The Department of Sports and the Sports Council of Al Akhawayn University students organize the National University Sports Symposium under the theme: University sport between expectations and realities.
The symposium is to take place on March 6th, 2013 at Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane, 170 kilometers (106 miles) east of Rabat.
Moroccan university sport has recently seen many disruptions in terms of management, operation and organization. Consequently, the symposium aims at investigating the current situation of university sport and exploring the possibilities of its revival and rehabilitation.
In addition, the conference aims at addressing and highlighting the role that university sport can play in the development of national sport whose presence at the continental and international level has remarkably declined in the last decade.
The symposium will also discuss the legal framework of university sport in light of the new constitution.
This event will bring together all those responsible for university sport in Moroccan universities, officials of the Royal Moroccan Federation of University Sports, the Director of the National University of Cultural and Social Works (ONUSC) and members of the Moroccan press.
The schedule of the symposium includes seven presentations, five workshops, debate and finally the symposium appraisal.
? Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed
VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "emeritus pope" in his retirement and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican announced Tuesday, again fueling concerns about potential conflicts arising from having both a reigning and a retired pope.
The pope's title and what he would wear have been a major source of speculation ever since Benedict stunned the world and announced he would resign on Thursday, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Benedict himself had made the decision in consultation with others, settling on "Your Holiness Benedict XVI" and either emeritus pope or emeritus Roman pontiff.
Lombardi said he didn't know why Benedict had decided to drop his other main title: bishop of Rome.
In the two weeks since Benedict's resignation announcement, Vatican officials had suggested that Benedict would likely resume wearing the traditional black garb of a cleric and would use the title "emeritus bishop of Rome" so as to not create confusion with the future pope.
Benedict's decision to call himself emeritus pope and to keep wearing white is sure to fan concern voiced privately by some cardinals about the awkward reality of having two popes, both living within the Vatican walls.
Adding to the concern is that Benedict's trusted secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, will be serving both pontiffs ? living with Benedict at the monastery inside the Vatican and keeping his day job as prefect of the new pope's household.
Asked about the potential conflicts, Lombardi was defensive, saying the decisions had been clearly reasoned and were likely chosen for the sake of simplicity.
"I believe it was well thought out," he said.
Benedict himself has made clear he is retiring to a lifetime of prayer and meditation "hidden from the world." However, he still will be very present in the tiny Vatican city-state, where his new home is right next door to the Vatican Radio and has a lovely view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
While he will no longer wear his trademark red shoes, Benedict has taken a liking to a pair of hand-crafted brown loafers made for him by artisans in Leon, Mexico, and given to him during his 2012 visit. He will wear those in retirement, Lombardi said.
Lombardi also elaborated on the College of Cardinals meetings that will take place after the papacy becomes vacant ? crucial gatherings in which cardinals will discuss the problems facing the church and set a date for the start of the conclave to elect Benedict's successor.
The first meeting isn't now expected until Monday, Lombardi said, since the official convocation to cardinals to come to Rome will only go out on Friday ? the first day of what's known as the "sede vacante," or the vacancy between papacies.
In all, 115 cardinals under the age of 80 are expected in Rome for the conclave to vote on who should become the next pope; two other eligible cardinals have already said they are not coming, one from Britain and another from Indonesia. Cardinals who are 80 and older can join the College meetings but won't participate in the conclave or vote.
Benedict on Monday gave the cardinals the go-ahead to move up the start date of the conclave ? tossing out the traditional 15-day waiting period. But the cardinals won't actually set a date for the conclave until they begin meeting officially Monday.
Lombardi also further described Benedict's final 48 hours as pope: On Tuesday, he was packing, arranging for documents to be sent to the various archives at the Vatican and separating out the personal papers he will take with him into retirement.
On Wednesday, Benedict will hold his final public general audience in St. Peter's Square ? an event that has already seen 50,000 ticket requests. He won't greet visiting prelates or VIPs as he normally does at the end but will greet some visiting leaders ? from Slovakia, San Marino, Andorra and his native Bavaria ? privately afterwards.
On Thursday, the pope meets with his cardinals in the morning and then flies by helicopter at 5 p.m. to Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence south of Rome. He will greet parishioners there from the palazzo's loggia (balcony) ? his final public act as pope.
And at 8 p.m., the exact time at which his retirement becomes official, the Swiss Guards standing outside the doors of the palazzo at Castel Gandolfo will go off duty, their service protecting the head of the Catholic Church now finished.
Benedict's personal security will be assured by Vatican police, Lombardi said.
___
Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield
So, I?m sitting at my desk right now. It?s cold outside. We?re in the late February doldrums of winter here in Wisconsin. As I look out the window at the snow blanketing the prairie around our office building and the blah gray sky, a cup of hot chocolate sounds pretty darn good. Late winter seems to bring out that particular craving for me. Maybe for you, too? I can just imagine how it?d taste: warm, frothy, velvety, creamy, rich,?chocolaty, delicious. Can you taste it, too? Mmmm, hot chocolate. Hot chocolate is a good, good thing. This is not news. We know this.
But did you know the color of the cup you select from which to drink your hot chocolate directly affects how good it tastes? Yeah, me neither. But apparently it does.
Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the University of Oxford have found that hot chocolate actually tastes better when served in an orange or cream-colored cup, versus a red or white cup. It?s the latest study to add to existing research that has shown that we perceive and experience food differently depending on the container from which it?s served. Their study included 57 participants, asked to evaluate samples of hot chocolate as served from four differently colored, but otherwise identical, plastic cups. The colors sampled were white, cream, red and orange. All the cups were white on the inside. After tasting each drink, the participants were asked to give it a score between 1 and 10 for different qualities such as enjoyment, sweetness, flavor and chocolate aroma.
Though the sample size was fairly small, the results were crystal clear: all the participants thought the hot chocolate in the orange and cream-colored cups was better than the others, even though it was the exact same beverage. Some even went so far as to label the hot chocolate served from the cream-colored cups as ?sweeter? and ?more aromatic? than any of the others. The white plastic cups scored the worst. Betina Piqueras-Fiszman, one of the study?s authors, concludes that ?The color of the container where food and drink are served can enhance some attributes like taste and aroma,? information that is doubtless of some significant interest to anyone involved in selling food, or hosting a very well-received dinner party.
This team?s research adds to existing evidence that the taste of food and drink is at least somewhat dependent upon the visual characteristics of its container, although the reason why is not yet known. Other studies exploring this effect, and cited by the researchers of this study, have had similar findings:
Using a yellow container increases lemony flavor
Using blue or other ?cold? colors for packaging increases the ?thirst-quenching? characteristics of a cold beverage
Liquid served from pink containers tastes sweeter
The flavor of strawberry mousse is sweeter and more intense when served on a white plate rather than a black plate
Coffee served in brown packaging is stronger and more aromatic; coffee served in red packaging is less strong; coffee served in yellow or blue packaging is ?smoother?
The ramifications for food packaging and presentation seem fairly significant. I would imagine this research already has the attention of the food packaging industry, and perhaps a few savvy restaurant owners. Piqueras-Fiszman says, ??it is a case of experimenting to understand how the container itself affects the perceptions that the consumers have on the product.?
And now, you?ll please excuse me while I go shopping for a nice big orange cup. It still just looks so cold outside, and I have a feeling I?m going to succumb to that hot chocolate craving sooner rather than later. I might as well make it as delicious and memorable an experience as possible.
References
Betina Piqueras-Fiszman, Charles Spence.?The Influence of the Color of the Cup on Consumers? Perception of a Hot Beverage.?Journal of Sensory Studies, 2012; 27 (5): 324 DOI:?10.1111/j.1745-459X.2012.00397.x
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Posted in Fun things, General, In the scientific literature | Tagged drink, food, food packaging, hot chocolate, orange cup, sensory studies, taste perception | Leave a Comment
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Last year, the NFL stripped $36 million in cap space from the Redskins, who along with the Cowboys apparently took the term ?uncapped year? too literally in 2010.
In response, the Redskins employed half-measures to recover the cap dollars, filing a grievance under the labor deal that did nothing other than stir up a cockeyed collusion claim from the NFLPA.
This year, with half of the penalty due to hit the 2013 salary cap, the Redskins could be opting for a more complete assault on the league?s position.? Or at least threatening it.
According to Mark Maske and Mike Jones of the Washington Post, the Redskins are spreading the word in Indianapolis that they?re considering legal action aimed at delaying the start of free agency while litigation proceeds regarding the question of whether the Redskins? legal rights were violated.? The Redskins are telling agents that any contract talks will be delayed until the situation is resolved.
If the Redskins proceed, it would be a big deal.? And if they delay the start of free agency until their claims are resolved, it would be a huge deal.
We addressed the situation a couple of weeks ago, reporting that the Redskins were still upset about the situation but explaining that their options are limited.? They could bebluffing about going to court in order to get, for example, half of their cap money back (i.e., the $18 million that would apply to this year?s cap).? But the NFL could choose to call their bluff and go to court.
Either way, Daniel Snyder could be inching toward ground previously occupied by the late Al Davis:? Snyder could soon be suing his partners.
Doubletwist doesn't seem to support Chinese song names? My songs simply come up as . Is there a way around this ?? please solve it as soon as possible T.T.
Thanks.
Below are details for the problem. Same thing happen to my android !
Pope Benedict XVI's leads the Angelus prayer from the window of his apartments on Sunday in the Vatican. The pontiff celebrates his last Angelus prayer at the end of a week-long spiritual retreat, ahead of his resignation on Thursday.
By Frances D'Emilio, The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI gave his pontificate's final Sunday blessing from his studio window to the cheers of tens of thousands of people packing St. Peter's Square, but sought to reassure the faithful that he wasn't abandoning the church by retiring to spend his final years in prayer.
The 85-year-old Benedict is stepping down on Thursday evening, the first pope to do so in 600 years, after saying he no longer has the mental or physical strength to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.?
But while he has lately looked tired and frail, the crowd filling the cobblestone square seemed to energize him, and he spoke in a clear, strong voice, repeatedly thanking the faithful for their closeness and affection as they interrupted him, again and again, with applause and cheers. Police estimated some 100,000 people turned out.?
Benedict told the crowd that God is calling him to dedicate himself "even more to prayer and meditation," which he will do in a secluded monastery being renovated for him on the grounds behind Vatican City's ancient walls.?
"But this doesn't mean abandoning the church," he said, as many in the crowd looked sad at his departure from regular view. "On the contrary, if God asks me, this is because I can continue to serve it (the church) with the same dedication and the same love which I have tried to do so until now, but in a way more suitable to my age and to my strength."?
Scandals are still on the minds of Catholics as Benedict's time as pope grows short. NBC's Ann Thompson reports.
The phrase "tried to" was the pope's adlibbed addition to his prepared text.?
Benedict has one more public appearance, a Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square.?
Benedict smiled at the crowd after an aide parted the white curtain at his window, telling the people, "thank you for your affection."?
Heavy rain had been forecast for Rome, and some drizzle dampened the square earlier in the morning. But when Benedict appeared, to the peal of church bells as the clock struck noon, blue sky crept through the clouds.?
"We thank God for the sun he has given us," the pope said, sounding cheerful.?
As cheers continued in the crowd, the pontiff simply turned away from the window and stepped back down into apartment, which he will leave on Thursday, taking a helicopter to the Vatican summer residence in the hills outside Rome while he waits for the monastery to be ready.?
A child in the crowd held up a sign on a yellow placard, written in Italian, "You are not alone, I'm with you." Other admirers held homemade signs, saying "Grazie."?
No date has yet been set for the start of the conclave of cardinals, who will vote in secret to elect Benedict's successor.?
One Italian in the crowd seemed to be doing a little campaigning, hoisting a sign which mentioned the name of two Italian cardinals considered by observers to be potential contenders in the selection of the next pontiff.?
Flags in the crowd represented many nations, with a large number from Brazil.?
The cardinals in the conclave will have to decide whether it's time to look outside of Europe for a pope.
Related:
Vatican blasts Italian media for 'false and damaging' reports
LA's Cardinal Mahony calls himself 'scapegoat' ahead of deposition, conclave
US Catholics like Pope Benedict but many ready for new direction, married priests
? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Love makes us question almost everything in our lives. Sometimes love boosts our morals and gives us butterflies or sometimes love complicates and adds confusion to our lives. A psychic reading can help clear up a lot of the confusion and add clarity to your life, while helping you stay on the path which is meant for you so that you may meet your ideal partner. In addition to meeting your ideal partner, getting a psychic reading will help you understand him or her and provide insight on their desires.
Obtaining a psychic love reading will not only increase the change of success in the department of love, but it will also provide you with guidance to improving your existing relationships. Although love may not be in the books for you now, a psychic will be able to tell you if it is on the horizon, and what changes you need to make in order to diminish existing and future love problems. Simple changes can and will lead to happiness.
The universe kindly tells us which partner would be best for us based on personality, needs and wants. Although you may be attracted to several different people, getting a psychic reading done will help determine which of these people will be a true match. The others will just leave you emotionally attached and disappointed. If you just started a new relationship, getting a reading done will help analyze possible challenges and problems you and you loved one may have in the future so you can avoid this.
Compatibility between one and one?s partner equals success in the love department. Love is developed when your energy or aura matches with someone else?s. Find out if you have a match by getting a psychic reading.
If you are currently in a relationship a psychic reading can help you understand what the strengths and weaknesses are in the relationship and help you asses what you need to do to maintain a healthy, loving relationship. In a relationship it is important to understand not only your own desire?s and needs, but your partner?s as well. Getting a psychic reading will allow you to fully understand both of your needs. By understanding what your partner desire?s, you will be able to satisfy their needs and blossom your existing relationship.
If you are looking for love a psychic reading can provide answers about your ideal mate, and also predict who you will meet and which of those will be the perfect match. When you have a decision to make it is always a good idea to get a second opinion or additional insight, and getting a psychic reading can provide just that. You will be open to all the possibilities of your life live and have a clear understanding of what the future will look like.
Finding the right path can be confusing?a psychic reading can guide you to understand your love life and improve your existing and future relationships. There are no wrong answers and never will be, just guidance, light and a better understanding of what the present and future will hold.
A bee is a bringing together of people to accomplish something. We invite
the LGBT community to take part in our ?sewing bee? to celebrate LGBT
History Month. Bring your stories and experiences, your creativity and gossip, and come decorate a handkerchief to take away with you.
Artists and helpers will be on hand to assist you in turning your picture, idea or story into a beautiful embroidered piece. Feel free to bring a drawing or photograph with you. As well as connecting with people and telling your stories, you will learn new skills and be part of a community gathering.
Refreshments will be provided.
NO SEWING EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
For further information contact:
info@mocalondon. http://www.mocalondon.co.uk
Japan said a Chinese government ship briefly entered its territorial waters off disputed islands on Saturday, as the Japanese premier vowed he would not tolerate Beijing?s incursions into the area.
The fisheries patrol boat entered the waters in the East China Sea at 4:48 p.m. and was sailing some 19 kilometers northwest of Uotsuri, one of the Senkaku islands, Japan?s coast guard said in a statement.
But the Chinese ship moved out of the zone after about an hour, watched by a Japanese coast guard vessel, it said.
Beijing claims the Japanese-controlled islands, which it calls the Diaoyus.
The incident was the latest in a series, with Japan claiming in one case that Chinese vessels had locked weapons-targeting radar onto a ship and a helicopter. Beijing denied the charge.
Saturday?s incident came as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, now on his first visit to the United States since he took office late December, vowed that he would not tolerate any challenge to control over the contested islands.
?We simply cannot tolerate any challenge now and in the future. No nation should make any miscalculation or underestimate the firmness of our resolve,? Abe said Friday in Washington.
The liberal watchdog group Center for Media and Democracy says Fix the Debt ? a key unit in philanthropist Pete Peterson's corps of organizations to battle the national debt ? is a pro-business effort masquerading as a grassroots movement.
In a conference call with reporters Friday, CMD director Lisa Graves called Fix the Debt "an Astroturf supergroup that is exceedingly well funded." The term "Astroturf" refers to groups that appear to be citizen-organized but actually have their roots at consultants' offices inside the Capital Beltway.
A spokesman for Fix the Debt hotly denies the charge. Jon Romano said the center got some of its facts wrong, adding, "It is unfortunate that some would rather cast aspersions and misrepresent this view than engage in a constructive conversation about tackling this very real problem. Demagoguing does nothing to protect the most vulnerable."
Fix the Debt is promoting a citizens' petition, with 346,000 names. CMD, which last year used leaked documents to report on the secretive American Legislative Exchange Council, traced the corporate ties and lobbying records of Fix the Debt leaders.
Among the co-founders, co-chairs and steering committee ? 13 people in all ? it found six who sit on corporate boards, including GE, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley; advisers to Goldman Sachs and the private equity firm KKR; and lobbyists for KKR, the Private Equity Growth Capital Council and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Fix the Debt also has two well-populated advisory groups: a CEO council with about 90 members, and a Business Leaders Council of about 40.
"They really are posturing as a grassroots movement," says Graves. "They are putting forward this notion of these business leaders not as job creators, but as problem solvers on the economy ? when in fact the record shows that a lot of these companies are actively lobbying to keep tax loopholes open" and to promote other corporation-friendly policies.
CMD's analysis also appears in The Nation, in a package of stories on Peterson's long-running effort to move the national debt to the top of Washington's agenda.
Chuck Hagel appears to have secured his confirmation to?Secretary of State, as the?last necessary GOP vote to move his nomination fell through last night when Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama said he would support his former colleague. Despite a record of?incendiary remarks about Israel, vocal opposition to the 2006 Iraq surge, and a widely-reported poor performance during Senate hearings this month, Shelby summed up Hagel?s now inevitable?ascension?to?Secretary?of Defense ?he?s?probably?as good as?we?re going to get.?
As oppose to rehashing Hagel?s qualifications and Shelby?s let up, the ?Real News? panel Friday discussed the issues abroad that the new Defense Secretary is likely to face?immediately?upon entering office.
International nuclear inspectors said Thursday that Iran has installed new equipment that will double the pace of nuclear fuel production. With Egypt, the administration looks to be using a ?national security? clause to get around the democracy markers Egypt was supposed to meet in order to get aid from the U.S. The president announced today that 100 U.S. military personnel would be deployed to Niger, likely stationed at a new drone base that was just greenlit.
Watch a clip below of the ?Real News? panel discussing these issues with Stephen Yates of DCI Friday:
:: Demi Lovato?said her new album delves into some issues she?s never spoken about publicly. She also teased fans by saying one of the collaborations will be ?dope.? [MTV]
::?Lady Gaga?s hip surgery went well and she?s in recovery, according to the real?Mother Monster.?Her mom Cynthia tweeted an update to the Little Monsters. [Twitter]
:: Cover girl and occasional singer Rihanna is said to be releasing a MAC makeup line. The star signed her first ever cosmetics deal and will release the ?Riri Woo? lipstick as the first product from the collection. [WENN]
:: Destiny?s Child member Michelle Williams?is making the jump to TV. The singer/actress has landed her own reality show, which will follow her as she promotes her upcoming gospel album. [The Hollywood Reporter]
:: VH1?s TLC biopic,?Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story,?starts filming in March and stars?Lil Mama?(Lisa ?Lefteye? Lopes),?Keke Palmer?(Chilli) and Drew Sidora (T-Boz). [SPIN]
After the jump, find out which music acts you can catch on TV today.
Music On TV:
:: Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) ? Imagine Dragons :: Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC) ? Tristan Prettyman :: Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) ? The Mowgli?s :: Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC) ? White Arrows :: Conan (TBS) ? Family of the Year :: Tavis Smiley (PBS) ? Ben Harper with Charlie Musselwhite :: Live with Kelly and Michael (syndicated) ? Ne-Yo
Contact: Johannes Hirn hirn@di.utoronto.ca 647-740-6819 University of Toronto
Canada helps push the boundaries of astronomy with the next wave of smaller satellites
The smallest astronomical satellite ever built will launch shortly after 07:20 a.m. EST on Monday, 25 February 2013 as part of a mission to prove that even a very small telescope can push the boundaries of astronomy.
The satellite was designed and assembled at the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). It will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, along with its twin, also designed in Canada, but assembled in Austria.
Each nano-satellite in the BRIght Target Explorer (BRITE) mission is a cube 20 centimetres per side, and weighing less than 7 kilograms. The BRITE satellites are part of the new wave of nano-satellites that can be designed, assembled and deployed fast and relatively cheaply.
"SFL has demonstrated that nano-satellites can be developed quickly, by a small team and at a cost that is within reach of many universities, small companies and other organizations," says Cordell Grant, Manager of Satellite Systems for the Space Flight Laboratory at UTIAS. "A nano-satellite can take anywhere from six months to a few years to develop and test, but we typically aim for two years or less."
Up to now, such nano-satellites had been used only to monitor the earth and experiment with new technologies. "Researchers, scientists and companies worldwide, who have great ideas for space-borne experiments, but do not have the means to fund a large spacecraft, can now see their ideas realized," said Grant. "BRITE has the potential to open an entirely new market for low-cost high-performance satellites."
BRITE is the first nano-satellite mission intended for astronomy, and the first-ever astronomy constellation more than one satellite working toward a common objective of any size. The previous world-record holder for small astronomy satellites was the MOST satellite, designed and assembled in part by SFL at UTIAS. Launched in 2003 and still operating, MOST was the first entirely Canadian satellite for astronomy, weighing in at 53 kilograms. Compared to the 11 metric tons of the Hubble Space Telescope, MOST was aptly called a micro-satellite.
"BRITE is expected to demonstrate that nano-satellites are now capable of performance that was once thought impossible for such small spacecraft," says Grant. But only small telescopes can fit within a 20 centimetre cube. Therefore, BRITE is not intended to take pretty pictures, but will simply observe stars and record changes in their brightness over time. Such changes could be caused by spots on the star, a planet or other star orbiting the star, or by oscillations and reverberations within the star itself the analogue of earthquakes on stars. The study of these so-called "starquakes" is called asteroseismology.
To perform precise measurements of the brightness of stars, the telescopes need to be above the atmosphere. Otherwise, scintillation the atmospheric effect that causes stars to twinkle overwhelms the relatively small brightness variations of the stars themselves. By avoiding this, a very small telescope in space can produce more accurate data than a much larger telescope on the ground. Also, unlike telescopes on Earth which are useless during the day, in bad weather or when the stars set below the horizon, telescopes in space can potentially observe stars all the time.
As their name suggests, the BRITE satellites will focus on the brightest stars in the sky including those that make up prominent constellations like Orion the Hunter. These stars are the same ones visible to the naked eye, even from city centres. Because very large telescopes mostly observe very faint objects, the brightest stars are also some of the most poorly studied stars.
It turns out that the brightest stars are also the largest. Big bright stars lead short and violent lives and deaths (supernovas) and in the process seed the universe with heavy elements without which life on Earth would be impossible. To better understand these stars is to better understand how life arose on our planet.
Because big objects oscillate and quake slower than smaller ones, the BRITE satellites do not have to keep their eyes constantly on any given star, but can observe from time to time to see if anything has changed as children do in the game Mr. Wolf, where they only take a peek at their playmates once in a while, but are still able to tell if any of them has changed position.
Hence, the BRITE satellites can monitor their target stars whatever orbit they are placed on, and do not require a dedicated rocket to place them in a specific orbit. By piggy-backing on any available rocket, the BRITE satellites can thus be launched for relatively little money: the first two BRITE satellites will be sent to space on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C20.
To gather more observations and to increase the lifetime of the mission, scientists will be launching three such pairs of satellites one Austrian pair, one Polish pair and one Canadian pair supported by the Canadian Space Agency so that within a few years BRITE will become a constellation of six satellites. Each twin in a pair watches the sky in a different colour (red or blue), providing another exciting layer of data to the scientists.
Cordell Grant
Manager, Satellite Systems
Space Flight Laboratory
University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies
4925 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3H 5T6
During business hours (EST): (+1) 416-667-7916
Outside business hours: (+1) 647-267-4925
cgrant@utias-sfl.net
Johannes Hirn
Outreach & Communications
Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics
University of Toronto
50 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H4
(+1) 647-740-6819
hirn@di.utoronto.ca
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: Johannes Hirn hirn@di.utoronto.ca 647-740-6819 University of Toronto
Canada helps push the boundaries of astronomy with the next wave of smaller satellites
The smallest astronomical satellite ever built will launch shortly after 07:20 a.m. EST on Monday, 25 February 2013 as part of a mission to prove that even a very small telescope can push the boundaries of astronomy.
The satellite was designed and assembled at the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). It will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, along with its twin, also designed in Canada, but assembled in Austria.
Each nano-satellite in the BRIght Target Explorer (BRITE) mission is a cube 20 centimetres per side, and weighing less than 7 kilograms. The BRITE satellites are part of the new wave of nano-satellites that can be designed, assembled and deployed fast and relatively cheaply.
"SFL has demonstrated that nano-satellites can be developed quickly, by a small team and at a cost that is within reach of many universities, small companies and other organizations," says Cordell Grant, Manager of Satellite Systems for the Space Flight Laboratory at UTIAS. "A nano-satellite can take anywhere from six months to a few years to develop and test, but we typically aim for two years or less."
Up to now, such nano-satellites had been used only to monitor the earth and experiment with new technologies. "Researchers, scientists and companies worldwide, who have great ideas for space-borne experiments, but do not have the means to fund a large spacecraft, can now see their ideas realized," said Grant. "BRITE has the potential to open an entirely new market for low-cost high-performance satellites."
BRITE is the first nano-satellite mission intended for astronomy, and the first-ever astronomy constellation more than one satellite working toward a common objective of any size. The previous world-record holder for small astronomy satellites was the MOST satellite, designed and assembled in part by SFL at UTIAS. Launched in 2003 and still operating, MOST was the first entirely Canadian satellite for astronomy, weighing in at 53 kilograms. Compared to the 11 metric tons of the Hubble Space Telescope, MOST was aptly called a micro-satellite.
"BRITE is expected to demonstrate that nano-satellites are now capable of performance that was once thought impossible for such small spacecraft," says Grant. But only small telescopes can fit within a 20 centimetre cube. Therefore, BRITE is not intended to take pretty pictures, but will simply observe stars and record changes in their brightness over time. Such changes could be caused by spots on the star, a planet or other star orbiting the star, or by oscillations and reverberations within the star itself the analogue of earthquakes on stars. The study of these so-called "starquakes" is called asteroseismology.
To perform precise measurements of the brightness of stars, the telescopes need to be above the atmosphere. Otherwise, scintillation the atmospheric effect that causes stars to twinkle overwhelms the relatively small brightness variations of the stars themselves. By avoiding this, a very small telescope in space can produce more accurate data than a much larger telescope on the ground. Also, unlike telescopes on Earth which are useless during the day, in bad weather or when the stars set below the horizon, telescopes in space can potentially observe stars all the time.
As their name suggests, the BRITE satellites will focus on the brightest stars in the sky including those that make up prominent constellations like Orion the Hunter. These stars are the same ones visible to the naked eye, even from city centres. Because very large telescopes mostly observe very faint objects, the brightest stars are also some of the most poorly studied stars.
It turns out that the brightest stars are also the largest. Big bright stars lead short and violent lives and deaths (supernovas) and in the process seed the universe with heavy elements without which life on Earth would be impossible. To better understand these stars is to better understand how life arose on our planet.
Because big objects oscillate and quake slower than smaller ones, the BRITE satellites do not have to keep their eyes constantly on any given star, but can observe from time to time to see if anything has changed as children do in the game Mr. Wolf, where they only take a peek at their playmates once in a while, but are still able to tell if any of them has changed position.
Hence, the BRITE satellites can monitor their target stars whatever orbit they are placed on, and do not require a dedicated rocket to place them in a specific orbit. By piggy-backing on any available rocket, the BRITE satellites can thus be launched for relatively little money: the first two BRITE satellites will be sent to space on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C20.
To gather more observations and to increase the lifetime of the mission, scientists will be launching three such pairs of satellites one Austrian pair, one Polish pair and one Canadian pair supported by the Canadian Space Agency so that within a few years BRITE will become a constellation of six satellites. Each twin in a pair watches the sky in a different colour (red or blue), providing another exciting layer of data to the scientists.
Cordell Grant
Manager, Satellite Systems
Space Flight Laboratory
University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies
4925 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3H 5T6
During business hours (EST): (+1) 416-667-7916
Outside business hours: (+1) 647-267-4925
cgrant@utias-sfl.net
Johannes Hirn
Outreach & Communications
Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics
University of Toronto
50 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H4
(+1) 647-740-6819
hirn@di.utoronto.ca
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Oscar Pistorius, facing a charge of premeditated murder in the Valentine's Day slaying of his girlfriend, is one of several OIympians who found themselves in a courtroom for various accusations. Here are some the most famous:
MARION JONES
One of track and field's biggest stars at the 2000 Olympics, she won three gold medals and two bronzes in Sydney. Eight years later, Jones was serving time in a federal prison in Texas.
The former world's fastest woman was forced to return the medals to the International Olympic Committee after pleading guilty to lying to federal investigators about taking performance-enhancing drugs and her involvement in a check fraud scam. Jones served a six-month sentence from March-September 2008.
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TIM MONTGOMERY
In 2002, Montgomery was the world's fastest man, dating Marion Jones and was an Olympic gold medalist with the United States 4x100-meter relay team at the 2000 Sydney Games. The Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative scandal exposed his doping and subsequently led to his 9.78 seconds record time being dropped from the books.
Montgomery was later sentenced to almost 10 years jail time for his part in a $5 million check-fraud conspiracy ? which also ensnared Jones and his former coach Steve Riddick, a relay gold medalist at the 1976 Montreal Games ? and a conviction for dealing heroin in Virginia.
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TONYA HARDING
Harding competed for the U.S. in figure skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics while under suspicion following an assault on her teammate and medal rival Nancy Kerrigan weeks before the games in Lillehammer, Norway.
Harding eventually was placed on probation after pleading guilty to helping cover up a conspiracy, involving her former husband, tied to an assault on Kerrigan before the national championships.
At the Olympics, Kerrigan won silver after recovering from her injuries; Harding finished eighth and was soon banned from the sport.
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BRUCE KIMBALL
At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Kimball won a diving silver for the U.S. in the 10-meter platform event.
Four years later, he was preparing for the national trials before the Seoul Olympics when he drove drunk at high speed into a group of partying teenagers in Hillsborough County, Fla., killing two.
Kimball, who competed at the trials and failed to qualify, pleaded guilty to two charges of drunken driving-manslaughter and was sentenced to 17 years in prison. He was released in November 1993 after serving nearly five.
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GUY DRUT
Being an Olympic gold medalist eventually earned Drut a presidential pardon after the former French sports minister was found guilty in a political corruption case.
Drut, a 110-meter hurdler, won silver in 1972 at Munich, then added gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
In 2005, a Paris court imposed a suspended sentence of 15 months on Drut for taking money from fictitious jobs linked to public construction contracts from 1990-92.
He was pardoned by President Jacques Chirac because of his distinguished service to French sport. The International Olympic Committee reprimanded him for conduct that "seriously tarnished the reputation of the Olympic Movement."
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, "Doug" (24), and I (22) have been in a long-distance relationship for a year, but we were friends for a couple of years before that. I had never had a serious relationship before and lacked experience. Doug has not only been in two other long-term relationships, but has had sex with more than 15 women. One of them is an amateur porn actress.I knew about this, but it didn't bother me until recently. Doug had a party, and while he was drunk he told one of his buddies -- in front of me -- that he should watch a certain porn film starring his ex-girlfriend. ...
Jaguar Land Rover is offering female students interested in engineering, technology and manufacturing careers a unique insight into the world of work at the UK?s largest luxury automotive manufacturer.
The ?Inspiring Tomorrow?s Engineers: Young Women in the Know? course has been developed in partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College to change outdated perceptions of engineering to encourage more young women to consider engineering and manufacturing careers.
The 28 female students, aged 16-18, will be participating in a week-long programme of events from Monday 18th February at Jaguar Land Rover?s manufacturing, design and engineering sites in Gaydon, Whitley, Solihull and Castle Bromwich. They will meet female apprentices, graduates, engineers and managers to find out about their education and career histories and will spend a day on work experience at the Solihull plant. They will also find out about Jaguar Land Rover?s apprentice and graduate schemes and participate in workshops on job applications, assessment centres and interview techniques.
Bob Joyce, Jaguar Land Rover Engineering Director, said: ?Jaguar Land Rover has ambitious plans for growth and it is engineering talent that will develop the products and technologies that appeal to customers in the future. We believe that the success of our global business ? and the UK economy ? lies in engineering and innovation.
?We offer a wide range of education programmes with the aim of getting young people excited about engineering and crucially, to encourage them to make the right subject choices at GCSE-level and beyond. The ?Young Women In The Know? course has been developed to encourage female students to consider engineering careers and we hope some of the students on the course today will join Jaguar Land Rover as engineers in the future.?
Danella Bagnall, Project Planning and Integration Director at Jaguar Land Rover, added: ?I started my career as an apprentice 25 years ago which was a great way of continuing education, developing skills, and getting into industry. I am now a senior engineering manager which demonstrates the excellent career progression opportunities available to women in a modern engineering-led business like Jaguar Land Rover.
?It is a very exciting time to join our business. We are investing more than ?2 billion a year in research and development and we need talented young people to deliver new technologies, new applications, new approaches and new ideas. I would thoroughly recommend a career in engineering to girls and hope this programme inspires lots more women to become engineers.?
The ?Inspiring Tomorrow?s Engineers: Young Women in the Know? course is part of the ?Inspiring Tomorrow?s Engineers? education programme which Jaguar Land Rover runs across the UK to promote STEM subjects and engineering careers.
Released earlier today, the independent report into the NCAA?s mishandling of certain aspects of the investigation into the Miami football program seemingly left many more questions than it delivered answers.
Information obtained outside of normal NCAA protocol will be tossed out, as expected, but those hoping for a quasi-mistrial were disappointed as The Association confirmed that the process of investigating allegations of impermissible benefits will go forward. ?A scathing response to the report?s findings and the NCAA?s insistence on continuing the probe, though, suggests the university will continue its push for a resolution in the case that comes sooner rather than later and with no additional sanctions ? or else.
In Donna?Shalala?s scorched-earth statement blasting, in essence, the NCAA?s ineptness, the UM president accused the NCAA of not living ?up to their own core principles? in what she described as an ?already-flawed investigation? highlighted by ?a disappointing pattern of unprofessional and unethical behavior.?? Stressing that there ?must be?a strong sense of urgency to bring this to closure,? Shalala stated unequivocally that ?we believe that this process must come to a swift resolution, which includes no additional punitive measures beyond those already self-imposed.?
Each of the past two seasons, Miami has self-imposed a postseason ban on the football program.
The intimation from Shalala, of course, is that the NCAA could face litigation down the road if further sanctions are imposed. ?It?s unclear exactly how the NCAA will react to what?s essentially a (well-deserved) threat from one of its members.
Regardless, below is the full text of Shalala?s statement:
The University takes full responsibility for the conduct of its employees and student-athletes.? Where the evidence of NCAA violations has been substantiated, we have self-imposed appropriate sanctions, including unilaterally eliminating once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for our students and coaches over the past two years, and disciplining and withholding players from competition.?
We believe strongly in the principles and values of fairness and due process. However, we have been wronged in this investigation, and we believe that this process must come to a swift resolution, which includes no additional punitive measures beyond those already self-imposed.
In September 2010?two and a half years ago?the University of Miami advised the NCAA of allegations made by a convicted felon against former players and, at that time, we pledged our full cooperation with any investigation into the matter.? One year later, in August 2011, when the NCAA?s investigation into alleged rules violations was made public, I pledged we would ?vigorously pursue the truth, wherever that path may lead? and insisted upon ?complete, honest, and transparent cooperation with the NCAA from our staff and students.?
The University of Miami has lived up to those promises, but sadly the NCAA has not lived up to their own core principles.? The lengthy and already flawed investigation has demonstrated a disappointing pattern of unprofessional and unethical behavior.? By the NCAA leadership?s own admission, the University of Miami has suffered from inappropriate practices by NCAA staff.?? There have also been damaging leaks to the media of unproven charges.? Regardless of where blame lies internally with the NCAA, even one individual, one act, one instance of malfeasance both taints the entire process and breaches the public?s trust.?
There must be a strong sense of urgency to bring this to closure.? Our dedicated staff and coaches, our outstanding student-athletes, and our supporters deserve nothing less.
So, I?m sitting at my desk right now. It?s cold outside. We?re in the late February doldrums of winter here in Wisconsin. As I look out the window at the snow blanketing the prairie around our office building and the blah gray sky, a cup of hot chocolate sounds pretty darn good. Late winter seems to bring out that particular craving for me. Maybe for you, too? I can just imagine how it?d taste: warm, frothy, velvety, creamy, rich,?chocolaty, delicious. Can you taste it, too? Mmmm, hot chocolate. Hot chocolate is a good, good thing. This is not news. We know this.
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Public release date: 22-Feb-2013
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