Wednesday 30 November 2016

Astronomy - This asteroid is so small, it could fit in your living room

Astronomy - This asteroid is so small, it could fit in your living room



At 2 meters in diameter, it's a small, bright piece of natural space debris.
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NASA/JPL-Caltech
Astronomers in Arizona observed the smallest near-Earth asteroid ever characterized, a 6.5 foot (2 meter) diameter asteroid smaller than most cars.  
This asteroid, called 2015 TC25, also reflects 60 percent of light that falls onto it, making it not only the smallest asteroid, but also the brightest near-Earth asteroid. 
2015 TC25 was discovered last October by a team led by assistant professor as the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Vishnu Reddy, Lowell Observatory, and Northern Arizona University using Earth-based telescopes. Last year’s discovery was published this month in the Astronomical Journal.
The team found 2015 TC25 using Lowell’s 4.3-meter Discovery Channel Telescope, NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility, and the Magdalena Ridge Observatory 2.4-meter telescope. Using these resources, they found out that the asteroid has a rotational period of 2.23 minutes along with its irregular shape.
Reddy said in a press release that new observations show the asteroid’s surface is similar to aubrites, a highly reflective meteorite made of bright minerals. Aubrite is typically formed in oxygen-free environments at extremely high temperatures and are fairly rare; One out of every 1,000 meteorites, to be exact.
“This is the first time we have optical, infrared, and radar date on such a small asteroid, which is essentially a meteoroid,” Reddy said in a press release. “You can think of it as a meteorite floating in space that hasn’t hit the atmosphere and made it to the ground – yet.”
Reddy believes 2015 TC25 was probably chipped off of its parent, 44 Nysa, by impact from another rock.
Stephen Tegler, co-author of the study and professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Northern Arizona University, said in a press release it’s important to study near-Earth asteroids because of the threats they can pose to us.

Astronomy - Large ice sheet discovered on Mars

Astronomy - Large ice sheet discovered on Mars



Utopia Planitia is hiding a sheet of ice the size of New Mexico
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An exaggerated image of the scalloped region on Utopia Planitia
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has discovered a massive sheet of ice on Utopia Planitia, the same area where Viking landed in 1976. The ice sheet, buried under the soil, is nearly the size of New Mexico, according to Kenneth Chang at the New York Times.
The ice sheet ranges from 260 to 560 feet thick and researchers believe it is about half water with dirt, rocks, and empty spaces mixed in. Cassie Stuurman, lead author of the article in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, said in an interview with the New York Times that based on how the ice was deposited, it likely gathered through snowfall and was later buried. It does not appear there are any signs of it having ever melted into a lake.
Scientists have been interested in this area for a while because of polygonal cracking and scalloped depressions. Places on Earth often show patterns like these due to ice below expanding, contracting, and melting due to changing temperatures, causing the cracks and scallops.
This discovery, along with a more moderate climate than polar areas that have water deposits, may make Utopia Planitia a first choice for future landing sites if crewed exploration of the red planet goes forward.

Horoscope for Thursday 01st December 2016

Horoscope for Thursday 01st December 2016



Are you curious to know what today has in store for you? Jessica Adams' free daily horoscope will help you to plan your Thursday.

Aries

Aries

March 21 - April 19
Set aside preconceived ideas about how you should look or appear - or what you are to others - as this is not last year, or even the year before that. You have a lot of new factors to work with about 'Me' from today, Aries.

TAURUS Apr 20 - May 20

Taurus

April 20 - May 20
It is tempting to assume that an old set-up or formula will just carry on, but you need to update yourself as everything really is very new - and it will keep on changing in front of your eyes - so set aside the past.

GEMINI May 21 - Jun 22

Gemini

May 21 - June 20
You may have thought you had particular friendships or group commitments pinned down as known factors, but you would be the first to admit everything went through a radical change in recent months - so work with 'real.'

CANCER Jun 21 - Jul 22

Cancer

June 21 - July 22
In June, the situation in your chosen field, industry, business or profession (or at home, if you full-time parent) went through the most tumultuous changes. You may not be fully aware of just how much shifted. Take a look.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 22

Leo

July 23 - August 22
Leo, it is the right moment to 'look and see' not just assume and carry on as if 2016 was just the same as 2015. The internet, publishing, education, travel, foreign people and places are in a brand new space so adjust, adapt.

VIRGO Aug 23 - Sep 22

Virgo

August 23 - September 22
There is every good reason to use your powers of observation now, living in the moment with the money, house, apartment, business, possessions or charity. You need to clock what's there and how much has changed.

LIBRA Sep 23 - Oct 22

Libra

September 23 - October 22
"The past is a foreign country," wrote L.P. Hartley in The Go Between. "They do things differently there." The past, where your former, current or potential partner is concerned, is now just that. So move on and experiment.

Scorpio

Scorpio

October 23 - November 21
The swirling activity in your chart now is located in your Sixth House of everyday life, daily routine, housework, work, food, drink, doctors, drugs, fitness and the rest. Observe what is swirling. It won't stop for weeks. Adapt!

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 - Dec 21

Sagittarius

November 22 - December 21
It would be comforting and reassuring to assume that where you left certain things, with the lovers, babies, children, Millennials or youth affairs in your world - is where they still stand, unchanged. Yet things have moved on and you must too.

Capricorn

Capricorn

December 22 - January 19
The reality of life on the home front is that Uranus is in charge of this area of your chart in December and so you should adapt, adjust and keep moving - as life moves on ahead of you. You are so overdue for an update with your house, flat, town, country, family or flatmates.

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Aquarius

January 20 - February 18
You probably have no idea just how much the radical changes, resistance, little revolutions and rebellions of the last six months have affected everything online, but also with multimedia and so on. Now is the time to find out.

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Pisces

February 19 - March 20
The astrological weather in December is stormy, energizing and challenging if you are prepared to take on the challenges with your money, business interests, property and so on. See what's actually there and what changed!

News - Researchers find biggest exposed fault on Earth

News - Researchers find biggest exposed fault on Earth


Geologists have for the first time seen and documented the Banda Detachment fault in eastern Indonesia and worked out how it formed.
Lead researcher Dr Jonathan Pownall from The Australian National University (ANU) said the find will help researchers assess dangers of future tsunamis in the area, which is part of the Ring of Fire - an area around the Pacific Ocean basin known for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
"The abyss has been known for 90 years but until now no one has been able to explain how it got so deep," Dr Pownall said.
"Our research found that a 7 km-deep abyss beneath the Banda Sea off eastern Indonesia was formed by extension along what might be Earth's largest-identified exposed fault plane."
By analysing high-resolution maps of the Banda Sea floor, geologists from ANU and Royal Holloway University of London found the rocks flooring the seas are cut by hundreds of straight parallel scars.
These wounds show that a piece of crust bigger than Belgium or Tasmania must have been ripped apart by 120 km of extension along a low-angle crack, or detachment fault, to form the present-day ocean-floor depression.
Dr Pownall said this fault, the Banda Detachment, represents a rip in the ocean floor exposed over 60,000 square kilometres.
"The discovery will help explain how one of the Earth's deepest sea areas became so deep," he said.
Professor Gordon Lister also from the ANU Research School of Earth Sciences said this was the first time the fault has been seen and documented by researchers.
"We had made a good argument for the existence of this fault we named the Banda Detachment based on the bathymetry data and on knowledge of the regional geology," said Professor Lister.
Dr Pownall said he was on a boat journey in eastern Indonesia in July when he noticed the prominent landforms consistent with surface extensions of the fault line.
"I was stunned to see the hypothesised fault plane, this time not on a computer screen, but poking above the waves," said Dr Pownall.
He said rocks immediately below the fault include those brought up from the mantle.
"This demonstrates the extreme amount of extension that must have taken place as the oceanic crust was thinned, in some places to zero," he said.
Dr Pownall also said the discovery of the Banda Detachment fault would help assesses dangers of future tsunamis and earthquakes.
"In a region of extreme tsunami risk, knowledge of major faults such as the Banda Detachment, which could make big earthquakes when they slip, is fundamental to being able to properly assess tectonic hazards," he said.

Psy - The Personality Trait Linked To Doubling Of Heart Disease Risk

Psy - The Personality Trait Linked To Doubling Of Heart Disease Risk:






How pessimism and optimism independently influence the death rate from heart disease.

Being a pessimist is associated with a higher chance of death from coronary artery disease, a study found.
Previous studies have suggested that optimism is related to better cardiovascular outcomes and even optimism or a low level of pessimism protects people from heart disease.
The study followed 2,267 men and women from Finland aged between 52 and 76 for over 11 years.
In the scientific sense, optimism and pessimism focus on attitudes towards the future.
They are about expecting that many good or bad things, whether possible or impossible, will happen.
The test includes questions like “in uncertain times, I usually expect the best” or “if something can go wrong for me, it will”.
Participants in the top 25% of scores on pessimism were more than twice as likely to die of heart disease than those who scored lowest on pessimism.
However, optimists who have a ‘glass half-full’ attitude were not protected against mortality caused by heart disease, but did better than pessimists, the study added.
Dr Mikko Pänkäläinen, the study’s first author, said:
“High levels of pessimism have previously been linked to factors that affect cardiac health, such as inflammation, but data on the connection between risk of death from CHD and optimism and pessimism as personality traits are relatively scarce.”

Dr Pänkäläinen added:
“Levels of pessimism can be measured quite easily and pessimism might be a very useful tool together with other known risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension or smoking to determine the risk of CHD-induced mortality.”
Dr Suzanne Steinbaum, cardiologist and director of Women’s Heart Health at Lenox Hill Hospital, noted:
“With pessimism, we know that there is an increase in inflammatory hormones and stress hormones.
And that likely affects the heart, leading to heart attacks and atherosclerosis.
Although we might not be able to say, ‘Be optimistic, it’s going to save you,’ what we can say is that pessimism really creates a stressful environment in your body and that leads to heart disease.”

Dr Steinbaum suggests that behavioural therapy can help pessimistic people since this type of therapy helps people to think differently.

Psy - Depression Rates Highest In These 17 Jobs

Psy - Depression Rates Highest In These 17 Jobs






There are four things about a job that are likely to make it have high depression rates.
Bus drivers top the list of occupations with the highest depression rates.

They are closely followed by real estate agents and social workers.
What do these — and the other jobs with the highest rates of depression — have in common?
It’s dealing with the public, as the study’s authors explain:
“…service industries which require frequent or complex interactions with the public or clients are disproportionately represented…
This supports the theory that the stress of emotional labor could contribute to depression.”
High emotional labour refers to the idea of frequently having to manage your emotions in a job.
For example, imagine a flight attendant smiling and saying “Good morning” to the 465th passenger of the day.
Here is the full list of the 17 jobs with the highest depression rates:
  1. Transportation driver
  2. Estate agent
  3. Social worker
  4. Manufacturer
  5. Personal services
  6. Legal services
  7. Housekeeper
  8. Membership organisations
  9. Security and commodities brokers
  10. Printing and publishing
  11. Agricultural services
  12. Retail
  13. Electric, gas, and sanitary
  14. Special trade contractors
  15. Petroleum and coal
  16. General merchandise retail
  17. Auto repair
This is far from the first time that depression has been linked to people working in public transportation.
The authors explain:
“The highest depression rates were found for Local and Suburban Transit and Interurban Highway Passenger Transportation
This industry contains bus drivers who have frequently been observed to have elevated rates of heart disease, hypertension, or stroke, often attributed in part to work stress.”
More than just dealing with the public, though, it is too much interpersonal conflict that is linked to high depression rates:
“…industries with the highest depression…tended to be industries that, on the national level, had more interpersonal conflict and encounters with difficult people than industries with the lowest depression rates.”
The other major factors for depressing jobs:
  • Low levels of control over your work.
  • Little physical activity during work.
  • High levels of work/family conflict.
  • Much effort for little reward.

Tourism - The best journey takes you home

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"The best journey takes you home."

When we dream of traveling we often imagine only the most exotic places, countries as different and far away as possible. We want to immerse ourselves in foreign cultures, hear languages we don't understand, and eat foods we couldn't get anywhere else. But why wander around in the distance, when good things often lie nearby.
Traveling does not necessarily mean to board a plane that brings you halfway across the world. Having a traveler's mindset also means to explore your immediate surroundings wherever you are - even if it is at home.
When did you pretend to be a tourist in your home town last? Or gone on a road trip around your state?
December is often a time even traveling nomads will return home to spend some time with their families and celebrate the holidays. This is why we have chosen to put this month's focus on intimate love letters to our homes and creative ways to get into a traveler's mindset at home.
We hope that by showing you our appreciation for our homes, you will show some for yours. And by the end of the month you might agree, that sometimes the best journey takes you home.
Before we look ahead though, let's look back at the month that has just passed. Here are some of our favorite reads from November 2016:
▪ How to present Travel on your Resume: A gap year shoudln't stand in your way of getting a job!
▪ About Quitting, Winning and Solo Travel: A personal story of finding your way by guest blogger Dilan.
▪ How Food Tours can be the Key to Understanding a Culture: Food is not just delicious, but gives away a lot about the local culture.
▪ Finding Happiness in Micro Adventures: It doesn't always have to be a long-term adventure!

What to expect

Of course this is not all we have to offer here! Read on for exclusive previews on what's happening at Travelettes in December, some more great travel advice and a cool GIVEAWAY powered by our friends from VAUDE!
Ready to get inspired?!
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featured home newsletter

Featured Destination: HOME

As much as we love travel, we also love our home towns. The greatest adventures begin by stepping outside your door - whether you head to the airport, or simply to a local neighbourhood you've never been to before.
We want to tell you more about our home cities and countries this month. By learning how to appreciate the little things at home, traveling abroad becomes even more rewarding.

Get Involved!

Do you love where you're from? We would love to feature your home stories! Introduce us to your home town, tell us what's so special about it and why you love it, inspire us to take a stay-cation or show us how to decorate a traveler's home! If you would like to contribute a guest post, have a look at our writing & photo guidelines and get in touch at contribute@travelettes.net! We'd love to hear from you!
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things we love
We love sharing our favorite products, people and services with you, because we think they can make your travel experience just that little bit better - or a lot, actually, they make everything a lot better!
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A Mountain Mug

You know we love the mountains just as much as the pristine white sand beaches of this world.
There are many adventure-themes mugs out there, but this one - a handmade Mountain Mug made of clay - really caught our eye!
It's available on Etsy from $21 plus shipping, and makes for a great Christams gift to yourself or a loved one!
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Travelette of the Month: Vanessa Graf

Each month, we turn the spotlight on one of our girls and the passions that define her work.
This month, we turn to Vanessa, one of our newest members, who's in love with travel just as much as she loves mountains.
Since graduating high school Vanessa has lived and studied in Romania, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Kyrgyzstan. How she got involved with Travelettes and what's on her future travel schedule, find out in her portrait!
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traveletty christmas

traveletty christmas
Travelettes Christmas Gift Guide 2016 Pin

10 Awesome Christmas Gifts for Travelers

Christmas is approaching super fast and we're sure you could use some inspiration for awesome Christmas gifts for travelers - here are our top 10 ideas:
1) The Artisan Box by Globe In: A monthly subscription box filled with artisan crafts from around the world.
Use TRAVELETTES for $10 discount (3- or 6-month subscription).
2) Scratch Off Map by Landmass: To keep track of your travels AND decorate your home.
3) Sseko Designs Sandals: The most versatile sandals ever with interchangeable ribbons and accents.
4) Cityscape Rings by Shektwoman: A ring to carry the skyline of your favourite town with you at all times.
5) The Cheerz Box by Cheerz: The ideal DIY gift for which you don't need crazy skills - just some beautiful photos!
Use TRAVELETTES for €5 discount!
6) The Feminist Activity Book: Filled with games, colouring projects and crafts to smash the patriarchy!
7) 'Be the Change' bracelet: To support the NGO #ShowSumLove in bringing change to the world.
8) A Crumpled City Map: For a planned adventure - or to get the ball rolling!
9) A Travel Hammock, like the LA SIESTA, for those picture-perfect moments up in the mountains or beneath the trees.
10) Donate in someone's name: There is no better gift than the gift of giving.

You can find the full Travelettes Christmas Gift Guide right here!

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giveaway vaude
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Carry-On Trolley by VAUDE

Can't decide between a trolley and a backpack as carry-on luggage? With the Sapporo trolley from VAUDE you don't have to!
We have teamed up with VAUDE to give away a handy carry-on trolley with stowable backpack straps and a padded laptop compartment. You can pull it, push it or simply carry it on your back - which ever way is most convenient for you!
The Sapporo holds 33L, which makes it the perfect carry-on bag for small weekend trips and flights with low-cost airlines. The bag also has zip pockets and organizers to always keep your most important belongings handy.
We are particularly proud to work with VAUDE, because they are a member of Fair Wear Foundation (FWF), and are committed to improve the working conditions at their production facilities.
So, what do we have for you?
VAUDE is rewarding one lucky Travelettes-subscriber (UK only) with a handy Sapporo carry-on trolley! All you have to do for a chance to win - well, you've already done! This newsletter giveaway is exclusive to you, our subscribers, to say THANK YOU for saying YES to Travelettes!
Winners will be chosen at random from the list of subscribers and notified via email.
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where to next
With HOME being our featured destination of the month, you might have already guessed that quite a few of our team are heading 'home' in one way or another - and we'd like to show you around!
The month will start with Vanessa taking us away for a skiing trip to her home country Austria, but surely there will be some time for traditional food and wellness as well?! Taking over from the other side of the world, Annika will be showing us around her beloved home town Cape Town. She might live in Hamburg now, but South Africa where she lived for many years, will always be in her heart. Finally, Kathi is bringing you back to Austria, but this time you get to see its bustling capital, Vienna. Here she will spend some quality time with her family, roam the Christmas markets for mulled wine and last-minute presents, and hopefully find some snow along the way!