Scientists detect most powerful quasar blast in Chile

(Xinhua) -- A group of scientists from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) working in Chile have discovered a quasar with the most powerful energy outflow ever witnessed, the ESO said on Wednesday.

The outflow of energy from the quasi-stellar radio source, or "quasar," is at least five times more powerful than any that has been detected before, said scientists who detected the blast using the ESO's Very Large Telescope stationed in Paranal Observatory in northern Chile.

Quasars are very bright, distant galactic centers powered by supermassive black holes. While black holes are noted for pulling material in, most quasars also accelerate some of the material around them and eject it at high speed.

Quasars tend to inhabit in the very centers of active young galaxies. They are so distant that it usually takes billions of years for the quasars' light to reach even the most powerful telescopes. Therefore, quasars can follow objects from much earlier in the universe's history, providing some clues to the ancient history of the universe.

"We have discovered the most powerful quasar blast until now. The energy emitted from the quasar... is at least equivalent to 2 trillion times the power output emanated by the sun," said team leader Nahum Arav.

To put it another way, the emission is "100 times more powerful than the total energy production of our galaxy, the Milky Way," said Arav.

"It is a really huge blast," said Arav, adding that "it's the first time a quasar's burst has been measured to obtain the type of high energies predicted by theories."

Numerous theories suggest that the impact of these energy blast can solve several mysteries of modern cosmology, including how a galaxy's mass is associated to the mass of its central black hole, or why there are so few large galaxies in the universe.

Scientists were not certain whether quasars could produce blasts powerful enough to cause these phenomena.

The newly discovered emissions are located about 1,000 light years away from the supermassive black hole at the heart of the quasar, known as SDSS J1106+1939.

"I have been searching for something like this for decades. It's thrilling to finally find these huge bursts predicted by theory," said Arav.

New itineraries to increase WA’s Chinese visitors

About 20 new itineraries to attract Chinese visitors to Western Australia have been developed as part of a co-operative marketing campaign between Tourism Western Australia, China Southern Airlines and Tourism Australia. Tourism Minister Kim Hames said the itineraries were part of a broader $4million partnership marketing agreement between the three organisations and aimed to increase Chinese visitors to WA.

“China is a very important tourism market to WA, with Chinese visitation growing 43.3 per cent to 27,800 visitors for the year ending June 2012,” Dr Hames said.

“Five leading agencies from key Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen; and one national partner, were selected to develop the itineraries which will be promoted via print media, online and retail outlets.

“These tailored consumer packages will feature extraordinary tourism experiences and products across WA to suit independent as well as group travellers. Some of these experiences include self-drive tours, golfing and wine tasting.”

The State Government, through Tourism WA, has also launched Our Direction in China 2012-2015, to identify opportunities for the State to increase its share of Chinese visitors to 100,000 by 2020.“The strategy will play a key role in increasing WA’s market share with a focus on consumer marketing, trade, aviation and industry development,” the Minister said.

“The strategy will be implemented by Tourism WA in collaboration with key stakeholders during the next three years to help reach our goal for 2020.”

Hogg Robinson Group signs up with Citi Commercial Cards

International corporate services company Hogg Robinson Group and Citi Commercial Cards has announced they have entered into a preferred relationship to deliver enhanced travel programme solutions to the market.

With operational networks in over 100 countries, HRG and Citi Commercial Cards will work closely to bring to market a number of travel industry innovations that will combine Citi Commercial Card business’s leading solutions with HRG’s expert travel, meetings, expense, data and advisory management services.

This relationship provides the opportunity to further enhance the central travel account proposition, as well as investing in next generation products within the travel sector.

David Radcliffe, chief executive, Hogg Robinson Group, commented: “Today’s announcement with Citi Commercial Cards gives us the foundations of a preferred relationship with a major global card issuer for the development and delivery of new integrated solutions.

“There is great synergy between Citi and HRG.

“We share a vision and a commitment to bring new offerings to the end-to-end process of travel, payment and expense management.

“Our relationship will see us maximising the power of our intellect and technologies to ensure the very best integrated solutions for our clients.”

Citi Commercial Cards will continue to work with all other travel management providers and HRG will maintain its capability to work with all issuing banks and card processors.

“We are excited to be working with HRG, one of the world’s premier travel management companies,” added Manish Kohli, global head of commercial cards, Citi Transaction Services.

“The scope of our combined services will offer considerable value to our mutual clients across Industries and Geographies, enabling our Clients to transform their Travel Programs and optimise their expense base.”

Demonstrators demand state support for displaced Chilean students

Confech organizes march in response to shut-down of university.

Several hundred students marched at La Moneda presidential palace Wednesday morning, demanding that the state manage the fallout of a congressionally-mandated university closure. Leaders from the Confederation of Chilean Students (Confech) hand-delivered a letter of support for students enveloped in the recent Universidad del Mar scandal.


In October, the Education Ministry requested that the National Council of Education (CNED) shut down the university’s 14 nationwide campuses, leaving the fate of its 18,000 students uncertain. An investigative report by the Chamber of Deputies uncovered financial discrepancies in seven Chilean universities, including Universidad del Mar, in June.

“The situation we are seeing for 18,000 families is very grave,” said Diego Vela, president of the Student Federation of Universidad Católica (FEUC). “The dealings of a very small interest group is overriding the right to educate oneself.”

Months of scrutiny culminated in the arrest last weekend of Hector Zuñiga, former Universidad del Mar director, who allegedly bribed the councilor of the National Accreditation Committee (CNA), Luis Díaz, in order to maintain the school’s merits.

The Senate scheduled a special session to discuss the fate of the university’s students on Dec. 12. Fourteen senators implored the discussion, citing a “particularly grave” situation in which families had lost the confidence and resources they had invested into higher education.

“If we go to another university, we need to know that our futures are ensured,” said Carolina Barros, who studies social work at Universidad del Mar. “We also need to know that, if we graduate, our degrees will be valid.”

Displaced students have both academic and financial credit at stake, Barros said. Some are studying fields unique to the university, while others wonder whether the credit they have earned is eligible elsewhere.

- The Santiago Times

Bigfoot DNA Tests Prove Hairy Creature Exists, Genetic Researcher Says

Bigfoot is real. At least that's what veterinarian Melba S. Ketchum claims after a five-year study of more than 100 DNA samples that she believes comes from the elusive hairy beast.

Under Ketchum's direction at DNA Diagnostics in Nacogdoches, Texas, a team of researchers has concluded that the creature may be a human relative that somehow developed around 15,000 years ago as a result of a hybrid cross between Homo sapiens with an unknown primate.

Ketchum's research has yet to stand the scrutiny of independent researchers. While many people have claimed to have seen the creature, its existence has never been confirmed, despite a plethora of photos and footprints. The ongoing search is the subject of Animal Planet's "Finding Bigfoot" television series.

"Well, it came to me, I didn't go after it, that's for sure," Ketchum said of the evidence of Bigfoot's existence in an exclusive interview with The Huffington Post. "I did not believe in these creatures. But my lab did a lot of animal testing, and we did species identification. We didn't have any hits on anything interesting until five years ago."

Ketchum's professional work includes nearly 30 years in genetics research and forensics. After her team attempted DNA sequencing of hair samples from an alleged Bigfoot encounter, they found some unusual things in the hair. But there wasn't enough DNA to conclusively verify what they were seeing.

DNA Diagnostics received more samples to investigate -- including hair, blood, saliva and urine, all reportedly from various Bigfoot sightings.

- Huffingtonpost.com