Sabtu, 25 Julai 2020
Adakah memiliki lebih Ingatan RAM memberikan kelebihan kepada telefon pintar?
Rabu, 22 Julai 2020
At last, the new launch date for long awaited James Webb Telescope.
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be the largest space telescope. Photo: sciencemag.org |
The new launch date was announced by NASA after the latest delayed of the James Webb Space Telescope that caused by the covid-19 pandemic. The last suspended was in March 2020 for the integration and testing. NASA, however, announced the new launch date will be on October 31, 2021 from French Guiana.
James Webb Space Telescope development started as early as 1996 with the original launch date planned for 2007. There were many delays before, in the development of this telescope for good that increased its original budget from USD500 millions, to USD 8.8 billions.
Preparing JWST for test is not an easy task. Photo: wired.com |
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) works differently from the Hubble Space Telescope, in term of how it conducts its observation in the near ultraviolet, visible and near infrared. These capabilities will allow JWST to see more objects than its predecessor (Hubble Space Telescope) capable of. This is also one of the reasons, why there are many delays in the preparation of JWST during the development of this project.
The design of the Telescope also so unique to allow it to be fitted in the small Ariane 5 rocket for launch. As the result, the 6.5 meter diameter gold-coated reflector need to be folded in 18 separated panels. Other than that, it also equipped with a special sunshield made of silicon-coated and aluminium-coated Kapton to keep its instruments below 50 K (−220 °C; −370 °F).
The comparison in size between Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope. Photo: scitechdaily.com |
More details about this amazing telescope can be found here from few sources such as Wikipedia and NASA itself. We all can't wait to see this future telescope in action.
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Ahad, 12 Julai 2020
Yackchal, an ancient refrigerator back in thousand years ago.
Some yackchal is bigger than the other, such as this one in Meybod, Iran. Photo: fieldstudyoftheworld.com |
Refrigerator use a high amount of electrical energy in order to produce ice. Since the invention of modern refrigerator early 1800's, we never thought that people living in the past were able to have a similar invention in order to keep their food fresh longer.
It's depend on the climate of the area, people learn to preserve their foods in different ways. In the tropic regions, for example, foods are preserved by drying it with salt, or keep it in an acidic solution (turn it into a pickle).
Anyway, long time ago in, middle eastern region such as Persia, they have unique building that called Yackchal, (Persian: یخچال "ice pit"; yakh meaning "ice" and chāl meaning "pit") that works same as refrigerator today. The wonderful thing about this building is, it's using the power of climate and water to trap the cold temperature and store it during the hot summer day.
Yackchal near Kerman, Iran. Photo: wikipedia
The interior of yackchal. Photo: thevintagenews.com |
Even though there are different building that called ice house that used in some countries (Europe or ancient China). Yakhchāl, was built in the areas where the temperature can get really high that require active heat transfer to take place. Compared to modern invention that using a compressor and fan, yakhchāl manipulate the natural energy to produce similar effects.
The construction of yakhchāl was started as soon as 400 BCE. During that time, Persian engineers already able to build this unique building that able to trap the cold temperature during the winter season and retain it until the summer season. It's not only the shape of the yakhchāl is important, but also the materials used in its construction help it to isolate the heat from get into it.
The wall of yakhchāl is built with unique water-resistant mortar called sarooj, composed of sand, clay, egg whites, lime, goat hair, and ash, that is resistant to heat and at the same time water-impenetrable. While the thickness of the wall will reach up to two meters thick at the base.
Faloodeh, traditional Iranian dessert. Photo: thevintagenews.com
The most common feature of yakhchāls, is they have access to qanat (Iranian aqueduct), while sometimes they equipped with a system of bâdgirs (ancient design of windcatchers or wind towers). This additional design help further cool down the temperature to frigid levels during the summer days. So, there are some varieties in its architecture.
The usage of yakhchāls, will allow the ice created in it during the winter to be used throughout the summer. This will help people to keep their foods in it, but also prepare special dessert such as faloodeh, the traditional Persian ice cream.
By mimicking this special architecture, there are many applications can be used in today's world, especially in building more energy efficiency building. Most of our modern inventions relying too much on the usage of electrical energy - that also require to be generated by other sources (such as coals, hydroelectric, solar, wind, thermal and etc.). Imagine if yakhchāl's principal is used instead. How wonderful the future can be?
Isnin, 6 Julai 2020
Beaver dam, why it is an essential for the thriving areas?
Beaver will keep on working on its dam mostly during the night. Photo: Twitter |
Beaver is a nice cute creature with different functions in nature. While building its home, beaver's also creating a suitable environment for other creatures to flourish to form a complete ecosystem. Instead important to all of the animals, beaver dam also important for the environment, especially in drought control and also for the underground water supply.
Once, there are more than 60 millions of beaver in North American alone. Anyway, hunting for fur and the beaver glands make the number decreased to 6 to 12 million by 1988. There are long way to go to restore the number of beaver back to its original. While we can see the impact of drought, flooding, erosion, and underground water shortage become more serious. This also decreasing the number's of plants and animals that thriving together with beaver dam.
There are 2 main types of beaver in the world.
The skulls of North American beaver and Eurasian beaver. Photo: wikipedia. |
North American beaver (Castor canadensis) - this species can be found on the American continent. Where most of the beaver today are found in the North, mostly in Canada. That's where the largest beaver dam can be found today.
Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) - compared to their American cousin's, Eurasian beaver was hunted nearly to extinction in Europe. The beaver was totally extinct in Great Britain in the sixteenth century. It was said that the total number of Eurasia beaver was 100 million had fallen to 1000. With beaver protection in over 24 European countries the number of Eurasian beaver now estimated to reach to 639,000 in mainland Europe.
Beaver lodges
The diagram of beaver lodge and their areas. Photo: wikipedia. |
Other than creating the dam, beaver will also build their homes that called lodges. This dome-like home was constructed using branches and mud. The lodges often will located in the middle of the ponds and the entrances will be underwater. This lodge can be home to several extended families of monogamous parents. Sometimes there can be more than one lodges in the same beaver dam.
In the lodge there are separate areas for the beaver to drying themselves when coming out of the water and the drying area where the family lives. The dens also provided with ventilation to allow the air flows properly. Usually there will be another alternative entrance into the dens.
Foods
Beaver only eating the tree barks, leaves, small branches, twigs, roots and aquatic plants. So, it will leave other animals live in their pond. The thriving creatures from aquatic plants and animals will increase in number as long as the dam is maintained by the beaver's family. Increasing numbers of fishes and other animals will also attract migrating birds and other animals for foods and water. The beaver dam will allow beavers to reach its food source without exposing it to predators such as coyote, wild cat, bear or any other enemies.
Beaver never goes to hibernate during the winter season. It will keep enough food supplies in its' dent, for the rest of the family. Beavers eat leaves, roots and bark from aspens, willows, maples and poplar trees. They also eat aquatic plants.
Even though the beaver dam will increase the water level. The changes made by the beaver will never reach to the scales that produce by human (by creating a dam). In other words, it's not damaging, but instead, it's enrich the environment.
Important of beaver to Ecosystem
The different on the surrounding areas of beaver dam. Photo: eurekalert.org |
Beaver dam helps other animal to flourish and create its own ecosystem. Besides, its water catchment area keeps the area rich with life. It will also protect the area from becoming too dry during drought season - as this problem has become more serious lately, include the shortage amount of underground water.
Beaver dam slows down the flow of water that can cause an erosion. The sediment rich pond will promote growth of water plants that also become the sanctuary of small creatures, allowing bigger animals also thrive in the same area. This water catchment will avoid the nutrient in the soils from directly wash into the sea and clogged the river delta that can also cause flooding.
In the long term, the beaver dam will enrich the nearby areas as you can see it in the photos. With the increasing of vegetation, it's not only avoid further erosion, but also increase the numbers of floras and faunas in the areas. With continuous water supply provided by the beaver dam, it further prevents the desertification of the areas.
Biggest beaver dam
One of the beaver dam area. Photo: argentinaexplorationjourneys.com |
So far the biggest beaver dam known to human measured, 850 m long in Alberta, Canada, is the world's biggest and can be seen from space. Beavers have been building the dam since 1975. The dam was constructed by the family of beaver from fewer generations. The beaver was known to live in groups of families.
This dam was located deep in the Wood Buffalo National Park that only realized by satellite image by a researcher. Even the ranger of the park are not aware of it existent when contacted by the BBC film crew, when they learned about the beaver dam from the researcher's website.
Link for the largest beaver dam in Google Map
People keep destroying beaver dam.
There are still many people destroying beaver dams for taking part of their land. The collapse between human and beaver can only be avoided by understanding how these creatures work in enriching the ecosystem. Without understanding how's nature's works we might be not only destroying important creatures but also ourselves.
Ahad, 28 Jun 2020
These celebrity chefs, where they went for culinary school?
Culinary studies covered many aspects related to food. Photo: Cordonblue |
Do top celebrity chef has culinary study background? These are some of top chef celebrities that most of us known very well for their shows or books. Even though culinary studies are important, same as any other fields, but to become celebrity it takes different actions that separate them from others.
Rachael Ray. Photo: rachaelray.com |
1- Rachael Ray - Food Network star, she herself never calls her chef for the reason never go to CIA [Culinary Institute of America]. Despite of her big name under culinary world, she was one of known television personality, businesswoman, celebrity and author. There are few foods related programs with her such as 30 Minutes Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels, $40 a Day, Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, and Rachael Ray's Kids Cook-Off. While there are numbers of books by her from 1999 to 2019 (28 books).
Ree Drummond. Photo: today.com |
2- Ree Drummond - studied gerontology, Drummond's Pioneer Woman website didn't start out as a food blog, but the success of her first recipe post about how to cook a steak transformed her into a fan favourite. Then became Food Network host, author, and lifestyle brand. The transformation has not only turned her from regular blogger to a book writer, but also turned her into a TV celebrity with her own television program such as The Pioneer Woman, on The Food Network Channel.
Ina Garten. Photo: architecturaldigest.com |
3- Ina Garten - things changed when buying a Specialty food store in Westhampton Beach, New York, called The Barefoot Contessa. Barefoot Contesa is Specialty food store that by time keep on expanding together with Ina Garten's career in culinary. She was mentored by Eli Zabar (owner of Eli's Manhattan and Eli's Breads) and also Martha Stewart. From there she begins to write cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded convenience products, and a television show.
Guy Fieri. Photo: cnbc.com |
4- Guy Fieri - studied hospitality management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Gained culinary experience when studying abroad in France and working at the Italian chain Louise's Trattoria before opening his own restaurant Johnny Garlic's. He also became a host of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on Food Network. He became one the most popular face of the Food Network channel. In fact, his shows also attract more male viewers than any others on the network.
Tom Colicchio. Photo: lasvegasweekly.com |
5- Tom Colicchio - despite become judge for Bravo's "Top Chef", he never has a formal culinary training. His experience came from the kitchens of acclaimed New York City restaurants such as The Quilted Giraffe, Gotham Bar & Grill, and Mondrian. Partnered for restaurant Gramercy Tavern in a neighbourhood of Manhattan and was voted Most Popular Restaurant in New York City by Zagat Survey in 2003 and 2005. He has also written a few cookbooks, and documentary films.
Tiffani Thiessen. Photo: Youtube |
6- Tiffani Thiessen - previously known for her roles in "Saved by the Bell" and "Beverly Hills 90210," turned into a cooking show host and cookbook author. Shows such as "Dinner at Tiffani's" on the Cooking Channel, where she prepared meals for celebrity friends. Compared to any other cooking celebrity Tiffany Thiessen was totally an actress.
Martha Stewart. Photo: pbs.org |
7- Martha Stewart - Originally studied history and worked as a stockbroker before launching a catering company, and her first book, "Entertaining". Martha has multiple business that also includes merchandising, publishing, broadcasting and e-commerce. Her appearance as a culinary celebrity might be just a small part of her real business empire, and she has lots of fans under this category.
Gordon Ramsay. Photo: chicago.suntimes.com |
8- Gordon Ramsay - Earned his degree in hotel management from North Oxon Technical College, then learned on the job in the kitchens at Harvey's and La Gavroche in London. His most popular shows such as "Hell's Kitchen" and "Kitchen Nightmares." Gordon Ramsey also a well known restaurateur, writer, and television personality. There're also some American Version on his shows such as Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, as well as Hotel Hell and 24 Hours to Hell and Back.
Despite of their success, what is the culinary studies and why it is important for the food industry. Even though in general culinary simply means "related to cooking", that includes, cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking process, and presentation of food, the culinary study will cover food science, ethnic and international cuisine, food purchasing and restaurant operation.
There are many educational institutions that offer culinary programs with different stages, and these three are among the best;
* Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY
* Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA
*American River College in Sacramento, CA
While having the knowledge is the best way to start, but for the long success, keep on going in culinary industry will be the main drive to achieve the success. As the world is changing very fast, same as the way how we live today. There are many online courses available even if you are from the other side of the world. Just find your passion and let it drive you to your success.
25 Fakta Menarik Tentang Dunia KPop
- Selalunya agensi-agensi pengurusan kumpulan kpop di Korea Selatan membuat ujibakat untuk pelatih yang masih sangat muda. Pelatih akan tinggal bersama pelatih-pelatih lain di dalam persekitaran yang terkawal. Mereka menghabiskan masa harian mereka dengan belajar muzik, tarian, bahasa asing dan lain-lain kemahiran sebagai persediaan untuk debut mereka. Sistem latihan ini selalu dikritik oleh media barat kerana mereka mendakwa ia melanggar hak asasi remaja bawah umur. Syarikat label melabur hingga 3 juta Dollar bagi setiap pelatih, mempertaruhkan peluang mereka mendapat keuntungan besar di dalam industri Kpop.
- Rakyat Korea Selatan mempunyai perasaan sayang dan benci kepada Jepun. Ini juga termasuk kepada industri Kpop. Ini berkaitan dengan era zaman penjajahan Jepun suatu ketika dahulu, idola Kpop perlu berhati-hati dengan percakapan mereka. Jika tersilap langkah, karier dan imej mereka akan rosak dan jatuh dengan mudah, tidak kira betapa popularnya mereka pada ketika itu.
- Selalunya untuk sesebuah kumpulan kpop mereka akan diberikan nama lain untuk setiap dan konsep tersendiri untuk setiap single dan album. Kadangkala sub-unit atau kumpulan kecil akan dibentuk dari kalangan ahli kumpulan. Terdapat juga masa di mana sub-unit atau kumpulan kecil ini hanya membuat promosi di luar negara seperti di Jepun atau China.
- PAK atau ‘Perfect All Kill’ merupakan gelaran bagi penyanyi atau kumpulan Kpop yang mendapat tempat pertama pada carta masa sebenar, harian dan mingguan untuk setiap carta lagu yang wujud di Korea Selatan. Terdapat lebih dari 10 carta yang perlu dimenangi untuk mendapat PAK dan hanya sebilangan kecil sahaja yang mampu mendapat PAK. Antara penyanyi solo yang pernah mendapat PAK paling lama adalah IU – Blueming (117 kali), Zico – Any Song (274 kali) dan Lim Chang Jung - There Has Never Been A Day I Haven't Loved You (95 kali), manakala kumpulan Kpop pula adalah iKon – Lov Scenario (204 kali), Gfriend – Rough (66 kali), Twice – Knock Knock (69 kali) dan Blackpink – Ddu Du Ddu Du (92 kali).
- Apabila idola Kpop keluar dengan lagu atau album terbaru perlu dipromosi, mereka akan pergi sehingga 6 rancangan muzik seminggu untuk mempromosikan lagu-lagu mereka.
- Idola Kpop tidak akan mendapat bayaran sehingga hutang mereka dengan syarikat pengurusan pelatih habis dibayar. Sebagai contoh, jika ianya memerlukan 1 juta Dollar untuk melatih ahli-ahli kumpulan sehingga mereka debut, mereka tidak akan dibayar sehingga mereka menjelaskan kesemua hutang 1 juta Dollar tersebut. Sesetengah syarikat seperti SM atau JYP Entertainment, tidak meletakkan syarat tersebut kepada kumpulan yang baru debut di mana mereka tidak perlu membayar hutang mereka.
- Terdapat lebih dari 100 kumpulan Kpop yang wujud di Korea Selatan dan hanya 5 peratus sahaja yang betul-betul berjaya.
- Blackpink Lisa merupakan astis Kpop paling popular di Korea Selatan dan seluruh dunia di mana beliau mempunyai 34.7 juta pengikut Instagram ketika ini.
- Kebanyakkan idola Kpop terutamanya dari syarikat kecil mendapat pendapatan yang kecil walaupun setelah mereka debut dan sesetengah daripada mereka terpaksa membuat kerja sambilan bagi menampung kos kehidupan mereka.
- Artis barat seperti The Chainsmokers, Charli XCX, Steve Aoki, Akon, Kanye West, Desiigner, Ludacris, dan Snoop Dogg, semua pernah muncul di dalam lagu-lagu Kpop.
- Irene dari kumpulan Kpop Red Velvet mengikuti ujibakat di SM Entertainment kerana dia hanya menemani rakannya yang ingin mengambil ujibakat tersebut. Pada mulanya beliau gagal dalam ujibakat tersebut dan kemudiannya dihubungi semula oleh syarikat tersebut dan dijemput untuk menjadi pelatih.
- Pada awalnya kumpulan EXID pernah membuat sesi bertemu dengan peminat di taman permainan dan hanya 15 orang sahaja yang hadir. Mereka kemudian membuat sesi tanda tangan dan hanya 3 orang sahaja yang hadir pada ketika itu. Pengurus kumpulan pula pernah tidak dibayar gaji untuk beberapa bulan tetapi masih lagi bersama kumpulan EXID sehingga mereka berjaya.
- Semasa menyanyikan lagu debut pertama mereka Mr. Ambiguous di dalam rancagan Mnet M Countdown, kumpulan Kpop Mamamoo hanya diberi sokongan dan sorakan oleh ahli-ahli keluarga mereka sahaja manakala bagi Wheein, beliau hanya diberi sokongan oleh kawan baik beliau yang hadir ketika itu. Bunyi sorakan tersebut boleh didengar di dalam video oleh saluran Youtube Mnet Official.
- Bagi industri Kpop, berat ideal bagi idola Kpop wanita adalah dari 40kg hingga 49kg. Mempunyai berat 50kg ke atas adalah dikira sebagai gemuk, tidak kira berapa tinggi idola wanita tersebut. Sistem ini juga selalu dikritik oleh peminat-peminat dan juga media antarabangsa.
- Syarikat pengurusan menanggung segala perbelanjaan untuk setiap pelatih-pelatih mereka termasuk makan, minum, pakaian dan tempat tinggal. Jika seseorang pelatih ingin berhenti dari menjadi pelatih, mereka perlu membayar kembali hutang atau kos yang telah dikeluarkan oleh syarikat kepada mereka.
- Pada era 70an, budaya DJ mula menjadi sangat popular di korea Selatan. Banyak kedai-kedai minum dan kafe-kafe mempunyai DJ yang memainkan lagu-lagu kepada pelanggan.
- Pada awal kemunculan budaya Kpop, penyanyi dan kumpulan Kpop tidak digelar sebagai idola dan tidak ada sorakan ‘khas’ daripada peminat-peminat. Gelaran idola dan sorakan khas asalnya adalah dari budaya Jepun. Di Jepun, idola biasanya adalah penyanyi yang wujud khas untuk menghiburkan peminat. Mereka selalunya akan disampingi dengan sorakan ‘khas’ dari peminat-peminat mereka ketika mereka sedang menyanyi. Budaya ini kemudiannya mula masuk ke Korea Selatan dan digunakan oleh peminat-peminat Kpop untuk menyokong idola kegemaran mereka. Ini termasuk lampu khas rasmi yang digunakan oleh peminat-peminat di konsert-konsert Kpop.
- Pelatih-pelatih Kpop menghabiskan 20 jam sehari untuk belajar muzik, menyanyi, tarian dan kemahiran-kemahiran lain bagi persiapan mereka sebelum debut.
- Idola Kpop tidak dibenarkan mempunyai pasangan sehingga berumur 29 tahun. Ini untuk memberikan imej bersih sebagai idola dan juga untuk mengelakkan khabar angin dan skandal yang boleh memberikan kesan buruk kepada idola dan juga syarikat.
- Idola Kpop dijangka untuk masih membuat persembahan walau pun ketika mereka sedang sakit. Selah satu sebab kenapa anda lihat ada seorang ahli yang sedang duduk dan menyanyi sambil ahli-ahli lain menari sambil menyanyi ketika membuat persembahan.
- Penyanyi dari Girl’s Generation (SNSD) iaitu Taeyeon pada mula benci kepada lagu ‘Gee’ semasa mendengar lagu tersebut untuk pertama kali. Beliau sangat benci kepada lagu tersebut sehingga membuatkan beliau menangis kerana terpaksa menyanyikan lagu tersebut.
- Lisa (Blackpink) dan Bambam (GOT7) adalah kawan sejak kecil. Mereka mempunyai kumpulan tarian yang digelar We Zaa Cool. Kumpulan tarian mereka ada memenangi beberapa pertandingan tarian di Thailand.
- Terdapat pelatih-pelatih yang menjadi pelatih lebih dari 6 tahun tetapi masih tidak berpeluang untuk debut atau menjadi ahli kumpulan Kpop.
- Kumpulan-kumpulan Kpop biasanya mempunyai kelab peminat mereka sendiri dan mempunyai nama dan warna rasmi. Sebagai contoh kumpulan Kpop GFRIEND mempunyai kelab peminat yang bernama BUDDY. Manakala warna rasmi pula adalah Cloud Dancer, Scuba Blue, dan Ultraviolet.
- Bagi pelatih-pelatih yang lebih kepada visual, mereka selalunya mendapat peluang muncul di dalam video muzik ataupun di iklan-iklan. Sebagai contoh, Sowon atau nama sebenar Kim So Jung pernah muncul di dalam klip video muzik kumpulan RAINBOW sebelum beliau debut dengan kumpulan GFRIEND.