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A harbinger is a sign of things to come. Throughout history and literature, harbingers and omens figure prominently, and are responsible for major decisions which have altered the course of both.
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- Giant Jellyfish, known as Nomura's Jellyfish (pictured), have been discovered approaching the Sea of Japan in alarming numbers. Local communities brace for possible disaster.-read more
- The Worlds Largest Telescope, dubbed the Thirty Meter Telescope, will be built at the summit of Mauna Kea, alongside the current largest telescope.-read more
- Fighter Jet crash lands in Afghanistan killing both crew members, making this the fourth crash in three days.-read more
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Worlds Largest Telescope to be Built in Hawaii
An idea that began around six years ago, the Thirty Meter Telescope is one step closer to coming to fruition. The board of directors of the TMT Observatory Corporation selected Mauna Kea as the preferred site for the Thirty Meter Telescope on July 21st 2009. When completed the TMT will be the worlds largest telescope, dwarfing the second largest - also located on Mauna kea.
The Telescope
The telescopes mirror stretches nearly 100 feet in diameter composed of 492 segments, and will be so large that it can gather light that will have spent 13 billion years traveling to earth. This will enable astronomers to detect and study light from the earliest stars and galaxies, analyze the formation of planets around nearby stars, and test many of the fundamental laws of physics.
The TMT can do this by the latest innovations in precision control, segmented mirror design, and adaptive optics to correct for the blurring effect of Earth’s atmosphere, allowing the TMT to mimic the results of a telescope in space.
Choosing the Site
The TMT Observatory Corporation conducted a global satellite survey and selected five outstanding site candidates for further ground-based studies of atmospheric stability, wind patterns, temperature variation, and other meteorological characteristics that would affect the performance of the telescope.
After the ground based studies were performed, Mauna Kea and Cerro Armazones were selected in May 2008 for environmental, financial, and cultural impact studies. Richard Ellis, a board member of the TMT Observatory Corporation, told reporters that one of the deciding factors was that Mauna Kea is at a higher elevation, its air is drier and its average temperature fluctuates less during the course of the day
Public Reaction
By and large, the decision to locate the TMT on Mauna Kea was well recieved. Many universities expressed excitement at the decision. Researchers and students at the University of Hawaii are particularly excited, as they have been promised a share of the TMT's observation time.
On the other hand, Native Hawaiian and environmental groups have protested the new building site. According to Native Hawaiian tradition, high altitudes are sacred, and a gateway to heaven. In Acient Hawaii only Kahuna (chiefs) and Ali`i (Priests) were allowed at Mauna Kea's peak. Mauna Kea, and it's sister volcano Mauna Loa, are at the center of an important Native Hawaiian legend. According to the legend, Mauna Kea is (or depending on the teller, it could simply be the place of residence for) the goddess Poliahu, and Mauna Loa is (or is the residence of) the rival goddess Pele. The mountain is also home to one confirmed burial site and perhaps four more.
Environmentalists oppose the telescope on the grounds it would hurt some endangered species.
Society
Giant Jellyfish Population Swells in Sea of Japan
Japanese researchers conducting marine surveys discovered alarming numbers of Nomura's Jellyfish floating towards the Sea of Japan. Nomura's Jellyfish can grow up to 6 ft (1.83 m) wide, and weigh more than 450 bs (Expression error: Missing operand for round. kg). Twice before - in 2005, and again in 2007 - nomura's jellyfish have swarmed the Sea of Japan. Both times the enormous jellyfish destroyed fishermens nets, and poisoned the rest of the catch. Human injuries were rare, but there were reports of fatalities due to the massive jellyfishes noxious sting. Japanese scientists have speculated that the heavy rains in China's Yangtze River Delta may have created a current that is pushing the jellyfish flotilla to Japan. Another theory suggests that warmer seas caused by global warming have created more favorable breeding conditions, causing the jellyfishes numbers to swell.
Impact on the Economy
As the jellyfish float in they get caught in fishermens nets, often leaving the net completely useless. Fishermen in the area often use expenseive labarynthine nets that can stretch for hundreds of kilometres. Usually the nets are owned by large communities of fishermen, and in some cases the entire fishing community. When the jellyfish destroy the nets, the communites that owned the nets are economically devastated. In most cases the communities entire livelyhood depends on the fishing industry, and few can afford to lose nets to the jellyfish.
The swarms in 2005 and 2007 have prompted the Japanese government to put a warning system in place for fishermen. When the Jellyfish get close, the alarm will sound, and fishermen will pull in their nets. They still lose the fish they may have caught while the jellyfish are in the area, but they don't have to worry about losing their nets anymore.
Fourth Fighter Jet In Three Days Crashes
On Monday, July 20, 2009, a fighter jet crashed in southern Afghanistan, the fourth wreck in three days. As the jet was going down the crew ejected safely, and were treated for minor injuries. According to Air Force spokesman Lt. Colonel Paul Kolken, the role of insurgents has been ruled out. Military officials did not identify the type of jet that crashed, the nationality of the crew, or any speculation as to the true cause of the crash.
On sunday, both a military and civilian helicopter went down, though in seperate areas. The military helicopter had a "rough landing", but no one was seriously injured according to NATO. The civilian helicopter went down immediatly after take off from Kandahar airfield, killing sixteen people.
On Saturday a United States Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet crashed in central Afghanistan killing both crew members. The U.S. statement did not say where the crash happened. Afghan authorities said the plane went down in the Nawur district of Ghazni province in central Afghanistan, a peacful area populated by the ethnic Hazara minority. According to Afghan authorities, the local people alerted the police to the crash, but by the time they arrived at the scene U.S. troops had cordoned off the area and would not alow them to pass. USAFCENT, the air component of CENTCOM, says the crash was not attributable to hostile fire, and that a board of officers would convene to determine the cause of the crash.
According to NATOs International Security Assistance Force, none of the aircraft were shot down.