Scientists have found the biggest and oldest reservoir of water ever–so large and so old, it’s almost impossible to describe.

The water is out in space, a place we used to think of as desolate and desert dry, but it’s turning out to be pretty lush.Researchers found a lake of water so large that it could provide each person on Earth an entire planet’s worth of water–20,000 times over. Yes, so much water out there in space that it could supply each one of us all the water on Earth–Niagara Falls, the Pacific Ocean, the polar ice caps, the puddle in the bottom of the canoe you forgot to flip over–20,000 times over.

The water is in a cloud around a huge black hole that is in the process of sucking in matter and spraying out energy (such an active black hole is called a quasar), and the waves of energy the black hole releases make water by literally knocking hydrogen and oxygen atoms together.The official NASA news release describes the amount of water as “140 trillion times all the water in the world’s oceans,” which isn’t particularly helpful, except if you think about it like this.

That one cloud of newly discovered space water vapor could supply 140 trillion planets that are just as wet as Earth is.

Mind you, our own galaxy, the Milky Way, has about 400 billion stars, so if every one of those stars has 10 planets, each as wet as Earth, that’s only 4 trillion planets worth of water.

The new cloud of water is enough to supply 28 galaxies with water.

Truly, that is one swampy patch of intergalactic space.

Equally stunning is the age of the water factory. The two teams of astrophysicists that found the quasar were looking out in space a distance of 12 billion light years. That means they were also looking back in time 12 billion years, to when the universe itself was just 1.6 billion years old. They were watching water being formed at the very start of the known universe, which is to say, water was one of the first substances formed, created in galactic volumes from the earliest time. Given water’s creative power to shape geology, climate and biology, that’s dramatic.

“It’s another demonstration that water is pervasive throughout the universe, even at the very earliest times,” says Matt Bradford, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and leader of one of the teams that made the discovery. (The journal article reporting the discovery is titled, without drama, “The Water Vapor Spectrum of APM 08279+5255: X-Ray Heating and Infrared Pumping over Hundreds of Parsecs.”)

It is not as if you’d have to wear foul-weather gear if you could visit this place in space, however. The distances are as mind-bogglingly large as the amount of water being created, so the water vapor is the finest mist–300 trillion times less dense than the air in a typical room.

And it’s not as if this intergalactic water can be of any use to us here on Earth, of course, at least not in the immediate sense. Indeed, the discovery comes as a devastating drought across eastern Africa is endangering the lives of 10 million people in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. NASA’s water discovery should be a reminder that if we have the sophistication to discover galaxies full of water 12 billion light years away, we should be able to save people just an ocean away from drought-induced starvation.

The NASA announcement is also a reminder how quickly our understanding of the universe is evolving and how much capacity for surprise nature still has for us. There’s water on Mars, there’s water jetting hundreds of miles into space from Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons, there are icebergs of water hidden in the polar craters of our own Moon. And now it turns out that a single quasar has the ability to manufacture galaxies full of water.

But it was only 40 years ago, in 1969, that scientists first confirmed that water existed anywhere besides Earth.

by Charles Fishman
Source: www.fastcompany.com

Punjabi University formally launched “Punjabipedia”, an exclusive online treasure relating to Punjabi language. While describing it as a big leap in the direction of fulfilling ‘Mission Punjabi-2020’, furthering university’s aim of promoting Punjabi, vice-chancellor Jaspal Singh said the effort would help in putting Punjabi language among the top languages of the world.

He said it would soon be made available on smartphones, tablets and other online gadgets, free of cost.

Taking a leaf out of online encyclopaedia Wikipedia’s book, the university has published Punjabipedia to help internet users get details relating to the state’s history, culture, literature, traditions and other information in Punjabi.

Introducing the project, Devinder Singh, director, planning and monitoring, who is also coordinator of the Punjabipedia, said that though Punjabipedia had been designed on the pattern of Wikipedia but it would be more authentic and reliable as the entries will be controlled and monitored by the university staff and not by the public in general as in case of Wikipedia.

He said at present Punjabipedia contain more than 72,000 entries. Its database will soon be enlarged to cover topics relating to not only Punjabi language, art and culture but other subjects as well.

“The data is available in Gurmukhi script “, he said.

As per available, ‘Encyclopaedia of Sikhism’, all four volumes of ‘Bal Vishav Kosh’ (children’s encyclopaedia), a first Punjabi-based encyclopaedia published exclusively for the 6-14 years age group and a Punjabi conceptual dictionary has been added in the Punjabipedia content.

However, another master piece, Encyclopedia of Sikhism, also a four-volume publication with a total of nearly 20,000 printed pages, comprises nearly 3,500 entries on various aspects of Sikh history, philosophy and customs. Social, religious movements, art, architecture and shrines also found place in the contents of Punjabipedia.

“We had planned to upload Punjabi language encyclopaedia ‘Mahan Kosh’ compiled by Kahn Singh Nabha but could not do so due to some technical glitches. It will be uploaded soon”, he said.

– HT

Johannesburg, March 3: A retired South African Indian educationist, who went back to college to complete his qualifications at the age of 55, has been honoured for a lifetime of service.

Kunwar Singh (80), who is better known across the country by his nickname Kokkie, received the annual award titled “To Honour Those Who Serve”, made by Shree Bharat Sharda Mandir.

Singh explained how he had been teaching for many years with a Junior Certificate teaching qualification when he joined his son and nephews at the Transvaal College of Education for Indians here to gain a higher diploma.

“I had to upgrade myself because I would never have got a promotion otherwise,” Singh said. “I also succeeded in getting 30 women teachers to join me in getting a better qualification at the Johannesburg College of Education,” he said.

Singh was particularly thrilled when the Rector called him in to say that in spite of 170 young people being at the College, the staff had decided to give him the Leadership Award for changing the College in the two years that he was there, he said. “Singh has received so many accolades from many organisations. He is clearly a role model for all of us,” said Rafique Jajbhay of the School, as he introduced Singh.

Singh dedicated his award to the women who had stood behind the successes of many men, in his case his wife and mother, as he requested a popular Hindi song dedicated to mothers to be played during the proceedings. — PTI

A special turban owned by the British Museum provided the focal-point as an exhibition celebrating Sikhism was officially opened in Bradford. The Earl of Harewood welcomed about 100 people to Cartwright Hall art gallery yesterday as the Sikh Fortress Turban exhibition got under way.

The exhibition explains the importance of the turban to the Sikh faith and includes the conical Fortress Turban alongside items from Bradford Museums and Galleries’ collections and the city’s Sikh community. “I was very honoured to be asked to come and open this exhibition,” said the Earl, who also spoke of the “richness of Sikh culture. “I am delighted to be here.”

The Fortress Turban, which features various weapons, was worn by a group of skilled warrior Sikhs called Akali Nihangs, to protect their head and hair from sword blows. It has been brought to Bradford as part of the British Museum’s Spotlight Tour, and has been in its collection since the early 20th century. Mohinder Singh Chana, a trustee of Bradford Museums and Galleries, said: “It gives us great pleasure to come to Cartwright Hall and be able to be involved in an exhibition here.”

Jill Maggs, head of loans at the British Museum, said: “The Spotlight Tour is about shining a light on the object itself, and also the collections of the host venue.” The exhibition will run at the gallery until May 18.

Read about the Inter Faith History behind Origin and Evolution of Turban – http://goo.gl/oxlN4K

The railways has decided to launch another Panj Takht special train from March 21, 2014. According to IRCTC Chief Regional Manager RK Sondh, the train would start from Jammu on March 21 and cover all five Takhts of Sikhs, including Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded; Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib; and Akal Takht (Harmandar Sahib), Amritsar, up to March 30.

The train will halt at Kathua, Bharoli, Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar, Beas, Kartarpur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt and Delhi’s Safdurjung railway station.

He said the decision to run another Panj Takht train was taken after the success of Panj Takht special train in February and keeping in view the demand of the devotees from areas other than Punjab.

Booking of Panj Takht Train is available online on IRCTC website. Booking can also be done through Railway’s Tourist Facilitation Center, Zonal Offices and Regional Offices.

Itinerary Dated :- 21/03/2014 & 18/04/2014

Package Tariff :- Rs 8250/- (Including Service Tax)

For Offline Booking, Please contact or visit at: http://goo.gl/u05kT4

Jasbir Kaur, a victim of 1984 Sikh Riots where she lost her son, and then lost her husband and other three sons as well, life has never been as blessed as it should have been to her. Losing the earning hands too early in her life, this mother of 5, now stays with her only son who runs a rented auto- rickshaw and earns too hard to support his family, his mother and his brother’s sons as well!

Jasbir Kaur has to get operated for her eyes with a cataract surgery costing her Rs. 10,000 which her family cannot support. This is the time that she has to stand alone and ask the soft hearts to donate her for this treatment on 8th March 2014. In this little time she is looking out for help from you to help her get treated else, the operation will stand cancelled for her.

There are times when you sympathise with a person but this time you will have to extend a helping hand to Jasbir Kaur who wants to work and help her son in earning a livelihood after treatment.

You may transfer any amount that suits you to Jasbir Kaur’s account directly. Contact her here: +91 9871519456

Bank Details:

‘The Kalgidhar Society’
A/c No. 02921000041564,
HDFC Bank Ltd.,
IFSC Code: 000029,
J-12/21, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi – 27

NOTE – Make sure you send us your transaction details at – info@barusahib.org instantly to help us know when the donation amount is done with.

A little help can bring happiness in someone’s life. Waheguru!

An Indian-origin scientist has discovered an ultra-thin layer hidden deep in the eye that can help treat glaucoma, thus taking a step closer to curing blindness caused by the ocular disorder.

Harminder Dua, a professor at Nottingham University, has discovered how a new layer in the human cornea plays a vital role in the structure of the tissue that controls the flow of fluid from the eye, a university press release stated.

The findings, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, could shed new light on glaucoma, a disease normally associated with increased fluid pressure in the eye which can lead to blindness if left untreated.

A previously unknown layer of the cornea has been discovered in the human eye, a breakthrough experts say could ‘rewrite the opthalmology textbooks’.Researchers from the University of Nottingham found the new layer – which is just 0.001 mm thick – within the cornea, the clear window at the front of the eye. They say it could help surgeons dramatically improve outcomes for patients undergoing corneal grafts and transplants.

WHAT DOES THE DISCOVERY OF DUA’S LAYER MEAN?

Knowledge of Dua’s Layer could improve outcomes for patients undergoing corneal grafts and transplants During surgery, tiny air bubble are injected into corneal stroma via the ‘big bubble technique’ If the bubble bursts it causes damage to the eye.

But if the air bubble is injected under Dua’s layer instead of above it, the layer’s strength reduces the risk of tearing Diseases of the cornea including acute hydrops, Descematocele and pre-Descemet’s dystrophies may be affected by the discovery of Dua’s layer.

Problems with the layer could also explain many eye diseases that until now were elusive in origin. The new layer has been dubbed the Dua’s layer, after Professor Harminder Dua who discovered it, reports journal Ophthalmology.Professor Dua said: “This is a major discovery that will mean that ophthalmology textbooks will literally need to be re-written.

Having identified this new and distinct layer deep in the tissue of the cornea, we can now exploit its presence to make operations much safer and simpler for patients. Professor Harminder Dua at the University of Nottingham discovered the previously undetected layerProfessor Harminder Dua at the University of Nottinghm discovered the previously undetected layer ‘From a clinical perspective, there are many diseases that affect the back of the cornea which clinicians across the world are already beginning to relate to the presence, absence or tear in this layer.’ Scientists previously believed the cornea to be comprised of five layers, from front to back, the corneal epithelium, Bowman’s layer, the corneal stroma, Descemet’s membrane and the corneal endothelium. The new layer that has been discovered is located at the back of the cornea between the corneal stroma and escemet’s membrane.

Although it is just 15 microns thick – the entire cornea is around 550 microns thick or 0.5mm – it is incredibly tough and is strong enough to be able to withstand one and a half to two bars of pressure. Researchers proved the layer existed by simulating human corneal transplants and grafts on eyes donated for research. During these experiments, tiny bubbles of air were injected into the cornea to separate the different layers. The scientists then subjected the separated layers to electron microscopy, allowing them to study them at many thousand times their actual size and revealing Dua’s layer. The authors say that the discovery will have an impact on advancing understanding of a number of diseases of the cornea, including acute hydrops, Descematocele and pre-Descemet’s dystrophies The scientists now believe that corneal hydrops, a bulging of the cornea caused by fluid build up that occurs in patients with keratoconus (conical deformity of the cornea), is caused by a tear in the Dua layer, through which water from inside the eye rushes in and causes waterlogging.

A Sikh youth in Italy has been fined €23,000 (`19.6 lakh) by a court for not removing his kirpan. Manpreet Singh is disappointed with the court’s decision and the offence to Sikhs.

The man from Tanda village in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district originally now lives at Vicentino in Vicenza province of Italy. On February 2, 2013, while working in the Italian city of Tarvisio, he was injured in a road accident and, at hospital, doctors asked him to remove the symbol of his faith.

Manpreet Singh explained to the doctors the importance of the Kirpan and why he could not remove it, yet they called the police, who accused him of wearing an 18-centimetre-long Sri Sahib, more than what is allowed, and considering it a crime to keep weapons, registered a case under the Italian law.

He fought the case but on January 22, received a notice from the Tarvisio court that it had fined him €23,000, and if he did not pay, he would get a three-month jail sentence. He said the verdict had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.

A few months ago, the Italian government had dismissed a case about the registration of Sikhism officially. The point of the case was to allow Sikhs to wear Kirpan at public places.

– Hindustan Times, Chandigarh Edition.

The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) invites you to participate in the 9th Annual DNA Day Essay Contest! The contest is open to students in grades 9-12.

The contest aims to challenge students to examine, question, and reflect on important concepts in genetics. Essays are expected to contain substantive, well-reasoned arguments indicative of a depth of understanding of the concepts related to the essay question. Essays are read and evaluated by several independent judges through three rounds of scoring.

Prizes-
1st Place Winner: $1,000 + $1,000 genetics materials grant for teacher
2nd Place Winner: $600 + $600 genetics materials grant for teacher
3rd Place Winner: $400 + $400 genetics materials grant for teacher

Honorable Mention: 10 prizes of $100 each.

2014 Question

Complex traits, such as blood pressure, height, cardiovascular disease, or autism, are the combined result of multiple genes and the environment. For ONE complex human trait of your choosing, identify and explain the contributions of at least one genetic factor AND one environmental factor. How does this interplay lead to a phenotype? Keep in mind that the environment may include nutrition, psychological elements, and other non-genetic factors. If the molecular or biological basis of the interaction between the genetic and environmental factors is known, be sure to discuss it. If not, discuss the gaps in our knowledge of how those factors influence your chosen trait.

Essays are due at 5:00 pm EST, March 14, 2014.
Read the Essay Contest Rules – http://goo.gl/Ey1opB