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Yes, ET’s are real and they are here

July 25th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

European Exopolitics Summit 09 – Stephen Bassett

For the past five decades the human race has been caught between two worlds, two paradigms. While millions of people worldwide have come to understand they are not alone in the universe, that an extraterrestrial presence has become manifest about the planet, the governments of the world, frozen in place by fear and indecision, have been unable to publicly engage this new reality.

Stephen Bassett, is a lobbyist, activist, commentator and columnist. He is the founder of the Paradigm Research Group and the Executive Director of the political action committee, X-PPAC. His work has been referenced in, among others, the Washington Post, Washington Times, New York Times, Legal Times, Christian Science Monitor, National Journal and O’Dweyer’s Washington Report. He has been featured in documentaries and a guest on numerous radio programs addressing the “Politics of Disclosure.”

In this highly spirited and passionate interview, Stephen calls on every citizen to demand the proof of extra terrestrial life that we intuitively already know exists. Get ready to be inspired and motivated!

On Scientists and Beauty

July 23rd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

The scientist does not study nature because it is useful, he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful. If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living.

Jules Henri Poincare (1854 – 1912).

Billions Of Earth-Like Planets In Our Galaxy

June 3rd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Extrasolar-PlanetsIt is worth remembering that our galaxy alone has billions of Earth-like planets, and these earths are “[not only] probably habitable but they probably are also going to be inhabited”

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Galaxy has ‘billions of Earths’

There could be one hundred billion Earth-like planets in our galaxy, a US conference has heard.

Dr Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institution of Science said many of these worlds could be inhabited by simple lifeforms.

He was speaking at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago.

So far, telescopes have been able to detect just over 300 planets outside our Solar System.

But, based on the limited numbers of planets found so far, Dr Boss has estimated that each Sun-like star has on average one “Earth-like” planet.

This simple calculation means there would be huge numbers capable of supporting life.

Not only are they probably habitable but they probably are also going to be inhabited,” Dr Boss told BBC News. “But I think that most likely the nearby ‘Earths’ are going to be inhabited with things which are perhaps more common to what Earth was like three or four billion years ago.” That means bacterial lifeforms.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7891132.stm

The caption below was written in November 2004.

Other Earths

So, after having compiled a bestiary of exotic planets, many the size of Jupiter and locked in a deadly embrace with their star, what are the chances of the planet-hunters identifying rather smaller, sedate rocks upon which life might actually get the chance to evolve? It’s not as if these planets are likely to exist in minute numbers: current estimates [Using the Drake Equation] border on there being 30 billion terrestrial planets in our Galaxy alone [this is an article from 2002]. The odds of finding such planets lengthen a lot when one considers that these planets would have longer years and cause much smaller wobbles in their star’s position.

The odds shorten again the longer we look for these planets. Hot Jupiters tend to get found simply because the radial velocity method is most sensitive to their kind. It’s only now that smaller planets are being found, although none of them are likely to harbour life. Adopt a different method of detection, and we might start to see terrestrial planets, instead of inferring their presence.

This is precisely what the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) telescope is designed to do. This instrument comprises four space-based telescopes flying in formation. Their light is combined in such a way as to vastly increase resolution. One of the indicators that TPF will be looking for is the presence of elemental oxygen in a planet’s atmosphere. All oxygen in our atmosphere is there because of photosynthetic organisms: plants and cyanobacteria. Oxygen is therefore a key signature of life6.

TPF is not due to fly until 2015 at the earliest. In the meantime, Earth-based telescopes will get bigger and better, and astronomers will be able to observe for longer wobbles than they currently can. Even if we can’t see the little green men yet, we’ll have a much better idea of where they might live.

Source: H2G2 extrasolar planet hunting

Read more…

Documentary: The Boy With The Incredible Brain

May 23rd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

This documentary is very much worth watching. It shows the potential power of the human mind that we ALL posses. As you watch this, I ask you to consider this question: “what is normal?”

Enjoy!

Intro: This is the breathtaking story of Daniel Tammet. A twenty-something with extraordinary mental abilities, Daniel is one of the world’s few savants. He can do calculations to 100 decimal places in his head, and learn a language in a week. This documentary follows Daniel as he travels to America to meet the scientists who are convinced he may hold the key to unlocking similar abilities in everyone. He also meets the world’s most famous savant, the man who inspired Dustin Hoffman’s character in the Oscar winning film ‘Rain Man’. (2005)

PS. Mr. Tammet is not a boy as the title of this video implies, he is a genius and a very bright man.

And Nothing Happened

May 8th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Steven Ross talks about the medical discoveries that have been suppressed throughout the ages and the better solutions available for your health, these were mentioned in his book,


Book website: http://www.andnothinghappened.com

Blue Light Shown to Destroy Staph

May 7th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

blue-lightIn the January 31, 2009 issue of ScienceDaily, it was mentioned that blue light literally can kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This article is amazing not only because it discusses the effectiveness of electromagnetic waves in killing bacteria but in that it shows how ordinary visible blue light is what is killing the bacteria.

This article reminded me of some of the work that Royal Rife did with waves that killed germs and of course of the Spectro-Chrome color therapy as well. I attached a screen shot of the article to the right (click to enlarge image)

Two common strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, were virtually eradicated in the laboratory by exposing them to a wavelength of blue light, in a process called photo-irradiation

“Blue 470-nm Light Kills Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Vitro,” the authors exposed bacterial colonies of MRSA to various doses of 470-nm light, which emits no UV radiation.

In the current study, ‘Blue 470-nm Light Kills Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Vitro,’ the authors exposed bacterial colonies of MRSA to various doses of 470-nm light,” and they destroyed 90.4% of the staph.

“It is inspiring that an inexpensive naturally visible wavelength of light can eradicate two common strains of MRSA. Developing strategies that are capable of destroying MRSA, using mechanisms that would not lead to further antibiotic resistance, is timely and important for us and our patients,” says Chukuka S. Enwemeka, PhD, FACSM, Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal and first author of the study.

Find the full article at ScienceDaily here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090129131839.htm

Here, “Photo irradiation” just means shining light on something. “470-nm blue light” just means pure blue without contamination of red or violet. Blue light falls within the range of 440-490 nm. It’s nothing unusual or fancy.

A “higher dose” means staying under the light for longer.

I’ve read that one may feel withdrawn or reclusive after being under blue light for more than an hour.

Alternative Healing With Color Therapy

April 28th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

colortherapyI don’t know about you, despite my interest in alternative health modalities, I went for years without hearing about the use of color therapy until recently. To be honest, I may have come across it but quickly discounted it as not real, too simple, can’t work etc.. That is until recently thanks to a friend. When I took a more serious look at color therapy, what I found was both fascinating and eye opening. I have finished reading my first book on the topic and look forward to learning more.

Luckily, there are many resources available where you can learn more. The resources below were suggested to me by an authority in this field.

If you want to start learning about color therapy, I was told that all one needs to do was read these couple books:

  • Spectro-Chrome Metry Encyclopedia
  • Let There Be Light: The Healing Light of Spectro-Chrome

Other books that are related:

  • Secret of Life
  • Waves That Heal, The
  • Red and Blue Light (Orig published 1877)
  • New Light on Therapeutic Energies – Mark Gallert

Many of these books can be found (at a very affordable cost) here The World Research Foundation (WRF)

Amazon may have some of these books but they may be more costly on Amazon than through the WRF.

Related websites:

The Dinshah Health Society  http://www.dinshahhealth.org/

Color Psychology and Color Therapy by Ruth Pocsai http://www.ruthpocsai.com/ColorPsychologyColorTherapy.html

Dinshah Ghadiali and Spectro-Chrome By Ken Adachi http://educate-yourself.org/products/dinshahandspectrochrome.shtml

Vibrational Healing by Joy Gardner http://www.highvibrations.net/vh_program/vibrational_healing.html

Note: I will be posting more articles in the future on color therapy. You can easily find these articles in many ways, you can use the categories or tags (from the tag cloud) both found in the right-hand bar area.  The category you can use is  Color Therapy, and the tag you can use could be either or or simply the tag.

NASA’s New Eye on the Sun Delivers Stunning First Images

April 27th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

446589main_fulldiskmulticolor-orig_fullFrom time to time I come across technology or space-related information that I feel would fit nicely with the larger mission of this website. This one is really pretty and awe inspiring, but what isn’t awe inspiring in nature?

Recently, the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) took its first photographs of the sun. Click on the fascinating image to the right to see it in a larger size.

Bellow is a caption of the NASA article.

Title: NASA’s New Eye on the Sun Delivers Stunning First Images – 04.21.10

NASA’s recently launched Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, is returning early images that confirm an unprecedented new capability for scientists to better understand our sun’s dynamic processes. These solar activities affect everything on Earth.

Some of the images from the spacecraft show never-before-seen detail of material streaming outward and away from sunspots. Others show extreme close-ups of activity on the sun’s surface. The spacecraft also has made the first high-resolution measurements of solar flares in a broad range of extreme ultraviolet wavelengths.

“These initial images show a dynamic sun that I had never seen in more than 40 years of solar research,” said Richard Fisher, director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “SDO will change our understanding of the sun and its processes, which affect our lives and society. This mission will have a huge impact on science, similar to the impact of the Hubble Space Telescope on modern astrophysics.”

A full-disk multiwavelength extreme ultraviolet image of the sun taken by SDO on March 30, 2010. False colors trace different gas temperatures. Reds are relatively cool (about 60,000 Kelvin, or 107,540 F); blues and greens are hotter (greater than 1 million Kelvin, or 1,799,540 F). Credit: NASA/Goddard/SDO AIA Team

Launched on Feb. 11, 2010, SDO is the most advanced spacecraft ever designed to study the sun. During its five-year mission, it will examine the sun’s magnetic field and also provide a better understanding of the role the sun plays in Earth’s atmospheric chemistry and climate. Since launch, engineers have been conducting testing and verification of the spacecraft’s components. Now fully operational, SDO will provide images with clarity 10 times better than high-definition television and will return more comprehensive science data faster than any other solar observing spacecraft.

Source: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/news/first-light.html

For more on the SDO mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo

NASA Using Color Therapy

April 23rd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

colortherapyThis article about a NASA technology utilizing LED lights to help plants grow in space and humans to heal on Earth. Results are remarkable in healing wounds, this device is small, light weight and doesn’t consume much battery power due to the use of energy efficient LED.  The light seems to be “increasing energy inside cells“. It was found that “skin and muscle cells grown in cultures and exposed to the LED infrared light grow 150 to 200 percent faster than ground control cultures not stimulated by the light”

This is an AMAZING article, about a technology, tested and proven to heal people. Definitely a main-stream project, including laboratory and human trials, approved by the U.S. FDA and funded by a NASA Small Business Innovation Research contract.

This article is from the year 2000,  yet I don’t see main stream doctors and hospitals using this color therapy technology to heal wounds people today, how come this device or similar ones are not being sold in stores?

The article mentions that Dr. Whelan’s findings will be summarized in upcoming issues of Space Technology and Applications International Forum 2001 and in The Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine and Surgery.

I have more questions:

Was this study mentioned in these journals? Would the FDA approve a device like this to be sold to the public? What would the AMA think of this device?

If you have read about this study somewhere else or have further info please leave a comment. Thanks!

Title: NASA Space Technology Shines Light on Healing

Doctors at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have discovered the healing power of light with the help of technology developed for NASA’s Space Shuttle. Using powerful light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, originally designed for commercial plant growth research in space, scientists have found a way to help patients here on Earth.

Doctors are examining how this special lighting technology helps hard-to-heal wounds, such as diabetic skin ulcers, serious burns, and severe oral sores caused by chemotherapy and radiation. The project includes laboratory and human trials, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and funded by a NASA Small Business Innovation Research contract through the Technology Transfer Department at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

“So far, what we’ve seen in patients and what we’ve seen in laboratory cell cultures, all point to one conclusion,” said Dr. Harry Whelan, professor of pediatric neurology and director of hyperbaric medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. “The near-infrared light emitted by these LEDs seems to be perfect for increasing energy inside cells. This means whether you’re on Earth in a hospital, working in a submarine under the sea or on your way to Mars inside a spaceship, the LEDs boost energy to the cells and accelerate healing.”

Dr. Whelan’s findings will be summarized in upcoming issues of Space Technology and Applications International Forum 2001 and in The Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine and Surgery. Other related peer-reviewed journals have published articles on Whelan’s medical research with light-emitting diodes.

Dr. Whelan’s NASA-funded research has already seen remarkable results using the light-emitting diodes to promote healing of painful mouth ulcers caused by cancer therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy. The treatment is quick and painless.

Read more…

Steven Ross of The World Research Foundation on The Royal Rife Microscope and Using Frequencies to Destroy Viruses and Bacteria

April 19th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Sponsored Ads:

Thanks for your patronage. Article starts below:

I highly suggest you listen to this radio interview from about 6 years ago with Steven Ross of the World Research Foundation

Read more…

Royal Rife In His Own Words

April 18th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Here, in his own voice, is Dr. Royal Rife’s incredible story about his work on the cancer virus and other microorganisms

The Royal Rife Story

April 18th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

This film covers the amazing story of Royal Raymond Rife’s life and his cure for cancer using his frequency instruments.

This is a preview for a Rife video documentary, produced by the Rife Research Group of Canada, in association with Shawn Montgomery and Zero Zero Two Productions.

Killing Bacteria and Viruses with Frequencies

April 18th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Modern scientists find that shaking bacteria can kill it, i.e. using frequencies. This is what Dr Rife discovered in 1920’s.

This is a very small part of the documentary: The Life Story of Royal Raymond Rife, where he makes a Paracetum explode with his frequency generator.

A clip showing zapping

Apparently, frequencies can kill parasites .. why is this not being used to heal people, save money and lives?

The End of Cancer, Frequencies and The Rife Microscope

April 18th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Regina Meredith of Conscious Media Network talks with Steven Ross about the controversial story about Royal Raymond Rife and his Universal Microscope.

Electrical Frequencies to kill any kind of bacteria?

For the full interview FREE, go to www.consciousmedianetwork.com

Qigong, Electricity & The Human Body

March 29th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

energy-handsI got this from a disucssion forum a while back, I saved the text without the name of the author or a link back to that forum’s web page. If you know where this came from let me know .. for now here’s the text attempting to explain what the Qi/Chee/Life force is (basically it argues that Qi is bio-electricity).

Electricity, defined by Merriam-Webster, is as follows: a fundamental form of energy observable in positive and negative forms that occurs naturally (as in lightning) or is produced (as in a generator) and that is expensed in terms of the movement and interaction of electrons.

Generally speaking, when thinking of electricity, we think of it as something external to our human bodies: the naturally occurring lightning and human created technology being two said instances. There is, however, a form of electricity that is prevalent in every living creature: bioelectricity.

Bioelectricity is the electric phenomena related to living organisms. It is bioelectricity that enables a shark to map the ocean floor. It is bio-electromagnetic phenomena that enable migratory birds to travel great distances at the same time each year with the accuracy we have only been able to reproduce with maps and GPS. It is bioelectricity that enables the electric eel to generate large fields of current outside their bodies.

The difference of electricity vs. bioelectricity is in degree, not in kind. Whereas a lightning bolt can exceed temperatures of 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit (30,000 degrees Celsius), that same current runs through the human body, just on a smaller scale.

In fact, the human body runs largely off of [bio] electricity and has organs dedicated to sensing electromagnetic impulses, both inside and outside the human body. The pineal and pituitary glands are both directly tied to the human body’s ability to sense and actively experience electromagnetic phenomenon.

The pineal gland is the evolutionary descendant of our ancestors’ ability to perceive light. It also regulates the circadian rhythms of the body, biological rhythms that are attuned to the day-night cycle, (Celtoslavica, Electricity and Human Consciousness); these ‘rhythms’ can be and have been disrupted by electromagnetic fields, both naturally occurring as well as man-made. The pituitary gland controls and influences all other hormonal organs which report back to the pituitary gland(Celtoslavica, Electricity and Human Consciousness); in fact, the pituitary gland is largely responsible for the overall functioning and efficiency of the human nervous system.

The nervous system in human beings is based entirely off of the ability to transmit electric pulses. Every cell within the human body pumps ions (e.g. that which makes up the quantum field), in and out of the cell for energy purposes; this is called the Sodium-Potassium pump, and can be found in all animal life. Said energy, in the biological animal, is called “adenosine triphosphate” (ATP); biologists and biochemist alike have noted that ATP can be neutral, or carry a charge (plus or minus), and is, infact, a charged particle which the cells use for energy. ATP is the final product of the digestive cycle and further exemplifies the human being’s connection (and ability) to experience and manipulate the electromagnetic fields that permeate the Universe.

“Bio-magnetism: An Awesome Force in Our Lives,” an article published by Reader’s Digest (January 1983), highlights some of the [still] cutting edge concepts the scientific community is, and has been, practicing:

“When a patient with a broken leg that is not healing properly comes to Dr. Basset (Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, NY), he is likely to go home with two heavy pads connected by wires to a box that can plug into an electrical wall socket. The patient puts one pad on each side of his broken bone and turns on the device. Coils of wire in the pad induce a pulsing electromagnetic field into his flesh and bone — a field of energy that somehow commands the bone to heal itself.”

As postulated by the scientists interviewed in the article, it makes sense that human beings have the innate ability to sense electromagnetic phenomena:
“We live on a sun-lit planet, and most living things have acquired some means to use the light. We live in a world filled with sounds, and most living things have developed a means to sense vibrations. Since our planet is also a giant magnet, it should not surprise us to discover that we and many other living things have a sensitivity to Earth’s magnetic-force field.”

As we look from large-scale physics, e.g., the lightning bolt and the sodium-potassium pump, to smaller scale electromagnetic phenomenon, we find ourselves in the realm of quantum mechanics. Light is an electromagnetic phenomenon. Light is both a wave and a particle. In terms of quantum mechanics, electricity and light are the same. The oscillations of the impulses create the divergent effects. Microwaves, radio waves, even the non-lethal weapons of the US Army (such as the Active Denial System jnlwp[dot]com/ads.asp) are based out of electromagnetic fields.

Read more…

The Link Between Meditation and Artificial Intelligence

February 17th, 2010 Ethan Z 3 comments

Mechanical BrainSit down, put your feet on the ground, sit up straight, close your eyes, breath deeply, start to notice your thoughts. Now slowly separate your awareness from your thoughts, in other words take a couple steps back in your mind from your thoughts, notice the thoughts but don’t actually think them, start to listen and watch the thoughts as the arise.

What you are doing is becoming an observer of your thoughts, not participating in them, simply acknowledging them, letting them go along as you remain, a non-critical observer.

It may help if you had a word to repeat (like ‘ohm’, or any mantra) or a spot to concentrate your eyes on (with your eyes closed) to help you keep your observer self separate from your thoughts.

Soon, you may notice all sorts of thoughts, ideas, even images and sounds show up, from somewhere, and if you let them be (without judging or participating in them), fade away.

This practice of observing thoughts is fascinating and amusing. As the observer, I noticed how many of the thoughts I noticed seemed random and unrelated, some of them even seemed foreign to me.

The above is how I typically explain what it’s like to meditate.

Soon after I woke up this morning, right before I left the bed, I had an idea that connected the above experience of meditation with designing artificial intelligence software. The insight I gained from meditating, into how we are observers of seemingly random thoughts, seemed appropriately suited for artificial intelligence computer programs.

Let me clarify, I’m trying to say that artificial intelligence design may benefit (and become actualized) if and when we can mimic what human minds do. In other words, when random ideas are picked from an idea bank or generated in some fashion then presented to an observing software for split-second analysis. By generating or picking up thousands of seemingly random pieces of information, then running them through the examining software (observer) that can discard some ideas and pick others for further consideration, we may be able to give a machine the ability to find inspiration and creativity.

I am posting this idea online, in hopes that someone can pick it up and utilize it, I hope you can find this helpful, assuming that this concept is not already being utilized in AI projects.

My meditation practice allowed me to see how thoughts, almost at random, criss-crossed my mind, and how consciousness or the observer can pick some and discard others, unconsciously processing countless numbers of ideas behind the scene of the logical mind. This is very different than the typical linear and object oriented computer programming, it is also different than fuzzy logic in computer science.

We, humans, make sense and create order out of seeming chaos in our heads, with ease (unconsciously), maybe this is what AI programs have been lacking.

Let me hear your thoughts, leave a comment below. Thanks!!

Added Feb 18, 2010:

I  mentioned traditional linear, object oriented programming and fuzzy logic above. I would like to clarify that fuzzy logic (ie. going with degrees of truth instead of true/false values) can be a valuable part of the AI strategy mentioned above. The observer program would utilize fuzzy logic to evaluate all the random ideas, images, concepts, sounds being presented to it. The source of such ideas, concepts etc being presented can also be another complex program, or multiple ones, I will call the source the ‘Presenter’ program(s); the observing program is what I’ve referred to as ‘Observer’. 

Read more…

New Sun Spots 2010-02-07

February 7th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

New sunspots just appeared, known as sunspot group 1045. This is an active region that has produced moderate (M-class) solar flares. Here’s a photo of the sun
2010-02-07-sunspots
You can find a LIVE photo of the sun if you scroll down and look in the right side of this website

Signs of Life Found on The Moon

December 14th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

Bangalore: Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) are on the brink of a path-breaking discovery. They may have found signs of life in some form or the other on the Moon.

They believe so because scientific instruments on India’s first unmanned lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, picked up signatures of organic matter on parts of the Moon’s surface, Surendra Pal, associate director, Isro Satellite Centre (Isac), said at the international radar symposium here on Friday.

Organic matter consists of organic compounds, which consists of carbon — the building block of life.

It indicates the formation of life or decay of a once-living matter.

Pal said the signatures were relayed back to the Bylalu deep space network station near Bangalore by the mass spectrometer on board the Indian payload, the moon impact probe (MIP), on November 14, 2008.

The relay of data happened moments before it crashed near the Moon’s south pole. The MIP was the first experiment of the Chandrayaan-1 mission, which was launched on October 22, 2008.

Pal, however, did not elaborate, but concluded saying “the findings are being analysed and scrutinised for validation by Isro scientists and peer reviewers”.

“It is too early to say anything,” said the director of Isro’s space physics laboratory R Sridharan, who is heading the team of MIP data analysis and study. He, however, did not deny the finding.

DNA later inquired with other senior Chandrayaan-1 mission scientists, who not only confirmed the finding, but gave further details.

“Certain atomic numbers were observed that indicated the presence of carbon components. This indicates the possibility of the presence of organic matter (on the Moon),” a senior scientist told DNA.

Interestingly, similar observations were made by the US’s first manned Moon landing mission, the Apollo-11, in July 1969, which brought lunar soil samples back to Earth. But due to a lack of sophisticated equipment then, the scientists could not confirm the finding.

However, traces of amino acids, which are basic to life, were found in the soil retrieved by the Apollo-11 astronauts.

The Chandrayaan-1 scientists, at present, are analysing the source of origin of the Moon’s organic matter. “It could be comets or meteorites which have deposited the matter on the Moon’s surface; or the instrument that landed on the Moon could have left traces,” a senior space scientist said.

“But the presence of large sheets of ice in the polar regions of the Moon, and the discovery of water molecules there, lend credence to the possibility of organic matter there,” he said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report_indian-scientists-detect-signs-of-life-on-moon_1322785

Categories: Astronomy, Science / Technology Tags:

New Sun Spots 2009-09-22

September 22nd, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

I keep my eye on our nearest star out of curiosity. You also can follow the sun, find the live picture of the sun in the lower right bar, do it, scroll down now.

Today, I saw new sun spots, 3 of them:

New-Sun-Spots09-22-2009(click image to enlarge)

Humans Create “Life”, Almost

September 6th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

bacteria2I always wondered if within my life time we, humans, would be able to make ‘living’ things. By living I mean ‘life’ in the traditional sense. I am not referring to artificial intelligence (AI), robots, learning computers, virtual living beings, viruses, etc. Interestingly, based on a news article titled ‘Artificial life is only months away‘ it seems we are getting closer.

Is this scary or exciting? Maybe it’s both, it is certainly sci-fi material. We may use this technology to benefit the medical field, or we could create, or engineer, bacteria that is efficient at producing natural gas or other usable fuels. We also, better be careful not to create super killer, out of control, multiplying, toxic-creating species.

This ‘man-made’ life is not entirely made out of scratch. The method being used works by transplanting DNA into bacteria cells, thus rebooting the bacteria cells with this new DNA and transforming the bacteria into a totally new species.

The DNA, or synthetic genome, hold the entire genetic code for the new species, and this synthetic genome is made entirely from scratch by scientists.

Real Life-Creation?

I can’t help but wonder, should we manage to transform bacteria into a different ‘new’ bacteria, even into an entirely new species of bacteria, are we really creating life or merely genetically reprogramming existing life. Does a living organism live by its DNA code alone, or are there other aspects at play?

While we can engineer the DNA out of scratch, it’s pretty much useless until we successfully place it into an already-living bacteria. We are actually reprogramming or rebooting the bacteria cell, that is already alive.

The question left unanswered is, are we able to make the bacteria cell itself out of scratch?  So far the answer is no.

I can’t help but wonder, what makes a bacteria cell alive?

Dr Venter, who has been chasing his goal for a decade, is already working on projects to use synthetic biology to create bacteria that transform coal into cleaner natural gas, and algae that soak up carbon dioxide and turn it into hydrocarbon fuels. Other potential applications include new ways of manufacturing medicines and vaccines.

Artificial life will be created within four months, a controversial scientist has predicted. Craig Venter, who led a private project to sequence the human genome, told The Times that his team had cleared a critical hurdle to creating man-made organisms in a laboratory.

“Assuming we don’t make any errors, I think it should work and we should have the first synthetic species by the end of the year,” he said.

Read more…

Is Distilled Water Bad For Me?

June 11th, 2009 Ethan Z. 4 comments

water3I had a discussion with a coworker about water, he said that distilled water will suck out minerals out of my body.  I find myself  unsure if the idea that “distilled water leeches minerals from the body” is truth or myth.  A friend of mine who had Fibromyalgia said her doctor thought her condition was due to drinking distilled water.

One has to be cautious here because money is involved, companies selling distillers may have a different story than companies that sell you water filters.. In the midst of product-selling and marketing wars the truth becomes elusive to consumers.

Even doctors that talk about the topic seem to have a monetary connection to a product, so I cannot trust their talking points either.

A CALL TO DOCTORS: IF any doctor is reading this article, please let me know what your professional opinion on distilled water leeching minerals from the body is. Thanks

I went online looking for an answer and found conflicting views, some say distilled water is good others say it depletes your body from minerals.

Here are some of the views I found:

Yes. You an drink safely distilled water. It is good for health. You must know that basically water is taken from tube wells, which is treated and distilled and the good and potable water is separated, which is good for drinking.

You actually should drink mineral water or safe Tap water as it contains calcium, magnesium, sodium and other trace minerals including flouride which are beneficial to your health.

Distilled water will not do any harm but you may need to supplement your diet with the minerals you are loosing (these minerals are added to tap water to ensure we get enough). The health risks are not severe in the short term but i should imagine, over a number of years may lead to illness if you never eat or drink anything which contains them.

Distilled water is not good for our health , as all the minerals are missing in ditilled water, it doen’t have anything accept H2O…..
On the Contrary, minreal water is purify and it has the basic minerals, which are neede by our body

distilled water is ” ordinary ” water put through a process of boiling and steam collection ( distillation ) and gets impurities out and some chemical elements.

It is WATER….It will NOT suck minerals out of your system…Water does not need any assistance to hydrate your body.
If anyone tells you that distilled water is bad for you they are Yanking your chain or just plain being mean and lying to you.

2. I heard that distilled water is leeches minerals from the body, is this true?

It is unsure where this myth came from, but it is not based upon any scientific fact and is literally a lie.  It is presumed that it was a rumour started by an individual or company with vested interests (possibly a manufacturer of an alternative filter or purifier).

Read more…

Mystery Ingredient Cleaning Earth’s Atmosphere

June 4th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

ozonejpgToday, National Geographic had a very interesting article on a mysterious ingredient that seems to be cleaning the Earth’s atmosphere. Here’s some of that article:

Mother Nature has a previously unknown cleaning agent that scrubs away toxic air pollution, scientists have discovered.

What’s more, the existence of the still mysterious substance has shaken up decades-long assumptions about our atmosphere’s self-cleaning process

Many studies have shown that trace gases and pollutants in the lowest level of our atmosphere break down naturally, thanks to molecules called hydroxyl (OH) radicals.

But the breakdown spews out ozone, itself a toxic pollutant and a greenhouse gas. (Get global warming facts.)

Not so in China’s heavily polluted Pearl River Delta, where experts were stumped to find lots of OH radicals but relatively small amounts of resulting ozone

“It was a complete surprise to us [that], after such a long time of scientific research, such a big gap has been found,” said study co-author Franz Rohrer, of the Institute of Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere in Jülich, Germany.

Global Advantage

Highly reactive OH radicals are continually recycled in the atmosphere through reactions with water vapor and nitric oxide, both naturally present in the air.

Part of nature’s self-cleaning mechanism, the reactions break down trace amounts of pollutants, Rohrer said.

Read the rest: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/06/090604-air-pollution-self-clean.html

Read about Ozone here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone

Neuron Art

June 4th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

neuron_colored

This piece of (natural or scientific) art, is actually a photo taken with a conical microscope of a Neuron from chicken embryo after being dyed


Click the image above to see in high res

Thank you wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron_colored.jpg)

Image copyright follows GNU

What is the difference between a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology?

May 17th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. These range from short-term crises, such as difficulties resulting from adolescent rebellion, to more severe, chronic conditions, such as schizophrenia. Some clinical psychologists treat specific problems exclusively, such as phobias or clinical depression. Others focus on specific populations: youngsters, ethnic minority groups, gays and lesbians, or the elderly.

Counseling psychologists help people to accommodate to change or to make changes in their lifestyle. They might provide vocational and career assessment and guidance or help someone come to terms with the death of a loved one. They help students adjust to college, and people to stop smoking or overeating. They also consult with physicians on physical problems that have underlying psychological causes.

All The Mental Health Licenses and Certificates

May 14th, 2009 Ethan Z. 2 comments

phdMany stare at the letters stacked next to a psychologist, counselor, therapist or another mental/social health professional and wonder what these letters really mean.

These letters are abbreviations that indicate professional licenses and certificates that a particular health professional has.

In this article I am listing all the licenses and certificates within the mental health profession (that I am aware of). To find the graduate degrees these professionals need read my previous article “All The Mental Health Degrees

Here’s the list:

LCSW, ACSW, LCS, LICSW, CSW
These are used by licensed clinical social workers.  A licensed clinical social worker has a graduate academic degree, has completed supervised clinical work experience and has passed a national- or state-certified licensing exam.

This advanced practitioner holds a license that allows him or her to receive health-care insurance reimbursements.

(Source: National Association of Social Workers)

LMFT or MFCC

MFT stands for Marriage and Family Therapist. A licensed marriage and family therapist has a graduate academic degree (a 2- to 3-year master’s degree or a 3- to 5-year doctoral degree) along with clinical work experience. This therapist has passed a state-certified licensing exam.

Most states offer this license. Along with the two- to three-year full-time masters programs with a practicum and internship, LMFTs are required to complete 1,000 to 2,000 hours of individual or family therapy with 100 hours of supervision. This can take one to three years.

(Source: American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)

LP or NCPsyA

The licensed psychoanalyst has obtained his license from the state department of education (requirements vary from state to state).

Recipients of this license must have a master’s degree or higher, and must complete psychoanalytic study in a program deemed qualified by the state DOE.

An LP must complete a supervised psychoanalysis program and pass a state-certified examination.

(Source: New York State Department of Education)

LPC or LCPC, LPCC, LMHC, DAC, MFCC
These stand for licensed professional counselor, licensed professional clinical counselor or licensed mental health counselor. These licenses are granted to those who have advanced training, a graduate academic degree, clinical work experience and have passed a state-certified licensing examination.

Read more…

All The Mental Health Academic Degrees

May 13th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

If you are considering attending a school to become a mental health professional (counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc) you probably found that you have many degree options. Psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counselor, social workers and others have different degree and licensing options.

If you are considering seeking assistance from a mental health practitioner but feel lost when you see the different degrees and their abbreviations, this article will help you.

This article compiles all the academic degrees that all kinds of mental health professionals need to acquire. In the next article I will discuss all the certificates and licenses used by mental health professionals.

Let’s start:

PhD
PhD stands for a Doctor of philosophy. This academic degree is earned after anywhere from four to seven years of graduate study.

Many psychologists, therapists, counselors and coaches hold a doctorate of philosophy.

A PhD in psychology emphasizes research and teaches theory as well as statistics and data gathering. A lot of the PhD holders work in academic settings, as professors or researchers.

If a PhD graduate who does not work in academic setting usually practices as a Psychologist. Psychologist are fully trained in the assessment and treatment of all behavioral conditions ( i.e. anxiety, depression, anger, etc).

(Source: American Psychological Association)

PsyD

PsyD stands for Doctor of psychology. PsyD focuses on therapy and counseling rather than research.

Read more…

Find Neighborhood Electric Vehicles Or Highway Electric Cars For Sale Near You

May 4th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

noplugnodealAre you under the impression that usable and reliable electric vehicles do not exist? Are you waiting for the major auto makers to produce electric vehicles or to see these electric cars on TV ads? Do you think the Chevy Volt is your only choice and are chocked by the price tag? Do you think that your only choice when it comes to driving an electric car is to make one yourself using a conversion kit?

If you are any of these, I have good news for you.

We live in a world where a few brave minds have took it upon themselves to do what the major auto makers couldn’t (ehm.. I meant, wouldn’t), namely to build 100% reliable electric vehicles.

I am not talking about converted vehicles; you know, these regular cars that people convert to electric vehicles, I am also not talking about the do-it-yourself conversion kits.. Noo, real, street worthy, 100% electric cars do exist today and are probably available for sale near you.

Whether you live in the US, in Europe or in Asia, electric car are being produced now and you could purchase one, without paying $40,000 or more.

In my opinion, the newer generations of electric cars is a good match for the current generation of fluid fuel (gas, diesel, ethanol, hybrid) powered cars. The development is fast and furious.

While the best battery technology remains patented and shelved rather than used in street cars, there exists sufficient enough batteries to enable workable EVs. You can read an article I wrote on a recent advancement in battery technology here . Lio-Ion batteries are common choices in today’s EVs; with a variety of powerful electric motors these electric cars have amazing acceleration and reliability. They also cost much less to maintain.

What is even more impressive is that these EVs are finally catching up to liquid fuel vehicles (hybrids, gas, ethanol etc vehicles) when it comes to range.

The reason I am writing this article is to share with you a collection of links to Electric Vechicle companies. The list below contains links to (American, European and Asian) car manufacturers that build neighborhood electric vehicles (NEV), electric highway cars, electric trucks, electric buses, electric 2 wheelers and 3 wheelers, and electric sports cars. These are not prototype cars but are actual usable ones.

If I missed any manufacturer (i.e. a car company) please leave a comment with a link.

The ONLY Water You Should Drink

January 28th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

I have been researching clean drinking water; after a number of months of research, I am convinced the only water anyone should drink is distilled water. I am looking at building my own water steam distiller, since I rather not buy one for $100 + My distiller will run on ‘any’ heat source, which may come in handy when camping (or when there is no electricity).. I discuss these here:

Checkout this discussion: Is There Any Good Water To Drink Out There??

Find out how to buy or build a distiller and share your ideas here: Water Distillation at Home

I will soon share my design and resutls.

Your Immune System Can Stop Cancer

January 23rd, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

Read five (5) news articles on this topic. Here

ScienceDaily (Nov. 19, 2007)

Immune System Can Drive Cancers Into Dormant State

A multinational team of researchers has shown for the first time that the immune system can stop the growth of a cancerous tumor without actually killing it.

Scientists have been working for years to use the immune system to eradicate cancers, a technique known as immunotherapy. The new findings prove an alternate to this approach exists: When the cancer can’t be killed with immune attacks, it may be possible to find ways to use the immune system to contain it. The results also may help explain why some tumors seem to suddenly stop growing and go into a lasting period of dormancy.

This news article reminded me of something I heard Dr. Beck say once. Watch part 1 of a youtube video of Dr. Beck entitled “how to cure cancer & HIV (Dr. Bob Beck)”

“Thanks to the animal model we have developed, scientists can now reproduce this condition of tumor dormancy in the laboratory and look directly at cancer cells being held in check by the immune system,” says co-author Robert Schreiber, Ph.D., Alumni Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “That will allow us to see if we can model this state therapeutically.”

The study’s authors call the cancer-immune system stalemate equilibrium. During equilibrium, the immune system both decreases the cancer’s drive to replicate and kills some of the cancerous cells, but not quickly enough to eliminate or shrink the tumor.

Read more…

Find Cellular, Paging, Microwave Towers and Antennas Near You

November 15th, 2008 Ethan Z. 3 comments

I came across a website today that uses Google maps and allows you to search for all the near by cellular, paging, microwaves and other antennas and towers.

Cell Tower

If you have any concerns about EMF, radio waves, micro waves, wifi, cell phone signals etc, take a look at this site to know what exists right in your back yard. I found 40+ towers and 300+ antennas in my 4 mile radius environment.

I highly recommend this website, it’s very eye opening. The site will show you existing registered and non registered towers along with future towers and other antennas. Not all towers are created equal nor are all types of wireless signals. This website just gives you a broad idea on what’s out there. If nothing else, you can have some fun using the tower and antenna maps, and perhaps try to go and find these towers and antennas once you’ve located them on the Google map.

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