October 11, 2008

Help for Victims of Cyberabuse

Wired Safety - the world's largest Internet safety and help group

WiredSafety.org, one of the websites created in the wake of the unfortunate deaths of teenaged victims of cyberbullying, has put together a live help system for young people who are victims of Internet abuse.

It’s still hard to believe that there are a lot of people out there who are just getting started using the Internet, but if you know someone who is like that, you might want to have them check out WiredSafety’s basics of the Internet pages.

WiredSafety provides help, information and education to Internet and mobile device users of all ages. They help victims of cyberabuse ranging from online fraud, cyberstalking and child safety, to hacking and malicious code attacks. They also help parents with issues, such as MySpace and cyberbullying.

September 1, 2008

What is a Semiconductor?

A semiconductor is a substance, usually a solid chemical element or compound, that can conduct electricity under some conditions but not others, making it a good medium for the control of electrical current.

Its conductance varies depending on the current or voltage applied to a control electrode, or on the intensity of irradiation by infra red (IR), visible light, ultraviolet (UV), or X rays.

Semiconductors have had a monumental impact on our society. You find semiconductors at the heart of microprocessor chips as well as transistors. Anything that’s computerised or uses radio waves depends on semiconductors.

Semiconductor make moving image works which reveal our physical world in flux; cities in motion, shifting landscapes and systems in chaos. The secret lives of invisible magnetic fields are revealed as chaotic ever-changing geometries in the following movie.


Magnetic Movie from Semiconductor on Vimeo.

August 16, 2008

Create Paper Art

paper art

Show off your favourite line of papers by using découpage on canvas to create do-it-yourself art. Paint the edges of the canvas to complete the look.

August 10, 2008

Make a Pocket Purse

pockets.jpg

Transform an old pair of jeans into a cute purse that’s perfect for a phone or an iPod.


Instructions

  1. Cut the pockets out of a pair of jeans.

  2. Embellish with ribbon, buttons, and pre-made accessories.

  3. Hot-glue around the edges, leaving about 1 cm of space at the top for the handle.

  4. Attach ribbon or braided denim as the handle; hot-glue into place.

August 6, 2008

When Forces of Nature Collide

Two of nature’s most spectacular forces produced an incredible show in the skies of Chile as a volcanic eruption met a lightning storm in May this year.

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Tonnes of dust and ash from the eruption of the Chaiten volcano poured into the night sky just as an electric storm was passing overhead.

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The resulting collision created an extraordinary sight as lightning flickered around the dust cloud in the fiery, orange glow of the volcano.

July 25, 2008

Northern and Southern Lights

aurora borealis alaska

The multicoloured aurora borealis and aurora australis - the Northern Lights and Southern Lights - represent some of Earth’s most dazzling natural displays.

northern lights

Scientists using data from five NASA satellites have learned what causes frequent auroral flare-ups that make this green, red and purple lightshow that shimmers above Earth’s northernmost and southernmost regions even more spectacular.

Writing in the journal Science, the scientists said that explosions of magnetic energy occurring a third of the way between Earth and the moon drive the sudden brightening of the Northern Lights and Southern Lights. There had been debate among scientists dating back decades about what triggers these auroral flare-ups.

southern lights

The findings from the THEMIS satellites and a network of 20 ground observatories in Canada and Alaska confirmed that it is due to a process called “magnetic reconnection.” THEMIS stands for Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms mission.

Auroral displays are associated with the solar wind - electrically charged particles continuously spewing outward from the sun. Earth’s magnetic field lines reach far out into space as they store energy from the solar wind.

The researchers said that as two magnetic field lines come close together due to the storage of energy from the sun, a critical limit is reached and the lines reconnect, causing magnetic energy to be turned into kinetic energy and heat. The release of this energy sparks the auroral flare-ups.

July 16, 2008

Pets for Small Spaces

If space in your home is an issue but you still want some animal company, here are three ideas for pets which don’t take up too much room, that you may like to consider.

Chihuahua

ChihuahuaThe smallest of all dogs rapidly spread around the world in the early 1800s. The breed is unmistakable, weighing less than 2kg, with a large domed head, prominent eyes and large ears. Chihuahuas are often intolerant of strangers but they are bright, alert and intelligent dogs within the family circle who will defend their territory with force beyond their size. Grooming is minimal but they do appreciate warmth in the winter. An ideal house dog for the older person, though most tolerate children quite well.

Hermit crabs

Hermit CrabsAn unusual crab that literally carries its own home wherever it goes - the body is adapted to anchor within a shell. Spare shells are essential when they moult. Management is simple: a glass tank, the base lined with coarse gravel or grit; a bowl with fresh water and a bowl with salt water. Hermit crabs feed on vegetables and fruit with a pellet or flake supplement available at pet stores. It is essential not to overfeed them and to maintain a humid environment needed because crabs breathe through gills. In the wild hermit crabs spend most of their time above the shoreline but wander down to the sea every few days for a bath.

Children’s python

PythonDon’t be put off by the thought of a snake, these are delightful pets. You’ll need to purchase your reptile from a breeder and obtain a licence to keep it. It’s also worth seeking advice from the local herpetological society to set up the vivarium (snake enclosure): A ply structure 1 m long and 50cm wide and tall with a glass front is ideal. Two lights placed at opposite ends of the enclosure are needed to provide infra-red heat at 26-28 degrees Celsius and the correct range of ultraviolet light. This allows the snake to move in and out of the heat. Cover the base with a natural substrate like desert sand or use a recycled paper type cat litter. A shallow water container will help with shedding when your python grows into new skin. Food is important. Use only thawed frozen mice from pet shops with Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIRA) accreditation. Feeding live prey can teach your pet to strike and worse still, pass on internal parasites.