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Fantastic timelapse video from the world's soon to be largest radio telescope array

A while ago I told you a bit about one of the most anticipated international scientific joint effort in recent history – the Square Kilometer Array.  When ready, the SKA will cover one square kilometer of South African or Australian soil, hence the name, with thousands of radio dishes that combine and work as one, […]

Tibi Puiu
October 4, 2012 @ 1:05 pm

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SKA dishes

Artist impression of the SKA.

A while ago I told you a bit about one of the most anticipated international scientific joint effort in recent history – the Square Kilometer Array.  When ready, the SKA will cover one square kilometer of South African or Australian soil, hence the name, with thousands of radio dishes that combine and work as one, making it the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope. Recently, a photographer filmed and distributed an amazing time lapse view from the first portion of the soon to be SKA in Australia, comprised  of 36 12-meter antennas.

The SKA will address fundamental unanswered questions about our Universe including how the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang, how galaxies have evolved since then, the role of magnetism in the cosmos, the nature of gravity, and the search for life beyond Earth.

The array will cost and estimated  €1,500 million and will be completed by 2024.

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Pee-back time: Anti-Pee Paint Splashes Back at Public Urination

When man piss in wind, wind piss back, a modern Confucius states. In this line, the city of Hamburg ingeniously sought to address its growing public urination problem in the city's busy party center by painting walls with hydrophobic paint. Next time an unsuspecting person wants to take a load off in Hamburg's St. Pauli neighborhood, he might be in for a surprise - it'll splash back at him.

CT-Scan of an unopened walnut is both beautiful and relaxing

A walnut's rugged shell conceals a labyrinth of chambers and partitions, revealed in mesmerizing detail through CT scanning.

The Surprising Sleep of Sperm Whales: Vertical Naps in the Ocean Deep

If you think it's tough to sleep on land, try sleeping in the sea.

The Pharaoh's Snake: A Chemical Reaction That Looks Like a Portal to Hell

Many chemical reactions are surprising, but this one is something else.

Not money, not fame: An 85-year-long study shows what makes us happiest

It's not money, it's not fame or glory. It's all about healthy relationships. Enjoy this masterful TED talk!

Watch a Bao Bao the panda playing in the snow for the very first time

Well there's a lot of good science already this early in the year, but hey - let's relax a little bit and look at this big guy just having fun in the snow - this is footage of a giant panda seeing snow for the first time in his life.

Rube Goldberg: The beautiful and timeless appeal of complex, useless contraptions

Beyond their entertainment values, these complex machines offer a unique insight into physics and human engineering.

Extreme Rescue: The mountain lion caught in a trap edition

What would you do if you found a cougar caught in a trap? You should call these guys, that's what.

Caribbean drunken monkeys act surprisingly much like humans

Monkeys are just like humans -- when they drink.

Richard Feynman explains the scientific method in 10 minutes

Feynman was not only one of the most accomplished physicists in history. He was an amazing teacher.