Light-Activated Smart Curtains

Jan-17-14 Researchers have used carbon nanotubes to create battery-free ‘smart curtains’ able to automatically respond to changes in light.

The curtains were developed by laying carbon nanotubes on the surface of a plastic polycarbonate membrane. When the nanotubes absorb light, they quickly convert it to heat that is then transferred to the surface of the membrane. This heat causes the plastic to expand while the nanotube layer remains unchanged, in turn causing the material to bend. The size and direction of the chirality (the direction of the twist) of the nanotubes can also be altered to allow the material to respond differently to different wavelengths of light.

In addition to curtains able to automatically close or open, the technology could also be applied to light-driven motors and robotics that move toward or away from light sources.

Triton Concept Brings Artificial Gills to Humans

Jan-18-14

 The Triton concept was designed to function like a set of gills for humans, allowing the user to breathe underwater without the need for large oxygen tanks.

Designed by Jeabyun Yeon, the Triton is covered in small, plastic scales that allow the water to enter a chamber housing an internal filter and a micro-compressor. The fine threads of the filter create holes that are smaller than water molecules, allowing only air to pass through. The air is pulled through the filter by the compressor and stored in a small storage tank, where it can be released by biting down on the mouthpiece and breathing in.

Gathering Space Junk with a Giant Net

Jan-19-14 The Japanese space agency JAXA has announced plans to clear earth’s orbit of space junk by catching the debris in a giant magnetic net.

The space junk surrounding the earth is estimated to weigh 5500 tons, and some of the bits are large enough to endanger space vehicles and future missions. To clean up the mess, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has joined forces with a fishing equipment manufacturer to create a magnetic net able to gather the debris and then bring it into the earth’s orbit, where it will burn up.

JAXA has developed a test net that measures 2/3 of a mile long, and has plans to build larger versions able to capture entire rocket stages and other larger debris.

Has it been scientifically proven that ghosts exist?

Has it been scientifically proven that ghosts exist?

The short answer is that the Scientific community is on the fence when it comes to any Paranormal object, be it a ghost or otherwise. However, where once it was considered "fringe science", the serious investigation of Paranormal activity is now being pursued by many top Universities and Colleges, using scientific methodology and equipment. As we learn more, and more people with scientific backgrounds become involved, more theories on how ghosts manifest or where they exist will be proposed. Remember that Einstein's Theory of Relativity postulates an infinite number of alternate realities and many other things that most people don't believe in either - but are universally accepted by the scientific community, largely in part because many elements of his theory have been proven to be correct by scientific experiment.

Unknowledgeable people presenting bogus information as "evidence" has been a large problem for many people, as is just their own core beliefs, faith, or unwillingness to face the possibility that there's something other than Heaven or Hell. This was the problem in the past, and continues to be to this day. Groups claiming to be "Ghost Hunters" (unlike the TAPS group, which is a serious team) often put forth pictures and other "evidence" that is unclear and unverifiable at best. Few of these people have any real technical or scientific background, and each time it happens it creates even more skepticism. Even worse are the persistent hoaxers, and it's a lot easier today with moderate software to create effects that look good without closer inspection. I myself have analyzed purported EVP recordings which on the surface sounded real, but upon closer inspection were obviously faked. Same with pictures that are reported in the media; we looked at one case (myself and another Photoshop expert) where a picture was highly publicized at a local TV station. Upon close inspection, it was evident that the image was faked, albeit a very good one. Other things didn't add up as well in the entire story, and on the whole, it seemed more likely to be a ratings gimmick by the TV station as the reporter was present for the "photo".

Scientists, professional and amateur investigators, and just everyday people who have witnessed and seen ghosts are believers, but universal belief is based on evidence, and even with photographic, video and audio evidence, many people aren't yet willing to universally accept that ghosts exist. As one who has seen them, with evidence collected, I of course have no doubt, and it has caused me to rethink many things of a spiritual nature. There is a lot of evidence that tips the scale toward the existence of ghosts than there is to disprove they do. By evidence, I mean that which cannot be explained by any other cause.

I have no doubt that science will ultimately come to the realization of the existence of ghosts. Remember that science has often sworn that ancient species are extinct, only to be proven wrong when a specimen was found. The Coelacanth is a prime example of why no one should ever discount the possibility of something not being provable. Science long held the Coelacanth was extinct millions of years ago - only to be slammed when a live specimen was caught several decades ago.

We often consider ourselves smarter than we really are, and science, though often right, isn't always correct by a longshot. In the end, seeing is believing, and for anyone who has ever witnessed any type of entity, be it active or residual (a "recording" of an event that repeats and cannot interact with the viewer), there is no question of their existence. Remember too that even if science does prove their existence, not everyone will believe it either. There are still people who believe the Earth is flat, that we've never been to the Moon, and that the U.S. Navy supports an underwater alien base in the Bahamas. I can't tell you what the base is for in the Bahamas, but I've been there many times. I can say there isn't anything extraterrestrial going on, and like most highly classified military installations, activity there is kept secret for very good reasons, none of which has to do with aliens.

My advice is to do what many of us have done - start your own journey to determine for yourself if they exist or not, and keep an open mind when doing so. In the end, what YOU believe is really all that matters.

When scientists debunk
ghosts their first statement is usually, “there is no scientific proof
of the existence of ghosts.” This is wrong. There is scientific proof.
Science even has theories that explain something must be happening
beyond what we know and what we can see.Albert Einstien(1879-1955),
Time Magazine's Man of the Century and one of the greatest minds the
world has known, taught us that energy cannot be created or destroyed.
It can only be changed from one form of energy into another form of
energy. This means that no matter what is done energy cannot be
destroyed.Another great scientist who believed in life after death was
Thomas Edison, (1847-1931). Edison was a genius ahead of his time. He
invented the light bulb, phonograph, typewriter, electric motor, stock
ticker, and 1093 other patented inventions. One of the inventions that
he worked on at the end of his career was a secret project, a machine
that would let the living see and communicate with the souls of the
dead.
Edison believed that that the soul was made up of what he referred to
as “life units.” These microscopic particles or life units could
rearrange into any form. They retained full memory, personality and
were indestructible. Edison's machine would detect these life units in
the environment and allow living individual to communicate with the
dead. He put many years of hard work into his new creation, but sadly,
he died before it was finished. Some called Edison crazy. Others
thought that he was onto something bigger than the idea of the light
bulb. They believed that if he would have had a little more time, we
might all today be living in a very different world.
It's been found that in almost every ghost haunting and poltergeist
that there are certain electrical elements at work. Using EMF detectors
ghost hunters can monitor these electrical forces. These devices can
examine and record even the smallest fluctuation in the surrounding
electromagnetic field. Everything gives off some kind of
electromagnetic field, even our own bodies. Electrical appliances, like
television sets and computers give off higher distortions than a lamp
or a toaster would. When ghosts are present there are higher levels of
electromagnetic distortions. Many times the distortions are so high
that they interfere with the working abilities of computers systems and
audio/video equipment. High levels of static electricity are also
detectable.
Recording temperature changes is another scientific way of detecting
the presence of ghosts. Fluctuations of more than 10 degrees have been
recorded in small areas of rooms with constant temperatures. It's a
scientific fact that there has to be some form of energy present to
alter the temperature. Temperature does not change unless "something"
is affecting it one way or the other. In many ghost sightings witnesses
report feeling a cold spot. This could be caused by the fact that light
does not seem to reflect correctly off of most ghosts, which also gives
them a dark form. The light seems to be absorbed into the ghost. The
theory is that ghosts absorb both light and heat energy causing the
general area around that ghost to be several degrees cooler. There are
also hot spots recorded, which could be just the reverse affect
occurring. Instead of soaking up the light and heat the ghost is
reflecting it back, causing the area to be warmer.
These unexplainable electromagnetic fluctuations and temperature
changes are scientific evidence that something is happening. Ghosts are
real.