igorchernakov

The US space agency Nasa recently announced that many of the...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:56:35 +0100

The US space agency Nasa recently announced that many of the Moon rocks brought back to Earth from two Apollo space missions have gone missing. They were given as gifts to the nations of the world. So what happened to them?

The giant squid (Architeuthis sp.) is a deep-ocean dwelling...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:47:06 +0100

The giant squid (Architeuthis sp.) is a deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae, represented by as many as eight species. The giant squid remains largely a mystery to scientists despite being the biggest invertebrate on Earth. The largest of these elusive giants ever found measured 59 feet (18 meters) in length and weighed nearly a ton (900 kilograms). However, their inhospitable deep-sea habitat has made them uniquely difficult to study, and almost everything scientists know about them is from carcasses that have washed up on beaches or been hauled in by fishermen. Lately, however, the fortunes of scientists studying these elusive creatures have begun to turn. In 2004 researchers in Japan took the first images ever of a live giant squid. And in late 2006, scientists with Japan’s National Science Museum caught and brought to the surface a live 24-foot (7-meter) female giant squid. Giant squid, along with their cousin, the colossal squid (see this post), have the largest eyes in the animal kingdom, measuring some 10 inches (25 centimeters) in diameter. These massive organs allow them to detect objects in the lightless depths where most other animals would see nothing. Like other squid species, they have eight arms and two longer feeding tentacles that help them bring food to their beak-like mouths. Their diet likely consists of fish, shrimp, and other squid, and some suggest they might even attack and eat small whales. They maneuver their massive bodies with fins that seem diminutive for their size. They use their funnel as a propulsion system, drawing water into the mantle, or main part of the body, and forcing it out the back. Scientists don’t know enough about these beasts to say for sure what their range is, but giant squid carcasses have been found in all of the world’s oceans.

Learn how to draw simplified head structure and facial feature...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:51:00 +0100

Learn how to draw simplified head structure and facial feature using geometric shape for manga comics. Quick and easy drawing and sketching instruction, constructed and draw girl head and face: eyes, nose, mouth, lips and eyebrows. Tips and technique on sketch and how to quickly create an efficient facial design from concept idea into simple visual cartoon art.

After more than two decades of drilling in Antarctica, Russian...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:10:29 +0100

After more than two decades of drilling in Antarctica, Russian scientists have confirmed that they reached the surface of a gigantic freshwater lake hidden under miles of ice for some 20 million years. The scientists returned 40 litres of water to the surface - water isolated from earthly life forms since before Man existed. The scientists will later remove the frozen sample for analysis in December when the next Antarctic summer comes. They have now left the site. The scientists rebuffed claims that their drilling could have contaminated the lake, a body of water which has been in isolation for 20 million years.

As biologically diverse as the Amazon is, this peculiar creature...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:38:00 +0100

As biologically diverse as the Amazon is, this peculiar creature would not appear to be a natural inhabitant of the Brazilian jungle or, indeed, Earth for that matter. Standing just a few feet from a mesmerising flashing light, this unidentified being could offer proof that we are not alone in the universe. The image comes from a video obtained by noted paranormal writer Michael Cohen and is claimed to have been filmed by two British tourists visiting the Mamaus region of the Amazon.

Check out these rare photographs of the Black Sea being flozen....

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:17:00 +0100

Check out these rare photographs of the Black Sea being flozen. It happens once in 30 years but is still considered a natural phenomenon.

Sunsets on other planets appear different because of the...

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:13:00 +0100

Sunsets on other planets appear different because of the differences in the distance of the planet from the Sun, as well as different atmospheric compositions. On Mars, the Sun appears only about two-thirds of the size that it appears in a sunset seen from Earth, because Mars is farther from the Sun than the Earth is. Although Mars lacks oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere, it is covered in red dust frequently hoisted into the atmosphere by fast but thin winds. At least some Martian days are capped by a sunset significantly longer and redder than typical on Earth. One study reported that for up to two hours after twilight, sunlight continued to reflect off Martian dust high in the atmosphere, casting a diffuse glow.

The Battle of the Ice, was a battle between the Republic of...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:29:00 +0100

The Battle of the Ice, was a battle between the Republic of Novgorod and the Estonian branch of the Teutonic Knights on April 5 of 1242, at Lake Peipus. The battle is notable for having been fought largely on the frozen lake. The battle was a significant defeat sustained by Roman Catholic crusaders during the Northern Crusades, which were directed against pagans and Eastern Orthodox Christians rather than Muslims in the Holy Land. The crusaders’ defeat in the battle marked the end of their campaigns against the Orthodox Novgorod Republic and other Russian territories for the next century.

The blacktip reef shark is a species of requiem shark, family...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:35:22 +0100

The blacktip reef shark is a species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae, easily identified by the prominent black tips on its fins. Among the most abundant sharks inhabiting the tropical coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, this species prefers shallow, inshore waters and its exposed first dorsal fin is a common sight in the region. Most blacktip reef sharks are found over reef ledges and sandy flats, though they have also been known to enter brackish and freshwater environments.

Undoubtedly one of the most prolific, innovative, and exciting...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:31:58 +0100

Undoubtedly one of the most prolific, innovative, and exciting artists exhibiting their work on deviantART has to be the amazing Ben Heine. In terms of sheer creativity and the true spirit of art as human expression that knows no bounds, he is currently with few peers. His unique visual creations have been featured in newspapers, magazines and other publications worldwide and over the last few years his works have begun to populate art galleries and museums from Brussels and London to Turkey, Romania and South Korea.

Sweepstakes was a Canadian schooner built in Burlington, Ontario...

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:01:17 +0100

Sweepstakes was a Canadian schooner built in Burlington, Ontario in 1867. It was damaged off Cove Island then towed to Big Tub Harbour, where it sank in September 1885. The remains of Sweepstakes lie in Big Tub Harbour, located in the Fathom Five National Marine Park, in Tobermory, Ontario. This schooner is said to be one of the most popular wrecks in the park, where it is often visited by tour boat passengers, divers, and snorkelers. Sweepstakes is one of the several shipwrecks located in the Fathom Five National Marine Park.

A roll cloud is a low, horizontal, tube-shaped, and relatively...

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:52:06 +0100

A roll cloud is a low, horizontal, tube-shaped, and relatively rare type of arcus cloud. They differ from shelf clouds by being completely detached from other cloud features. Roll clouds usually appear to be “rolling” about a horizontal axis. They are a solitary wave called a soliton, which is a wave that has a single crest and moves without changing speed or shape. One of the most famous frequent occurrences is the Morning Glory cloud in Queensland,Australia. One of the main causes of the Morning Glory cloud is the mesoscale circulation associated with sea breezes that develop over the Cape Yorkpeninsula and the Gulf of Carpentaria. However, similar features can be created by downdrafts from thunderstorms and are not exclusively associated with coastal regions.

Big Miracle is an upcoming romantic drama film starring Drew...

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:30:26 +0100

Big Miracle is an upcoming romantic drama film starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski. The film, directed by Ken Kwapis, is based on the 1989 book Freeing the Whales by Tom Rose, which covers Operation Breakthrough, the 1988 international effort to rescue gray whales from being trapped in ice near Point Barrow, Alaska. The film is scheduled to be released on February 3, 2012.

Unique emerald lake in the crater of an extinct volcano Ruapehu...

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:13:00 +0100

Unique emerald lake in the crater of an extinct volcano Ruapehu can be found in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. Following Ruapehu’s eruptions in 1995, a layer of unconsolidated material called tephra formed a dam on the crater rim preventing the natural gradual flow of water out of the lake. The lake breached the dam in mid 2007 creating a lahar. The event was predicted, and well planned for, so there were no major consequences. In some years when the acicidy levels in the lake are low it is possible to “bath” in the crater lake. Though this is unadvisable as Mt Ruapehu is a active volcano which erupts on average every 10-20 years.

Threats in space

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:22:00 +0100

Asteroid Apophis can wipe us off the face of the Universe. It was named to honor the ancient Egyptian god of darkness and destruction. Discovered in 2004 asteroid’s size corresponds a skyscraper and weighs 20 million tons.

Whiz at speeds hundreds of times faster than a bullet, it is not a lower energy than all the nuclear weapons on the planet. Astronomers around know where it goes. According to their calculations, in April 2029 a huge boulder will fly in 34-36 thousands of miles from the Earth’s surface. This is close enough for the satellites in low Earth orbit, so this event is already dangerous. April 13, 2036 Apophis could collide with the Earth, said that date Professor of St. Petersburg State University, Leonid Sokolov. Fortunately, the likelihood that Apophis will fall on us, is extremely small, since the approach to our planet, will it break into pieces.

But the main problem is that in space there is always a block, even larger in size. There are asteroids, reaching a length of 15 kilometers. An asteroid this big crashes into Earth approximately once every hundred million years. It happened 65 million years ago. This disaster probably was the cause of extinction of the dinosaurs. No one knows when the next asteroid will fall. But if it is sufficiently large, it can sterilize the planet - and life will disappear.

The universe is preparing us new surprises. The stars are constantly lit and extinguished. In space, hundreds of billions of stars, and at every moment where something killed some star, a supernova explosion. Supernova in our Galaxy is ignited every 50 years. Such an explosion could destroy the Earth.

One recently discovered supernova is particularly dangerous. It was discovered in 1998. Then Satellite recorded strong emission of gamma radiation. The radiation source is located very close to us, at 8 thousand light years from Earth. There burns a star WR 104, located at the end of his career.

When it breaks out in a supernova, it throws two tightly focused beam of radiation, one at each pole. Letting the rays of the star self-destruct. The danger is that the focus of the beam of radiation is the future of Earth. The rays will have more energy than the Sun will produce for the entire period of its existence. This opens the way deadly cosmic rays that can reach the surface of the planet. This cataclysm has occurred 450 million years ago, more than half the creatures disappeared from the face of the earth. Then the strong radiation exposure destroyed the entire ecosystem of the planet.

If we look further into the future, we will understand that all of the danger - it’s just beginning. The solar system will inevitably take place the same way that countless billions of star systems before it, and cease to exist. Now she is in the middle of his career. But every billion years the sun is 6% hotter and brighter, 5 billion years, temperatures will rise to 200 million degrees. The land that time will be molten rock, but her life has long gone.

But that’s not all that prepared for us was shining. When he ran out of fuel, it begins to expand, becoming a so-called red giant. After about 7 billion years it will become 200 times more than now, and will reach 300 million kilometers in diameter. Bloated Sun will eat the world one by one.

In spite of the risks, NASA hasn’t wasted any time in...

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:12:00 +0100

In spite of the risks, NASA hasn’t wasted any time in making plans to set up camp on the moon. The space agency is eyeing a parcel of land near the lunar south pole (where there’s constant daylight) for a moon base. In addition to a possible wealth of helium-3 or hydrogen fuel, the moon would be an ideal place to build a telescope or a launch pad to explore the solar system (with less gravity to overcome, the escape velocity for spaceships is significantly lower). Until the age of moon colonies finally arrives, however, you’ll just have to make do with a nightly view of Earth’s small, constant companion.

How sequels ruined The Matrix

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:46:00 +0100

The Matrix was a cinematic marvel, but thanks to the sequels it’s a huge mess and I’ll explain why. When a movie does well studios always push for a sequel. I can understand how much pressure the Wachowski’s were under. Their first movie, Bound, was critically acclaimed but not exactly a block-busters. Suddenly, men with suits are shoveling money at them and people were begging for more of this amazing film. So, the decided to go for it and make a trilogy.

They expanded on ideas they had from the first film and came up with a storyline, plot and new characters. They brought back the actors and tried to recreate the magic. They failed. In the process they destroyed everything they worked for and have to spend the rest of their lives living down the success of the first film and the failure of their other films like Speed Racer and V for Vendetta.

How do you define real fights?

One of the most remarkable things about the first movie is how realistic the fight scenes were. The actors were trained for four months to fight using traditional wire techniques and expert martial arts coordinators. The fights we saw were mostly using the main actors. There were many stylized fight scenes, but they were mostly done using traditional techniques like wire and other in-camera effects. One really good example of this is the fight between Morpheus and Neo in the Dojo. Flips, turns and counters gave the scene an almost unrealistic feel, but being able to zoom in on the actors and see their faces made it better. The sequels used some of the same techniques, and the Wachowski brothers bragged that there were more punches in the sequels than in the first one, but a lot of the scenes were done using CGI models. One sequel had 804 special effects shots. This totally breaks the realistic feel the fight scenes had. Yes, the fights were more spectacular and they could shoot in ways that they never could using in-camera effects, but the trade-off is that the fights don’t feel real. The best example of the this is the so-called “Burly Brawl” between Neo and hundreds of Agent Smiths. Many scenes were done using real actors but most of them were computer generated including the final sweeping battle using a pole. The scene looks amazing, but doesn’t feel real. Looking back at the first movie the fights seem simple and basic compared to the mammoth CGI fight scenes from the sequels.

Welcome to the real world. Now start dancing.

In the first film everything in the “Real World” outside the Matrix is dirty, old and worn-out. All life on the surface is extinct and humans are forced to eat a disgusting soup of synthetic proteins to survive. When they go to Zion in the sequels though there seems to be plenty of food. So, why send out ships without provisions? It seems like a cruel joke. Cypher complains about being cold and eating the “same goop day after day.” It provides him with the motivation to betray his crew because life is so horrible in the Real World. But, in the sequels life is pretty good for humans. Sure Zion is underground, but they seem to have nice food since everyone is healthy. The clothes are kind of simple, but nice and dramatic.

They even have time to have a rave party or two. So, Cypher ends up looking petty. What he should have done is just ask to be transferred back to Zion on shore leave. That would have saved the life of Switch, Apok and Dozer. Plus, he could always have come back in the sequels. So, after the sequels the character motivations seemed moronically simple.

The Prophecy speaks of the One

The biggest problem the sequels create is the explanation of the prophecy as a massive plan by the machines to maintain control. At first it makes sense. But, take away the metaphysical aspect of Neo and you’re left with a plot device with gaping holes. The people are told to look for someone with the characteristics that Neo has. What have they been looking for? Someone that’s good with computers? Someone that’s a loner? At first its not really explained where the prophecy came from, but its implied that there was a leader who would return in the form of “The One.” They never said who wrote it, but its implied that the Oracle has some knowledge of the prophecy and is guiding the humans to find him. But, who wrote it? How did they know what to look for? In the sequels it turns out the machines created the prophecy to weed out people who would naturally rebel at being in the Matrix and group them together in a fake resistance movement. Then, they could easily corral them together and kill them. Here’s the problem though. Everything in the Matrix takes massive amounts of coding and power. If the machines know people are going to take it down why bother rebuild it again? Another problem with the machines creating the prophecy is the Agents. The Agents are sent in to help maintain control and take down the resistance. But, apparently this is a lie. This means the machines are wasting time and energy chasing down a rebellion that they created.

There’s an even bigger problem with this though. Agent Smith’s motivation for attacking Neo and Morpheus is that he can’t stand being in the Matrix anymore. He says it smells. It makes him look like a slightly tortured character and gives him motivation to be beyond his programming to squash the rebellion. In fact, it turns out he’s a big sap and the machines are lying to him. Since Smith doesn’t know the truth we can assume that it’s a closely guarded secret among the machines. Here’s a question: What would happen if the Agents found out it was all a big joke? Would they join the resistance? The whole point of the Matrix was that the machines were so desperate to find power they would build a massive virtual world to hold the humans in. But the Architect said that the machines are willing to live without the power the humans provide. So what’s the point? Revenge? In the first movie the machines seem cold, calculating and superhumanly intelligent. By the third movie they look pretty stupid. Kind of like they were making it up as they went along.

When you see an agent…You run. At first.

In the first film the Agents are all-powerful and virtually unstoppable. They say when you see an agent you run. They were nameless, faceless and omnipotent. In Matrix: Reloaded the Agents are a joke. Despite being upgraded anyone can beat them. Neo, of course, can handle them because he’s more powerful, but why can Trinity or Morpheus handle take them out so easily? Because the main villains are weaker in the sequels they have to add a whole bunch of “more deadly” enemies. Like werewolves and vampires. Inevitably the other villains just end up looking cool, but don’t have the power and impact of the black-suited agents from the first film. They become so useless that they were eliminated completely from Matrix: Revolutions. In the end we look back on the agents and wonder what the big deal was.

There is no spoon in the sequels

In the first movie, the Matrix is populated with real people. The world seems kind of sad and tragic at the same time. There were old women, children, businessmen and homeless people. It felt real and the world was populated with people that react with horror and shock to the over-the-top things the characters are doing like jumping across roof tops and dodging bullets. By the second and third movie no one seems to notice anything. Most of the people they interact with are either programs or from the real world and know exactly whats going on. They don’t think there’s anything strange about running up a wall or fighting three guys with their pinky. Everyone else just seems to walk blissfully by as the heroes topple cars, fly through the air and destroy buildings. This has the opposite effect. Something is only interesting if its unique. The simple act of Trinity running over rooftops becomes more spectacular when we see people trying and failing to do the same thing. When someone says “that’s impossible” we’re convinced we’re seeing something magical. By the third movie they film-makers have to make things more and more spectacular till finally it becomes impossible and our brain shuts down. Hundreds of Agent Smiths fighting in the rain is less interesting than seeing one person jump from one building to another when it feels real.

Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions

Should the sequels have been made at all? Not really. The story was self-contained. The explanation of what happened in the past was answered by Neo and could have made a good prequel. The question of what happened next was strongly implied by Neo saying he was going to show the world what was possible. We could assume that Neo flying into the sky on a busy street would raise a lot of questions and lead to a full scale revolt against the machines. This would allow humans to break free of the Matrix’ control and destroy them. We would imagine hundreds of people running, jumping and flying through the air fighting Agents and destroying the slavery of the virtual world. The remaining humans could finally leave the underground caverns and return to the surface using the new-found revolutionaries to finish the battle and rebuild our world. Pretty satisfying. Where would the Wachowski’s have been without Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions? They would have stayed the directorial geniuses they had become and could have gone onto any number of projects without having to live up to the one project that made them Hollywood darlings instead of creating two films that tried and failed to live up to the iconic Matrix. They were actually approached to direct Batman Begins, but turned it down to work on the Matrix sequels. That would have been a mind-blower. What if they’d gone a completely different direction? Maybe they could have made a comedy. Maybe another drama. Instead they threw all their efforts into trying to get lightning back into a bottle and forcefully proved that the first film was an accident. They’ve never been taken seriously since. In the end, the sequels destroyed the characters, message, visual effects and genius of the first film. Some things should just be left alone.

The reef cuttlefish or broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) is...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:37:33 +0100

The reef cuttlefish or broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) is the second largest cuttlefish species after Sepia apama, growing to 50 cm in mantle length and 10 kg in weight. Like many cephalopods, the broadclub can be seen displaying a range of colors and textures. Commonly they are light brown or yellowish with white mottled markings. Males are sometimes dark brown, particularly during courtship and mating. They mate in shallow water between January and May. Their eggs hatch in 38 to 40 days. During the breeding season, males establish a territory, defending a coral head where females lay eggs after mating. Courtship is highly ritualized and involves striking visual displays. Males often guard females to ward off other males.

Tim Burton's Batman 3

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:43:00 +0100

Batman 3 is a rumored film project to have been directed by Tim Burton. Rumors suggest that when the third Batman film went into production, it was initially going to be directed by Burton with Michael Keaton. The film was to have Bruce Wayne enlisting the assistance of an orphan by the name of Robin, in bringing down the villainous Riddler, not expecting to meet with a new love interest to complicate matters. Rumors claimed Micky Dolenz was to play the Riddler and that Robin Williams was offered the role, but turned it down. The Riddler was to have his head shaved with a question mark.

The film was to include a possible return of Catwoman (who survived the events of Batman Returns). Renee Russo was cast as Keaton’s love interest. Marlon Wayans meanwhile, was actually signed on to portray Robin and even costume tested, for the film.

But Warner Bros. ultimately threw out Burton after they realized the tone of the film was to be similar to Batman Returns. When Joel Schumacher came on board as the new director, he threw out most of Burton’s decisions and ideas, starting from scratch. As a result, Wayans’ contract was actually paid out in full by Warner Bros. and Chris O’Donnell was cast as Robin instead. Tommy Lee Jones was then cast as Two-Face to replace Burton’s choice of Billy Dee Williams. Although Burton never intended on using the Two-Face in the film, he had left the door open as a possibility in future installments. Schumacher approached Robin Williams to play the Riddler, who after some deliberation turned down the role. Instead Schumacher cast Jim Carrey. Renee Russo was deemed too old to play Kilmer’s love interest, and therefore was replaced by Nicole Kidman. Conflicting reports involve actor Brad Doruif as a possible choice for The Scarecrow.

After some negotiating, Keaton left the film as he was unhappy with the script being lighter-in-tone and the absence of Tim Burton.

In reality, according to an interview with Janet Scott Batchler, Burton’s only involvement with Batman Forever was approving Schumacher as director and Lee and Janet Scott Batchler as the writers. Burton did not contribute story ideas and by the time the Batchlers signed on, Schumacher already had hired Tommy Lee Jones to play Two-Face. The Riddler was also not considered for the villain until Schumacher and the Batchlers were at the development stage when Warner Bros. wanted two villains in the movie; they wrote the role with Robin Williams in mind, but no deal was made with him. Also, it was Schumacher who wanted to bring in the character of Robin and the Batchlers turned to their assistant, who grew up in the circus, for research. The character of Dr. Chase Meridian was also created as a way to challenge both sides of Batman’s personality, with Nicole Kidman’s name mentioned for the role in the early stages.

Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:29:47 +0100

Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun that appear visibly as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection by an effect comparable to the eddy current brake, forming areas of reduced surface temperature. Like magnets, they also have two poles. Although they are at temperatures of roughly 3000–4500 K (2727–4227 °C), the contrast with the surrounding material at about 5,780 K leaves them clearly visible as dark spots, as the intensity of a heated black body (closely approximated by the photosphere) is a function of temperature to the fourth power. If the sunspot were isolated from the surrounding photosphere it would be brighter than an electric arc. Sunspots expand and contract as they move across the surface of the Sun and can be as large as 80,000 kilometers (50,000 mi) in diameter, making the larger ones visible from Earth without the aid of a telescope. They may also travel at relative speeds (“proper motions”) of a few hundred m/s when they first emerge onto the solar photosphere.