Monday, 27 April 2015

understand the universe

Astrophysics is a branch of space science that applies the laws of physics and chemistry to explain the birth, life and death of stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae and other objects in the universe. It has two sibling sciences, astronomy(the study of the stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets and nebulae) and cosmology( the study of the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe), and the lines between them blur.
 At NASA, the goals of astrophysics are to discover how the universe work, explore how it began and evolved, and search for life on planets around other stars, through the following projects
   Physics of the Cosmos
   Cosmic Origins
   Exoplanet Exploration
   Astrophysics Explorer Program
   Astrophysics Research


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Understanding the sun

heliophysics (physics of the Sun): encompasses environmental science, a unique hybrid between meteorology and astrophysics, To understand the changing flow of energy and matter throughout the Sun, Heliosphere, and Planetary Environments,To explore the fundamental physical processes of space plasma systems, and to define the origins and societal impacts of variability in the Earth-Sun System.  as a single connected system is the goal of the Science Mission Directorate's Heliophysics Research Program.
 In addition the study includes the interaction of solar plasma and radiation with Earth, the other planets, and the Galaxy. By analyzing the connections between the Sun, solar wind, planetary space environments, and our place in the Galaxy, through complementary missions of various sizes, timely development of enabling and enhancing technologies, and acquisition of knowledge through research, analysis, theory, and modeling. NASA are gradually uncovering the fundamental physical processes that occur throughout the Universe. Understanding the connections between the Sun and its planets will allow us to predict the impacts of solar variability on humans, technological systems, and even the presence of life itself, it is one of four divisions within NASA's Science Mission Directorate which includes Earth Science, Planetary Science and Astrophysics).


Monday, 20 April 2015

blaming earth

On December 4, 2013, University of Arizona graduate student Vanessa Bailey, leader of an international team of astronomers, detailed the discovery of HD 106906 b, two years later, on Wednesday 15th April 2015 NASA's further research enabled them come up with a conclusion that makes earth look stupid

The space agency’s researchers told the media that the recently identified planet, HD 904790 b,
 lead researcher Lisa Shapiro: “This is a thrilling and scientifically vital discovery that has substantially furthered our understanding of how much Earth truly sucks,” , emphasizing that Earth appears to be “straight-up dogshit” when contrasted with HD 904790 b’s exceptional terrain and climate. Situated within the Milky Way’s Cygnus constellation, HD 904790 b possesses a frustratingly high number of attractive geological, atmospheric, and hydrological features that we poor saps living on Earth can only dream of, NASA officials reported. In particular, the newly discovered planet is said to contain lush, flowering biomes across all of its 340 million square miles (unlike earth's 196,939,900) , which reportedly do not include any of the barren tundras, glacial ice shelves, or arid deserts that contribute to Earth’s status as a lousy.“HD 904790 b has an extensive ring system that dwarfs Saturn’s, zero tectonic plate activity, and more fresh water in just one of its massive, unpolluted oceans than we have on our entire worthless shits-tain of a planet,” she continued. “God, it makes me angry just to think of how much nicer it is there.”

Astronomer Gary Lopes: “When you take into account everything HD 904790 b has going for it, it makes you feel embarrassed to be associated with our dumb fucking world,” , pointing to the planet’s dozen colorful, reflective moons that make Earth’s sole natural satellite look like the total joke that it is. “I used to think that the Himalayas were impressive, but not after we received data showing that this new planet has thousands of towering volcanic peaks that blow Mount Everest right out of the water. It’s flat-out humiliating to have to compare our planet against that.”, noting how the least remarkable square mile of HD 904790 b far outweighs the very best that Earth has to offer in terms of physical grandeur and mineral richness,“

 Astronomer Samantha Wilhelm:  There’s no way I’m going to keep exploring the galaxy if it’s just going to make me feel like a complete dipshit for ever believing that my planet was anything special,”, if my team discovered a planet that was even better than HD 904790 b, i will “fucking kill [myself] on the spot.” NASA astronomers had calculated that it would take them approximately 300,000 years to reach the new planet in a space capsule, but unanimously agreed that it was worth a shot rather than “spend another day on this stupid lump of shitnew science discoveries

Saturday, 18 April 2015

climate change in nigeria



The climate over Nigeria has several features, humidity, air temperature and pressure, wind speed and direction, cloud cover and types, amount and form of precipitation, infrared and solar radiation, terrestrial radiation, soil moisture, evaporation, vegetation cover, latitude, elevation and sea surface temperature.


humidity, air temperature and pressure, wind speed and direction, cloud cover and types, amount and form of precipitation, infrared and solar radiation, terrestial radiation, soil moisture, evaporation, vegetation cover, latitude, elevation and sea surface temperature. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/climate-climate-change-the-dry-and-wet-seasons-in-west-africa-2/#sthash.kWZkqnr5.dpufThe annual rainfall event  decreases in magnitude as one goes from the south to the north, as well as the dry season decreases from the north to the south.
    There are two main seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season occurs between April and October in the south while in the north, the start of the rainy season is delayed till June with respect to the action of two trade winds, the Equatorial Maritime (south-east winds) which are the main rain bearing winds in Nigeria.and the Tropical Continental  (dry north-west winds) known as the harmattan.
       Nigerian rainfall event is characterized by the movement of the south-east trade wind originating from the south Atlantic ocean towards the northern boundaries, thereby dropping water molecules carried along its way, this is the rainy season from march, April, may, June July, august"the august break" September and October, with generally lower temperature. however the entire rainfall period begins slower in March, gradually increasing till its peak period in June over most parts of south, with thick clouds and is excessively downpour particularly in the coastal lowlands (Niger Delta) Annual rainfall totals vary from 2400 to over 4000 millimeters.

Niger Delta cities and their annually rainfall totals in millimeters:

    Warri — 2,730mm ( Forcados (coastal town in the Niger Delta) — 4,870mm)
    Port Harcourt — 2,400mm
    Calabar (coastal city) — 3,070mm (rainiest city with over one million people in Nigeria)
    Bonny (south of Port Harcourt) — 4,200mm
 in the north the two rainfall event occurs between July and September.

    The dry season from November to March which is characterized by the movement of the north-east winds from the Sahara Desert covers the whole of the northern part of the country and may even break through to the south during its heights. at this time the country witness severe dry and dusty north-east winds,  Vegetation, grasses and trees dry up and their leaves starts withering away

 A study at Ahmadu Bello University of rainfall in Northern Nigeria covered the area north of latitude 100N with data from Kontagora, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Yelwa, Samaru, Poliskum, Birnin Kebbi, Gusau, Kano, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Katsina, Hadejia and Nguru.Rainfall data for the period 1976 to 2005 was analyzed with respects to the decrease in long-term average rainfall in the coastal city of lagos, the results of the study

showed that the rains now start late but end early and thus the length of the rainy season is decreasing. The frequency of dry spells of 5 days is decreasing, while dry spells of 10, 15 or more days are on the increase, northern Nigeria is therefore becoming drier. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, has carried out a review of the climate over Nigeria in 2010. The review indicated that warmer than normal conditions prevailed over greater parts of the country.




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Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Terrestrial planets

 Terrestrial planets have approximately the same type of structure: a central metallic core, with a surrounding rocks. Terrestrial planets can have canyons, craters, mountains, volcanoes, and other surface structures, depending on the presence of water and tectonic activity. Terrestrial planets have secondary atmospheres, generated through volcanism or comet impacts, compared to the giant planets, whose atmospheres are primary, There are four terrestrial planets( planet that is composed primarily of  rocks or metals. ) Earth.: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. They are made mostly of silicate rocks and metals, have solid surfaces, with atmospheres that range from very thick like on Venus to very thin like on Mercury.
      Of the four terrestrial planets, Earth and Mars are considered the most hospitable to life. Earth, of course, has life because it is known to have an active hydrosphere. Mars may have had life in the past, and it may exist there.


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Friday, 10 April 2015

Apollo or Hermes ?


Since Mercury was visible from the Earth, we wouldn't know who discovered the planet.
 There are people, of course, who made serious probes and discoveries regarding the planet. The Greeks, seeing the planet during the morning and evening
sky, had a name for it. It was called Apollo during the morning and Hermes at night. However, they did not know the two stars were actually just one object. It was later during the 4th century that the Greeks discovered that they were the same.


Monday, 6 April 2015

Jupiter: the most masive known planet in the solar system

Jupiter

The fifth (5th) planet from the sun, Jupiter is huge and is the most massive planet in our solar system. It’s a mostly gaseous world, mostly hydrogen and helium. Its swirling clouds are colorful due to different types of trace gases. A big feature is the Great Red Spot, a giant storm which has raged for hundreds of years. Jupiter has a strong magnetic field, and with dozens of moons, it looks a bit like a miniature solar system.

    Discovery: Known to the ancients and visible to the naked eye
    Named for: Ruler of the Roman gods
    Diameter: 88,730 miles (428,400 km)
    Orbit: 11.9 Earth years
    Day: 9.8 Earth hours

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