"Ancient Village in Liberec Department, Peru. This is a late Archaic site, thought to be created by the same Supe Culture responsible for the larger nearby site, Caral. The site includes and adobe pyramid and about two dozen buildings. A comparison aerial view on Google maps of both Caral and Era de Pando shows the similarities in architectural layout."
More http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=25983
that is, ideas and information on Science and Technology, Archaeology, Arts and Literatures. Physics at http://physics-sparavigna.blogspot.com/
Welcome!
Benvenuti in queste pagine dedicate a scienza, storia ed arte. Amelia Carolina Sparavigna, Torino
Monday, February 28, 2011
Caral, in Peru, the oldest town in the New World
"In 2001, the oldest town in South America was officially announced. Dating to 2600 BC, it pushed back the date for the “first town” with one millennium. What is even more intriguing, is that the town of Caral has pyramids, contemporary with the Egyptian Pyramid Era....The ancient pyramids of Caral predate the Inca civilization by 4000 years, but were flourishing a century before the pyramids of Gizeh. No surprise therefore that they have been identified as the most important archaeological discovery since the discovery of Machu Picchu in 1911" by Philip Coppens, read more http://www.philipcoppens.com/caral.html
Parihuana - Geoglyphs Titicaca
A geoglyph of Titicaca - As seen by Google Maps
Etichette:
archaeology,
geoglyphs,
Peru,
satellite
Friday, February 25, 2011
Domenico Pacini and the discovery of cosmic rays
Domenico Pacini, uncredited pioneer of the discovery of cosmic rays
A. De Angelis
Vol 33 No 12 2010,
A. De Angelis
Vol 33 No 12 2010,
Rivista del Nuovo Cimento
Volume 033 Issue 12 pp 713-756
Published online: Fri, 28 Jan 2011
3D screen with voxels
"Researchers at Southampton University are using the holographic-style display to design a flawless-quality communication system that comes closer to the impression that users are in the same room.
... This ‘HoloVizio’ screen is made up of tiny elements called voxels (rather than pixels) that can represent depth information. Each voxel emits multiple beams of light that vary in colour and intensity depending on which direction they travel."
... This ‘HoloVizio’ screen is made up of tiny elements called voxels (rather than pixels) that can represent depth information. Each voxel emits multiple beams of light that vary in colour and intensity depending on which direction they travel."
Bent-Core Liquid Crystals
Most Cited Articles 2009 Japanese Journal Applied Physics
The 10 articles published in JJAP from 2006 to 2008 that were most frequently cited in 2009, in order of publication date. PDF files of the full text of these articles are available free of charge for one year from January 2011.
Bent-Core Liquid Crystals: Their Mysterious and Attractive World, by Hideo Takezoe, and Yoichi Takanishi, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 45 (2006) 597 [Abstract] [Full Text PDF Free ]
Bent-Core Liquid Crystals: Their Mysterious and Attractive World
Hideo TAKEZOE and Yoichi TAKANISHI
Structures and properties of liquid crystalline phases formed by bent-core molecules are reviewed. At least eight phases designated as B1–B8 have been found, being unambiguously distinguished from phases formed by usual calamitic molecules due to a number of remarkable peculiarities. In addition to B1–B8 phases, smectic A-like phases and biaxial nematic phases formed by bent-core molecules are also reviewed. The most attractive aspects of this new class of liquid crystals are in polarity and chirality, despite being formed from achiral molecules. The bent-core mesogens are the first ferroelectric and antiferroelectric liquid crystals realized without introducing chirality. Spontaneous chiral deracemization at microscopic and macroscopic levels occurs and is controllable. Moreover, achiral bent-core molecules enhance system chirality. The interplay between polarity and chirality provides chiral nonlinear optic effects. Further interesting phenomena related to polarity and chirality are also reviewed. [DOI: 10.1143/JJAP.45.597]
KEYWORDS: bent-core liquid crystals, polarity, chirality, ferroelectricity, antiferroelectricity, phase structure, layer structure, X-ray diffraction, nonlinear optics, SHG
Bent-Core Liquid Crystals: Their Mysterious and Attractive World
Hideo TAKEZOE and Yoichi TAKANISHI
Structures and properties of liquid crystalline phases formed by bent-core molecules are reviewed. At least eight phases designated as B1–B8 have been found, being unambiguously distinguished from phases formed by usual calamitic molecules due to a number of remarkable peculiarities. In addition to B1–B8 phases, smectic A-like phases and biaxial nematic phases formed by bent-core molecules are also reviewed. The most attractive aspects of this new class of liquid crystals are in polarity and chirality, despite being formed from achiral molecules. The bent-core mesogens are the first ferroelectric and antiferroelectric liquid crystals realized without introducing chirality. Spontaneous chiral deracemization at microscopic and macroscopic levels occurs and is controllable. Moreover, achiral bent-core molecules enhance system chirality. The interplay between polarity and chirality provides chiral nonlinear optic effects. Further interesting phenomena related to polarity and chirality are also reviewed. [DOI: 10.1143/JJAP.45.597]
KEYWORDS: bent-core liquid crystals, polarity, chirality, ferroelectricity, antiferroelectricity, phase structure, layer structure, X-ray diffraction, nonlinear optics, SHG
Thursday, February 24, 2011
La Medusa di Wayland's Smithy
Un crop circle del 2009, che si vede con Google Maps. "Formazione anomala, e spettacolare. È stata riportata da tutti i media internazionali in quanto dotata di una rara quanto unica energia espressiva."
Wayland's Smithy is a Neolithic long barrow and chamber tomb site located near the Uffington White Horse and Uffington Castle, at Ashburyin the English county of Oxfordshire (historically in Berkshire).
Wayland's Smithy is a Neolithic long barrow and chamber tomb site located near the Uffington White Horse and Uffington Castle, at Ashburyin the English county of Oxfordshire (historically in Berkshire).
Shale gas
From Wiki "Shale gas is natural gas produced from shale. Shale gas has become an increasingly important source of natural gas in the United States over the past decade, and interest has spread to potential gas shales in Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. One analyst expects shale gas to supply as much as half the natural gas production in North America by 2020."
Study says natural gas use likeky to double, NYTimes, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/business/energy-environment/25natgas.html?_r=1&src=busln
Study says natural gas use likeky to double, NYTimes, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/business/energy-environment/25natgas.html?_r=1&src=busln
Dal Sole24ore "L'Eia ha ritoccato le stime sulle riserve nazionali di shale gas - il metano che si ricava da antiche e stratificate formazioni rocciose – più che raddoppiandole. Così, quegli Stati Uniti già abbastanza ossessionati dalla dipendenza dal petrolio d'importazione, scoprono con sollievo di essere una potenza nel gas: secondo l'Eia, nel 2035 il 45% del fabbisogno americano verrà dalle rocce sedimentarie."
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
American mastodon
Mastodons were large tusked mammal species of the extinct genus Mammut which inhabited Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Central America from the Oligocene through Pleistocene, 33.9 mya to 11,000 years ago. The American mastodon is the most recent and best known species of the group.
The American mastodon, Mammut americanum, lived from about 3.7 million years ago until about 10,000 BC. It was the last surviving member of the mastodon family. It is known from fossils found ranging from present-day Alaska and New England in the north, to Florida, southern California, and as far south as Honduras and El Salvador.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon
The American mastodon, Mammut americanum, lived from about 3.7 million years ago until about 10,000 BC. It was the last surviving member of the mastodon family. It is known from fossils found ranging from present-day Alaska and New England in the north, to Florida, southern California, and as far south as Honduras and El Salvador.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon
Cryogenic energy storage
Cryogenic energy storage plant could provide valuable back-up | News | The Engineer
"The UK’s first cryogenic power storage plant, which uses liquid nitrogen to store and release energy, is scheduled to open next month. Its operator, Highview Power Storage, said the system could provide a relatively cheap way of storing power, particularly from intermittent sources such as wind turbines, to better match the supply of electricity to demand.The pilot facility near Slough has been providing electricity to the National Grid since April last year by evaporating liquid nitrogen stored at -200ºC to drive turbine generators. Highview is now installing equipment to re-liquefy and compress the nitrogen using electricity from the grid, creating a closed cryogenic system that can store energy at times of surplus and release it when it is needed, while re-using the cold air exhaust."
"The UK’s first cryogenic power storage plant, which uses liquid nitrogen to store and release energy, is scheduled to open next month. Its operator, Highview Power Storage, said the system could provide a relatively cheap way of storing power, particularly from intermittent sources such as wind turbines, to better match the supply of electricity to demand.The pilot facility near Slough has been providing electricity to the National Grid since April last year by evaporating liquid nitrogen stored at -200ºC to drive turbine generators. Highview is now installing equipment to re-liquefy and compress the nitrogen using electricity from the grid, creating a closed cryogenic system that can store energy at times of surplus and release it when it is needed, while re-using the cold air exhaust."
Lanzan pájaro espía
Un miniavión espía en forma de colibrí que funciona a control remoto fue presentado por el Pentágono.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Dancing galaxies
Il Sole24ore propone una collezione di immagini con la danza delle galassie. Vedi
http://foto.ilsole24ore.com/SoleOnLine5/Tecnologie/Scienza/2011/danza-galassie/danza-galassie_fotogallery.php?id=2
http://foto.ilsole24ore.com/SoleOnLine5/Tecnologie/Scienza/2011/danza-galassie/danza-galassie_fotogallery.php?id=2
A stellar superfluid
Physics - A stellar superfluid, is the Nicolas Chamel's viewpoint on the paper:
Rapid Cooling of the Neutron Star in Cassiopeia A Triggered by Neutron Superfluidity in Dense Matter
Dany Page, Madappa Prakash, James M. Lattimer, and Andrew W. Steiner
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 081101 (2011) – Published February 22, 2011
Download PDF (free)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Il tritone e il drago marino
Physicists create 'anti-laser'
Physicists create 'anti-laser' - physicsworld.com
"In a fascinating case of physics being turned on its head, a group of researchers at Yale University in the US has created an "anti-laser" that almost perfectly absorbs incoming beams of coherent light. The invention is based on a theoretical study reported last summer in which Douglas Stone and his Yale colleagues claimed that such a system could be possible in a device that they call a coherent perfect absorber (CPA). Instead of generating coherent light beams with a laser, the devices absorb incoming coherent light and convert it into either heat or electricity."
DNA puts a new spin on electrons
DNA puts a new spin on electrons - physicsworld.com
"A new and highly efficient way of filtering electrons according to their spin has been built using double strands of DNA. The technique, which has been developed by physicists in Israel and Germany, is about three times more efficient than using magnet-based spin filters. The method could be used in spintronic circuits, which exploit both the spin and charge of electrons, and could even lead to a better understanding of the possible role that spin plays in biological processes."
"A new and highly efficient way of filtering electrons according to their spin has been built using double strands of DNA. The technique, which has been developed by physicists in Israel and Germany, is about three times more efficient than using magnet-based spin filters. The method could be used in spintronic circuits, which exploit both the spin and charge of electrons, and could even lead to a better understanding of the possible role that spin plays in biological processes."
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Sun in 3D
"Beginning on February 6, 2011, the two STEREO spacecraft are 180 degrees apart providing Naval Research Laboratory scientists with a 360-degree view of the Sun. NASA's STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) spacecraft were launched on October 25, 2006, and have been gathering spectacular images of solar activity, especially solar storms, since the mission began."
More http://www.nrl.navy.mil/pao/pressRelease.php?Y=2011&R=22-11r and http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/360blog/
A 3D movie at the page:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stereo/multimedia/AnaglyphFull171Movie.html
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stereo/multimedia/AnaglyphFull171Movie.html
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Two splendid suns
"Earth could be getting a second sun, at least temporarily. Dr. Brad Carter, Senior Lecturer of Physics at the University of Southern Queensland, outlined the scenario to news.com.au. Betelgeuse, one of the night sky's brightest stars, is losing mass, indicating it is collapsing. It could run out of fuel and go super-nova at any time.
When that happens, for at least a few weeks, we'd see a second sun, Carter says. There may also be no night during that timeframe."
When that happens, for at least a few weeks, we'd see a second sun, Carter says. There may also be no night during that timeframe."
More The Huffington Post
Friday, February 4, 2011
North Atlantic strait at its warmest for 2000 years
"A stretch of water east of Greenland, considered to be the Arctic's main source of heat from the North Atlantic, is warmer now than it has been in at least 2000 years. That is the claim of researchers in Europe and the US who suggest further warming will amplify the effects of climate change in the Arctic region."
North Atlantic strait at its warmest for 2000 years - physicsworld.com
North Atlantic strait at its warmest for 2000 years - physicsworld.com
Aurora boreale su Saturno
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Fotovoltaico organico
Come celle solari organiche si intendono quei dispositivi la cui parte fotoattiva è basata sui composti organici del carbonio, includendo anche quelle celle più prettamente di tipo ibrido. La struttura base di una cella organica è un "sandwich" composto da un substrato e da una o più sottilissime pellicole contenenti i materiali fotoattivi, in mezzo a due elettrodi conduttivi di cui uno trasparente.
"La gamma di celle solari organiche è ampia e si trova in diversi stadi di ricerca e di maturazione tecnologica e comprende, in sintesi, le celle “dye sensitized” (o DSSC), le celle totalmente organiche (anche dette plastiche), e le celle ibride organico/inorganico. Per le celle DSSC (o di Grätzel, dal nome del loro inventore), la parte fotoelettricamente attiva, spessa qualche micrometro ed inserita tra due elettrodi, è costituita da un pigmento organico, da ossido di titanio e da un elettrolita. Le celle DSSC, ispirandosi al processo di fotosintesi clorofilliana, utilizzano una miscela di materiali in cui un pigmento assorbe la radiazione solare e gli altri componenti estraggono la carica per produrre elettricità. Infatti è possibile ottenere l’effetto fotovoltaico anche con pigmenti vegetali. Efficienze massime del 10-11% e tempi di vita di vari anni, valori comunque in costante aumento, sono stati misurati in laboratorio per questo tipo di cella singola, utilizzando pigmenti sintetizzati attraverso i processi della chimica organica. ...
Le celle fotovoltaiche completamente organiche, sia quelle a “small molecules”, realizzate attraverso un’evaporazione sotto vuoto, sia quelle polimeriche, realizzate attraverso deposizione in forma liquida, sono recentemente arrivate al 4-5% di efficienza massima per celle in laboratorio. Queste celle, anche conosciute come “plastiche”, sono molto interessanti in quanto le tecniche di fabbricazione sono le più semplici da attuare."
More Rinnovabili.it: L’evoluzione “organica” delle celle fotovoltaiche
"La gamma di celle solari organiche è ampia e si trova in diversi stadi di ricerca e di maturazione tecnologica e comprende, in sintesi, le celle “dye sensitized” (o DSSC), le celle totalmente organiche (anche dette plastiche), e le celle ibride organico/inorganico. Per le celle DSSC (o di Grätzel, dal nome del loro inventore), la parte fotoelettricamente attiva, spessa qualche micrometro ed inserita tra due elettrodi, è costituita da un pigmento organico, da ossido di titanio e da un elettrolita. Le celle DSSC, ispirandosi al processo di fotosintesi clorofilliana, utilizzano una miscela di materiali in cui un pigmento assorbe la radiazione solare e gli altri componenti estraggono la carica per produrre elettricità. Infatti è possibile ottenere l’effetto fotovoltaico anche con pigmenti vegetali. Efficienze massime del 10-11% e tempi di vita di vari anni, valori comunque in costante aumento, sono stati misurati in laboratorio per questo tipo di cella singola, utilizzando pigmenti sintetizzati attraverso i processi della chimica organica. ...
Le celle fotovoltaiche completamente organiche, sia quelle a “small molecules”, realizzate attraverso un’evaporazione sotto vuoto, sia quelle polimeriche, realizzate attraverso deposizione in forma liquida, sono recentemente arrivate al 4-5% di efficienza massima per celle in laboratorio. Queste celle, anche conosciute come “plastiche”, sono molto interessanti in quanto le tecniche di fabbricazione sono le più semplici da attuare."
More Rinnovabili.it: L’evoluzione “organica” delle celle fotovoltaiche
Drilling for geothermal energy
"An exploration team in Newcastle plan to drill through old mining tunnels to search for geothermal energy under the city centre. Researchers from Newcastle University who are leading the project hope it could initially provide up to 5MW of thermal energy, with potentially more heat and electricity from future boreholes. This would provide heat for a new campus that will combine research facilities with affordable housing, while some energy may be siphoned off the power a nearby shopping centre."
Read more Drilling to begin on Newcastle geothermal energy scheme | News | The Engineer
Read more Drilling to begin on Newcastle geothermal energy scheme | News | The Engineer
Polarization of light
At the HyperPhysics site you can find a classification of the polarization of light.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/phyopt/polclas.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/phyopt/polclas.html
The 3D light for spintronics
"Circularly polarized light, which is used in 3D movies, has its electric field vector rotating like a clock hand. It's typically produced by sending light through a filter, but now a team has created a small, solid device that emits partially circularly polarized light, as they describe in the 4 February Physical Review Letters. If this semiconductor technology can be further perfected, it could be used in devices that help biochemists control protein synthesis or help physicists control electrons in spintronics--a futuristic type of electronics." More in "Giving Light a Spin", Physical Review Focus
Nanobeads with liquid hydrogen to fuel cars?
"Plastic nanobeads that can store hydrogen at room temperature as a liquid are being commercialised for fuel applications by technology start-up Cella Energy." This is announced in an article by Andrew Czyzewski, The Engineer. More Nanobeads could store liquid hydrogen to fuel cars | News | The Engineer
Atlantic Wind Connection
Su Google. "... il gigante di Mountain View lancia un progetto mastodontico di energia eolica per le famiglie americane. Si chiama Atlantic Wind Connection (Awc) ed un progetto che si pone l'obiettivo di portare energia pulita nelle case di almeno due milioni di famiglie americane della East Coast. Il progetto vede coinvolta Google e vale sulla carta circa cinque miliardi di dollari, cifra necessaria per erigere a circa 15 miglia dalla costa degli Stati Uniti bagnata dall'Oceano Atlantico una dorsale di turbine eoliche lunga 350 miglia, che partirebbe da New York per raggiungere in direzione Sud la Virginia in quel di Norfolk."
More sole24ore
More sole24ore
A star and six planets
"A newfound planetary system has six worlds, five of which rank among the smallest known, and the list of unconfirmed candidates has swelled to four figures.
Thirty million kilometers away, trailing the pale blue dot that is Earth as it orbits the sun, is a spacecraft designed to find some of the countless other pale blue dots that may speckle the galaxy. NASA launched this spacecraft, known as Kepler, in 2009 to take a census of Earth-like planets in the hopes of figuring out how common—or how rare—are the conditions under which life has thrived here."
more Scientific American
Una stella e sei pianeti
"Una stella molto simile al Sole ed intorno a lei 6 pianeti che ruotano, un vero e proprio Sistema solare. Ma non è certo il nostro, dato che sta a 2.000 anni luce dalla Terra, una distanza enorme su scala umana, ma molto piccola i termini astronomici. La stella si chiama Kepler 11 e la scoperta del sistema di sei pianeti, tutti piccoli e alcuni con caratteristiche di tipo terrestre, è riportata nella rivista Nature del 3 febbraio."
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Eye of Osiris
"The Eye of Osiris" is a novel written by Richard Austin Freeman (1862 - 1943). He was a British writer of detective stories, mostly featuring the medico-legal forensic investigator Dr Thorndyke. A large proportion of the Dr Thorndyke stories involve genuine points of scientific knowledge, from areas such as tropical medicine, metallurgy and toxicology. In this crime novel, Dr Thorndyke solved the mistery using a X-ray photography of a mummy.
"It was all clear enough so far. The peculiar sound that filled the air was the hum of the interrupter; the bulb was, of course, a Crookes' tube, and the red spot inside it, the glowing red-hot disc of the anti-cathode. Clearly an X-ray photograph was being made; but of what? I strained my eyes, peering into the gloom at the foot of the gallows, but though I could make out an elongated object lying on the floor directly under the bulb, I could not resolve the dimly seen shape into anything recognisable. Presently, however, Dr. Norbury supplied the clue. 'I am rather surprised,' said he, 'that you chose so composite an object as a mummy to begin on. I should have thought that a simpler object, such as a coffin or a wooden figure, would have been more instructive.' "
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0605551h.html
"It was all clear enough so far. The peculiar sound that filled the air was the hum of the interrupter; the bulb was, of course, a Crookes' tube, and the red spot inside it, the glowing red-hot disc of the anti-cathode. Clearly an X-ray photograph was being made; but of what? I strained my eyes, peering into the gloom at the foot of the gallows, but though I could make out an elongated object lying on the floor directly under the bulb, I could not resolve the dimly seen shape into anything recognisable. Presently, however, Dr. Norbury supplied the clue. 'I am rather surprised,' said he, 'that you chose so composite an object as a mummy to begin on. I should have thought that a simpler object, such as a coffin or a wooden figure, would have been more instructive.' "
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0605551h.html
Eye of Horus
The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power and good health. The eye is personified in the goddess Wadjet. The name Wadjet is derived from 'wadj' meaning 'green' hence 'the green one' and was known to the Greeks and Romans as 'uraeus' from the Egyptian 'iaret' meaning 'risen one' from the image of a cobra rising up in protection. More at Wiki
Wadjet was one of the earliest of Egyptian deities who later became associated with other goddesses such as Bast, Mut, and Hathor, who is also depicted with this eye. Burial amulets were often made in the shape of the Eye of Horus, to protect the owner in the afterlife and to ward off evil. Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern sailors would frequently paint the symbol on the bow of their vessel to ensure safe sea travel (Charles Freeman, The Legacy of Ancient Egypt, Facts on File, Inc. 1997. p.91).
"Horus was the ancient Egyptian sky god who was usually depicted as a falcon. His right eye was associated with the sun Ra. The eye symbol represents the marking around a Peregrine Falcon's eye that includes the "teardrop" marking sometimes found below the eye."
It is interesting to note that, in the ancient egyptian calculus, the Eye Of Horus defined number one (1) = 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + 1/32 + 1/64, by throwing away 1/64. The parts of the Eye were used to represent fractions.
Wadjet was one of the earliest of Egyptian deities who later became associated with other goddesses such as Bast, Mut, and Hathor, who is also depicted with this eye. Burial amulets were often made in the shape of the Eye of Horus, to protect the owner in the afterlife and to ward off evil. Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern sailors would frequently paint the symbol on the bow of their vessel to ensure safe sea travel (Charles Freeman, The Legacy of Ancient Egypt, Facts on File, Inc. 1997. p.91).
"Horus was the ancient Egyptian sky god who was usually depicted as a falcon. His right eye was associated with the sun Ra. The eye symbol represents the marking around a Peregrine Falcon's eye that includes the "teardrop" marking sometimes found below the eye."
It is interesting to note that, in the ancient egyptian calculus, the Eye Of Horus defined number one (1) = 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + 1/32 + 1/64, by throwing away 1/64. The parts of the Eye were used to represent fractions.
Amulets on display at the Egyptian Museum, Torino
Second sight
In English, "second sight" indicates a form of extrasensory perception - a supposed power to perceive things that are not present to the senses - by means of which a person gains information in the form of a vision. The person "sees" future events before they happen (precognition), or things at remote locations (remote viewing). "Second sight" is so called because normal vision is coming as first, while supernormal vision is a secondary thing, confined to certain individuals.
Ecco una divinita' solare mesoamericana (cultura Chupicuaro), che con i suoi occhi raddoppiati evoca il dono della "doppia vista". Il giallo, colore del Sole, simboleggia la perfezione spirituale ed è specifico dell'intelligenza; è stato spesso usato negli oggetti di culto e magici. Bella statuetta che illustra chiaramente il concetto della doppia vista.
In Italian, we call it the "doppia vista", that is the double sight, physical and spiritual. It is considered an awakening of consciousness.
Ecco una divinita' solare mesoamericana (cultura Chupicuaro), che con i suoi occhi raddoppiati evoca il dono della "doppia vista". Il giallo, colore del Sole, simboleggia la perfezione spirituale ed è specifico dell'intelligenza; è stato spesso usato negli oggetti di culto e magici. Bella statuetta che illustra chiaramente il concetto della doppia vista.
Museo Barbier-Mueller
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Centenario - Emilio Salgari
Quest'anno è il centenario della morte di Emilio Salgari.
Chi non ha letto un libro o visto un film il cui protagonista è Sandokan, la Tigre della Malesia?
Read more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandokan
Chi non ha letto un libro o visto un film il cui protagonista è Sandokan, la Tigre della Malesia?
Read more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandokan
Thursday, January 27, 2011
"Eye" of Sahara
During a survey by means of Google Maps of the desert near the Nile, I have seen this structure, which seems an eye on the sand.
It is small when compared to the huge Richat structure in Mauritania.
It is small when compared to the huge Richat structure in Mauritania.
Richat Structure
The Richat Structure is a huge circular feature in the Sahara desert of Mauritania near Ouadane. It has attracted attention since the earliest space missions because it forms an eye. The structure has a diameter of approx 50 kilometres. It was initially supposed a meteorite impact structure.
Image obtained by Google Maps
Arabia: craters and stone circles
More
Arabia: from craters to stone circles, by Amelia Carolina Sparavigna, arXiv, 9 Nov 2010
Keywords: Satellite maps, Landforms, Artificial landforms, Image processing, Archaeology
Subjects: Geophysics (physics.geo-ph), Cite as: arXiv:1011.2111v1 [physics.geo-ph]
http://arxiv.org/abs/1011.2111
Arabia: from craters to stone circles - di Amelia Carolina Sparavigna
Archaeogate, 19-11-2010
Paper cited by
New Evidence for a Large Prehistoric Settlement in a Caldera-Like Geomorphological
Structure in Southwest Morocco, by M. Huebner and S. Huebner
asalas.org, Germany
Abstract: In this article, the results of two expeditions to a prehistoric settlement
in southwest Morocco are summarized. It is situated in the Souss-Massa plain inside an annular
(circular) geomorphological structure and once covered about 20 km2.
The center was densely populated and surrounded by a 9 km long wall.
The authors found many ruins of houses, large monuments, caverns, cisterns, kilns, tumuli, paths, rock
carvings and various types of landscaping.
To see the paper: Archaeogate
http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1011/1011.2111.pdf
Arabia: from craters to stone circles, by Amelia Carolina Sparavigna, arXiv, 9 Nov 2010
Keywords: Satellite maps, Landforms, Artificial landforms, Image processing, Archaeology
Subjects: Geophysics (physics.geo-ph), Cite as: arXiv:1011.2111v1 [physics.geo-ph]
http://arxiv.org/abs/1011.2111
Arabia: from craters to stone circles - di Amelia Carolina Sparavigna
Archaeogate, 19-11-2010
Paper cited by
New Evidence for a Large Prehistoric Settlement in a Caldera-Like Geomorphological
Structure in Southwest Morocco, by M. Huebner and S. Huebner
asalas.org, Germany
Abstract: In this article, the results of two expeditions to a prehistoric settlement
in southwest Morocco are summarized. It is situated in the Souss-Massa plain inside an annular
(circular) geomorphological structure and once covered about 20 km2.
The center was densely populated and surrounded by a 9 km long wall.
The authors found many ruins of houses, large monuments, caverns, cisterns, kilns, tumuli, paths, rock
carvings and various types of landscaping.
To see the paper: Archaeogate
http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1011/1011.2111.pdf
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Woodhenge
Woodhenge is a Neolithic henge and timber circle monument located in the Stonehenge World Heritage Site in Wiltshire, England. Woodhenge was identified in 1925 after an aerial archaeology survey by Alexander Keiller and OGS Crawford. Crawford credits the discovery to an aerial photograph.
Most of the 168 post holes held wooden posts, although Cunnington found evidence that a pair of standing stones may have been placed between the second and third post hole rings. The positions of the postholes are currently marked with modern concrete posts which are a simple and informative method of displaying the site. Further comparisons with Stonehenge were quickly noticed by Cunnington; both have entrances oriented approximately on the midsummer sunrise.
more wiki
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Crop circles - 1
Crop circle, near the ancient monument of Avebury, UK
Monday, January 24, 2011
Archimedes's steam cannon
A steam cannon is a cannon where projectiles are launched by steam. The first steam cannon was designed by Archimedes during the Siege of Syracuse. Leonardo da Vinci was also known to have designed one. The device is metal tube, which would be placed in a furnace: one end of the tube is closed and the other loaded with a projectile. Once the tube reached a high enough temperature, a small amount of water in injected in behind the projectile. Leonardo da Vinci guessed that the water would rapidly expand into vapour, blasting the projectile out the front of the barrel.
See how the ArchiMITes cannon is working: http://web.mit.edu/2.009/www//experiments/steamCannon/ArchimedesSteamCannon.html
See how the ArchiMITes cannon is working: http://web.mit.edu/2.009/www//experiments/steamCannon/ArchimedesSteamCannon.html
Thermal water pump
A water pump that uses thermal energy from the sun is to undergo field testing before potentially being used by farmers in the developing world for irrigating fields. The device uses a non-inertive-feedback thermofluidic engine (NIFTE) that converts relatively small temperature differences between its heat source and heat sink into mechanical force.
Thermal water pump could aid farmers in developing nations | News | The Engineer
NIFTE is the core product of an univerisyt spin-off, http://www.thermofluidics.com/ . It would be interesting to have more details.
Thermal water pump could aid farmers in developing nations | News | The Engineer
NIFTE is the core product of an univerisyt spin-off, http://www.thermofluidics.com/ . It would be interesting to have more details.