double fuselage

 Most current airliners are designed as a tube with wings – a single tube or fuselage.(a fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull. The fuselage also serves to position control and stabilization surfaces in specific relationships to lifting surfaces, required for aircraft stability and maneuverability.)
 A twin-fuselage aircraft has two main fuselages. It is distinct from the twin-boom aircraft configuration which has a main body with two subsidiary boom structures.Twin fuselages have been adopted for various reasons, and a few types have entered production. For the future, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who are working for the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate's Fixed Wing Project, are looking at the possible benefits of wider, double fuselages with wings.

A model of the so-called "double bubble" D8 airliner concept has returned to the 14 by-22-Foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., for further testing. "The team is refining what it did last year," said Rich Wahls, Fixed Wing Project scientist. "We are getting higher accuracy data and more insight into the flow physics with a new measurement device."

Two questions engineers are trying to answer with the help of the model, which is one-eleventh the size of a real airplane, is whether engines embedded in the fuselage reduce drag and by how much. Reduced drag helps reduce fuel consumption.

The double bubble concept is one of a number of designs NASA is studying in an attempt to develop quieter, cleaner, more fuel-efficient airliners by 2035.new science discoveries

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LIVING IN MARS?

NASA is embarking on an ambitious journey to Mars and Tuesday announced a challenge inviting the public to write down their ideas w
, in detail, for developing the elements of space pioneering necessary to establish a continuous human presence on the Red Planet. This could include shelter, food, water, breathable air, communication, exercise, social interactions and medicine, but participants are encouraged to consider innovative and creative elements beyond these examples.

Participants are asked to describe one or more Mars surface systems or capabilities and operations that are needed to achieve this goal and, to the greatest extent possible, are technically achievable, economically sustainable, and minimize reliance on support from Earth. NASA expects to make up to three awards at a minimum of $5,000 each from a total award pool of $15,000.

NASA’s efforts for sending humans to Mars is well underway today, with spacecraft monitoring Mars from orbit and rovers on the surface. The International Space Station is testing systems and is being used to learn more about the health impacts of extended space travel. NASA also is testing and developing its next generation of launch and crew vehicles -- the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crewed spacecraft. 

NASA’s two-prong approach is to build reusable space capabilities and incorporate commercial and international partners. By developing new technologies along the way and creating the systems necessary to maintain a permanent human presence in deep space, humanity will pioneer space, pushing out into the solar system to stay.

Given spacecraft limitations on weight and volume -- and a minimum 500 days between resupply opportunities -- innovative solutions are required for a mission to Mars that is not dependent on Earth for resources.

NASA seeks technical submissions that describe the development of capabilities and operational events necessary, in both the near- and long-term, to advance this bold journey. Submissions may consist of proposed approaches, capabilities, systems or a set of integrated systems that enable or enhance a sustained human presence on Mars. Solutions should include the assumptions, analysis, and data that justify their value. Submissions should include a process to develop, test, implement, and operate the system or capability.

Submissions will be judged on relevance, creativity, simplicity, resource efficiency, feasibility, comprehensiveness and scalability.

For more information about the challenge, and details on how to apply, visit:
http://go.nasa.gov/1JONps3


hat do you need to bring, and how do you minimize the need for delivery of future supplies in order to establish a sustained human presence on a planet 140 million miles away from Earth?

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Greased Lightning or GL-10

A team at NASA's Langley Research Center is developing a concept of a battery-powered plane that has 10 engines and can take off like a helicopter and fly efficiently like an aircraft. The prototype 10-foot wingspan (3.05 meters), eight electric motors on the wings, two electric motors on the tail and weighs a maximum of 62 pounds (28.1 kilograms)  is currently in the design and testing phase. The initial thought was to develop a 20-foot wingspan (6.1 meters) aircraft powered by hybrid diesel/electric engines, but the team started with smaller versions for testing, built by rapid prototyping.



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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).

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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

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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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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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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.

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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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New research suggests that reptiles that lived during the Dinosaur age were hard-hit.


 During the Mesozoic, or "Middle Life" Era, life diversified rapidly and giant reptiles, dinosaurs and other monstrous beasts roamed the Earth. The period, which spans from about 252 million years ago to about 66 million years ago, was also known as the age of reptiles or the age of dinosaurs.
Boundaries

English geologist John Phillips, the first person to create
the global geologic timescale, first coined the term Mesozoic in the 1800s. Phillips found ways to correlate sediments found around the world to specific time periods, said Paul Olsen, a geoscientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University in New York.

The Permian-Triassic boundary, at the start of the Mesozoic, is defined relative to a particular section of sediment in Meishan, China, where a type of extinct, eel-like creature known as a conodont first appeared, according to the International Commission on Stratigraphy.

The end boundary for the Mesozoic Era, the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, is defined by a 20-inch (50 centimeters) thick sliver of rock in El Kef, Tunisia, which contains well-preserved fossils and traces of iridium and other elements from the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. The Mesozoic Era is divided up into the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
Life and climate

The Mesozoic Era began roughly around the time of the end-Permian extinction, which wiped out 96 percent of marine life and 70 percent of all terrestrial species on the planet. Life slowly rebounded, eventually giving way to a flourishing diversity of animals, from massive lizards to monstrous dinosaurs.

The Triassic Period, from 252 million to 200 million years ago, saw the rise of reptiles and the first dinosaurs, the Jurassic Period, from about 200 million to 145 million years ago, ushered in birds and mammals, and the Cretaceous Period, from 145 million to 66 million years ago is known for some of its iconic dinosaurs, such as Triceratops and Pteranodon.

Coniferous plants, or those that have cone-bearing seeds, already existed at the beginning of the era, but they became much more abundant during the Mesozoic. Flowering plants emerged during the late Cretaceous Period. The lush plant life during the Mesozoic Era provided plenty of food, allowing the biggest of the dinosaurs, such as the Argentinosaurus, to grow up to 80 tons, according to a 2005 study in the journal Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales. 

Earth during the Mesozoic Era was much warmer than today, and the planet had no polar ice caps. During the Triassic Period, Pangaea still formed one massive supercontinent. Without much coastline to moderate the continent's interior temperature, Pangaea experienced major temperature swings and was covered in large swaths of desert. Yet the region still had a belt of tropical rainforest in regions around the equator, said Brendan Murphy, an earth scientist at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Canada.
Extinctions

The Mesozoic Era was bookended by two great extinctions, with another smaller extinction occurring at the end of the Triassic Period, Olsen said.

Around 252 million years ago, the end-Permian extinction wiped out most life on Earth over about 60,000 years, according to a February 2014 study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). At the end of the Triassic Period, roughly 201 million years ago, most amphibious creatures and crocodile-like creatures that lived in the tropics were wiped out. About 65 million years ago, a giant asteroid blasted into Earth and formed a giant crater at Chicxulub in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Because the fossil record is incomplete, it's difficult to say exactly what caused the extinctions, or even how rapidly they occurred. After all, certain species or traces of catastrophic events could be missing in the fossil record simply because the sediments may have disappeared over tens of millions of years, Olsen said.

"Nature is very efficient at getting rid of its corpses," Olsen told Live Science.

However, there are a few prime suspects in each of the extinctions.

At the end of the Permian, the Siberian Traps underwent massive volcanic eruptions, which most geologists believe caused the world's biggest extinction. Exactly how, however, is up for debate.

The volcanic eruptions caused a spike in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, though the 2014 PNAS study suggests that the spike was brief. The eruptions may have increased sea surface temperatures and led to ocean acidification that choked out sea life. And another study published in March 2014 in PNAS proposed that the eruptions released huge troves of the element nickel, which fueled a feeding frenzy by nickel-munching microbes known as Methanosarcina. Those microbes may have belched out huge amounts of methane, superheating the planet.

Most scientists agree that an asteroid impact wiped out the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous Period. The impact would have kicked up so much dust that it blocked the sun, halted photosynthesis, and led to such a huge disruption in the food chain that everything that wasn't a scavenger or very small died.

But the Deccan Traps, in what is now India, were spewing massive amounts of lava both before and after the asteroid impact, and a few scientists believe these flows either directly caused or accelerated the dinosaurs' demise.

Volcanism may also be to blame for the end-Triassic extinction. Though volcanism in general leads to global warming, after an initial volcanic eruption, huge amounts of sulfur spew into the air and cause a brief period of global cooling. Such cooling-heating cycles may have occurred hundreds of times over 500,000 years. Similar cold snaps have been tied to huge crop failures in historical times, such as in Iceland in the 1700s, Olsen said. 

As a result, animals used to constant, balmy temperatures in the tropics were wiped out, while animals that were insulated with proto-feathers, such as pterosaurs, or that lived at higher latitudes and were already adapted to big temperature variations, did just fine, Olsen said.

"When you have these volcanic winters, where temperatures may have dropped even below freezing in the tropics, it was devastating," Olsen said.new science discoveries

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