Epsilon Aurigae

A little tribute to Margherita Hack by @ulaulaman

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The bright star Epsilon Aurigae (HD 31964) is a single-lined spectroscopic binary that is famous for its long orbital period (27.1 yr), which is punctuated by an almost two-year long eclipse caused by an essentially invisible object.
By examining the optical spectra of Epsilon Aurigae near the end of its 1954-1956 eclipse, Hack⁽¹⁾ was able to deduce the electron density and develop the hypothesis of a Be-star-like hot object at the center of a large disk of occulting material⁽²⁾.

(from Hoard D.W., Howell S.B. & Stencel R.E. (2010). Taming the invisible monster: Systme parameter constraints for ϵ Aurigae from the far-ultraviolet to the mid-infrared, The Astrophysical Journal, 714 (1) 549-560. DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/714/1/549

A grave alarm

posted by @ulaulaman about an invention by #AugustLindquist

My invention relates to improvements in grave alarms, whereby persons who are prematurely buried before life is extinct, can sound an alarm, thus notifying the cemetery officials of the fact.
The object of my invention, is not only to provide means for sounding an alarm, but also to provide an improved construction whereby fresh air is supplied to the person prematurely buried, whereby life may be sustained until help arrives.

from the patent by August Lindquist

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Read also: Grave Alarm, 10 medical and scientific discovery in weird history
via greatgrottu

Physics and multidimensions

posted by @ulaulaman about @lirarandall conference at #wirednextfest in #milano

One of the most famous theoretical physicist in the world, Lisa Randall, was yesterday in Milano for the Wired's Next Fest with a conference about Physics, technology and multidimensions. The physicist talked about LHC, the Standard Model and the Higgs boson and the connections between his research work.

The starting point is a light introduction about the scales in our universe: we known the cosmic and macroscopic scales, and the microscopic scale, and it is really important for us to understand what is the more appropriate scale in order to study a particular phenomenon. An beautiful example is the Eiffel Tower in Paris: