This Mars crater will definitely have a white Christmas

The ice-filled crater on Mars is 50 miles across. ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

As we creep ever closer to Dec. 25, there are plenty of people in the United States and abroad who are hoping there’s at least a light dusting of snow on the ground for the biggest gift-giving holiday of the year. You might not imagine Mars would be the best place to look for winter wonderlands, but a new image shot by the European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft reveals a snowy oasis hiding out in a massive crater.

The photo, which was snapped by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) instrument of the Mars Express satellite, is actually a composite of a handful of individual images snapped at different times. By stitching them together, we get a gorgeous view of a particularly serene feature of the Red Planet.

Looking a bit like a snow-covered frozen lake, the massive field of fresh snow is tucked away inside the Korolev crater. To give you a sense of how large the icy dune is, consider that the crater itself is just over 50 miles across. Yeah, it’s huge.

As ESA explains in a new blog post, there are some very interesting mechanics at work that allow the crater to sustain its icy interior. Here’s how it works:

The very deepest parts of Korolev crater, those containing ice, act as a natural cold trap: the air moving over the deposit of ice cools down and sinks, creating a layer of cold air that sits directly above the ice itself.

Behaving as a shield, this layer helps the ice remain stable and stops it from heating up and disappearing. Air is a poor conductor of heat, exacerbating this effect and keeping Korolev crater permanently icy.

Thanks to NASA, ESA and independent research institutions around the world, we know a lot about how different Mars is from Earth. We have an idea of how difficult it would be for a human colony to sustain itself there, and we know that there’s a good chance the first Mars travelers won’t make it back to their home planet. Then there’s photos like this, which kinda make us want to go there right now.

Fluke DTX-1800 Cable Analyzer

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DTX-1800 Cable Analyzer Series from Fluke Networks with battery such as Fluke TiXB Battery, Fluke Ti9 Battery, Fluke TiRX Battery, Fluke TiS Battery, Fluke 215C Battery, Fluke 19XC Battery, Fluke 2X5C Battery, Fluke 435 Battery, Fluke 225C Battery, Contec ECG-1200 Battery, Edan SE-1200 Battery, Anritsu MT9080 Battery is the testing platform for today - and tomorrow. This revolutionary new future-proof platform significantly reduces total time to certify by improving every aspect of the testing process.

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The DTX is the only independently verified tester to obtain UL classification for ISO Accuracy Level IV. And, the DTX 10 Gig Copper Kit together with DTX-1800 delivers on the promise of a future-proof investment - measuring 10 Gig cabling performance and Alien Crosstalk (ANEXT and AFEXT) in full compliance with the industry standards to 500 MHz. The AC Wiremap feature validates twisted-pair cabling for Power over Ethernet services in accordance with TIA/EIA standards, even if a Midspan power supply is used. With the DTX Series, you're ready for whatever the world throws at you - today and tomorrow. DTX - it's all about time.

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Scientists turn houseplant into air purifier by using rabbit DNA

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Plants are very good at producing oxygen that we all need in order to breathe, but what about clearing the air of harmful chemicals? Past research has revealed that plants do a bit of housekeeping when it comes to cleaning the air of certain compounds but researchers wondered if they could help boost that function with a genetic tweak.

In new research published in Environmental Science & Technology, researchers explain how they were able to give a common houseplant more power to clean the air around it and it’s all thanks to DNA from a mammal.

The scientists started with a plant called devil’s ivy, which despite its name is a fairly mundane houseplant. They modified the planet’s genes by adding a synthetic version of a gene normally found in rabbits called P450 2e1. In animals, the gene helps rid the body of chemicals by promoting an enzyme that breaks them down and it seems as though the same is true for plants.

The team tested their new creation by pitting the plant against airborne chemicals including chloroform and benzene, both of which can be found in the air in many homes. They then compared the plants’ ability to clean the air against a set of control plants and found that the modified plants were nearly five times more efficient at breaking down the chemicals in the surrounding air.

The researchers are currently planning on performing additional tests to see what other chemicals the plants might be good at clearing out of the air. They are also considering testing other modified plants with different genes to see what kind of results they see. The work is still fairly new, but it’s already sounding very, very promising.

Uber resumes self-driving vehicle tests in Pittsburgh

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Uber is resuming autonomous vehicle tests in an area near downtown Pittsburgh.

The restart Thursday comes just over nine months after one of its autonomous cars struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona. Testing has been suspended since the accident in March.

The ride-hailing company received permission to resume testing from the Pennsylvania Transportation Department on Monday. It plans to start with a few cars in an area near its offices.

Uber has pledged to have two human backup drivers and take other safety precautions in each Volvo SUV. It also will stay in an area where speed limits on most roads are 25 mph.

Uber also plans to resume human-controlled tests in Toronto and San Francisco. It has no immediate plan to resume tests in Arizona.

The company says its SUVs will operate only during daylight hours on weekdays and not in inclement weather.

It also has activated Volvo’s automatic emergency braking system as a backup to its self-driving controls.

The FDA says your pet’s flea and tick treatment could cause neurological damage

Keeping your dog or cat up to date with preventative treatments so they remain free of fleas and ticks is something that every responsible pet owner should do, but a new alert from the FDA suggests that one particular class of these drugs could cause some pretty serious adverse effects.

In the newly-issued alert, the FDA names Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard, and Simparica as approved drugs in the isoxazoline class. These drugs are not being recalled or banned, but the FDA has felt the need to alert pet owners to the possibility that the drugs can be potentially troublesome for some pets.

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The FDA is quick to point out that the majority of pets that have been treated drugs from the isoxazoline class haven’t experienced negative side effects.

“The FDA considers products in the isoxazoline class to be safe and effective for dogs and cats but is providing this information so that pet owners and veterinarians can take it into consideration when choosing flea and tick products for their pets,” the FDA explains in its bulletin.

That being said, some serious neurological reactions have been reported, including seizures in animals which have no history of such symptoms. The FDA has been collecting and monitoring reports of these types of reactions from drugs in this class and urges pet owners who notice anything odd to contact either the FDA directly or any of the manufacturers who produce the drugs, including Merck, Elanco, Merial, and Zoetis. Contact information for these companies can be found on the FDA’s bulletin.

The bulletin urges pet owners to consider whether these drugs are appropriate for their particular pet. “Many products are available for prevention and control of flea and tick infestations,” the FDA says. “You can discuss all options with your veterinarian to choose the right product for your pet.”

Blood pressure drug recalled because it might give you cancer

If you’re taking a medication to help regulate your blood pressure, you’re obviously at least mildly interested in maintaining good health, so it’s one heck of a sad coincidence that a whole bunch of blood pressure pills are now being recalled because they might actually give you cancer instead. Yikes.

The medication in question is Irbesartan, which is sold in 75 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg tablets produced by ScieGen Pharmaceuticals. Samples of the medication have been found to contain the compound N-nitrosodiethylamine, which is thought to be a carcinogen, and that discovery has led to a voluntary recall of several lots of the drug with expiration dates ranging from Sept. 19 to Feb. 20.

The drug, which is sold under the labels Westminster Pharmaceuticals and Golden State Medical Supply, can be returned to whichever company is on the label via their individual recall programs. Emails and phone numbers of the companies, as well as lot numbers and expiration dates for the affected drugs, can be found on the FDA’s recall page.

The FDA is also offering advice on how patients should proceed:

Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication. Patients who are on Irbesartan should continue taking their medication, as the risk of harm to a patient’s health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment. Patients should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using Irbesartan.

If all of this sounds a bit familiar, it’s because the same contamination was found earlier this year in a different batch of blood pressure medications. That recall, which affected a whopping 55 different medications that contained the active ingredient valsartan, also contained the same carcinogenic compound found in this new recall.

N-nitrosodiethylamine is a compound that is found in nature but has also been traced to manufacturing processes and is furthermore a component of air pollution, according to the FDA. It’s not something you want to be putting in your body voluntarily, however, so if you have any of the affected drugs in your medicine cabinet, it would be wise to follow the FDA’s instructions and participate in the recall effort.

Classic Hollywood Stars Like We’ve Never Seen

It's always fun to see iconic celebrities in photos where they are letting loose or shown in an unfamiliar context. And we have 60 photos that will get the wheels of your imagination turning. See the future president John F. Kennedy in a photo booth with his new bride, Jackie. Check out Freddie Mercury at home with his long-time partner, Jim Hutton. Look at a childhood photo of The Rock with his dad - who was a professional wrestler at the time. Plus 57 other candid photos that will create a sense of shock, wonder, and delight. Just remember, as Dick Clark would say, "A little dab'll do ya!"

Stevie Nicks, a true iconic bohemian beauty, 1970s.

Source: Reddit

Oh Stevie Nicks! You were the queen of the '70s. While fronting Fleetwood Mac, her band topped the charts. But offstage, her life was out of control - there was a lot of partying and a lot of money being spent. During the making of the Rumors album she said, "I used to carry a gram of cocaine in my boot." For years, Nicks battled addiction - which escalated during the '70s and brought turmoil within the band when she had a "doomed" affair with drummer Mick Fleetwood; during a drug-fueled frenzy.

Nicks got a wake up call in 1986, when a plastic surgeon's warning convinced her to go to rehab. The surgeon looked into her nose and said "You have a really big hole in your nose and it's very dangerous." He told Nicks that your next hit could be your last hit of anything - because the hole in your nose is very high and you could have a brain hemorrhage. Wake up call! Nicks listened to his warning and changed her ways. Smash-cut present day, Fleetwood Mac is back out on the road and touring.

Graseby 3400 Syringe Pump

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The Graseby 3400 Syringe Pump is the premium syringe pump with battery like Fresenius MCM440 PT Battery, Fresenius MCM440 OT Battery, Fresenius MCM550 ST Battery, Fresenius Optima VS Battery, Fresenius Optima ST Battery, Fresenius Optima MS Battery, Fresenius Optima PT Battery, Agilia Fresenius Kabi Battery, Fresenius RC1800AA05AA Battery, JMS SP-500 Battery, Zoncare ZQ-1201 Battery, Zoncare ZQ-1201G Battery for pharmacological stress testing. This pump is capable of infusing nearly every IV drug within a range of 0.1-1200 ml/hr. It also has multiple unit selection, syringe size flexibility, and is AC or battery operated, having an accuracy of ±2%. Generally IV drugs infused with the 3400 are Adenosine, Dobutamine, Persantine, Zevalin, Cholecystokinan (Kinevac) and more.

The Graseby 3400 Syringe Pump eliminates the problem of voluminization and mixing of Adenosine and the chance of battery failure during IV procedures. It enables the user to titrate to virtually any delivery rate.
The Graseby Pump allows you to program a wide range of units with no calculations, thereby reducing your margin of error. In addition, this Syringe Pump is cost effective since it is not dedicated to any specific tubing set. No longer do you have to pay “top dollar” because you can only use a specific tubing set.

This syringe pump is based on a micro-controller design and has been purposely developed by Graseby for the administration of anaesthetics mainly in a hospital operating theatre. The Graseby 3400 Syringe pump allows a manually controlled infusion and/or a blous to be infused using the normal brands of syringe. The infusion entails presetting into the pump both the required infusion rate and the dose of the drug that is going to be used. The pump can be configured by a suitably qualified person to work with any one of several selected brands of syringe. The particular brand of syringe selected will be displayed. The diameter of the syringe installed is automatically sensed by the pump and from this dimension knowing the syringe brand, the pump is able to calculate and display the following syringe sizes 5; 10; 20; 30; and 60 milliliters. The Graseby 3400 Syringe pump is a compact robust unit that is able to function either sitting on a table top or mounted on an IV pole via the pump’s pole clamp.

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This is how much Steve Jobs’ autograph is now worth

Steve Jobs did a lot of things in his lifetime: He co-founded Apple, he helped create one of the first mass-market personal computers and introduced the world to the iPhone and iPad, among his many accomplishments.

One thing he rarely did: Sign autographs.

As a result, Steve Jobs’ autograph is one of the most expensive in the world, worth nearly $51,000 or 40 iPhone Xs-es, according to an analysis from collectibles dealer Paul Fraser Collectibles. His autograph has skyrocketed in value since the year 2000, increasing 27.6 percent per year, thanks to his company’s iconic status and his early death. Still, that pales in comparison to the astronomical rise in Apple stock over the last 17 years.

But Stephen Hawking could give him a run for his money. A book autographed in full by the famed theoretical physicist, who died in March, doubled in value over the past year and is now worth roughly $38,000.

“Jobs was a reluctant signer, always maintaining that Apple was a team effort,” Daniel Wade, head writer at Paul Fraser Collectibles, said in the report. “Only a handful of genuine Stephen Hawking hand-signed books exist, mostly from the 1970s before Hawking’s illness made it impossible for him to write. You’re more likely to see Hawking’s thumbprint signatures, which are generally far cheaper.”

Other deceased individuals whose autographs are highly prized include actors James Dean, Bruce Lee and Marilyn Monroe.

As for the living, a photo featuring Paul McCartney’s John Hancock is the most valuable, worth $3,751. His bandmate Ringo Starr also has one of the most expensive signatures from a living individual, as do Prince William, Prince Harry and J.K. Rowling.

Comparatively, a photo signed by President Donald Trump is worth roughly $830 — but its value has increased 15.3 percent in the past year.

The values of all of these autographed items pale in comparison to the most expensive signature ever: George Washington’s signed copy of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, which sold for a record $9.8 million in 2012.

That item was purchased by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union, a non-profit that maintains the Mount Vernon estate in Virginia that was Washington’s home.

Fluke 8846A Precision Multimeter

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The Fluke 8846A Bench Top 6.5 digit Precision Multimeter with battery such as Fluke BP123 Battery, Fluke BP123S Battery, Fluke BP124 Battery, Fluke BP124S Battery, Fluke BP124X Battery, Fluke Ti27 Battery, Fluke 199 Battery, Goldway G50 Battery, Goldway G60 Battery, Goldway ME202C Battery, JDSU MTS-8000 Battery, JDSU MTS-4000 Battery has the precision and versatility to handle your most demanding measurements, on the bench or in a system. These meters are both high performance and feature rich, yet also remarkably easy to use.

Fluke 8846A Bench Top 6.5 digit Precision Multimeter performs the functions you would expect to see in a multifunction DMM, including measuring volts, ohms, and amps. Basic V dc accuracy of up to 0.0024 %, 10 A current range, and a wide ohms range give you an unbeatable combination of measurement capability.

You can also use the Fluke 8846A Bench Top 6.5 digit Precision Multimeter to measure frequency and period. In addition, the Fluke 8846A measures temperature and capacitance. The functions of a counter, capacitance meter, and thermometer are built in for unparalleled versatility. Extend the meters' utility even more with their graphical display modes, including Trendplot paperless recorder mode, statistics and histograms-features you won't find on other multimeters.

Of course, these meters are also durable and dependable, features you expect from any Fluke meter. This unique combination of features and performance makes the Fluke 8846A Bench Top 6.5 digit Precision Multimeter an unbeatable value for a wide variety of applications, including manufacturing test, research and development, and service.

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Signalling Tester MD8475B

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The Signalling Tester MD8475B with battery like Anritsu MS2028B Battery, Anritsu MS2027C Battery, Anritsu MS2035B Battery, Anritsu S361E Battery, Anritsu S332E Battery, Anritsu S362E Battery, Anritsu S412E Battery, Anritsu S113B Battery, Anritsu S114C Battery, Anritsu S251B Battery, Anritsu S251C Battery, Anritsu S311D Battery is an all-in-one base station simulator supporting LTE, LTE-Advanced, W-CDMA/HSPA/HSPA Evolution/DC-HSDPA, GSM/GPRS/EGPRS, CDMA2000 1X/1xEV-DO Rev. A. and TD-SCDMA/TD-HSPA. It supports service, VoLTE and call-processing tests for multimode LTE smartphones and mobiles with excellent cost-performance.

In addition, 1-Gbps IP performance evaluation tests are made easy by the built-in traffic generator with all-in-one support for LTE-Advanced 3CA/4CA technologies.

Using the GUI-based SmartStudio MX847570B software with the MD8475B base-station simulator makes it easy to configure a smartphone test environment. Various parameters, such as frequency changes, control status, etc., are set at the GUI to run one-touch tests—including quasi-normal tests—that cannot be run easily on live networks.Eliminating the need to create test cases or understand signalling protocols makes it easier to focus on testing smartphone functions and performance. MD8475A_Screen01-3

A full line of test environments are supported for the general mobile verification phase, such as max. throughput performance tests, stress tests, and battery consumption tests of LTE terminals, as well as CS Fallback, call connection reliability and stability tests at handover, communication tests at low RF power, offloading from LTE to WLAN tests, and service verification using LTE multiple PDN and SMS in a multi-cell environment*.

In addition, the time required to configure a test environment is greatly reduced by the easy-to-use GUI-based SmartStudio software, as well as supplied test sequences for automatic remote control of the GUI.

Verifies correct mobile handover by changing settings between neighboring base stations.
Simulates various usage environments for measuring battery life.
Simulates emergency notifications, such as earthquake early warning, which are hard to test on live networks.
Evaluates throughput by changing base station settings and simulates built-in SIP server.
Tests both basic mobile calls and Voice over LTE (VoLTE) calls.
Simulates a policy server and dedicated gateway for distributing traffic over a WLAN.

Simple Conformance Test System ME7800L

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Anritsu’s Simple Conformance Test System ME7800L is the ideal system with battery such as Anritsu S312D Battery, Anritsu S331C Battery, Anritsu S332C Battery, Anritsu S325D Battery, Anritsu S412D Battery, Anritsu S810C Battery, Anritsu S810D Battery, Anritsu S820B Battery, Anritsu S820C Battery, Anritsu MS2711B Battery, Anritsu MS2711D Battery, Anritsu MT8212B Battery for introducing RF and Protocol Conformance tests of 3GPP-compliant LTE mobile terminals. It covers all the basic LTE test items include Cat-M1 / NB-IoT and also supports evolving communications standards. Both RF/Performance/RRM tests and protocol tests can be selected and introduced as necessary and work efficiency is maximized by the full range of built-in functions for every stage, ranging from assuring network quality to developing mobile terminals.

By focusing on the basic LTE test items, the ME7800L design minimizes required hardware. Changes to 3GPP standards are supported by annual contract packages offering easy software updates and technical support, helping hold down initial capital costs that can be expensive when introducing conformance testing.

Both current and future 3GPP-defined frequency bands (450 MHz to 3.8 GHz) are supported.

The high reliability and stable test environment supported by the ME7800L leverages the high-quality hardware and software of Anritsu’s top-of-the-line LTE-Advanced Conformance Test System model.

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Microsoft may use AMD CPUs in Surface Laptop refresh

In his book Beneath a Surface, tech journalist Brad Sams has made some interesting statements about Microsoft’s plans for its products. One of the comments that has elicited a flurry of interest is his belief that the tech giant could produce a refresh of its Surface Laptop line-up that includes some models powered by an AMD APU. This would be a major change for Microsoft, as all its previous Surface products have featured chips from Intel or Nvidia (the Surface RT and Surface 2 tablets featured Tegra SoCs).
It appears Microsoft, along with a number of other computer manufacturers, has become disconcerted with the amount of time it’s taking Intel to start fully shipping 10 nm chips. The Cannon Lake generation of processors has suffered considerable delays; the CPUs were actually expected to be released in 2016 but still haven’t made much of a splash in the market. At one point, it was believed Intel had scrapped plans to produce 10 nm processors and the company even had to resort to tweeting a denial in October 2018.
Intel has enjoyed a powerful lead over AMD in CPU market share, but it seems the red team has been making some major gains in 2018 and has not suffered the same processing issues that have plagued Intel. Sams makes the conjecture that Microsoft could release a refreshed Surface Laptop in late 2019 (Q4), and these revamped devices may feature 12 nm Picasso APUs from AMD. The Surface Laptop 2 has just started shipping with quad-core Kaby Lake-R processors; it could be possible that this ends up being the last time a new Surface Laptop features a chip from the blue team.

Microsoft and Intel believed to be working on Centaurus device

Windows Central has published an article detailing a project codenamed “Centaurus.” The project is based on a new device with a novel form factor that both Microsoft and Intel are developing. The device has been called a “dual-screen 2-in-1” and is expected to utilize Windows Core OS (WCOS). This potential Surface PC will come with two screens and can be folded, therefore offering the extra functionality of a dual-screen device and the convenience of a convertible.
It wasn’t long ago Notebookcheck reported on Surface chief Panos Panay talking about new form factors that will offer a change to the current market; he could have been referencing the Centaurus device. Whilst Microsoft will obviously be busy designing the PC, it appears Intel is involved in terms of the CPU chosen to power it. This is to be expected, as Intel products power the majority of Microsoft’s Surface series, although there is a rumor that the Redmond-based tech giant may be eyeing up AMD APUs for a Surface Laptop refresh.
Apparently, the dual-screen 2-in-1 Microsoft Surface Centaurus convertible PC, or whatever catchy name it ends up sporting, will be officially announced in fall 2019. Those interested in the progress of Andromeda may be concerned that this news tolls the death knell for the potential Surface Phone. However, even though Centaurus is believed to be taking priority, there may still be a future for a smartphone form factor addition to the popular Surface series.