All posts tagged: Blue

A beautiful blue butterfly wing offers a new way to study cancer

A beautiful blue butterfly wing offers a new way to study cancer

Published by skeptic

amplify: To increase in number, volume or other measure of responsiveness. cancer: Any of more than 100 different diseases, each characterized by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. The development and growth of cancers, also known as malignancies, can lead to tumors, pain and death. chemical: A substance formed from two or more atoms that unite (bond) in a fixed proportion and structure. For example, water is a chemical made when two hydrogen atoms bond to one oxygen atom. Its chemical formula is H2O. Chemical also can be an adjective to describe properties of materials that are the result of various reactions between different compounds. computer model: A program that runs on a computer that creates a model, or simulation, of a real-world feature, phenomenon or event. crystal: (adj. crystalline) A solid consisting of a symmetrical, ordered, three-dimensional arrangement of atoms or molecules. It’s the organized structure taken by most minerals. Apatite, for example, forms six-sided crystals. The crystalline components of a rock are usually too small to be seen with the unaided eye. …

Bluesky Introduces Blue Checkmarks and New Verification Methods

Bluesky Introduces Blue Checkmarks and New Verification Methods

Published by skeptic

Bluesky, the burgeoning social media site has introduced a new verification system with two ways to get verified. And the company is reviving the Twitter-style blue checkmark.  Bluesky will “proactively verify authentic and notable accounts and display a blue check next to their names,” the company said in a blog post Monday. This is how Twitter used to handle verifications before Elon Musk bought that site, renamed it X, and allowed users to buy checkmarks. So, if you’ve been yearning for Twitter circa 2017, this will feel familiar to you. Users verified with this method will see a smooth, circular blue checkmark icon added next to their Bluesky name. Read more: Are You a ‘Twitter Quitter?’ Over 35 Million People Are Using Bluesky Bluesky didn’t specify how it would choose these accounts, but did note in its blog post that 270,000 people have set their domains as their username, which is how users and companies can “verify” their accounts currently. Like the Twitter of old, it’ll likely be based on influence, and will probably include celebrities …

Blue Origin’s all-woman space flight made history, but not in the way it’s promoting

Blue Origin’s all-woman space flight made history, but not in the way it’s promoting

Published by Sam

Gayle King wishes everybody would adopt a more realistic perspective about Monday’s Blue Origin space outing. The “CBS Mornings” co-host has been telling anyone who will listen that what she and her five fellow NS-31 mission crewmembers experienced was not a “ride.” King insisted it was a true spaceflight that gave her a new impression of how precious life and the Earth are. “You’re way up there and you’re very aware of that,” she told Extra on Tuesday, adding that looking at the Earth from more than 300,000 feet above the ground reminded her to “do better, be better. “ “We can do that, because we’re so small in the scheme of things and we’re not here for a very long time when you really think about it,” King offered. “So we can all be better in what we’re doing in our lives.” The panorama from 62 miles aloft must be grand, but apparently it’s impossible to read the room from that distance. Spiritually, sure. King was describing her brush with the Overview Effect, space …

Why Most Ancient Civilizations Had No Word for the Color Blue

Why Most Ancient Civilizations Had No Word for the Color Blue

Published by José

In an old Zen sto­ry, two monks argue over whether a flag is wav­ing or whether it’s the wind that waves. Their teacher strikes them both dumb, say­ing, “It is your mind that moves.” The cen­turies-old koan illus­trates a point Zen mas­ters — and lat­er philoso­phers, psy­chol­o­gists, and neu­ro­sci­en­tists — have all empha­sized at one time or anoth­er: human expe­ri­ence hap­pens in the mind, but we share real­i­ty through lan­guage and cul­ture, and these in turn set the terms for how we per­ceive what we expe­ri­ence. Such obser­va­tions bring us to anoth­er koan-like ques­tion: if a lan­guage lacks a word for some­thing like the col­or blue, can the thing be said to exist in the speaker’s mind? We can dis­pense with the idea that there’s a col­or blue “out there” in the world. Col­or is a col­lab­o­ra­tion between light, the eye, the optic nerve, and the visu­al cor­tex. And yet, claims Maria Michela Sas­si, pro­fes­sor of ancient phi­los­o­phy at Pisa Uni­ver­si­ty, “every cul­ture has its own way of nam­ing and cat­e­go­riz­ing colours.” The most famous …

Will Katy Perry sing in space – and will the all-female Blue Origin rocket crew count as astronauts? | Science, Climate & Tech News

Will Katy Perry sing in space – and will the all-female Blue Origin rocket crew count as astronauts? | Science, Climate & Tech News

Published by skeptic

It’s been more than 60 years since a woman travelled into space without a man. And now six of them are blasting off from Earth. Popstar Katy Perry, author Lauren Sanchez, journalist and TV presenter Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn are due to launch in Jeff Bezos‘ Blue Origin rocket today. It will be the latest flight of the New Shepard programme, named NS-31, and is aiming to “create a lasting impact that will inspire generations”, with the women forming the first all-female crew since Russian engineer Valentina Tereshkova’s solo flight to space in 1963. Image: The planned flight of the New Shepard rocket. Pic: Blue Origin The trip is only expected to last around 11 minutes, with the reusable self-driving rocket taking off from Launch Site One in West Texas, at 8.30am local time (2.30pm BST). It will reach a maximum height of 100km (62 miles) above Earth, with the women technically entering space as the capsule crosses the Karman line, which is …

In the hills of Tennessee, a developer hopes to offer blue state Christians a refuge

In the hills of Tennessee, a developer hopes to offer blue state Christians a refuge

Published by skeptic

Whitleyville, Tenn. (RNS) — On a sunny morning in mid-February, Josh Abbotoy, who describes himself as a “conservative Christian who does land deals,” drove a 20-year-old Lexus LX470 around a former farm, crossing a creek, squeezing by a run-down barn and driving along one of the farm’s roads in hopes of showing off the view from one of the ridgetops. But there had been too much rain and the road was muddy, so he parked and hopped out for a 10-minute walk up to the ridgetop, admiring the red cedars and Bois d’Arc trees that line the hillsides. At the top of the ridge, Abbotoy surveyed the view of the green fields and rolling hills while painting a picture of a community filled with lovely homes and families, looking down over wide fields and a stately church. A month earlier, RidgeRunner, a real estate company Abbotoy runs, announced it had bought the 448-acre farm, with hopes of developing it into an “agrihood” — with about 30 estate-style homes dotting the farm’s hillsides. “The fields will …

Blue Ant Media Go Public Acquiring Boat Rocker Media Reverse IPO

Blue Ant Media Go Public Acquiring Boat Rocker Media Reverse IPO

Published by skeptic

Indie studio Blue Ant Media, producer of unscripted series like Canada’s Drag Race and Northwoods Survival, has unveiled plans for a reverse IPO to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange by acquiring assets from Boat Rocker Media Inc. Blue Ant, a private company controlled by former Alliance Atlantis head Michael McMillan, will go public via a reverse-takeover of Insight Productions, Jam Filled Entertainment and Proper Television picked up from Boat Rocker Media. As part of the deal, Boat Rocker Media will acquire all shares of Blue Ant, at a price of $2.25 each, or a 125 percent premium to the March 21 closing price of Boat Rocker Media stock. After the completion of the transaction, shares in Blue Ant Media Corp. will trade on the TSO. As part of the transaction, Blue Ant shareholders are expected to own a 73.5 percent stake in the Toronto-based media company, with Boat Rocker Media shareholders retaining a 26.5 percent holding. Blue Ant said it generated CAN$196 million (US$137 million) in revenues in its most recent fiscal year ending …

Blue Note Jazz Club boss says restrictive licensing laws are killing music after late licence refused | Ents & Arts News

Blue Note Jazz Club boss says restrictive licensing laws are killing music after late licence refused | Ents & Arts News

Published by skeptic

The boss of an iconic jazz bar says he’s been left “surprised” and “confused” after his late licence application for a London site was turned down, making him question support for live music in the capital. Steven Bensusan – president of Blue Note Entertainment Group and son of the original Blue Note Cafe founder Danny Bensusan – told Sky News: “If they’re not giving us a late licence, I can’t imagine how they would be supportive of other smaller venues, which are important for the ecosystem in general. “For music to survive and continue to thrive and grow, you need the feeder venues. They need the smaller venues, and you need the venues like the Blue Note. It’s important for the music.” The planned venue at a former gym on St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, had been set to become the bar’s flagship European site. The club had applied to Westminster City Council to remain open until 1am serving alcohol. However, in February, the Met Police objected to the jazz club’s application over fears it …

Wiltshire’s Blue Frontier marks 20 years ahead of London office opening

Wiltshire’s Blue Frontier marks 20 years ahead of London office opening

Published by skeptic

Blue Frontier, the Wiltshire-based digital agency, has unveiled a new ‘Year of 20s’ initiative as the team mark 20 years in business. They’re planning to launch a series of research and development projects to develop new methods, processes and technologies, as well as offering work placements to local university students. The firm will also open a new office in London this summer, complementing its existing locations in Salisbury, Bristol and Southampton. James Fry, managing director, said: “A 20th anniversary is an extraordinary milestone for any business. “These initiatives have been selected to drive growth, promote personal development, support our communities and help offer more opportunity and progression for young people. “We hope to engage as many people as we can.” Source link

Morning blue light exposure improves sleep and activity levels in older adults

Morning blue light exposure improves sleep and activity levels in older adults

Published by José

Want to improve sleep and feel more active during the day? For older adults, the answer might be as simple as switching to blue-enriched light in the mornings. A recent study published in GeroScience shows that this type of light can positively influence the body’s natural rhythms, resulting in better sleep and increased daytime engagement for seniors at home. As people get older, their sleep patterns often change, and they may find it harder to get restful sleep. These changes can include sleeping less deeply, waking up more during the night, and feeling tired during the day. One reason for this is that as we age, our eyes become less effective at letting in light, which is important for regulating our body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. Think of our bodies as having an internal clock that is set by daylight. Reduced light input can weaken this clock, making it harder to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Furthermore, older adults may spend less time outdoors in bright daylight and more time indoors under artificial light, which can also …