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Sunday, March 24, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Distant planetary system is a super-sized solar system
Mar. 14, 2013 ? A team of astronomers, including Quinn Konopacky of the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto, has made the most detailed examination yet of the atmosphere of a Jupiter-like planet beyond our Solar System.
According to Konopacky, "We have been able to observe this planet in unprecedented detail because of the advanced instrumentation we are using on the Keck II telescope, our ground-breaking observing and data-processing techniques, and because of the nature of the planetary system."
Konopacky is lead author of the paper describing the team's findings, to be published March 14th in Science Express, and March 22nd in the journal Science.
The team, using a high-resolution imaging spectrograph called OSIRIS, uncovered the chemical fingerprints of specific molecules, revealing a cloudy atmosphere containing carbon monoxide and water vapour. "With this level of detail," says Travis Barman, a Lowell Observatory astronomer and co-author of the paper, "we can compare the amount of carbon to the amount of oxygen present in the planet's atmosphere, and this chemical mix provides clues as to how the entire planetary system formed."
There has been considerable uncertainty about how systems of planets form, with two leading models, called core accretion and gravitational instability. Planetary properties, such as the composition of a planet's atmosphere, are clues as to whether a system formed according to one model or the other.
"This is the sharpest spectrum ever obtained of an extrasolar planet," according to co-author Bruce Macintosh of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. "This shows the power of directly imaging a planetary system. It is the exquisite resolution afforded by these new observations that has allowed us to really begin to probe planet formation."
The spectrum reveals that the carbon to oxygen ratio is consistent with the core accretion scenario, the model thought to explain the formation of our Solar System.
The planet, designated HR 8799c, is one of four gas giants known to orbit a star 130 light-years from Earth. The authors and their collaborators previously discovered HR 8799c and its three companions back in 2008 and 2010. All the planets are larger than any in our Solar System, with masses three to seven times that of Jupiter. Their orbits are similarly large when compared to our system. HR 8799c orbits 40 times farther from its parent star than Earth orbits from the Sun; in our Solar System, that would put it well beyond the realm of Neptune.
According to the core accretion model, the star HR 8799 was originally surrounded by nothing but a huge disk of gas and dust. As the gas cooled, ice formed; this process depleted the disk of oxygen atoms. Ice and dust collected into planetary cores which, once they were large enough, attracted surrounding gas to form large atmospheres. The gas was depleted of oxygen, and this is reflected in the planet's atmosphere today as an enhanced carbon to oxygen ratio.
The core accretion model also predicts that large gas giant planets form at great distances from the central star, and smaller rocky planets closer in, as in our Solar System. It is rocky planets, not too far, nor close to the star, that are prime candidates for supporting life.
"The results suggest the HR 8799 system is like a scaled-up Solar System," says Konopacky. "And so, in addition to the gas giants far from their parent star, it would not come as a surprise to find Earth-like planets closer in."
The observations of HR 8799c were made with the Keck II 10-metre telescope in Hawaii, one of the two largest optical telescopes in the world. The telescope's adaptive optics system corrects for distortion caused by Earth's atmosphere, making the view through Keck II sharper than through the Hubble Space Telescope.
Astronomers refer to this as spatial resolution. Seeing exoplanets around stars is like trying to see a firefly next to a spotlight. Keck's adaptive optics and high spatial resolution, combined with advanced data-processing techniques, allow astronomers to more clearly see both the stellar "spotlight" and planetary "firefly."
"We can directly image the planets around HR 8799 because they are all large, young, and very far from their parent star. This makes the system an excellent laboratory for studying exoplanet atmospheres," says coauthor Christian Marois of the National Research Council of Canada. "Since its discovery, this system just keeps surprising us."
Konopacky and her team will continue to study the super-sized planets to learn more details about their nature and their atmospheres. Future observations will be made using the recently upgraded OSIRIS instrument which utilizes a new diffraction grating -- the key component of the spectrograph that separates light according to wavelength, just like a prism. The new grating was developed at the Dunlap Institute and installed in the spectrograph in December 2012.
"These future observations will tell us much more about the planets in this system," says Dunlap Fellow Konopacky. "And the more we learn about this distant planetary system, the more we learn about our own."
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Toronto. The original article was written by Chris Sasaki.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Quinn M. Konopacky, Travis S. Barman, Bruce A. Macintosh, and Christian Marois. Detection of Carbon Monoxide and Water Absorption Lines in an Exoplanet Atmosphere. Science, 14 March 2013 DOI: 10.1126/science.1232003
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T79vQu9pLAo/130314144211.htm
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In Key West, Natural Beauty Is Free
KEY WEST, Fla. ? The Florida Keys offers every water activity imaginable from sailing to sport fishing. But a fishing charter or snorkeling excursion will cost you.
Fortunately, the Keys, a series of islands spanning over 100 miles (160 kilometers) connected by bridges and causeways, offer plenty to do at no cost, from sunset views to nature spots. Driving the toll-free Florida Keys Overseas Highway south from Florida City to Key West takes about three hours, though you'll want to stop to sightsee. But the drive alone is worth the trip: You feel as though you are floating over water as you hop from island to island, with pristine views on either side. It's also one of the rare places where both sunset and sunrise can be seen over the water, depending on which way you turn your head.
A couple of tips: Bring snorkel and flippers so you don't have to rent. If you plan a hotel stay, find one that lets guests use kayaks for free. You can fish off the bridges, but you'll need a license unless you're here on the state's two Free Fishing Days, April 6 and June 8. For more visitor information, download a free Florida Keys iPhone app, or visit . http://www.fla-keys.com
Here are five places in the Keys with free highlights for each.
KEY LARGO
If you're heading south into the Keys from the Miami or Fort Lauderdale areas, Key Largo is the first island you hit. State parks offer great opportunities for bird watching and nature photography, but many, like John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, charge entrance fees. So head to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center (near Mile Marker 93) to see rescued and rehabilitated wild birds. The bird sanctuary ? ? accepts donations but has free admission. Free brochures guide you through boardwalks surrounded by falcons and other wild birds in cages. Watch out for wild pelicans walking the boardwalk ? they won't bite but they also won't get out of your way. Cross over the Mangrove Wetland to a beach where birds roam freely. http://fkwbc.org
A bicycle and pedestrian corridor known as the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail starts in Key Largo (Mile Marker 106) and stretches 70 miles (about 113 kilometers). It will eventually run the length of the Keys parallel to U.S. Highway 1.
ISLAMORADA
Known for world-class sport fishing, Islamorada, which calls itself a village of islands, has a vibrant art scene with a free art walk event (between Mile Markers 81 and 82) the third Thursday of each month sponsored by the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District ? . Five galleries stay open late as artists and musicians line the streets. http://www.moradawayarts.org
Anne's Beach ? at Mile Marker 73 ? is a quiet beach with a rocky shore and shallow clear blue waters. There's limited parking but it's rarely crowded. http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beaches/annesbeach.shtml
Stop for a picture with a giant lobster known as Betsy at The Rain Barrel Artisan Village, near Mile Marker 87. The popular figure of a crustacean is just one of many drive-by attractions on U.S. 1.
MARATHON
Sombrero Beach Park is a lovely community spot with a crescent-shaped beach, white sand and palm trees. Facilities include volleyball courts, picnic pavilions, playground equipment, restrooms, and showers. No fee to enter or park. It's open from 7 a.m. until dusk. To get there from the Overseas Highway, turn south on Sombrero Beach Road.
BIG PINE KEY
The Lower Keys have a more laid-back feel than the northerly islands, with fewer restaurants and tourist attractions. Signs warn you to slow down and watch out for Key Deer, an endangered species. In Big Pine Key, you can see the small deer with white tails at the National Key Deer Refuge ? . You can't feed them but you can watch them feed; you can also bike or jog here. To see the elusive lower Keys marsh rabbit, go in early morning and stay quiet by the tall grass. http://www.fws.gov/nationalkeydeer/
You can also tour the Bat Tower in Sugarloaf Key ? _ at Mile Marker 17. Just don't expect to see bats. The 1929 structure was built to lure bats as a way to combat mosquitoes. Bats stayed away, but the tower stands. http://www.keyshistory.org/SL-Sugarloaf-Key.html
KEY WEST
Key West is known for beautiful sunsets, and the place to watch them is Mallory Square ? . http://www.sunsetcelebration.org/
At the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden ? ? you'll find 38 bronze busts of prominent men and women who had homes here, from Henry Flagler to Ernest Hemingway and President Harry S. Truman. http://www.keywestsculpturegarden.org/
Finally, stop at the southernmost point in the continental U.S. for a picture at the replica of a large concrete buoy so you can say you were 90 miles (145 kilometers) from Cuba.
___
Suzette Laboy can be followed on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/SuzetteLaboy
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Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Biological tooth replacement -- a step closer
Monday, March 11, 2013
Scientists have developed a new method of replacing missing teeth with a bioengineered material generated from a person's own gum cells. Current implant-based methods of whole tooth replacement fail to reproduce a natural root structure and as a consequence of the friction from eating and other jaw movement, loss of jaw bone can occur around the implant. The research is led by Professor Paul Sharpe, an expert in craniofacial development and stem cell biology at King's College London and published in the Journal of Dental Research.
Research towards achieving the aim of producing bioengineered teeth ? bioteeth ? has largely focussed on the generation of immature teeth (teeth primordia) that mimic those in the embryo that can be transplanted as small cell 'pellets' into the adult jaw to develop into functional teeth.
Remarkably, despite the very different environments, embryonic teeth primordia can develop normally in the adult mouth and thus if suitable cells can be identified that can be combined in such a way to produce an immature tooth, there is a realistic prospect bioteeth can become a clinical reality. Subsequent studies have largely focussed on the use of embryonic cells and although it is clear that embryonic tooth primordia cells can readily form immature teeth following dissociation into single cell populations and subsequent recombination, such cell sources are impractical to use in a general therapy.
Professor Sharpe says: 'What is required is the identification of adult sources of human epithelial and mesenchymal cells that can be obtained in sufficient numbers to make biotooth formation a viable alternative to dental implants.'
In this new work, the researchers isolated adult human gum tissue from patients at the Dental Institute at King's College London, grew more of it in the lab, and then combined it with the cells of mice that form teeth. By transplanting this combination of cells into mice the researchers were able to grow hybrid human/mouse teeth containing dentine and enamel, as well as viable roots.
Professor Sharpe concludes: 'Epithelial cells derived from adult human gum tissue are capable of responding to tooth inducing signals from embryonic tooth mesenchyme in an appropriate way to contribute to tooth crown and root formation and give rise to relevant differentiated cell types, following in vitro culture.
'These easily accessible epithelial cells are thus a realistic source for consideration in human biotooth formation. The next major challenge is to identify a way to culture adult human mesenchymal cells to be tooth-inducing, as at the moment we can only make embryonic mesenchymal cells do this.'
###
King's College London: http://www.kcl.ac.uk
Thanks to King's College London for this article.
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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127227/Biological_tooth_replacement____a_step_closer
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Monday, March 11, 2013
Newt Gingrich interested in joining 'Apprentice'
AP, EPA file
Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich.
By The Hollywood Reporter
Newt Gingrich won't rule out competing on a reality show. The former Republican presidential candidate told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham that he would compete on Donald Trump's NBC reality show "The Celebrity Apprentice" if asked.
PHOTOS: Actors who've played politicians
"Sure, why not?" Gingrich said on Wednesday's show, as quoted by Politico. "I've known the Donald, we've done fundraisers together. But look, I think Republicans would be so much better off and relaxed (to) go on shows like that and be interesting."
Trump has drawn ire over some of his more controversial comments, including his criticism of Barack Obama and long-running public questioning of whether the president is really a U.S. citizen.
But Gingrich and Ingraham -- who also said she'd go on the show -- had nothing but praise for Trump, who both hosts and executive produces "Celebrity Apprentice," and the way he's able brand himself and make headlines.
PHOTOS: "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice": Meet the contestants (again)
"Donald Trump is a phenomenon," Gingrich said. "Donald Trump has no meaning in American politics except that he is a billionaire who is interesting and who is very clever at getting in the news."
Incidentally, Gingrich wouldn't be the first politician to appear on "Celebrity Apprentice." Disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich also competed in 2010 but was fired in episode four.
The first-ever all-star edition of "Celebrity Apprentice" is currently airing at 9 p.m. Sundays on NBC.
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Wednesday, January 16, 2013
How to Literally Shoot the Moon
Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/G-QBjyCDaMs/how-to-literally-shoot-the-moon
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Barry Lunderville, College Creek Broadcastings, Inc., and Cumulus Licensing LLC, Petition for Reconsideration; Connoisseur Media, LLC, Application for Review; Nassau Broadcasting Holdings, Inc., Petition for Reconsideration
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