On December 14th 2017, The Walt Disney Company announced that is buying 21st century Fox's film, TV and international assets. Disney has agreed to pay $54.2 billion for much of the company owned by Rupert Murdoch. Fox will be keeping its Fox Broadcasting Network, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. As part of the deal, Disney will be getting Hulu which would serve to help the company in its effort to compete with Netflix.
The total value of the deal is $66.1 billion, as Disney will be assuming $13.7 billion of Fox's debt. Bob Iger, Disney's chief executive, will remain in charge of the company until 2021. The deal now awaits approval of federal regulators.
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Scientists Create Robot Muscles From Origami
On November 27th 2017, scientists at Harvard's Wyss Institute and MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), announced in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), that they have successfully created robotic muscles made from metal or plastic skeletons. The muscles, which are covered in liquid or air and then sealed in plastic or fabric, can lift up to a thousand times their own weight.
The new flexible robots use a folding origami structure combined with the use of a vacuum. Each muscle is filled with either air or fluid that is manipulated with an electric pump. In this way the structures can be expanded or contracted. They can move according to their shape and can grip, twist, and lift, just like the real muscles of a human arm. Professor Robert J. Wood of Harvard says the actuators are scalable and can be made in sizes from a few milometers up to a meter.
The new flexible robots use a folding origami structure combined with the use of a vacuum. Each muscle is filled with either air or fluid that is manipulated with an electric pump. In this way the structures can be expanded or contracted. They can move according to their shape and can grip, twist, and lift, just like the real muscles of a human arm. Professor Robert J. Wood of Harvard says the actuators are scalable and can be made in sizes from a few milometers up to a meter.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
New Earth Like Planet Discovered
On November 15th 2017, European scientists announced in the journal, Astronomy & Astrophysics, that they had discovered a nearby planet that appears to be Earth like in nature. The planet orbits a small red dwarf star that is 11 light years from here and has been named Ross 128. The planet, which has been named Ross 128b is believed to be a rocky planet that is one and a half times the mass of the Earth, and may be in the star's habitable zone.
Although it is 20 times closer to it star than the earth, Ross 128b is still in a region where life maybe possible. The red dwarf has a relatively low temperature which would give the planet a temperature somewhere between -76 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. That range could give rise to the presence of liquid water, which essential for life. Ross 128b's parent star is also believed to be a quiet one, not prone to large flares or high energy outbursts of radiation.
Although it is 20 times closer to it star than the earth, Ross 128b is still in a region where life maybe possible. The red dwarf has a relatively low temperature which would give the planet a temperature somewhere between -76 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. That range could give rise to the presence of liquid water, which essential for life. Ross 128b's parent star is also believed to be a quiet one, not prone to large flares or high energy outbursts of radiation.
Thursday, November 23, 2017
New Release!
Just released a new single entitled, "Ready For You," from the album, "Searchin." It's now available on iTunes! You can also preview the tunes on Spotify!
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Scientists Confirm Quantum Tunneling In Water
On November 7th 2017, scientists from the University of Sydney announced that they had made confirmation that electrons can tunnel through barriers in aqueous solutions, away from electrodes. This ability leads to the removal of impurities. The theory of quantum tunneling in electrolysis was first proposed by Ronald Gurney in 1931. David McKenzie, one of the researchers and a professor at the School of Physics believes that his teams findings will prove important in the area of biosensing techniques.
Professor McKenzie went on to say, "a better understanding of electrolysis is becoming more important for applications in alternative energies in what is sometimes called the, 'Hydrogen economy'." One of the methods that is used to extract electricity from solar cells is to produce hydrogen gas by electrolysing water. The gas that is retrieved can be stored and then burned later for use as energy.
Professor McKenzie went on to say, "a better understanding of electrolysis is becoming more important for applications in alternative energies in what is sometimes called the, 'Hydrogen economy'." One of the methods that is used to extract electricity from solar cells is to produce hydrogen gas by electrolysing water. The gas that is retrieved can be stored and then burned later for use as energy.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Braodcom Wants To Buy Qualcomm
On November 6th 2017, Broadcom Ltd. announced that it has made a bid to buy Qualcomm for $130 billion. If the two chip makers make a deal it will represent the largest takeover within the tech industry. Broadcom manufactures semiconductor chips for computers, laptops, smartphones, set top boxes, and more. Qualcomm is most noted for its Snapdragon chips that power Samsung Galaxy 8, LG V30, and Google's Daydream VR.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
T-Moblie And Sprint Call Off Their Merger
On October 30th 2017, Softbank, the parent company of mobile phone service provider Sprint announced that it was officially calling off its merger with cell service provider T-Mobile. The deal purportedly broke down over the stipulation of which parent company would hold the controlling interest after closing. Originally, T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom had insisted that it would be in control, with Sofbank in agreement before it recently, changed its mind.
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