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 a 60-inch interactive display.
The exhibit also displays examples of trauma and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer whose effects on the brain can be seen by the unaided eye. And it has the brain of Charles Guiteau, who assassinated President James Garfield in 1881 and was considered insane.
If brains aren’t your thing, the April edition of the museum’s "Organ of MOUTH CLUB" is intestines; a special event will be held on April 19.
The museum is located at 2500 Linden Lane in Silver Spring.

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 Massif was a single volcano, or a composite of many eruption points. Now, researchers have confirmed that the mass of basalt that constitutes Tamu Massif did indeed erupt from a single source near the centre , making it the largest single volcano on Earth.

"Tamu Massif is the biggest single shield volcano ever discovered on Earth. There may be larger volcanoes, because there are bigger igneous features out there such as the Ontong Java Plateau, but we don't know if these features are one volcano or complexes of volcanoes," said William Sager, a professor at the University of Houston.

Tamu Massif stands out among underwater volcanoes also for its shape. It is low and broad, meaning that the erupted lava flows must have travelled long distances compared to most other volcanoes on Earth.

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's a big thing for my family, my village and my country. I am very happy.