Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Did you know?
That there are monsters with energy fire rays on their backs?
According to Andrew there is....
(interesting)
So i did a google search on this to see if he was right and this is what i found!
I say he's a genus!
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn12897-monster-black-holes-power-highestenergy-cosmic-rays.html
Monster black holes power highest-energy cosmic rays
* 19:00 08 November 2007
* NewScientist.com news service
* Hazel Muir
Printable versionEmail to a friendRSS FeedSyndicate
Supermassive black holes that lie at the centres of galaxies and are devouring their surroundings act as cosmic peashooters, firing energetic charged particles through space (Illustration: NASA)
Enlarge image
Supermassive black holes that lie at the centres of galaxies and are devouring their surroundings act as cosmic peashooters, firing energetic charged particles through space (Illustration: NASA)
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Related Articles
* Magnetic cocoons power energetic cosmic rays
* 22 October 2007
* Dark matter may emit ultra-high energy cosmic rays
* 06 July 2007
* 2005 preview: Monster cosmic rays
* 08 January 2005
* Search New Scientist
* Contact us
Web Links
* Pierre Auger Observatory
* Alan Watson, University of Leeds
* Peter Biermann, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
The Auger Observatory in Argentina detects energetic particles through their interaction with water in surface detector tanks (shown). It also uses telescopes to observe how incoming cosmic rays make the atmosphere fluoresce (Image: Pierre Auger Observatory)
Enlarge image
The Auger Observatory in Argentina detects energetic particles through their interaction with water in surface detector tanks (shown). It also uses telescopes to observe how incoming cosmic rays make the atmosphere fluoresce (Image: Pierre Auger Observatory)
Enormous black holes in galaxies millions of light years away are pelting us with energetic particles. The finding, from a telescope array 10 times the size of Paris, solves a long-standing mystery about the origins of the most energetic cosmic rays that strike the Earth's atmosphere.
"Finding an association with something in the sky – it's just fantastic," says Alan Watson from the University of Leeds in the UK, a spokesperson for the team that made the discovery. "The result heralds a new window to the nearby universe and the beginning of cosmic-ray astronomy."
Cosmic rays are charged particles such as protons and atomic nuclei that constantly rain down on Earth's atmosphere. Most come from the Sun and other sources within our galaxy, such as supernova remnants.
But the origins of the highest-energy particles, which travel within a whisker of the speed of light, have been puzzling. A single proton can have as much energy as a tennis ball served at 100 kilometres per hour.
Astronomers found it difficult to explain how particles are accelerated to such enormous speeds.
One possibility was that they are spat out by "active galactic nuclei" (AGNs) – energetic galaxies powered by matter swirling onto a supermassive black hole. This would be feasible if the AGNs lay up to a few hundred million light years away. Theory predicts that energetic cosmic rays from farther afield would lose energy before they reached Earth by interacting with relic radiation from the big bang called the cosmic microwave background.
Giant cosmic ray 'net'
Alternative explanations include gamma-ray bursts, violent explosions that are sometimes thought to signal the collapse of a massive star into a black hole. More bizarrely, the cosmic rays could signal the decay of heavy particlesthat have been trapped inside weird knots in space-time since the big bang.
Testing any idea has been difficult, however, because the highest-energy cosmic rays are very rare. To catch enough of them to investigate their origins, scientists had to build the largest cosmic-ray catcher in the world – the Pierre Auger Observatory.
The international observatory is an array of 1600 detectors covering 3000 square kilometres of land in Argentina. It began operating in 2004 (watch a video overview of the array).
Nearby active galaxies
The observatory measures the aftermath of a cosmic-ray strike. When a high-energy cosmic ray smashes into the upper atmosphere, it creates an avalanche of secondary particles that branches outwards as it cascades down. The particle shower can have a "footprint" as large as 40 square kilometres when it hits the ground.
The ground detectors of the Auger observatory record these secondary particles, while 24 optical telescopes around the perimeter of the array record how the particle shower made the atmosphere fluoresce. This allows astronomers to accurately estimate the energy and trajectory of the incident cosmic ray that caused the shower.
Now the Auger scientists have analysed their 27 most energetic cosmic rays detected until August 2007. Almost all came from directions corresponding roughly to the positions of nearby AGNs up to 250 million light years away from us. The chances of the pattern being a coincidence are just 1 in 100.
"This basically confirms that AGN seem to be the best sources," says team member Peter Biermann from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany. "I'm very pleased because this is what I've argued on the basis of detailed physics for 20 years."
Particle smasher
The array's success ushers in a new era of precision cosmic-ray astronomy, according to Watson. Over time, it should detect tens or hundreds of cosmic rays from individual AGNs and their range of energies should clarify exactly how they were accelerated – a process thought to be controlled by magnetic fields around the colossal black holes.
"If we had, say, 100 cosmic rays from a single AGN, we would see their spectrum of energies and then the models of acceleration would really have something to shoot at," says Watson.
Scientists will also use the Auger observations to probe the physics of particle collisions. When cosmic rays hit the atmosphere, their collisions can be 30 times more energetic than those at the world's most powerful particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider, which is due to open for business next year in Switzerland.
The Auger observations should also help track magnetic fields in the galaxy, because these fields bend charged cosmic rays slightly off a straight path. "We're really just starting – we've got a fantastic 10 years ahead and it's really exciting," says Watson.
Journal reference: Science (vol 318, p 938)
According to Andrew there is....
(interesting)
So i did a google search on this to see if he was right and this is what i found!
I say he's a genus!
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn12897-monster-black-holes-power-highestenergy-cosmic-rays.html
Monster black holes power highest-energy cosmic rays
* 19:00 08 November 2007
* NewScientist.com news service
* Hazel Muir
Printable versionEmail to a friendRSS FeedSyndicate
Supermassive black holes that lie at the centres of galaxies and are devouring their surroundings act as cosmic peashooters, firing energetic charged particles through space (Illustration: NASA)
Enlarge image
Supermassive black holes that lie at the centres of galaxies and are devouring their surroundings act as cosmic peashooters, firing energetic charged particles through space (Illustration: NASA)
Tools
digg thisAdd My YahooAdd Google Reader reddit submitNewsvineciteulike submit
Related Articles
* Magnetic cocoons power energetic cosmic rays
* 22 October 2007
* Dark matter may emit ultra-high energy cosmic rays
* 06 July 2007
* 2005 preview: Monster cosmic rays
* 08 January 2005
* Search New Scientist
* Contact us
Web Links
* Pierre Auger Observatory
* Alan Watson, University of Leeds
* Peter Biermann, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
The Auger Observatory in Argentina detects energetic particles through their interaction with water in surface detector tanks (shown). It also uses telescopes to observe how incoming cosmic rays make the atmosphere fluoresce (Image: Pierre Auger Observatory)
Enlarge image
The Auger Observatory in Argentina detects energetic particles through their interaction with water in surface detector tanks (shown). It also uses telescopes to observe how incoming cosmic rays make the atmosphere fluoresce (Image: Pierre Auger Observatory)
Enormous black holes in galaxies millions of light years away are pelting us with energetic particles. The finding, from a telescope array 10 times the size of Paris, solves a long-standing mystery about the origins of the most energetic cosmic rays that strike the Earth's atmosphere.
"Finding an association with something in the sky – it's just fantastic," says Alan Watson from the University of Leeds in the UK, a spokesperson for the team that made the discovery. "The result heralds a new window to the nearby universe and the beginning of cosmic-ray astronomy."
Cosmic rays are charged particles such as protons and atomic nuclei that constantly rain down on Earth's atmosphere. Most come from the Sun and other sources within our galaxy, such as supernova remnants.
But the origins of the highest-energy particles, which travel within a whisker of the speed of light, have been puzzling. A single proton can have as much energy as a tennis ball served at 100 kilometres per hour.
Astronomers found it difficult to explain how particles are accelerated to such enormous speeds.
One possibility was that they are spat out by "active galactic nuclei" (AGNs) – energetic galaxies powered by matter swirling onto a supermassive black hole. This would be feasible if the AGNs lay up to a few hundred million light years away. Theory predicts that energetic cosmic rays from farther afield would lose energy before they reached Earth by interacting with relic radiation from the big bang called the cosmic microwave background.
Giant cosmic ray 'net'
Alternative explanations include gamma-ray bursts, violent explosions that are sometimes thought to signal the collapse of a massive star into a black hole. More bizarrely, the cosmic rays could signal the decay of heavy particlesthat have been trapped inside weird knots in space-time since the big bang.
Testing any idea has been difficult, however, because the highest-energy cosmic rays are very rare. To catch enough of them to investigate their origins, scientists had to build the largest cosmic-ray catcher in the world – the Pierre Auger Observatory.
The international observatory is an array of 1600 detectors covering 3000 square kilometres of land in Argentina. It began operating in 2004 (watch a video overview of the array).
Nearby active galaxies
The observatory measures the aftermath of a cosmic-ray strike. When a high-energy cosmic ray smashes into the upper atmosphere, it creates an avalanche of secondary particles that branches outwards as it cascades down. The particle shower can have a "footprint" as large as 40 square kilometres when it hits the ground.
The ground detectors of the Auger observatory record these secondary particles, while 24 optical telescopes around the perimeter of the array record how the particle shower made the atmosphere fluoresce. This allows astronomers to accurately estimate the energy and trajectory of the incident cosmic ray that caused the shower.
Now the Auger scientists have analysed their 27 most energetic cosmic rays detected until August 2007. Almost all came from directions corresponding roughly to the positions of nearby AGNs up to 250 million light years away from us. The chances of the pattern being a coincidence are just 1 in 100.
"This basically confirms that AGN seem to be the best sources," says team member Peter Biermann from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany. "I'm very pleased because this is what I've argued on the basis of detailed physics for 20 years."
Particle smasher
The array's success ushers in a new era of precision cosmic-ray astronomy, according to Watson. Over time, it should detect tens or hundreds of cosmic rays from individual AGNs and their range of energies should clarify exactly how they were accelerated – a process thought to be controlled by magnetic fields around the colossal black holes.
"If we had, say, 100 cosmic rays from a single AGN, we would see their spectrum of energies and then the models of acceleration would really have something to shoot at," says Watson.
Scientists will also use the Auger observations to probe the physics of particle collisions. When cosmic rays hit the atmosphere, their collisions can be 30 times more energetic than those at the world's most powerful particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider, which is due to open for business next year in Switzerland.
The Auger observations should also help track magnetic fields in the galaxy, because these fields bend charged cosmic rays slightly off a straight path. "We're really just starting – we've got a fantastic 10 years ahead and it's really exciting," says Watson.
Journal reference: Science (vol 318, p 938)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Dr's and Signs
Andrew went to the Dr's today for a follow up appointment from when he was in the hospital. He wore his own stethoscope and everyone in the office thought he was so cute (but how could they not? lol). Dr K asked him what his stethoscope does and Andrew looked at him with that are you serious look and laughed at him and said "nothing, it's only a toy"... Oh and another thing, never ever if your able to, have a 4 yr old wait too long in the actual examining room, there it way too much interesting things to explore, WAY TOO MANY things. The Dr looked him over, weighed him and he gained the pounds that he lost from being sick. He's all better, but i didn't need to go to the Dr to hear that, i knew that already, but they said to make a follow up appointment so i did, costing the tax payers money that didn't need to be spent, but oh well, that's another story for somewhere else!
Afterwards we walked down the Danforth. Every cute sign that Andrew saw he wanted me to take a picture of him with it. It was a slow walk, thank God it was a nice day. We went into a toy store, he played in there for about an hr, he bought a Curious George flashlight out of his birthday money and then we headed back home.
Afterwards we walked down the Danforth. Every cute sign that Andrew saw he wanted me to take a picture of him with it. It was a slow walk, thank God it was a nice day. We went into a toy store, he played in there for about an hr, he bought a Curious George flashlight out of his birthday money and then we headed back home.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Whose Looking?
Please, purdy please leave a comment from time to time so i know who is looking here and Andrew will be reading this at some point when he's older and i think he would find it quite groovy to read what you have to say about an entry that you might have enjoyed reading. Come on, come in who ever you are. The door is always open!
Another Birthday Gathering
Saturday we had my side of the family gather here for a small gathering for Andrews birthday. He also got to celebrate it with Anika for her 4th birthday as well.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Siblings Together pt 2
This picture is PRICELSS. You should have seen how excited he got when his sister Lisa gave him some scittles.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Andrew's 1st Science Experiment
We bought 2 white carnations, he placed one in a mixture of blue food coloring and water and one in red coloring. I ask him what HE thought would happen to them and he guessed right on. I asked him why and how it changes and he guessed right on to that as well, my boy has brainz :)
Where Babies Come from and Birthday Gifts
Today Andrew was with his friend Ethan, they saw a baby and while they were looking at him Andrew looked at Ethan and said "did you know that babies come from their mommy's tummy and the mommy get a really big bobo?", I thought it to be pretty clever of him, i have told him that babies comes from mommy's tummy's but i never told him how.
Earlier today he was talking to my dad on the phone and he asked Andrew what he wanted for his birthday and Andrew said in a matter of factly tone of voice, "i want Santa Clause carrying a bag of presents!" Smart boy, he knows where the goods are coming from :)
Earlier today he was talking to my dad on the phone and he asked Andrew what he wanted for his birthday and Andrew said in a matter of factly tone of voice, "i want Santa Clause carrying a bag of presents!" Smart boy, he knows where the goods are coming from :)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mothers Day
Happy Mothers Day to Nanny, Nanna, and Grandma.
Thank you Andrew for the lovely breakfast in bed. :)
Thank you Andrew for the lovely breakfast in bed. :)
Friday, May 9, 2008
Andrew spent a Night in Hospital
Sooo, by Wednesday he wasn't getting any better. I took him to a walk-in clinic to see if the Dr thought that he needed to be taken to the hospital. He looked him over and said to force him to drink for 2 hrs and if he's still the same to take him to the hospital. Got him back home, we managed to get a cup of water down him. He fell asleep on the couch and about 45 mins later he vomited everywhere. So i took him to emergency. When we got there they took his vitals and put him into a room right away because he was sooo lethargic. A nurse came in and told me to force pedialite into him via a syringe, but every time i did he would just spit it out. The ER Dr came in and took one look at him and said that he needed to be put on IV fluids. He said that after about 2 bags it would be like night and day with how he behaved. The nurses came in about to put his IV in and take blood work. While they put it in he barely cried because he was so weak. He was so dehydrated that he couldn't even make tears. They got it in and started giving him boluses ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolus_(medicine)#Bolus_placement ), they gave him about 5 bags of those (the way they explained it to me the bolus is a concentration of the stuff he needs and it's been administered quickly into his body). About an hour later the ER doc came in and said that he looked a bit better but i couldn't see it at all. So we waited to hear what the blood results were. The Dr came in about 3 hrs later and said that his blood sugar and electrolytes were low so he wanted was getting the pediatrician to see him and that he would be admitted. The ped came in about a half hr later. She looked him over and said that he likely had an intestinal infection and that he would be placed into isolation. He arrived into his room at midnight, got settled and then daddy arrived. He started asking for things to eat and popsicles so things were starting to look good. He had a popsicle and fell asleep for the night. He woke up the next morning and seemed a LOT better. He noticed what the button do on the side of the bed rail and played with those gleefully making the bed move up and down. He wanted to eat. And he walked around a bit and played a Scooby Doo game. After a few hrs the Dr came in and said that he looked well enough to go home :) ... Sooo here we are. Today he has some runs and he's still a bit weak but he's on the mend :) .... What a week this has been.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
One Sick Little Guy
Yesterday morning at 3am Andrew started vomiting, from there it happened every 30mins until 2:30pm. He slept all day yesterday and so far is still sleeping today. He is very weak. I wish i could take his sickness away.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Pictures from Today
We had a small gathering today for Andrew's birthday here. His Nanny, Grandpa, Aunt Lydia, brothers Alexander and James and Vitalia came to celebrate it with him. It was a good day.
Here are some pics that we took... Enjoy :)
Ohhh, i almost forgot.
When Andrew woke up this morning he asked me if he was four now, i said yes ANdrew, happy birthday. He looked a little perplexed and looked at his his body and then looked up at me and said, "but i'm not big"....
Here are some pics that we took... Enjoy :)
Ohhh, i almost forgot.
When Andrew woke up this morning he asked me if he was four now, i said yes ANdrew, happy birthday. He looked a little perplexed and looked at his his body and then looked up at me and said, "but i'm not big"....
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday my little four year old.
WE LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH.
(more later on how your day went with some pics :) )
WE LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH.
(more later on how your day went with some pics :) )
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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