Environmental Science

Today popular science posted an interesting article about a laser-powered "quadrocopter." This helicopter successfully hovered for twelve hours with lasers as its only power source. This copter was able to hover at about 30 feet in the air and has broken the previous record of six hours airborne. This will most certainly become the feature of flight. A greener flight will now be a reality; once again science triumphs. A video of this 12 hour flight and more information about it is available at Popular Science's Website.

Every day a solution to global warming is being researched. Every day scientist are trying to find ways to reduce wastes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This time, scientist have found a way to reuse used grease and used solid fat (butter). This summer researchers how found a way to reuse that old grease and butter and use it as a biofuel. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and alternative-energy firm BlackGold Biofuels tell us how the made 800-pound butter sculpture into an eco-friendly biofuel. Read more about it at Popular Science's Website.

2012 is coming and according to Maya calendar the world will end. If you saw the movie 2012 a massive solar flare is supposed to hit earth and that will leave us without electrical power. Well, for those who are worrying on what is going to happen in 2012 don't worry about world wide black outs because NASA has a plan to protect us. NASA has created two satellites that will observe the sun and will make 3-D models of incoming solar flares which will allow researchers to calculate its strength and determine when and where will it hit the earth. 30 minutes before impact they will notify utilities to shutdown power grids. Read more about it at Popular Science's Website.

By Forerunner

Lego

Of all the toys that many of us have played with, there is one that stands out above all as clearly superior: the Lego brick. Lego bricks are strong and durable, and the possibilities for what can be built are almost limitless. But Legos aren't just for for kids anymore. over the past fifteen or so years a small community of dedicated adult builders around the world have gone above and beyond the "rainbow warrior" and created an art form. Over at the Brothers Brick, they display fantastically detailed models and creations so lifelike you will think that the thumbnail is the real thing. These MOCs (my own creation) can take days to months to build, and can be a few inchs long, or a few feet. It all depends on the builder.
Unfortunately, there have been some recent deaths in the community, that of renowned builder Nathan "Nnenn" Neilson, and Daniel Jezek, the founder of Bricklink (the primary website for bulk Lego purchases). They were both extremely influential in shaping the hobby into what it is today, and will be missed. Nathan in particular, was responsible for the Vic Viper, a special format of spacecraft that he made widely popular around the world. A space builder's portfolio is not considered complete until he has built a Vic Viper.
Recently, The british ship builder Ed Dimmet, Under the screenname "Lego monster" built a fully acurate, 23 foot long model of the USS Intrepid, a WWII aircraft carrier. The build required five people to complete, and could not be assembled in his house, as it would not fit. His wife built all  of the ship's full complement of aircraft, some of which reside inside the fullly detailed interior of the ship. In the Lego world this is known as a SHIP, or Seriously Huge Investment in Parts. Interestingly enough, it is not the world's largest lego boat. That title currently belongs to the Yamato, a Japanese battleship that took six years to build.
-Jts

*Sorry about the lack of photos, but most builders do not use CC licences for fear of image theft during build contests.

TORCHWOOD: Doctor Who, frighteningly close to home

DOCTOR WHO

Doctor who is amazing. If you haven't watched it already, you can catch up here, and watch every episode from 40 years past. What I'm talking about is the newer series, where doctor who animation and plots are the best. You're not by any means going to be starting at the beginning- the doctor was never a farm boy, and doesn't have a rise to glory. I've watched all of them, and it is everything I could want in a TV show.

DAVID TENNANT!

matt smith.

Meaning I've finished Series 5! Matt Smith breaks in after a heartbreaking ode of goodbye to previous doctor David Tennant. David Tennant had an amazing way of sauntering, leaving his enemies in completely stunned silence, and lived up to the ancient persona when the time came for it. However, I don't think Matt Smith will never have that. Granted, he's younger and more fun, with a small tie and a thing for overalls and bow ties("Bow ties are cool.") but I don't think he's living up to the legacy. Amy Pond is his companion, a overall good companion that seems to have a little bit of the Doctor's past companions within her. Dramatic and amazing as it's ever been, but with a brand new sonic screwdriver and TARDIS interior, I'm not sure I will enjoy it as much as David Tennant's reign, which it seems to have completely left behind. I'll just have to see. 

Large: Jack Harkness, Left to Right: Ianto, Jack, Gwen, Tosh, Owen

TORCHWOOD

    Spinoff of Doctor Who, this show is closer to home and less squeamish about blood. This is the third Torchwood group with 5 members, and positioned under a rift in time and space that runs directly through the city of Cardiff. Captain Jack Harkness, a futuristic Time agent and con man from Doctor Who, with a dashing smile and a long coat like the Doctor's. When the Doctor's companion Rose looked into the heart of the TARDIS, she brought Jack back to life. And since then, he can't die. He can be killed, but he can't die. After lying dead for a moment, he gives a gasp and returns from beyond the grave. His Time Vortex Manipulator broke after sending him back a century or two, and the Time Agent he has been forced to live a few hundred years until he reaches Earth's present day and sets up Torchwood. On the team who knows nothing about him, he has Ianto Jones, the butler who is knowledgeable about everything in Cardiff and is practically a member with all the action he gets, Toshiko(Tosh) Soto, Torchwood's tech savy mastermind, Owen Harper, doctor and clown, and Gwen Cooper, a former policewoman and main character. Upon seeing Torchwood bring a man temporarily back to life and another killed by an alien, she eventually finds them out and is drugged with an amnesia pill. She wakes up forgetting everything, but when she finds them again, they let her stay.  

    All kinds of alien life and technology are falling through the Rift at all times, and Torchwood tracks down the threats to either imprison them and uses them to humanity's advantage. Weevils are sewer resident humanoids with large heads and fangs, a constant job for Torchwood. The ressurection glove, made of a special metal, brings people back to life for a short period after death. The special knife that enhances the glove's power if the person is killed with that blade, made of the same metal. Stun guns are Torchwood made, as are the ear communications and traditional handguns. 

More violent than Doctor who, but give it a try, same link at the top. Just look under Torchwood.