NYT: Smaller Version of the Solar System Is Discovered

At last, they have found a miniature solar system that looks similar to our system. The giant planet has about 2/3 mass of Jupiter. That miniature solar system is 5,000 light-year away from our system. The scientists and astronomers are confident that they will discover more planetary systems that resemble our system. This discovery is a huge leap. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that there is any life form. There is no way we can find out right now. For further reading, click on the link below.


Smaller Version of the Solar System Is Discovered

Yahoo : Tooth scan reveals Neanderthal mobility

Paleontologists have suggested that Neanderthals are more mobile than previously thought. Analysis of a 40,000-year-old tooth found in southern Greece has supported the hypothesis.

I am inclined to support this idea. Neanderthals could have traveled farther than 12.5 miles. It sounds very logical. However, there is no way to prove because they have gone extinct more than 20,000 years ago.

My question is did Neanderthals ever travel to Asia? Or, they just remained in Europe, Middle East, and part of Asia?

Time will tell after we make more discoveries later on.

Tooth scan reveals Neanderthal mobility

NYT : Satellite Spotters Glimpse Secrets, and Tell Them

I was impressed when I read the New York Times article about the handful hobbyists spend hours detecting satellites and they re able to identify many satellites. They even calculate the speed of each satellite orbiting around Earth.

The article mentioned that 328 satellites have come down in the past five years. I wonder if the figure is accurate because that's awful a lot of satellites orbiting around Earth.

For further reading, click on the link below.


Satellite Spotters Glimpse Secrets, and Tell Them

NYT : Lasers Make Other Metals Look Like Gold

This must be good news for jewelers. The laser could make other metals look like gold. It could be aluminum, tuungsten, or other metals. Dr. Guo and another researcher has been experimenting with ultrashort laser bursts on some metals. How does the metal absorbs and reflects the light? The answer to be determined. The aluminum does a terrific job by changing to gold and you may not be able to tell if whether it's real or not. For further reading, click on the link below.

Lasers Make Other Metals Look Like Gold

Yahoo : Asteroid will swing by, but won't stop

The asteroid will drift by Earth this Tuesday, not too close to hit here. It will fly by about 334,000 miles away from here. The asteroid is at least 500-feet long.

The next asteroid visit will be in 2027 and it is not expected to land here either.

If they take a good picture of asteroid this Tuesday, I'll love to check it out!

For further reading, click on the link below.

Asteroid will swing by, but won't stop

NYT : Entrepreneur Unveils New Tourist Spacecraft

How about going into space as a tourist? Virgin Galactic has been working diligently to develop the space ship that can travel into space for a short time then return to Earth. The ship would contain the aerodynamic drag that allows the craft for a glider landing back on Earth. They have been experimenting with X-1 through X-15 for decades and they have improved that there is an alternate way to travel into space and return to Earth. The craft will become public in 2009 or 2010. For further reading, click on the link below.

Entrepreneur Unveils New Tourist Spacecraft

NYT : Diabetes Study Favors Surgery to Treat Obese

Even though the surgery is not new, the study has suggested that surgery is the best option to help the obese patients with Type-2 diabetes. The surgery costs between $17,000 & $25,000. This is extravagant! For further reading, click on the link below.

Diabetes Study Favors Surgery to Treat Obese