GF

Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough Could Deliver Clean Power Too Cheap to Meter Is this a Wright Brothers or Zephram Cochrane moment that changes everything? The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) accomplished what's being called the holy grail of fusion research: It achieved fusion ignition. In other words, it managed to get more energy out than it put in ... sort of. There's not much of it, but it is still a big deal. In a press conference, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said, “This is one of the most impressive feats of the 21st century.” She then compared it to the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk and noted, "But we’re not yet ready for a transatlantic flight." According to the LLNL, it achieved what it calls a "scientific energy breakeven, meaning it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it." Researchers have been trying to do this since the 1950s. Two major approaches have been used in fusion research. The most

Top Worst Forms of Pollution For everything we take from the Earth, there is a byproduct or consequence. Perhaps pollution is a symptom of nature's imbalance. Some people reap from the Earth, but countless others become sick, displaced or harmed due to the resulting pollution — affecting wildlife and more. On the off chance that a guilty conscience is an unknown symptom of overexploitation, here's a list of the 10 worst forms of pollution and their effects on humans. Oil spills In the wake of the Gulf oil spill, the harmful effects of marine oil spills are obvious. Birds, fish and other marine life can be devastated from a spill, and the ecosystems often take decades to recover. The oil is ingested by some animals, allowing pollutants to enter the food chain, harming fisheries and other industries in the region. Many people don't realize that most oil pollution actually comes from land-based activity. One way or another, oil has seeped into nearly all of Earth's ecosyst

NASA's SWOT Mission Will Provide First Detailed Map of Earth's Surface Water The advanced radar satellite will provide unprecedented insights into our planet’s water cycle and impacts from climate change. NASA's $1.2 billion Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite (SWOT) successfully launched from California on December 16, marking the start of an unprecedented mission to map Earth's water bodies. “It’s a game changer,” Rosemary Morrow, oceanographer at the Laboratory of Space, Geophysical and Oceanographic Studies and one of the science leads for the mission, told Nature. “It will be like putting on a pair of glasses when you are short-sighted: things are sort of vague, and then suddenly everything comes into clarity.” Developed over nearly two decades as part of a joint project with the French National Centre for Space Studies, SWOT will use advanced radar to measure the elevation, extent, and movement of water across the planet. Such insights will help researche

100 Trillion Bits of Old Satellites Circling the Planet, Scientists Call for Action on Space Junk A group of scientists want a legally-binding treaty to ensure Earth’s orbit isn’t irreparably harmed. Houston, we have a problem. The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with landfills groaning under the stress. We've delivered more than 170 trillion plastic particles to the oceans and continue to do so at an alarmingly rapid rate. With land and sea literally littered with trash, where else do we have to turn? Well, the final frontier, of course. Space. NASA calls what's known as low Earth orbit (LEO) an orbital space junkyard, explaining that "most orbital debris comprises human-generated objects, such as pieces of spacecraft, tiny flecks of paint from a spacecraft, parts of rockets, satellites that are no longer working, or explosions of objects in orbit flying around in space at high speeds." There are no international space laws to c

Do Plants Have Feelings? One of the main distinctions between plants and animals is how they respond to stimuli. Humans have brains, where stimuli are understood and responses formed. “Emotional” responses are merely complex responses to complex social stimuli. Plants lack a central nervous system but are still capable of processing information from external sources and responding to them. While plants don't have the same “feelings” that we do, they often remember stimuli and communicate with other plants about them. Plant vs. Animal Feelings Animals have neurons that transmit sensory feelings to a central nervous system (the brain). In humans, if your brain determines that those feelings are negative and dangerous, it sends a message back to their point of origin, causing you to react to avoid the continuation of that pain. Animals like us have memories that allow us to avoid future pain. Memories of previous injuries don't trigger our bodies to produce adrenaline when the mem

The Environmental Impact of Ocean Noise Ocean noise pollution can extend beyond individual animals to impact entire ecosystems. Here are the facts and how you can help. Ocean noise broadly refers to the noise made by human activity that can obstruct the ability of marine animals to hear natural sounds in the ocean. Anthropogenic noise has been increasing over the years, even doubling each decade in some areas of the world. This noise can mask communication between aquatic animals and decrease their ability to find prey or be aware of predators, among other problems. This type of noise pollution can impact individual species from disturbance to mortality if not controlled. Ocean Noise Pollution Facts Sources of human-made ocean noise pollution include shipping vessels, sonar systems, seismic surveys, military exercises, and underwater construction. The intensity of ocean noise has increased dramatically over the past few decades due to the expansion of commercial shipping, offshore dril

The Grand Theft Auto VI - Prepare to Be Blown Away! After about a decade, fans were still purchasing their copies of Grand Theft Auto V and might have continued to do so if it weren't for the release of its sequel's trailer. This release was posted one day prior to the scheduled announcement, understandably due to the possible leaks from the overexcited fans. Overnight, the 90-second glimpse of GTA VI that was released on Monday night reached up to 60 million views. Finally, the GTA 6 trailer broke the record with 120M+ views within a very short period on YouTube. This R-rated gangbuster controversy game has been on the top list since 1997, with every release introducing new locations, guns, vehicles, stories, etc. This time, the makers have decided to take the players back to Vice City, in the state of Leonida. The first look at GTA VI brings a whole new level of street-level chaos, with its dual protagonists getting involved in all sorts of crimes. The trailer hints at illega

AI and Machine Learning in Marketing: Data Analysis In today's fast-changing business world, small businesses are adopting advanced technologies to stay ahead. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are standout innovations making waves in marketing. These tools change how businesses look at data, grasp consumer habits, and shape their marketing plans for better outcomes. AI and ML aren't just fancy terms – they represent a fundamental shift in how small businesses approach marketing. These technologies allow small enterprises to access large amounts of data to find valuable insights quickly. This could be anything from what customers like and current market trends to strategies used by competitors. One notable advantage of AI and ML in marketing is their ability to personalize campaigns. These technologies analyze customer behaviors and preferences, allowing businesses to create individualized marketing messages. This improves the customer experience and boosts

Ways to Progress From Walking to Running As with any new habit, whether it’s drinking more water or starting a meditation practice, learning to love running takes time. It’s pretty uncommon for things to feel effortless and breezy the first time a runner laces up, especially because there are many factors at play, from the temperature to the route. Still, there’s no denying embracing running as a part of your regular routine has a slew of total-body benefits, including easing anxiety, weight loss and weight management. Compared to walking, running offers a greater calorie burn in a shorter time, giving it more bang for your buck if you’re looking for a quick workout. To pick up the pace of a leisurely walk and turn it into a run (or jog), take a cue from these expert-backed strategies: START SLOW You don’t have to put pressure on yourself to walk out the front door and crush an Olympic-worthy 5K. Instead, kickstart your running habit by introducing jogging intervals into your regular w

How to Find the Best Yoga Style For You With so many different yoga styles on the market, you’re practically guaranteed to find one you enjoy. The trouble is, having so many options to choose from can leave you wondering where to start your search to find the best yoga style for you. According to Ashley Sondergaard, a registered yoga teacher, and host of the Yoga Magic Podcast, the key question to ask yourself when searching for a yoga style is: What do I want out of my yoga practice? Maybe you’re looking to reduce stress, strengthen muscles, increase flexibility or tap into your spirituality. Whatever benefits you’re hoping for, chances are there’s a yoga style for you. Once you’ve ID’d your goals, you need to find the yoga styles that match. Don’t be afraid to try many different styles — and even teachers — to land on the best class for you. FITNESS AND STRENGTH If you’re looking for a good workout, try rigorous yoga practices like vinyasa, ashtanga, hot yoga or Bikram. Also, chances