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Saturday, January 12, 2013

Batangas Today: “42 Alien Planets Found by Amateur Astronomers from Planet Hunters Project” plus 7 more

Batangas Today: “42 Alien Planets Found by Amateur Astronomers from Planet Hunters Project” plus 7 more


42 Alien Planets Found by Amateur Astronomers from Planet Hunters Project

Posted: 12 Jan 2013 02:12 PM PST

42 alien planets found by a group of amateur researchers from the Planet Hunters project are now awaiting confirmation from professional astronomers, according to a Live Science report on Friday, January 11, 2013.

About 40 volunteers of Planet Hunters, one of many Zooniverse projects, reportedly discovered the planet candidates by going through the public data gathered by the NASA Kepler spacecraft.


Zooniverse Amateur Astronomers Discover 42 Alien Planets
Zooniverse logo
Image Credit: Zooniverse

The 42 exoplanet discovery include PH2 b, a gigantic planet compared to the size of Jupiter and 15 others that shows a potential to support life.

According to the team, the 42 alien planets maybe in the Goldilocks area, considered as a habitable zone with liquid water on its surface and can support life.

Chris Lintott, an English astrophysicist at the Department of Physics in Oxford University and works at Zooniverse, explained that “These are planet candidates that slipped through the net, being missed by professional astronomers and rescued by volunteers in front of their web browsers. It’s remarkable to think that absolutely anyone can discover a planet.”

Lions hit with snowballs: Scene photos went viral, anger netizens

Posted: 12 Jan 2013 05:38 AM PST

Lions hit with snowball

Lions hit with snowballs
Image Credit: Huffington Post

Lions were hit with snowballs by Hangzhou Zoo visitors in China last Saturday, January 5, 2013. Photos of the incident were uploaded on Sina Weibo, China‘s micro-blogging site similar to Twitter, and instantly went viral, according to a report by the China Daily on Wednesday, January 9.

The snowball throwing scene reportedly received thousands of comments from angry netizens and was shared for over 80,000 times.

During an interview with Xinhua News Agency, zoo breeder Zhu Yan said that zoo workers did not see visitors throwing snowballs. Yan explained that everyone were trying to clear the snow around the zoo when the incident happened.

Reports say that one of the visitors started throwing snowballs on the lion and others followed.

Based on comments by netizens, it was not the first time that snowballs were thrown on animals at the Hangzhou zoo.

Below is Yan‘s statement about the incident.

Although snowballs can’t hurt large animals like lions, the behavior upset us nonetheless. Our animals should be treated fairly. We hope our visitors will use some self-discipline and be nicer to them.

The Chinese government has banned animal abuses in zoos but the guidelines did not clearly show that it is applicable to zoo visitors.

With the recent incident, officials must act swiftly to stop these type of abuses by irresponsible zoo visitors.

Ford to hire 2,200 workers in the US this 2013, in support for new Ford models

Posted: 12 Jan 2013 03:44 AM PST

Ford plans to hire 2,200 workers in the US this year 2013, which will support the manpower in manufacturing new models. This will include engineers, computer programmers and other office workers. Interestingly, this is the largest increase in Ford workers in the United States more than a decade.

Ford logo

Ford logo
Image Credit: Ford.com

According to a press release by Ford Motor Company on its official press site this Friday, January 11, 2013, the new 2,200 salaried workers will be added to the over 8,100 combined hourly and salaried jobs that the car company has added in the US last year, as part of their commitment for the growing demand in the market.

Ford noted that it has increased its production capacity and has expanded its workforce in Manufacturing, Engineering, and other support groups in the US. Among them were hourly jobs that were brought back to Ford US plants from other countries, including suppliers in Mexico and Japan, which reached to around 1,000 workers.

“Our One Ford plan is designed to create profitable growth, and our new hiring is a direct result of our plan working.” Ford America president Joe Hinrichs was quoted at Media.Ford.com, with the company earlier announcing its commitment to invest $6.2 billion in US plants by 2015.

“As we expand our product lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles, we need more people in critical areas – such as in a range of engineering activities, vehicle production, computer software and other IT functions – to ensure we deliver the vehicles people want and value.” Hinrichs added.

In late last December, Ford announced that it is spending over $773 million on new equipment and capacity expansions in their six manufacturing facilities in southeast Michigan, and is being expected to create 2,350 new hourly jobs in the US, as part of their 12,000 hourly jobs to be added in the country by 2015.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. big wreck during 2013 Daytona 500 testing causes NASCAR 12-car accident (Video)

Posted: 11 Jan 2013 10:51 PM PST

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a big wreck at the Daytona International Speedway on Friday, January 11, 2013, as shown in the video below. This led to a 12-car accident and eventually caused the three-day testing of NASCAR‘s redesigned cars to be stopped. Fortunately, no one has hurt; although the damage was expensive.

2013 Daytona 500 testing accident

Marcos Ambrose’s Stanley Ford Fusion (blocking)
during 2013 Daytona 500 testing, after pushed by
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s 2013 Chevrolet SS

Image Credit: Fox Sports video

As noted at ESPN that day, Earnhardt‘s 2013 Chevrolet SS (# 88) was seen giving a push to Marcos Ambrose‘s Stanley Ford Fusion (#9) on the second day of testing of cars that will compete for the upcoming 2013 Daytona 500, which will start on February 24, 2013 and will feature a 10-day schedule of NASCAR racing.

Unfortunately, the incident caused 12 racing cars to be damaged, including that from Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne, two teammates of Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports, defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, Martin Truex Jr., Aric Almirola, and Regan Smith.

“I felt like Marcus was backing up on me in [turns] 1 and 2 to get a run down the back. I was going to give him a push down the back straightaway to get the lead. Our cars didn’t match up very well. I got him hooked into the fence.” Earnhardt Jr. was quoted at ESPN after the incident, explaining what happened.

“The roll bar was just at the right place where his car sat right up on top of that. I sort of had him going down the back straightaway like a forklift. It was a big mess.” Earnhardt Jr. added, noting that his race car aligns more with Toyota cars.

“It was hardly even a bump, but it was just enough at the wrong angle and wrong time. It’s bad for everybody. We’ll repair this one and build a couple of new ones and get ready for Speedweeks. We used to get greedy, and it was very easy to bump draft, and you could get away with it. It doesn’t take much now.” Ambrose said.


Earnhardt Jr., causing a big wreck of 12 cars during 2013 Daytona 500 testing
Video Credit: imJustTheGOAT/YouTube/NASCAR/Fox Sports

New Dog Breeds: AKC gives full recognition for two new dog breeds (Photos)

Posted: 11 Jan 2013 10:06 PM PST

New dog breeds for 2013 were welcomed into the American Kennel Club (AKC) family on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2013.

Two new dog breeds received full recognition from AKC, based on a press release issued by the group on Friday, January 11, 2013.

The new addition to the AKC list of dog breeds include the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno and Chinook. AKC has now raised their family of dog breeds to 177.

Lagotto Romagnolo and Berger Picard were also recognized by AKC into the Miscellaneous Class.

In a statement, AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson said that,

AKC is thrilled to add these lively and energetic breeds to the registry giving dog lovers even more breeds to choose from. Both breeds are very athletic and will make great companions for those who love to stay active.

The Chinook joined the list of Working Group dog breeds. Chinook is an American bred sled dog usually taken for drafting and racing in New Hampshire. It was declared as the state’s dog in 2009. These dogs are fond of “backpacking, skijoring, sledding, jogging, and hiking with their families.”

Chinooks were playful, trainable and adaptable breed of dogs. They are children friendly and easily gets along with other breeds. To know more about Chinooks, details on the new AKC dog breed can be found at Chinook Club of America's website at: http://www.chinookclubofamerica.org/

Meanwhile, Portuguese Podengo Pequeno joined the Hound Group of dog breeds. These new breed is well recognized as small in size, with erect ears and wedge shaped head.

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno were trained for hunting in difficult terrains. They possess a relatively good sense of sight, smell and hearing. The breed is described to be active, intelligent and trainable. More information about these breed can be found at Portuguese Podengo Pequenos of America's website at: www.pppamerica.org.


Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
Image Credit: AKC Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Page


Chinook
Chinook
Image Credit: AKC Chinook Page

20-year-old toddler Brooke Greenberg stops growing, a medical mystery for years (Video)

Posted: 11 Jan 2013 08:21 PM PST

A so-called 20-year-old toddler named Brooke Greenberg has a condition that has been a mystery to medical experts for years. Brooke, her parents and sibling, along with Dr. Eric Schadt, were featured on Katie Couric‘s show “Katie” at ABC this Friday, January 11, 2013, as shown in the video below.

20-year-old toddler Brooke Greenberg

20-year-old toddler Brooke Greenberg, being cuddled
by her 17-year old sister

Image Credit: Greenberg family via KatieCouric.com

“From age one to four, Brooke changed. She got a little bit bigger. But age four, four to five, she stopped.” Howard, Brooke‘s father, was quoted as saying. For about 15 years ago, Brooke has stopped growing at 20 inches and weighs 16 pounds. She cannot talk and walk, and she is being traveled using a baby stroller just like a any toddler.

“If somebody knocked on the door right now and said, ‘It’s a guaranteed pill. Give this to Brooke and she’ll be fixed,’ well first I would say to him, ‘She’s not broken.’ And B, I would say, ‘Thank you, but no thank you.” Mr. Greenberg added, who lives with his family at Reisterstown, Maryland.

“It hasn’t been easy. We don’t have anybody really to turn to, to tell us what to expect. Like 6 months, If she's happy, she’ll giggle and laugh,” Melanie, Brooke‘s mother, said, who has another child, a 17-year old daughter who has no similar condition of Brooke and grew up like any normal child.

Meanwhile, Dr. Eric Schadt, director of the Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multi-Scale Biology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, is currently working to solve the mystery of the 20-year-old toddler, but seemed to be clueless on the cause of her condition. Doctors said that her case is the only one known in the world.

“She [Brooke] has no apparent abnormalities in her endocrine system, no gross chromosomal abnormalities, or any of the other disruptions known to occur in humans that can cause developmental issues.” Dr. Eric Schadt told Couric on her show. Brooke‘s symptoms were dubbed by medical experts as “Syndrome X.”

“Manipulating these genes [that stops Brooke's development] could increase longevity and/or reduce aging-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and many forms of cancer.” Dr. Schadt added, who leads a medical team in sequencing Brooke‘s DNA in the hope to solve her mysterious condition.


Story of Brooke Greenberg, the 20-year-old toddler, as told by her parents to Katie show
Video Credit: KatieCouric.com


Brooke Greenberg, the 20-year-old toddler, her parents and doctors at Katie Couric’s show “Katie”
Video Credit: KatieCouric.com

2014 Corvette: Car Debuts at 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)

Posted: 11 Jan 2013 07:22 PM PST

2014 Corvette emblem

2014 Corvette emblem
Image Credit: Steve Fecht

2014 Corvette will be unveiled by General Motors at a private event on Sunday, January 13, 2013. The new car will make its public debut during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit from January 19-27.

Ahead of its debut, the 2014 Corvette‘s cross flags emblem is reportedly on display outside the Russel Industrial Center building in the heart of the Motor City since Thursday. Many has already tagged Corvette‘s projected emblem as the “Vet Bat Signal” or “Corvette Calling Sign.”

It will be Corvette‘s seventh generation vehicle, highly anticipated during a private auto show event to be held at the Russell Industrial Center, a former factory designed by Detroit architect icon Albert Kahn.

General Motors Co. CEO and chairman Dan Akerson told media on Wednesday, that the 2014 Corvette is “going to be one of the most beautiful cars ever made. It's a real statement about the new GM, today's GM, and it's a statement about Chevrolet and our prospects.”

C7 reportedly features “an all-new small-block, LT1 6.2-liter V8 engine with an estimated 450 horsepower.” The latest Corvette reportedly can achieve 0-60 mph in less than four seconds.

NAIAS 2013 will have a press preview from January 14 to 15 and industry days from January 16 to 17.

McDonald’s DNA Spray Security: More SelectaDNA system in Australia store outlets

Posted: 11 Jan 2013 05:58 PM PST

McDonald’s will be installing more DNA spray security system in their Sydney stores to keep off robbers from their fast-food outlets. About 13 Intruder Spray security system were already in placed in several McDonald’s stores in Australia.


McDonald's DNA spray security
McDonald’s DNA spray security is provided by SelectaDNA.
Image Credit: SelectaDNA

SelectaDNA, a security company based in Kent in the UK, will be providing the high-technology system that will spray a “non-toxic solution with DNA Code” on store intruders as they go out the door of the stores.

A spokesperson from McDonald’s said that they will “increase the use of SelectaDNA in stores all over the country after a successful trial in their six busiest Sydney restaurants was launched in January last year.”

The Golden Arches chain of stores were reportedly hit by thieves during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The company expects that store burglaries will decrease significantly through the use of SelectaDNA‘s technology.

According to SelectaDNA website, their spray “contains a UV tracer so that if a stolen item is recovered, the DNA can be easily found by the Police by holding under a UV lamp.”

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