ISS Astronauts Preparing for Traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner

Ryan Harris posted: " While everyone's enjoying a quiet Thanksgiving Day dinner in the company of friends and family, the astronauts aboard the International Space Stations are hard at work, toiling in the name of science. In the past years, ISS's crew would drop everything" ISS Astronauts Preparing for Traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner by Ryan Harris ISS astronauts are preparing for their traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner in space. While everyone's enjoying a quiet Thanksgiving Day dinner in the company of friends and family, the astronauts aboard the International Space Stations are hard at work, toiling in the name of science. In the past years, ISS's crew would drop everything during Thanksgiving Day, to enjoy a good meal, and to reminisce with colleagues. However, this year the astronauts have a lot of stuff to do, meaning that the Thanksgiving Day meal will have to wait a while longer. At the moment, there are six astronauts aboard the International Space Station, but only two are Americans – Peggy Whitson and Shane Kimbrough. While everybody's busy stuffing their faces with turkey and other delicious Thanksgiving Day treats, Kimbrough will install a new type of centrifuge in the station's Cell Biology Experiment Facility. In addition, her compatriot will work side-by-side with Russian cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov to perform some ultrasound scans for a study called Fluid Shifts. The purpose of this study is to observe the eyesight changes experienced by astronauts in space.  As for the other astronauts, Oleg Novitskiy and Andrei Borisenko will spend the day unloading the shipment from Soyuz, and to replace a damaged control panel aboard the Russian Service Module. As for Thomas Pesquet, their French colleague, he will spend the day reading children's stories on camera. The French astronauts will also have to take some baseline measurements for the AquaMembrane project. So, what happens when the day is over? According to Kimbrough and Whitson, once the astronauts finish their daily chores, they will reconvene on board the Russian Service Module, where they will share a Thanksgiving Day meal with their Russian and French colleagues. According to Kimbrough, the evening's menu is more than enticing: green beans, mouth-watering turkey, yams, cherry-and-blueberry cobbler, mashed potatoes and sweet tea. Although no Thanksgiving Day meal is complete without a glass a wine or beer, the astronauts will have to settle for sweet tea, as the astronauts are forbidden to consume alcohol aboard the International Space Station. Kimbrough also said that after the meal is done, he's going to relax and watch some American football. Thanksgiving Day might feel like any other holiday, but when you're in outer space, you tend to value more the times spend with your friends and the meals you share with them, even if they come out of sealed bags. Image source: Wikipedia Ryan Harris | November 26, 2016 at 1:00 pm | Categories: Tech & Science

Microsoft Solitaire Coming to iPads and iPhones

Robert Moore posted: " Were you ever tempted to discard everything you knew about playing games like high-resolutions graphics and stunning visual effects and go back to something more basic? Well, if you and iOS users, then you're in luck. Recently, Microsoft has announced " Microsoft Solitaire Coming to iPads and iPhones by Robert Moore Microsoft Solitaire Collection can now be downloaded from Apple's online store. Were you ever tempted to discard everything you knew about playing games like high-resolutions graphics and stunning visual effects and go back to something more basic? Well, if you and iOS users, then you're in luck. Recently, Microsoft has announced the release of a new application, designed specifically for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users – the classic Microsoft Solitaire. Remember the day you bought your first computer and the first game you played? Well, if Microsoft Solitaire counts among them, then you're surely going to enjoy the time-honored game on your iOS-compatible device. What's even cooler is that the application can be download for free from Apple's online store. Now, for those of you who haven't had a chance to play this amazing game, here's what to expect from Microsoft Solitaire. The new iOS-based application is called Microsoft Solitaire Collection, and it includes five distinct card-based games. The first one is called Klondike Timeless and Classic Solitaire. As the name would suggest, it's the most basic form of solitaire which you can play. The purpose of the game is to clear the deck, using one or three-card draws. For an extra challenge, try playing the game with Vegas Scoring. The second game is called Spider Solitaire. Again, the purpose of the game to clear all the cards from the table, but there's a catch. While in Klondike you have an unlimited number of moves, in Spider Solitaire you have to clear the deck with fewest moves possible. The game can be played with one or four suits. The third game available in the Microsoft Solitaire Collection is Freecell. Often considered the chess of solitaire, the purpose of this card game is to clear the table by using four cells to move around the cards. This game is indeed challenging because it always forces you to think ahead. The fourth game is called Tripeaks. To win the game, you need to clear several boards before you run out of draws. Finally, the fifth game which you will be able to play is Pyramid. Again, you have to clear the table. But in order to do that, you must select cards whose values amount to 13. Microsoft Solitaire Collection can be run on any iOS device, and it's also available on Android's Google Play Store. Have fun shuffling those decks! Image source: Flickr Robert Moore | November 25, 2016 at 1:00 pm | Categories: Tech & Science

NES Classic Rekindles Childhood Memories

Robert Moore posted: " Remember the good old days, when you came rushing back from school just to play on your Nintendo console despite your mom telling you otherwise? Days have gone by, and console became more and more advanced. But what happened to simple things like blowin" NES Classic Rekindles Childhood Memories by Robert Moore NES Classic features one old-school wired controller and a library of 30 games. Remember the good old days, when you came rushing back from school just to play on your Nintendo console despite your mom telling you otherwise? Days have gone by, and console became more and more advanced. But what happened to simple things like blowing the dust from the game cartridge or trying to figure out why the TV set makes that funny noise? Well, keep your wits about you and wish away your nostalgia, because Nintendo granted your wish. Introducing the NES Classic Edition, a modern spin-off after the time-honored console. With the NES Classic, you will be able to replay all your favorite games and to relive all those great moments from your childhood. The NES Classic Edition is so small in size that it literally fits in your palm. This is great news for those who want to head over to a friend for a game of Super Mario Bros. In addition, the retrofitted console comes with 30 classic Nintendo games including Gradius, Dr. Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Ice Climber, and the ever-popular Excitebike. All of these games have been remastered, in order to be compatible with high-definition TV sets. The palm-sized NES console also comes with various video modes in order to make feel that you're actually playing on a classic Nintendo console. So, if you like old-school gaming, then try switching to the CRT filter mode. This option will scale the picture to its original size while keeping the original graphics intact. Furthermore, in order to make the experience even more veritable, the console was built to emulate that low-intensity buzzing sound emitted by the TV set after the console was connected. Speaking of which, you won't need to scavenge for TV/AV cables since the consoles are shipped out with an HDMI cable. Getting back to video modes, if you're in love with classic Nintendo games, but you still want to play them in HD, you can try using the 4:3 mode which sharpens and stretches the picture. Finally, for those who want to play the game in their original video format, but want sharper pictures, you can switch to the Pixel Perfect mode. You can take home one of these bad boys after paying $60. If you want a second controller, you will need to pay ten more dollars. NES Classic's only downside is that it has a three-foot long cable. Image source: Wikipedia Robert Moore | November 23, 2016 at 8:27 am | Categories: Tech & Science |

Volvo App to Replace Traditional Car Convenience Services

Melissa Gansler posted: " Thanks to Volvo's recently released mobile application, traditional car services like filling up the tank, car cleaning, and maintenance will become absolute. Tired of having to get out of the comfort of your own home to fill up the gas tank or to wash" Volvo App to Replace Traditional Car Convenience Services by Melissa Gansler The Volvo app will revolutionize the way we use car services. Thanks to Volvo's recently released mobile application, traditional car services like filling up the tank, car cleaning, and maintenance will become absolute. Tired of having to get out of the comfort of your own home to fill up the gas tank or to wash the mud away from your car? Then let Volvo's partners to it for you. Named the Concierge Services application, Volvo's innovative application is bound to change the way you look upon car services. At a press of a button, one of Volvo's partners will resupply your vehicle with gas on site, another one will polish it, and another on will take a look under the hood. Sounds like a regular pit stop, doesn't it? It's not only a car owner's wildest dream but another palpable attempt of improving the quality of existing services. So, how does it work? Well, unfortunately, we have to start with some bad news. First of all, the program is only in the pilot stage. Second, you have to live in San Francisco Bay area in order to enroll in the program. Third, you need to own an XC90 SUV or an S90 sedan (why not both?). Finally, you will need to be among the 300 Volvo owners who receives an invitation from the famous Sweden-based car maker. If you meet all of the above-mentioned requirements, you will be able to download the Volvo app and enroll in the program. The mobile application is compatible with both iOS and Android platforms. Subsequently, your authorized service providers will receive a limited-use digital key, which is time and location locked. With this key, they will be able to perform various convenience services. When the key expires, they will be unable to access your vehicle. So, what to do from here? Consider for a moment that you want to go on vacation, but you don't want to travel by car. If you leave the vehicle at home, someone still has to fill up the tank, wash it, and take care of it. But with the Volvo app, you can be sure that someone will look after your car once you leave the house. Another good example of how useful can the Volvo app be is filling up the gas tank on a rainy day. Instead of sitting there in the rain waiting for the pump, you can ask a representative to fill up the tank right in front of your house. In the event the program is successful, Volvo's American President added, it will become a permanent part of their pallet of services. Image source: Wikipedia Melissa Gansler | November 20, 2016 at 12:00 pm | Categories: Tech & Science |

Scientists Discovered that Kukulkan Pyramid Was Built Like Matryoshka Dolls

John Birks posted: " New facts revealed about the construction of the Mayan Kukulkan Pyramid, located in East Mexico. Using non-invasive techniques, a team of archeologists has discovered that the great 98-feet edifice has a construction similar to Russian nesting dolls. L" Scientists Discovered that Kukulkan Pyramid Was Built Like Matryoshka Dolls by John Birks Researchers have discovered that the Kukulkan pyramid is similar to Russian Matryoshka dolls. New facts revealed about the construction of the Mayan Kukulkan Pyramid, located in East Mexico. Using non-invasive techniques, a team of archeologists has discovered that the great 98-feet edifice has a construction similar to Russian nesting dolls. Located on the Chichen Itza archeological site, the Kukulkan Pyramid, which also bears the name of the Temple of Kukulkan, is a step pyramid, very similar to the Pyramid of Djoser, in Egypt, near the ancient city of Memphis. Attributed to god Kukulkan, the Mayan plumed serpent, this marvelous edifice built with limestone features several square terraces connected by four stairways located on each side. The base of the Kukulkan Pyramid measures more than 181 feet in length, while the entire edifice has more than 98 feet in height. The Kukulkan Pyramid is believed to have been constructed between the 9th and the 12th century, by the Pre-Columbian Maya civilizations. Up till this moment, researchers believe that the Pyramid consists of a single structure, erected in the middle of Chichen Itza site. However, recent research revealed that centuries-old pyramid harbors many unexpected surprises. Using non-invasive investigational techniques to map the interior of the edifice, the researchers found out that the Kukulkan Pyramid consists not of one, but three distinct structures built on layers. According to recent research, the smallest pyramid, which is closer to the base of the temple was constructed somewhere between 550 and 800 AD. Furthermore, the middle pyramid was built between 800 and 1000 AD, while the top part was constructed between 1050 and 1300 AD. The middle structure of the Temple of Kukulkan was discovered in the 1930s by a team of archeologists from the Carnegie Institute of Science. Preliminary data gathered after the recent investigations revealed that the great structure is very similar in design with the Russian nesting doll. Researchers believe that the new development will greatly help us understand the Mayan's way of life before their culture was influenced by populations coming from the central part of Mexico. The technique used to scan the interior of the great Kukulkan pyramid is based on short bursts of high-intensity lights. Using an apparatus that can generate this type of light, researchers are able to map the interior of the pyramid with great accuracy, without causing damage to the great Mayan monument.  | November 18, 2016 at 1:00 pm | Categories: Tech & Science