Science
& Technology
Scientific News, Technological Developments, and Other
Interesting Items Online and at Middletown Thrall Library
Free Ebooks from NASA
December 27, 2012
NASA has teamed up with the
Space Telescope Science Institute/
HubbleSite
and the
European Space Agency (ESA)
to offer two free ebooks for your enjoyment:
There are two versions of these freely downloadable ebooks: interactive editions for iPad users and regular PDF documents for other computers/ereaders.
Both electronic books present beautiful illustrations and photos of areas throughout the cosmos
as well as a wealth of technological and scientific information space enthusiasts will find interesting!
Computer Operating Systems
October 25, 2012
An operating system (OS) is what enables you to use a computer.
Even portable digital devices such as eReaders, MP3 players,
and smart phones have their own built-in OS software these days.
Apple,
Microsoft,
and
Ubuntu recently
announced new versions of their respective operating systems.
For example,
Windows 8
is the latest operating system from Microsoft. Like Windows 7
(and earlier versions of other operating systems), each new OS
introduces new possibilities along with potential challenges
and hardware requirements for computer users.
To help you sort it all out and keep up with all these changes,
Thrall offers an up-to-date and extensive collection of computer
books, including numerous titles on Microsoft, Apple, and Linux
operating systems and software.
We encourage you to come to the library to browse our computer
book collections. You can also use the links below to browse items
available at Thrall and throughout the local library system (RCLS):
Here are some additional Web resources for further exploration:
Neil Armstrong (1930 - 2012)
August 26, 2012
Neil Armstrong, forever to be rememebered as
"the first man on the moon" and an American
hero, passed away earlier this week.
When he exited the lunar module and spoke
the fateful words "one small step," Neil Armstrong
inspired people worldwide to new, bold dreams
of space exploration and life beyond Earth.
You can learn more about this fascinating
person, the Apollo space missions, and
more at the following resources from NASA
and others:
Countdown to Curiosity
August 2, 2012
The latest chapter in NASA's
Mars Exploration Program
involves a robotic rover named Curiosity.
Curiosity is scheduled to land on Mars
on Monday, August 6, 2012.
Once safely on the ground and activated,
Curiosity will use its numerous scientific
instruments to sample soil, rocks, and other
aspects of Mars.
If you wish to learn more about this mission
and share in the excitement, here are links
to NASA's online coverage:
About the Curiosity Rover & the Mars Science Laboratory
About the Planet Mars
You can
explore items about Mars
in the library system catalog by clicking this link.
Also check out our...
(Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
The Higgs Boson Particle
July 5, 2012
On Wednesday, July 4th, scientists from the
Large Hadron Collider
at
CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research)
announced
their preliminary findings concerning a long-sought
subatomic particle called the "Higgs Boson."
Many scientists believe it is the Higgs Boson
that gives other particles their mass and
enables them to interact and form matter
throughout the universe.
For more on CERN's findings and related topics,
here are links to consider:
Voyagers to the Edge
June 15, 2012
Since 1977, the two Voyager space probes have soared past
the planets on epic journeys taking them toward the edge
of our solar system and the beginning of
interstellar space.
Already 11.1 billion miles into its historic trip,
Voyager I still beams back useful information
and shows no signs of slowing down as both probes
press onward at well over 30,000 miles per hour,
according to reports from
NASA.
Voyager 2 is not that far behind either: it's gone over
9 billion miles so far.
Their incredible extended missions rank them among the most
distant space craft launched from Earth (in addition to some
of the
Pioneer probes).
At this very hour, the Voyagers continue to hurtle
without hesitation into the greater unknown.
For more on Voyager I and II, please see these pages
from NASA:
For futher reading...
Cloud Computing
June 7, 2012
The Cloud... Cloud Computing... what does it all mean?
"The Cloud" is not really a place; it's somewhat of a
convenient and catchy phrase used to describe "online
services" located around the world.
Essentially, anything "in The Cloud" is "on the Internet"
or accessible electronically through a Web-based service.
In the most general sense, "The Cloud" is almost a synonym
for "the Web," but it does get far more technical than that.
If you use a Web-based e-mail account, you (and your messages)
are already somewhere "in The Cloud" to a certain extent.
This is also true if you store photographs online
or use online computer backup services.
As more capable online "apps" (software/programs) and
Web-based services become available, more users are able
to access and work with information and files from virtually
any location over the Internet.
In this age of "cloud computing," it will often make more
sense for a person to "save" (store) a file in their e-mail
(as a "file attachment) or send that file to a "cloud storage"
service rather than to save the file to their computer's "C"
drive or to an external "USB flash drive."
Once online, these files can be "downloaded" (retrieved),
printed, or updated as necessary. New files can be created
and "uploaded" (sent) to "The Cloud" as well.
As you might imagine, this opens up all sorts of new and
interesting possibilities, especially for mobile technology
users as well as persons generally looking to move beyond
the limitations of solitary personal computers
- and to take full advantage of the Web!
If you'd like to learn more about The Cloud, you can click
the following link to browse the library system catalog:
You might also check out one or more of these links:
Einstein Archives Online
March 29, 2012
A new archive promises to offer unprecedented access
to the writings of Albert Einstein:
"The Einstein Archives Online Website provides the first online access
to Albert Einstein's scientific and non-scientific manuscripts held
by the Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
constituting the material record of one of the most influential intellects
in the modern era. It also enables access to the Einstein Archive Database,
a comprehensive source of information on all items in the Albert Einstein Archives."
(
source)
.
For even more information on Einstein:
The Speed of Light
October 21, 2011
Regarded by most scientists as something of a cosmic
"speed limit" (around 186,000 miles per second as it
travels through a vacuum), the speed of light
is one of the most important concepts helping to define
and describe the physical nature of our universe.
After decades of examining light throughout the cosmos
as well as on Earth, most scientists tend to agree
on this statement: nothing should be able to travel
faster than the speed of light!
Recent news from
CERN (the European Organization of Nuclear Research
and home of the
Large Hadron Collider)
indicated one of their experiments produced results
appearing to exceed the speed of light.
What does this mean, and why should we care?
First, if proven (and that being one of the biggest
"ifs" of all time in science), CERN's findings could hint
at many new and thrilling possibilities, such as previously
undocumented properties or dimensions within the universe
(as suggested in alternative theories of physics such as
"Superstring"
or
"M-theory").
Such unexpected findings might also, as a matter of course,
demonstrate our current understanding of physics is incomplete
or possibly incorrect somehow.
Such "bad news" would require scientists to revise old
theories or create new ones (and more than a few textbooks
might need to be rewritten). For science, which is in a
permanent state of revision and refinement, this is nothing
new or shocking: science must adapt as new observations
and discoveries are documented and confirmed definitively.
New observations, theories, facts - and all the new
questions they tend to generate - have made the search for
a
"grand" scientific theory of the universe
extremely difficult.
The potential "good news" of CERN's results is that there
could be, among other things, "faster-than-light" (FTL or
"superluminal") thought-provoking concepts (and paradoxes)
yet to be considered along with all sorts of exotic and
exciting theoretical possibilities, such as FTL transportation
- as in "warp speed," a familiar concept among sci-fi fans, one
that is famously represented in such fantastical technologies as the
"warp drive"
of
Star Trek's U.S.S. Enterprise
and the
Millennium Falcon's
"hyperdrive"
from
Star Wars.
For example, the ability to travel (or send unmanned space probes)
at near-light or faster-than-light speeds could, in theory, extend
humanity's access to distant planets beyond our solar system,
faraway stars, and deeper regions in space, which would otherwise
take thousands to millions of years (or more) to reach through
current scientific understanding and existing propulsion technologies.
For now, such abilities are possible only in the world of science fiction.
Even if the "speed limit" of light does hold true, as many
expect it will upon reevaluation of CERN's results, there are
numerous other unproven yet equally intriguing scenarios where
humans, robots, or communications might one day be able to overcome
the seemingly impossible distances between our sun and other stars
through the use of wormholes, warp drives, quantum entanglement,
and other very imaginative ideas currently being proposed,
researched, dreamed, and debated around the world.
However this works out, light will continue to fascinate humankind,
especially the prevailing mysteries of light's true nature: light
as a particle (photon), light as a wave, or both. Questions and
speculations from scientists, physicists, philosophers, spiritual
persons, and others will keep these discussions lively and rich
and remind us this discourse really transcends physics: this is about
learning the true nature of the universe, our place in it,
and everything else between and beyond.
As it unfolds, our collective quest to understand and interpret
light and its many cosmic implications will inspire new inquiries
and insights well into the forseeable future, illuminating
incredible paths into the unknown.
To learn more about light, the speed of light, physics, and related
concepts, please consider the following links:
For Further Reading...
Articles, Books, and Websites on Light & the Speed of Light:
The Space Shuttle
July 8, 2011
On July 8, 2011, the last of NASA's space shuttles soared
into space, marking the end of a series of historic liftoffs,
challenges, discoveries, and returns.
You can read about the final shuttle mission at these NASA links:
President Obama released a statement on the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis:
"Today, Americans across the country watched with pride as four of our fellow citizens blasted
off from the Kennedy Space Center in the Space Shuttle Atlantis, and America reached for the heavens once more..."
(
continued - full statement at this link)
also offers a number of excellent pages covering all aspects
of the space shuttle, including its history, past missions,
benefits, technologies, photographs, computer wallpaper, and much more:
For further reading on the space shuttle, answers to the question of "what comes next,"
and other space exploration topics, check out these sites:
Transistors in Transition
May 12, 2011
Today's computers and consumer electronic devices
would not exist were it not for the transistor.
Transistors help to govern the flow of electricity
through electronic components. Transistors took
the place of larger vacuum tubes, making it
possible to develop smaller yet more complex
electronic devices, including such popular items
as cell phones and digital music players.
Transistors, along with other components, work
together in "integrated circuits" and create
a complex system of paths for electrical current
so that energy can be harnessed, guided, and
ultimately used by a computer to calculate, store
information, and perform many different tasks.
Over the years, computer chips have gotten
smaller and increasingly powerful. The amount
of transistors that can be made to fit on a chip
relates to something called "Moore's Law," not
"a law of physics" but rather an anticipation
of transistors (and computing power) roughly
doubling in capacity on computer chips every
two years.
A computer's CPU (Central Processing Unit),
essentially a computer's "brain," can contain
millions to billions of tiny transistors. More
transistors generally can mean "a more powerful"
computer, but today's CPUs depend on different
methods and technologies to achieve their
respective levels of performance. In fact,
CPUs are increasingly working along with graphics
cards (graphics processing units, or GPUs, which
help display information on screens) to complete
more tasks and calculations in less time.
Physically, there are limits as to how small a
computer chip can get (and how many transistors
can be made to fit on a chip). Computer chip
manufacturers have been working for decades in
attempts to further miniaturize transistors so
chips can become more capable, working faster,
while consuming less electricity.
One recent example is
Intel Corporation's
announcement that it will create chips using three-dimensional
(3D) transistors in hopes of preserving Moore's Law.
AMD,
another major computer chip producer, has its
own plans to achieve greater energy efficiency
and increased CPU capability.
Competition between companies such as Intel
and AMD, along with increasing consumer demands
for faster, cheaper, and more powerful computers
and electronics have motivated chip producers
to innovate and, wherever possible, push
present technologies to very their limits.
For more information on the past, present,
and near future of transistors (and,
consequently, computers and consumer
electronics) check out these links:
From Intel Corporation:
From AMD:
Related Articles:
Watson, Supercomputer
February 17, 2011
Two humans recently competed against a "supercomputer"
(named Watson) on the popular television trivia show called
Jeopardy.
In case you didn't hear about it, the humans "lost"
the challenge.
If "supercomputer" sounds like a "very powerful computer,"
at least something faster and more capable than your average
desktop PC or laptop, that is putting it mildly.
According to IBM, Watson uses "terabytes of storage and
thousands of POWER7 computing cores working in a massively
parallel system."
(
source)
In other words, Watson is not simply a computer but a
vast system of computers that collectively exercise many
more magnitudes of computational power and information storage
capacity than most "everyday computers" will ever provide.
But Watson is not only about the "hardware" - processors,
wires, and memory chips. Watson is a compelling representation of
Artificial Intelligence (AI),
the ability of a computer to "think" in ways somewhat analogous
to (but not nearly as capably or creatively as) human thought.
AI technology has existed for many years and is already used,
in varying degrees and forms, throughout the world.
Watson is only the latest "supercomputer" to come along
and generate some sensational headlines. Before Watson
there was "
Deep Blue," the chess
computer which managed to beat chess champion Garry Kasparov
back in 1997.
As these supercomputers "win" against human opponents,
many of us are provoked to wonder what this might mean,
if anything, for the future of humankind, especially
after encountering cautionary or dystopian movies such as
"
The Terminator" or
"
The Matrix"
- or reading classic tales such as
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
or
Isaac Asimov's I Robot.
AI still has a very long way to go before any scientist can claim
a computer has attained the full functional equivalence of a human mind.
Generally speaking, computer systems like Watson still have quite a difficult
time deciphering what some of the most basic human sentences mean,
since language can be rich with meanings and interpretive possibilities.
This became evident as Watson responded errantly several times.
AI-capable computers rely primarily on grammatical rules
and logical relationships between words and ideas, which are
encoded by human programmers. Consequently, increasingly abstract
and intricate ideas continue to present formidable (if not
presently insurmountable) challenges to even the most
artificially intelligent computers on the planet.
So, humanity need not worry too much at the moment.
That said, AI, along with robots (and all forms of "robotics"),
will continue to evolve and play expansive and decisive roles
in the course of human events, making these seemingly far-fetched
topics, once relegated to sci-fi and hobbyists, something nearly
everyone will need to consider seriously in the coming years.
Further Reading
If you would like to read more about Watson, here are some links:
For more information on AI and robots, please check out these links:
Sci/Tech Best of 2010
December 20, 2010
2011, fast approaching, brings with it a fresh year
full of potentially interesting (if not incredible)
scientific discoveries, technological advances,
new gadgets, and perhaps some medical breakthroughs
as well!
If you're wondering what exactly 2010 supplied,
in terms of new science and technologies, we have compiled
some of the best "best of 2010" sci/tech lists below
to help satisfy your curiosity:
You might also find one or more of these books
(available in the RCLS library system) interesting:
Speaking of 2010...
We want to thank all our patrons - our community - for helping
to make this such a wonderful year of public service and success
at Thrall. We look forward to continue serving your interests
and informational needs.
We wish you all the best in the coming new year!
Computers & CPUs
December 13, 2010
Many of us use computers every day, but how do they work?
What's inside of them that lets us do what we do?
Besides the typical circuit boards, wires, and buttons we
might expect to find inside, what is really "in there"
that gives computers the ability to... compute?
In computers commonly used, the main "part" that makes
everything work is the "Central Processing Unit" (or "CPU").
This CPU (also known as a "microprocessor") is what we
might consider to be the "brain" of a computer.
Unlike our brains, which have actual thoughts and memories,
CPUs are not all that intelligent by themselves: they cannot remember
things, make decisions independently, get creative, or come
up with new ideas on their own. CPUs must be told what to do
and need to connect with other things in a computer
to function properly.
This is why many computers (such as desktop PCs and
laptops) also need "memory chips" (called "RAM")
and other parts (known as "hardware"). CPUs do
what they are told by "programs" (also known
as "software" or "applications").
Word processors, Web browsers, and computer games
are all programs which tell a CPU what to do.
When you interact with those programs, they in turn
"instruct" the CPU to do things on your behalf.
The main program that lets you use your desktop
computer or laptop is called an "operating system."
Windows, Linux, and Apple OS/X are examples of
operating systems.
As there are many different types of computers, there
are numerous kinds of CPUs, which can vary in minor
or major ways, above all in terms of their respective
speeds and overall computational powers.
Some advanced CPUs called "multicore processors" can
handle multiple tasks at the same time, making a computer
more capable and faster.
CPUs live on a circuit board (known as the "motherboard")
located within the computer. Using a variety of chips,
wires, electricity, and other parts, all things connected
to the motherboard communicate constantly.
Even when a computer appears to be idle, doing nothing,
things can be quite active on the motherboard!
Deep within the CPU is a microscopic maze of electrical
switches (transistors) which work together to complete
tasks requested by the operating system, programs currently
working, and requests from you, the "user" of that computer.
Every action you take on a computer sets off a series
of signals, actions, and reactions with the CPU and across
the motherboard. Even your simplest requests
- checking your e-mail, typing a letter, or printing a
picture - will result in millions if not billions of
computations to be carried out deep within the computer,
and all within seconds - or faster!
The inner world of the simplest computer can be a truly
fascinating phenomenon!
If you would like to learn more about CPUs, computers,
and related topics, you might want to explore
some of the following links:
Grand Designs
Exploring Theories of the Universe
September 8, 2010
Stephen Hawking, renowned physicist and author of such
titles as
A Brief History of Time,
The Universe in a Nutshell,
and
The Grand Design
(his latest book), provoked
a range of reactions worldwide
as he concluded the creation of the universe was born
of physical laws, a wholly natural process which
did not, as he understood it, require divine intervention.
Whether or not you agree with Hawking, this can still
be a timely opportunity - a "teachable moment" - to learn
a bit about theories of the universe, how they come into being,
and what they might
never be able to tell us.
Hawking's assertion, neither new nor exclusive to him
(and certainly not new to him either: see his lecture
"
Does God Play Dice?"),
is a particularly important belief among those persons
who seek to express their understanding of the existence
of the universe in strictly mathematical and scientific
terms. The decidedly precise and limited language
of science allows but a little ambiguity or metaphor,
and so such scientific statements might resonate,
beyond scientific communities, with a certain harshness
or shock, even if that was not the intention of a speaker.
Scientists, duty-bound to honor the
Scientific Method,
must carefully observe, experiment, theorize, and revise findings
in accordance with new discoveries. While there is, in fact,
plenty of opportunity for "new thinking" and creativity
in science, any sound scientific theory must be subject
to further testing, documentation, independent analyses,
and should, in the end, comply with currently known
laws of physics and observable natural phenomena.
This means some theories, such as
inflation
(from the "
Big Bang"),
tend to be supported more than others in scientific
communities because those theories seem to fit well
with tests and observations made repeatedly over decades and tend
to survive challenges from alternate theorists.
Dominance of a theory might seem to suggest it can become,
at some point, a universally accepted truth, something
beyond and above questioning, but that is not true:
some of the most accepted and prevailing theories of the
universe proved to be wrong. Past theories, such as
Ptolemy's Earth-centered (geocentric) model
of the cosmos, were later challenged and disproved
as new ideas and technologies presented new truths.
Humans studied the universe for thousands of years,
yet only within the last century or so have scientists
begun to develop and enhance technologies to observe
the universe in greater detail, test ideas, and develop
new theories. In spite of such advancements, there are
still many questions to ponder, many discoveries to be made,
and many more challenges to meet in defense of some
of physics' most cherished and central ideas.
For example, the discovery of
quantum mechanics
introduced countless new considerations and continues to cause
much wonder and rethinking among scientists who are trying
to reconcile the implications of quantum theory with
established laws of physics and the nature of the universe.
That two particles at opposite ends of the universe can
be
"entangled"
and, across that impossible-to-imagine distance, still
affect each other illustrates just one of many
quantum questions yet to be fully fathomed.
All of this has complicated the quest for the so-called
theory of everything,
which, in its most ideal form, would uniformly describe
the most basic forces of nature: electromagnetism, gravity,
and the "weak" and "strong" nuclear interactions.
These physical forces have long been recognized to govern
how matter and energies exist and interact atomically.
As
Albert Einstein
and others tried to make sense of the universe
and develop theories which could describe what they saw,
they recognized aspects of the universe which did not
seem to work as they expected. Why does the universe
appear to expand? Why is that expansion apparently
accelerating? Einstein came up with something called
the "
Cosmological Constant"
in an effort to amend his theories of
relativity
to fit what he saw - only to backtrack and call it his "greatest blunder."
Today, there is lively talk of
"dark matter" and
"dark energy"
as efforts continue to locate "missing matter"
and identify unexpected forces in the universe.
Such discussions and future observations and tests
will likely yield new insights and new theories,
perhaps even leading to a true theory of everything
or require a rethinking of modern day physics.
Until then, the universe will continue to surprise
scientists with unanticipated possibilities. Along
the way, persons like Hawking, might present their findings
as evidence supportive of what they personally and
professionally believe to be the "real" truths of the universe,
yet, due to the constraints of the Scientific Method,
they can only go so far in their statements and theories,
which speak solely to what can be documented, examined,
and reasoned through the Scientific Method.
As some individuals researching topics such as
intelligent life beyond Earth
are fond of saying, "Absence of evidence is
not
evidence of absence." In other words, a failure
to detect something does not disproove the existence of that
thing. Scientists can really only go by
what can be seen
and
inferred and logically deduced. What questions
remain become matters of speculation, philosophy,
or personal belief.
Believe it or not, the universe, vast as it is, might not
be "all there is" to "everything": some scientists contend
there might actually be a
metaverse
(or "multiverse") containing possibly infinite universes
(or "parallel universes"),
each perhaps with their own laws of physics! And while
that might satisfy questions of where our universe might
have originated, questions of the metaverse's origin and
nature hint at even more epic contemplations awaiting
future generations.
Holding your breath in eager anticipation of science's
greatest revelations is not advisable: even the most successful
and accepted theory of the universe could be, in the end, a bit
of a disappointment among non-scientists interested less
in equations and more in potential answers to the mysteries
of life and more. Besides
how the universe works
are, for many persons, deeper questions of "why" which
extend well beyond the scope of science.
Einstein conceded this much. In 1940, at the "Conference
on Science, Philosophy and Religion," Einstein had some
interesting things to say, including this famous
and thought-provoking quote:
Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.
Creative, if not
poetic thinking can also be essential
to the discovery and expression of new knowledge, as writer and philosopher
Ralph Waldo Emerson
noted with dramatic flair in his
"Poetry and Imagination" essay:
A poet comes who lifts the veil; gives them glimpses of the laws
of the universe; shows them the circumstance as illusion;
shows that Nature is only a language to express the laws,
which are grand and beautiful; and lets them, by his songs,
into some of the realities.
Indeed, the universe can be looked upon through many lenses,
many wavelengths, many theories, and many other ways,
including as an anthology of visual poetry,
as the
Hubble Space Telescope
historically demonstrated, through
one amazing image after another,
how remarkably beautiful the universe can be, full of spectacular sights
and surprises that have the potential to inspire and teach us more
about ourselves, our world, and our own cosmic context.
For more on stories and theories of the universe,
please see these sections in our Internet guides:
You can browse related materials and debates in the
library catalog through these links:
Also check out our
blog post on Science and Spirituality
for related information, books, and more library catalog links.
Ubiquitous Gadgetries
July 21, 2010
In our increasingly digital world, everywhere
- and even in places you do not expect them to be - you find them:
the gadgets...
GPS, laptops, netbooks, HDTV, WI-FI hotspots, "Bluetooth" devices,
MP3 players, smartphones, digital cameras, smartphones, apps...
These devices, which fall under the fairly friendly
name of "consumer electronics," can perform many different
and impressive tasks. For example, cell phones can double up
as cameras or mini video recorders, and "smarter" phones yet
allow you to surf the Web, play video games, text friends and
family, and do countless other things - all within a screen
no bigger than your hand.
If you know your way around all these different technologies,
that's great! If not, don't worry! You can quickly catch up
(and maybe even surpass some of your gadget-wielding friends
and coworkers) by checking out some of the latest "Gadget
News" sites as well as books available in our library system:
For starters, our
Current Interests Center
has a
Gadgets News section
you can browse to see some of the latest and forthcoming
technological innovations in consumer electronics.
You can also find reviews for electronics and many other
kinds of products through our
Consumer Information guide.
If you're interested more in how things work, then you
probably want to visit the
Technology section
of our
Ready Reference Center
as well as the
Inventors and Inventions section.
For books, you can browse these topics in our library catalog:
Some specific titles you might find interesting:
In case you're curious about the potential social implications of some of these technologies,
here are some links to related items in the catalog:
If you missed it, you might also like to check out our
earlier blog post on the PBS "Digital Nation" documentary.
Digital Radio Transition
April 8, 2010
In the United States, the
transition to digital television (DTV) took place in June 2009. As you probably recall,
this is when television broadcasters were required to switch over
to digital broadcasts. If you were among the fortunate ones unaffected by
this national changeover, you did not have to upgrade your television or converter box.
Nearly a year later, the seeds of
another major digital transition
have been sown - this time in the United Kingdom: currently working its way through
by the
British Parliament's
legal review and approval process
is the
Digital Economy Bill.
Among other things, the Bill establishes a digital radio transition date of 2015,
when radio broadcasts in Britain would switch from AM/FM to digital broadcasting.
This effort follows recommendations made in the British Government's
Digital Britain project,
which sought to identify ways technologies in the UK could be modernized.
Back in the United States, the
U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
has its own preliminary document concerning a future transition
to digital radio:
In this document, the FCC explains "What is Digital Radio," lists advantages of digital
(versus analog) receivers, and answers the inevitable question of whether or not you
would need a new radio (at home or in your car) whenever such a transition were
to occur nationally within the United States.
For more information on digital radios and related topics, check out these links:
Science & Spirituality
April 2, 2010
Regardless of any of our personal persuasions, be they scientific, spiritual, both, or agnostic,
we can generally agree, at least, on one thing: the relationship of science and religion
has been a complex one throughout the ages.
From long before
Galileo's finding that Earth was not the center of the
cosmos
to
Stephen Hawking's figurative yet intriguing conclusion (in
A Brief History Of Time) of ultimately knowing "the mind of God" through a
theory of everything,
science and religion intertwine inevitably, century after century.
Questions naturally emerge as this happens: Are science and religion incompatible, mutually exclusive, or part of a greater reality?
Can things be learned and shared between them? Should humans attempt to "play God" through things like
cloning or
genetic engineering?
Will robots ascend to "higher thoughts" and spirituality once they surpass physical human awareness?
How and why was the universe created?
Fresh waves of books attempting to answer such questions appear yearly
- in recent times due to renewed debates over
evolution,
intelligent design,
and even the
origin of the universe.
On either side of these debates stand firm believers joined by others:
the undecided and the agnostic, the open-minded, as well as the newly persuaded.
Each of these authors, proceeding from their own beliefs, participate in data-driven
or divinely-inspired discussions already in progress for thousands of years. Writers
of such books sometimes take up their cause in hopes of demonstrating common ground
or to present fresh perspectives in light of recent discoveries
- or
revelations, as might be the case.
Making sense of it all has turned into a lifelong profession for many persons.
These are not things easily understood or dimissed: astronomical observations and
quantum mechanics
unleashed
entire universes
of new questions in scientific circles while religions around the world
face their own
challenges and reflections,
including
secularism,
technological issues,
bioethics,
and
intolerance.
Both science and religion continue to experience various
suppression and censorship attempts as well.
In your own efforts to better understand these subjects, you might find
yourself wanting more balanced information or clearer / less emotional
positions than what you might encounter among the more vocal commentators
populating websites and mainstream media (the ones whose strenuous opinions
further complicate and sensationalize these already difficult topics).
Remember: you are welcome to research and contemplate
all of these kinds of topics calmly at your local library.
Believe it or not, this is one of the most important reasons to use
and support public libraries: so that you, or anyone else, can freely and
fearlessly access the full spectrum of information on any given topic,
not just what certain individuals would have you reject or accept as truth.
For example, these are a few of many related titles available in the
library catalog.
You can click on them or their authors to check on these and other relevant works:
You can also browse "science and religion" topics and related issues
in the library catalog through subject headings such as:
For more information, please check out our databases and information guides:
- Science & Philosophical Inquiries:
Automating Autonomy
Artificial Intelligence & Robots
March 31, 2010
The world of
robots
just got a little more interesting!
NASA recently
announced
one of its
Mars Rovers
(Opportunity) was upgraded to become more autonomous.
As NASA
explains,
this means Opportunity can "make its own choices"
when it comes to which rocks the rover observes next.
For many computer users and followers of technology news,
such a report is not really all that out of the ordinary.
In fact, efforts to create machines with some basic abilitites
to help people complete tasks date back to civilization's
earliest days.
Not too long ago, in the 19th Century,
Charles Babbage,
inventor of the mathematical
difference engine,
helped paved the way for modern computers and artificial intelligence
by recognizing how a machine could help humans calculate numbers.
Earlier examples yet can be found in the depths of history,
including the "
Antikythera mechanism,"
an ancient computational device that appears to have helped
its users figure positions of stars and planets -
nearly two thousand years ago!
These creations collectively suggest an otherwise natural progression
of technological advances: having mastered mechanical
challenges of making machines
do things, the next challenge
for humans would be to make machines
think
- at least in some very basic ways.
The formal name of this activity is
artificial intelligence
("A.I." or simply AI). The word "artificial" implies something manufactured,
not of the natural world - implying a simulation or semblance of intelligence.
And that would be correct: computers and machines can only emulate
human-like intelligence.
This does not mean computers are completely
unintelligent:
etymologically speaking,
intelligence comes down to
chosing between things - certainly a task computers can often excel at
easily, given their increasing
hardware
and
software abilities
to sift through vast amounts of information (formally called "
data")
and make decisions based on specific methods
(technically known as "
algorithms" which are part of larger
"
computer programs").
Here's a good example: in 1997, the
chess computer called "Deep Blue"
managed to beat chess champion
Garry Kasparov
thanks to being able to consider reportedly 200 million moves a second
while having access to a database of thousands of previously played chess games.
Deep Blue's "brain" was physically unlike Kasparov's yet still
competitive in the realm of
matching
or
recognizing patterns
of
chess piece positions
and making decisions based on that information - all within seconds.
This "
man versus machine"
competition generated a lot of buzz at the time, but humans could still breathe
a collective sigh of relief: Deep Blue was a special
supercomputer designed for this
one specific task.
Personal computers
are still not so bright on their own as of 2010.
One goal among some AI scientists is to make AI more
humanlike
in its abilities, especially in terms of a computer's ability
to communicate naturally with a person. Computers can
"
synthesize speech"
(artificially create word sounds) but do not "speak"
on their own (just yet) because language - even simple phrases
- is a fairly complex task to construct and understand.
Technical phrases for these activities include
natural language processing
and
speech recognition.
Today there are such things as
"chatterbots"
- programs that can talk quasi-intelligently to you
(
ELIZA being one of the first).
Some computers, telephones, and now cars are equipped with
speech recognition capabilities,
allowing them to respond to a limited set of spoken commands.
Entire fields of study and industries - from food and car manufacturers to NASA scientists, video game designers,
and many others - rely heavily on automation and artificial intelligence. Some companies and organizations
even employ "
software agents"
to help carry out certain tasks, some of which include communicating with real people
(much to our frustration as customers having to deal with voice menus).
Some computer software programs can speak in nearly convincingly ways,
while others specialize in
producing meaningless text
and still others fight against the spread of
unwanted information.
You still can often tell when you are talking with a computer
- notoriously so when it
does not understand
what you said (and asks you to repeat or rephrase your words)
or uncreatively when its replies fail to be anything but predictable.
As AI technologies become more fluent and flexible, these issues will
eventually fade.
To help AI scientists gauge their progress in this area, there is something called the
Turing Test
(devised by
Alan Turing).
The Test helps determine how effectively a computer can speak.
A computer "passes the test" if a person talking to it (and to
another person) cannot tell the computer from the person.
While humankind is not
quite on the verge of a
robot uprising,
for well over the past century, AI has steadily increased
its presence and influence throughout all areas of life.
In that time, machines and robots have also become more agile,
capable, and some have even come to
resemble humans.
This is no longer a topic best left to fantasy or science fiction:
the robots really are here!
Through our
Current Interests Center
you can follow current some of the most recent developments
in AI and robotics:
You can also catch up on the history of these topics
by following any of these links into the library catalog:
[Concerning Wikipedia links: please note Wikipedia's disclaimers]
National Broadband Plan
March 15, 2010
The
U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
is proposing a National Broadband Plan, which they describe as
"setting an ambitious agenda for connecting all corners of the nation
while transforming the economy and society with the communications
network of the future."
For most users, "improved broadband conditions" ultimately
translates to mean "faster and more reliable Internet access."
Beyond that, pricing, availability, and the general state
of networked technologies could also benefit eventually
if such broadband improvement efforts are successful.
You can read more about the FCC's proposal in their press release:
You can also
click here to read the FCC's Executive Summary (PDF format).
Additional details about the FCC's efforts can be found at their new broadband information website:
Exploring the "Digital Nation"
February 2, 2010
Tonight, the
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
will air a new in-depth series of reports investigating
how the Internet, virtual reality, and other digital technologies
have impacted and will continue to influence modern life, education,
relationships, and many other aspects of human existence:
The program is called
Digital Nation - Life on the Virtual Frontier
The program can also be viewed online at the above link as a series
of videos (
Adobe Flash Player required).
Videos are arranged by topics: Living Faster, Relationships, Waging War, Virtual Worlds, and Learning.
At the
Digital Nation website
you will also find
resources for teachers and parents.
"Digital Nation" advances upon an earlier
PBS Frontline
report called
Growing Up Online: Just How Radically Is the Internet Transforming the Experience of Childhood.
For more information on these topics, explore these links:
The
Pew Internet and American Life Project
offers a number of relevant studies and presentations you might also want to examine:
Books on these topics also exist in the library system. Click these topics to browse available titles:
3D TV: Three-Dimensional Television
January 8, 2010
If you survived last year's digital television (
DTV)
transition and perhaps even purchased a new digital
or
HDTV
- possibly even a
Blu-Ray disc player - you
might consider yourself all caught up with video
entertainment technology.
For the moment, you would be right, but, as you
probably know by now, technology is ever-changing,
all about "what's next." Even as viewers and video
afficionados breathe a sigh of relief, news of a new
TV technology is making its way around the Web
thanks in part to the recent
Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
That technology is known as 3D TV - as in
three-dimensional television.
3D movies existed for years, but the technology behind
3D has come quite a distance since the days of the quirky
blue-and-red glasses. Some film showings employ polarized
"RealD"
glasses, which resemble sunglasses.
The film
Avatar
is one of several movies recently released, in certain theaters,
in 3D, along with
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
and
A Christmas Carol.
As you might have guessed, this just marks the latest wave
of 3D video entertainment, and more such films - and now television programs -
are in the works.
After all this, you might wonder (naturally), "What's next?"
Could it be
holographic television displays? We'll see!
For more information about 3D TV and other 3D technologies, check out these links:
Also check out these topics in the library catalog:
By the way...
Did you know books with 3D images (called "stereograms") also exist? They do!
Click here to browse some of the "Magic Eye" titles
(and
click here to find out how they work).
Free Cybersafety Guides
December 18, 2009
The
U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC),
Department of Education,
and
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
have published a new free Internet safety booklet for
parents, guardians, and students:
Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online
(Adobe PDF format: view with the
Adobe Reader)
Chapters in this 50+ page publication include:
- Talk to Your Kids
- Advice for Parents of Kids at Different Ages
- Socializing Online - Sexting, Cyberbullying
- Communicating Online
- Mobile Phones: Socializing and Communicating on the Go
- Protect Your Computers - P2p File Sharing
- Parental Controls
- Protect Your Pre-Teen's Privacy
- Glossary
- Additional Resources
For more information about Net Cetera,
please read this press release from the FTC.
Related information can be found in earlier blog posts of ours:
Middletown Thrall Library also offers free downloadable guides
covering various aspects of Internet safety and awareness
as well as critical thinking:
- Consumers Beware
- Copyright and Intellectual Property
- The Internet & Your Family
- Protecting Your Computer
- Social Networking
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Web Checklist
- Why Search?
Please click here to browse these and other Awareness guides.
A number of books on these topics are also available throughout our library system.
Click on any link below to browse titles currently in the catalog:
Windows 7 Arrives
October 26, 2009
Microsoft's latest computer operating system,
Windows 7, is
officially available.
As you might already know, the operating system (OS) is the single
most important program on a computer: it literally lets you operate
the computer and run other programs (software).
When Microsoft's previous operating system
Vista
appeared, many computer users wondered if they could or should
attempt to upgrade their computers.
Each operating system, including those not from Microsoft, such as
Linux (an open source operating system)
or
Apple's Mac OS/X,
has its own set of hardware requirements. This means, if your
computer does not meet the specified "minimal system requirements"
(such as memory - RAM, hard drive space, or Central Processing Unit - CPU),
the operating system might not perform well or at all.
This means not every computer user can or should upgrade: each computer,
having different parts and specifications, has a range of optimal performance,
which, in plainer terms, means that some users will be better off
sticking with what they already have on their computers, especially
as newer operating systems are usually better optimized for running
on faster computers with substantial memory (RAM - 2 gigabytes or more).
If you plan on buying a new computer (and it is not from Apple),
then you have a very high probability, due to Microsoft's dominant
marketshare, of getting Windows 7 already installed on your system.
You can read more about Windows 7 at these links:
As we do for all major operating system releases,
Middletown Thrall Library has several books on order
so you can learn more about this system.
If you're interested in exploring free alternatives to Windows 7,
there are numerous versions of the Linux operating system (called
"distributions" or "distros"). Among the most famous of these
"distros" is the user-friendly
Ubuntu
system. More "distros" can be discovered via
Distrowatch.com.
Many Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, offer
"live CD" previews, which can let you load up a Linux
operating system on your computer (through a CD or DVD drive)
without replacing the existing operating system, giving you
a chance to see if it is right for you.
Getting Linux to run properly can be a challenging experience
on some computers, and the often technical nature of the OS can
be daunting to newcomers and even some "power users." For many other
users, though, Linux can open up new worlds of computing possibilities,
particularly once people discover the
thousands of free programs available
to Linux users.
Whatever your computer/OS preferences are, Thrall owns a number
of books on Linux, OS/X, and other OS platforms. Many more titles
exist throughout the library system. Here are some library catalog
links you can use to browse related books and videos:
For hobbyists and others still into
DOS/MS-DOS,
old-school command-line Unix,
or earlier versions of Windows (95, 98, 2000, etc.), you also have more than a few titles to browse!
For more about operating systems and related concepts and software:
Hubble's New Vision
September 9, 2009
After a series of upgrades installed by astronauts earlier this year,
the
Hubble Space Telescope
can see more of the universe in greater detail.
Along with a
press release describing Hubble's new capabilities,
the HST team has published
a number of images
demonstrating the telescope's technological improvements.
High-resolution images, such as these of the
Butterfly Nebula (NGC 6302)
or
these of a galaxy group (nicknamed "Stephan's Quintet")
bring viewers even closer to the physical majesty and mysteries of the cosmos.
Accompanying the images are
some videos
and
a document entitled Hubble: A New Beginning
(PDF format: view with
Adobe Reader).
As Hubble's service mission, extended several times thus far, winds down,
a next-generation space telescope is being manufactured; its name is the
James Webb Space Telescope,
and its current launch date is set for 2014.
Until then, it is hoped the Hubble Space Telescope will continue
its historic tradition of providing Earth-bound viewers stellar sights
and scientists new insights into the awe-inspiring universe we occupy.
There are, of course, other telescopes and observatories worth
checking out if you would like to continue reading about this topic.
This link will take you to the Astronomy section
of our Ready Reference guide. Once there, you can browse related
websites as well as topics in the library catalog.
In case you haven't heard,
2009 is the Year of International Astronomy,
and it is an opportune time to explore the universe. No knowledge of
science or physics is required: the wondrous pictures, like works of
art, speak volumes on their own and can be enjoyed independently of
any equations or theories.
Kepler Mission
August 24, 2009
Launched back in March 2009, NASA's
Kepler Mission
soared forth into space in search of other worlds as part of NASA's
Discovery Program.
NASA describes the mission
as follows: "The scientific objective of the Kepler Mission
is to explore the structure and diversity of planetary systems."
More generally, this is one of the latest technological attempts to move closer to
answering a basic question whose answer would yield cosmic implications and usher
in a new age of discovery. That question is,
Are we alone?
The quest to determine if any form of life could or does exist beyond Earth
began long ago, and, to this day, theories and debates on all sides of the
cosmic question attempt to address what it might ultimately mean if
the answer finally arrived as a definitive "yes" or "no."
Earlier in this blog (
Allen Telescope Array,
Cosmic Cultures,
and
Super Earths)
we reported on scientific attempts to locate exoplanets (planets beyond our solar system)
and even to detect extraterrestrial intelligence.
The Kepler Mission advances upon these earlier and ongoing efforts (such as
SETI)
through newer technologies optimized for finding terrestial Earthlike planets orbiting
within what is called the "habitable zone" (sometimes nicknamed the
"Goldilocks Zone").
Detecting any planet around other stars has its share of challenges. Larger Jupiter-like exoplanets
(known as "gas giants" or "Jovian planets") were among the first ones detected around other
stars due to their measurable gravitational influence on their parent stars,
causing their suns to wobble as the planets orbited. (Yes, scientists really
use the word "wobble" when describing this.)
Earth-sized planets, being smaller and exerting less gravitational influence,
become more difficult to detect. To find them, Kepler will be examining stars
for planetary transits: when the planet passes in front of its sun.
As a planet passes in front of its sun, the star's light should vary
at regular intervals.
Right now, the Kepler space telescope is said to be
over 10,000,000 miles from Earth
and is already transmitting early findings back to Earth,
including
details about a giant gas planet's atmosphere.
Like the legendary and recently upgraded
Hubble Space Telescope.
the Kepler Mission promises to yield historic discoveries and help us better understand physical aspects
of the
amazing and beautiful universe
we occupy.
For more information on the Kepler Mission, visit these official websites:
- NASA Kepler Mission Overview - Introduction, Science Objectives, Transit Method of Detecting Extrasolar Planets, Mission Design, Expected Results, Flight System Characteristics, Mission Characteristics.
- NASA Kepler Mission Pages - news, images, videos, audio, and more
- Kepler Asteroseismic Science Consortium (KASC) Scientific Pages
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Planet Quest: Kepler Mission
The Kepler telescope gets its name from German astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630).
His best known contribution to astronomy was a preliminary understanding of how planets
move: the
three laws of planetary motion
You can learn more about Johannes Kepler and the search for other planets by following these links:
Typosquatting
August 20, 2009
We recently blogged about the
New York State Consumer Protection Board's list of recent scams.
Among the list of currently known scams is a phenomenon called
"typosquatting."
"Typos" ("typographical errors") happen all the time. When you type what you believe is the proper address of a website into a web browser's "location" box,
the site usually appears soon after, but is it the site you really expected to visit?
If you mistyped the web address (known more formally as a Uniform Resource Locator, or URL), you might still arrive at what appears to be the website you meant to reach.
Unfortunately, due to the practice of "typosquatting," where people or companies can purchase web address for the purposes of exploiting your mistyping, you might wind up
in the middle of a scam and not even know about it until it is too late.
Other than typing more carefully, what else can you do to protect yourself? The answers are fairly basic:
- Do not type incomplete web addresses or leave off the suffix (domain extension) of a website (e.g. ".com").
- You should never guess a website's address. Attempt to locate the official web address, if possible. A librarian can try to assist you with this.
- Never assume the web address is a ".com" website. Websites can end in many suffixes, such as ".edu," ".org," or ".gov."
- Do not rely on your web browser to automatically complete your web address: if you mistyped the address earlier, your web browser could, in remembering the website you previously visited, appear to recommend it while the browser is simply trying to save you time by showing you a web address you had entered earlier.
- Do not blindly accept what search engines might suggest: many search engines contain sponsored results from persons or companies who purchased the right to be listed when certain words or phrases are searched for, and those "sponsors" might not be the actual owners or official representatives/affiliates of the site you really intend to reach.
- Because many search engines on the Internet contain results from millions of websites, there is a chance you might arrive at the incorrect website if you either failed to spell the website or company name properly or if you did not take the time to review the search results more closely so as to correctly identify the correct website.
- You cannot judge a website based solely on appearances: "Unofficial" or scam websites can appear indistinguishable from official and real websites.
Even if you are in a rush, the few extra moments you take to type more carefully and more closely examine which websites you are visiting can spare you from nightmares of electronic exploitation or identity theft.
For more insight and guidance on related topics, please visit
OnGuardOnline.gov from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Nanotechnology
August 18, 2009
Nanotechnology (sometimes referred to as
nanotech)
involves
nanoengineering and
nanoscience and works
at what is called the
nanoscale, which is measured,
appropriately enough, in
nanometers.
Nano means "one billionth" - a size so small as to
be invisible to the human eye! The amazing smallness
of this technology is what gives it unprecedented
capabilities.
Nano.gov has a nice illustration
demonstrating nanotech scale.
Nanotech is not something that will arrive in the
distant future: it is already here and being put
to use in a variety of ways.
Things such as carbon nanotubes, nanostructures,
nanoparticles, nanoshells, and nanowires are being
created to enable scientists to create extremely
small things, such as "nanosystems," next-generation
computer chips, and miniature engines and machines
(
"micromachinery")
complete with movable parts.
In fact, entirely new college study programs
(e.g. Albany University's
College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering)
and fields of study have already emerged from
the world of nanotech, including nanomedicine,
nanotech space exploration (see
NASA's page).
Nano.gov has a web page
exploring some of the many uses nanotech is being used.
As you might have guessed by now,
Nano.gov (The National Nanotechnology Initiative)
website serves as the central U.S. portal for information
and news on nanotech. It also offers a nice introduction
(
What Is Nanotechnology?)
as well as
answers to frequently asked questions.
Like any technology, nanotech offers new abilities,
challenges, and dangers. Ethical (especially as in
bioethics) questions also remain to be explored
as nanotech continues to permeate every level of
your existence, whether it involves the clothes
you wear, the computers you use, the food you eat,
or where you work.
Efforts to educate people on nanotechnology and its
nanoproducts are ongoing in and beyond the U.S. Government:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
(of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC)
has a Nanotechnology page outlining their ongoing investigations
into the "occupational safety and health implications and applications of nanotechnology."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also
has web pages on
nanotechnology regulation
(dealing with "a wide range of products, including foods, cosmetics, drugs, devices, and veterinary products, some of which may utilize nanotechnology or contain nanomaterials")
and
a frequently asked questions page (FAQ).
Here are some other U.S. Government agencies and other non-governmental
websites providing information on nanotechnology:
Our
library system contains a number of items on all aspects nanotechnology
if you would like to research the topic some more.
Members of Thrall can enjoy even more research possibilities:
try searching for "nanotech" or "nanotechnology" in our
full text article databases and encylopedias.
Even as the world around you changes in ways you can
no longer see, you can still use the library's free resources
and research tools to gain a better understanding of what
is happening and perhaps even take a more informed and active
role in the shaping of the future by applying your new awareness
and sharing it with others!
Augmented Reality
July 29, 2009
First there was Virtual Reality (VR), where entire worlds
could be created and explored within a computer.
Now, thanks to advances in consumer electronics,
GPS (Global Positioning System) technologies,
and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR)
is being introduced throughout the world in different ways.
Augmented Reality combines the real world with
information provided by various services and
technologies. This information "augments"
the reality you see and hear with things like
statistics, trivia, and other data.
AR already exists in very basic forms, such as
computerized maps and GPS systems, which can tell
you more about your surroundings and destinations,
including such things as local attractions and
other facts about an area.
More advanced displays currently being developed
aim to project up-to-the-minute ("real time")
information on a screen that changes with your
location and heading.
AR technologies, given their broad potential in
areas such as research, travel, education, health,
and many other areas and fields of study, will
continue to find their ways into everyday tasks.
The How Stuff Works website has an interesting
article on AR:
"How Augmented Reality Will Work"
For more information on AR, check out these websites:
Beware of Scareware, Free Security Scans
June 24, 2009
While searching or surfing the Web,
at home or anywhere else, you might
encounter what appear to be virus alerts
or offers for "free security scans"
or "registry scanners."
Such "scareware" pop-up windows and
pages attempt to convince you action
(such as downloading and installing
a program) must be taken to eliminate
what are claimed to be problems found
on your computer.
Experienced users might recognize
potential fake alerts as they appear,
but some bogus notices could resemble
popular security software commonly
found on home computers.
Acting on false alerts could actually
introduce viruses or spyware into your
computer!
As always, please proceed with caution
before you click anything.
The Internet does contain thousands of
viruses, malware, spyware (e.g.
see this earlier blog post),
so legitimate alerts could come
from your own computer.
If you are unfamiliar with the security
software installed on your computer,
you should take some time to reacquaint
yourself with it and also check if its
protection is current and active.
Improved awareness of the security software
on your computer can help you respond more
appropriately to situations requiring action.
Beyond that, you can increase your protection
through increased awareness of possible scams
and other problems on the Internet.
To help you in that regard, the U.S. Government's
OnGuardOnline.gov
offers further insight and guidance
on scareware and other topics.
Here is their page on scareware:
"Free Security Scan" Could Cost Time and Money
OnGuardOnline is also
available in Spanish.
For more on scareware, there's this post on the U.S. Government's GovGab blog:
Scareware Scams
as well as these articles from Microsoft:
National Ignition Facility
("World's Largest Laser")
June 1, 2009
The
National Ignition Facility (NIF)
is home to what is being described as "the world's largest laser."
NIF states, "NIF's 192 intense laser beams will deliver to its target more
than 60 times the energy of any previous laser system."
Once fully operational, NIF promises to "direct nearly
two million joules of ultraviolet laser energy in
billionth-of-a-second pulses to the target chamber center,"
producing "temperatures of more than 100 million degrees
and pressures more than 100 billion times Earth's atmosphere."
Why?
According to the
NIF's About page,
the NIF was created to "provide a better understanding of the complex physics
of nuclear weapons," explore "basic science, such as astrophysical
phenomena, materials science and nuclear science," and to "provide
scientists with the physics understanding necessary to create fusion
ignition and energy gain for future energy production."
To learn more about NIF and fusion power, check out these links:
Click here for the main National Ignition Facility (NIF) website.
Antimatter: Facts & Fictions
May 27, 2009
The subject of antimatter recently returned
to the news with the movie adaptation of
Dan Brown's book
Angels and Demons.
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research,
and their
Large Hadron Collider, figure prominently in the story.
As the world of fiction and science fiction continue
to use antimatter to great dramatic effect, CERN
offers some informational websites to help clarify
questions surrounding the recently sensationalized topic:
The
U.S. website of the Large Hadron Collider also has an "Angels and Demons" section, complete with "Virtual Lectures" (videos).
No longer constrained to fictional realms, antimatter
research is quite real and no less fascinating!
You can visit these sites to learn more about antimatter:
Michio Kaku's book,
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel
dedicates its Chapter 10 "Antimatter and Anti-universes." Click the title to find or reserve the book in the library catalog.
You can also
click here to find books and videos involving antimatter in the library system.
Addition items can be found under the heading of
particle physics.
Computational Search Engine
May 18, 2009
A new "computational search engine"
is now available on the Internet:
Wolfram|Alpha.com
Unlike general Web search engines, which attempt to find
web pages containing or relating to your search terms,
this search engine tries to compute answers to questions.
What kinds of questions? Mostly those involving numbers,
measurements, dates, word/letter combinations, money,
and other quantifiable aspects of scientific and natural phenomena.
In other words, you can type "x + 2 = 3" (minus quotes),
and it will solve for x (i.e. "x = 1").
Wolfram|Alpha can handle more complex queries as well
in a variety of areas such as physics and astronomy.
Additional
examples of possible searches can be found at this link.
To learn more about this search engine, you can
visit its About page
or
click here for its home page.
Deep Solar Minimum
May 11, 2009
Earth's Sun regularly experiences highs (solar maximum)
and lows (solar minimum) of sunspot activity in cycles
running approximately 22 years (11 years per increase
or decrease in sunspots).
In recent months, the Sun has remained rather quiet,
entering a "deep solar minimum" (where little or no
sunspots occur).
Scientists continue to monitor the Sun,
which, despite its decidely cyclical nature,
has been known to exhibit some interesting
behavior ever since people began to study it.
You can visit these website to learn more about sunspots and the Sun:
These websites provide news and images concerning the current state
of the Sun and Space Weather:
For more information, you can
click here to explore materials on the Sun in the library catalog.
Computer Virus/Worm Advisory
March 30, 2009
News of a major new "worm" (a computer virus that spreads across networks)
called "Conficker" is being
reported on across the web.
The
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
has posted the following advisory concerning "Conficker" and related problems:
"DHS Releases Conficker/Downadup Computer Worm Detection Tool, March 30, 2009"
Their advisory also contains links to Windows operating system updates from Microsoft
and other providers of information on this development.
Back in 2004 we created a handout at the library called
"Protecting Your Computer"
for anyone interested in taking steps to improve your computer's chances
of weathering such attacks. This document (in PDF format - view with the
Adobe Reader)
is still available on
our Thrall Documents web page.
Additional information on these and related topics is available throughout our library system.
Try one or more of the links below to find books and videos in the library catalog:
Quantum Computing
March 24, 2009
Recent scientific studies and technological innovations
promise to deliver a new generation of "quantum computers"
whose computational capabilities, once fully realized,
would easily rival any of the "most powerful"
computers around today.
"Quantum computers" are designed to tap the strange
and amazing phenomena of quantum mechanics
to perform calculations otherwise impossible
to handle on present-day computers.
To learn more about these incredible developments,
check out these titles and subjects in the library catalog:
Also check out these websites:
From Earth to Mars and Beyond!
February 5, 2009
Google has released a new version of its
Google Earth software
that includes two new viewing modes: Earth's Ocean and Mars.
As in Google Earth, the Mars viewing mode allows you to rotate and explore the planet at various distances and angles.
You can also view various facts about Mars, including the famous Mars Rovers and the areas they have photographed.
You can read more about
Google Earth / Mars by clicking here or
Google Oceans by clicking here.
A 2D
online edition of Google Mars also exists. The online edition does not require additional software.
If you would like to travel beyond our solar system, you're in luck! Google has partnered with
NASA to offer
Google Sky, which allows you to explore the currently observable universe. Click here for the 2D online edition
or
click here to learn about the Google Sky feature as it is implemented within the downloadable Google Earth software.
For even more about space exploration and amazing images of the universe,
be sure to
explore links in our recent blog post ("2009: International Year of Astronomy").
Obama Administration on Technology
January 29, 2009
The newly renovated White House website provides
some details concerning the technology agenda
of President Obama's Administration.
2009: International Year of Astronomy
December 30, 2008
2009 has been designated the "International Year of Astronomy."
The
U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
describes the new year as follows:
"In 2009 we celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations
of the universe through a telescope. In honor of this early event,
the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the United Nations
have proclaimed 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy to
spread awareness of astronomy's contributions to society and culture,
stimulate young people's interest in science, portray astronomy
as a global peaceful endeavor, and nourish a scientific outlook in society."
NASA also
has a central
website covering the International Year of Astronomy,
which includes a link to the following website dedicated to
the year as it will be celebrated in the U.S.:
www.astronomy2009.us
The
International Astronomical Union (IAU)
offers its own website covering the year-long celebration:
www.astronomy2009.org
The United Nations also
provides a website on "IYA2009"
and the opening ceremony in Paris.
For more astronomical information and news, check out these sections in our own web guides:
You can also click topics below to browse our library catalog
and locate related items within the library system:
Library Catalog Topics...
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Here are some famous names from the world
of astronomy and space exploration.
Click them to browse items in the catalog.
- Brahe, Tycho, 1546-1601
- Bruno, Giordano, 1548-1600
- Copernicus, Nicolaus, 1473-1543
- Galilei, Galileo, 1564-1642
- Halley, Edmond, 1656-1742
- Hubble, Edwin Powell, 1889-1953
- Kepler, Johannes, 1571-1630
|
Even more items can be browsed in our Reference Department and circulating collections
under the
Dewey number of 526 (a librarian can show you where to look).
Happy 2009!
Digital Youth Project
December 1, 2008
The
Digital Youth Project
investigates how children incorporate and "use digital media in their everyday lives."
The extended title is "Kids' Informal Learning with Digital Media:
An Ethnographic Investigation of Innovative Knowledge Cultures," an undertaking
said to be "a three-year collaborative project funded by the John D. and Catherine
T. MacArthur Foundation" and "carried out by researchers at the University of
Southern California and University of California, Berkeley."
You can
read more about the research project at this link.
The Project offers a
variety of online publications
as well as
case studies and field stories.
The Project's
final two-page report
("Living and Learning with New Media: Summary of Findings from the Digital Youth Project," November 2008)
can be viewed at this link (PDF format: view with
Adobe Reader).
For more related information on this topic, you can explore the following subject headings in our library catalog:
Fractals
October 28, 2008
Tonight,
PBS NOVA will televise
a new program about fractals called
Hunting the Hidden Dimension.
What is a fractal? A fractal:
- comes from the Latin word fractus, which means broken
- is a mathematical phenomenon
- is often explored as shapes through "fractal geometry"
- can represent "fractional dimensions" such as 2.5 as compared with "2D" or "3D"
- is usually the product of a recursive function - that is, fractal formulas can feed off their own mathematical results, leading to more complicated and surprisingly symmetrical patterns
- often produces visually intricate patterns, which can be infinite in scope and beautifully stunning
- can be found in various forms and processes throughout nature and the visible universe
- is often described as "super-symmetrical" or "self-similar" - that is, parts of a fractal resemble the larger form they are part of
- is an amazingly useful tool used by scientists, mathematicians, and others to study and measure various aspects of natural phenomena, such as coast lines, chaos theory (including weather and stock market analysis), and more
- a source of a new generation of computer-generated as well as human-computer-collaborative art
In addition to information about the program. the
PBS fractals website
contains a number of informative and interactive online features,
including information about Benoit Mandelbrot (the writer of the famous book
The Fractal Geometry of Nature and widely considered "the father or fractals" ),
as well as contemporary applications of fractals throughout the world.
For more information on the fascinating phenomenon of fractals, check out these sites:
Members of Thrall can also use our
Encyclopedias (such as Britannica or World Book)
and
General Research Databases (such as Expanded Academic ASAP or MasterFILE Premier)
to find more information on fractals.
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
October 1, 2008
Just in time for Cyber Security Awareness Month, the
U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cyber security website
OnGuard Online
has been revised and expanded to provide improved
and expanded coverage of online security topics
of interest to anyone using a computer.
Topics covered at the site include: Broadband, Computer Security, Cross-Border Scams, E-mail Scams, Identity Theft, Internet Auctions, Laptop Security, Malware, Online Investing, Online Shopping, P2P Security, Phishing, Social Networking Websites, Spyware, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and Wireless Security.
The Spanish version of the website (
Alerta en Línea)
has also been renovated.
You can read more about the changes and improvements
in the FTC's press release:
"Cyber Security Site Gets an Upgrade - Makeover Marks National Cyber Security Awareness Month".
Large Hadron Collider Experiment
September 11, 2008
Last year, we blogged about the Large Hadron Collider experiment
as its construction neared completion.
Yesterday the LHC went live.
Scientists hope to use the massive particle "supercollider" to confirm existing physics
theories or to discover new information about the universe.
You can read more about the LHC, its various experiments, and related concepts
by visiting the sites listed below:
General Information about LHC
Individual Particle Experiments Conducted at the LHC
Hadrons
Higgs Boson Particle
If you'd like to brush up on some physics concepts, you might also want to visit the
Physics and
Sciences sections of our
Ready Reference web guide
or
check out related materials available in the library catalog.
In addition to these websites, you can also
explore our article databases
(under the Encyclopedias, Science, or General Research categories).
Of course, don't forget our excellent reference and circulating collections in print! We have
updated encyclopedias, specialized science reference works, and more for all ages.
Physics can be found in the 530s section of our shelves (at Reference or in our circulating nonfiction shelves).
While there you can also explore other math and science titles located throughout the 500s section.
FCC Parents' Place
August 12, 2008
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a special
place at their website to "help parents deal with, decipher,
and monitor the communications that their children can access."
Topics include: Children's TV Rules, TV Programming, TV Ratings, TV Channel Blocking,
Limiting TV Commercials, Obscenity/Indecency, Telephone - 900 Numbers,
Internet - Children's Access, Emergency - Amber Plan, and Media and Childhood Obesity.
Please click here to access the FCC Parents' Place website.
You can also try these library catalog searches
to explore related items available in the library system:
Super Earths
June 17, 2008
The
European Southern Observatory (ESO)
has announced a major finding in the search for exoplanets (planets beyond
our solar system, also known as "extrasolar planets"):
"A Trio of Super-Earths":
ESO reports "European astronomers have found a system
of three super-Earths around the star HD 40307."
ESO is also announcing a secondary finding with deeper
implications for the presence of many more exoplanets
than some astronomers were expecting. ESO's report
suggests "one solar-like star out of three harbours
short orbit, low-mass planets."
For more information about exoplanets, check out our earlier blog post
"Earthlike Planet Discovery"
as well as the
Planetary Society's Extrasolar Planets page
and their
Catalog of Exoplanets.
For more information about the so-called "Super Earths"
you can check out
this article at Wikipedia
(
as always, note their disclimaer).
The library catalog also contains
items on the topic of Extrasolar Planets.
GLAST Telescope
June 11, 2008
This afternoon
NASA announced
the successful launch of
GLAST, the Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope.
NASA says GLAST will give astronomers "a superior tool
to study how black holes," while physicists will be able
to use it "to study subatomic particles at energies far greater
than those seen in ground-based particle accelerators."
NASA also hopes cosmologists can use GLAST to learn
more about the "birth and early evolution of the Universe."
For more information, check out these sites:
Fastest Computer Ever
June 9, 2008
Today
IBM has announced
the creation of the fastest supercomputer ever.
Nicknamed the "Roadrunner," the computer is said to have
shattered all previous speed records held by other supercomputers,
doing so while also reportedly achieving improved
("greener") use of energy.
Thes advances were made possible, in part, by IBM's collaborative
research and development in video game hardware, namely the
Sony Playstation (PS3),
which incorporated a new
"cell processor"
architecture capable of meeting the extreme computational demands
of real time video gaming software and intense 3D graphics.
You can read more about the new supercomputer this press release from IBM:
"Roadrunner Smashes the Petaflop Barrier"
To learn more about supercomputers, you can
click here to see what
information exists in the library system on the topic.
WorldWide Telescope
May 16, 2008
Microsoft has created
new software that allows you to explore the universe through
your computer.
Microsoft's own
introduction to this service
describes The WorldWide Telescope (WWT) as "a virtual telescope"
that combines "imagery from the best ground and space-based
telescopes in the world for a seamless exploration of the universe."
The WWT software is currently available to Windows users.
Click here to visit the WWT website.
If you do not have a Windows operating system on your computer,
or if you would like to check out some alternatives,
click here for an earlier blog post of ours called
"See the Stars!", which lists other free online
and downloadable planetariums and simulations of the universe.
Phoenix Mission to Mars
May 14, 2008
NASA's latest mission to the planet Mars is called the Phoenix Mars Lander,
which is said to be "designed to study the history of water and habitability
potential in the Martian arctic's ice-rich soil"
(from the Mission page at
the University of Arizona).
For news, images, animations, and other information ab
ut this mission you can visit these sites:
Human-Computer Interactions in 2020
April 9, 2008
On April 2, 2008,
Microsoft Research published
a report and details of a forum held on March 15-16, 2007
called "HCI 2020: Human Values in a Digital Age."
HCI stands for "Human-Computer Interaction."
Microsoft indicates the purpose of the forum "was to gather luminaries in computing, design,
social sciences, and scientific philosophy to discuss, debate and help formulate an agenda
for human-computer interaction (HCI) over the next decade and beyond."
Their report ("Being Human: Human-Computer Interaction in the Year 2020")
examines "how emerging computer technologies will change our lives by 2020."
Accompanying the report is a separate downloadable guide for readers (see link below).
The guide helps clarify the intentions of this study through statements such as the
following: "If we devote time and thought now to understand how ongoing technological
progress will alter our interaction with the computer, we can begin to see how we may
live in the future."
You can read more about the HCI meeting and its findings by following these links:
Arthur C. Clarke
March 19, 2008
Arthur C. Clarke, one of the most prolific and visionary
fiction and nonfiction authors of all time, has passed away.
You can learn more about the author at the
Arthur C. Clarke Foundation website
which provides
a biography
as well as a
bibliography of the author's major works.
Most popular perhaps for his story
2001: A Space Odyssey,
Clarke became a major inspiration among science fiction
writers as well as scientists and others in and beyond academia,
as he imagined and anticipated a number of technological developments,
including space satellites, cryogenic suspension, and even the infamous
"Y2K Millenium Bug."
The BBC has published
an interesting article outlining his "predictions."
Here are some more links to help you discover or rediscover this author's literary and scientific contributions:
BOINC!
Feburary 1, 2008
BOINC stands for "Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing."
The BOINC project makes freely available software that enables you to "Use the idle time on your computer
(Windows, Mac, or Linux) to cure diseases, study global warming, discover pulsars, and do many other types
of scientific research."
Popular projects include
SETI@home, where your computer
can participate in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence by analyzing radio signals
from space, and
Rosetta@home,
which conducts protein analyis in hopes of helping to find cures for major human diseases.
Here's how it typically works: once registered at BOINC, you get to select one or more projects that
interest you, download their software, and then choose how often your computer participates in those
programs.
In technical circles, this kind of setup is known as "distributed computing," since the project
is divided up into smaller projects and distributed to computers worldwide. By tapping the
processing power of thousands of computers, these projects can achieve results that would
otherwise take even a "supercomputer" or "mainframe" years to complete.
You can find more information about BOINC by clicking here.
Messenger to Mercury
January 14, 2008
Another exciting space exploration mission is currently in progress:
MESSENGER, which stands for "MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging."
Described by NASA as "the first orbital study of the innermost planet," the MESSENGER mission promises to yield new insights into the planet that orbits closest to the sun in our solar system.
Click the MESSENGER link above to visit the website and to see some of the first images to be provided as the probe draws closer to the planet.
New NASA Website
December 3, 2007
NASA, the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, has a new and improved website.
Aside from a more modern appearance,
there are new features, such as blogs, tags, widgets,
and feeds, along with new paths to existing web pages
about space exploration.
Click here to check out the new NASA portal!
Mapping Antarctica
November 29, 2007
LIMA, the Landsat Image Mosaic Of Antarctica
is said to bring "the coldest continent on Earth alive in greater detail than ever
before through this virtually cloudless, seamless, and high resolution satellite
view of Antarctica."
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), British Antarctic Survey (BAS),
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), and the
National Science Foundation (NSF) created the LIMA mosaic
from over than 1,000 images.
Once at the LIMA website, you can scroll and zoom around
Antarctica and check out many fascinating land formations.
Maps and fact sheets are also available at that site.
Amazon Kindle
November 20, 2007
Amazon.com has introduced its own eBook reader called Kindle.
You can
check it out at their site,
which has some video demonstrations and technical specifications, including which
kinds of eBook files it actually supports.
Some commentators and news services on the web
are responding to this development and exploring related eBook format support matters.
If you are new to the world of eBooks, you might not know that eBooks can be stored in many different formats:
Some eBooks (also called "e-texts" or "etexts") available on the web are stored as plain text (.TXT),
such as files made available through
Project Gutenberg.
Many texts are stored in the Adobe PDF Portable Document Format. PDFs are very popular around the
web, since they can preserve the way documents were intended to appear. Many government documents
we feature in our
blogs and our government information services
like
GovSites are PDFs.
Some texts are stored as HTML (HyperText Markup Language - the same format web pages are made of),
while some can exist as Microsoft Word Document (.DOC) files or Rich Text Format (RTF) files.
Adobe has the Adobe Reader, while Microsoft has its Microsoft Reader, as do Mobipocket and Palm
their own readers and requirements. Other companies, such as Sony, offer their own eBook readers
as well, and there are more file formats out there.
Why so many formats? Because various technologies connected with electronic text
have been in development for many years in different areas around the world, information
has been published in whatever format(s) might have been considered "best," cheapest,
most efficient, or supported at the time.
As word processors and computers developed advanced capabilities, new formats were created.
Such activity generally continues today, bringing about new technological
possibilities while, in some cases, introducing potential compatibility issues,
new limitations, and even demands for new computer software and/or specialized hardware.
In addition to different formats, many texts,
such as those available
the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS), require special DRM (Digital Rights Management)
compatible viewers, since those texts are digitally protected and can be viewed only
for certain periods of time and/or on specific eBook readers.
The same is true of eAudio books: they exist in different formats and will only play on certain media players.
Some MP3 players support the
"Plays for Sure" standard,
while other media players like the iPod can support other special (proprietary) formats.
If you're interested in players compatible with library system eAudio books, you can follow
the OverDrive link provided at the RCLS eFiles site
that offers some suggestions.
If you'd like to learn more about eBook and eAudiobook players, check out the "Guided Tour"
and "Need Help?" pages at the
RCLS eFiles website.
Will there ever be one eBook standard that plays on anything?
As eBook technology matures, there are emerging standards, such
as .epub, that might make eBooks more compatible and "interoperable"
with different eBook readers and computer operating systems.
You can read up on some recent advances in some of those efforts at the
International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF),
"the trade and standards association for the digital publishing industry."
Back to the Moon
October 27, 2007
China National Space Administration (CNSA) has launched
a new probe to the moon. You can follow the mission on their website.
Japan's own KAGUYA moon probe mission (SELENE), which we referred to in
an earlier blog post,
now has
its own dedicated website.
NASA has some information about why there is continued interest in Earth's moon in its
Moon, Mars, and Beyond website.
NASA also offers
an extensive article summarizing prior moon missions.
For more information about the moon, check out these links:
Apple OS X Leopard
October 26, 2007
Apple's latest OS X
computer operating system is called Leopard. You can
read more about Leopard's "300+ new features" at
Apple's OS X web page.
Allen Telescope Array
October 11, 2007
The
SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute
has announced the activation of 42 (out of 350 to be built) new radio telescopes
designed to scan the universe for signals potentially indicative of
intelligent civilizations existing beyond Earth.
You can their press release at the following link:
Allen Telescope Array Begins Scientific Observations
Dawn, New Horizons
October 10, 2007
Two new and exciting space exploration missions from
NASA are underway:
- Dawn - NASA states, "Dawn will investigate two of the largest protoplanets in the main asteroid belt, Vesta and Ceres."
- New Horizons - Described by NASA as "a one-way journey to the Kuiper Belt and beyond; unlike some missions that return back to the Earth." Recently, while en route to Pluto, the spacecraft helped bring about a number of new discoveries about Jupiter and its rings and moons.
For more information about past, current, and future missions at NASA and elsewhere
in the world, including Japan's current mission to the moon (SELENE), check out our
Space Exploration links in our Ready Reference web guide.
You might also want to check out our
Resilient Rovers post in this blog
to catch up on the latest news on the Mars rovers.
Google Docs
September 19, 2007
Google has expanded its online services
to include
Google Docs, an online
word processor and presentation software suite that can read popular
file formats and enable you to edit existing files as well as create
new ones. It is also said you can share documents, spreadsheets, and
presentations with other users.
There is
a tour of Google Docs
as well as a
Google Docs Help Center
with answers to frequently asked questions.
Symphony
September 18, 2007
IBM has announced a new line of
office software called Lotus Symphony,
which IBM has described as "a suite of free software tools for creating and sharing documents,
spreadsheets and presentations."
You can read IBM's
press release about this software at this link,
or you can
click here to visit the Lotus Symphony website to learn more
about this software.
If the phrase of "free office software" sounds familiar, you might remember
a comparable offering called
OpenOffice, which we covered earlier in this blog.
Resilient Rovers
September 12, 2007
Remember the Mars rovers? Well, they're still out there,
exploring the planet while sending us back remarkable
images.
The two rovers, named Spirit and Opportunity,
were launched in 2003 and landed in 2004. They were each
originally scheduled for 90 days of work.
Years later, they continue to defy expectations, despite
harsh weather conditions and challenging terrain.
Recently they braved a massive planetary sand storm.
You can read about their extended missions and view
their amazing images at these official NASA websites:
Other non-NASA related websites include:
See the Stars!
August 22, 2007
Google (in partnership with
NASA,
Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and the
Digital Sky Survey Consortium)
has updated its
Google Earth software
to include images of and information about planets, stars, constellations, galaxies,
and other objects in and beyond the solar system.
As with Google Earth, you can zoom, pan, and rotate the display, randomly navigate
the area, as well as search for known celestial hotspots. Google's software
is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
If Google Earth is not your thing, you might want to check out
Stellarium, an open source planetarium
that simulates the night sky in 3D, showing you both the stars as well as
illustrations of the constellations in real time. Stellarium is said to be
available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
For even more heavenly views and astronomical information, check out
the
Astronomy and
Space Exploration
categories in our
Ready Reference web guide.
For more information, check out the many related
books and videos available at Thrall and
throughout the library system.
High Speed Internet
August 10, 2007
If you are thinking about upgrading your Internet dial-up connection to high speed ("broadband"),
the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has published
a helpful Consumer Fact sheet:
High-Speed Internet Access - "Broadband".
Their fact sheet answers some of the following questions: What is broadband? How does broadband work? What are the advantages of broadband? What types of broadband are available?
Learn about DSL, wireless, fiber optic, cable modem, and satellite Internet services.
For more information about Internet access and other advanced topics, such as setting up your own
computer network at home or your place of business, check out these searches in the library catalog:
Internet,
computer networks.
Windows 7
July 23, 2007
According to recent reports appearing in
technology media news and other news sources,
including
ZDNet and
CNET,
Microsoft's next version of the Windows operating system (formely codenamed "Vienna" and now referred to by
its developers as "Windows 7") could debut in as early as three years (2010).
While Microsoft has not yet, as of this blog post, released new and more specific
details regarding the successor to its latest operating system
Windows Vista, elsewhere there is:
If you are a Windows user who still hasn't caught up to learning about
Windows Vista yet, check out
this blog post and be sure to come to the library
and check out our computer book collection.
Weird Life
July 10, 2007
A report just released from the
National Resource Council
suggests the search for life elsewhere in the universe be expanded to consider
"weird life," which is explained by NRC as "life with an alternative biochemistry to that of life on Earth."
Click here to read their press release and to read their full report online. An
"Executive Summary" is also available (PDF format;
Adobe Reader required).
Cyberbullying, Teens, Internet Safety
June 30, 2007
The
Pew Internet and American Life Project
has released a report concerning the topic of Internet-based bullying among teenagers:
Cyberbullying and Online Teens.
Their report focuses on "a range of annoying and potentially menacing online activities."
Another website,
OnGuardOnline.gov, explores the many issues
teens and other users may encounter when frequenting "social networking" websites:
Social Networking Sites: A Parent's Guide.
At Thrall.org we offer a variety of related materials,
including
a one page printable "Social Networking" handout for all users
as well as
a brief online course called "Web Awareness."
Additional titles on the subject of Internet safety
are available in the library system.
Get the facts and start enjoying safer and more positive online experiences today!
Energy Awareness Report
June 19, 2007
As part of
1E's Energy Awareness Campaign,
a new report has been released concerning energy consumption of computers in the United States:
U.S. PC Energy Report 2007 (PDF format;
Adobe Reader required).
Virtual Rome
June 12, 2007
After over ten years of work, the
University of Virginia, the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Cultural Virtual Reality Lab,
along with
UCLA's Experiential Technologies Center and
Politecnico di Milano
have announced the first edition of
a virtual version of ancient Rome.
This project, known as "Rome Reborn," seeks to recreate ancient Rome with unprecedented detail and accuracy. The collaborative project is said to be ongoing and will contain even more details and refinements in successive versions.
Here is the University of Virginia's press release for more information.
Safari
June 12, 2007
Apple is now making its popular
Safari web browser available
to Windows users as a beta version.
Wireless Electricity
June 8, 2007
Researchers at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
are reporting they have successfully conducted what they call "WiTricity"
(wireless electricity) in a recent experiment involving a lightbulb powered
wirelessly across two unconnected coils.
You can read about their "WiTricity" project at this link.
The report suggests possible future applications of this technology may include wirelessly-rechargeable laptop
computers and MP3 players along with other consumer electronic devices.
Google Maps Update
June 1, 2007
Google Maps has a new feature
called "Street View" which allows you to zoom in on some areas,
such as New York City, and see 3D panoramic views at the street
level.
These views are actual photographs capturing everything
(and everyone) that was at that location when the pictures were
taken by Google.
Google has
a video introduction to this new feature as well as
a help page.
The
Adobe Flash Player plugin is required.
Our
Ready Reference guide contains
links to other maps sites you might find useful.
700 Years
May 17, 2007
New York Public Library
has published a new digital exhibition at their website:
"Pictures of Science: 700 Years of Scientific and Medical Illustration"
They describe their exhibit as having "more than 340 images from the thirteenth through the early twentieth century, in the fields of astronomy, chemistry, geology, mathematics, medicine, and physics, as represented by manuscript illuminations, engravings, lithographs, and photographs."
You can browse or search their collection.
Large Hadron Collider
May 15, 2007
Have you heard of the
Large Hadron Collider?
It is believed the LHC can help scientistis reveal some of nature's deepest secrets.
Colliders are large tunnels built by scientists to study collisions between particles of matter. Studies of such collisions in the past have allowed scientists to understand more about matter and to peer further into the mechanics of the physical universe.
LHC is not the first collider, but it is said to be among the largest and most powerful of them. What also makes the LHC notable is its mission: "To smash protons moving at 99.999999% of the speed of light into each other and so recreate conditions a fraction of a second after the big bang."
The "big bang" is what many people in and beyond the scientific community believe the universe originated 13 to 14 billion years ago.
The
LHC FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions page) provides additional information on the project, along with some sci-fi-like concepts such as
"mini big bangs" and
"tiny black holes."
For more information on colliders and related concepts, try these links:
Cosmic Cultures
May 9, 2007
SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence)
has published an interesting article about culture as it might arise throughout
the universe:
"Culture in the Cosmos"
If you find the topic of life or
intelligent life beyond Earth interesting, you might want to explore some of these links as well:
Brightest Supernova
May 6, 2007
Scientists at the
Chandra X-Ray Observatory website
have published information on what is being called the "brightest supernova ever."
You can read their report here.
For more information on supernovas (also spelled as
supernovae) try these links:
Inspired by Nature
May 3, 2007
IBM has announced it will be developing computer chips
said to be inspired by nature.
Here are links to their press releases:
If you'd like to learn more about microprocessors and related technologies, try these links:
This Month in Exploration
May 3, 2007
NASA highlights past explorations which happened in each month of the year:
This Month in History
If you'd like to read more about explorations, either historic, current, or space-related, here are some links for you to try:
Silverlight Beta Download
April 30, 2007
Microsoft
has
released a beta version of its new Silverlight media player
for both Macs and PCs.
You can learn more about Silverlight at the above link as well as
this other blog post.
Unlimited Potential
April 26, 2007
Microsoft has launched a new ambitious outreach and education initiative that is global in scope. They are calling their endeavor
"Unlimited Potential," which they describe as
"helping individuals and communities around the globe achieve their goals and dreams through relevant, accessible, and affordable technologies."
Building Bots
April 26, 2007
The
Robotics Institute at
Carnegie Mellon University, with support from
Google,
Intel, and
Microsoft has announced development of a series robots they say anyone can build using "off-the-shelf parts."
Their
announcements can be read here in their press release ("Carnegie Mellon Unveils Internet-Controlled Robots That Anyone Can Build by Following the Right Recipe") and also
here at the "TeRK" website.
The project is known as the
Telepresence Robot Kit, "Educational Robotics - Vehicles for Teaching and Learning."
You can learn more about robots by following these links to items in the library catalog:
robots,
robotics,
artificial intelligence.
You can also check out the
Science & Technology section of our
Current Interests guide for news sources about robots, artificial intelligence, and related topics.
Earthlike Planet Discovery
April 25, 2007
The
European Southern Observatory
has announced the discovery of another world beyond our solar system,
a planet they are comparing to Earth in terms of size, composition,
and potential habitability.
You can read their press release here.
Some articles from various news agencies can be found in our
article databases, as well as
astronomy websites
indexed in our
Ready Reference web guide.
The subject of "other worlds" beyond Earth (called "exoplanets" by scientists) recently came up
in our
Environment blog in the post
"Non-green Plants on Other Worlds."
At that post you'll find some more links to very interesting information about ongoing exoplanetary
discoveries.
Hubble's Birthday Present
April 24, 2007
Scientists operating the
Hubble Space Telescope
are celebrating its 17th birthday with an unprecedented release of ultra high-resolution
panoramic images of the Carina Nebula.
You can
view these images
in different sizes and formats at their website as well as read some articles
accompanying those downloads.
If you'd like to read up on nebulae, galaxies, or other astronomical topics, check out these
links:
Sun in 3D
April 23, 2007
NASA
has published
the first images of the sun in 3D at their website.
The images come from the
STEREO Mission.
Both
2D and 3D images have been posted at the STEREO website.
If you are a Thrall patron you can explore articles and illustrations
through our
online databases and encyclopedias (including
the complete
Encyclopedia Britannica and
World Book Encyclopedia),
all of which you can enjoy free access to as a member of our library.
Click here to view related titles in the library catalog.
Ubuntu's Feisty Fawn
April 19, 2007
The latest version of the increasingly popular
Linux operating system distribution
known as
Ubuntu has been published today.
"Feisty Fawn" (Version 7.04) contains a number of new features and revisions,
and brings more stability and support, things that has earned this particular
variant of Linux much interest among users interested in exploring
operating systems than ones that have come with their computers.
The Linux operating system, in general, is very capable yet can be a challenge
even for "power users" to install and configure. Ubuntu, which in African
means "humanity to others" (also "I am what I am because of who we all are"),
brings some ease to the installation process.
A "Live CD" is a special version of Linux that runs from the CD drive
and allows you to preview the operating system without installing it.
Here is some more information about that at Ubuntu.com.
Downloads of Linux are typically huge (>600MB) and are therefore inaccessible
to Internet users still on dial-up connections. Ubuntu also offers
a free CD request service you can try.
To learn more about Ubuntu, visit their
What Is Ubuntu
page.
Some books on Ubuntu are also available in the library system.
For even more titles on Linux, visit our growing computer book collection at Thrall or
click here for a list of Linux-related titles.
www.Linux.org is another informative site you can visit.
Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0
April 19, 2007
The
Mozilla Foundation, creators of the popular free web browser
called Firefox, have released the second major version of their free
Thunderbird e-mail program.
New features are said to include improved spam filtration and customizable views.
Internet Radio Update
April 17, 2007
The
Copyright Royalty Board
has published its decision regarding radio webcasts:
"Determination of Rates and Terms for Webcasting for the License Period 2006-2010 in
[Docket No. 2005-1 CRB DTRA] Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings and Ephemeral Recordings." (document in PDF format)
Reactions to the decision and what it might mean for the future of some Internet based radio broadcasters
are being posted around the web
by various commentators and individuals.
As a timely reminder, members of Middletown Thrall Library can enjoy
free access to classical and world music on the web through our subscription databases, such as Classical.com,
Smithsonian Global Sound, and African American Song.
You also have free access to extensive classical and jazz CD collections at Thrall
as well as audio CDs in all genres throughout the library system through
our library catalog.
Was Einstein Right?
April 16, 2007
The
Gravity Probe B (GP-B) Relativity Mission, a collaborative effort consisting of
Stanford University,
NASA, and
Lockheed Martin, is an effort to determin if Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity is correct.
You can read about their findings at the above GP-B link.
If you are interested in Einstein, check out our
Booklovers blog for information on a
newly published biography as well as links to more information about his work and theories.
Microsoft Silverlight
April 16, 2007
Microsoft has announced a new technology called "Silverlight" they claim will
help them deliever the "next generation of media experiences on the web."
You can read their press release for more information on this development.
Adobe Media Player
April 16, 2007
Adobe has announced the birth of a new media player
in the following press release:
"Adobe Unveils Next Generation Internet Video Solution".
Mystery of Disappearing Bees
April 16, 2007
Honey bees are
reportedly disappearing throughout the world,
and many experts are bewildered by the phenomenon known as
"Colony Collapse Disorder" (CCD).
The
American Beekeeping Federation
has an article on the situation:
"Honey Bee Die-Off Alarms Beekeepers, Crop Growers, Researchers."
The ABF also links to the
MAAREC - Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium,
which has a related section at their site called:
Colony Collapse Disorder.
There are some in-depth articles from major newspapers and articles that can be found using our
article databases
(try using
bees disappear as search terms in
Expanded Academic ASAP, or try
New York Newspapers to read the article from the
New York Times).
Articles online include:
You can also try
this sample search (bees disappearing) in
Google News.
A quotation attributed to Albert Einsten reminds us of the importance
of bees in relation to human survival, which depends on bees to
pollinate food crops:
"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the
globe then man would only have four years of life left."
Blogging Code of Conduct
April 14, 2007
Tim O'Reilly of
O'Reilly Media
has published
a draft of a code of conduct for bloggers. Through it he hopes to advocate higher civility in exchanges.
Many blogs feature reactions from readers, and some of those reactions can take
upon different tones depending on what is being responded to in the original blog post.
Sometimes readers react to other readers and engage in debates or emotional exchanges
that can quickly escalate to include topics and opinions unrelated to the original post.
OLED
April 12, 2007
HowStuffWorks.com
has
a brief introduction to OLED technology,
something that will be appearing in consumer devices such as televisions
(and possibly clothing!) in the very near future.
OLED stands for "organic light-emitting diodes," and they are said to be
able to display brighter pictures while using less power than older LED
(light-emitting diodes) and LCD (liquid crystal display) technologies.
To learn more about HDTV technologies in general, be sure to check out our
earlier post on that topic in this blog.
T-Rex Sequenced
April 13, 2007
Harvard Medical School and
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
are reported as having captured and sequenced portions of collagen protein from a Tyrannosaurus rex
fossil estimated to be 68 million-year-old.
You can read about their findings at their site.
You might also want to check the library catalog for some of the many
books and videos about the T-rex
as well as
dinosaurs in general.
As a member of Middletown Thrall Library you have FREE access to the complete online multimedia editions of both
Encyclopedia Britannica and World Book Encyclopedia.
Login using your library card and explore the many dinosaur articles and illustrations they provide.
Other excellent databases offering related articles are freely available to Middletown Thrall Library members, including
Ebsco General Science Collection, SIRS KnowledgeSource, and Searchasaurus.
Solar Power Goes 3D
April 12, 2007
The
Georgia Institute of Technology
has published an article
on recent research and potential advances in solar power technology through the use of
newly developed three-dimensional solar cells.
As more people consider
global warming and climate change
and other
environmental issues and developments,
there is increasing interest in alternative and renewable energy sources.
You can catch up on recent articles on these topics through our
article databases
(using, for example, Gale's Expanded Academic ASAP database or Ebsco's MasterFile Premiere).
Our library catalog also contains titles you might find interesting. Try some of these related
subject searches to see if there are some books or videos you would like to borrow:
Also feel free to call our
Reference Department or
ask our librarians a question online
if you're interested in learning more about solar power or renewable energy sources.
DRM-Free
April 2, 2007
EMI, self-described
as the "world's largest independent music company," has
announced it will be making available DRM-free downloads
to consumers, beginning with
Apple's iTunes store.
DRM stands for "Digital Rights Management" and is a term used to describe
technologies designed to protect digital song files (such as MP3s) from
being improperly duplicated.
Unfortunately, this has caused some problems, including
incompatibilities and limitations, with a major example being
eAudio books in the library system.
which do not work with iPod MP3 players because they use Microsoft's version
of DRM, which iPods do not support.
As a result, many consumers face the possibilities of not being able
to access such files, either through their local libraries or
through downloads they have purchased. EMI's news will be welcome
to many people and could lead to more consumer-friendly ways
for purchasing and playing digital music.
On a related note, Steve Jobs of Apple has
posted his "Thoughts on Music"
at Apple.com, reflecting on the nature of DRM and encouraging the music
industry to consider moving to a DRM-free model for the benefit of consumers.
Copyleft and GPL3.0
March 30, 2007
You have heard of copyright, but have you ever heard of
copyleft?
Seriously!
Copyleft
attempts to preserve the fact an author has created something,
such as a computer program, but then, unlike copyright, defines terms in
which such a creation can be modified and distributed.
The
Free Software Foundation explains:
"To copyleft a program, we first state that it is copyrighted; then we add distribution
terms, which are a legal instrument that gives everyone the rights to use, modify,
and redistribute the program's code or any program derived from it but only if the
distribution terms are unchanged. Thus, the code and the freedoms become legally inseparable."
(quoted from
their Copyleft page).
These terms relate to the
GPL (General Public License),
and, as it concerns most people, these terms define the way some
major software titles and operating systems,
particular those involving
Linux
(
see also this link),
are developed and distributed over the Internet.
Currently the GPL is being reexamined and revised to take into consideration
newly developed technologies like DRM (Digital Rights Management) and other issues.
There is
a draft of GPL3 at the Free Software
Foundation website (updated March 28, 2007) as well as the
original press release (dated June 2005)
concerning proposed revisions in licensing terms.
Intel Previews New Chip Technology
March 30, 2007
Computer chip manufacturer Intel has
published some details about its next generation of chips.
HDTV 101
March 29, 2007
If you're interested in learning about HDTV and the different options
presently available to you, here are some sites for your perusal:
There are
some books on HDTV available as well in the library system that might interest you.
DTV Countdown
March 29, 2007
As reported on
DTV.gov, "Congress passed a law on February 1, 2006,
setting a final deadline for the DTV transition of February 17, 2009." What does this mean?
DTV.gov explains at this link.
Apple Bootcamp Updated for Vista Support
March 29, 2007
As you might already know, Apple's
Boot Camp service
enables users to install the Windows operating system alongside Apple's own operating system, OS X.
Boot Camp has been reportedly been updated to support the latest Windows opearting system, Vista.
Follow the link above for more information.
Digital Molecular Matter
March 29, 2007
An interesting development reported by LucasArts
is said to produce a stronger sense of realism in games
along with more convincing interactity between
players and digital objects:
Through a new technology called
"Digital Molecular Matter",
virtual environments are said to contain objects which,
when interacted with, would react as their real world
counterparts would, taking into consideration motion,
weight, physical forces, and other factors.
Another technology discussed at the same link above goes
by the name of "Euphoria," which is described as a
"behavior-simulation engine" capable of emulating, to
a degree, the unpredictable nature of the real world.
Advances in video game technologies can often lead
to new possibilites in other types of software,
such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence,
which in turn can have multiple impacts and applications
in many fields of study including health, business,
and education.
Apple's OS X Leopard Preview
March 27, 2007
Apple's new OS X operating system, known as
Leopard,
is being previewed at the Apple.com website.
Leopard is said to build upon advances made in the popular
Tiger version of their operating system.
Highlights of
Leopard include
a
Time Machine
backup service,
new e-mail features,
and a desktop manager called
Spaces.
We will be adding
Leopard-related titles as they become available
to our ever-expanding computer book collection at Middletown Thrall Library.
OpenOffice
March 27, 2007
OpenOffice is one of many software titles available on
public computers at Middletown Thrall Library. What is it?
Have you ever heard of Microsoft Office or Microsoft Word?
OpenOffice is a
free and open source alternative
to Microsoft's capable yet costly software.
OpenOffice allows you to use a word processor, for typing
letters/reports/novels/etc., put together presentations
(similar to Microsoft's "PowerPoint presentations"), work
with numerical figures in spreadsheets (as you would in
Microsoft's Excel program), create and search databases,
and do advanced desktop publishing. All for free!
OpenOffice can open and save to many popular Microsoft
formats and can also be used to create PDF (Portable
Document Format) files that can open and be printed
in
Adobe's Acrobat Reader.
Developed initially by Sun Microsystems, OpenOffice has since
grown through the efforts of the open source community.
"Open source" means that the source code -- the very instructions
the program uses to tell the computer what to do when running
the program -- has been made available.
To learn
more about open source, please click here.
To learn more about this software click here to visit the OpenOffice website.
SirsiDynix: Changes on their "Horizon"
March 27, 2007
SirsiDynix, the company providing the
library catalog Thrall and all other
member libraries of the
Ramapo Catskill Library System
use, is yet again experiencing some changes in their product offerings.
The ALA (American Library Association) has a report
on the situation.
What does this mean for RCLS? According to the RCLS Director, Robert Hubsher,
there will be no impact on RCLS in the short term, as the current product in
use (Horizon 7.4) is deemed to be meeting the library system's needs. SirsiDynix
reportedly will continue to support and maintain Horizon 7.4.
If and when that situation changes, we'll keep you posted!
Folding@home
March 26, 2007
Stanford University has a very interesting
distributed computing project called "Folding@home"
which ties together computers around the globe
to help them study protein folding and its
linkage to diseases.
Under this "distributed computing" setup, many
computers can work simultaneous on parts of a task
that would otherwise take too long for one computer
(or even a "supercomputer) to complete.
With support from National Institutes of Health,
the National Science Foundation, and major
companies such as Dell and Apple, as well as
the support of many voluntary users,
Folding@home has grown in popularity.
Participation is free and simply involves
downloading some software on to a computer
that can spare some time and help run their
simulation.
If you are interested in participating,
you can
visit the Folding@home website
for more details and computer requirements.
And you thought your Internet connection was fast?
March 26, 2007
Reuters news network has a report
on a new superfast chip currently being developed by IBM. "Superfast" as in being able to download "an entire high-definition movie in a single second" --
really fast!
According to a
related article from PC World, the time and energy-saving chip might become available in various forms to consumers sometime in 2010.
"A Fresh Start for the Internet"
March 23, 2007
MIT Technology Review is reporting
on efforts at Stanford University to help revise the Internet.
Stanford's program, called the
Clean Slate Design for the Internet,
seeks to make the Internet "safer, more transparent, and more reliable."
New report from MIT: "Top Ten Emerging Technologies"
March 15, 2007
An interesting new report has been published by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in their
TechnologyReview publication:
Click here to read their report and catch up on "Augmented Realities," "Nanohealing," "Neuron Control," and get a glimpse of futuristic DVD technologies that could possibly fit "100s of movies on a single DVD."
New Free Video Download Service
March 9, 2007
Through a new subscription with Recorded Books, Middletown Thrall Library is pleased
to invite our library members to take advantage of a free on-demand video service
called MyLibraryDV.
Health programs, documentaries, cooking programs, movies and much more is now
just a download and a click away!
To get started, click here.
Thinking about Windows Vista?
March 8, 2007
As you've probably heard by now, Microsoft has introduced a new operating system called Vista.
An operating system (OS) enables you to operate the computer. Vista is the successor to Windows XP.
At Middletown Thrall Library we have a growing number of books in our collection
about Microsoft's latest operating system.
Click here to search the catalog for titles at Thrall and other libraries.
Many of these books contain illustrations and images of the operating system in action,
enabling you to preview Vista's new features (and changes since XP) before attempting
to upgrade your own computer.
For even more information, check out
Microsoft's Vista page
or
browse some recent Vista headlines indexed at Google News.
Downloads
March 8, 2007
If you haven't already noticed, on our
home page
is a
"Downloads" link. This will
take you to a list of some notable and freely available services and software
on the Internet.
Here you will also find links to popular plug-ins, such as Flash,
document displayers such as the Adobe Reader, e-book providers such
as Project Gutenberg, and even free programs for your computer,
such as OpenOffice.
Check through the list and see if there's something that interests you.
Daylight Saving Time Update Information for Computer Users
March 8, 2007
Due to a change in when Daily Saving Time (DST) actually begins,
computers need to be updated so they can properly make the
transition.
If you own a computer, you might want to visit the appropriate website below for more information:
You might also consider contacting the manufacturer of your computer
and any specific software titles installed on it to determine if you
need to make any adjustments or are eligible for any necessary upgrades.
This blog is updated periodically, so check back from time to time.
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