One of my favourite science and engineering facts is that an underground river was frozen to enable the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to be built! On its completion‚ it helped to complete the proverbial jigsaw of the Standard Model with is last piece‚ the Higgs Boson. But that’s about as far as it has got with no other exciting leaps forward in uniting gravity and quantum physics. Plans are now afoot to build a new collider that will be three times longer than the LHC and it will be capable of smashing particles together with significantly more energy.  In the past few decades‚ particle colliders have become a key tool for unraveling the mysteries of the universe at the fundamental level. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC)‚ was a game changer and‚ with an amazing 27km circumference became the world’s most powerful collider. There are now plans to increase the number of collisions to try and improve its input to understanding the Universe but even with this ‘High Luminosity’ phase‚ CERN (European Council for Nuclear Research) wants to go even further and build a new collider! If colliders like LHC are to play a part in high energy physics over the coming years then energy thresholds need to pushed beyond current capabilities. The Future Circular Collider (FCC) study has looked into various collider designs‚ envisaging a research infrastructure housed within a 100km underground tunnel. This ambitious project is promising a physics program that will take high energy research into the next century.  There are a number of challenges that face the design and engineering of the new tunnel however; it must steer clear of geologically interesting areas‚ optimise future collider efficiency‚ allow for connectivity with the LHC‚ and adhere to social and environmental impacts of the surface buildings and infrastructure. Choosing ‘where to put it’ seems to be quite the challenge so a range of layout options are being considered‚ guided by CERN’s intent to avoid the impact on the area. Within the FCC tunnel (which looks like it will be placed beneath ring-shaped underground tunnel located beneath Haute-Savoie and Ain in France and Geneva in Switzerland) will be two colliders that will work together sequentially. The first phase is scheduled for inauguration around mid-2040s and comprises an electron-positron collider (FCC-ee). The hope is that it will give unparalleled precision measurements and unveil physics beyond the standard model. Following hot on its heels will be the proton-proton collider (FCC-hh) which will surpass the energy capability of LHC eightfold! It’s an exciting prospect that FCC will push particle collision to energies of 100 TeV in the hope of uncovering new realms of physics. To achieve the goal however‚ new technological advances will be required and to that end‚ over 150 universities from around the world are exploring the options.  Source : Feasibility Study into new Super Collider The post CERN Wants to Build an Enormous New Atom Smasher: the Future Circular Collider appeared first on Universe Today.

"I would never have thought that Bad Manners would have been popular within the Mexican government!" The post How Bad Manners took over Mexico first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

by David Lindfield‚ Slay News: Mark Epstein has gone public with his brother Jeffrey’s autopsy photos in an effort to prove that his death was not a suicide‚ as officially claimed. He released photographs from Jeffrey Epstein’s autopsy Friday to former Fox News star-turned-independent podcaster Megyn Kelly. The deceased pedophile’s brother explained why he believes […]

by Sean Adl-Tabatabai‚ The Peoples Voice: Infowars host Owen Shroyer has announced plans to take the Biden administration to the Supreme Court for violating the First Amendment rights of ordinary Americans. Last week‚ Shroyer had his J6 appeal dismissed. In response‚ Shroyer is taking his Free Speech case all the way to the Supreme Court. TRUTH […]

Hillary Clinton has been discussing President Biden’s ‘old age’ with MSNBC’s Alex Wagner following the release of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report. Robert Hur’s report investigating Biden’s handling of classified documents found that he had [...] The post Hillary Clinton Says Biden’s Age Is “Legitimate Issue” appeared first on The People's Voice.

100 years ago today‚ George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue‚ a mix of classical music with modern effects written for piano and jazz band‚ premiered in New York City. The 26-year-old Gershwin composed the 9-minute piece on a train ride to Boston—and it became one of the most popular and well-known of all American concert works. READ […] The post Good News in History‚ February 12 appeared first on Good News Network.

The post Harlequin Cat: Pictures‚ Rarity &; History by Kristin Hitchcock appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead Earliest Records in History Rise in Popularity Formal Recognition Unique Facts Does a Harlequin Cat Make a Good Pet? A harlequin cat has a specific coat coloration that sets them apart from other felines. They’re primarily white‚ with only around 25% of another color. They tend to have large‚ irregular patches of another color‚ though this other color can be anything at all. Sometimes‚ harlequin cats even have tabby markings in their colored patches. This coloration solely refers to a cat’s coat color. It is not a particular breed‚ though this color does only occur in certain breeds. Because harlequin cats do not belong to a specific breed‚ their size‚ and temperament are completely up in the air. You cannot tell how large a cat will grow or what they will act like based on their coloration. Luckily‚ unlike harlequin dogs‚ these cats don’t have more health problems than other felines. Furthermore‚ harlequin cats are much more common than harlequin dogs. Let’s learn more about this unique cat color. Earliest Records of the Harlequin Cat in History Cats have had a decent amount of white in their coat since the beginning of their domestication. We don’t know exactly when these felines appeared‚ as people did not keep records of cat coloration thousands of years ago. You can often find cats with over 50% of their coat white in your local shelter‚ though not all breeds will exhibit this coat coloration. In some specific breeds‚ it may also be rare. It largely depends on the exact breed we’re discussing. We do have pictures of cats with over 50% of their coats white‚ dating to the 10th century in Europe. Therefore‚ these cats have existed since at least then. That said‚ they were probably around much earlier than that. Image Credit: akirEVarga‚ Pixabay How the Harlequin Cat Gained Popularity The harlequin cat is a striking‚ unique pattern that many people are drawn to. However‚ it isn’t more common than other coat types. These cats probably developed pretty naturally throughout the years. Because these cats aren’t rare‚ it’s likely that they didn’t need to be particularly chosen by humans. They weren’t selectively bred for their traits like certain cat breeds. Instead‚ harlequin cats probably just become more common over time through natural breeding. Formal Recognition of Harlequin Cats Harlequin cats are recognized by practically every cat fancy club out there. However‚ the exact specification and name used to identify this coloration varies. For instance‚ the Governing Council of Cat Fancy defines harlequin cats as having more white than bi-colored cats but not as much white as the van pattern. As you might guess‚ there is a lot of personal preference at play here‚ and the lines can get smudged. You cannot measure the exact proportion of white on a cat’s coat very successfully‚ after all. That said‚ they do say that the cat should be predominately white. In other words‚ a cat should be at least 60% white to be considered in this category. These standards only recognize certain cats as coming in this coloration‚ as well. Snowshoe and oriental shorthairs are two of the breeds that do. Top 3 Unique Facts About Harlequin Cats These cats may not be very rare‚ but there are some facts that you may not know about them: 1. These cats are all unique. No two Harlequin cats are the same. They each have a different pattern‚ which can vary quite a bit. Preferably‚ each spot should be larger than a thumbprint‚ but that’s all that the standard says about this coloration’s specific pattern. 2. The genetics behind this color aren’t fully understood. Each cat is unique largely because there are many genetics at play. We don’t understand exactly how these genes work‚ so breeders cannot breed for specific patterns. The piebald gene that leads to this pattern has several variations in itself‚ and there are several additional genes that play a role‚ too. Therefore‚ the intensity and pattern range widely from cat to cat. 3. What counts as a harlequin cat depends on who you ask. Typically‚ a harlequin cat is between a bicolor cat (which is a feline with about 50% white) and a van cat (which is a cat that’s almost completely white). However‚ these specific proportions are hard to measure on a cat‚ which leads to some cats being identified as having several different colorations. In many cases‚ it may depend on who you ask. Image Credit: MR.WICHAI THONGTAPE‚ Shutterstock Does a Harlequin Cat Make a Good Pet? We don’t recommend basing your adoption decision on a cat’s coat color. Despite some common misconceptions‚ coat colors do not typically have an effect on a cat’s temperament or health. Harlequin cats may look unique‚ but that doesn’t necessarily mean that every harlequin cat is suitable for your home. The cat’s health and temperament are far bigger factors than what the cat looks like. If you’re adopting from a shelter‚ take time to get to know the cat and ask those who work there about the feline’s temperament. If possible‚ get information about the cat’s past life and health records‚ too. Most rescue organizations will give the feline all the healthcare they need‚ but it is always good to check! If you’re purchasing a kitten‚ be sure that the breeder isn’t marking up their cats due to the “rarity” of the harlequin coloration. Even if the breeder doesn’t mark up their kittens‚ ensure that they breed for temperament and health—not just coat color. Perform all of the usual steps you would take to ensure that a breeder is producing quality kittens. Conclusion Harlequin cats aren’t a particular breed‚ and exactly what counts as a harlequin cat can vary. Luckily‚ these cats don’t seem to have extra health problems‚ as is true for harlequin dogs. You can expect a harlequin cat to be just as healthy as any other cat without any added chance of deafness or vision problems. While we don’t typically recommend harlequin dogs to the average owner‚ we can recommend harlequin cats wholeheartedly. Sources https://gccfcats.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SOP.final_.July2021.pdf https://www.explorecats.com/harlequin-cats-explained/ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Harlequin_patterned_bicolor_cats   Featured Image Credit: doypui‚ Shutterstock The post Harlequin Cat: Pictures‚ Rarity &; History by Kristin Hitchcock appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft‚ sent to explore the asteroid Bennu‚ delivered samples of material to Earth that scientists are now analyzing. The 500-meter asteroid poses a potential threat to our planet‚ and research into its composition and origin is essential to our understanding of the space environment and possible threats from space. After arriving at Bennu in 2018‚ the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft spent more than two years exploring the asteroid and collecting material samples before returning to Earth. In total‚ more than 1‚000 particles larger than half a millimeter were collected‚ including several large stones up to 3.5 centimeters in size. “We have over a 1‚000 particles that are greater than half-a-millimeter‚ 28 particles that are greater than a centimeter‚ and the biggest particle is 3.5 centimeters‚” OSIRIS-REx principal investigator Dante Lauretta told Space.com. Loretta‚ shared some interesting findings regarding the origins of the samples being studied. Investigator noted that the samples contain a phosphate crust that is more similar to materials found on ocean worlds beyond Earth than to typical meteorite fragments. “Asteroid Bennu may be a fragment of an ancient ocean world‚” said Lauretta. “That’s still highly speculative. But it’s the best lead I have right now to explain the origin of that material.” Although the full results of the study will be presented at a conference next month‚ the OSIRIS-REx mission has already brought us valuable data on the composition of the asteroid Bennu and its potential connection to ocean worlds. The post Asteroid Bennu may have come from an ocean-covered planet appeared first on Anomalien.com.