Making yourself invisible: could it leap from fiction to fact?
The News Review:
- Making yourself invisible: could it leap from fiction to fact?
- Human race must reach for the stars: Hawking
- Harry and the Potters bring ‘wizard rock’ to library
- Hiding in Plain Sight Google Seeks More Power
Making yourself invisible: could it leap from fiction to fact?
The Independent – Independent – Jun 14, 2006
But according to scientists writing in the 25 May edition of the journal Science an invisibility cloak is not only possible but early versions that would mask microwaves and other forms of electromagnetic radiation could be as close as 18 months away. One of the authors of the paper Professor Sir John Pendry a physicist at Imperial College London stresses that he and his fellow-researchers just need to perfect the manufacture of new materials – called “metamaterials” – that have the ability to steer light and other electromagnetic radiation around an object. “It’s theoretically possible to do all of these Harry Potter things” he says. “But what’s standing in the way is our engineering capabilities. “Metamaterials can be tuned to bend electromagnetic radiation (radio waves and visible light in particular) in any direction. A cloak made of these materials would neither reflect light nor cast a shadow. Instead light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation would hit the cloak and simply flow around it… “Despite Smith’s assurances the fact remains an invisibility cloak would have huge appeal not just to intelligence and military agencies but to those involved in organised crime and industrial espionage. It might be a while before the capes hit the streets but you can be sure that it won’t just be the good guys wanting to get their hands on them. In Harry Potter terms it’s the Voldemorts of this world donning invisibility cloaks that we have to worry about. Just sci-fi fun – or the face of the future?Matter transportersBeaming from one place to another using a matter transporter as in Star Trek may seem a long way off but scientists believe that they have worked out how to transport one atom. If we can transfer one they argue perhaps we’ll soon be able to do two and so on. They may achieve their goal this century. ReplicatorsOne of the most intriguing devices featured in Star Trek was the replicator.
Human race must reach for the stars: Hawking
Pakistan Dawn – Jun 14, 2006
“But if we can avoid killing ourselves for the next hundred years we should have settlements that can continue without support from Earth” he said predicting a lunar settlement within 20 years and a Martian colony in 40. Hawking a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge who speaks with a voice synthesiser and has been in a wheelchair since developing motor neurone disease when he was a teenager then revealed he was writing a science book for children with his daughter. “It will be a bit like Harry Potter in the universe about science no magic” Hawking told reporters. His daughter Lucy Hawking a journalist who is travelling with her father said the book would be about theoretical physics. “It’s like Harry Potter meets A Brief History of Time’” she said. A Brief History of Time was the international bestseller written by her father. It attempted to explain a range of subjects in cosmology including the Big Bang black holes light cones and superstring theory to the non-specialist reader… “It will be a bit like Harry Potter in the universe about science no magic” Hawking told reporters. His daughter Lucy Hawking a journalist who is travelling with her father said the book would be about theoretical physics. “It’s like Harry Potter meets A Brief History of Time’” she said. A Brief History of Time was the international bestseller written by her father. It attempted to explain a range of subjects in cosmology including the Big Bang black holes light cones and superstring theory to the non-specialist reader. “I have an eight-year-old son and we both see this project as a way of explaining my father’s work to him” she said. It is the 64-year-old scientist’s first visit to Hong Kong.
Harry and the Potters bring ‘wizard rock’ to library
Republican – MassLive.com – The Republican – MassLive.com – Jun 14, 2006
comSPRINGFIELD – Harry Potter rocks! Proving what millions of fans have known since “HarryPotter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” two Norwoodbrothers have proved that sentiment by transforming the J. Rowling tales into punk rock tunes. Their band Harry and the Potters will bring “wizardrock” to the Central Branch library in a freeperformance next Wednesday at 6 p… Their local concert is the first they have played inSpringfield and will kick off their “Summer Rocking andReading Tour” a whirlwind of shows in bookstores andlibraries coast to coast. The brothers have sparked a national phenomena of merginggarage bands with Potter fans. Similar groups have beenpopping up everywhere De George said about other localbands expanding on this “wizard rock” genre.
Hiding in Plain Sight Google Seeks More Power
New York Times – Jun 14, 2006
“No one says the ‘G’ word” said Diane Sherwood executive director of the Port of Klickitat Wash. directly across the river from The Dalles who is not bound by such agreements. “It’s a little bit like He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in Harry Potter. “Local residents are at once enthusiastic and puzzled about their affluent but secretive new neighbor a successor to the aluminum manufacturers that once came seeking the cheap power that flows from the dams holding back the powerful Columbia. The project has created hundreds of construction jobs caused local real estate prices to jump 40 percent and is expected to create 60 to 200 permanent jobs in a town of 12000 people when the center opens later this year. “We’re trying to organize our chamber ambassadors to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony and they’re trying to keep us all away” said Susan Huntington executive director of The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our two cultures aren’t matching very well.