Graphene could make the internet a hundred times faster

Graphene could make the internet a hundred times faster

Posted by: Avirup Basu

dept: Technology

The use of graphene in telecommunications could dramatically accelerate internet speeds by up to a hundred times, according to new research by scientists in the University of Bath's Department of Physics.  In a paper published in Physical Review Letters, researchers from the Centre for Graphene Science at the Universities of Bath and Exeter have demonstrated for the first time incredibly short optical response rates using graphene, which could pave the way for a revolution in telecommunications. 

 Every day large amounts of information is transmitted and processed through optoelectronic devices such as optical fibres, photodetectors and lasers. Signals are sent by photons at infrared wavelengths and processed using optical switches, which convert signals into a series of light pulses.  Ordinarily optical switches respond at rate of a few picoseconds – around a trillionth of a second. Through this study physicists have observed the response rate of an optical switch using ‘few layer graphene’ to be around one hundred femtoseconds – nearly a hundred times quicker than current materials.  Graphene is just one atom thick, but remarkably strong. Scientists have suggested that it would take an elephant, balanced on a pencil to break through a single sheet. Already dubbed a miracle material due to its strength, lightness, flexibility, conductivity and low cost, it could now enter the market to dramatically improve telecommunications.  Commenting on the report’s main findings, lead researcher Dr Enrico Da Como said: “We’ve seen an ultrafast optical response rate, using ‘few-layer graphene’, which has exciting applications for the development of high speed optoelectronic components based on graphene. This fast response is in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, where many applications in telecommunications, security and also medicine are currently developing and affecting our society.”  Co-Director of the Centre for Graphene Science at Bath, Professor Simon Bending added: “The more we find out about graphene the more remarkable its properties seem to be. This research shows that it also has unique optical properties which could find important new applications.”  In the long term this research could also lead to the development of quantum cascade lasers based on graphene. Quantum cascade lasers are semiconductor lasers used in pollution monitoring, security and spectroscopy. Few-layer graphene could emerge as a unique platform for this interesting application.

Source: www.bath.ac.uk

The Cream of Rock 'n' Roll

Eric Clapton is and will be remembered as a Rock God. This great man has written classics like
'Layla' and 'Tears in Heaven'. But his 'Sunshine of your love' towers over it all. This song proclaimed the beginning of more robust sound.....a hark to the new era of Hard Rock.
Cream began as a blues band in the erstwhile mid-1960s London Blues Scene. As the Summer of Love of 1967 set in, Cream went on in flying colours. The lyrics became more ambitious, the sound more stiffer. Soon however, the band broke up in 1968.
Cream popularised Acid Rock and  set the blueprint for Hard Rock bands. Their approach to the guitar made a whole bunch guitarists to take the riffs hard to harder. Cream set new standards for Rock 'n' Roll. They were our there for 3 years, but left more impact than many 30 year old bands can.

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

Posted by: Deep Paul

Dept: Fitness

You know exercise is good for you, but do you know how good? From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, find out how exercise can improve your life. 

 

 

 

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.

No. 1: Exercise controls weight

Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don't need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can't do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.

 

No. 2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases

Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

 

No. 3: Exercise improves mood

Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

 

No. 4: Exercise boosts energy

Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores. 

 

No. 5: Exercise promotes better sleep

Struggling to fall asleep? Or to stay asleep? Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep.

 

No. 6: Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life

Do you feel too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.

 

No. 7: Exercise can be fun

Exercise and physical activity can be a fun way to spend some time. It gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting. So, take a dance class, hit the hiking trails or join a soccer team. Find a physical activity you enjoy, and just do it. If you get bored, try something new. 

 

The bottom line on exercise

Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have any health concerns.




Source: Google.

Poster's comment: Live healthy. Stay fit. All the best...... :)

Parallel Universe.

<<<Parallel Universe>>> Infinite

WARNING!!!! Highly Recommended.... Please keep a glass of water or emergency medicine in case you faint while reading it. The article is completely non-fictious. It’s a fact.

          The universe we live in isn’t singular. That is the universe isn’t “uni”. It’s “Multi”... Multiverse. For many years scientist have been coming up with more and more theories about how the universe works. None of them were able to satisfy all the physical laws until the M theory was born. The most revolutationary theory in the History of physics. The idea seems to be quite bizarre cause it predicts the presence of parallel universes. This doesn’t means that Albert Einstein is still alive or may be it is.....!! Don’t panic. Parallel universes exist infact the number of universes isn’t finite but infinite. There are infinite number of parallel universes separated by a very small distance apart. The distance is so small that it can’t be measured. The question comes why we can’t feel them or even feel their existence. To explain this let me introduce to you with the String Theory. It states that everything in this universe is made up of tiny strings. These strings vibrate with there own frequencies. Bizzare!! Isn’t it? Well the fact is that we can’t experience the existence of parallel universe is due to the reason that the vibration doesn’t match.

What are there in those universes that are parallel to each other?

n The Universes may consist of you, me, or any other human being. May be they consists of spirits, May be some diff forms of substance. Whatever it is we don’t know.

Is there any connection between those universes with our one?

n May be yes. May be no. We don’t know. Let’s take an example. You go to a brand new place. You explore it. While exploring, you feel that you have came here before. But it’s evidient that you haven’t. Now why does it occur? May be there is a connection between the worlds. May be we have visited the other world virtually in dreams. The connection between the worlds is such that we don’t know but we are aware that there must be a connection that makes us feel that we have visited. The phenomenon is known as déjà-vu. But the explanation is different by scientists. But no correct explanation is present. Any idea why? The string theory may be an answer. May be in dreams we can produce vibration or may be we don’t  But why such a thing occur?   

The string theory predicts the existence of multiple parallel universes but it fails to explain the birth of ours “THE BIG BANG THEORY”. The M theory comes to the rescue. It’s an advanced version of the string theory or let’s say a higher theory. The major part is that it says our universe are membrane. Similarly other universes are also membranes. When two of them collide, BIG BANG-------!!! Though the theory is not yet proved, but research is going on.

          Now friends, we are not alone. We are infinite. May be you are infinite. May be I am infinite. May be BNS is infinite all separated by a tiny gap.

----Avirup Basu......infinite!!!! 

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The band who got no 'Satisfaction'

The Rolling Stones, "The greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world" did everything a band could possibly do. They topped Singles and Albums chart a lot of times, set attendance record at concerts, went in and out of jail, got drug busted, went high and dropped low.....
But they did one thing most bands can't do. They went on. The Stones rolled on. Despite all that they had to go through, despite failed marriages and the burden of old bones and stiffer competition at every generation, they did it.
Today the reputation of the band has not diminished. It is still the best band ever to many. This is not any other band. They are the blueprint, the example, the definite band.

Kurt Cobain's 'Unplugged' nirvana

A rash, disoriented rocker, a raw energy that surges past his body to materialise into the soul of his fans, a man known to be loud: this are the few qualities of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
Kurt Cobain was meant to be wild. Cobain was meant to hurl himself towards drum-sets. Cobain was not meant to play an acoustic guitar in a stripped-down set in a Dylan-esque mood on November 18, 1993.
Yet he did it. And that too in a masterful manner. Nirvana's set was perhaps the most memorable of the 'MTV Unplugged' series.
Nirvana proved their versatility with the performance. The stalwart Grunge-rockers played David Bowie and Lead Belly with equal ease.
Infact, the unknown David Bowie song "The Man Who Sold The World" became famous with this performance.
Perhaps this show meant something to Cobain. Perhaps he felt he had a point to prove, to himself or to others. Perhaps he wanted to calm down after years of debauchery. Perhaps he felt the need to reinvent. Perhaps he was looking for answers, which he most probably didn't find and died untimely few months later........

Quantum Computing

Quantum Computing....... Beyond Conventional Computing.

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept: Technology

We know there is a limit of everything. But is there a limit to computing? Well the answer is currently not known to us. In this article, I will be discussing about “BEYOND CONVENTIONAL COMPUTING”.

          Think about the early computers. They had been to large for us to handle. Eg: ENIAC. But the birth of silicon technology or rather the birth of Integrated circuits has made those super large computers reduce to the size of some centimetres. Modern PCs, desktops, tablets have a lot more computing power than the previous ones. Let’s say they have lacs of times more computing power. But the question is “Is it enough”? Well the stastics don’t say so. We need more and more and perhaps another major leap is required in modern computing. Companies, manufacturers, developers have all stuck there mind in semiconductor technology. They are going on developing the “OLD FASHIONED” Semiconductor Technology. The Size of the microchips are getting smaller and smaller.

          There are some limits in the Semiconductor Technology.

          1: When size is being reduced, the heating effect is considerably increased. As heating increases, the device tends to get damaged more and more.

          2: Semiconductor are not available to us forever. They are not renewable resources.

          3: Digital circuits using semiconductors have only 2 modes of operation. 0 and 1 that is on or off. They don’t have any further state.

          4: As size is getting reduced, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle comes into effect.

It’s not possible for a semiconductor technology to remove these drawbacks So here comes the concept of “QUANTAM COMPUTERS”.

          Quantum computers unlike digital computers don’t use the concept of transistors. They use the properties of quantum theories like superposition, entanglement to operate on data.  In conventional computing we use bits. In quantum computing we use qbits or quantum bits.  These computers will have a lot more computing power than the conventional computers. Since a subatomic particle have many energy states, Therefore this property can be used to compute multiple tasks at a particular time which will be again a lot more than conventional ones.

          A subatomic particle can have any quantam number. If we can use that property of quantam number to store values and process data, we will be able to get a super processor with a very high processing speed. Thus for tasks which require high processing power such as in complex algorithms, space programs, defence and other areas quantam computers will definitely serve our purpose.

Quantam computer technology is still at it’s infancy but a company in Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada announced the first commercial quantum annealer on the market by the name D-Wave One. The company claims this system uses a 128 qubit processor chipset. We hope that in future we would shift to quantam computers and break the “LIMITS OF CONVENTIONAL COMPUTING”.

Source: My Brain

Poster's comment: There is a limit to everything and that goes with SILICON as well.

Neil Young: The forgotten messiah

By: Abhisek Roy
Dept. Music

Few people of this generation have time to remember Neil Young. Indeed, people who idolize Nirvana or swear by the name of Pearl Jam must spend a few moments of their life listening to 'Cortez the killer', or 'Rockin' in a free world' or 'Down by the river'.
Neil Young was a man who rebeled the notions like most of his contemporaries. What made him stand out from the rest was his shabby appearence, unkempt hair and minimal devotion to looks. He was the man who spoke out loud, whether it irked his fans from Alabama (for 'Southern Man') or Spain (for 'Cortez the killer') was never his concern.
In ways more than one, he was the first Grunge rocker. Pearl Jam idolizing with him, or Nirvana's Kurt Cobain quoting him in his suicide note, testifies to that.
Neil Young's lyrics shadowed over his guitar skills. The Alt Rock breakthrough in the early 1990s shadowed over the entire man. For some reason, this Canadian immigrant to America never got his dues. Whatever it may be, friends, lend him your ears for once. You won't be disappointed.

India launches navigation satellite

India launches 1st navigation satellite

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept: Technology

India launches the first of it's 7 navigation satellites aimed at setting up a navigation system which will be beneficial for aircrafts, ships, hikers as well as civilians. It is aimed in providing more accurate information about our precise location. It is the first step towards India's own GPS.

The IRNSS-1, is under complete control of the Indian government, and launched using the polar satellite launch vehicle, PSLV-C22, from the Sriharkota, Andhra Pradesh launch pad.

It would provide two major services, with the Standard Positioning Service open for civilian use and the Restricted Service, encrypted one, for authorized users (military).

The IRNSS system mainly consists of three components, namely, Space Segment (Constellation of Satellites & Signal-In-Space), Ground Segment and User Segment. It will have two types of signals in L5 and S-band centre frequency, with the L band centre frequency

Satellite based augmentation system will also open the door for socio economic benefits for developing countries to pursue sustainable growth. Satellite navigational positioning data will be used in spheres of mapping, surveying, monitoring, precision agriculture, disaster warning, aviation, maritime, transportation and research areas. Our study shows that we will be able to save five percent in fuel, because we will be using optimal routes for transportation courtesy data from the Satellite based augmentation system," Agrawal added.

Source: The times of India
Poster's comment: GPS by India. A major step indeed.