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Researchers Uncovered 38,000-year-old Cave Art in France

Feb 9, 2017 By Graziella Paone

cave art depicting cow

Cows were popular motifs during the early days of art.

Like other sciences, archaeology is not an infallible discipline. It offers theories of bygone cultures and peoples. Each discovery brings to light new and exciting details that reveal more about ancient civilizations. The latest addition to the list of astounding discoveries is a 38,000-year-old scribble of a cow that was found in a French cave.

The Newest Archaeological Find in France

Archaeologists are excited to share the latest historical treasure that they came upon in French cave. The find, a slab of limestone, looks ordinary and rather unexciting at first glance. It is easy to understand how it could have been overlooked for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found that it actually contains artwork that tells more about how people lived over 30,000 years ago. The slab depicts important parts of ancient life like the cows that used to inhabit the area.

The drawing of the cow is surrounded by dots. Archaeologists do not know yet what significance the dots hold or if they are relevant at all. Still, the artwork itself confirms that people from northern Africa traveled to the central and western parts of Europe where they settled and established tribes or clans. The drawing of the cow could reveal that they herded or hunted this animal as a source of food.

This latest find joins others made recently in Central and Western Europe. Archaeologists have found cave drawings in both Germany and Spain. The sketches date back more than 40,000 years. While lay people may not be able to detect what stories are being told with the artwork, archaeologists know that it gives more details on how people back then determined social standing as well as regional, group, and individual identities.

The recently unearthed ancient artwork continues to be studied. It may be displayed to the public in the near future.

Recent North American Archaeological Finds

The important cradles of civilization are found in Europe and Africa, making these continents vital to the field of archaeology. North America also has its own bevy of archaeological finds that offer interesting and curious insights about how early people lived. Some of the most interesting discoveries were made as recently as 2015. While the finds do not date back to ancient times, they are still important to learning more about the continent’s more recent history.

Archaeologists were particularly excited to find the site of the deadliest Native American massacre. The Bear River Massacre took place in Southeastern Idaho in 1863 when the California Volunteers killed more than 250 Shoshone men, women, and children. The American government at the time was eager to cover up the tragedy and never revealed its exact location. Archaeologists believe they have discovered the site of the Shoshone camp and the location where the massacre took place.

Curiously, archaeologists in North America now consider pull beer tabs to be valid archaeological finds. While the tabs are not ancient artifacts, they are still important to keeping an accurate record of recent history. Beer cans today do not have pull tabs. The discarded tabs are routinely unearthed and given to archaeologists for study and archive purposes.

Drawing to an End

Ancient and not-so-ancient history lies hidden under the earth’s surface, in caves, and on riverbeds throughout the world. Some of the stories that should not be forgotten are once again coming to light thanks to the efforts of archaeologists. Other stories are finding new life as limestone artwork is studied and interpreted. the 38,000-year-old artwork that was discovered in France joins other recent finds like those made in Germany, Spain, and North America.

Image Source: Flickr

Filed Under: Science

How Brexit Threatens the Global Financial Balance

Feb 7, 2017 By Graziella Paone

The EU and UK flags symbolizing Brexit

For many years, Great Britain was a satisfied member of the European Union, but political unrest resulted in a national referendum to leave the EU. The end result was that 52% of Britain’s population was in favor of exiting the EU. According to EU treaty terms, the UK government will start the formal withdrawal process in March of this year and be completely withdrawn by 2019. This so-called “Brexit” will greatly disrupt international trade and economics.

Hard Brexit Strategy Has Concerning Financial Implications

As soon as the results of the Brexit referendum were revealed, people began worrying about how it would effect the British economy. Without the free travel between EU nations and the many trade deals in place, Britain could end up in a very bad situation. Attempts to alleviate these concerns suggested that the Brexit might not end up changing the nation’s relationship with the EU much, but this appears to be unlikely.

In her opening speech at a conference, British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed her plans for leaving the European Union. She stated,

We are not leaving the European Union only to give up control of immigration again. And we are not leaving only to return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

Many are referring to this stance as a “hard” Brexit that will completely sever ties with the EU instead of retaining the nations’ close relationship.

Most of these financial issues will occur in London, where citizens overwhelmingly voted to remain the EU. This city does a lot of international business, particularly in its clearing houses. Each day, almost 440 billion euros are cleared through London, but many places are talking about moving clearing operations to New York and other European areas.

Major banks will also be affected because they were only able to operate in London through an EU license. Many London banks already have contingency plans in place to move their business elsewhere. For example, the main British bank, HSBC, has already said they will move their operations to pre-existing branches in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Major financial centers will not be the only way that Brexit affects the economy. Trade between EU members is encouraged, so most nations within the EU have very favorable tariff levels. If tariffs for Britain rise sharply, it might become difficult for the country to import and export items with its closest neighbors.

A major part of the reason for leaving the EU was due to concerns of refugee immigration, but this will also result in other immigration changes that could harm the economy. Property values in London are already dropping because many people who lived in London were actually EU members without British citizenship. Deals between Britain and other EU nations, such as the Nissan plans to create a factory in Sunderland, are also starting to falter.

Due to all the financial implications of Brexit, politicians, especially those in London, are calling for a longer transition period. Financial experts believe that at least three to five years would be necessary to exit from the EU without causing financial problems.

An Uncertain Future for European Finance

Brexit can cause disruptions on a global scale by interfering with finances and trade. All of the potential issues with leaving the EU have combined to create a state of worry and uncertainty in Europe. This further contributes to lowered stock values and economic depression, so the European market may end up having difficulties even if the direct consequences of Britain leaving the EU are not as bad as predicted. Overall, this climate of skepticism surely doesn’t help any economic initiative.

 

Image source: flickr.com/photos/bankenverband/28246711066/

Filed Under: Business

Sarasota Explosion Leads Police to Meth Lab Discovery

Feb 7, 2017 By Graziella Paone

Meth lab explosion

Methamphetamine is one of the most problematic drugs in central Florida because it is highly addictive, and can be made from common materials. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of thinking that meth can be produced without any safeguards, and the chemical process of meth production can be unstable. In some instances, this can lead to highly dangerous explosions. One Sarasota man found this out the hard way after an explosion lead to his arrest.

Meth Maker Arrested After Lab Explosion

Popular crime television show, Breaking Bad, exposed the meth making process to the public, and this has lead to the misconception that meth can easily be made by mixing some common household ingredients together. While it might be simple for an actual chemist to create meth, the average person will probably have more trouble. Research by the United States Department of Justice finds that the number of labs keeps increasing as people become aware of the meth production process.

Home meth labs are not just problematic because they allow people to access a dangerous drug. When meth is not mixed together properly, highly volatile materials can explode. This is exactly what happened to 25 year old Andrew Ilardi on January 10th.

The quiet neighborhood along Fairview Drive was suddenly rocked by a massive explosion. Firefighters rushed to the area just in time to see Ilardi rushing from the home with burns across his hands and face. Andrew Ilardi then told the fire department that he had been trying to make meth with lighter fluid, lye, and ammonium nitrate.

The firefighters relayed this information to the police officers, and detectives were able to obtain a probable cause warrant. Within the ruins of the home, police officers found the chemicals and equipment needed for meth. Ilardi was then arrested for making meth.

Ilardi is now charged with one count of meth manufacturing, and this is a first degree felony in the state of Florida. Florida takes meth production very seriously because it is such a huge problem within the area. Lab explosions can be very dangerous, and in many sad instances the explosions and subsequent fires have lead to the deaths of people who were not even aware of the meth lab next to them.

Despite the strict sentence potentially awaiting Ilardi, many continue to produce meth in Florida. Even a single use of this drug can lead to severe addiction, and Florida has a higher average number of meth abusers than the national average. Those who cannot afford to buy more meth tend to resort to attempts at homemade meth, and these home operations are the most likely to end in explosions.

Unfortunately, Florida authorties are finding it difficult to stop meth production completely. Meth makers can steal most of the chemicals needed for cooking meth from local farms that use the chemicals for fertilizers, and the other ingredients can be bought from pharmaceutical stores. Though there are some limits on the amount of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine medicine that can be bought at a time, it is still relatively easy to access for home meth cooks like Andrew Ilardi.

What’s Next for Ilardi, the Meth Lab Owner

Ilardi is currently awaiting trial from jail, and his bond was raised to $15,000 by the judge. The actual sentencing will rely on many factors. Depending on the amount of meth he was producing and his past criminal history, Ilardi could be facing up to 25 years in prison. Since Ilardi cooperated with the police department so far, and no one was seriously harmed in the explosion, he may be able to get more lenient sentencing.

Filed Under: National News

Trump Allegedly Misled America about His Plans for His Companies

Feb 7, 2017 By Graziella Paone

Donald Trump giving speech

One of the biggest concerns with Donald Trump becoming the president of the United States was the potential for unethical behavior. As an international businessman, Trump could easily make money off of his presidency. Throughout his campaign, Trump attempted to ease fears that he was just trying to be president to make more money. However, it seems that the newly appointed president is already backing out on promises to avoid doing business for the next four years.

Trump Already Breaking Promises to Focus on Government Instead of Business and His Companies

Trump has spent the last few months repeatedly claiming that there would be no conflicts of interest between his presidency and his career as a businessman. Supposedly, the multiple Trump businesses would be ruled by a blind trust that would not share information with their owner. Trump also used Twitter to reassure followers that “no new deals will be done during my term in office.”

In a press conference on Wednesday, Sean Spicer, the spokesman for Trump, was supposed to share details about how he would distance himself from his businesses during his presidency. Trump used this opportunity to point out that he “could actually run my business and run government at the same time.” He also confirmed rumors that Trump will not be letting a trust control his businesses after all.

Instead, Trump will be resigning from leadership roles in his companies and turning them over to two of his sons. Both Donald Jr. and Eric have been on Trump’s transition team, so they have a great deal of insider information. This informal change in leaders will also allow Trump to continue sharing information between his businesses and his presidential office.

The president elect further qualified that his tweet about no new deals to explain that he only meant he would not do any foreign deals. Trump is now ideally placed to alter domestic policies to benefit his own companies. He could push legislation that reduces regulations intended to protect workers rights, and other laws could be manipulated to further allow corporations to make more profits from federal funding.

If Donal Trump is retaining contact with his businesses and companies, he could also use his new position to gain money from other nations. As president, Trump could potentially pressure foreign governments to accept favorable business deals, give him tax breaks, or remove competitors from the market. Foreign countries hoping for a closer relationship with America may stay at Trump owned hotels or pay for other Trump business services as a method of bribing the president.

Many experts on ethics in politics have mentioned how much Trump’s business plans concern them. The executive director of the Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington released a statement saying,

The only way for Donald Trump to avoid massive conflicts of interest is to sell his business outside the family and place the assets in a true blind trust. Every decision he will make as president… will be questioned as to whether his decision is in the best interest of the American people or the best interest of his bottom line.

The Next Four Years Will Be Filled with Uncertainty

It is difficult to predict just how much Trump’s businesses will influence his decisions. He could easily talk to his sons about how they are running his business or use insider information to gain profits, and anything construed as a bribe could potentially result in impeachment. The only thing that the American public knows for sure is that Trump will continue to face allegations of unethical behavior if he remains involved in his businesses.

 

Photo by Gage Skidmore, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.

Filed Under: National News

Canadian Researchers Discover New Insights into Head and Neck Cancers

Feb 6, 2017 By Graziella Paone

Microscopic protein crystals

Cancer continues to be one of the most concerning health issues because it is hard to treat and can be caused by many modern chemicals. The medical community puts a lot of money and time towards studying cancer. Researchers hope to increase our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of cancer, so it will become easier to target the disease. One new study looks particularly promising for those who have head and neck cancers.

Head and Neck Cancers Linked to Certain Proteins

Head and neck cancers are particularly common because the sensitive tissues in the area are frequently exposed to damaging things like airborne pollutants or alcohol. Each time a cell is damaged, there is a small risk that it will turn into a cancerous cell, so head and neck cancers occur frequently. Each year, roughly 600,000 new cases of head and neck cancers are diagnosed.

Most research into the causes of cancer either focuses on environmental toxins or genetic mutations. A team of scientists from the McGill University Health Centre decided to take a new approach and instead look at spontaneous epigenetic mutations which occur when the proteins used to regulate genes stop working. This novel approach to cancer research lead to some fascinating finds that could potentially make it easier to treat cancer.

The researchers found that up to 15 percent of cases of head and neck cancer were caused by a mutation in a specific protein. It turns out that a mutated histone H3 protein can cause many people to develop cancer in the head or neck. When patients develop this type of cancer due to a protein mutation, it is much more resistant to common forms of treatment.

Histone H3 proteins are long chains of amino acids that can easily become malformed when they are damaged. Properly functioning histones help to wind DNA strands into tiny bundles, so they have a very important role in the human body. These proteins are supposed to regulate genes and encourage new cell growth, so when they mutate, they can cause cancer cells to grow out of control.

The scientists were able to find these results looking at data that had already been collected by the Cancer Genome Atlas Consortium. Instead of having to find their own test subjects, they were able to use this database in a unique way to find a correlation between histone H3 mutations and cancer. Study author Dr. Jacek Majewski said:

We made use of the same data but took a completely different approach. Instead of concentrating on genetic mutations, we looked at the effect of these mutations on histone H3 proteins.

This finding could potentially make it much easier to treat patients who have particularly resistant forms of cancer because they could be used to create medications that target abnormal cancer cells without killing healthy cells. There are also some drugs created for patients with melanoma and lung cancer that already work by targeting spontaneous epigenetic histone mutations. They could be used to target these abnormal proteins and slow down or halt the progression of the cancer.

The Next Goal for Cancer Researchers

This study has greatly increased what doctors know about head and neck cancers. Now that they know a certain mutated protein can cause cancer, they can focus on treatment options. Developing a way to block these protein mutations is now a priority for researchers who focus on head and neck cancer. Instead of spending years developing new drugs, the next studies may focus on finding ways to repurpose other drugs and provide quick treatment.

 

Photo by orinoco14, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic license.

Filed Under: Science

Uber Employees Fighting a Push for More Driver Fingerprinting

Feb 3, 2017 By Graziella Paone

Hand holding a smartphone with Uber on its screen

Uber has begun fighting in several states to oppose new proposed fingerprinting requirements for its drivers. Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, among others have already passed stricter fingerprinting laws for school volunteers.

Maryland, on the other hand, has taken that a step further by passing a law last year requiring ride-sharing drivers, such as those that work for Uber, to be fingerprinted before they can start working for the company. Various municipalities in other states have also passed similar requirements at the city level.

A series of new laws

These new laws seek to reduce the incidence of crime among ride-sharing drivers. Some unfortunate incidents have already happened as a result of questionable Uber driver vetting, and a recent case in San Antonio involving an Uber driver allegedly committing an act of violence against a passenger has brought the issue back into the spotlight.

Fingerprint background checks are already mandatory for many taxi drivers, and these background checks would simply bring Uber up to the same safety standards. It seems like a no-brainer then that the company would be on board with these checks.

Uber, however, disagrees. Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick said that their opposition to these fingerprinting laws are more a means to provide an opportunity for people who have been unfairly judged by the criminal justice system. They claim that giving those with an arrest record a chance to work is important to them as a company.

They also claim that the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) database, the one that would be used for these checks, is biased. They cite the fact that only half its arrest records include the final case disposition. Uber assumes that these checks would also be unfair to minority applicants.

A few exceptions

It is important to note, however, that the proposed legislation in many areas, such as Austin, only disqualifies those who have committed certain types of criminal offenses. Among these offenses are violent crime, DUI, prostitution, drug dealing, fraud, reckless driving, arson, and theft.

Two of these being driving-related offenses makes it a no-brainer. Certain non-violent crimes are also excluded from this list, notably drug use and many misdemeanors. This means that some rehabilitated criminals could still drive for Uber, provided they haven’t committed one of the crimes listed above.

In Maryland, Transdev on Demand VP Dwight Kines, who oversees Checker and Yellow Cab in Baltimore, has stated that fingerprint background checks haven’t had an effect on the diversity of their drivers at all. “It sure hasn’t kept us from hiring minorities at all,” he said.

Uber is taking this fight seriously, even threatening to leave some areas that have imposed mandatory fingerprinting. Critics claim that biometrics are necessary as a form of identification even if you take the criminal background check angle out of it. Anyone can use an assumed identity, but biometrics are infallible, they claim.

Fingerprint background checks really work

In Austin, fingerprint background checks flagged 86 people and prevented them from becoming drivers for ride-hailing services just in the month of August last year when the laws went into effect. These laws caused the company to actually follow through on threats to close their operations in the city last year. The other popular ride-sharing provider Lyft followed suit.

While there is no real way to confirm if Uber’s own background checks would have caught these individuals, Austin lawmakers would argue that these background checks are a necessary additional level of security just to increase the safety standards for these services.

Uber’s current background checks are issued by Checkr and Sterling Backcheck and test for criminal record, driving history, and age. While these overlap with the fingerprint check criteria, again the critics will argue that assumed identities are a concern, and you can’t fake biometrics.

This story is still developing in many states and municipalities, and it is unclear at this point whether Uber’s threats will cause any of these legislatures to bend their knee. It is unlikely though, if only because Uber leaving these cities would make taxi drivers ecstatic. And they’re willing to be checked.

Image source: here

Filed Under: Technology

Why Cancer Death Rates Have Dropped by 25%

Jan 20, 2017 By Graziella Paone

T-cells attacking cancer cells

The American Cancer Society that raises funds and promotes cancer awareness says that cancer death rates have dropped by 25 percent since 1991. There are two million more people alive today because they have received better treatment, chose not to smoke, and lived a healthier lifestyle. The society says that declines have been seen in lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer rates. The discrepancy between different ethnicities is also closing. More men than women are still dying of cancer.

Why Are the Cancer Death Rates Falling?

Not only are cancer rates dropping in the United States, but the intergovernmental World Health Organization(WHO) says that rates of breast cancer have dropped in 39 of 47 countries studied. The WHO report says that rates in the United States have dropped by 42 percent. WHO says that access to mammograms allowing people to get diagnosed at an earlier point in time has made a huge difference.

While the statistics are still being analyzed, doctors now know that exercise plays an important part in helping men from dying when they have prostate cancer. Doctors find that those men who walk briskly one hour a week or do some other physical activity are much more likely to survive prostate cancer for at least five years. While the evidence is weaker, many researchers believe that exercising regularly can also help stop prostate cancer from forming in the first place.

The rate of people who smoke has dropped by 30 percent. The American Cancer Society points to this victory by many people to the reduced incidence of lung cancer. Doctors also know that earlier detection while the disease is still localized in the lungs leads to 39 percent more people living at least five years after the cancer is found.

Over 90 percent of patients diagnosed with colon cancer live longer than five years. Researchers believe that senior citizens getting better medical care allowing this disease to be diagnosed sooner is one of the primary reasons why this is occurring. The average age of diagnosis is now 72.

The American Cancer Society says that there is still a discrepancy between men and women although they are encouraged because this rate is closing. The cancer death rate for men is 20 percent higher than in women. More men are seeing their doctors on a regular basis which helps to catch cancer earlier when there are more options. The American Cancer Society says that the differences may be because more men than women smoke and drink excessively. They acknowledge, however, that men’s hormones and height differences may play a role.

While there are still more cancers in certain ethnic groups, the American Cancer Society also says that these discrepancies are becoming smaller as access to health care becomes more available to all. They say these differences are too recent to make any statistical difference yet. In 1990 black men were more than 50 percent more likely to die of cancer, but that rate has dropped to 22 percent. Hopefully, the decline will continue at a steady pace.

As British journalist John Diamond has said, “cancer is a word, not a sentence.” With everyone taking care of their health, the rates may continue to drop. However, the healthcare status is very uncertain at the moment seeing as the Republicans want to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Conclusion

The American Cancer Society has announced that cancer death rates in the United States have dropped by 25 percent since 1991. The big four cancers have all seen declines. They attribute this to better access to healthcare and healthier living habits. The great news is that in many cases, rates around the world are dropping as well. Cancer is now becoming just a word and not a death sentence.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: Health

Justice Scalia Accused of Being a Skeptic about Science

Jan 19, 2017 By Graziella Paone

Justice Scalia laughing

Justice Scalia tried to avoid getting ito scientific debates.

As a Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia was one of the most conservative members. His death in early 2016 left a Supreme Court seat open that still has not be filled. After his death, many legal experts are looking back to see the impact of Scalia’s decisions. Journalist Emily Bazelon has stirred up some controversy by suggestion that Scalia was a “skeptic about science.”

Supreme Court Justice Scalia Accused of Not Believing Science

In a New York Times Magazine article, Bazelon claimed that Justice Scalia refused to focus on scientific evidence in his rulings. This theory tidily fits in with the view that many older Republicans refuse to listen to logic or scientific fact, but the reality of Scalia’s tenure is a little more complicated than this simplistic view. Most of Bazelon’s reasons for disparaging Scalia focus on his rulings in cases related to science. Examples include the Edwards v. Aguillard case that struck down a Louisiana law requiring schools to teach creationism and the Massachusetts v. EPA case about climate change. Bazelon is correct in pointing out that Scalia made statements such as

“I’m not a scientist. That’s why I don’t want to have to deal with global warming.”

However, many of her points merely show that Scalia was more focused on the legal issues of the case instead of arguing scientific minutiae.

A Look at Justice Scalia’s Opinions on Important Issues

The accusations against Scalia are particularly surprising because his Supreme Court votes often helped to further scientific causes. Though he did not care to discuss all the scientific theories behind the origin of mankind, Scalia expressed a desire to allow students access to a variety of theories in public schools. Scalia was not involved in the landmark Roe v Wade decision, but he did state that he would not work to outlaw abortion because the Constitution never explicitly forbid or allowed abortion. When ruling in the American Electric v. Connecticut case, Scalia upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s supremacy to set limits on pollution. Scalia may not have gotten much of a chance to discuss science during his tenure, but in the cases that did involve science, he did not hold unscientific views that could affect his ruling.

Scalia’s Impact on the United States

Justice Scalia may not have been the most scientifically inclined justice on the Supreme Court, but he still served an important role. He repeatedly advocated for a strict interpretation of the constitution that does not rely on attempts to discern the intent of the Constitution’s writers. Scalia claimed that he tried to consider

“what did the words mean to the people who ratified the Bill of Rights or who ratified the Constitution” when making his decisions.

Most of the justices on the Supreme Court view the Constitution as a living document that ought to be interpreted according to modern values. Scalia was valuable to the Supreme Court because he provided a contrasting view that gave the court more flexibility. Most of his opinions focused on strictly interpreting any relevant information in the Constitution and allowing states to make laws about any issues not mentioned in the Constitution.

Who Will Fill Scalia’s Shoes?

Whether you agree with his positions or not, there is no denying that Scalia had a big influence on the supreme court. Senate Republicans still refuse to even consider nominating anyone else, so the seat has remained empty for an unprecedented time of almost a year. It is likely that Trump will nominate a Republican federal appeals court judge to continue on in Scalia’s tradition of literal constitutional interpretation.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: U.S.

Waves Added An Extra Second to 2016

Jan 12, 2017 By Graziella Paone

ocean waves

The force of ocean waves usually pulls the Earth in the opposite direction, causing it to move slower.

Time might seem like a rigid and clearly defined concept, but the way we measure time actually has many variations. Everyone knows about the leap day that is added to the calendar every four years to keep the months in line with the seasons. It turns out that even more minor adjustments are needed to keep measured time accurate. On December 31, a leap second was added to clocks worldwide for a surprising reason.

Movement of Ocean Waves Is Strong Enough to Disturb Time

Since the concept was first introduced in the 1970s, there have been 27 leap seconds. The most recent happened at precisely 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 60 seconds Coordinated Universal Time on December 31. The reason behind leap seconds is a complicated mixture of solar system movements, atom vibrations, and ocean waves.

Time used to be measured based on astronomy, so a year was just one revolution around the sun. This is generally calculated as 365 days, but it is actually 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds. Calculating time by astronomy required the addition of leap days, but it still was not precise enough for the electronics and scientific equipment of modern time.

In 1967, the General Conference on Weights and Measures decided to start defining a second by the actions of an atom. A second is officially defined as the vibration of the cesium atom, and it is measured by atomic clocks. The cesium standard is currently considered the most accurate form of time measurement, but it runs into some issues.

The problem with time is that the Earth does not rotate at the same speed every day. The massive amount of tides in the ocean flows in a manner that makes rotation slow down ever so slightly. Each day, the world slows down by roughly two milliseconds, so rotation moves at an ever so slightly slower speed than atomic clocks.

Two milliseconds may not seem like much, but this can add up over time. The precise rate of rotation deceleration changes because human activity can slightly alter tidal movements. Normally, a leap second should be added to the clock every 500 days or so to keep the atomic clocks in time with the earth’s rotational speed.

To avoid confusion, the leap year must be added at the same exact time by timekeepers everywhere. The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service announces a time for each leap second, which generally occurs on either December 31 or January 1 of a given year. It is easy enough to change a clock like the one at the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Master Clock Facility.

The main difficulty comes from international technological services. For example, Google has multiple applications that all have data stored in different places and require precise communication with each other. Adding a single second at one time could throw things out of coordination, so Google smears that time over 20 hours.

To prevent any issues, Google and other main technological companies have application programming interfaces designed to gradually change the time. During the transition period for the leap second, server clock across the world will run about 13.9 microseconds slower than usual.

The Next Leap Second

Because they happen so quickly, leap seconds are not even noticed by the average person. However, they do make a difference for electronics that require very precise timing. These minor alterations to time ensure that we will not end up facing uncoordinated time in the following centuries. The next leap second has not been announced yet, but you may get to enjoy an extra second sometime in the next few years.

Image Source: Pixabay

Filed Under: Business

Climate Change in 2016 – Why Climate Science Matters

Jan 11, 2017 By Graziella Paone

artist's depiction of climate change

A more aggressive approach to climate change is needed in 2017 or else the planet will suffer even more.

Temperature data from 2016 shows that it was once again the hottest year on record. Many nations are starting to listen to warnings and realize that they need to save the planet. After successfully being ratified by 120 countries, the Paris Agreement to regulate greenhouse gasses went into effect on November 4. The huge focus on climate change during 2016 has lead many to name this year as the turning point for climate change.

Climate Change Becomes a Serious Matter in 2016

After decades of vague warnings about climate change, it seems that this issue is actually happening. Climate change is the broad concern that human activity is changing the planet’s climate for the worse. Global warming is already occurring, and if left unchecked, it could lead to mass flooding and entire habitats being destroyed.

A lot of global warming seems to be caused by greenhouse gasses that prevent excess heat from rising into space. For the last three years, each year has been the hottest year in recorded history. The month of July was the hottest month on record as scorching temperatures soared far above any past recorded average.

The effects of all this global warming have been seen throughout the world. The Arctic had record low amounts of ice because of warmer ocean water throughout the world, and the melting ice caused ocean levels to rise throughout the world. Ice actually cleared enough that there was an ice free passageway from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean that was used by cruise ships.

The chilly polar caps were not the only place to see the effects of climate change. In the Caribbean and Great Barrier Reef, over 90 percent of coral populations have been decimated by warmer ocean waters that cause coral to turn white and die off. Researchers found that just a 1.5 degree Celsius increase in temperature will kill the few resilient coral colonies that are currently still alive.

It seems a little bizarre that something backed by so much data would be controversial, but in some nations, many still do not believe it actually exists. President-elect Donald Trump of the United States made headlines when he suggested climate change was a hoax perpetrated by China. In order to actually make a difference and reverse climate change, it will be necessary for many nations to work together and actually acknowledge the issue.

Fortunately, it does seem like many nations are beginning to take steps to halt climate change. All major airlines got together to strike a deal that will help to offset the vast amount of carbon emissions they release into the sky. Airlines will start funding renewable energy projects to create carbon offsets that will help to negate their damage to the atmosphere.

In a reassuring trend, more and more countries are switching to clean solar and wind energy that does not release greenhouse gasses. There has been a record high in investments towards renewable, clean energy projects. In the last year alone, $286 billion worth of funds were used to start up renewable energy projects.

The Future of the Planet

Now that people are actually starting to see the effects of climate change, some are beginning to realize just how dangerous it is. There are a few concerns that current regulations may be too late, and more drastic measures may be needed. Renewable energy and stricter emission regulations are a great start, but we cannot wait years to meet these goals. Prompt action will become necessary if we wish to start reducing global warming.

Image source: YouTube

Filed Under: Business

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Younger Americans Start Embracing the Value of Paid Financial Advice

Feb 7, 2017 By Charles Balch

Twitter Has Just Sold Its Developer Platform to Google

Twitter Has Just Sold Its Developer Platform to Google

Feb 6, 2017 By Charles Balch

9 National Parks Harbor Ticks with Lyme Disease

9 National Parks Harbor Ticks with Lyme Disease

Feb 1, 2017 By Charles Balch

British American Tobacco to Merge with Reynolds Cigarettes

British American Tobacco to Merge with Reynolds Cigarettes

Jan 31, 2017 By Charles Balch

Trump’s Business Deals in South East Asia May Cause a Conflict of Interest

Trump’s Business Deals in South East Asia May Cause a Conflict of Interest

Jan 30, 2017 By Charles Balch

Tesla Finds Itself in Awkward Position of Alligned Interest with Trump Administration

Tesla Finds Itself in Awkward Position of Alligned Interest with Trump Administration

Jan 30, 2017 By Charles Balch

How to Protect Your Mental Health as an Entrepreneur

How to Protect Your Mental Health as an Entrepreneur

Jan 30, 2017 By Charles Balch

Brexit Sparks Anxiety in the Hearts of the Irish

Brexit Sparks Anxiety in the Hearts of the Irish

Jan 27, 2017 By Charles Balch

Small Businesses Struggle to Add More Jobs, According to New Study

Small Businesses Struggle to Add More Jobs, According to New Study

Jan 27, 2017 By Charles Balch

Healthcare Stocks Threatened by the Trump Effect

Healthcare Stocks Threatened by the Trump Effect

Jan 20, 2017 By Charles Balch

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