Sunday, March 24, 2013

How the Planck discovery could point toward a new physics

Captured by the European Space Agency's Planck space probe, the?most detailed map of the early universe reveals a host of unexpected anomalies.?

By Clara Moskowitz,?SPACE.com / March 22, 2013

This European Space Agency graphic shows a map of the universe that depicts the anomalies seen when comparing the Planck space observatory's map of the universe's cosmic microwave background and the standard model of the cosmos. Image released

ESA and the Planck Collaboration

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Europe's Planck spacecraft has revealed the most detailed map yet of the earliest light in the universe, which reveals some tantalizing anomalies that could point toward new physics.

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The new map tracks small temperature variations in the glow pervading space called the cosmic microwave background (CMB). This light was released just 380,000 years after the Big Bang, and contains a record of how our universe came to be.

By and large, the new data from Planck agree with cosmologists' leading ideas about how the universe formed. The theory of inflation suggests that after the Big Bang, the universe ballooned rapidly from its tiny, hot state, doubling in size every 10^-35 seconds (a decimal point followed by 34 zeroes and a one).

But where the basic models of inflation say this expansion should have happened uniformly in all directions, the new Planck results suggest that might not have been the case. [Universe's CMB Radiation Explained (Infographic)]

"One of the features of inflation is it says there should be no preferred direction ? everywhere in the universe should be more or less the same," astrophysicist Marc Kamionkowski of Johns Hopkins University said March 21 during a NASA press call. "But when you look at the amplitudes, even by eye you can tell that one side of the universe looks different from the other side."

That is to say, the temperature variations in the CMB appear to be sized and spaced differently when Planck looks in one direction, than when it looks in the other.

There are other anomalies as well. The variations don't appear to behave the same on large scales as they do on small scales, and there are some particularly large features, such as a hefty cold spot, that were not predicted by basic inflation models.

Ultimately, the data show "some features that are surprising and very, very intriguing," said Charles Lawrence, U.S. Planck project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

"Hopefully in the process of understanding those features better we will be able to glimpse answers to some of our deepest questions."

Indeed, the map's deviations from what was predicted are not cause for disappointment among scientists, but rather exhilaration. They could even lead toward unraveling the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, two perplexing constituents of the universe that have yet to be explained by mainstream theories.

For example, the new CMB measurements produce a new estimate for the age and expansion rate of the universe, which the Planck scientists calculate to be 13.8 billion years old, and 41.73 miles (67.15 kilometers) per second per megaparsec, respectively. The expansion rate is also known as the Hubble constant, and the new estimate is significantly lower than the values derived through other astronomical observations.

"This is one of the most exciting parts of the data, is this apparent tension between these different ways to estimate how rapidly the universe is expanding," said Martin White, U.S. Planck scientist at the University of California, Berkeley. "The hope would be that this is actually pointing toward some deficiency in the models or some extra physics."

The expansion rate of the universe is deeply connected to the idea of dark energy, which is the name scientists have given to whatever is causing the universe's expansion to accelerate. The finding could point toward a new direction of thinking about dark energy, including the possibility that it has changed over time.

"If it was different than the simplest models, if the amount of dark energy was somehow increasing with time in a given volume of space, then that would alleviate some of the tension," White said, and added, "that's a pretty radical thing to propose."

And getting to the bottom of the other anomalies in the Planck data may point to even more radical conclusions, such as the idea of multiple universes and bubble universes created by areas of the primordial universe that inflated at different rates.

It turns out that collisions between these bubbles of space-time are one possible explanation for why inflation might not have proceeded uniformly in all directions.

"The fact that these anomalies not only exist but exist on the very largest scales gives us some hope that we may be actually able to say something in the future about a multiverse," Kamionkowski said.

Follow Clara Moskowitz on Twitter?and Google+. Follow us?@Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on?SPACE.com.

Copyright 2013 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/chGqRqrs8g0/How-the-Planck-discovery-could-point-toward-a-new-physics

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Tiffany 4Q net income rises less than 1 pct

NEW YORK (AP) ? Tiffany says its fourth-quarter net income edged up less than 1 percent, but still beat Wall Street predictions as strong customer demand in Asia for its pricey baubles offset weakness in the U.S.

The upscale jewelry company also offered an annual sales outlook that topped analysts' estimates, and its shares rose nearly 2 percent Friday.

The results, which include the critical holiday season, show Tiffany's resilience even as it faces challenges in the U.S. and a fiscal crisis in Europe.

For the quarter ended Jan. 31, Tiffany earned $179.6 million, or $1.40 per share. Revenue rose 4 percent to $1.24 billion.

Analysts polled by FactSet expected earnings of $1.36 per share on $1.25 billion in revenue.

"While financial results in fiscal 2012 were disappointing due to lower-than expected sales growth and pressures on gross margin, we continued to maintain a longer term focus on strengthening global awareness of the Tiffany & Co. brand," Michael J. Kowalski, Tiffany's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Total sales in the Americas region increased 2 percent to $620 million in the fourth quarter and 2 percent to $1.8 billion in the full year. The area represents 48 percent of last year's global revenue. Revenue at stores open at least a year declined 2 percent in both the quarter and full year on a constant exchange rate basis. Sales in the New York flagship store dropped 3 percent in both the quarter and full year, while that figure dropped 2 percent for its branch locations for both periods.

In the Asia-Pacific region, total sales rose 13 percent to $254 million in the fourth quarter and 8 percent to $810 million in the full year. The region represents 21 percent of worldwide sales. On a constant exchange rate basis, total sales rose 10 percent in the fourth quarter due to sales growth in Greater China and in other markets and rose 8 percent in the full year. On that basis, revenue at stores opened at least a year rose 6 percent in the quarter and 2 percent for the full year.

Total sales in Japan declined 6 percent to $192 million in the fourth-quarter, reflecting a weaker Japanese yen versus the U.S. dollar and increased 4 percent to $639 million or 17 percent of worldwide sales in the full year. However, on a constant exchange rate basis, total sales rose 2 percent in the quarter and 6 percent in the full year. On that basis, revenue at stores opened at least a year rose 2 percent and 7 percent in the quarter and full year respectively.

In Europe, total sales rose 3 percent to $146 million in the fourth quarter due to mixed performance by country and also rose 3 percent to $432 million or 11 percent of worldwide sales in the full year. On a constant exchange rate basis, total sales rose 3 percent and 7 percent in the quarter and full year respectively. Revenue at stores opened at least year were unchanged in the quarter and rose 2 percent in the full year.

The New York-based jewelry company also says it expects its first-quarter earnings from operations will fall about 15 percent to 20 percent as a result of profitability pressures and higher marketing costs, but pick up later in the year.

For the current year, Tiffany expects sales growth of 6 percent to 8 percent, which means that sales are expected to be anywhere from $4.02 billion to $4.09 billion. Analysts project $4.02 billion

It expects full-year earnings of $3.43 per share to $3.53 per share. Analysts expect $3.46 per share.

Tiffany shares rose $1.32, or 1.9 percent, to close at $69.23 Friday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tiffany-4q-net-income-rises-less-1-pct-113727497--finance.html

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Paul Jolley on American Idol Elimination: This is Just the Beginning

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/03/paul-jolley-on-american-idol-elimination-this-is-just-the-beginn/

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Senate endorses Keystone XL pipeline construction (The Arizona Republic)

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Video: PFT Live: Bears mishandled Urlacher situation

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Imaginary Friend Photo Prank: L.A. Passersby Get Straight Up Confused, Kind of Scared

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babubai: How to Increase the Reading Speed of High School Students

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By: Mike Zupp

Are you deliberating over how to increase the reading speed of students, no matter what their age? Well, check out the following 10 suggestions I have for you.

1. Rise and Shine!

First of all, a good habit to get into when trying to identify ways to enhance the reading speed of any reader, is to read early in the day. This will additionally assist with concentration levels.

2. Prioritize Exactly what you Read.

Arrange your reading materials into four piles in rising value. Check out the most crucial pile first. You'll enhance your reading speed, and additionally your reading understanding, by getting to the prime stuff first, when your mind is fresh from a good rest.

3. Skim Through a Book to Pinpoint the Most Important Sections.

You can help raise your reading rate and understanding of the material by becoming aware of a book's structure. Determine exactly what details you are looking for in the publication. Then scan the tabulation and the first and last sentences of each paragraph. This will help you know which parts of guide to skim through and which parts to check out more studiously.

4. Discover Questions When Reading Textbooks.

Rather than scrutinizing every single bit of text, reformulate headings and subheadings into questions in your mind. Then skim the text for your answers. This improves your reading speed, as you become more focused on the literature.

5. Remember to Read in an Environment that is Suitable.

Do not check out important material in bed, as your body and mind are unwinding and info will not be processed efficiently. You'll stay alert if you sit at a desk. In addition, angling your reading product at 45 degrees improves your reading rate and decreases eyestrain.

6. Jot Down Notes on How to Reply when you get Correspondence.

Avoid re-reading correspondence by taking down brief notes immediately after reviewing each piece. When responding later on, merely refer to your notes. This conserves a great deal of time.

7. Get Rid of Your Highlighter!

Please make sure you NEVER highlight your text! This does NOT enhance reading or understanding. Actually, the reverse is what happens. Highlighting simply indicates that you do not wish to trouble yourself to learn the material today. The outcome: You wind up reading the product two times, with the possibility of not comprehending or remembering it either time!

8. Preview Before Reading.

Browse the material first to get a sense of exactly what's vital and intriguing to you, and what you might be able to skip. Concentrate on the areas that you need to remember and understand and skim by the remainder.

9. Read at a Flexible Reading Rate.

Some reading materials, such as legal contracts, mathematical equations and poetry, must be read carefully and methodically; other literature can afford to be read much faster, like magazines, novels and newspapers. Adjust your reading speed to suit your reading purpose and the type of material that you are reading.

10. Get Some Great Tips on Speed Reading from Ebooks.

Avoid speed reading software that promises to turn you into a speed reading demon-that just won't happen. Take out a book from the self-help section of your local library and learn this skill properly in the convenience of your home. Alternatively, if you genuinely wish to enhance your reading speed, then I would highly recommend that you check out "Speed Reader X". It's an exceptional course that is also taught in schools throughout the U.S.

Author Resource:->??For more information about how to increase your reading speed, check out Speed Reader X Review. I'm sure you'll like it!

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Source: http://babubai29.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-to-increase-reading-speed-of-high.html

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