Will Dreadnoughtus Dinosaur Lose Its Heavyweight Title?

Dreadnoughtus — the immense, long-necked dinosaur recently uncovered in Patagonia — may not be as heavy as scientists once thought, a new study suggests.

Instead of weighing a whopping 60 tons, Dreadnoughtus schrani likely weighed between 30 and 40 tons, the researchers who published the new study said, although not everyone agrees on this estimate.

"Using digital modeling and a data set that took in species, alive and dead, we were able to see that the creature couldn't be as large as originally estimated," the study's lead researcher, Karl Bates, a lecturer of musculoskeletal biology at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, said in a statement. [Images: Uncovering the Colossal Dreadnoughtus Dinosaur]

However, Kenneth Lacovara, the paleontologist who discovered the dinosaur, isn't convinced. The model in the new study uses the dinosaur's body volume as a proxy for its mass, said Lacovara, a professor of paleontology and geology at Drexel University in Philadelphia. But Dreadnoughtus' total volume is unknown because scientists have only about 45 percent of the dinosaur's skeleton, he said.

"They're using a proxy that doesn't exist to estimate a number that can never be validated," Lacovara told Live Science.

Carry that weight

Lacovara and his colleagues published their findings on the 77-million-year-old Dreadnoughtus in 2014. The new species appeared so gigantic and fearsome that Lacovara named it Dreadnoughtus after steel warships. According to the dinosaur's 115 bones (they found a smaller, younger Dreadnoughtus fossil with 30 bones nearby), it likely stood two stories high at its shoulders and measured 85 feet (26 meters) from head to tail.

But some researchers are doubtful of the dinosaur's mass, originally reported to be about 130,700 lbs. (59,300 kilograms). To calculate the animal's mass, Lacovara and his colleagues used a well-known scaling equation based on the circumference of the dinosaur's limb bones. The results made Dreadnoughtus the largest dinosaur with the most complete skeleton on record, the researchers said.

Yet something seemed off, the researchers on the new study said. Two other sauropods(herbivorous, long-necked, four-legged dinosaurs) had similar skeletal proportions to those of Dreadnoughtus, but their calculated masses were less — just 55,000 to 77,000 lbs. (25,000 to 35,000 kg), the researchers on the new study said.

So, they used a 3D skeletal modeling method to get a better idea of Dreadnoughtus' mass. The technique uses a mathematical model to reconstruct the volume of the dinosaur's skin, muscles, fat and other tissues around the bones, they said.

The reconstructed measurements are based on data from living animals, the researchers noted. They explored a range of body sizes to predict how heavy Dreadnoughtus might have been, which is how they reached their 30- to 40-ton estimate.

"The original method used to calculate the mass of the animal is a common one and has been used successfully on many specimens," Bates said in the statement. "The highest estimates produced for this particular giant, however, didn't quite match up." 

Dinosaur debate

But Lacovara said the volume-based modeling method isn't appropriate for dinosaurs, especially Dreadnoughtus.

"No one knows whether dinosaur bodies were particularly fat, particularly skinny or somewhere in between," he said. "Also, very little is definitively known about the respiratory system of sauropods. Therefore, no one knows how much volume should be subtracted for the lungs [and] any system of air sacs." [Paleo-Art: Dinosaurs Come to Life in Stunning Illustrations]

However, if researchers were to apply this modeling system to other sauropods, "Dreadnoughtus would still be among the most massive," Lacovara said. He added that if Dreadnoughtus were lighter than originally estimated, the behemoth would have abnormally large legs in comparison to its mass.

"Biomechanists agree that animals essentially have the limbs that they need in terms of weight-bearing capacity," Lacovara said. "In other words, there is no reason to suppose that the limbs of Dreadnoughtus were overbuilt. Proposing that an animal has anomalously huge limbs compared to its mass requires an evolutionary explanation that the authors do not provide."

As for the two sauropods that had similar skeletal proportions to those of Dreadnoughtus  — more evidence is needed, Lacovara said.

"A pig and a dog can have similar 'overall skeletal proportions,' but obviously, they would have greatly different weights," he said. "The minimum [bone] shaft circumference of both these animals, however, would show that the pig is actually much heavier."

source: http://www.livescience.com/51158-dreadnoughtus-dinosaur-not-so-big.html

Top 5 Mysteries of the Moon

Intro

Credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF
Considering how much scientists know about inaccessible realms of the universe, from the interiors of black holes to the nuclei of atoms, you'd think they would have our nearest celestial neighbor all figured out. Not so. The moon still harbors secrets aplenty.

The following five moon mysteries have had astronomers scratching their heads for decades, centuries and in some cases even thousands of years. So next time you're gazing at the moon, give your head a scratch, too, and ponder these intriguing lunar secrets.

1.Where did it come from?

Credit: NASA | Joe TucciaroneCultures worldwide have long offered up myths to explain the moon's existence. Nowadays, scientists have other ideas of what really happened.
Many lines of evidence (including the moon's smallish core, its complement of certain elements and computer simulations rewinding the Earth-moon orbital dance over eons) point to the moon being spawned in a giant impact. According to this theory, about 4.5 billion years ago, a Mars-size body slammed into a young, molten Earth, and that collision gouged out the material that would coalesce into our lunar neighbor.
This picture has problems, however. The theoretical impactor, dubbed Theia, should have left residue with distinctive characteristics, but they have not been detected. And the amount of certain substances in the moon — too much frozen water, for example — does not readily mesh with a hot, cataclysmic origin scenario.

2. Why two-faced?

Credit: NASA
The moon is "tidally locked" to Earth, meaning only one hemisphere faces us. We know that side well, with its dark regions called maria, or "seas," of cooled magma. Oddly, however, these maria are virtually absent from the back side of the moon, as has been revealed to us by probes (and seen in person by Apollo 8 astronauts). The proverbial "dark side of the moon" also is much more pockmarked by craters.
The starkly different hemispheres have been partly explained by the far side having a crust roughly 9 miles (15 kilometers) thicker than that of the near side. The crust on the side facing us could have more easily cracked under the onslaught of meteorites, causing maria-forming magma to be released from deeper in the moon. But that crustal asymmetry is an enigma itself. The extra cratering, meanwhile, could stem from greater exposure to space on the far side than on the Earth-shielded near side. Better modeling of the moon's interior and a better understanding of the damage wrought by impacting bodies might help explain this strange two-facedness. [What Does the Top of the Moon Look Like?]

3. Why so big near the horizon?

Credit: Tim McCord
The moon stays the same size throughout the night, regardless of whether it's hovering near the horizon or soaring overhead. However, a low-hanging moon appears much larger than a high-flying one. This trick of the brain — known either as the moon illusion or the Ponzo illusion — has been observed since ancient times, but still has no generally accepted explanation.

One theory holds that we're used to seeing clouds just a few miles above us, while we know that clouds on the horizon can be tens of miles distant. If a cloud on the horizon is the same size as clouds normally are overhead despite its great distance, we know it must be huge. And because the moon near the horizon is the same size as it normally is overhead, our brains automatically tack on a similar size increase.

But not everyone thinks clouds have worked their magic on our brains to such a great extent. One alternative hypothesis holds that the moon seems larger near the horizon because we can compare its size to nearby trees and other objects on Earth — and it looms large in comparison. Overhead, amid the vast expanse of outer space, the moon seems diminutive.

4.Why so blue?

Credit: University of Maryland/F. Merlin/McREL
The moon is much more watery than would be expected. Water ice has turned up meters-deep in craters near the poles, particularly in a plume kicked up by the deliberate impact of NASA's LCROSS probe in 2009. Studies have suggested the interior of the moon is also far wetter than ever supposed (though still hyper-arid compared with modern-day Earth). Recent re-examinations of the rock samples brought back to Earth by astronauts have even yielded signs of water.

Icy comets most likely delivered a substantial portion of this water when they smashed into the moon, but scientists are still at a loss about the sheer quantity of H2O. It's possible, they believe, that some of the water may even be made right there on the moon, by protons in the solar wind interacting with metal oxides in the moon rocks. [Where Did Earth's Water Come From?]

5. Is it alone?

Credit: NASA/JPL
Astronomers think Earth might actually have two moons. One is that waxing and waning nightlight we all know and love, while the other is a tiny asteroid, no bigger than a smart car, making huge donuts around Earth for a while before zipping off into the distance. Based on the number and distribution of asteroids in the solar system, researchers estimate that there should be at least one space rock at least 1 meter (3.3 feet) wide orbiting Earth at any given time. They're not always the same rock, but rather an ever-changing cast of "temporary moons."
In the scientists' theoretical model, our planet's gravity captures these asteroids as they pass near us on their way around the sun. When one is drawn in, it typically makes three irregularly shaped swings around Earth — sticking with us for about nine months — before hurtling on its way.

But the temporarily captured asteroids are tough to spot — too small when they're orbiting far away, and too fast and blurry when they swing close by — so we can't be sure they're there. If future sky surveys prove we really do have a second moon, then many scientists think we should build a spacecraft to go get it and bring it back to Earth.

source: http://www.livescience.com/33882-moon-mysteries-supermoon.html

Top 7 Tech Trends to Watch Out For

The 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show is about to hit Las Vegas in a few days, with the annual business event spanning over two million square feet of show floor -- enough gadgets to fill up 35 football fields.

The Consumer Electronics Association, the organizer of the event, said that there are 150,000 to 160,000 professionals expected to attend from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9.

According to Tim Bajarin of Time, who receives hundreds of invites to meet up with companies during the show, there are seven trends that will be highlighted at the 2015 CES.

4K TV and sound bars

Five to seven years ago, high-definition TVs were a highlight of the CES. TV companies were pushing consumers and businesses to upgrade from analog TVs to HD TVs. In this year's CES, it is the turn of 4K TVs, which display four times the resolution of the current HD TVs, to be highlighted. Over 100 different models of 4K TVs by dozens of companies will be on display.

In addition to the 4K TVs, another new piece for the family living room are sound bars, which are small sound systems that partner nicely with the slim form of 4K TVs. While tiny, the sound bars are capable of pumping out HD stereo and 5.1 surround sound.

Internet of Things

One of the major themes for the devices at the 2015 CES is the ability to connect to the Internet or to other devices. An emphasis will be on home automation systems, which will include smart door locks as among the next trends.

Other home automation gadgets are thermostats and light bulbs that are connected to other devices, along with beds that are able to gather the user's sleeping information.

Smart Cars

The biggest car companies in the world began to attend the CES about a couple of years ago, with this year's show featuring 10 automakers: Audi, BMW, Ford, General Motors and Mercedes Benz. The companies will be showing different forms of technology for self-driving vehicles, with Toyota also reported to unveil technology on fuel cells.

The automakers will also feature Internet connectivity within vehicles, along with the ability to sync several features of vehicles with the driver's smartphone. Many of the companies will reveal an integration of the CarPlay service of Apple in their cars.

Wearable Technology

Wearable technology devices will be a major force in the 2015 CES, despite the absence of the most anticipated of such devices for the year, namely the Apple Watch. Highlighted wearable devices include fitness trackers, smart watches, and maybe new headwear similar to Google Glass.

Apple does not attend the annual CES. However, the company will still hold a presence in the event as the Apple Watch is a major component of the discussion on wearable devices. In addition, over 100 booths will be displaying wearable accessories for Apple devices.

One of the devices that has caught the interest of Bajarin is the device by GoMore, which now includes EKG monitoring. This feature allows the device to monitor the stamina and heart rate of the athletes that use the device.

Consumer Robotics

There will be a special section in the 2015 CES for robotics, which will surely contain interesting takes on consumer robots. The Roomba by iRobot currently dominates the industry, but that could change as drones, which are airborne robots, will be launching at the show.

Tablet Computers

The growth of tablet computers slowed down last year, but it seems that tablets will again be highlighted in the 2015 CES. Many low-cost tablet computers will be featured, with more of the devices focusing on specific functions such as serving as alarm clocks or personal TVs.

3D Printers

According to the CEA, 3D printer technology is something to watch for this year, with the cost of the devices already significantly declining. It is expected that there will be models selling for below $1,500 in the 2015 CES.

At the price of around $1,500, 3D printers are not yet ready for the mainstream. It will require more innovations in terms of software and hardware, along with even lower tag prices.

source : http://www.techtimes.com/articles/24382/20150103/ces-2015-top-7-tech-trends-to-watch-for.htm