Science & Technology
Science and Technology have always been an integral part of Indian culture. Natural philosophy, as it was termed in those ancient times, was pursued vigorously at institutions of higher learning. The Indian Renaissance, which coincided with our independence struggle, at the dawn of 1900s witnessed great strides made by Indian scientists. This innate ability to perform creatively in science came to be backed with an institutional setup and strong state support after the country’s independence in 1947. Since then, the Government of India has spared no effort to establish a modern S&T infrastructure in the country. The Department of Science and Technology plays a pivotal role in promotion of science and technology in the country.
This section offers detailed information pertaining to scientific education and scientific research & development. Details of policies, schemes, documents and programmes for scientists, researchers, scholars, students, etc. are also available.
- Monthly, Seasonal and Annual Minimum Temperature Series for the period 1901-2021
- Monthly, Seasonal and Annual Maximum Temeprature Series for the period 1901-2021
- Seasonal and Annual Minimum / Maximum Temperature series for the period 1901-2021
- Monthly, Seasonal and Annual Mean Temperature Series for the period 1901-2021
- Rainfall in sub-division and its departure from normal for Monsoon session from 1901-2021
Ministry of Science & Technology
Dr. Jitendra SinghView Profile


Photograph: Portrait of Mussolini [INSCRIBED BY BENITO MUSSOLINI TO LOUIS BARTHOU]
Rome: NP, 1927. Original document. Softcover. Folio (13 x 9"). Original b/w photographic portrait of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. The photograph is tipped onto thick cardstock, which is inscribed to the then French Minister of Justice Louis Barthou: "A S. S. Louis Barthou, con cordiale deferente simpatia. Roma maggio 1927 - V" Mussolini (signed) (To his Excellency Louis Barthou, with friendly and respectful sympathy, Rome, May 1927 - Vth year of the fascist era). The actual photograph is an early official portrait of Benito Mussolini, who, following the March on Rome in October 1922, became Italy's youngest Prime Minister. The portrait measures 8 1/2 x 6 1/4" and depicts Mussolini dressed in civilian clothes with his head down, thus affecting an air of authoritarian severity.
There is a cruel irony behind this exceptional document. Indeed, a few years later (February 9, 1934), Louis Barthou became the French Secretary of State, and as such, was assigned to welcome King Alexander I of Yugoslavia during his state visit to Marseille on October 9 of the same year. Within minutes of the King's arrival, both His Majesty and Barthou were assassinated by Velicko Kerin, a Bulgarian revolutionary with a handgun. One of the bullets struck Barthou in the arm, passing though and fatally severing an artery. He died of excessive blood loss less than an hour later. The assassination was planned in Rome by Ante Pavelić, head of the Croatian Ustaše, a fascist movement that Mussolini had funded for years. Cardstock slightly age-toned, and partly creased at upper and lower right corners. Inscription in Italian. Cardstock in overall good, photograph in fine condition. vg. Item #39394


Good practices: Software deployment and feature releases
Posted on 03 April 2023 in Articles • 2 min read
Software release is the process of making a new version of software available to users. Think of an application or a library uploaded to a registry, where it can be downloaded by end-users.
Once software is released, it can be deployed to the target device or platform. Installing a mobile app from the App Store is a deployment. Publishing a front-end application package on a CDN is also a deployment.
A feature release is the process of making new functionality of software available to users.
Companies are notorious for delivering new features through "Big Bang" releases, which often means users are not involved in the development process and do not see the new functionality until it is fully completed. This approach can result in half-baked or even unnecessary features being released.
The process of Big Bang feature development is also problematic. A developer spends weeks or months working on a feature, writes the code in a separate version control branch, and does not merge it back into the mainline until it is finished. When the developer finally attempts to integrate the feature into the mainline, they often face numerous issues. Since no one else on the team is familiar with the feature's internals, the developer must be responsible for fixing all the related bugs.
A good practice
Develop the feature in short-lived version control system branches and continuously merge them into the mainline. By doing so, the feature code becomes a part of every software release. To prevent issues, guard the feature code using a feature flag and keep it in a "dormant" state.
Once the feature is viable enough, it can be enabled for a small set of users who are eager to test the latest and greatest of your software, even if some functionalities are still under development. This way, you can receive feedback and iron out any issues before releasing the feature to a wider audience. Once the feature is ready, it can be delivered to all users simply by flipping the feature flag.
This approach helps to avoid the risks associated with a Big Bang release. By testing the code on a smaller audience beforehand, you can release with more confidence and face fewer surprises, bugs, and defects when the feature goes live.


A drug once used to treat high blood pressure can help alcoholics with withdrawal symptoms reduce or eliminate their drinking, researchers report.
In a double-blind study, researchers gave the drug prazosin or a placebo to 100 people entering outpatient treatment after receiving an alcohol use disorder diagnosis. All of the patients had experienced varying degrees of withdrawal symptoms prior to entering treatment.
Subjects with more severe symptoms—including shakes, heightened cravings and anxiety, and difficulty sleeping—who received prazosin significantly reduced the number of heavy drinking episodes and days they drank compared to those who received a placebo.
The drug had little effect on those with few or no withdrawal symptoms.
“There has been no treatment readily available for people who experience severe withdrawal symptoms and these are the people at highest risk of relapse and are most likely to end up in hospital emergency rooms,” says Rajita Sinha, a professor of psychiatry, professor of neuroscience, director of the Yale University Stress Center, and corresponding author of the paper in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Prazosin was originally developed to treat high blood pressure and is still used to treat prostate problems in men, among other conditions. Previous studies conducted at Yale have shown that the drug works on stress centers in the brain and helps to improve working memory and curb anxiety and craving.
Sinha’s lab has shown that stress centers of the brain are severely disrupted early in recovery, especially for those with withdrawal symptoms and high cravings, but that the disruption decreases the longer the person maintains sobriety.
Prazosin could help bridge that gap by moderating cravings and withdrawal symptoms earlier in recovery and increasing the chances that patients refrain from drinking, she says.
One drawback is that in its current form prazosin needs to be administered three times a day to be effective, Sinha notes.
The study was conducted at the Yale Stress Center and the Connecticut Mental Health Center’s Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit. The National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse at the National Institutes of Health and the Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services funded the work.
Source: Yale University


You can never have enough battery life, but keeping your device's battery at a constant 100 percent can degrade its life span. Many laptops already use artificial intelligence to control how a device uses its battery, and Chromebooks are now apparently heading down that road as well.
As spotted by 9to5Google this week, a new code change in the Chromium Gerrit references "adaptive charging" coming to Chromebooks. The change's description says the feature uses machine learning to "minimize the amount of time the device spends at full battery to preserve battery lifetime."
This system would be similar to features we've seen on higher-end Windows laptops. For example, HP's upcoming Elite Dragonfly 3 laptop will use intelligent charging, which, as the vendor puts it, "learns work patterns to optimize power consumption." It's unclear how exactly the developing Chrome OS feature would work, though. It appears that Google will allow the feature to be toggled off, and a notification will let you know when it's on.
Google already brought adaptive charging to its Pixel phones back in 2020, but the feature works differently there, relying on alarms rather than machine learning. When you activate adaptive charging on something like a Pixel 6, the phone uses your alarm settings to figure out when you'll need the phone. The device then charges slowly overnight so it can hit 100 percent battery right around when you wake up rather than sitting at 100 percent for hours. Other smartphones have similar features.
It's unclear whether adaptive charging for Chrome OS would be limited to Google's own Pixelbook Chromebooks.
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Automatic Reference Counting (ARC) is a memory management option for Objective-C provided by the Clang compiler. When compiling Objective-C code with ARC enabled, the compiler will effectively retain, release, or autorelease where appropriate to ensure the object’s lifetime extends through, at least, its last use.
All Objective-C and Objective-C++ code should be compiled with ARC enabled.
ARC emits deterministic memory management code, which leads to fewer leaks or over-releases when compared with manual retain/release. ARC can provide retain/release/autorelease optimizations not available to manually maintained code, improving overall performance. Finally, ARC simplifies writing new code and decreases the burden of maintaining code over time.
Analyzing object lifetime can be complex. With ARC, the compiler ensures correctness of an object’s lifetime, simplifying the maintenance burden. In the following examples, a developer adds a call to scan a newly introduced value with an existing scanner. The update to the non-ARC code yields undefined behavior, while the update to the ARC code behaves correctly.
NSScanner *scanner = [[NSScanner alloc] initWithString:string]; [scanner scanInt:&value1]; [scanner release]; // bad: premature release of object ... [scanner scanInt:&value2]; // undefined behavior; potential crash
NSScanner *scanner = [[NSScanner alloc] initWithString:string]; [scanner scanInt:&value1]; ... // ARC guarantees the object is retained for as long as it's used [scanner scanInt:&value2];


Firstly, it is important to become aware of the negative thoughts and make an effort to identify patterns. Keeping a daily log of your thoughts can be a great way to gain insight into your thinking. Once you are aware of your thought patterns, it can be easier to recognize when your thinking is escalating into negative and unhelpful directions.
It is also important to challenge the negative thoughts and testing them objectively. Ask yourself questions like “Is this really realistic? Is this thought really logical?” By doing this, you can help move your thoughts away from the negative spiral of rumination and start to focus more on the positive.
Focusing on activities that help you relax and reduce stress is also integral to managing negative thoughts. Taking time to practice meditation, yoga, or any other activity that encourages relaxation can make it easier to cope with difficult thoughts. Taking a break and engaging in activities such as listening to music, going for a walk, or participating in a hobby can help center and ground you, making it easier to think logically and objectively when it comes to managing your negative thoughts.
In addition to relaxation techniques, it can also be beneficial to reach out to supportive people in your life. Talking to a friend, family member, and/or an experienced counsellor can help you gain control of your negative thoughts and find new ways to cope with them. Having a listening ear and being able to speak about your thoughts and emotions can help reduce your stress levels and increase your emotional well being.
Finally, it is important to be kind to yourself and accept that negative thinking is common. It is important to remember that everyone has negative thoughts, acknowledging and accepting them with compassion can help you eventually overcome them.
In conclusion, it is important to remember that having negative thoughts is normal, but they do not have to take over your life. With the right strategies and self-care techniques, you can learn to manage and control these negative thoughts, helping you increase your emotional well being.


click to enlarge
May 15, 2018
In building bridges and communicating meaningfully to those of another faith, identifying their important symbols (as well as ours) is vitally important. But identifying a symbol, and not knowing the meaning that it represents, is like hearing a foreign language and expecting to communicate in it.
Culture, as well as religious faith (often overlapping), is full of symbols. According to Clifford Geertz, culture is “a historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols”, a system of “inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which people communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge”. (Geertz, Interpretation of Cultures, (1973), p 89) Beneath symbols are meanings. Beneath those meanings are values. These are “the values by which a community understands itself, from which it takes its aims.” (Edward Farley, Deep Symbols (1996), p 3)
If it sounds complex, it is. A religious faith, like Christianity or Islam, and the people who follow it are not one-dimensional. It is not that we have to understand fully the levels of symbols, meaning, and values before we communicate in love, or before we pray for our Muslim friends and neighbors. But love involves a willingness to ask questions, desiring to learn not only what the “
other” believes doctrinally, but to understand deeper levels as well. This loving engagement comes because of belief in a still deeper foundation of shared longings.
These shared longings help us to understand how a symbol for Muslims—like washing before prayer—can represent more than the surface, leading to a deeper meaning of cleansing and a value of presenting oneself righteous before Allah. How do followers of Jesus bring His cleansing blood as a bridge of understanding and revelation?
Pray for them
- For Christians to have revelations about key symbols, meanings, and values to use in communicating the gospel.
- For repentance where Christians have been quick to judge our Muslim
neighbors’ practices, not seeing the opportunities to share redemptive grace.
- For further insight as we pray over the next 30 days.
View the page
click to enlarge
These pages are made available every day during the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World for those who cannot afford to purchase, or do not have access to the booklet.
You can purchase the full PDF guide here:


Algae are considered as a highly sustainable source of biomass as well as valuable ingredients. With high biomass production rates fuel and non-fuel products can be generated. Non-fuel products, such as proteins, oils or pigments, can be applied in health foods or nutraceuticals. Currently, most of the algae is produced in Asia, where it is harvested, dried and shipped to Europe. The complete process including transport is unnecessarily energy- and cost intensive. To make the cultivation of algae economically attractive for Europe, an innovative algae processing is required.
The general objective of the international iAlgaePro project is the development of an innovative algae processing including membrane based harvesting, Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technology and innovative extraction/separation techniques. The use of these technologies enables a higher cultivation efficiency and improved process conditions. Within the project, the application of PEF will be studied in the upstream and downstream processing. The upstream processing focuses on the cell isolation and cultivation.
It is known, that PEF can induce stress responses in cells accelerating growth and production of secondary metabolites. In this project, the possibility of PEF to increase vitality and improve growth rate of algae will be elaborated. In downstream processing, PEF will be used as a disruption technique in order to facilitate extraction of compounds, such as colorants, bioactive compounds or enzymes. The complete innovative algae process will be developed by the consortium consisting of 4 associations and 20 companies including 14 SMEs within 2 years starting November 2014.
For more information look at iAlgaePro on the FEI-Website or contact email@example.com.


Report on Karymsky (Russia) — 29 October-4 November 2003
Smithsonian / US Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report,
29 October-4 November 2003
Managing Editor: Gari Mayberry
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2003. Report on Karymsky (Russia). In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 29 October-4 November 2003. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
54.049°N, 159.443°E; summit elev. 1513 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
Seismicity was above background levels at Karymsky during 24-31 October, although the number of shallow earthquakes decreased from 250 to 70 per day. Seismic data indicated that possible ash-and-gas explosions rose 1-2.5 km above the crater. Satellite imagery showed a possible plume extending ~65 km NNE. The Concern Color Code was raised from Yellow to Orange.
Geological Summary. Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera that formed during the early Holocene. The caldera cuts the south side of the Pleistocene Dvor volcano and is located outside the north margin of the large mid-Pleistocene Polovinka caldera, which contains the smaller Akademia Nauk and Odnoboky calderas. Most seismicity preceding Karymsky eruptions originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, located immediately south. The caldera enclosing Karymsky formed about 7600-7700 radiocarbon years ago; construction of the stratovolcano began about 2000 years later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago, following a 2300-year quiescence. Much of the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions have been vulcanian or vulcanian-strombolian with moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows from the summit crater.


An international team of researchers is reporting that reef fish are more equipped to handle global warming than previously realized. The experts have discovered that the ability to adjust to warming ocean waters is passed down in reef fish from parents to offspring.
The study, which was led by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) is the first to demonstrate the potential for reef fish to adjust to global warming on a genetic level.
“When parents are exposed to an increase in water temperature, we found that their offspring improved their performance in these otherwise stressful conditions by selectively modifying their epigenome,” said senior author Professor Philip Munday.
Epigenetic changes are modifications of the DNA that signal genes to be expressed or suppressed. These adaptations are influenced by many factors, and the study revealed that heat stress has triggered such changes in reef fish.
The researchers found that when both parents and offspring were exposed to the same warmer water temperatures, epigenetic changes took place that enhanced the next generation’s tolerance of the elevated temperatures.
“We reared spiny chromis damselfish, a common Indo-Pacific reef fish, for two generations under three different water temperatures, up to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than current-day ocean temperatures,” explained study co-author Timothy Ravasi.
“The next generation appeared to be advantaged by parental exposure to elevated temperatures. The offspring’s altered gene expression, also referred to as ‘acclimation,’ allowed them to maximize oxygen consumption and energy use.”
Professor Munday added, “Acclimation may buffer populations against the impacts of rapid environmental change and provide time for genetic adaptation to catch up over the longer term.”
While this is great news for reef fish, the study authors pointed out that these fish are still seriously threatened by climate change due to the loss of their coral habitats.
The study is published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
Image Credit: ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Jennifer Donelson


A project has ‘kicked-off’ in London that will create artificial storms to help predict worst-case scenarios for coastal flooding. Using computer models to make real storms more extreme, this National Oceanography Centre (NOC) led project will help inform the planning of coastal defences and emergency response.
Professor Kevin Horsburgh from the NOC said, “The worst case of coastal flooding in the UK in the last 100 years was in 1953, where 307 people were killed. Since tide gauge records are not very long, there isn’t a consistent record that could tell us whether this storm was one we might experience every 50 years or every 500 years. This project will draw on the world class expertise in coastal flooding at the NOC to help address the problem of estimating the probability of such an event happening again, or of a worse event occurring in our life time.
Alongside the NOC, The Universities of Southampton and Reading, and the Met Office will work together to use these ‘virtual storms’ to create data that will fill in the gaps in the storm surge and wave record – and therefore improve our confidence in our statistics of coastal flood risk.
Associate Professor Ivan Haigh, a co-investigator for this project from The University of Southampton, pointed out why the outcomes of this could be particularly important for communities along the UK’s South Coast “There have been a number of significant coastal flooding events over the last two decades. For example coastal flooding in the Solent region has occurred more than six times in the last 20 years.
In fact, after London and Hull, Portsmouth is the city most at risk from coast flooding in the UK. The Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership are planning up to 100 million pounds of coastal defence schemes in the next decade, this project could help better inform defences, such as these, to ensure they are able to protect communities from worst-case flooding scenarios.”
This project is funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) and forms part of the NOC’s on-going commitment to produce world-class science with a social and economic impact.


Gambling is the act of placing a wager on an event or outcome that is uncertain. It can include betting on a sports team or using scratchcards, fruit machines or online casinos. It is an important source of revenue for governments.
Benefits and Costs of Gambling
Many people enjoy gambling as an activity, but it can also be a problem. Often, gambling becomes an obsession with serious consequences. It can strain relationships, interfere with work, and cause financial disaster.
Increasing numbers of people are engaging in gambling activities, from buying lottery tickets to playing pokies or roulette at the local race track. However, it is still important to recognise the warning signs of a gambling problem and seek help if you suspect a loved one has a gambling issue.
Mental health professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria to diagnose gambling disorders. These are the same criteria used to diagnose substance abuse, alcoholism, and other addictive behaviors.
Social Benefits of Gambling
When people gamble, they can meet other players and create new friendships. It can also teach personal responsibility and encourage accountability.
Gambling requires a high level of analytical thinking, decision making and strategy. It can also boost creativity and problem-solving skills.
Legalized gambling can be beneficial for the economy, generating additional tax revenue and creating jobs. In addition, more gambling operators open up to meet the demand. This in turn means more places for people to socialize and gamble.


1. The killing of animals especially for food.
2. The killing of a large number of people; a massacre: "I could not give my name to aid the slaughter in this war, fought on both sides for grossly material ends" (Sylvia Pankhurst).
tr.v. slaugh·tered, slaugh·ter·ing, slaugh·ters
1. To kill (animals) especially for food; butcher.
a. To kill (people) in large numbers; massacre.
b. To kill in a violent or brutal manner.
[Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse slātr, butchery.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:
The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.


The CMeebie project establishes a new relationship between the BBC and a child: a companion.
During a great talk by BERG’s Jack Schulze, he summed up how lots of software and connected things are starting to go beyond straightforward responses to interactions with the phrase: “there’s no more U in UI”. Then he showed this video of a quadrocopter juggling a ball:
That video sums up how software and connected things are starting to display qualities such as behaviour, motive and even agency.
That’s what we were exploring in this BBC prototype. But the relationship between the child and the CMeebie needs to be established at the correct level. Taking cues from existing discussions around companion-centred design, we decided the companion needed to be as “smart as a puppy” – far from being too smart to fail, the CMeebie needed to make endearing mistakes in its attempts to learn and improve. This approach reduces the chances of the so-called “uncanny valley” effect whereby users feel uncomfortable with an entity which behaves almost but not exactly like a human being.
Endearing failure is particularly important around the suggestions. The CMeebie is effectively the friendly face of a suggestion engine, gathering information about the child and using this information to serve relevant content to the child. It’s important that the CMeebie can get it wrong and then tries to use that information to improve in the future.
There’s no doubt companion-centred design is becoming a big thing. This experience building a digital companion for children was illuminating and satisfying and we’d love to explore this area further.


Dépôt de Trains de Roux
THE ABANDONED TRAINS IN BELGIUM
About fifty abandoned trains are rusting away in this ‘Dépôt de Trains de Roux’. It is an abandoned locomotives depot in Roux. The depot was in use until the year 2000. After that the large halls and its rolling stock were left.
The railways in the Charleroi region were heavily bombed in 1944 to paralyze rail transport before the invasion in June 1944. The old buildings were destroyed The current depot buildings were built after the Second World War.
During my visit trees are covering the outdoor locomotives, while the trains inside the depot are slowly rusting away. The majority of locomotives were used in the Charleroi region as transport for the many industrial sites. Eventually with the decline of coking plants, coal mines and the transport of manufactured goods, many locomotives became useless. In this depot, the shunting or traction locomotives from the SNCB (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges) had been waiting since their withdrawal from active service to leave for scrapping.
The locomotives were all numbered and had names like Cordoba, Atlas, Colibri, Bolero or Albi.
Eventually the depot in Roux was cleaned in 2010. As a result all the rolling stock is gone, the hall is now an empty concrete carcass. I took these photos of the ‘Dépôt de Trains de Roux’ in 2007. Follow this link for more abandoned trains.


Do Babies Get Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay (dental caries) is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases in the United States.
The good news is there are ways to prevent it. Even the tiniest teeth can decay. There are habits you can start now to keep your baby’s teeth healthy. And when that first tooth shows up, there are ways your pediatrician can keep it healthy, too. Here is what you need to know.
Everyone, even babies, can get tooth decay. Children living in poverty, in an ethnic or racial minority groups, or with special health care needs are at more risk for dental decay. Other reasons a child could be high risk include:
- The child’s mother or main caregiver had tooth decay in the past 12 months or does not have a regular source of dental care.
- White spots appear on the child’s teeth. These spots are a sign the tooth is losing calcium and minerals that keep it strong.
- Tan, brown or black spots appear or you see cavities (pits) on the teeth. This is a sign that the tooth is decaying.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that can slow down or stop cavities from forming. When you drink fluoridated water every day, the fluoride makes it hard for bacteria in your mouth to make acid. Fluoride also rebuilds tooth enamel (the outer layer of the tooth), and it even makes teeth stronger.
When babies first tooth erupts, it’s time to start using fluoride toothpaste. Here’s how to do it:
- Use a tiny smear—the size of a grain of rice—until age 3. Clean the teeth at least twice a day. It’s best to clean them right after breakfast and before bedtime.
- Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when your child is 3 years old. Teach your child to spit without rinsing.
- Assist or supervise kids during toothbrushing until they master the task, usually at around 10 years of age.


Backflow preventers stop back-siphoning and backpressure from adding contaminated fluids or gases into a potable water supply system. Generally, the selection of the proper device to use is based upon the degree of hazard posed by the cross-connection. Additional considerations are based upon piping size, location, and the potential need to periodically test the devices to insure proper operation. Backflow preventers are required by law and must be installed in accordance with plumbing and building codes for your area. Some of the most common types are explained below.
Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB)
An AVB is an elbow-shaped device that has a valve on the inside that prevents water backflow. It is usually placed on a faucet valve, toilet, or flush valve to prevent the reverse flow of polluted water from entering the potable water supply.
Double Check Valves (DCV)
A DCV ensures that water only flows in a single direction so that contaminated water doesn’t flow back into the plumbing system once it has been used. There is a ball or gate valve assembled on each end that allows for isolation and testing. Normal and reverse flow is possible with this type of valve. It is used in connection with city water supplies, sewer systems, and water service connections.
Double Check Detector Assembly (DCDA)
A double check detector assembly protects the potable water supply line from possible contamination or pollution from a fire system, back-pressure from fire line booster pumps, stagnant “black water” that sits in fire lines over extended periods of time, and the addition of non-potable water through outside fire district connections. Also, it detects if there is any water being used in the fire line due to leaks or deliberate water theft.
Reduced Pressure Zone Device (RPZ)
An RPZ is used in a situation where the water backflow could seriously harm individuals. It has a chamber between two independent check valves that is maintained at a lower pressure than the supply pressure. Any excess pressure is relieved through an additional drain so that the chamber remains at a lower pressure than the water supply pressure.
Call Fire Control Systems to help you determine which backflow preventers are best for you!


Religious Education at St. Luke's
As a Church of England School, we support children of all faith and those of none. We actively celebrate the wonder of faith and the world around us, as part of this we follow the National Curriculum guidance on teaching children RE. We learn about all faiths and encourage children to question religion and to find out why people believe what they believe.
We are also keen to broaden our pupils' experiences through developing an awareness and understanding of Global Christianity, we are proud to link with New Brainstorm School in Kampala, Uganda and regularly communicate with Mr Nikolas (Principal) and the children there.
In Modern Britain, it is important for all of our children to learn to have tolerance and compassion for others and for them to have an appreciation and respect for other people's beliefs and faith. Every year we celebrate the diversity of our school and the world itself through Theology Week - the week centres on the teachings of many faiths; including Christianity, Islam, Judaism. Sikhism and Buddhism for instance.
Our Curriculum draws on materials from RE Discovery and Understanding Christianity and is further enhanced by linking with the faiths from our School Community. From these rich resources we plan lessons and experiences that enable our children to wonder and ask questions about the religion they are studying, as well as, encouraging them to make links between other religions. Our curriculum spirals and builds on prior learning.
We link our experiencial immersive offer to the National Society's Statement of Entitlement for RE.
Please see our last SIAMS Inspection report (May 2017) wherein we were graded as Outstanding and also examples of our RE curriuculum below.


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 16 “The Unjust Steward”
Featured Passage: Luke 16
Jesus often taught the people using parables. When His disciples asked Him why, He told them it wasn’t time for all the people to understand the meaning of everything He was saying. One day, when Jesus was teaching His disciples, He began telling them a parable about a steward – a person who manages someone’s estate or money. The steward’s boss heard that he was doing a bad job, so he told the steward he was going to fire him. The steward, knowing he was going to lose his job, had to make a quick decision. He did something that Jesus explained with some important lessons for us.
- What did the steward do? What does it mean to be shrewd?
- What is “mammon”?
- With the decision that the steward made, he was making friends with the people who owed his boss money, and preparing for his own future. God wants us to be careful with how we use our money now, in this physical life, but what future are we preparing for ultimately? How is our future in the kingdom more important than our lives in this world?
- What do you think Jesus meant when He said “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much”? Think about the things you own – your toys, clothes, money, etc. What are some ways you can “be faithful” (trustworthy) with the things you own? How would taking care of your things prepare you to take care of bigger things in God’s kingdom?
Luke 16:10 (NIV)
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”


Author: John Henshaw
Published: May 2019
Merchant shipping was key to Allied success in the Second World War, keeping the armed forces supplied and the people fed and fuelled. And it was the Liberty Ship that has been hailed as being crucial in maintaining those supply lines at the height of he Battle of the Atlantic.
The battle of the Atlantic, fought by the Allies to maintain lines of communication and vital trade routes for armaments, men and basic sustenance, could not have been won without the 2,710 Liberty ships that were designed and built for those critical one-way voyages to Europe - more than one voyage was considered a bonus.
The kudos for the Liberty's construction is, rightfully, American for that is where they were built. Less well understood is that the groundwork for the shape of the hull and its basic hydrodynamics took place in the North Sands shipyard of Joseph Thompson & Sons Ltd on the banks on the River Wear in Sunderland. This new book follows the path of the critical designs that flowed from Thompson's shipyard commencing with SS Embassage in 1935, SS Dorington Court in 1939, through the SS Empire Wind/Wave series for the Ministry of War Transport in 1940 to SS Empire Liberty in 1941. These led to the sixty Ocean Class vessels built by Henry J Kaiser and, from these, the Liberty ship was adapted by American naval architects Gibbs & Cox who, to this very day, still claim they designed the Liberty ship.
With the use of beautifully drawn ship profiles, starting with World War I designs, then the critical designs from Thompson's shipyard, and particularly a drawing comparing the Liberty ship with its British progenitor, the author demonstrates just how much of the former was borrowed from the latter. While some credit has been given to Thompson's designs this new book offers the first real proof as to the direct link between his work, the Empire Liberty/Ocean Class and the Liberty ship which followed. In addition, the book demonstrates the versatility of the Liberty ship and explores those that were developed for specialist use, from hospital ships and mule transports to nuclear-age missile range ships.
A fascinating and beautifully presented book for all those with an interest in the battle of the Atlantic and, more specifically, in one of the most important ship designs of the War.


Figurate Numbers Within the Light Superscripts (click for pdf file)
This article is part of a series of works related to the Tabernacle of the Testimony, now available here. It includes sacred names, geometries, color schematics, heavenly constructs and higher Light codings of the work of creation, Ma’aseh Bereshith and the work of the holy Chariot Ma’aseh Merkavah. The document above references geometries shown in the Ten Light Superscripts of Drs. Hurtak (Academy For Future Science).
This article, and the full version of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, is a collaborative work by Steven Beard and Sherry Blythe, with editing by Bonnie Wagner (and support from the Charter members of the Academy of On).
New geometry sequences related to the Divine Table within the Tabernacle of the Testimony have been published in the On-line Encyclopedia for Integer Sequences (the “OEIS” founded by Dr. Niel Sloane). A unique music track has been generated from this work, an example can be found at this link:
OEIS A274974 (“Centered octahemioctahedral numbers,” scroll down on the OEIS page for the link to the music track)
It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in the skies. Selah. Ps. 89:37
Update 12-26, 2016:
The number sequence for the Sierpinski Octahedron (shown in p. 9 of the pdf. link at the top of the page) has been published in the OEIS database as A279512.


Introverts need people. This isn’t something you’ll hear about very often, though. Most of the time, you’ll either hear people who are critical of introverts complaining about how unsociable we are or you’ll hear introverts talking about how much we dislike being around other people.
Humans are social creatures, however. We have different preferences for how much and in what ways we socialize, but we all need other people. Being an introvert doesn’t mean you hate people. It just means that you’re born with a trait that makes you prefer the internal world. It means you re-charge better in quiet, low-stimulation environments, not that you do well in social isolation.
It’s no exaggeration to say that isolation can be deadly. Living in loneliness has a serious impact on our health. In fact, “The increased mortality risk is comparable to that from smoking. And loneliness is about twice as dangerous as obesity. Social isolation impairs immune function and boosts inflammation, which can lead to arthritis, type II diabetes, and heart disease” (“Loneliness Is Deadly” by Jessica Olien). And that’s just the physical health risks. Loneliness also damages our mental and emotional health, often leading to issues like increased stress, depression, and alcoholism (“The Dangers of Loneliness by Hara Estroff Marano).
So what’s an introvert to do? If you don’t like typical social events or groups, how do you avoid the mental and physical health risks of loneliness while also honoring your introverted nature?
This list includes tips for introvert-friendly ways to socialize with other people. Some of these assume you’re trying to meet new people, while others are great for doing with people you already know.
1) Attend An Interesting Event
It’s not all that difficult to find out about events going on in your local area. Check city websites, Google “local events,” or browse through events on Facebook. There’s bound to be something in the area that interests you and there are often options for small gatherings (like a morning yoga meet-up) as well as larger ones. If you’re at an event that interests you, you have a good chance of meeting people with similar interests and perhaps even finding a local group to join. Read more


The Allergy Theory
DURING THIS spring and early summer, I have come across a lot of people that suffer from some sort of allergy. Most of us are aware of the rise in incidence rates, but I wanted to do some fact checking. Since 1990, the number of children admitted to hospital for allergic reactions has increased seven-fold, which is quite astounding.
An allergy is when your immune system mistakenly reacts to harmless proteins as a threat. I’m interested as to why the increase in allergies, so I did some more reading to compare my thoughts with those proposed by the medical community. Here is what I found:
- Like most disease, family history is implicated with increased risk. However this could either be related to genes or lifestyle- your guess is as good as mine.
- Sanitary environment – clean homes… children who lack early exposure to their natural environment (dirt, germs, etc.) to stimulate their immune systems. This article from the UCLA Food and Drug Allergy Care Centre touches on the hygiene hypothesis
- Diet – Less raw, wholefood consumption, delayed introduction to certain foods (OK to start at 4-6 mo.), some food additives, and unhealthy foods (sugar, salt, Omega-6, etc.)
The bottom line is that these theories suggest kids need to get outside and play in the local park at an early age, eat raw, wholefoods early on and always stick to healthy foods. While mom and dad need not worry so much about sanitization of the home.


Giving Back Through Education
Many world problems can be addressed through one solution: education. Why? Because knowing how to read makes people safer, healthier, and more self-sufficient – yet over 750 million people are illiterate and two thirds are women and girls.
When children have access to resources and quality education, they have the chance to become independent, confident, and empowered citizens—and to break the cycle. It’s why we pledged, as a Room to Read sponsor, to donate a portion of our net sales every month to their efforts. We feel strongly that we only rise when we help others rise. And that’s just as much a part of Pirq as the drinks we make.
Room To Read
Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read’s innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools in low-income communities. Room To Read works in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations, and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. Room to Read has benefited 16.8 million children across more than 37,000 communities in 16 countries.


Watch out for potentially harmful invasive plant
This is the time of year when a potentially harmful invasive plant goes to seed.
That’s why a crew from the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish refuge was out along the Root River near Brownsville on Wednesday.
They were removing Wild Parsnip. The weed’s broad, yellow flower looks similar to the white flowers of “Queen Anne’s Lace” of “Angelica.” It was originally brought here from Eurasia to be planted in people’s yards. But it escaped, and spread fast.
Wild Parsnip crowds out native plants, and the sap from the plant can react with sunlight to cause blisters or a rash on skin.
The plant is widespread. It’s especially abundant on roadsides and along train tracks. But it’s fairly easy to get rid of… in small quantities. “Especially if you only have a few plants, they can be easily dug if you’ve got a spade or any type of shovel,” says Tally Hamilton, a Biological Science Technician. “All you need to do is pop the root about one inch below ground and that’ll take care of the plant.”
Refuge crews work to remove different types of invasive plants at different times of the year, and volunteers are always needed. Learn more at the Refuge’s website.
“It’s hot. There are mosquitoes,” says Hamilton. “But it’s rewarding work!”


Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation shows that Chamidae shell is a kind of bioceramic composite consisting of inorganic aragonite and organic protein materials. The inorganic aragonite distributes in the shell in the form of layers parallel with the surface of the shell. The observation also shows that the aragonite layers consist of numerous aragonite sheets. These aragonite sheets are of long and thin shape and perpendicular to the layers where they are located. More careful observation shows that the aragonite sheets in different aragonite layers possess different orientations, which compose a kind of the interlaced structure of the aragonite sheets. The maximum pullout force of the interlaced structure is investigated and compared with that of the parallel structure of the aragonite sheets based on their microstructural models. The result shows that the maximum pullout force of the interlaced structure is markedly larger than that of the parallel structure. A comparative experiment for the maximum pullout force of both the interlaced and the parallel structures is also conducted, which gives identical conclusion.
|Journal||Computational Materials Science|
|Publication status||Published - 2008|


Returns the length of a string.
x (string or NxK matrix of character data, or NxK string array.) – data
y (scalar) – contains the exact length of the string x, or NxK matrix or string array containing the lengths of the elements in x.
x1 = "How long?"; x2 = "Classification"; len1 = strlen(x1); len2 = strlen(x2);
After running the code above:
len1 = 9 len2 = 14
The null character (ASCII 0) is a legal character within strings and so embedded nulls will be counted in the length of strings. The final terminating null byte is not counted, though.
For character matrices, the length is computed by counting the characters (maximum of 8) up to the first null in each element of the matrix. The null character, therefore, is not a valid character in matrices containing character data and is not counted in the lengths of the elements of those matrices.


"We might confuse a future Mars geologist who finds it out of place!"
What do you do when you discover you have a rock in your shoe — tens of millions of miles away from Earth?
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has unknowingly been traveling with a pet rock companion since at least early February, covering over five miles across the deserted Martian surface with the rock stuck in one of its wheels.
Images taken by the rover's Mastcam shows a roughly potato-sized rock sitting comfortably inside the wheel arch of Perseverance's front left wheel.
Fortunately, according to a NASA update by Perseverance rover student collaborator Eleni Ravanis, Percy's pet rock isn't doing it any harm.
It's not the first time Martian rocks have taken an unofficial NASA Uber. Rocks have sometimes hopped on to the wheels of NASA's Curiosity rover, according to Ravanis, only to fall off weeks later.
Percy's pet rock must have gotten some spectacular views over the last couple of months, watching the surrounding landscape go from extended sandy banks to rocky hills.
The pet rock actually finds itself surrounded by rocks of a surprisingly different nature now. It was originally picked up while Perseverance was examining the floor of a crater, with the area's rocks thought to be the results of ancient lava flows. That's in contrast to the sedimentary rock of the suspected river delta Perseverance is studying these days.
"We might confuse a future Mars geologist who finds it out of place!" one Perseverance team member joked, according to Ravanis.
READ MORE: Perseverance has a pet rock [NASA]
More on Perseverance: NASA Is Now Running Into Serious Issues With Its Mars Helicopter


How Much Protein do You need?
A healthy adult is estimated to need around 40 to 65 grams of protein per day. If this is not provided in the food you eat, your body will begin to break down muscle and other tissues to obtain the amino acids it needs. Inadequate intake and digestion of amino acids from protein can lead to stunting, poor muscle formation, thin and fragile hair, skin lesions, a poorly functioning immune system, and many other symptoms.
In plant and animal foods, the amino acids you need are mainly provided in the form of large protein molecules that require all aspects of protein digestion—denaturation in the stomach and protease action in the intestines—before absorption. Free amino acids, which require no processing by the body before absorption, may also be present but are generally not found in large amounts.
In processed foods, protein is sometimes provided as hydrolyzed protein, which means it has been chemically cut into smaller chains from two to 200 amino acids called peptides. These peptide fragments may be easier for your body to digest; that is, they may not need to be denatured in the stomach, but are still too large for direct absorption and must be digested in the intestine. Some specially produced foods for hospital or healthcare use are made of elemental amino acids; these products provide the amino acids themselves and require no digestion before absorption.


Seedling Stock Types
Seedlings that are grown outdoors and grown from seed are barerooted, which means that their roots are separated from the soil when they are to be moved to the planting site. To grow larger seedlings, smaller seedlings can be lifted and replanted in widely spaced rows, where they will have more space for growth. These are called transplants. Transplants also are barerooted. Barerooted seedlings usually are described by age class, using two numbers separated by a hyphen. The first number is the number of years the seedling has been in the bed where the seed was sown. For example, a 2-0 seedling is two years old. The second number is the number of years the seedling was in a transplant bed. For example, a 2-2 seedling was in the first bed for two years, then transplanted in to another bed where it remained for another two years. A 2-2 seedling is four years old. Barerooted seedlings are boxed; the number of seedlings in a box depends on the size of the seedlings. Red pine 2-0 seedlings are shipped from the State Nursery Program 1,000 seedlings to a box; 3-0 seedlings usually ship 500 to a box; 2-2 transplants usually ship 200 to a box.
Seedlings grown in pots or blocks are containerized; they are moved to the planting site in the soil in which they were grown and planted with the soil still attached to the roots.
Containerized seedlings usually are grown in a greenhouse. Seeds are sown in to cavities in large styrofoam blocks, often called styroblocks. Cavity size (volume) can be selected to accommodate different species and ages of seedlings. Common container sizes used for forest tree seedlings are listed in the table.
Seedlings are shipped either in the styroblock or extracted from the block and bundled. Extracted seedlings are wrapped in bundles of 20 and boxed, usually 600 seedlings or so to a box, and then frozen until they are shipped in the spring.Downloadable PDF
4A red pine containerized seedling.
Containerized red pine seedlings extracted from the styroblock and bundled with wrapping such as Saran Wrap or Glad Wrap.


Tips for successful learning at home
By: Mrs. Alanna Wellwood, Director of Innovative Learning
STS recognizes that we are all experiencing trying circumstances that create increased stress for students and their families. Families are experiencing increased pressure as living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens become classrooms and office spaces, as parents evolve as 'triple-threats' with working, parenting and now, home-schooling.
Here are tips for successful learning at home:
- Create a recipe for successful learning at home that best suits your child's needs and learning behaviour. This includes building in time for exercise regularly, creating a routine for each day, prioritizing connections and giving your eyes a break from the screen.
- Create a to-do list for learning continuity. Create one list that will prepare your child for the next school year and another 'nice to have' list prepared to outline items that would be beneficial to their learning, but not absolutely mandatory. Be realistic about what you and your child can achieve together.
- Find ways to keep your child motivated with less connection and feedback.
- Find times for your kids to talk about their learning in a comfortable setting. Use the 'Sharing and Modelling' method to make your thinking visible about how you are trying to succeed working remotely.
- Innovate and think creatively. Learning at home doesn't have to be completely academic focused. Take a free online course, learn how to code, take a MasterClass, watch an IGTV cooking class, learn how to file your taxes, change the oil in your car.
Contact Alanna Wellwood via LinkedIn or Twitter.


SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol.10, no.1, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental pathologies that impair social communication and cause repetitive behaviors. The suggested roles of noncoding RNAs in pathology led us to perform a comparative analysis of the microRNAs expressed in the serum of human ASD patients. The analysis of a cohort of 45 children with ASD revealed that six microRNAs (miR-19a-3p, miR-361-5p, miR-3613-3p, miR-150-5p, miR-126-3p, and miR-499a-5p) were expressed at low to very low levels compared to those in healthy controls. A similar but less pronounced decrease was registered in the clinically unaffected parents of the sick children and in their siblings but never in any genetically unrelated control. Results consistent with these observations were obtained in the blood, hypothalamus and sperm of two of the established mouse models of ASD: valproic acid-treated animals and Cc2d1a(+/-) heterozygotes. In both instances, the same characteristic miRNA profile was evidenced in the affected individuals and inherited together with disease symptoms in the progeny of crosses with healthy animals. The consistent association of these genetic regulatory changes with the disease provides a starting point for evaluating the changes in the activity of the target genes and, thus, the underlying mechanism(s). From the applied societal and medical perspectives, once properly confirmed in large cohorts, these observations provide tools for the very early identification of affected children and progenitors.


The White cliffs of Dover is an amazing place with an amazing Geology.
The spectacular appearance of the cliffs is due to the chalk accented by streaks of black flint.
Around 70 million Great Britain and much of Europe was submerged by the ocean. In this era, the bottom living creatures got preserved as fossils in the muddy sediments. These sediments had been formed during a very long time. Only about a half of a milimeter adding up in an year .
Some areas had over 500 meters of sediment and the weight of these overlying sediments became consolidated into chalk.
There is more to Dover than cliffs though. The city of Dover is a major town and is an important ferry port which is found in the home county of Kent. This city is found in the South East England and faces the Strait of Dover. This city is home to the Dover Calais ferry across the Port of Dover.
The city has a lot of archaeological prominence and the area has been revealed with many people entering and leaving Britain. The city gets its name from the river which flows across it that is the River Dour.
This site is dedicated to the region of Dover with its amazing geology, history and culture.
Here you will find everything you need to know about these amazing white cliffs and its surroundings:
The Geology of the Cliffs of Dover
Fossils of The Cliffs of Dover
Interesting things to do around Dover and Kent


Indian Journal of Science and Technology
Year: 2016, Volume: 9, Issue: 30, Pages: 1-10
E. Venkatesan* and T. Velmurugan
Department of Computer Science, [email protected]
*Author for correspondence
Department of Computer Science,
Objectives/Backgrounds: The breast cancer has increased significantly in the last few years. It is one type of cancer and is the second deadliest disease in the world wide. Recently, cancer is diagnosed by various test such as mammography, ultrasound, etc. Mammography is used to breast imaging to help in detecting breast cancer. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The Mammogram images are taken for the analysis to find the tumor affected regions by data mining techniques in this research work. This work uses the Median filter method for noise removal and Gaussian filter for image enhancement of preprocessing the images. The k-Means algorithm, which is easily detected and extracts tumor area by means of intensity values by segmenting the mammography images. Two types of mammography images; normal and abnormal are given as input to the algorithms. After clustering the images by k-Means algorithm, the results found are classified by J48, JRIP, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Naïve Bayes and CART algorithms to verify the accuracy of the results based on its pixel values. Findings: The performance of taken classification algorithms is compared and find out the best classifier in terms of its accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. Improvements: In the future, the other classifiers and feature selection algorithms are applied to extract the mammography images. Also, it gives more than fifty images for analysis.
Keywords: Classification Accuracy, Classification Algorithms, k-Means Algorithm, Mammogram Images
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I hope that you found yesterday’s post useful on why we teach initial sounds first and enjoyed the game reinforcement game.
How about playing Monkey Match, a concentration game, today? Your child will be challenged to match the object to its initial sound.
Familiarity with initial sounds will benefit both reading and spelling. Concentration is great for, you guessed it, building up your child’s concentration and memory!
Our cool Hawaiian monkey friend gives clear explanations on how to play. The initial sounds are pronounced very clearly. The pictures are of everyday objects and animals, nothing too tricky.
Once you have successfully cleared your coconuts you are invited to play another round. The next round will contain different letters and sounds.
The lack of a timer makes the game user friendly for little ones just learning. They can take as long as necessary to play and win!
If you are playing this with an older child for revision you could set a timer on your phone. Children love to try and beat a timer!!!
I would love to hear your comments on this and yesterday’s game. Did your child enjoy them? Any concerns or queries about sounds and phonics homework? I would be only thrilled to help!
Miss Mernagh 🙂


Rhinelander, Wis., April 28, 2021-- A research team from the USDA Forest Service and the University of Missouri has developed a new contaminant prioritization tool that has the potential to increase the effectiveness of environmental approaches to landfill clean-up.
Phytoremediation - an environmental approach in which trees and other plants are used to control leachate and treat polluted water and soil - hinges on matching the capability of different tree species with the types of contaminants present in soil and water. Identifying the worst contaminants within the dynamic conditions of a landfill has been challenging.
"Thousands of contaminants can be present in landfill leachate, and contamination can vary by location and over time, so it can be difficult to determine what needs to be, or even can be targeted with environmental remediation," said Elizabeth Rogers, a USDA Forest Service Pathways intern and the lead author of the study. "This tool allows site managers to prioritize the most hazardous contaminants or customize the tool to address local concerns."
Rogers and co-authors Ron Zalesny, Jr., a supervisory research plant geneticist with the Northern Research Station, and Chung-Ho Lin, a Research Associate Professor at the University of Missouri's Center for Agroforestry, combined multiple sources of data to develop a pollutant prioritization tool that systematically prioritizes contaminants according to reported toxicity values. The study, "A systematic approach for prioritizing landfill pollutants based on toxicity: Applications and opportunities," is available through the Northern Research Station at: https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/62410
Knowing which contaminants are the most hazardous allows scientists like Zalesny to better match trees and tree placement in landfills. "Phytoremediation research has focused on discovering which trees work best in particular soils and sites," Zalesny said. "The ability to home in on specific contaminants will enhance phytoremediation outcomes."
The pollutant prioritization tool allows for greater transparency on the benefits of phytoremediation. "When you know what you are targeting, you can provide better information to your community on how long remediation will take and how effective it is," Lin said.
Journal of Environmental Management


With Little Inventors Mission: Protect our oceans, NSERC and its partners are giving Canadian youth the opportunity to develop and showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills. Little Inventors is helping them build their confidence, curiosity and resilience and encouraging them to be considerate citizens and stewards of our planet.
One of our planet’s more pressing problems is the future of our oceans. That’s why we have invited Canadian youth to become ocean scientists for a day by encouraging them to imagine and illustrate unique inventions that could help protect our oceans.
Our challenge to protect our oceans supports the science and ocean literacy efforts of the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030.
The Ocean Decade was born out of the recognition that more efforts need to be made to reverse the decline of ocean health, while improving conditions for the sustainable development of the oceans, seas and coasts.
The Little Inventors Mission: Protect our oceans challenge, is just a small contribution to developing innovative ways to convey ocean science by simplifying the language used to communicate it, and offering an open, comprehensible and wide access to resources that increase ocean knowledge and awareness through promoting ocean literacy.
For more information on the UN Ocean Decade visit oceandecade.org


Saint Ansgar’s Church is the cathedral of the Catholic diocese of Copenhagen, which comprises all of Denmark. The cathedral is the mother church of all the churches in the diocese and the centre of its liturgical life because this is where the bishop has his seat. The furnishings and services of the church are supposed to serve as a model for the other churches in the diocese.
Saint Ansgar’s Church has not always been a cathedral, but ever since it was built it has played a special role for the Catholics in Denmark. Before religious freedom was introduced with the Danish constitution in 1849, a certain Catholic liturgical life had developed in connection with the legations of the Catholic powers in Copenhagen.
In 1764, the Empress Maria Theresa paid for the construction of a modest legation chapel in the place where Saint Ansgar’s Church stands today. In 1842 this chapel was replaced by a new church designed by G.F. Hetsch, one of Denmark’s leading architects. The church was paid for with a bequest from Christian Peter Bianco, a resident Catholic. It was dedicated to Our Saviour. Later it was renamed Saint Ansgar’s Church because the parishioners regarded Saint Ansgar as their special patron saint.
The Catholic Church in Denmark was restructured in 1868 when the pope established the Apostolic Prefecture of Denmark. The parish priest of Saint Ansgar’s Church, Father Hermann Grüder became the first apostolic prefect.
In 1892 Denmark became an apostolic vicariate with a bishop – the vicar apostolic – who led the Church in Denmark on behalf of the pope. The vicar apostolic Bishop Theodor Suhr decided in 1942 that Saint Ansgar’s Church should be put on the same footing as a cathedral because in practice the church had already performed this function for nearly a hundred years.
Saint Ansgar’s Church could not officially become a cathedral until Denmark became a Catholic diocese with a resident bishop. This took place in 1953.


Minnesota’s changing weather, in five charts
A moose browsing for woody plants in the snow. National Park Service photo
Winter is officially here, with the Twin Cities’ first lingering snowfall and several days of sub-freezing temperatures — but you might not need that parka quite as much this year, thanks to climate change.
As one of the fastest-warming states in the country, we’re already feeling the effects of climate change, with milder winters, heavier rainfalls and worse allergy seasons since the 19th century. Some of the effects of climate change are irreversible, said Heidi Roop, a University of Minnesota climate change researcher, but there’s still hope.
“The solutions to this grand challenge boil down to two things: How much we prevent the problem from getting worse … and preparing our communities for the climate impacts we’ve already set in motion,” Roop said.
Individual actions, such as composting and choosing energy-efficient appliances at home, add up more than we might think, Roop said. Getting involved in government at all levels, from school board to Congress, is also important to help communities prepare for the future.
“(Local government) is often where the rubber meets the road. That’s where decisions are being made that shape the future of our communities, that will determine whether our communities are able to withstand and bounce forward from climate extremes,” Roop said.
Here’s more on climate change in Minnesota, in five charts.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.


The monument's paleontological resources are contained in a continuous, undisturbed stratigraphic record spanning at least 500,000 years. The fossils deposited here appear to represent an entire paleontological ecosystem with a variety of habitats such as wetland, riparian, and grassland.
What are Fossils?
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of an organism, from bacteria to human beings. Many fossils come from body parts such as bones, teeth, and shells, but trace fossils, such as footprints or coprolites (fossilized scat), also contain valuable information. Fossilization can occur only under just the right conditions, and less than 1% of the plants and animals that have ever lived have been preserved. An even smaller number have been found by paleontologists.
What is Paleontology?
Find out what paleontologists really do— and check out the latest paleo news from Hagerman and other National Park Service sites.
Finding Fossils at Hagerman
Learn how the first fossils were excavated and how we became a national monument
Fossil Photo Gallery
Take a peek behind-the-scenes at Hagerman's collection of Pliocene fossils.
Watch the Park Film
Learn more about how scientists are piecing together animals and habitats from the Pliocene.
Meet the Fossils!
Last updated: December 15, 2022


State Land Use Districts
|Urban District||The Urban District generally includes lands characterized by “city-like” concentrations of people, structures and services. This District also includes vacant areas for future development.
Jurisdiction of this district lies primarily with the respective counties. Generally, lot sizes and uses permitted in the district area are established by the respective county through ordinances or rules.
|Rural District||Rural Districts are composed primarily of small farms intermixed with low-density residential lots with a minimum size of one-half acre.
Jurisdiction over Rural Districts is shared by the Commission and county governments. Permitted uses include those relating or compatible to agricultural use and low-density residential lots.
Variances can by obtained through the special use permitting process.
|Agricultural District||The Agricultural District includes lands for the cultivation of crops, aquaculture, raising livestock, wind energy facility, timber cultivation, agriculture-support activities (i.e., mills, employee quarters, etc.) and land with significant potential for agriculture uses. Golf courses and golf-related activities approved by a county before July 1, 2005, may be allowed in this district, otherwise such new facilities would be prohibited.
Uses permitted in the highest productivity agricultural categories are governed by statute. Uses in the lower-productivity categories – C, D, E or U – are established by the Commission and include those allowed on A or B lands as well as those stated under Section 205-4.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Important Agricultural Land (IAL) designation information from State Department of Agriculture (DOA)
|Conservation District||Conservation lands are comprised primarily of lands in existing forest and water reserve zones and include areas necessary for protecting watersheds and water sources, scenic and historic areas, parks, wilderness, open space, recreational areas, habitats of endemic plants, fish and wildlife, and all submerged lands seaward of the shoreline. The conservation District also includes lands subject to flooding and soil erosion.
Conservation Districts are administrated by the State Board of Land and Natural Resources and uses are governed by rules promulgated by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources.


A vulnerability in the Steam client was an open door to hackers for more than 10 years. The vulnerability was discovered by security researcher Tom Court of Contextis, who warned Steam and the good news is that it was quickly shut down by Steam developers Valve.
According to Court, Steam software allowed malicious hackers to carry remote code execution attacks. In this way, it was possible to control a user’s machine – The vulnerability was highly critical since more than 15 million people are using Steam.
This happened because Steam sent UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packets to communicate with the client. The UDP packet is similar to TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), however, it is faster. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker only had to send an altered UDP packet.
According to Valve, there is no indication that malicious hackers took advantage of the vulnerability
“The error was caused by the absence of a simple check to ensure that for the first packet of a fragmented datagram the specific packet size is less than or equal to the total length of the datagram. present for all subsequent packets carrying fragments of the datagram,” noted the researcher in his blog.
After the Steam client encountered this failure, the memory limits of the software were popped up in one of the libraries. In this way, the client became a door open to hackers.
According to Valve, there is no indication that malicious hackers took advantage of the vulnerability. If you have Steam on your machine, ensure that the latest version is installed.


German boffins have put together a smartphone sensor which can test you for medical conditions and even tell you if you’re up the duff.
Just last week we reported on the Hoope ring, which amazingly allows wearers to diagnose themselves with common STDs, sparing a trip to the clinic. Now researchers at Hanover University’s Centre for Optical Technologies have developed a nifty fibre-optic sensor for smartphones which can perform a number of biomolecular tests, such as detecting pregnancy or keeping tabs on diabetes.
This sensor, which can monitor human sweat, saliva, blood, urine and even breath, chucks out its findings in real-time via a companion app. In time, this could allow us to keep tabs on chronic illnesses and check for others simply by picking up a smartphone, meaning more diseases are caught rather than left unchecked.
Other applications for the sensor include linking to a device’s GPS, to direct you to the nearest doctor’s surgery or hospital, or even to allow an ambulance to locate someone in distress when the medical issue is deemed acute.
An optical phenomenon called surface plasmon resonance is used by the sensor, which is when light oscillates around electrons on a metallic surface in contact with a fluid. The sensor is able to pick up on different conditions by judging the way oscillation takes place, a bit like a person being able to detect a foreign body in a pool of water by waving their hand back and forth and watching how the liquid reacts to what’s around it.
Ordinarily it would take dedicated medical equipment to conduct these tests, which is both expensive and time consuming, but so far the team’s tiny sensor has thrown up results on a par with lab-based kit, giving medical professionals the ability to carry out tests in the field and treat and diagnose people in a fraction of the time currently required.
The sensor is still in development and isn’t likely to be hitting the next Samsung Galaxy handset or iPhone 6s, but in time we could come to rely on our smartphones as much more than communication devices and entertainment machines, and perhaps our portable pals could even save our life.
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The word Toltec comes from the Nahuatl language, which was spoken by the ancient Aztecs and other indigenous peoples of Mexico. The exact meaning of the word Toltec is not entirely clear, but it is thought to refer to a group of people who were known for their skills and knowledge in various areas, including art, architecture, and spiritual practices. In modern times, the term Toltec is often used … Read more about What does the word Toltec mean?
Learn more about Embracing Shamanism
Embracing Shamanism offers a wide range of highly experiential training opportunities including introduction weekends, a comprehensive Practitioner Training plus Shamanic Teacher Training for those wishing to pursue a teaching role. Additional trainings focus on Toltec Shamanism, conducting Healing Circles and Sweatlodge Ceremonies, and a one-year training in Earth Centred Shamanism with emphasis … Read more about Learn more about Embracing Shamanism
"Mystery and imagination arise from the same source. This source is called Darkness… Darkness within darkness, the gateway to all understanding." Lao-Tzu Thousands of years ago, the Toltec in southern Mexico were known as the ‘men and women of knowledge’. They were ancient ‘shaman-seers’, the receivers and holders of mysteries. Toltec Shamanism offers a range of practices within the … Read more about Toltec Shamanism


As international schools operate in a global context, they often collect and transfer the personal data of students, staff, and parents across borders. This poses significant risks to individuals’ privacy and data protection. Therefore, international schools should take necessary precautions to reduce the risks of international personal data transfers.
- Conduct a Data Inventory: The first step in reducing the risk of personal data transfers is to conduct a data inventory. This means identifying and categorizing all personal data collected, processed, and transferred by the school. A data inventory helps to understand the type of personal data the school handles and how it is used, stored, and transferred.
- Ensure Compliance with Data Protection Laws: International schools should ensure that their personal data transfers comply with relevant data protection laws. For example, schools should ensure that they have obtained valid consent from data subjects for data transfers and that they have implemented adequate security measures to protect personal data.
- Implement Data Protection Measures: Schools should implement data protection measures, such as access controls, encryption, and data minimization, to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, use, and disclosure of personal data. Schools should also implement measures to ensure that data is only transferred to authorized parties and for legitimate purposes.
- Conduct Due Diligence on Third Parties: Schools should conduct due diligence on third parties, such as vendors and service providers, that process personal data on their behalf. This includes ensuring that third parties have implemented adequate data protection measures and comply with data protection laws.
- Provide Data Subject Rights: International schools should provide data subjects with rights to access, rectify, and delete their personal data. Schools should also provide data subjects with the right to object to the processing of their personal data and the right to data portability.
In conclusion, international schools should take necessary precautions to reduce the risks of international personal data transfers. This includes conducting a data inventory, ensuring compliance with data protection laws, implementing data protection measures, conducting due diligence on third parties, and providing data subject rights. By implementing these measures, schools can ensure that personal data is transferred securely and with respect for individuals’ privacy and data protection rights.


Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM)
EPA’s Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) identifies analytical methods to be used by laboratories performing analyses of environmental and building material samples following a contamination event. Laboratories may use this information to evaluate the nature and extent of contamination and assess decontamination efficacy. In addition to providing the SAM document in its entirety, this site contains a tool that allows users to easily query the SAM methods.
SAM Methods Query Tool
2017 SAM Document
EPA's SAM identifies analytical methods to be used by laboratories that analyze chemical, radiochemical, pathogen and biotoxin contaminants of concern in environmental samples, and radiochemical contamination of building materials, following a contamination incident.
Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) 2017
- Basic SAM Information - Background information and purpose
- General Quality Control (QC) Guidelines - General discussion of quality control considerations
- General Safety and Waste Management - General discussion of safety and waste management
- Selected Methods - Summary descriptions and sources of SAM methods
- SAM Companion Documents - Links to SAM companion documents and other related sample collection procedures
- SAM Revision Tracking Information - Information regarding each SAM revision beginning with SAM Revision 1.0, 2004
- SAM Updates - Information regarding updates to SAM methods and companion documents since publication of SAM 2017
- Waste Management - Information regarding managing materials and wastes
- Related SAM Links - Links to key collaborators, laboratories and research centers


Human beings are capable to process consciously only a fraction of information which they are receiving each moment and they are mostly relying on their five senses.
Subconscious mind mostly process information which we can’t rationalize and it’s constantly trying to feed us with them; hence dreams and intuition.
Dreams are the stories which our subconscious sends us and through which it tries to tells us something. Dreams are often unclear and unreal, but they often say a lot about the thing we should be afraid of and about those we should think about.
Intuition represents the conclusions which our unconscious has made and because of that there are some things we simply know that are true, although we have never really thought about them; we know when someone is lying to us; we know when we are about to get ill; we know how is someone going to react on something we are planning to do.
Our subconscious picked up behavioural patterns, connected the causes with the consequences and it is pointing to things on which we should pay attention.
Intuition, just as reason, can trick us; sometimes we make wrong assumptions regardless of the level of being.
Knowing all of this, we can only assume the difficulty of the task each storyteller has.
A storyteller must activate all sensory experiences of the reader because that’s the way we experience the world. If the storyteller is successful, the reader will experience fiction as its own reality and the reader’s subconscious, led by its life experience, will fill a large amount of information which the writer had to omit.
In that manner, subconscious learns and recycles its own information, but it also gets new experience because the things are happening in new and foreign circumstances.
On the other hand, the storyteller must assume the intuition and subconscious processes of the characters he is writing about.
Unlike them, dramatists are limited with dialog and action. Although they need to know what happens inside a character and what dilemmas the character encounters, they are only allowed to express reality using dialogue and action.
Prose writer are in a huge advantage because they have the freedom to show what their characters think and feel.
That task is not easy, and therefore only a few people decide to become storytellers and even fewer are successful in that on a high level.
Thanks to successful storytellers there are sophisticated pieces of writing from which, both reader and writer, can learn a lot on a conscious and unconscious level.


What is the PYP?
The PYP (Primary Years Programme) is an inquiry-based educational framework that seeks to develop the whole child, in that it recognizes the importance of the academic, social, emotional, cultural and physical development of children from ages 3-12. The curriculum sets high standards and has high expectations of students. While the learning of information is still a major part of the PYP program, an emphasis is placed on the process of learning and students’ awareness and understanding of how to learn. As they develop into lifelong learners, students realize that learning is about being curious, asking questions and finding answers that lead to further questions.
The framework contains five essential elements: key concepts, knowledge, approaches to learning, agency and action. These elements are developed through six themes that are applied across all subjects. The themes are:
- Who we are,
- Where we are in place and time,
- How we express ourselves,
- How the world works,
- How we organize ourselves, and
- How we share the planet
Knowledge is explored from local and global perspectives within these units of study. The IB standards are aligned with best practice in education and are supported by effective teaching practices. PYP teachers collaborate in the planning of units of inquiry both as grade level teams and as a whole faculty.
The IB maintains a learner profile of specific skills that schools must develop in students at every level of IB, which has a positive impact on school culture. The IB Learner Profile seeks to develop students into individuals who are inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, balanced and reflective. The goal of PYP and all IB programmes, according to the International Baccalaureate Organization, is to “develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.” Developing lifelong learners who are positive contributors to society is something many schools strive to achieve.
If you want to learn more about the PYP program, check out their website at http://www.ibo.org/ or contact me with specific questions.
If you have questions about the PYP Program at Lipscomb Elementary, please contact out Coordinator, Ms. Timms at firstname.lastname@example.org


Time to clean the bird 🐦 #birdfeeder! Did you know that regular cleaning your bird feeders keeps #birds healthy? #birdfeedingtips #birdfeeding
When your bird feeder looks like this, take a few minutes to hand wash it with hot water and dish soap. Let it dry completely before refilling with your favorite Nature’s Window bird seed.
Rain, snow and humid weather can turn small bits of birdseed into gunk where germs can grow. Keeping your bird feeder clean helps our feathered friends and looks nice in your yard too!
The answer is a lot, actually. Feeding birds is a hobby, but it is also an excellent opportunity for project-based learning. A group of teachers who want to bring real science into their classrooms spent a morning with Nature’s Window.
Together we explored the Nature’s Window distribution center and talked about what goes into making high-quality wild bird seed. The group examined different varieties of seed blends and gained an understanding of why a particular bird species might eat certain seeds.
Our goal was to spark questions that the teachers could bring into their classrooms, engaging students in creating authentic science projects, making their own discoveries about birds. We provided a took kit for each participant that included Nature’s Window birdseed, suet and feeders to help them get started.
Leaders from the Outdoor Discovery Center (Holland, MI) share our belief that feeding birds is a fundamental step in getting people outdoors and to connecting with nature. We look forward to many more events together.
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Rope access techniques are commonly used in the arborist industry to access and perform tasks in trees, such as pruning, trimming, or removing branches or other vegetation. Rope access allows arborists to access challenging or hard-to-reach areas of a tree safely and efficiently, and it provides a safe and efficient means of performing tasks that would otherwise be difficult or dangerous to access.
Some examples of how rope access is used in the arborist industry include:
- Pruning and trimming: Arborists may use rope access to prune or trim branches or other vegetation that is difficult to reach, such as high up in the tree or in hard-to-reach areas.
- Tree removal: Arborists may use rope access to remove trees or parts of trees that are in challenging or hard-to-reach areas, such as in urban areas or on steep slopes.
- Inspecting trees: Arborists may use rope access to inspect trees for damage, decay, or other issues, such as cracks, rot, or other defects.
- Planting trees: Arborists may use rope access to plant trees in challenging or hard-to-reach areas, such as on steep slopes or in urban environments.
Overall, rope access is an important tool for arborists, allowing them to safely and efficiently access and perform tasks in trees, including pruning, trimming, removing trees, inspecting trees, and planting trees.


Research has found EPS composition varies with:
- Carbon sources (what chemicals are present in BOD or COD)
- C:N:P ratio (key cause many bulking events)
- D.O. - higher DO makes for better adhesion & capsular EPS
- MCRT & HRT
- Growth stage (F/M ratio)
- Solution chemistry (pH, ionic strength, divalent cation)
- Toxic (biocides, heavy metals, CN, Phenol)
The study presented in Nature, evaluated the impact of salinity on cell adhesion and floc/biofilm formation. High Na+ can be a problem. While Na+ under 10 grams per liter has a negative impact on EPS formation, when you move from 10 g/L Na+ to 20 g/L Na+ that amount of EPS drops by 50%.
The study then went into new territory by extracting the EPS from municipal and hypersaline wastewater biomass. What they found was the biomass manufactured more total EPS in the hyper saline environments where the EPS help protect against osmotic pressures caused by high Na+ concentrations. While the hypersaline had more total EPS, it has a different composition than municipal. The diversity of compounds in the EPS was lower in the hypersaline wastewater and the EPS was not as closely associated with cell aggregation/adhesion.
Also both wastewaters had anerobic/anoxic tanks. What is interesting here is the EPS was not associated with aggregation. Apparently, DO is very important to give us the amount of aggregation needed for bioflm/floc formation.
Here is a link to the Nature article if you would like to go deeper into the research.


Popinjays and parrots are birds of a feather. Popinjay
, from the Middle French word papegai
, is the original name for a parrot in English. The French word, in turn, came from the Arabic word for the bird, babghā’
, which English speakers adopted later, is probably a modification of the Middle French perroquet
, which is also the source of the English parakeet
. In the days of Middle English, parrots were rare and exotic, and it was quite a compliment to
be called a popinjay
after such a beautiful bird. But by the 1500s, parrots had become more
commonplace, and their gaudy plumage and vulgar mimicry helped popinjay
develop the pejorative sense we use today.
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The renewable energy industry has urged the UK government to quickly implement rules to tackle unsustainable biofuel production after a new report found the growth of cultivated agricultural land for biofuels could lead to more than double the greenhouse gas emissions released by fossil fuels.
The study entitled Driving to Destruction was published today by a coalition of Non-governmental organisations, including ActionAid and Greenpeace. It argues that EU plans to boost biofuels will see an area of land twice the size of Belgium converted to agricultural use by 2020.
"Land conversion on such a scale will lead to the release of carbon emissions from vegetation and soil, making biofuels more damaging to the climate than the fossil fuels they are designed to replace," the report concluded.
Total net greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels could be as much as 56 million tonnes of extra carbon dioxide per year, it predicted, meaning that once land use impacts are included biofuels in the EU market would be on average 81 per cent to 167 per cent worse for the climate than fossil fuels.
The report's conclusions suggest that without urgent action to tackle unsustainable changes in land use the EU will fall well short of the target contained in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) that requires biofuels to be 35 to 50 per cent less polluting than fossil fuels.
The research is the latest in a series of studies arguing that many biofuels are indirectly contributing to deforestation and food shortages in developing countries.
Responding to the report, Renewable Energy Association (REA) chief executive Gaynor Hartnell argued that the UK biofuel producers were consistently delivering carbon savings of at least 70 per cent compared to fossil fuels by ensuring that they only use energy crops that have been grown in a sustainable manner.
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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (28 March 2023)
Ramadan has officially begun for billions of Muslims around the world last week, marking a period of reflection, prayer, and fasting. One of the most important aspects of this holy month is breaking the fast each evening after sunset, and for many, this begins with eating dates.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has reported that global date production reached 9.8 million tonnes in 2021, with Egypt being the largest producer at 1.7 million tonnes. Other major producers include Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Algeria, all of which produced more than 1 million tonnes of dates. Additionally, Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, and Oman also contributed to global production with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of dates.
While dates are an important part of Ramadan traditions, they also hold cultural significance beyond the holy month. In Oman, for example, dates are considered the heart of the country’s culture, with guests traditionally being offered dates and coffee upon arrival, and dates being served at weddings and funerals.
Beyond their symbolic importance, dates are also used as staple foods in several countries and offer numerous health benefits. They are rich in fiber, potassium, and antioxidants, and have been linked to improved digestion and a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
The opinions expresses here in the post "The Top Date-Producing Countries in the World" are those of the individua's contributor(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Business Info Ethiopia , BIE Intelligence PLC, its publisher, editor, or any of its other contributors.


Atmospheric Electricity and Lightning Rods
The connection between electricity and the atmosphere was not drawn definitively until the eighteenth century. The iconic image of Benjamin Franklin flying his kite in an electrical storm highlights his role as a pioneer in the discovery of atmospheric electricity and the nature of lightning. In his Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Franklin describes his kite experiment, discusses his work with Leyden jars, and expresses his idea for the lightning rod. The Vail Collection has early translations of this seminal work in French and German, demonstrating the importance of Franklin’s insights as they spread throughout Europe.
Franklin’s invention and advocacy of the lightning rod brought huge benefits to society, as it offered protection from one of nature’s most destructive and unpredictable forces. The technology also allowed people to erect tall buildings, and build structures on flat, open plains, with less fear of the devastation wrought by lightning. In 1784, Italian scientist Marsilio Landriani published an inventory of the lightning rods on private and public buildings in Italy and Europe, including the crucially important rods situated on powder magazines. Landriani’s book illustrates how widespread the use of lightning rods had become in the mere thirty years since Franklin had unveiled his invention.
Later, lightning rods would become decorative as well as functional. In the 1895 publication Die Blitzableiter in ihrer Konstruktion und Anlage by Ludwig Klasen, we’re introduced to the wide variety of beautiful rod designs available at the end of the nineteenth century.
Having witnessed the effectiveness of the technology against lightning, farmers sought a solution to the destructive effects of hail. A device called a paragrêle in English as well as in the original French was invented by Alexandre Lapostolle around 1820, and described in his Traité des parafoudres et des paragrêles en cordes de paille. John Murray cites this device in his 1830 A Treatise on Atmospherical Electricity, and makes the (mistaken) assertion that “The paragrêle is intended to disarm the storm cloud of its vengeance by withdrawing its electricity … thus prevent[ing] the precipitation of hailstones … the formation of hail is an electric phenomenon.” Wonderful though it sounds, the invention, unsurprisingly, did not work since hail is caused by thunderstorms with strong updrafts and unstable air mass, rather than by electricity.
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