Flesh-Eating Sponges found

The scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute are working on bacteria and other types of life around the methane absorption at depths 3,340 feet when it finds an unknown coral flowers in the northwest of La Jolla, as reported by The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday, April 15, 2014.

This 2013 photo provided by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute shows a manipulator arm on Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's remotely operated vehicle collecting a Cladorhiza caillieti sponge growing on a piece of carbonate crust on the seafloor off the coast of Southern California. Researchers at MBARI say they have discovered a new species of poisonous sponge, described as a twig-like carnivore that is able to survive on the dark, frigid ocean floor, just northwest of La Jolla, U-T San Diego reported. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1nv57m8 )

They describe them as carnivorous sponges that resemble twigs that can survive in the sea floor and the cold dark. The sponge-like sponge species found along the West Coast of the U.S. and the state of Mexico, Baja California.

A new research from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute has described four new species of flesh-eating sponges living deep in the ocean, located in the Pacific Northwest to Baja California. The complete findings also appear in the journal Zootaxa. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1mflJkD)

"Killer sponges sounds like a creature from a B-grade horror movie. In fact they can survive in the deep ocean floor with no light," a statement from the aquarium research center.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute said the first time scientists have found some sponges with carnivorous category at 20 years ago. Since then, only seven species of carnivores sponges are found throughout the northeastern Pacific Ocean.

Kim Fulton-Bennett, a spokesman for the aquarium research institute told the U-T San Diego newspaper that the sponge was discovered by a remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts.

The scientists named the species Asbestopluma rickettsi, in honor of biologist Ed Ricketts, the main character in the famous novel "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck. The sponge colony living near the shells and tube worms that use bacteria to obtain nutrients from the methane that seeps out of the sea floor. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE SACRAMENTO BEE]

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Giant tiger ever lived in Sangiran

Giant tiger is believed to have lived in the 1.8 to 0.9 million years ago. The findings of the femur of this carnivore in Sangiran, Sragen, Central Java, then sliding the confidence for this on the tiger began to live at the time from 0.7 to 0.3 million years ago.

Aside from hominid fossils, Sangiran also proved to be the finding site of megafauna fossils. (Picture from: http://worldheritagef13.wordpress.com/)

"The findings are more than two years ago in 2011, but we never publish it. Currently bone joints is also still in the conservation and not on display to the public, "said Harry Widianto, Director of Culture Reserve Conservation and Museums, Ministry of Education and Culture of Republic Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday, April 15, 2014.

An artist illustration of an ancient tiger. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/QlWbEJ)

These findings are devastating for the count because there was never a tiger in the Homo erectus archaic (the oldest age). In Sangiran site, the team find it in black clay Pucangan formations (Sangiran swamp). "This is the first discovery. Authentic at all. This is a tiger which was very old. We have checks and confirmation to the world palaeontologist, and they allow it," said Harry.

In archaic times, previously is believed there are only a few kinds of animals, very little, when Homo erectus began to identify stone tools. Animals that live in the time, ie Mastodon sp (oldest ancient elephant, 1.5 million years old) and Stegodon sp (elephant, 0.8 million years). At that time, the marshes are more dominant than the ground.

Once humans evolved to a golden time at 0.7 to 0.3 million years ago, appeared in numerous animals, ie Elephas namadicus (elephant, 0.4 million years), Hippopotamus sp (0.7 million years), Cervidae (deer, elk), Bovidae (cattle, buffalo, bison), Rhinoceros sp, and Suidae (pigs). A the time Sangiran was already the open forests due for materials deposition of gravel, sand, and limestone that covers the entire swamp to harden.

"The finding of the thigh bone fossil it feels incredible, because it can be difficult to find another one. Bones are scattered, exposed to erosion, and others. However, we continue to hope that there is new data to theoretical progress. Like the discovery of leopard thigh, right, turn the wake theory for this," Harry said further.

Hasan Jafar, an archeologists of University of Indonesia, said that the findings emphasize new question that may arise. He exemplifies the cavernous limestone cave which has been found in West Java recently. "It is possible to find other fossils can be quite astounding. While the question of the date, there were method availability, as well as applied in geology," said Hasan.

Hasan also added, condition and life in prehistoric time could be reconstructed in detail, one of them from the findings of fossils. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KOMPAS]

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Car concept with a Virtual Transparent Hood technology

Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept has a range of sophisticated equipment, one of which is "transparent hood". By "transparent hood", the driver can see the road in front of the vehicle hood closed, as was in the front seat of the no-nosed car.

Land Rover’s Discovery Vision Concept car. (Picture from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/)

The transparent hood technologies using multiple cameras in the front grille. Picture of the machine shown below to sophisticated windshield, which could serve as a screen. And look at it under the hood and connect with the original sights on the windshield.

This feature is most useful when facing off-road, the driver does not need to remove the head from the side glass to the terrain looked ahead, or ask a passenger got out and gave instructions (spotter).

Transparent Bonnet technology that installed on Land Rover’s Discovery Vision Concept car effectively makes the hood look invisible, revealing the terrain it normally blocks from the driver’s view as well as the direction the front wheels are currently facing. (Picture from: http://www.geek.com/)

Its windshield, side glass, rear glass, and panoramic moon roof Concept Vision Discovery using "Smart Glass". Not only serves as a touch screen on a smartphone, all that glass could turn dark or glow illuminating the interior. Panoramic moon roof it can display images like a screensaver.

Left side view of Land Rover’s Discovery Vision Concept car. (Picture from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/)

Screens are located in different parts of the interior, including the steering wheel, the center dashboard, as well as on the back of the front seats are intended for rear passengers. Discovery Vision consists of three rows of seats for seven passengers.

Rear view of Land Rover’s Discovery Vision Concept car. (Picture from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/)

The main light using a laser that illuminates the front of up to 300 feet ahead and automatically adjusts the light for vehicles coming from the opposite direction. When faced with off-road, the laser scanner in the fog lamps will perform its functions; conditions in front of the screen is scanned and displayed in HD quality.

If the face of extreme off-road terrain, the driver can get out of the vehicle and then brings Terrain Response which is in the center console. Furthermore, this car also uses Wi-Fi onnectivity, the driver can control the vehicle from the outside, with a very slow rate. The system was named All-Terrain Progress Control and can use a smartphone or tablet that is already paired.

More sophistication is the "Wade Aid" which measures the depth of a hole or water so that the vehicle does not get stuck. There are various drive settings, but perhaps the most unusual setting for passing the gate because the driver does not need to be in and out of the vehicle to open and close the gate. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORAUTHORITY]

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World's smallest printer

A start up company named Zuta Labs introduces an innovative printer that only fist-sized. This printer can be inserted into a pocket and can be taken anywhere.

The world's smallest printer named Pocket Printer by Zuta Labs. (Picture from: http://www.zutalabs.com/)

This tool is named Pocket Printer, because this printer can be put into your pocket. This portable printer is shaped like a circle that is coupled with a triangle. Only have 10 cm high, 11.5 cm diameter, and weighs only 300 grams.

How to work in the Pocket Printer prints a document is very simple. Simply put this portable printer on paper desired, by itself Pocket Printer prints text line will run as shown in the computer or mobile phone. In a full-page print, the Pocket Printer takes a minute.

Ink that can be used only black ink. This printer is connected to the computer using a mobile device or wireless connectivity. Printer-made Zuta inovatis Labs can be operated with the Android operating system, iOS, Linux, OS X, and Windows. But the resilience of the battery power can only be used for one hour.

Printers that can run itself is not mass-produced and not sold freely. The company is currently negotiating with Kickstarter to ask for donations of funds for mass production printers. The plan, this printer will be released in January 2015. Similarly, as quoted from Daily Mail on Sunday, April 13, 2014. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ZUTA LABS | DAILY MAIL]

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Solar energy aircraft being prepared for its round-the-world solar flight

Scientists continue to develop fuels that could make aircraft capable of operating for a long time in the air. And solar energy potential is developed to obtain the fuel efficiency of the aircraft. As reported from Engadget on Thursday, April 10, 2014, an achievement that the first aircraft has been successfully travelling around the world for 175 days, involving four pilots in the year of 1924.

Solar Impluse 2 being prepared for its round-the-world solar flight. (Picture from: http://www.voanews.com/)

Currently the Switzerland crews are planning to make new breakthroughs which will fly around the world using solar energy aircraft. The plane is an updated model of a solar-powered aircraft built five years ago and flown across the United States last year.

The Solar Impulse 2 will begin test flights next month in preparation for a planned around-the-world trip next year. Pilot Andre Borschberg said he expects to take five days and five nights to travel around the world. But he said Solar Impulse 2 could stay in the air indefinitely.

The aircraft has a long wingspan, which is about 240 feet. And on this innovative aircraft mounted approximately 17 thousand solar panels. The solar panel absorbs sunlight and storing it in batteries, which is then processed into energy to fly the plane. Reportedly, the aircraft speed can only reach 88 mph.

This brand-new aircraft is not intended as a super fast plane, but its ability to be able to fly for a long time and adopt eco-friendly fuel. Hopefully, this plane can still fly for one week. Currently, the pilots are testing the solar energy aircraft in Europe and the United States. Solar energy is expected to lower the cost to the lowest level. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ENGADGET | VOA NEWS]

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One Sexy Hot-Hatch in the Metal

The race-bred performance car Opel says is the fastest Astra ever built is also one of the finest-looking hot-hatches we’ve ever seen in the metal. 

Opel Astra OPC Extreme. (Picture from: http://www.carbuzz.com/)

The aggressive styling makes us think of a prize fighter ready for a ruck, while its carbon-fiber body parts – from the rear wing and diffuser to the front spoiler and hood – evidence that not only is the Astra OPC Extreme a powerful proposition it’s also lithe and lightweight.

 

The combination of a 300-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four and a curb weight that’s 100 kg less than the regular OPC variant is an exciting blend, but one that is being restricted to a low-volume run.

Rear three quarter of Opel Astra OPC Extreme. (Picture from: http://www.carbuzz.com/)

In the UK, Vauxhaull will roll it out as the Astra VXR Extreme. Inside, rear seats are replaced by a safety roll bar, Recaro buckets have been fitted up front along with Schroth six-point safety belts, while the cabin is trimmed in grey suede with contrast yellow stitching. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARBUZZ]

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Laser in future could divert Lightning strikes

Researchers from the University of Arizona and the University of Central Florida, USA to develop technology that can transmit high-intensity laser beam into the atmosphere, more distant than previously possible distance.

Researchers hope that ultimately, the technology could be used to steer lightning away from buildings. (Picture from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/)

The study, published in the Nature Photonics journal is still in the testing phase of the laboratory, but in the future, it can be used to guide electrical discharges such as lightning, so as not to strikes the building.

Currently, high intensity laser produced with modern technology vanished within a few inches since unraveled. That is, the laser was too short to be used in applications such as switching lightning.

The top image shows the case of the intense central beam alone. The beam is focused and a short filament results and the plasma channel dissipates rapidly. In the bottom figure, the beam is accompanied by the dress beam. The filament and the plasma channel is extended manifold. (Picture from: http://phys.org/)

The breakthrough made by researchers is putting the primary laser beam of high intensity in the second laser beam whose intensity is lower. When exploring the primary laser beam in the air, the two beams - the so-called dress beams - energy supply and make the primary laser beam is able to achieve a greater distance.

"We use two different types of rays. A high-intensity laser beam focus that made filaments, and another laser wrap. Second laser beam is able to have a longer distance and has a constant intensity," said Maik Scheller, researchers from the University of Arizona.

Similar to the principle of noise-canceling headphones featured, the loss of energy in the laser beam can be closed by primary energy supply of the laser beam wrapper. In lab testing, the research team was able to extend the maximum distance of the laser filament, which originally only 10 inches to 84 inches.

Simulations conducted by Matthew Mills at the University of Central Florida showed that by adjusting the laser technology scales to proportion the atmosphere, the laser filament distance can reach 50 meters or more.

When the filament moves in the air, they will leave a plasma channel, the ionized molecules that have lost electrons. Such plasma channels could be used to track lightning strikes. Ultimately, this technology can be used to control a lightning strike during a thunderstorm going on and direct it away from the building. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PHYS.ORG]
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