NASA Image of the Oct 7th..[ 1846 ]

The latest NASA "Image of the Day" image.

And Away

The nose of an inflatable half-scale model of a NASA F/A-18 in front of the NASA Aeronautics exhibit points skyward as a host of hot-air balloons ascend at the 2010 International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, N.M. 

Image Credit: NASA/Jay Levine

Πέμπτη, 7 Οκτώβριος 2010 7:00:00 πμ

Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile..[ 1845 ]

Russia's Bulava missile hits target in test

MOSCOW, October 7 ., RIA Novosti

A ballistic missile launchrom a Bulava submarine-

A test warhead from a Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile successfully hit its target on the Kura test range in Russia's Far East Kamchatka region, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The missile was fired from the Dmitry Donskoy submarine in the White Sea.

Bulava test launches were put on hold after a failed launch on December 9, 2009, which was caused by a defective engine nozzle.

The Bulava (SS-NX-30), a three-stage liquid and solid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), has officially suffered seven failures in 13 tests.

2 Japanese-American share chemistry 2010 Nobel...[ 1844 ]

Nobel Prize in chemistry a chance to ponder Japan's scientific strengths

(Mainichi Japan) October 7, 2010+

Akira Suzuki and Ei-ichi Negishi have won the 2010 Nobel Prize in chemistry together with American Richard Heck, just two years after another Japanese national won the prize.

Japanese scientists also won the chemistry prize for three years in a row from 2000 to 2002 -- their achievements have brought the prize significantly closer to Japan.

The 2010 prize was awarded for the scientists' work in organic synthesis, one of Japan's specialties. The award is not only an encouragement for the nation, but will also spur young people's interest in science and the culture of craftsmanship. We are delighted by the achievement.

The framework of the various organic compounds that are useful in medicine and other areas of our daily lives is built upon carbon. For this reason, reactions that bind carbon atoms are extremely important in forming many organic compounds.

It is very difficult, however, to get carbon to react. And, as soon as the reactivity is increased, impurities emerge.

Suzuki and Negishi were awarded the Nobel Prize "for palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis." By adding a small amount of palladium to reactions as a catalyst, they were able to efficiently and accurately bond targeted carbon atoms, and produce new synthetic compounds.

Heck, who could be described as the pioneer of such reactions, developed what is known as the "Heck coupling reaction." Negishi extended this reaction to develop a reaction called the "Negishi coupling." The "Suzuki coupling" developed by Suzuki is a completed version. It is used extensively in pharmaceutical products, liquid crystals and the synthesis of chemical fibers. The Nobel committee no doubt took the extensive application of these reactions into consideration in awarding the scientists the prize.

Many Japanese contributed to the development of cross couplings, and many reactions are named after their Japanese developers. Three names were picked out this time in connection with palladium-catalyzed reactions, but there are likely others whose work would merit the same recognition. It is certain that the breadth of Japanese scientists in this field led to Suzuki and Negishi being honored.

We remember that Osamu Shimomura, who won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, produced results through a finding in fundamental science that was sparked by his own interests. What he discovered became an indispensable tool in biological science. In a similar vein, the 2010 prize was probably the fruit of the scientific world's efforts, whereby a chemical reaction based on basic science led the way to better reactions.

Under such circumstances, we cannot gaze comfortably on the current state of science in Japan. There are many issues that need to be addressed, including the decline of basic research funding at universities, and the weak state of the system bridging the gap between basic science and its application.

The scientific world is in the midst of an international battle, and the rise of emerging nations threatens Japan's strength in craftsmanship. We want to use the 2010 Nobel Prize as an opportunity to think about what has enabled Japan to remain at the top of the field of organic chemistry amid such circumstances.

Click here for the original Japanese story

Related articles

• 2 Japanese, American share chemistry Nobel

Attacks on NATO-Afgan convoys in Pakistan..[ 1843 ]

Nato says Afghan campaign 'unimpeded' by Pakistan row

 

Attacks on Nato convoys have risen dramatically since a key crossing was shut

BBC.,7 October 2010 Last updated at 07:26 GMT 

Nato says its war effort in Afghanistan has not been impeded by its supply problems in Pakistan.

Attacks on convoys have soared since Pakistan shut a key border-crossing because of a Nato air-strike which killed at least two soldiers.
The US has now apologised for the attack.
Nato says it expects the problem to be resolved soon.

But relations with Islamabad have been placed in further doubt by a White House report that has questioned Pakistan's willingness to curb militants.

Tanker attacks

In the latest attacks blamed on militants, at least 40 tankers carrying fuel for Nato were destroyed on Wednesday.
Brigadier-General Josef Blotz, a spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), told the Reuters news agency operations were "not impeded at all by these incidents".
He added the publication of a joint inquiry into last week's Nato helicopter attack could help bring about the reopening of the border route through the Khyber Pass.

Analysis

Paul Adams BBC News, Washington

---

The latest White House assessment of the war in Afghanistan suggests the Pakistani military's reluctance to take on the Taliban or al-Qaeda on its side of the border is as much a political choice as a reflection of an under-resourced military choosing what it can or cannot do.

This summer's devastating floods clearly gave the Pakistani authorities yet another headache, but the White House assessment paints a picture of a military that stays close to main roads, disrupting and displacing militants but not willing or able to stabilise areas afterwards.

The report also criticises Pakistan's president, Asif Ali Zardari, for travelling to Europe after the August flooding, saying this had damaged his image at home and abroad, as well as exacerbating inter-party tensions and civil-military relations.

Confidence in the civilian government, it says, has dropped steeply throughout the year, although confidence in the military has actually climbed.

"We do expect that with the closure of the assessment... we are closer to a resolution of all the problems," he said.

The American apology to the dead and injured in the air strike came in a statement from US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson who paid tribute to Pakistan's "brave security forces".

Nato's Gen David Petraeus also apologised and vowed to work to stop similar incidents happening in the future.

However, a White House report to the US Congress questioned Pakistan's willingness to tackle militants operating in the tribal areas of North Waziristan, close to the Afghan border.

The report said Pakistan's military stayed close to the main roads, avoiding "military engagements that would put it in direct conflict with Afghan Taliban or al-Qaeda forces in North Waziristan".

This was "as much a political choice" as a question of military ability, the report said.

Although it said operations against insurgents had continued in South Waziristan, soldiers had stayed close to roads and progress was slow.

Khyber crossing

Pakistan said three of its soldiers were killed in the helicopter strike on 30 September and responded by closing the Torkham crossing, seen as vital for supplying the US and Nato troops in Afghanistan.
More than 100 tankers destined for Afghanistan have since been destroyed.
The Chaman crossing in Balochistan remains open, but this is not as convenient for supplies bound for Kabul.
Supplies can also be brought into northern Afghanistan via Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

NASA Image of the Oct 6th..[ 1842 ]

The latest NASA "Image of the Day" image.

Soyuz Rolls to the Pad

The Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft is rolled out by train to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010. 

 

The TMA-01M is a new modified Soyuz vehicle that features upgraded avionics and a digital cockpit display. 

 

The launch of three new Expedition 25 crew members--Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri, NASA Flight Engineer Scott Kelly and Russian Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka--is scheduled to launch on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. EDT. 

 

Image Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi

Τετάρτη, 6 Οκτώβριος 2010 7:00:00 πμ