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WEEKLY UPDATE
Bad tempered black hole
WASHINGTON: The black hole at the centre of the our galaxy is subject to frequent outbursts and occasional large explosions, astronomers reported on Monday at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle.
Astronomers used NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory to perform the longest X-ray look yet at the supermassive black hole at the Milky Way’s centre.
The study of the black hole in the Sagittarius Constellation was done over a period of two weeks. Several outbursts and a history of enormous explosions were recorded during this time.
Scientists hope to use the findings of the study to explain how the black hole increases in size and interacts with its environment.
The black hole is some 26,000 light years from Earth. — AFP
Scientist claims discovery of fluid flow on Mars
SYDNEY: An Australian scientist claimed on Monday to have identified the first active flow of fluids on Mars, a breakthrough long sought by those hoping to find life on the red planet.
University of Melbourne geologist Nick Hoffman said he found recent gully and channel development on Mars while examining images taken by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft.
Hoffman said the channels are more likely to have been carved by avalanches of frozen carbon dioxide, not water.
Hoffman believes his discovery is likely to disappoint those hunting for extra-terrestrial life. “The American public would be happy to send an expedition to Mars to look for life,” he said. “The American public would not be so happy to send an expedition to Mars to look at odd carbon dioxide flows.”
The next bid to find life on Mars will come in May when the European Space Agency sends a robot lander, Beagle 2, towards the planet. But the chances of success seem slim. — AFP
Ancient kilns uncovered
BEIJING: Almost 50 kilns used to bake bricks for the construction of the Great Wall of China (between 1368 and 1644) have been unearthed.
They were buried under a corn field in Banchangyu village, in north China’s Hebei Province near the starting point of the Wall. Twenty-four of them still have around 5,000 bricks each in them.
The Great Wall, designed as a vast protective barrier against enemy troops, traverses a series of precipitous mountain ranges and stretches from Gansu in the north to Liaoning province in the east. — AFP
Thai flower power takes on fried insects
NAKHON PATHOM: Thailand is known for its street stalls which sell fried scorpions and other creepy-crawlies, but a resort here is catering for vegetarians with exotic tastes — by serving up fried orchids, roses and bougainvillea.
At the riverside Rose Garden in a town just outside the Thai capital, the rainbow-hued roses, orchid blooms and ixoras please not only the eye but also the taste buds of connoisseurs.
Flower tempura, served at a restaurant, is accompanied by hot Thai chilli sauce and a promise that the flowers are hand-picked and chemical-free. The flowers are also thoroughly washed to make sure the dish remains vegetarian, with no insects accidentally left inside.
The orchid salad, meanwhile, comes with a garnish of fresh orchids — although a prawn garnish is available on request — with a side sauce of sugar and vinegar.
Rose Garden owner, Suchada Yuvaboon, came up with the idea of turning the crop of cut flowers into delectable morsels, and the dishes have been on the menu since October. Even though the orchids are native to Thailand, a plate of mixed flower tempura cannot be ordered in a hurry. It takes two days for Wanwipa to organize her main ingredients.
But at 80 baht a plate, the dish has a down-to-earth price. The orchid salad is slightly pricier at 120 baht. — AFP
Thief snares deadly snake
SYDNEY: An Australian thief got more than he bargained for when he grabbed a bag off a car’s passenger seat and found a venomous, red-bellied black snake inside.
The thief stole the canvas bag after yanking open the door of a four-wheel drive at traffic lights in the Sydney suburb of Redfern. But the bag contained a 1.2 metre long snake that the car’s driver, snake handler Bradley McDonald had just snared in a nearby car park. — Reuters
Woods voted player of the year
PONTE VEDRA BEACH: Tiger Woods has been voted player of the year by his fellow professionals on the USPGA Tour for the fourth consecutive year, it was announced on Monday.
“It’s always special to have the votes of the other players,” said Woods. “I’m especially proud to have won this award four consecutive times.”
Woods, 27, triumphed in The Masters and US Open and amassed nearly seven million dollars in prize money. Last month he was named golfer of the year for the fourth straight year by US golf writers. — AFP
Parrot saves couple
NORRFLAERKE: A cockatiel named Gilbert sounded the right siren when the house he lives in caught fire. His owners said the Australian bird saved their lives. “Had it not been for Gilbert, the house would have probably burned down,” Niki La Roche told reporters.
She and her boyfriend, woke up after Gilbert began shrieking in the next room. “We recognized Gilbert’s panicky cry and rushed into the room, which was on fire,” La Roche said. — APP
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