National Geographic Announces 2011 Emerging Explorers

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National Geographic Announces 2011 Emerging Explorers: "

National Geographic has announced the 2011 list of Emerging Explorers, a distinction they bestow upon young adventurers, scientists, photographers, and storytellers who are already making a significant contribution to their field, even at a particularly young age or early stages of their profession. These are men and women who are on the cutting edge of science and exploration, with the potential to do great things. In support of these individuals, Nat Geo awards them a $10,000 grant to continue pursuing their work.



Amongst the 14 recipients of Emerging Explorer status this year is Tuy Sereivathana, a conservationist from Cambodia who is working to protect the endangered elephant population in his home country. He is joined by Aziz Abu Sarah, a man who is working to bridge relations between Israelis and Palestinians, and Kevin Hand, an astrobiologist who will search for life in the oceans of Europa, the fourth largest moon of Jupiter. Ecologist Sasha Kramer earns a spot on the list for her work in addressing basic health and sanitation needs in Haiti, while Kakani Katija studies the effects of creatures living in the ocean on the waves and tidal currents, which have a broader effect on the world.



This is just a sample of the great work these explorers are pursing. Most are in the field and actively researching their particular interests. They are on the forefront of some very important cultural, ecological, and historical studies, and if past recipients of the Emerging Explorers award are any indication, you're likely to hear at least some of these names again in the years to come.



A hearty congratulations to the winners. This award is much deserved! Keep up the great work!

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New website calculates your dowry rate

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New website calculates your dowry rate: "

other parts watch here

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Stunning video: NASA captures giant comet hitting sun

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Stunning video: NASA captures giant comet hitting sun: "

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30 Minutes : Nuclear football at American President.

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30 Minutes : Nuclear football at American President.: "

other parts watch here

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Tamil Actress Rashmi Gautam Photo Stills Gallery

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Tamil Actress Rashmi Gautam Photo Stills Gallery: "

Click here for more pics

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Color code your Google Calendar events

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Color code your Google Calendar events: "Posted by Michelle Chen, Software Engineer



If your calendar ends up full of many different types of events (film nights, lunch dates, and doctor appointments, for example), there’s now an easy way to categorize them using colors.






Just click on an event, then click the colored square in the top left of the pop-up bubble and pick a new color. If you don’t see this option quite yet, hang tight — it'll be there for everyone within the next day or so.






Only you and anyone else you’ve given edit access to your calendar will be able to see the colors you choose. This has been a feature request from many of you for some time, and we hope you enjoy using it as much as we do.

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Comic for May 19, 2011

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Comic for May 19, 2011: "
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What Happens when You Get Shot in the Head

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What Happens when You Get Shot in the Head: "

You may or may or may not see it coming, but it doesn't really matter. You're not going to have time to react. Because a bullet can travel at speeds exceeding 3200 feet per second, which is too fast to duck or yell or plead. Hang in there. Taking a cap to the dome means that it will be over faster than a fatal wound anywhere else.

The bullet with your name on it slides past hair, skin and muscle before it smashes into one of eight cranial bones engineered to keep your brain safe. Unfortunately, it's too late for that now. Bullets beat bones. The projectile's entrance into your skull makes easy shrapnel of your calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and collagen case. As a souvenir of the opening, you gain a circular hole rimmed with abraded skin. Distance matters, too: The closer you are to the bullet, the more the gun's smoke and powder could burn your flesh.

But enough about the blemish; the real work happens deeper. The connective tissue and fibrous membranes that act as internal cushioning are split open just before the bullet dives into your cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid serves as a shock absorber. It, with some other structures, allows you to ride roller coasters and join mosh pits without injury. But again, because your 3.4-pound control system is being taken out, this will be your last head bang.

The bullet travels through your brain faster than the speed at which your tissues tear. This means that it's actually pushing tissues out of the way, stretching them beyond their breaking points. When high velocity long arms are responsible, bullets traveling at thousands of feet per second will exit your body before your tissues have a chance to rip.

The ability to process information and solve problems? All gone when the bullet shoves its way through your prefrontal cortex. Your ability to index memories? Gone with your hippocampus. In the bullet's wake, a long temporary cavity is left. When the tearing finally does happen, your tissues will snap back toward the initial opening and overshoot their original position. You know that back and forth thing that happens when you kick one of those springy door stops? Well that's what your tissues do when the shock waves kick them.

Then the passage collapses. The high-speed firearm that produced the bullet created a disruption in your brain 10 times its diameter.

But you're lucky, relatively speaking. If you were shot in the heart, your blood pressure would quickly drop, but it would take 10 to 15 seconds to lose brain function. In that time you could draw your gun, utter last words, or spend some time thinking about your unfortunate situation. But a shot to the brain is different. Your brain stops functioning almost immediately. In just a fraction of a second, you're gone.

Rachel Swaby is a freelance writer living in San Francisco.

Image credit Shutterstock

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Calvin and Hobbes for May 19, 2011

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Calvin and Hobbes for May 19, 2011: ""