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Showing posts from September, 2013

Einstein

In 1955, pathologist Thomas Harvey performed an autopsy on one of the most revered scientists of the era: Albert Einstein, the German-born theoretical physicist whose general theory of relativity made him a household name. In the course of the autopsy, Harvey decided to preserve Einstein’s brain for future study. For years, he kept slides containing microscopically thin sections of Einstein’s brain matter in his personal archives. Now, these slides are on display in an exhibit at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring.   "What can we learn from a Brain" features “maps” and photographs prepared by Harvey before, during and after the sectioning process. The combination of these archival materials and the slides may offer insights into what made Einstein’s brain so unusual, according to the museum. The exhibit includes an iPad application called “Einstein Brain Atlas,” developed using more than 350 images of the brain, that is shown on ...

Earth’s largest volcano found under Pacific

HOUSTON: Earth's largest volcano — and possibly the second largest in the solar system— has been discovered at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Covering an area roughly equivalent to the British Isles or the state of New Mexico, the volcano dubbed Tamu Massif, is located about 1,609 km east of Japan. Tamu Massif is the largest feature of Shatsky Rise, an underwater mountain range formed 130 to 145 million years ago by the eruption of several underwater volcanoes. Tamu Massif, which became inactive within a few million years after it was formed, covers an area of about 310,798 square km, the equivalent area of Britain and Ireland combined. By comparison, Hawaii's Mauna Loa — the largest active volcano on Earth — is approximately 5,179 square kms, or roughly 2% the size of Tamu Massif. Also, Olympus Mons on Mars, the largest known volcano in our solar system, is only about 25% larger by volume than Tamu Massif. However, until now, it was unclear whether Tamu...

Facts

  Guinness World Records can today confirm that a Senior Citizen Chandra Bahadur Dangi from Nepal is the world's new Shortest Living Man, measuring 54.6cm (21.5 in). Chandra claims to be 72 years of age and weighs 14.5kg. He has spent his entire life in the remote Nepalese mountain village of Rhimkholi, about 250 miles west of Kathmandu. He lives there with his five brothers (all of an average height) and makes his living weaving traditional Nepalese garments. Chandra's home is so remote that it wasn't until recently that he gained attention; a forest contractor cutting timber in the village met him and informed local media. Until now, Chandra's stature has been a burden; acutely aware of the difficulties of fitting into an average-sized world. However he is hopeful that the new title will see a change in his fortunes. "I'm very happy that I'm being recognized by Guinness World Records and that my name will be written in book. It...