What are the northern lights?

What are northern lights?

The northern lights, one of several astronomical phenomena called polar lights (aurora polaris), are shafts or curtains of colored light visible on occasion in the night sky.Polar lights (aurora polaris) are a natural phenomenon found in both the northern and southern hemispheres that can be truly awe inspiring. Northern lights are also called by their scientific name, aurora borealis, and southern lights are called aurora australis.Sten Odenwald, author of The 23rd Cycle: learning to live with a stormy star (New York, Columbia University Press, c2001), provides insight into how northern lights are generated:

The origin of the aurora begins on the surface of the sun when solar activity ejects a cloud of gas. Scientists call this a coronal mass ejection (CME). If one of these reaches earth, taking about 2 to 3 days, it collides with the Earth’s magnetic field. This field is invisible, and if you could see its shape, it would make Earth look like a comet with a long magnetic ‘tail’ stretching a million miles behind Earth in the opposite direction of the sun.When a coronal mass ejection collides with the magnetic field, it causes complex changes to happen to the magnetic tail region. These changes generate currents of charged particles, which then flow along lines of magnetic force into the Polar Regions. 

These particles are boosted in energy in Earth’s upper atmosphere, and when they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, they produce dazzling auroral light.Odenwald further tells us “Aurora are beautiful, but the invisible flows of particles and magnetism that go on at the same time can damage our electrical power grid and satellites operating in space. This is why scientists are so keen to understand the physics of aurora and solar storms, so we can predict when our technologies may be affected.Can I see them anywhere?Yes, although they are more frequent at higher latitudes and places like Alaska, Canada, and Antarctica, closer to the Earth’s poles. 

Occasionally, they have been seen closer to the equator, and even as far  south as Mexico. To view them, look in the direction of the closest pole (the northern horizon in the northern hemisphere, the southern horizon in the southern hemisphere).

Can I see them at any time of the year?

Yes. In some areas, such as Alaska or Greenland, they may be visible most nights of the year. And they occur at any time of the day, but we can’t see them with the naked eye unless it’s dark.

What causes the colors and patterns?Colors and patterns are from the types of ions or atoms being energized as they collide with the atmosphere and are affected by lines of magnetic force. Displays may take many forms, including rippling curtains, pulsating globs, traveling pulses, or steady glows. Altitude affects the colors. Blue violet/reds occur below 60 miles (100 km), with bright green strongest between 60-150 miles (100-240 km). Above 150 miles (240 km) ruby reds appear.

Fun Facts about northern lights.According to Neil Bone (The Aurora: sun-earth interactions, 1996), the term aurora borealis–northern dawn–is jointly credited to have first been used by Pierre Gassendi (1592-1655) and Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), who both witnessed a light display on Sept. 12, 1621. However, Bone also includes a description of the northern lights made 1,000 years prior by Gregory of Tours (538-594.) It included the phrase, “… so bright that you might have thought that day was about to dawn.

Auroras have been observed since ancient times.The height of the displays can occur up to 1000 km (620 miles), although most are between 80-120 km.Auroras tend to be more frequent and spectacular during high solar sunspot activity, which cycles over approximately eleven years.Some displays are particularly spectacular and widespread and have been highlighted in news accounts. Examples include auroral storms of August-September, 1859, Feb 11, 1958, (lights 1250 miles wide circled the Arctic from Oregon to New Hampshire) and March 13, 1989, (the whole sky turned a vivid red and the aurora was seen in Europe and North America as far south as Cuba).

Legends abound in northern cultures to explain the northern lights. Some North American Inuit call the aurora aqsarniit (“football players”) and say the spirits of the dead are playing football with the head of a walrus. Often legends warn children that the lights might come down and snatch them away.

June 1896, Norwegian Kristian Birkeland, the “father of modern auroral science,” suggested the theory that electrons from sunspots triggered auroras.

Yellowknife (Northwest Territories, Canada) is the capital for aurora tourism.The earliest known account of northern lights appears to be from a Babylonian clay tablet from observations made by the official astronomers of King Nebuchadnezzar II, 568/567 BC.Some people claim to hear noises associated with the northern lights, but documenting this phenomenon has been difficult.Northern Lights, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, shines above Bear Lake. The lights are the result of solar particles colliding with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. 

Early Eskimos and Indians believed different legends about the Northern Lights, such as that they were the souls of animals dancing in the sky or the souls of fallen enemies trying to rise again

North light seen today 05.11.2024

Enjoy looking at the images.

Source: Loc.gov

 

Approaches to Confirm the Trustworthiness of a Website

 a good indicator of a secure website, but it's not foolproof. To further verify a website's legitimacy, you can investigate its SSL certificate. Look for a padlock icon in the address bar, indicating that the website has a valid SSL certificate. You can click on the padlock icon to view more details about the certificate. Pay attention to the information provided, such as the issuer and expiration date. If the certificate seems suspicious or doesn't match the website you're visiting, it could be a sign of a scam.

 1.Check the website for poor grammar or spelling

Scammers often make mistakes in their content, so be on the lookout for poor grammar or spelling errors on the website. Legitimate websites usually have professional and well-written content, while scam websites may have obvious mistakes. If you notice multiple errors or sentences that don't make sense, it's a red flag that the website may not be trustworthy.

2. Verify the domain

Take a closer look at the domain name of the website. Scammers may use slight variations or misspellings of popular domains to trick users. For example, instead of "amazon.com," they might use "amaz0n.com" or "amaz0n-deals.com." Always double-check the domain to ensure it matches the legitimate website you intend to visit.

 3.Check the contact page

Legitimate websites usually provide clear and accessible contact information. Look for a contact page or section on the website and verify if it includes a physical address, phone number, and email address. If the website lacks any contact information or only provides generic email addresses like Gmail or Yahoo, it could be a sign of a scam.

 4.Look up and review the company's social media presence

Search for the company or website on social media platforms and review their presence. Legitimate businesses often have active social media accounts with regular updates and engagement with customers. Check for verified accounts, a significant number of followers, and positive reviews or feedback from other users. If the website has no social media presence or the accounts seem suspicious or inactive, it's worth being cautious.

5.Check for the website's privacy policy

Legitimate websites typically have a privacy policy that outlines how they handle and protect user data. Look for a link to the privacy policy, usually located in the footer or at the bottom of the website. Take the time to read through the policy and ensure it aligns with your expectations. If the website lacks a privacy policy or the policy raises concerns about data handling, it's advisable to avoid sharing personal information.

6.Look for questionable links within an email

a .Take caution when examining links in emails, as scammers may not only try to direct you to a fake website, but also prompt you to click another link within that site. This secondary link could potentially contain malware or request your personal information, so it's important to be vigilant. b. It is generally advisable to be skeptical of links in text messages or emails that you were not anticipating. To ensure that you are not being redirected to a fraudulent website, always visit the official website directly. It can be helpful to do this on a separate device so that you can compare the legitimacy of the sites. c While many legitimate companies communicate digitally, it is important to note that updating or providing personal information should typically require a sign-in or some form of verification. If you receive an email with a link from a company you do not do business with, such as PayPal when you have never had an account, exercise caution and refrain from clicking on the link. d. Providing sensitive information on illegitimate websites can have serious consequences, including identity theft. It is crucial to be aware of the potential risks and avoid sharing personal data on suspicious or untrustworthy websites. e. If you have any doubts or suspicions about a website's authenticity, it is advisable to leave the site. Online thieves are becoming increasingly adept at creating deceptive websites and sending fraudulent emails and text messages. Even if a website appears polished at first glance, be cautious and consider leaving if anything seems off. Look out for errors, misspellings, or inconsistencies in the site's content or web address. f. Remember to keep the above tips in mind when practicing credit card safety. It is important to be proactive in protecting your financial information and to choose a credit card that suits your needs and offers appropriate security measures.

Summary: 

 Discovering the authenticity of a website is an essential task. To ensure you are dealing with a genuine website, there are several steps you can take. Firstly, examine the website's URL carefully. Legitimate websites often have a secure connection indicated by "https" at the beginning of the URL, along with a padlock symbol. Secondly, verify the website's contact information, such as a physical address and phone number. Reputable websites usually provide this information to establish trust. Additionally, you can search for reviews or feedback from other users to gauge the website's credibility. Lastly, be cautious of websites that request sensitive information or seem too good to be true. Trust your instincts and exercise caution when navigating the online realm.

Source: Google

Brain Atrophy & Hearing Loss:

 Brain Atrophy & Hearing Loss:

Dr. Frank Lin, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, conducted a study that suggests a link between hearing loss, particularly in older individuals, and accelerated brain shrinkage. It has long been observed that older adults with hearing impairment experience faster declines in cognitive abilities and memory, but the underlying reasons remained a mystery until now.

This research discovered that older adults with hearing loss lose brain volume at a faster rate compared to their peers of the same age who have normal hearing. The exact reasons for this phenomenon and its implications for daily life remain unclear. However, it does raise an important question: Could treating hearing loss potentially slow down these brain changes and even mitigate the risk of dementia?

The study followed 126 adults between the ages of 56 and 86 over a 10-year period, subjecting each participant to annual MRI scans to track brain tissue loss. Nearly half of the participants had mild hearing loss at the beginning of the study.

The results indicated that individuals with hearing loss experienced a more rapid decline in brain volume compared to those with normal hearing. Notably, the areas of the brain responsible for processing speech and sound were the most affected.

Whilst the exact relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline remains unclear, it is evident that hearing loss can impede social interaction and the brain's exposure to auditory stimuli. Therefore, even without concrete proof of causation, addressing hearing loss can enhance the quality of life, not only for the affected individual but also for those around them.

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Earth's surface water dives deep, transforming core's outer layer

 A few decades ago, seismologists imaging the deep planet identified a thin layer, just over a few hundred kilometers thick. The origin of this layer, known as the E prime layer, has been a mystery -- until now.

An international team of researchers, including Arizona State University scientists Dan Shim, Taehyun Kim and Joseph O'Rourke of the School of Earth and Space Exploration, has revealed that water from the Earth's surface can penetrate deep into the planet, altering the composition of the outermost region of the metallic liquid core and creating a distinct, thin layer. Illustration of silica crystals coming out from the liquid metal of the Earth's outer core due to a water-induced chemical reaction.

Their research was recently published in Nature Geoscience.

Research indicates that over billions of years, surface water has been transported deep into the Earth by descending, or subducted, tectonic plates. Upon reaching the core-mantle boundary, about 1,800 miles below the surface, this water triggers a profound chemical interaction, altering the core's structure.

Along with Yong Jae Lee of Yonsei University in South Korea, Shim and his team have demonstrated through high-pressure experiments that subducted water chemically reacts with core materials. This reaction forms a hydrogen-rich, silicon-depleted layer, altering the topmost outer core region into a film-like structure. Additionally, the reaction generates silica crystals that rise and integrate into the mantle. This modified liquid metallic layer is predicted to be less dense, with reduced seismic velocities, in alignment with anomalous characteristics mapped by seismologists.

Illustration of Earth's interior revealing subducting water and a rising plume of magma. At the interface where subducting water meets the core, a chemical exchange occurs to form a hydrogen-rich layer in the topmost outer core and dense silica in the bottom of the mantle. Image courtesy Yonsei University

"For years, it has been believed that material exchange between Earth's core and mantle is small. Yet, our recent high-pressure experiments reveal a different story. We found that when water reaches the core-mantle boundary, it reacts with silicon in the core, forming silica," said Shim. "This discovery, along with our previous observation of diamonds forming from water reacting with carbon in iron liquid under extreme pressure, points to a far more dynamic core-mantle interaction, suggesting substantial material exchange."

This finding advances our understanding of Earth's internal processes, suggesting a more extensive global water cycle than previously recognized. The altered "film" of the core has profound implications for the geochemical cycles that connect the surface-water cycle with the deep metallic core.

This study was conducted by an international team of geoscientists using advanced experimental techniques at the Advanced Photon Source of Argonne National Lab and PETRA III of Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron in Germany to replicate the extreme conditions at the core-mantle boundary.

Members of the team and their key roles from ASU are Kim, who began this project as a visiting PhD student and is now a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Earth and Space Exploration; Shim, a professor at the School of Earth and Space Exploration, who spearheaded the high-pressure experimental work; and O'Rourke, an assistant professor at the School of Earth and Space Exploration, who performed computational simulations to comprehend the formation and persistence of the core's altered thin layer. Lee led the research team from Yonsei University, along with key research scientists Vitali Prakapenka and Stella Chariton at the Advanced Photon Source and Rachel Husband, Nico Giordano and Hanns-Peter Liermann at the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron.

Source:

Arizona State University

PayPal Goes after Crypto

PayPal (PYPL) Goes After 'Crypto-Curious' Custome

Source: lnvstopedia

PayPal Holdings, Inc.'s paypal interest in cryptocurrencyis not new, but over the past quarter the company has taken the plunge, introducing a range of new services and offerings for its customers. The digital payments company is looking to expand further in the first half of this year.

Back in October the company first allowed its U.S. users to trade cryptocurrencies on its platform. Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin are the cryptocurrencies currently available through PayPal, according to its kpresentation to it's investors.

In the first half of 2021, PayPal will enable users to trade crypto in the U.K. and a number of additional international markets. It will also expand crypto offerings to Venmo, a payment app it bought in 2014. Earlier this month, PayPal announced that it has also established a crypto-focused business unit and is planning to allow users to make purchases through the app using cryptocurrency later this year.

"I would describe the type of user on our platform right now as more of the crypto-curious,"  said PayPal CFO John Rainey on the fourth quarter analyst call earlier this month. "We're not getting these heavy day traders in crypto – it's more a casual customer that is somewhat intrigued by this and now has a trusted digital platform where they can go out and buy this and hold this, and then eventually be able to use this as a form of payment." Rainey noted that PayPal has also set volume limits on its platform.

PayPal's rollout of crypto offerings is in line with its mission to become a one-stop shop, a closer competitor to a company like Alibaba Group Holding Limited's  AliPay in China offering a range of services. "That's really the promise of a super-app, where you can live a lot of your digital life on one app and then be able to manage all of your transactions in one place, track them all, and have personalized, customized recommendations," CEO Dan Schulman Market Watch. Last quarter, PayPal also made investments in TaxBit, cryptocurrency tax software, and Paxos, a blockchain platform that PayPal uses to provide crypto services.

PayPal's cryptocurrency expansion along with other market players like Visa Inc.  are likely to create the so-callednetwork effect and faster adoption rates. "We are eager to work with central banks and regulators around the world to offer our support, and to meaningfully contribute to shaping the role that digital currencies will play in the future of global finance and commerce," Schulman said.

While companies like Square, Inc.  enabled Bitcoin trading years ago, PayPal's expansion has been more gradual. Now this expansion of services coincides with growth in consumer awareness and interest in crypto. The users who buy crypto on PayPal log back into the app at double the rate before purchasing cryptocurrency, the company said.

"One of the things that I particularly am most excited about is what we're seeing around the levels of engagement of these users," Rainey said. "This really fits with this thesis that we have around, as we add additional products and services that are attractive to our consumer base, it creates a stickiness to our platform where we really are going towards this everyday financial app, and we're quite excited about that."

For PayPal, it's still early days, but it may change as users are able to use cryptocurrencies to make purchases and crypto trading is available in more markets. Customers will be able to use crypto to pay for goods at 29 million merchant locations by the end of the first quarter, the company said.

"For us to see an outsized impact on our business certainly to the point where it's starting to move the dial on the overall growth numbers of our business we are a little bit of a ways out on that right now," Rainey told analysts. "When we allow our customers to use crypto to go shop at our merchants, our network of [nearly] 30 million merchants around the world, that's where this halo effect or indirect benefit, that's where it gets really attractive on a margin basis, because the funding cost of that being so low.

What is blockchain?

 Learn the basics of blockchain technology and why it can enhance trust in both record keeping and financial transactions.

Blockchain is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system.

A blockchain is essentially a digital ledger of transactions that is duplicated and distributed across the entire network of computer systems on the blockchain. Each block in the chain contains a number of transactions, and every time a new transaction occurs on the blockchain, a record of that transaction is added to every participant’s ledger. The decentralised database managed by multiple participants is known as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT).

Blockchain is a type of DLT in which transactions are recorded with an immutable cryptographic signature called a hash.

 

This means if one block in one chain was changed, it would be immediately apparent it had been tampered with. If hackers wanted to corrupt a blockchain system, they would have to change every block in the chain, across all of the distributed versions of the chain.

Blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are constantly and continually growing as blocks are being added to the chain, which significantly adds to the security of the ledger.

 

Why is there so much hype around blockchain technology?

There have been many attempts to create digital money in the past, but they have always failed.

The prevailing issue is trust. If someone creates a new currency called the X dollar, how can we trust that they won't give themselves a million X dollars, or steal your X dollars for themselves?

Bitcoin was designed to solve this problem by using a specific type of database called a blockchain. Most normal databases, such as an SQL database, have someone in charge who can change the entries (e.g. giving themselves a million X dollars). Blockchain is different because nobody is in charge; it’s run by the people who use it. What’s more, bitcoins can’t be faked, hacked or double spent – so people that own this money can trust that it has some value.

Understanding Libra

Understand how Facebook leveraged specific aspects of blockchain technology to launch a new cyrptocurrency called Libra, and its potential impact on the banking and finance sector.

Top 10 emerging technologies of 2019

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the emerging technology offering the greatest opportunities to create new business and revenues, according to CompTIA's second annual Top 10 Emerging Technologies report, released Monday.

The 10 technologies named in the report were ranked according to the near-term business and financial opportunities each creates for IT firms and other business technology companies, and selected by the organization's Emerging Technology Community.

1. IoT     { Internet of Things}

IoT is driving business changes by providing the data needed to improve marketing, increase sales, and decrease costs, the report found.

"Everybody in the technology world, as well as many consumers, is hearing the term Internet of Things," Frank Raimondi, a member of the CompTIA Emerging Technology Community leadership group who works in strategic channel and business development for Chargifi, said in a press release.

However, "to say it's confusing and overwhelming is an understatement," he added. "IoT may mean many things to many people, but it can clearly mean incremental or new business to a channel partner if they start adding relevant IoT solutions with their existing and new customers. More importantly, they don't have to start over from scratch."

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is already significantly impacting the way customers interact with businesses via intelligent websites and bots, and these tools are becoming increasingly commoditized and integrated into daily work, the report noted.

"The largest impacts across all industries—from retail to healthcare, hospitality to finance—are felt when AI improves data security, decision-making speed and accuracy, and employee output and training," Maddy Martin, community vice chair and head of growth and education for Smith.ai, said in the release. "With more capable staff, better-qualified sales leads, more efficient issue resolution, and systems that feed actual data back in for future process and product improvements, companies employing AI technologies can use resources with far greater efficiency. Best of all, as investment and competition increase in the AI realm, costs are reduced."

3. 5G

The rise of 5G networks is increasing our ability to move, manipulate, and analyze data across wireless platforms, according to CompTIA. As 5G rolls out more fully in the coming years, it will drive the development of more complex apps to solve problems and increase growth across industries.

"The development and deployment of 5G is going to enable business impact at a level few technologies ever have, providing wireless at the speed and latency needed for complex solutions like driverless vehicles," Michael Haines, community chair and director of partner incentive strategy and program design for Microsoft, said in the release. "Additionally, once fully deployed geographically, 5G will help emerging markets realize the same 'speed of business' as their mature counterparts. Solution providers that develop 5G-based solutions for specific industry applications will have profitable, early-mover advantages."

4. Serverless computing

Serverless computing allows organizations to create a NoOps IT environment that is automated and abstracted from underlying infrastructure, reducing operational costs and allowing businesses to invest in developing new capabilities that add more value, the report found.

Serverless computing was new on the list this year, along with robotics, replaced quantum computing, and automation, CompTIA noted.

5. Blockchain

More organizations are exploring and implementing blockchain to solve the increased need to secure and manage transactions across the internet.

"Blockchain came down crushing from its peak of hype cycle, and that's probably for the best," said Julia Moiseeva, a member of the community's leadership group and founder of CLaaS (C-Level as a Service) Management Solutions Ltd, in the release. "Now that the luster of novelty and furor of the masses are gone, the dynamic of work around blockchain took a complete U-turn, again, for the best."

6. Robotics

Robotics is automating routine processes by using machines to make businesses faster, less expensive, and more efficient, the report found.

7. Biometrics

Biometrics—including face, fingerprint, and retina scans—are becoming mainstream methods for verifying identity. These methods will form the secure foundation for solutions delivered by IT companies moving forward, CompTIA said.

8. 3D printing

3D printing offers a solution for the low volume manufacturing of complex parts, as well as fast local production of difficult-to-find products, the report noted. As more affordable products become available, opportunities for this industry will continue to grow, it added.

9. Virtual reality (VR)/Augmented reality (AR)

Using VR, AR, mixed reality, AI, and sensor technologies can help organizations improve operational efficiency and individual productivity, according to the report.

10. Drones

Drones enable robotic automation with fewer geographical restrictions, the report noted. Opportunities for development and integration are high for this market, it added.

   Source: techrepublic.com      By: Alison DeNisco Rayome