavik. Fifteen-year-old Andy Evans discovers the crash three days later and, with the help of his family, nurses Kavik back to health. Mr. Hunter eventually comes to retrieve his dog, and takes him to Seattle. But Kavik soon escapes and makes the 2,000-mile journey back to the boy he loves.
Themes: Wolves; Alaska; Survival
Author information: SATA vol. 51
Discussion questions: Standard 3, Benchmark 3
1. How would you feel if your doctor treated both people and animals?
2. Was Kavik’s journey from Seattle to Alaska possible? Why or why not?
3. What do you think would have happened if Mr. Hunter had taken Kavik back the second time?
1. Find pictures of all the animals mentioned in this book. Standard 1, Benchmark 1
2. How good is your sense of direction? Have someone blindfold you and spin you around. Try to determine which way is north. Standard 3, Benchmark 2
3. Find an atlas and plot a course from Seattle, Washington to Alaska. Try to determine what route Kavik took on his journey. Standard 2, Benchmark 4


Source: Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies has announced a commitment of US$ 10 million to save children from drowning. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Drowning Prevention Project will have a major focus on children aged 1-4 years in Bangladesh, where drowning accounts for 43% of all deaths. Every year in Bangladesh, 12,000 children drown - the equivalent of 32 deaths every day.
Drowning is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for just under 360,000 deaths per year according to WHO. Over half of these deaths occur in those under 25 years of age, and over 63,000 children under 5 years of age drown each year. The vast majority of fatalities due to drowning occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Studies show that most drowning deaths among children in low- and middle-income countries occur in small bodies of water, close to where children live, and especially during hours when adults are working and children often go unsupervised. To directly address these two major factors in preventable child drowning deaths - easy access to water and a lack of supervision - the Drowning Prevention Project is testing two high-potential interventions: locally manufactured playpens for children and community day-care centres that assure constant child supervision. The Project will monitor 80,000 children over a two-year period and evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions, individually and combined, in preventing drowning deaths.
Bloomberg Philanthropies is partnering with WHO and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to identify scalable solutions to help prevent drowning deaths, and to build strong networks between public health officials and advocates who may participate in future efforts. Bloomberg Philanthropies is also supporting WHO to publish an evidence-based global report on drowning prevention. The WHO Global report on drowning prevention will be the first WHO report dedicated exclusively to drowning,and will be released in late 2014. It will set out what is known about drowning and drowning prevention, and call for a substantial scaling-up of comprehensive efforts and resources targeted at prevention.


Classroom Air Quality — The number of students in the United States who are constantly exposed to unsafe levels of airborne pollutants has long been a matter of serious concern to scientists and educators throughout the country. Air pollution is particularly problematic in low-income communities, where schools are built on the cheapest plots of land available—often next to major roads and industrial zones where air pollution is high. Worse, these schools, which are already struggling to provide basic services and amenities to students, can’t afford to install commercial air filtration systems to prevent outdoor air pollution from entering classrooms, hallways, and other school facilities.
Why Air Pollution Leads to More School Absences
Obviously, students will bear the brunt of air pollution exposure. In fact, a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Utah reveals that the number of school absences usually doubles the day after a red air day—that’s when ambient or outdoor air quality levels have reached unhealthy levels.
The study, which analyzed student attendance data from the Salt Lake City School District, found that even a slight increase in PM2.5—particulate matter no larger than 2.5 microns in diameter, also known as fine particulate matter—led to a substantial increase in the number of student absences the following day.
But the study’s results leave the researchers with more questions. As Dr. Daniel Mendoza, a research assistant professor in the University’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences, notes, if poor air quality is indeed the cause of students not being in class, is it because of physiological or psychological factors?
In other words, the researchers aren’t sure if the students stay home due to feeling sick after a red air day, or because they or their parents felt it was safer to stay home and avoid getting sick from inhaling contaminated air.
Why Schools Are Prone to Poor Indoor Air Quality
It’s not just air pollution from outside sources that cause air quality problems for schools. The school buildings themselves are making it easy for students to be affected by poor indoor air quality.
According to a 2014 survey of school districts in the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics, the average age of main school buildings in the country was 55 years old—this means the average school building was built in the 1950s and early 1960s.
And more often than not, buildings constructed around this period were designed to keep the elements out, which is fine if you want to keep out outdoor air pollution. But what about pollution from indoor sources?
“During the 60s and 70s, many buildings were built and retrofitted with thicker insulation, tighter windows and doors, and vapor barriers to reduce heat transfer and prevent cold air from entering buildings,” notes Camfil USA’s Charlie Seyffer, Manager of Marketing & Technical Materials for commercial air filters and 37-year ASHRAE member and active committee participant. “But this has encouraged the buildup of moisture and pollutants from indoor sources inside buildings.”
And in cash-strapped school districts, schools will have at least one building that needs extensive repairs, leaving students exposed to air pollution—an issue that affects more than half of the buildings in need of repairs.
And if that’s not enough, old buildings are prone to releasing radon—a colorless gas naturally produced by soil—and asbestos fumes. Both gases are toxic and associated with lung problems and cancer.
Why Schools Need High-Quality High Efficiency Air Filtration Systems
All of these factors come together to create a silent environmental crisis in schools around the country. In fact, studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on environmental pollution found that in places where large groups of people gather, levels of indoor air pollution can be up to five times worse than outdoor air pollution levels. These levels could very well be disastrous for schools, where students spend more than eight hours a day in classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and gyms, five times a week. Fortunately, more and more school administrators are realizing these dangers, which is why many school buildings across the United States are now outfitted with high efficiency air filtration systems, which capture and remove airborne pollutants inside indoor spaces.
“Commercial-grade air filtration systems with high efficiency air filters are particularly important in environments like schools, where a large volume of moving people constantly disturbs particles on surfaces like floors, lockers, tables, and chairs, making them airborne and contributing to air pollution,” said Seyffer. “Furthermore, large crowds of people also mean large quantities of bacteria, viruses, and other airborne microorganisms, which cling to particles like dead skin cells and dust.”
Data Highlights Need for Commercial High Efficiency Air Filters in Schools
Another study, this time published in the journal Environmental Research, shows just what kind of air students are breathing inside public schools around the country. Using census data and earlier research by the EPA, the research team mapped out air pollution levels in more than 90,000 public schools in the country to assess which school districts needed commercial high efficiency air filters the most.
The researchers found that only a mere one percent of all surveyed schools achieved the EPA’s best possible score for indoor air quality. Furthermore, schools in Chicago, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and New York have the worst air quality in the world. In fact, of the 10 schools with the worst air pollution, half are in low-income school districts.
Benefits of Using Commercial High Efficiency Air Filters in Schools
When it comes to schools, commercial high efficiency air filters offer the following benefits:
- Reduced student absences – While the University of Utah study could not say for sure if air pollution caused students to be sick, there’s enough literature proving that exposure to air pollution leads to adverse health outcomes. We can safely assume that having clean air in schools helps prevent students from developing asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases, all of which are associated with air pollution exposure.
- Reduced teacher and school staff absences – Clean air inside school buildings also provides the same health benefits to teachers and support staff, preventing them from being sick and spending time away from work. A reduction in teacher absenteeism also reduces the cost of calling in substitute teachers.
- State aid to schools is often based upon attendance records – Most states reimburse schools in the form of financial aid based upon student attendance. Absences because of air quality issues can seriously affect a school’s financial viability.
For Best Results, Work with Industrial Air Filter Manufacturers
School administrators, board members, or anyone in the position to make decisions about a school’s infrastructure and facilities, needs to consult industrial air filter manufacturers before deciding on any type of air filtration system.
While attaching an air purification system to a centralized HVAC system or an in-wall vent goes a long way to improving indoor air quality in schools, results can be maximized if experts are brought in to assess the school building’s layout, size, and presence of any particular pollutant. Filter technology and costs can vary widely, which is why any investment must be done from an informed perspective.
For more than five decades, Camfil USA has designed and manufactured commercial air filtration solutions specifically designed to address the air quality issues of schools, municipal buildings, hospitals, airports, and other commercial buildings. For schools, we recommend installing MERV 13 particulate matter filters, which will purify the air in common student areas. On the other hand, HEPA filters and microfiltration systems with absorbers can be used for laboratories and school clinics.
To learn more about our commercial air filtration systems for schools, get in touch with Camfil USA today.
Camfil USA Air Filters


Written by: El Hebert '24
Edited by: Ashley Nee '22
Ralph Milliken, Ph.D., is one of many Brown community members involved with NASA - his work pinpointed a landing site for the Curiosity rover. Now, new discoveries continue to unfold as our university collaborates with space programs on an international - and interplanetary - scale.
A returned Brown alumnus, Milliken works in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences (EEPS). His field, he says, is a “pretty widespread” one: it covers both diverse research and vast distances.
For example, in 2018, the Hayabusa2 spacecraft punched the asteroid Ryugu with an impactor, sampling the debris. Last December, it finally delivered its capsule back to our own planet and into the eager hands of scientists. NASA’s Osiris-Rex, en route from asteroid Bennu, will do the same in 2023. That extraterrestrial material may not look like much - a few grams of black, grainy sand - but Milliken’s team and their Japanese colleagues hope to compare the samples for a glimpse into the early formation of the solar system .
With the mind-boggling size of space, though, sample-return missions are the exception rather than the rule. So Milliken also uses remote sensing technology, and works on the Curiosity rover mission, performing vicarious experiments on Mars.
When Milliken got involved with the Curiosity project as a researcher at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the rover hadn’t even launched yet. His first contribution, in fact, was a suggested landing site. NASA accepts such proposals as an “open competition,” placing them under scrutiny in a gauntlet of publicly-held meetings.
“I became very interested in advocating for this place called Gale Crater,” Milliken recalls. “We thought it was extremely scientifically compelling.” What does it take to advocate for a geological feature on another planet? Data, data, and more data. Milliken and his colleagues analyzed the topography closely enough to map the individual boulders. After all, any one of them might have posed a hazard to the robot as it touched down.
Ultimately, Milliken’s work paid off, and the team chose Gale Crater as the landing site - it was “both exciting and a little bit nerve wracking.”
In August 2012, Curiosity’s lander successfully lowered the rover down onto the surface of Mars. Since then, Curiosity has logged a distinguished career of 3,000 Martian days, with 25 kilometers traveled - not bad at all, for a vehicle that moves at one centimeter per second . Milliken is still on the rover team, and still excited about Curiosity’s contributions to science: not only is the team gaining essential understanding of a geology that may have once supported life, they’re also “chipping away at the really core important things for sending humans.” Thanks to Curiosity’s measurements, we can better anticipate radiation at the planet’s surface, and design effective protection against it.
Curiosity’s sibling, Perseverance, landed without a hitch in February. It’ll continue to search for ancient signs of life, and test new technologies, like powered flight in the Martian atmosphere, and oxygen generation that may someday provide fuel and breathable air.
Among the thousands of people involved with the Perseverance mission are some of Milliken’s former students.
Brown’s planetary sciences department collaborates extensively with NASA. The space program funds research, both on Earth and elsewhere, and professors and fellows work directly on mission teams. Historically, Professor Thomas Andrew “Tim” Mutch helped design the first cameras ever to land on Mars; Professor James Head trained Apollo astronauts in geology.
Milliken also emphasizes the importance of international partnerships, like the Hayabusa2 sample analysis effort, or Professor Carle Pieters’ involvement with the Moon Mineralogy Mapper launched by India. Together, the global space exploration community can pool the funds, technology, and diverse perspectives required for effective exploration in the deep solar system.
“It's definitely been eye opening for me, seeing how [international collaboration] helps the science,” Milliken says. “There aren't any borders out there. Those are constructs that we made here on Earth. I think, to be successful, it absolutely has to be focused more on humankind as a whole, as opposed to just one nation or another - building those partnerships and relying on those strengths.”
Meanwhile, the field of planetary science has its sights set on a few “amazingly crazy fascinating” worlds. One is Psyche, the naked metallic core of a shattered planetary body. Another mission, Lucy, is set to visit the Trojan asteroids, and may reveal the ancient paths of migrating gas giants. There’s also Dragonfly, a rotocopter bound for Saturn’s moon Titan, where hydrocarbon rivers run under an orange sky. And of four potential “discovery-class” missions currently under review by NASA, three of them have Brown graduates as lead developers.
Literally and figuratively, it seems, the universe is only getting bigger.
Milliken R. Interviewed by: Elise Hebert. March 9, 2021 [Cited March 21, 2021].
 Strickland A. Hayabusa2 mission confirms return of an asteroid sample, including gas, to Earth. CNN [Internet]. 2020 [Cited March 21, 2021]. Available from: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/15/world/hayabusa2-asteroid-gas-sample-scn-trnd/index.html.
 NASA Mars Exploration Program. Rover Wheels [Internet]. [Cited March 21, 2021]. Available from: https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/mission/rover/wheels-and-legs.