46
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48
3DHS / Just thought I'd show a couple pics I snapped this morning.
« on: September 12, 2008, 11:24:52 AM »
I saw this scene as I went out my front door this morning.
49
3DHS / An anthropological introduction to YouTube
« on: September 05, 2008, 09:25:54 AM »
Interesting (but long).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPAO-lZ4_hU[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPAO-lZ4_hU[/youtube]
51
3DHS / NIST WTC 7 Investigation Finds Building Fires Caused Collapse
« on: August 25, 2008, 02:02:12 AM »52
3DHS / Obama's Hillbilly Half-Brother Threatening To Derail Campaign
« on: August 13, 2008, 02:38:13 PM »
Cooter Obama welcomes his brother's supporters with a jug of "white lightning" before whipping up a steaming vat of flat-possum stew.
BOONEVILLE, KY - Barack Obama's once-commanding lead in the polls slipped to two points Monday, continuing a month-long slide that many credit to the recent appearance of the Democratic candidate's heretofore unknown half-brother, Cooter Obama.
Long kept a family secret, the overalls-clad, straw-chewing Kentuckian first entered the public spotlight in July, when he drove his 1982 Ford flatbed pickup through the press corps at an Obama rally in order to inform his brother that he caught the skunk that had been living under his front porch. According to witnesses, Cooter's skunk proceeded to spray Washington Post political reporter Michael D. Shear in the face.
Cooter Obama attempted to pay for damages to the Capitol lawn with homemade jerky.
"Sorry 'bout that, mister! Some tomater juice'll take care of the stank," Cooter said as his mortified younger brother led him off the stage. "Shoot, Barack, you didn't tell me you was runnin' for president!"
Since Cooter's emergence on the national scene, the Obama campaign has downplayed the brothers' relationship. A statement issued last week by Obama's top adviser, David Axelrod, claimed that the two lived together only for a brief period in 1981, shortly before Barack left to attend Columbia University and Cooter had to drop out of chicken-killing school because an air conditioner fell on his head.
Nonetheless, political experts said Cooter's increased visibility in recent weeks has hurt Obama's polling among urban, upper-middle-class, non-straw-hat-wearing voters. The Obama camp has scrambled to control the damage caused by Cooter's penchants for loudly practicing his banjo during Obama's speeches, repeatedly referring to Barack by his childhood nickname, "Ol' Jelly Legs," and chasing his troublemaking pig, Mbogo, in the nude in the background of Obama's CNN interview on the importance of education.
The problem came to a head last week, advisers said, when Cooter arrived unannounced at a $100-a-plate fundraiser, slipped past security, and proffered a jug of moonshine to the high-society donors, claiming it would "straighten their curlies." In addition, dozens of would-be attendees at a Cedar Rapids, IA town-hall meeting Sunday were turned away at the door by the elder Obama, who was sitting at the entrance in a rocking chair and brandishing a double-barreled shotgun.
"What Sen. Obama's half-brother meant to communicate was that he was pleased that the candidate's message of change is fostering vigorous dialogue," Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said following the incident. "In no way was his proposal to 'fill y'all's backsides with rock salt' intended to be taken in any other way."
In the past two weeks, Obama has lost support from such groups as PETA, which withdrew its endorsement when Cooter punched a swan in the face, claiming it was "one of them mean ones"; the Clean Energy Group, which protested Cooter's recent attempt to fry a squirrel in a flaming 20-gallon barrel of diesel fuel; and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), whom Cooter mistook for an outhouse Monday and urinated on for 35 seconds.
"I thought we would be able to escape controversy by leaving the country for a week and visiting Iraq and Europe," an unnamed source in the Obama camp told reporters. "Little did we know that Cooter would command just as much attention back home by getting drunk with the Russian ambassador, lighting off fireworks, and crashing Obama's campaign limo into a creek in the Ozark Mountains."
Despite the setbacks he has caused, Cooter has secured a small but devoted following, and has occasionally managed to reflect well on the campaign. At a speaking engagement to which Obama arrived two hours late, Cooter kept the crowd's spirits up by breaking out a washtub string bass and a washboard and holding an impromptu hoedown.
Although his primary focus has been to support his brother, Cooter Obama said he is not without political aspirations of his own.
"Shoot, I'm helpin' because I love my brother," Cooter said. "Maybe if he gets elected he can make me Secretary of Moonshine. Course, that don't mean I ain't votin' for the other fella. Ol' Jelly Legs wants to take my guns away."
Original Article
53
3DHS / The Rise Of The Droids
« on: August 12, 2008, 08:27:17 AM »
August 11, 2008: The U.S. Air Force is, for the first time, converting a fighter wing from manned (F-16) combat aircraft, to unmanned ones (the MQ-9 Reaper.) The conversion, for the 174th Fighter Wing, has been in the works for three years, and the last combat sorties in manned aircraft were flown last week, by members of the 174th serving in Iraq.
Strafing and "intimidation" (coming in low and fast) attacks have been very useful in Iraq and Afghanistan, so the Reaper is not going to put the F-16s out of business right away. But the 19 ton F-16 costs three times as much as a Reaper, and is much more expensive to operate. The F-16 uses over a hundred times more fuel, per hour in the air, and with the price of oil rapidly rising, that itself means a lot. Put simply, It's cheaper, more effective, and safer (for pilots) to use Reapers (or similar aircraft) for a lot of the ground support work. Fighters are still needed to keep the skies clear of enemy aircraft, although Reapers are better suited for the dangerous work of destroying enemy air defenses. But for fighting irregulars, the Reaper is king.
The MQ-9s cost has doubled in the last few years, to about $18 million per aircraft (with all the high end sensors). The 4.7 ton Reaper has a wingspan of 66 feet and a payload of 1.5 tons. Reaper is considered a combat aircraft, because it can carry everything from the hundred pound Hellfire missile, to the 500 pound laser or GPS guided smart bomb. Reaper has a laser designator, as well as day and night (infrared) cameras. Reaper can stay in the air for over 14 hours and operate at up to 50,000 feet. It's sensors have excellent resolution, and are effective at high altitudes. It's been noted that most of what F-16s (and F-18s) are doing these days is dropping smart bombs, and using their targeting pods to do recon for the ground troops. Reaper does both of these jobs better and cheaper.
The major advantage of the Reaper is it's "persistence." It can stay in the air for 14 hours (or more), and that means you can put it over an area of interest, and wait for the enemy to do something. If that happens, the Reaper is there with Hellfire missiles and smart bombs. The Reaper had two heavyweight (up to 1,500 pounds) inboard (close to the fuselage) hard points for bombs and missiles, and four more (two up to 600 pounds, and two up to 200 pounds) outboard (farther out on the wing). A max of 3,000 pounds of bombs and missiles can be carried on these hard points. Thus one Reaper can fly out with over a ton of munitions, and stay out for over ten hours. An F-16 can do that, but only if you want to wear down the pilot. The Reaper operators work in shifts, and are in much better shape to handle whatever comes up.
Reapers have only been in combat for a year, but for the troops on the ground, and many of those operating these UAVs, the future has arrived. While the pilots of the 174th Fighter Wing will miss flying jets, as National Guard reservists, they can now do their active duty without leaving their families, and go live in a trailer over in Iraq or Afghanistan. The maintenance troops will still go overseas, although some of the UAV maintenance is being done by civilian contractors.
Original Article
Strafing and "intimidation" (coming in low and fast) attacks have been very useful in Iraq and Afghanistan, so the Reaper is not going to put the F-16s out of business right away. But the 19 ton F-16 costs three times as much as a Reaper, and is much more expensive to operate. The F-16 uses over a hundred times more fuel, per hour in the air, and with the price of oil rapidly rising, that itself means a lot. Put simply, It's cheaper, more effective, and safer (for pilots) to use Reapers (or similar aircraft) for a lot of the ground support work. Fighters are still needed to keep the skies clear of enemy aircraft, although Reapers are better suited for the dangerous work of destroying enemy air defenses. But for fighting irregulars, the Reaper is king.
The MQ-9s cost has doubled in the last few years, to about $18 million per aircraft (with all the high end sensors). The 4.7 ton Reaper has a wingspan of 66 feet and a payload of 1.5 tons. Reaper is considered a combat aircraft, because it can carry everything from the hundred pound Hellfire missile, to the 500 pound laser or GPS guided smart bomb. Reaper has a laser designator, as well as day and night (infrared) cameras. Reaper can stay in the air for over 14 hours and operate at up to 50,000 feet. It's sensors have excellent resolution, and are effective at high altitudes. It's been noted that most of what F-16s (and F-18s) are doing these days is dropping smart bombs, and using their targeting pods to do recon for the ground troops. Reaper does both of these jobs better and cheaper.
The major advantage of the Reaper is it's "persistence." It can stay in the air for 14 hours (or more), and that means you can put it over an area of interest, and wait for the enemy to do something. If that happens, the Reaper is there with Hellfire missiles and smart bombs. The Reaper had two heavyweight (up to 1,500 pounds) inboard (close to the fuselage) hard points for bombs and missiles, and four more (two up to 600 pounds, and two up to 200 pounds) outboard (farther out on the wing). A max of 3,000 pounds of bombs and missiles can be carried on these hard points. Thus one Reaper can fly out with over a ton of munitions, and stay out for over ten hours. An F-16 can do that, but only if you want to wear down the pilot. The Reaper operators work in shifts, and are in much better shape to handle whatever comes up.
Reapers have only been in combat for a year, but for the troops on the ground, and many of those operating these UAVs, the future has arrived. While the pilots of the 174th Fighter Wing will miss flying jets, as National Guard reservists, they can now do their active duty without leaving their families, and go live in a trailer over in Iraq or Afghanistan. The maintenance troops will still go overseas, although some of the UAV maintenance is being done by civilian contractors.
Original Article
54
3DHS / United States makes Fencing history
« on: August 11, 2008, 12:21:48 AM »
(BEIJING, August 9) -- The United States fencing team has dominated the Women's Individual Sabre competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, taking gold, silver and bronze.
Mariel Zagunis retains her Athens 2004 Olympic title after defeating countrymen Sada Jacobson in the gold medal bout 15-8, and 2006 world champion Becca Ward who narrowly beat her Russian rival Sofiya Velikaya 15-14 for the Bronze.
The day started with some surprise eliminations. Reigning world champion Russian Elena Nechaeva and World No. 8 Leonore Perrus of France crashed out during the Round of 32, while Athens 2004 Olympic silver medalist Tan Xue of China lost in the quarterfinals.
Poland's Irena Wieckowska came back from 9-5 down to defeat Nechaeva 15-12, before losing 15-6 to Bao Yingying of China in the round of 16.
"I'm not satisfied with my performance at all. I tried my best but unfortunately I lost. This bout only shows that she [Bao] is better than me at this moment, but nothing more," Wieckowska said after the bout.
Bao then lost to reigning Olympic Champion Zagunis 15-9.
Russian fencer Sofiya Velikaya defeated the Chinese gold medal contender Tan in the quarterfinals. The Russian led most of the way, with Tan trailing 5-3, 8-5, 13-9 and finally losing 15-9.
The predominantly Chinese crowd cheered loudly at first, then nervously awaited the result throughout the second round and fell silent after their best hope for gold was defeated.
"At first, our scores were close to each other's, but later the difference of our scores became larger. That's because I was totally concentrated during the competition. Tan's injury and falling over made my success come easily," Velikaya said after the bout.
In the first semifinal bout, Sada Jacobson of the United States defeated Sofiya Velikaya of Russia 15-11, proceeding to the gold medal bout where she finally bowed out to Zagunis.
Zagunis had to beat her teammate Becca Ward 15-11 to advance to the final competition. Following the bout, she reported, "That was probably the hardest bout I've ever fenced in my career."
The gold medal bout saw Zagunis take on teammate Jacobson to take gold.
"I'm delighted that we did so well. There have been a lot of upsets in this tournament as Sada [Jacobson] said, who's fencing better when everyone's fencing badly, and I couldn't forget who I was fencing for. I'm honored to be here and be part of the sweep," Ward said following the event.
The United States had never won a medal in women's fencing until 2004, when Zagunis won gold in the Women's Sabre. The last American medal in the sport was in Los Angeles in 1984, when Peter Westbrook won the bronze in Men's Sabre.
Women's Sabre is the newest of fencing's six disciplines and is making its first appearance in the Olympics. The first world championship in Women's Sabre was held in 1999.
Final Results for Women's Individual Sabre:
1 ZAGUNIS Mariel USA - United States
2 JACOBSON Sada USA - United States
3 WARD Becca USA - United States
4 VELIKAYA Sofiya RUS - Russian Fed.
5 TAN Xue CHN - China
6 BAO Yingying CHN - China
7 BESBES Azza TUN - Tunisia
8 KHOMROVA Olena UKR - Ukraine
9 DYACHENKO Ekaterina RUS - Russian Fed.
10 JOZWIAK Bogna POL - Poland
11 BIANCO Ilaria ITA - Italy
12 KIM Keumhwa KOR - the Republic of Korea
13 KHARLAN Olga UKR - Ukraine
14 NAGY Orsolya HUN - Hungary
15 OVTCHINNIKOVA Olga CAN - Canada
16 WIECKOWSKA Irena POL - Poland
17 NECHAEVA Elena RUS - Russian Fed.
18 SOCHA Aleksandra POL - Poland
19 PERRUS Leonore FRA - France
20 LEE Shinmi KOR - the Republic of Korea
21 TOUYA Anne-Lise FRA - France
22 MARZOCCA Gioia ITA - Italy
23 CHOW Tsz Ki HKG - Hong Kong,China
24 VERGNE Carole FRA - France
25 HUANG Haiyang CHN - China
26 BENITEZ ROMERO Alejandra VEN - Venezuela
27 HISAGAE Madoka JPN - Japan
28 SASSINE Sandra CAN - Canada
29 PUNDYK Halyna UKR - Ukraine
30 BUJDOSO Alexandra GER - Germany
31 GONZALEZ POZO Mailyn CUB - Cuba
32 NAVARRO Araceli ESP - Spain
33 LARIOS Angelica MEX - Mexico
34 TOURE Nafi SEN - Senegal
35 CLOUTIER Julie CAN - Canada
36 BYRNE Siobhan Claire IRL - Ireland
37 du PLOOY Adele RSA - South Africa
38 WOOD Elvira RSA - South Africa
Original Article
Mariel Zagunis retains her Athens 2004 Olympic title after defeating countrymen Sada Jacobson in the gold medal bout 15-8, and 2006 world champion Becca Ward who narrowly beat her Russian rival Sofiya Velikaya 15-14 for the Bronze.
The day started with some surprise eliminations. Reigning world champion Russian Elena Nechaeva and World No. 8 Leonore Perrus of France crashed out during the Round of 32, while Athens 2004 Olympic silver medalist Tan Xue of China lost in the quarterfinals.
Poland's Irena Wieckowska came back from 9-5 down to defeat Nechaeva 15-12, before losing 15-6 to Bao Yingying of China in the round of 16.
"I'm not satisfied with my performance at all. I tried my best but unfortunately I lost. This bout only shows that she [Bao] is better than me at this moment, but nothing more," Wieckowska said after the bout.
Bao then lost to reigning Olympic Champion Zagunis 15-9.
Russian fencer Sofiya Velikaya defeated the Chinese gold medal contender Tan in the quarterfinals. The Russian led most of the way, with Tan trailing 5-3, 8-5, 13-9 and finally losing 15-9.
The predominantly Chinese crowd cheered loudly at first, then nervously awaited the result throughout the second round and fell silent after their best hope for gold was defeated.
"At first, our scores were close to each other's, but later the difference of our scores became larger. That's because I was totally concentrated during the competition. Tan's injury and falling over made my success come easily," Velikaya said after the bout.
In the first semifinal bout, Sada Jacobson of the United States defeated Sofiya Velikaya of Russia 15-11, proceeding to the gold medal bout where she finally bowed out to Zagunis.
Zagunis had to beat her teammate Becca Ward 15-11 to advance to the final competition. Following the bout, she reported, "That was probably the hardest bout I've ever fenced in my career."
The gold medal bout saw Zagunis take on teammate Jacobson to take gold.
"I'm delighted that we did so well. There have been a lot of upsets in this tournament as Sada [Jacobson] said, who's fencing better when everyone's fencing badly, and I couldn't forget who I was fencing for. I'm honored to be here and be part of the sweep," Ward said following the event.
The United States had never won a medal in women's fencing until 2004, when Zagunis won gold in the Women's Sabre. The last American medal in the sport was in Los Angeles in 1984, when Peter Westbrook won the bronze in Men's Sabre.
Women's Sabre is the newest of fencing's six disciplines and is making its first appearance in the Olympics. The first world championship in Women's Sabre was held in 1999.
Final Results for Women's Individual Sabre:
1 ZAGUNIS Mariel USA - United States
2 JACOBSON Sada USA - United States
3 WARD Becca USA - United States
4 VELIKAYA Sofiya RUS - Russian Fed.
5 TAN Xue CHN - China
6 BAO Yingying CHN - China
7 BESBES Azza TUN - Tunisia
8 KHOMROVA Olena UKR - Ukraine
9 DYACHENKO Ekaterina RUS - Russian Fed.
10 JOZWIAK Bogna POL - Poland
11 BIANCO Ilaria ITA - Italy
12 KIM Keumhwa KOR - the Republic of Korea
13 KHARLAN Olga UKR - Ukraine
14 NAGY Orsolya HUN - Hungary
15 OVTCHINNIKOVA Olga CAN - Canada
16 WIECKOWSKA Irena POL - Poland
17 NECHAEVA Elena RUS - Russian Fed.
18 SOCHA Aleksandra POL - Poland
19 PERRUS Leonore FRA - France
20 LEE Shinmi KOR - the Republic of Korea
21 TOUYA Anne-Lise FRA - France
22 MARZOCCA Gioia ITA - Italy
23 CHOW Tsz Ki HKG - Hong Kong,China
24 VERGNE Carole FRA - France
25 HUANG Haiyang CHN - China
26 BENITEZ ROMERO Alejandra VEN - Venezuela
27 HISAGAE Madoka JPN - Japan
28 SASSINE Sandra CAN - Canada
29 PUNDYK Halyna UKR - Ukraine
30 BUJDOSO Alexandra GER - Germany
31 GONZALEZ POZO Mailyn CUB - Cuba
32 NAVARRO Araceli ESP - Spain
33 LARIOS Angelica MEX - Mexico
34 TOURE Nafi SEN - Senegal
35 CLOUTIER Julie CAN - Canada
36 BYRNE Siobhan Claire IRL - Ireland
37 du PLOOY Adele RSA - South Africa
38 WOOD Elvira RSA - South Africa
Original Article
55
3DHS / Georgia conflict escalates as Russian tanks enter South Ossetia
« on: August 08, 2008, 04:33:42 PM »
Russian tanks have entered South Ossetia hours after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned Georgia that its attack on South Ossetia will draw retaliation.
As Russian troops advanced towards the capital of Georgia's separatist region, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said "ethnic cleansing" had been reported in villages in South Ossetia amid a Georgian offensive to retake the breakaway region.
Mr Lavrov called on the West to reach "the right conclusions" over the conflict, saying the Georgian offensive had been made possible by Western military aid to Tbilisi.
"Now we see Georgia has found a use for these weapons and for the special forces that were trained with the help of international instructors," he said.
"I think our European and American colleagues ... should understand what is happening. And I hope very much that they will reach the right conclusions."
The military operation marks the first time Russian troops have taken action on foreign soil since the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989.
Georgia has warned that any involvement of Russian forces in the conflict would result in a state of war between the two countries.
The Russian military reported that ten Russians were killed and 30 injured during Georgian shelling of their barracks, but Georgian officials denied firing on Russian peacekeepers in the area during their offensive in South Ossetia.
Georgian troops had earlier launched a massive attack to regain control of breakaway South Ossetia, where officials said at least 15 people were killed and an unspecified number of people wounded.
Georgia v Russia: By numbers
The move by Russian troops followed a series of statements by Russian leaders pledging to protect Russian citizens in the region in the face of a massive Georgian military attack on South Ossetia.
Mr Putin, on a trip to Beijing to attend the Olympics opening, sharply criticised the Georgian attack and warned it will draw retaliatory actions. He spoke after meeting briefly with US President George W Bush in Beijing.
Mr Putin did not specify what kind of retaliatory action may follow, but Russia's Defence Ministry pledged to protect Russian citizens in the region. Most of the region's residents have Russian passports.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev later chaired a session of his security council in the Kremlin, vowing that Moscow will protect Russian citizens.
"In accordance with the constitution and the federal law, I, as president of Russia, am obliged to protect the lives and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are located," Mr Medvedev said in televised remarks. "We won't allow the death of our compatriots to go unpunished."
Russia's Defence Ministry denounced the Georgian attack as a "dirty adventure."
"Blood shed in South Ossetia will weigh on their conscience," the ministry said in a statement posted on its official website.
"We will protect our peacekeepers and Russian citizens," it said without elaboration.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili accused Russia of aggression, saying that Russian jets bombed several Georgian villages, wounding seven civilians. A Russian diplomat denied that Russian aircraft had bombed Georgian territory.
Original Article
As Russian troops advanced towards the capital of Georgia's separatist region, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said "ethnic cleansing" had been reported in villages in South Ossetia amid a Georgian offensive to retake the breakaway region.
Mr Lavrov called on the West to reach "the right conclusions" over the conflict, saying the Georgian offensive had been made possible by Western military aid to Tbilisi.
"Now we see Georgia has found a use for these weapons and for the special forces that were trained with the help of international instructors," he said.
"I think our European and American colleagues ... should understand what is happening. And I hope very much that they will reach the right conclusions."
The military operation marks the first time Russian troops have taken action on foreign soil since the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989.
Georgia has warned that any involvement of Russian forces in the conflict would result in a state of war between the two countries.
The Russian military reported that ten Russians were killed and 30 injured during Georgian shelling of their barracks, but Georgian officials denied firing on Russian peacekeepers in the area during their offensive in South Ossetia.
Georgian troops had earlier launched a massive attack to regain control of breakaway South Ossetia, where officials said at least 15 people were killed and an unspecified number of people wounded.
Georgia v Russia: By numbers
Georgia | Russia | |
Population | 4.6 million | 140 million |
Army | 18,000 | 400,000 |
Tanks | 128 | 23,000 |
Fighter jets | 9 | 1,736 |
The move by Russian troops followed a series of statements by Russian leaders pledging to protect Russian citizens in the region in the face of a massive Georgian military attack on South Ossetia.
Mr Putin, on a trip to Beijing to attend the Olympics opening, sharply criticised the Georgian attack and warned it will draw retaliatory actions. He spoke after meeting briefly with US President George W Bush in Beijing.
Mr Putin did not specify what kind of retaliatory action may follow, but Russia's Defence Ministry pledged to protect Russian citizens in the region. Most of the region's residents have Russian passports.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev later chaired a session of his security council in the Kremlin, vowing that Moscow will protect Russian citizens.
"In accordance with the constitution and the federal law, I, as president of Russia, am obliged to protect the lives and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are located," Mr Medvedev said in televised remarks. "We won't allow the death of our compatriots to go unpunished."
Russia's Defence Ministry denounced the Georgian attack as a "dirty adventure."
"Blood shed in South Ossetia will weigh on their conscience," the ministry said in a statement posted on its official website.
"We will protect our peacekeepers and Russian citizens," it said without elaboration.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili accused Russia of aggression, saying that Russian jets bombed several Georgian villages, wounding seven civilians. A Russian diplomat denied that Russian aircraft had bombed Georgian territory.
Original Article
57
3DHS / If marketing had their way...
« on: July 21, 2008, 12:58:43 PM »
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU9YeOQm3Y0[/youtube]
58
3DHS / Cern lab goes 'colder than space'
« on: July 21, 2008, 09:50:30 AM »
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News
Superconducting magnets are cooled down using liquid helium
A vast physics experiment built in a tunnel below the French-Swiss border is fast becoming one of the coolest places in the Universe.
The Large Hadron Collider is entering the final stages of being lowered to a temperature of 1.9 Kelvin (-271C; -456F) - colder than deep space.
The LHC has thousands of magnets which will be maintained in this frigid condition using liquid helium.
The magnets are arranged in a ring that runs for 27km through the giant tunnel.
Once the LHC is operational, two particle beams - usually consisting of protons accelerated to high energies - will be fired down pipes running through the magnets. These beams will then travel in opposite directions around the main ring at close to the speed of light.
At allotted points along the tunnel, the beams will cross paths, smashing into one another with cataclysmic force. Scientists hope to see new particles in the debris of these collisions, revealing fundamental new insights into the nature of the cosmos and how it came into being.
The most powerful physics experiment ever built, the LHC will re-create the conditions just after the Big Bang.
Currently, six out of the LHC's eight sectors are between 4.5 and 1.9 Kelvin, though all sectors of the machine have been down to 1.9 Kelvin at some stage over the last few months.
By comparison, the temperature in remote regions of outer space is about 2.7 Kelvin (-270C; -454F).
The CMS detector will search for the Higgs boson - the so-called "God particle"
Roberto Saban, the LHC's head of hardware commissioning, said that in order to obtain high magnetic fields without consuming too much power, the magnets were required to be "superconducting".
This is the property, exhibited by some materials at very low temperatures, to channel electrical current with zero resistance and very little power loss.
Helium exhibits spectacular properties at 2.2 Kelvin - becoming "superfluid". This allows it to conduct heat very rapidly, making it an extremely efficient refrigerant.
No particle physics facility on this scale has ever operated at such low temperatures. But, so far, the hardware was performing as predicted, Roberto Saban explained.
"We have a very systematic process for the commissioning of this machine, based on very carefully designed procedures prepared with experience we have gathered on prototypes."
He added: "Our motto is: no short cuts... exchanging a single component which today is cold, is like bringing it back from the Moon. It takes about three to four weeks to warm it up. Then it takes one or two weeks to exchange. Then it needs three to six weeks to cool down again.
"So, you see, it is three months if we make a mistake."
Two sectors of the LHC are currently not cold enough for testing to proceed. Electronics that control the cryogenic systems in these sectors are being moved to an area where they will be better shielded against particles that shoot out of the machine during collisions.
Closing the circle
One sector of the ring is being run as if the LHC was operational and carrying a beam. This is so that crews can de-bug software and hardware and gain experience of running operating cycles.
The LHC's magnets must also undergo electrical testing. Each sector of the machine contains about 200 electrical circuits. Each circuit may consist of as many as 154 magnets or as few as one.
They are being tested for their ability to handle very high currents - up to 12,000 Amps .
The Alice experiment recreates the conditions just after the Big Bang
"We power each circuit, making sure it goes to its design current. But above all, we are verifying that all the protection systems around it - which are there to detect an eventual quench - are operating as expected," said Roberto Saban.
A quench occurs when some part of the magnet starts to heat up, becoming resistant to electrical current. Engineers have built in a recovery system to detect these quenches before they affect the magnetic field bending particles around the ring and shut off the circulating beams.
The machine's cool-down should take another two weeks to complete, provided no serious problems are found. Electrical testing of the magnets may take another couple of weeks.
Before the LHC is "switched on" for the first time, the proton beams have to be boosted to high energies in a chain of particle accelerators called the injectors.
Once the machine is cold, operators will inject beams into the main ring, threading them through each independent sector of the LHC until they close the circle.
A timing, or synchronisation, system is used to ensure each of these sectors behaves as if they were a single machine.
When the LHC is switched on it will operate at an energy of five trillion electron-volts. It will then be shut down for the winter, so that the magnets can be "trained" to handle a beam run at seven trillion electron-volts.
Original Article
Science reporter, BBC News
Superconducting magnets are cooled down using liquid helium
A vast physics experiment built in a tunnel below the French-Swiss border is fast becoming one of the coolest places in the Universe.
The Large Hadron Collider is entering the final stages of being lowered to a temperature of 1.9 Kelvin (-271C; -456F) - colder than deep space.
The LHC has thousands of magnets which will be maintained in this frigid condition using liquid helium.
The magnets are arranged in a ring that runs for 27km through the giant tunnel.
Once the LHC is operational, two particle beams - usually consisting of protons accelerated to high energies - will be fired down pipes running through the magnets. These beams will then travel in opposite directions around the main ring at close to the speed of light.
At allotted points along the tunnel, the beams will cross paths, smashing into one another with cataclysmic force. Scientists hope to see new particles in the debris of these collisions, revealing fundamental new insights into the nature of the cosmos and how it came into being.
The most powerful physics experiment ever built, the LHC will re-create the conditions just after the Big Bang.
Currently, six out of the LHC's eight sectors are between 4.5 and 1.9 Kelvin, though all sectors of the machine have been down to 1.9 Kelvin at some stage over the last few months.
By comparison, the temperature in remote regions of outer space is about 2.7 Kelvin (-270C; -454F).
The CMS detector will search for the Higgs boson - the so-called "God particle"
Roberto Saban, the LHC's head of hardware commissioning, said that in order to obtain high magnetic fields without consuming too much power, the magnets were required to be "superconducting".
This is the property, exhibited by some materials at very low temperatures, to channel electrical current with zero resistance and very little power loss.
Helium exhibits spectacular properties at 2.2 Kelvin - becoming "superfluid". This allows it to conduct heat very rapidly, making it an extremely efficient refrigerant.
No particle physics facility on this scale has ever operated at such low temperatures. But, so far, the hardware was performing as predicted, Roberto Saban explained.
"We have a very systematic process for the commissioning of this machine, based on very carefully designed procedures prepared with experience we have gathered on prototypes."
He added: "Our motto is: no short cuts... exchanging a single component which today is cold, is like bringing it back from the Moon. It takes about three to four weeks to warm it up. Then it takes one or two weeks to exchange. Then it needs three to six weeks to cool down again.
"So, you see, it is three months if we make a mistake."
Two sectors of the LHC are currently not cold enough for testing to proceed. Electronics that control the cryogenic systems in these sectors are being moved to an area where they will be better shielded against particles that shoot out of the machine during collisions.
Closing the circle
One sector of the ring is being run as if the LHC was operational and carrying a beam. This is so that crews can de-bug software and hardware and gain experience of running operating cycles.
The LHC's magnets must also undergo electrical testing. Each sector of the machine contains about 200 electrical circuits. Each circuit may consist of as many as 154 magnets or as few as one.
They are being tested for their ability to handle very high currents - up to 12,000 Amps .
The Alice experiment recreates the conditions just after the Big Bang
"We power each circuit, making sure it goes to its design current. But above all, we are verifying that all the protection systems around it - which are there to detect an eventual quench - are operating as expected," said Roberto Saban.
A quench occurs when some part of the magnet starts to heat up, becoming resistant to electrical current. Engineers have built in a recovery system to detect these quenches before they affect the magnetic field bending particles around the ring and shut off the circulating beams.
The machine's cool-down should take another two weeks to complete, provided no serious problems are found. Electrical testing of the magnets may take another couple of weeks.
Before the LHC is "switched on" for the first time, the proton beams have to be boosted to high energies in a chain of particle accelerators called the injectors.
Once the machine is cold, operators will inject beams into the main ring, threading them through each independent sector of the LHC until they close the circle.
A timing, or synchronisation, system is used to ensure each of these sectors behaves as if they were a single machine.
When the LHC is switched on it will operate at an energy of five trillion electron-volts. It will then be shut down for the winter, so that the magnets can be "trained" to handle a beam run at seven trillion electron-volts.
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3DHS / Bill Clinton Sadly Folds First Lady Dress Back Into Box
« on: July 09, 2008, 11:20:30 AM »
The former commander in chief takes one last look at the most beautiful first lady dress in the whole wide world.
CHAPPAQUA, NY - After months of tirelessly supporting his wife on the campaign trail, devoted spouse and former president Bill Clinton breathed a resigned sigh Monday and carefully folded the charcoal silk, fitted sheath dress he had hoped to wear as first lady during next January's inauguration and placed it back in its beautiful box.
The 61-year-old Clinton, who has appeared on the covers of both Time and Newsweek and has recently been lauded for his work as an outspoken advocate for human rights, purchased the Christian Dior gown earlier this year after wife Hillary announced her bid for the presidency. Though he has promised to stand by her until rival Barack Obama is officially named the Democratic nominee in August, Clinton told friends that he "could not bear" to look at the dress any longer.
"A beautiful gown like this shouldn't be wasted on any but the most special of occasions," said Clinton, who, before packing the garment away, spent a quiet moment running his fingers over the expert stitching and delicate cascade of ruffles. "No. This dress deserves to be worn by a real first lady."
After slowly tying the original silk bow around the box and clutching it to his chest for 45 seconds, the former world leader gently placed the dress inside his so-called "first lady hope chest." Sources close to the Clintons have confirmed that the chest includes items the 42nd president had planned to bring with him to a Hillary-led White House, among them a pair of unworn white satin gloves, some hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments, a pewter locket bearing a portrait of his mother, a pressed daisy, two pearl drop earrings, and a handful of wallpaper and fabric swatches.
"My, my, would you just look at this - all dressed up and no place to go," said Clinton, removing a ruby brooch from a small box marked "Final Iraq Pullout." "I suppose the American people want better for their first lady than some pie-eyed boy from Arkansas with a head full of dreams and all the grace of a peeled potato. I only hope Michelle [Obama] or Cindy [Hensley McCain] will have the courage to change those hideous drapes in the Lincoln Bedroom."
While Clinton has vowed never to wear the outfit publicly, he admitted to removing the gown from its box once before, after Hillary won the California and New York primaries. On that occasion, Clinton reportedly stood before his bedroom mirror, held the bodice to his torso, straightened his posture before extending a gloved hand outward and, in honeyed, lilting tones, repeated the line, "Oh, this old thing? Prime Minister Fukuda, you do go on."
Despite her husband's charm and optimism, Sen. Clinton was unable to gain enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination and will return to her seat in the U.S. Senate. After she announced the suspension of her $212 million campaign, former president Clinton told reporters he was "devastated" that he would never have the chance to stand before the American people on the Capitol steps in the timeless elegance of Dior.
"It was silly of me to waste so much money on such an extravagant outfit, but when I saw it in the store, I thought to myself, 'Bill, that's your inauguration dress,' " Clinton said. "I suppose it's for the best, though. Knowing me, I would have spilled champagne all over it. Still, can you imagine?"
Clinton has denied rumors that he will wear the high-necked, cap sleeve frock at an upcoming gala at Arkansas Children's Hospital. He has also refused to give the one-of-a-kind gown to his daughter, Chelsea, saying she is still years away from getting married and "doesn't have the waist for it."
Clinton added that the most upsetting aspect of packing the tailored first lady dress away was that it meant recognizing that his decades-old dream of being first lady would never come true.
"I remember watching President [John F.] Kennedy's inauguration," said Clinton, clasping his hands to his chest and staring off into the distance. "It was Jan. 20, 1961. He placed his hand on the Bible as everyone watched and took the oath in front of God and Chief Justice Earl Warren. And there beside him was Jackie. Oh, Jackie. In that pillbox hat and that glorious Oleg Cassini masterpiece in greige wool melton. She was a wonder."
"I remember thinking, 'Someday, I'll be president,'" Clinton continued, "'and then, eight years later and largely owing to my own massive public appeal, my wife will become president and I can be the prettiest first lady there ever was.'"
At press time, Clinton was seen in a low-cut black evening gown holding two bottles of champagne as he attempted to gain access to Sen. Barack Obama's campaign bus, telling reporters he only wished to discuss a "key domestic issue" with the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Original Article