World's First Programmable Quantum Computer Created

World's First Programmable Quantum Computer Created. Using a few ultracold ions, intense lasers and some electrodes, researchers have built the first programmable quantum computer. The new system, described in a paper to be published in Nature Physics, flexed its versatility by performing 160 randomly chosen processing routines.

Earlier versions of quantum computers have been largely restricted to a narrow window of specific tasks. To be more generally useful, a quantum computer should be programmable, in the same way that a classical computer must be able to run many different programs on a single piece of machinery.

The new study is "a powerful demonstration of the technological advances towards producing a real-world quantum computer," says quantum physicist Winfried Hensinger of the University of Sussex in Brighton, England.

Researchers led by David Hanneke of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colo., based their quantum computer on two beryllium ions chilled to just above absolute zero. These ions, trapped by a magnetic field on a gold-plated aluminum chip, formed the quantum bits, or qubits, analogous to the bits in regular computers represented by 0s and 1s. Short laser bursts manipulated the beryllium ions to perform the processing operations, while nearby magnesium ions kept the beryllium ions cool and still.

Hanneke and colleagues programmed the computer to do operations on a single beryllium ion and on both of the beryllium ions together. In the quantum world, a single qubit can represent a mixture of 0 and 1 simultaneously, a state called a superposition. A laser pulse operation could change the composition of the mixture within the qubit, tipping the scales to make the qubit more likely to become a 1 when measured.

Both of the qubits together could be entangled, a situation where the two qubits are intimately linked, and what happens to one seems to affect the fate of the other. Different combinations of one- and two-qubit operations made up various programs. "We put all these pieces together and asked, what can we do with the circuit?" Hanneke says.

Hanneke and colleagues chose 160 programs for the quantum computer to run. "We picked them, quite literally, at random," Hanneke says. "We really wanted to sample all possible operations."

The researchers ran each program 900 times. On average, the quantum computer operated accurately 79 percent of the time, the team reported in their paper, which was published online November 15. "Getting this kind of control over a quantum system is really interesting from a physics perspective," Hanneke says.

Earlier research has estimated that to be useful, a quantum computer must operate accurately 99.99 percent of the time. Hanneke says that with stronger lasers and other refinements, the system's fidelity may be improved.

Experimental physicist Boris Blinov says that one of the most exciting things about the new study is that the quantum computer may be scaled up. "What's most impressive and important is that they did it in the way that can be applied to a larger-scale system," says Blinov, of the University of Washington in Seattle. "The very same techniques they've used for two qubits can be applied to much larger systems." ( sciencenews.org )

READ MORE - World's First Programmable Quantum Computer Created

Extreme Global Weather

Extreme Global Weather: ‘the Unprecedented Is the New Normal’ - A rising death toll, the catastrophic flooding and destruction of entire neighborhoods, and billions of dollars in property damage. The impact of Hurricane Sandy, which hit the East Coast earlier this week, will be felt for years, both in the United States and in the Caribbean region where it had earlier killed more than 70 people.

Sandy is being called the "Storm of the Century" but floods, droughts, heat waves and storms are only expected to get worse — with every part of the world facing deadlier and costlier weather disasters.

Much of the world has experienced devastating weather conditions this year. Across eastern and western Africa, a one-two punch of severe drought followed by torrential rains resulted in flash flooding and the deaths and displacement of hundreds of thousands. Drought was also the worst it's been in a quarter century in the United States, shriveling corn crops and boosting prices worldwide. And over the last week, typhoon Son-Tinh has wreaked havoc on Southeast Asia, killing dozens and damaging homes and crops.

So what's causing these extreme weather events and their widespread devastation? A special report issued earlier this year by the IPCC — the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — points to a combination of human-caused global warming, shifts in population, and poverty. And though political wrangling over global warming continues in the United States, 7 in 10 Americans now believe in the science behind climate change and how it can alter global weather conditions.

This week, Christiane discusses these weather extremes with Michael Oppenheimer, a professor at Princeton University. He is also one of the authors of the IPCC report. ( yahoo.com )

READ MORE - Extreme Global Weather

Return of the Master

Return of the Master: Halo 4 a hit with critics - Even more nerve-wracking? Halo 4 is the first core Halo game to be developed by a team other than longtime franchise caretaker Bungie Studios. The new crew, 343 Industries, doesn't just have the weight of the world on its shoulders. It has the weight of an entire sci-fi universe.

But like iconic Halo hero Master Chief, 343 thrives under pressure. Currently averaging a 90 on Metacritic, Halo 4 is already a big hit with critics, opening a thrilling new chapter for franchise fans and taking pole position as the premier shooter of 2012. Master Chief is back, and he's better than ever.

Microsoft's flagship shooter series hits the frontlines again with the next week's release of Halo 4. It's more than just another sequel, however. Microsoft claims it's the most expensive game the company has ever made, and considering how rough game sales have been in 2012, a lot is riding on its success.

Not that he starts out that way. When we last saw the Spartan soldier, he was floating through space in a demolished starship accompanied only by his AI companion, Cortana. Halo 4 picks up just a few years after Halo 3 left off, but quickly paves new ground with new enemies, new weapons, and new technical tricks that take it to impressive heights.

"Halo 4 is not only a success, but a bar-raising triumph for the entire first-person shooter genre," writes IGN reviewer Ryan McCaffrey, who was knocked out by the game's stellar single-player campaign.

"All throughout, the Halo 4 campaign is paced better than any first-person shooter this side of Half-Life 2, deftly mixing on-foot combat, vehicle sequences, quiet story moments, and key Chief-and-Cortana interactions." He gives it a 9.8/10.

"It possesses a striking sense of scale," agrees Polygon scribe Arthur Gies in a 9.5/10 review, who calls the game "a technological achievement that most have assumed was outside of the reach of Microsoft's now seven-year-old console."

"But it's more than that," he continues. "Halo 4 is a return to the series' roots of discovery, of wonder and, at times, of awe. It helps that it might be the most consistently great game of the series to boot."

While you'll still trade bullets with the Covenant, Halo 4 introduces new enemies -- the wickedly smart Prometheans -- and several impressive new locations, like the lush planet of Requiem. To Joystiq's Ludwig Kietzmann, the game is significantly better for it.

"Exploring the deserted, vibrant realms of Requiem is like walking through the matte paintings of an old sci-fi film," he writes. "The immense levels open up when Halo's mammoth vehicles come in to play, and subtly hem you in when it wants more claustrophobic shootouts…in terms of consistency, scope and player motivation, this is the best Halo campaign yet." His score reflects the love: a perfect 5/5.

Most Halo fans, however, save their love not for the campaign, but for the franchise's legendary multiplayer. And again, Halo 4 delivers. IGN calls the game's multiplayer "golden," its weapon-balancing "immaculate," and its level design "outstanding."

Others agree.

"Advancing your character is a joy, as you unlock armor pieces, customizable loadouts, and bonuses to boost performance in battle," gushes Game Informer's Matt Miller in a 9.3/10 review. He also digs the game's "smooth and streamlined" interface and calls the game's dozen new multiplayer maps "impressive."

But even Master Chief's MJOLNIR armor isn't impenetrable. Though Giant Bomb's Jeff Gerstmann is quick to point out that the new developers didn't break Halo, he's also a little miffed that "the game plays it a little too safe."

"At the opening of the game it feels like Master Chief and Cortana could be set off onto some great new mystery…instead you spend a lot of time fighting old Halo enemies," he gripes, though the great gameplay and multiplayer lift it to a solid 4/5.

Perhaps Master Chief's biggest challenge, however, will come from its launch date of November 6. Releasing a game on Election Day? Pretty gutsy, though it's clear you shouldn't be undecided about picking up Halo 4 on your way back from the polls. (Plugged In)

READ MORE - Return of the Master

Cops set up task force to monitor cyberspace

Cops set up task force to monitor cyberspace - POLICE have been monitoring social media networks since yesterday to trace at least 26 forms of seditious and slanderous remarks being made in the public domain about the election.

Bukit Aman public relations officer ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said such statements were mostly made in blogs and being shared in social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

"We have a team that monitors blogs and various social networking websites where such slanderous statements are being made. If this continues, police will take action against them," he said.

Ramli said monitoring will continue throughout nomination day, the campaign period, polling day and the cooling-off period.

He also urged the public to lodge a report if they had been threatened by anyone with regard to the election.

"What we mean by threats is that if any of you have been warned by someone on anything to do with the election, please lodge a report."

Ramli said 32 police reports had been lodged thus far all over the country since the dissolution of Parliament.

The reports involved small fights and slanderous and seditious remarks made by politicians and supporters.

He said yesterday alone, there were 338 political activities regarding the 13th general election.

He advised politicians and supporters to respect each other during this period and asked them to conduct their campaign responsibly.

"Politicians and supporters must stay away from hate speech and character assassinations, as this could provoke others and cause big trouble."

Ramli said any party that wanted to have ceramah must submit a notice to the district police chief as stated in the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. ( Malay Mail )

READ MORE - Cops set up task force to monitor cyberspace

For North Korea, next step is a nuclear test

For North Korea, next step is a nuclear test - North Korea's next step after rattling the world by putting a satellite into orbit for the first time will likely be a nuclear test, the third conducted by the reclusive and unpredictable state.

A nuclear test would be the logical follow-up to Wednesday's successful rocket launch, analysts said. The North's 2009 test came on May 25, a month after a rocket launch.

For the North and its absolute ruler Kim Jong-un, the costs of the rocket program and its allied nuclear weapons efforts - estimated by South Korea's government at $2.8-$3.2 billion since 1998 - and the risk of additional U.N. or unilateral sanctions are simply not part of the calculation.

"North Korea will insist any sanctions are unjust, and if sanctions get toughened, the likelihood of North Korea carrying out a nuclear test is high," said Baek Seung-joo of the Korea Institute of Defense Analyses.

The United Nations Security Council is to discuss how to respond to the launch, which it says is a breach of sanctions imposed in 2006 and 2009 that banned the isolated and impoverished state from missile and nuclear developments in the wake of its two nuclear weapons tests.

The only surprise is that the Security Council appears to believe it can dissuade Pyongyang, now on its third hereditary ruler since its foundation in 1948, from further nuclear or rocket tests.

Even China, the North's only major diplomatic backer, has limited clout on a state whose policy of self reliance is backed up by an ideology that states: "No matter how precious peace is, we will never beg for peace. Peace lies at the end of the barrel of our gun."

As recently as August, North Korea showed it was well aware of how a second rocket launch this year, after a failed attempt in April, would be received in Washington.

"It is true that both satellite carrier rocket and (a) missile with warhead use similar technology," its Foreign Ministry said in an eight-page statement carried by state news agency KCNA on August 31.

"The U.S. saw our satellite carrier rocket as a long-range missile that would one day reach the U.S. because it regards the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) as an enemy."

CASH IN EXCHANGED FOR COLDER WAR

The end-game for the North is a formal peace treaty with Washington, diplomatic recognition and bundles of cash to help bolster its moribund economy.

"They might hope that the U.S. will finally face the unpleasant reality and will start negotiations aimed at slowing down or freezing, but not reversing, their nuclear and missile programs," said Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University in Seoul.

"If such a deal is possible, mere cognition is not enough. The U.S. will have to pay, will have to provide generous 'aid' as a reward for North Koreans' willingness to slow down or stop for a while."

Recent commercially available satellite imagery shows that North Korea has rebuilt an old road leading to its nuclear test site in the mountainous northeast of the country. It has also shoveled away snow and dirt from one of the entrances to the test tunnel as recently as November.

At the same time as developing its nuclear weapons test site, the North has pushed ahead with what it says is a civil nuclear program.

At the end of November, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the construction of a light water reactor was moving ahead and that North Korea had largely completed work on the exterior of the main buildings.

North Korea says it needs nuclear power to provide electricity, but has also boasted of its nuclear deterrence capability and has traded nuclear technology with Syria, Libya and probably Pakistan, according to U.S. intelligence reports.

It terms its nuclear weapons program a "treasured sword".

The missile and the nuclear tests both serve as a "shop window" for Pyongyang's technology and Kookmin's Lankov adds that the attractions for other states could rise if North Korea carries out a test using highly enriched uranium (HEU).

In its two nuclear tests so far, the North has used plutonium, of which it has limited stocks. However it sits on vast reserves of uranium minerals, which could give it a second path to a nuclear weapon.

"An HEU-based device will have a great political impact, since it will demonstrate that North Korean engineers know how to enrich uranium, and this knowledge is in high demand among aspiring nuclear states," Lankov said. (Reuters)

READ MORE - For North Korea, next step is a nuclear test

Five Secrets to Working With a Recruiter

Five Secrets to Working With a Recruiter. As any professional who has ever been out of work knows, finding a job is no small feat. Locating positions of interest and convincing employers you are the one to hire appears simple. In reality, it can be unnerving and frustrating, particularly if the search has been a lengthy one. Enlisting the assistance of a specialized recruiter can ease some of the pressure and help you target your efforts to only the most promising opportunities.

1. Sometimes it is about who you know

Professional recruiters have deep networks of business contacts within a wide range of companies and industries. While you are diligently scouring newspaper and Internet ads, they can uncover leads and vacancies that have not been advertised or even announced, thus giving you an advantage over job seekers who rely solely on information that is posted in the public domain. Recruiters also can serve as career advisers.

For example, in Louisville, Ky., a recruiter with Robert Half International recently partnered with an information technology professional who, despite years of relevant industry experience, had been unable to generate any employment interviews of note. The recruiter helped the individual rewrite his résumé to better highlight the candidate's experience with servers and the .NET platform, leading to immediate interest from employers. In addition to working with you to refine your application materials, a skilled recruiting professional can offer guidance on everything from answering tough interview questions to negotiating the best compensation package to how to dress for your first day of work. They also can help you navigate career crossroads and explore new fields.

2. Not all recruiters are created equal

When selecting a recruiter, it's important that the individual is an expert in his or her field. For example, if you are hoping to find work as an accountant, someone who has experience in the accounting and finance field will be better able to understand your needs and the expectations of potential employers. Ask friends and colleagues for referrals. Also consider contacting a few recruiting professionals in your area to gauge the level of rapport you have with each. Above all, you must be comfortable with the person with whom you have partnered and confident that he or she has your best interests at heart. In addition, remember that you should receive a recruiter's assistance free of charge. These individuals are paid a fee by companies to locate qualified candidates, so view with suspicion any recruiter who asks you to pay for job-search services.

3. The more information, the better

When meeting with a recruiter for the first time, be open and honest about your background, experience and career aspirations. He or she needs to know as much about your professional life as possible to find the right position for you. Are you looking for a tax accountant role in a corporate or public setting? What are your salary requirements? Do you prefer working for a large or small firm? Are you willing to travel? The information you provide may prompt the recruiting professional to suggest promising positions or career paths that you had not previously considered. You also should disclose to your recruiter any aspects of your work history that may generate concern from prospective employers, such as a long period of unemployment or termination. The more upfront you are, the easier it will be for a recruiter to assist you.

4. Follow up, follow up, follow up

After each employment interview your recruiter arranges, call to let him or her know how the meeting went. Your feedback can provide information that can be leveraged in follow-up communication with the employer. This could pave the way to a second or final interview. By following up, you also may receive valuable insight into your interview skills and learn about any concerns expressed by the hiring manager. Throughout the relationship, be forthright in communicating any changes in your career needs or availability. If you're interviewing for other jobs that you've set up on your own, let your recruiting manager know. He or she may have contacts at the company and be able to help you secure the position.

5. Patience

Although using the services of a skilled recruiter can significantly improve your odds of locating employment, even the most successful recruiting professionals need time to find the perfect position for the job seekers they represent. So, don't get discouraged. Recruiters continually mine their sources for job leads and may suddenly discover an opportunity that is right for you. If you'd like a status update, don't be afraid to call your recruiter with questions. Checking in with him or her on a regular basis ensures both of you remain focused on the best opportunities for you. A skilled recruiting professional can help you find the right job faster and open doors to new opportunities. By researching firms and maintaining communication, you'll be in the best position to locate and secure your next position.( msn.com )

READ MORE - Five Secrets to Working With a Recruiter

Four Secrets to Always Having a Job

Four Secrets to Always Having a Job. Never before have Americans been as responsible for keeping themselves skilled and employable as they are today. I tell people to expect to have as many as nine different careers in their lifetime, with an average of three jobs in every one. In short, for those who don't keep a focused eye on their abilities to adapt and grow with the changing workplace, a day could come when it becomes tough to find a "good job."

How do some people always manage to be employed and on track for continued success? They follow the four secrets to staying employable.

1. Keep your definition of a "good job" reasonable.

As we progress professionally, we acquire skills and experiences that often afford us greater opportunities in terms of salary and benefits.The problem lies in making the assumption that once we are offered a larger compensation package, it becomes the starting benchmark for any job we take in the future. The result is the "golden handcuff effect" - a sense that we are held hostage by our current job because there's no place else to go.

Smart workers know each job opportunity provides criteria that must be weighed differently against our wants and needs. Staying employable means simplifying our list and planning for the day when we won't have the same level or type of perks. This keeps job options more plentiful and movement to new positions easier.

2. Use the "3x3x3 rule" to create and implement your own professional development strategy.

Forget about waiting for your annual review; smart workers take the review process into their own hands. Assess your professional strengths and weaknesses. By building a game plan to leverage the first and minimize the second, you can identify how you plan to stay employable. I encourage individuals to follow the "3x3x3 rule" for skill development:

• A. Choose three skills you want to enhance.
• B. Identify three ways in which you could learn and grow each skill.
• C. Articulate three examples of how you can demonstrate your enhanced skills in this area to your employer.

By taking professional development into your own hands, you remain focused and in control of your employability.

3. Be the "go-to" person for something employers need.

Like depositing into a retirement fund, employees use the early part of their careers to develop skills to accumulate professional wealth. Sadly, after a decade or so, some employees believe they've earned the right to live off of the interest accrued from their efforts. Midlife often brings about changes in how an employee wants to allocate his or her time (ie. wants more time with a spouse, family, home, hobby, etc.). Smart employees know this doesn't have to diminish the quality of the time they put into their careers. To stay employable, focus on being the "go-to" person for a particular problem, task or technique. Building subject-matter expertise in a specific area that's in demand within the workplace will create a personal insurance policy that ensures you'll always be the "go-to" employee who's in demand.

4. Create a board of advisers for your company of one.

Smart individuals don't do surgery on themselves, pull their own teeth or represent themselves in legal matters. They defer to professionals who have the training and expertise that gets the best results. Smart employees do the same with their careers. In an age where employees are in essence a company of one -- responsible for keeping the services they deliver in demand -- doesn't it make sense to seek the counsel of those who can help you make the best career decisions? Smart employees solicit the advice of individuals they think approach career success in a manner they admire. Whether it's a relative, co-worker, former manager or even a professional career coach, seeking advice from those who know more than you will give you the perspective needed to be proactive and successful at staying employable.

Career paths are full of twists and turns; they're rarely straightforward. To avoid roadblocks, use the four secrets outlined above and you'll be able to make course corrections that will help you stay employable. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Four Secrets to Always Having a Job

Six Job Hunting Myths Debunked

Six Job Hunting Myths Debunked. Everyone wants to give job seekers advice, and while much of it is useful, some guidance may miss the mark. Because the employment market is constantly changing, ideas that once worked well may no longer be effective. This doesn't mean you have to second-guess everything you hear, but do be aware of common job-hunting myths, like the following:

Myth No. 1: You should keep your resume to one page; any longer, and hiring mangers won't read it.

Few employers are so rigid that they'll toss out your resume because it's more than a page long. What's more important is that the document is interesting to read, tailored specifically to the position you are applying for -- and perhaps most important -- error free. In fact, 84 percent of executives polled by Robert Half International said it takes just one or two typographical errors on a resume to remove a candidate from consideration for a job opening; 47 percent said a single typo can be the deciding factor. While a one-page resume is preferable for entry-level candidates, those with five or more years of experience may require an additional page to describe their work history and accomplishments. Keep in mind, however, you never want to lose a hiring manager's attention by providing irrelevant details.

Myth No. 2: It's pointless to request an interview with a company that isn't hiring.

Even if a company isn't planning to add staff anytime soon, chances are you can land an informational interview. Look to set up a meeting with someone -- preferably a hiring manager -- who can tell you more about the organization and provide answers to questions you can't find online or in the company's marketing materials, such as its short- and long-term business goals. Many employers will be willing to sit down with you if you show genuine interest. An informational interview probably won't result in a job offer, but you will build your professional network and, in the process, may learn of future opportunities with the firm.

Myth No. 3: If you've applied for a position and haven't heard back, it's safe to assume the position has been filled.

Just because a company hasn't contacted you doesn't mean they aren't interested. It's not uncommon for hiring managers to be so busy they delay contacting candidates for as long as two months after posting an employment ad. Don't let this discourage you; instead take action to see where you stand. An overwhelming 94 percent of executives surveyed by Robert Half International said candidates should contact hiring managers after submitting application materials; 82 percent of respondents recommend doing it -- whether by e-mail, a phone call or personalized letter -- within two weeks of submitting a resume.

Myth No. 4: The most-qualified candidates always get the job.

While employers want to hire professionals capable of doing the job -- and carefully compare candidates' education, skills and experience against the requirements of the position -- they also depend on intuition when making a decision. Forty-six percent of executives surveyed by Robert Half International said they rely heavily on instinct when making hiring decisions; another 49 percent follow their gut at least some of the time. The traits that make an employer intuitively want to hire someone often involve soft skills -- that is, your ability to get along with the rest of the team. So, if you're interested in a position for which you meet only the minimum requirements, don't immediately dismiss it. Your personality may put you on par with someone with more experience than you.

Myth No. 5: There's no room for salary negotiation in today's job market.

Demand for skilled professionals continues to outpace supply in a number of specialties, and candidates with industry experience and expertise often receive multiple offers. Researching how much those with similar qualifications in your area are being paid will help you choose the best opportunity and negotiate a reasonable rate. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook is an excellent resource, as are industry publications, such as Robert Half International's annual Salary Guide.

Myth No. 6: When times are tough, take the first job offer you get.

An extended job search can put pressure on you to accept any offer that comes your way, but do your best to avoid accepting a position that may cause more heartache than happiness. Tolerating a job you hate -- whether for a week or year -- can set you back professionally and take a toll on your well-being. You may have to accept a "less-than-perfect" role in certain situations, but don't feel guilty holding out for a position with maximum appeal if you have the financial means to do so. Tapping a variety of sources for advice during your job search often is a smart move. But, like any investigation, you may come across clues that are somewhat misleading. Recognizing common myths early on will make your job-hunting efforts far more effective and help you land the position you seek. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Six Job Hunting Myths Debunked

Seven Networking Myths

Seven Networking Myths. One of the most important career management skills you can develop is the ability to network. Unfortunately, for some, the thought of "working a room" or placing business cards into other people's hands can be downright intimidating. But networking doesn't require bold tactics to be effective. In fact, it's this perception -- and others -- that discourage many job seekers from networking in the first place.

If you let these myths deter you, you may miss out on making important professional contacts and, as a result, career advancement opportunities.

Following are some common perceptions about networking. How well can you separate fact from fiction?

It's "old school."

Fiction. To the contrary, there's clear evidence that networking is gaining popularity. Nearly half (48 percent) of professionals polled by Robert Half International said they're doing more professional networking now than three years ago, perhaps because workers know the vast majority of jobs are never advertised anywhere; instead they are filled through word of mouth.

You need to be an extrovert.

Fiction. You don't have to be especially gregarious or outgoing to make meaningful connections in your industry. If crowds make you uncomfortable, consider creating your own networking opportunities. Invite several of your friends or co-workers to lunch and request that they bring along two other contacts. A more intimate setting may help put you at ease. If you feel shy or flustered, ask questions to shift attention away from yourself. Since most people enjoy talking about themselves, you'll have no trouble keeping the discussion rolling.

Networking is time-consuming.

Fiction. Trade shows and meet-and-greet events aren't the only venues to forge new relationships. You can -- and should -- reach out to people while going about your normal routine -- waiting in line at the supermarket or pumping iron at the gym, for example. Don't miss the opportunity to make conversation with those you meet outside of professional settings; valuable contacts can come from any number of sources.

Only face-to-face interactions pay off.

Fiction. Virtual chat rooms and discussion lists are an excellent way to network with your peers and obtain specific information and advice from the comfort of your own home or office. Becoming a member of an online community, like Friendster or LinkedIn, also can lead to serendipitous -- yet useful -- connections. Just be sure to be polite in all of your interactions and offer useful information to your contacts.

Small talk is a turnoff.

Fiction. Many people cringe at the prospect of making small talk, but it's often the first step to getting a more meaningful conversation started. You don't have to limit yourself to topics like the weather or your alma mater. Ask potential contacts whether they've taken any interesting vacations or eaten at the new restaurant down the street -- anything you'd genuinely be interested in learning about. Also, prepare some stories of your own to share, such as a quirky news item you've come across or celebrity encounter you once had, in case your conversation partner is a bit bashful.

Your contacts will be annoyed if you ask for help.

Fiction. Asking people for information and advice is hardly bothersome, as long as you do so gracefully. In fact, 37 percent of workers polled by Robert Half International said the biggest mistake people make when networking is not asking for help. When soliciting assistance, make it easy for the other person. For instance, if you ask someone to serve as a professional reference, provide that person with a copy of your résumé and let him or her know when a potential employer might be calling.

It's just as important to give as it is to receive.

Fact. Consistently serving as a resource to others is the most effective way to forge long-term relationships. Offer to help whenever you can and always respond promptly to the requests you receive. Forwarding relevant news articles and information to your contacts is another way to build rapport and stay in touch. Many job seekers limit the effectiveness of their networking efforts by believing in myths more than themselves. Overcoming these misconceptions will help you make the most of your activities and develop a circle of long-lasting professional contacts.( msn.com )

READ MORE - Seven Networking Myths

Maine Legislator Wants Cell Phones to Carry Brain Cancer Warning

Maine Legislator Wants Cell Phones to Carry Brain Cancer Warning A Maine legislator wants to make the state the first to require cell phones to carry warnings that they can cause brain cancer, although there is no consensus among scientists that they do and industry leaders dispute the claim.

The now-ubiquitous devices carry such warnings in some countries, though no U.S. states require them, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. A similar effort is afoot in San Francisco, where Mayor Gavin Newsom wants his city to be the nation's first to require the warnings.

Maine Rep. Andrea Boland, D-Sanford, said numerous studies point to the cancer risk, and she has persuaded legislative leaders to allow her proposal to come up for discussion during the 2010 session that begins in January, a session usually reserved for emergency and governors' bills.

Boland herself uses a cell phone, but with a speaker to keep the phone away from her head. She also leaves the phone off unless she's expecting a call. At issue is radiation emitted by all cell phones.

Under Boland's bill, manufacturers would have to put labels on phones and packaging warning of the potential for brain cancer associated with electromagnetic radiation. The warnings would recommend that users, especially children and pregnant women, keep the devices away from their head and body.

The Federal Communications Commission, which maintains that all cell phones sold in the U.S. are safe, has set a standard for the "specific absorption rate" of radiofrequency energy, but it doesn't require handset makers to divulge radiation levels.

The San Francisco proposal would require the display of the absorption rate level next to each phone in print at least as big as the price. Boland's bill is not specific about absorption rate levels, but would require a permanent, nonremovable advisory of risk in black type, except for the word "warning," which would be large and in red letters. It would also include a color graphic of a child's brain next to the warning.

While there's little agreement about the health hazards, Boland said Maine's roughly 950,000 cell phone users among its 1.3 million residents "do not know what the risks are."

All told, more than 270 million people subscribed to cellular telephone service last year in the United States, an increase from 110 million in 2000, according to CTIA-The Wireless Association. The industry group contends the devices are safe.

"With respect to the matter of health effects associated with wireless base stations and the use of wireless devices, CTIA and the wireless industry have always been guided by science, and the views of impartial health organizations. The peer-reviewed scientific evidence has overwhelmingly indicated that wireless devices do not pose a public health risk," said CTIA's John Walls.

James Keller of Lewiston, whose cell phone serves as his only phone, seemed skeptical about warning labels. He said many things may cause cancer but lack scientific evidence to support that belief. Besides, he said, people can't live without cell phones.

"It seems a little silly to me, but it's not going to hurt anyone to have a warning on there. If they're really concerned about it, go ahead and put a warning on it," he said outside a sporting good store in Topsham. "It wouldn't deter me from buying a phone."

While there's been no long-term studies on cell phones and cancer, some scientists suggest erring on the side of caution.

Last year, Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, sent a memo to about 3,000 faculty and staff members warning of risks based on early, unpublished data. He said that children should use the phones only for emergencies because their brains were still developing and that adults should keep the phone away from the head and use a speakerphone or a wireless headset.

Herberman, who says scientific conclusions often take too long, is one of numerous doctors and researchers who have endorsed an August report by retired electronics engineer L. Lloyd Morgan. The report highlights a study that found significantly increased risk of brain tumors from 10 or more years of cell phone or cordless phone use.

Also, the BioInitiative Working Group, an international group of scientists, notes that many countries have issued warnings and that the European Parliament has passed a resolution calling for governmental action to address concerns over health risks from mobile phone use.

But the National Cancer Institute said studies thus far have turned up mixed and inconsistent results, noting that cell phones did not come into widespread use in the United States until the 1990s.

"Although research has not consistently demonstrated a link between cellular telephone use and cancer, scientists still caution that further surveillance is needed before conclusions can be drawn," according to the Cancer Institute's Web site.

Motorola Inc., one of the nation's major wireless phone makers, says on its Web site that all of its products comply with international safety guidelines for radiofrequency energy exposure. ( foxnews.com )

READ MORE - Maine Legislator Wants Cell Phones to Carry Brain Cancer Warning

China must show leadership on climate change

China must show leadership on climate change – The European Union said Monday that cataclysmic climate change cannot be averted without Chinese leadership but Beijing stood firm in pushing for the rich world to take the lead.

"We cannot solve the climate challenge to mankind without China taking on leadership and responsibility," Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said in his capacity as EU president at a summit in the eastern city of Nanjing.

"So far our belief is the global effort put on the table for mitigation is not enough... more needs to be done," he said in a post-summit address with host Premier Wen Jiabao and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Related article: Barroso calls for more effort

He spoke after a summit that reinforced the relationship between China and the EU, its largest trading partner, after US President Barack Obama's visit to China fuelled talk of a "G2" world dominated by Washington and Beijing.

The two sides stressed Monday the importance of a multipolar world and agreed to work together to "actively meet global challenges and strive for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous world", according to a joint statement.

While acknowledging efforts made by China -- the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter -- Reinfeldt raised questions about a Chinese plan to slow its carbon emissions growth announced last week ahead of Copenhagen climate talks.

"What does it mean when it's compared to business-as-usual? What kind of measures are being put into the Chinese economy to be able to deliver on these?" he said.

Barroso told reporters late Sunday that the European Union had urged China to maximise its efforts to help tackle climate change and do all it can, exploring the "outer limits" of its position.

Wen, however, defended China's offer, saying it marked "a major contribution to global efforts" on the issue.

"China places high importance on the upcoming Copenhagen conference," said Wen, who will lead the Chinese delegation at the talks.

"China is willing to work to move the conference in the right direction."

Beijing said last week that by 2020 it would curb emissions per unit of gross domestic product by between 40 and 45 percent compared to 2005 levels.

The pledge was essentially a vow to increase energy efficiency but would see China's fast-growing emissions continue to grow along with its economy.

In a low-profile weekend meeting of developing nations in Beijing, participants reiterated the Chinese position that developed countries must shoulder most carbon emissions cuts.

The official People's Daily newspaper said the meeting of representatives from China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Sudan agreed to ask "developed countries to assume responsibility for emissions reduction targets".

Wen also said each nation's burden should depend on its development level.

"This is the key to success of the (Copenhagen) conference," he said.

World leaders gather in Copenhagen from December 7 for UN talks on tackling global warming beyond 2012.

Leaders have said that, at best, the meeting is likely to yield a framework accord whose legally binding details would be hammered out next year.

At Monday's joint news appearance, Barroso said major players "can always negotiate with numbers, but we cannot negotiate with science, with physics".

The European Union has offered to cut its 2020 emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels, and by 30 percent if an ambitious world agreement can be reached.

The White House last week said Obama would offer to cut carbon emissions by 17 percent by 2020, based on 2005 levels.

Reinfeldt said the European Union was also urging Washington to do more.

(AFP)

READ MORE - China must show leadership on climate change

When Green Paint Isn't So "Green"

When Green Paint Isn't So "Green". It seems we're literally painting the air -- from the Great Lakes to Antarctica -- with persistent pollutants. Including at least one whose safety has never been studied.

Last year, University of Iowa scientists reported the discovery of a novel contaminant in urban air -- a polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCB, that had never been intentionally manufactured. Especially perplexing: Despite having no known sources, it was the fifth most abundant PCB in Chicago’s air. At once, chemists began puzzling over where this PCB-11 might be coming from. The solution – or at least one answer – emerged today. It’s paint. The type we slather on interior walls and outdoor trim.

The first clue to PCB-11’s source was its idiosyncratic abundance, which Keri Hornbuckle described at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry annual meeting, last year. While the pollutant could be found almost anywhere that her team had sampled in Chicago and Cleveland, concentrations varied. Indeed, their data identified a fairly large number of hot spots in each town. Such as the waste water from a paint-manufacturing plant.

Over the past year, others have turned up the anomalous PCB-11 as well -- polluting air from Philadelphia to Antarctica.

Hornbuckle’s team returned to SETAC this year with data that now firmly indicts paint. Not the base paint, actually – that can of goop to which tint is added. The PCB instead laces pigments: especially greens – but also some blues, yellows, oranges and reds.

This was a rather painstaking study, explains Dingfei Hu. There are 209 different species of PCBs. They tend to persist in the environment for long periods of time, allowing them to travel long distances from where they were released. The Iowa scientist collected various types of base paint and colors from several local retailers: Sherwin Williams, PPG Pittsburgh and Vogel. Every tint these companies offer is mixed from some combination of roughly 10 starting colors. Hu sampled all of those starting-ingredient colors from each company – 33 in all – and analyzed each for the presence of any and every PCB.

Fifteen pigments contained PCBs – yes, multiple ones -- in concentrations ranging from 2 to 200 parts per billion. Where these pollutants turned up, PCB-11 was almost invariably present, often in the company of PCB-209 (which sometimes greatly dwarfed PCB-11’s concentrations).

Further probing showed that the PCBs’ presence was anything but random. Pigments belong to two general classes. The inorganic ones derive from minerals or are manufactured synthetically. None of the sampled inorganic pigments, including titanium dioxide, iron oxide, raw umber or carbon black contained PCBs. The unwanted contaminants did show up in two families of organic pigments, Hu found -- the phthalocyanines, which impart a deep blue or green color, and the azo pigments, which are used to color some paints yellow, red or orange.

In a paper slated to come out in Environmental Science & Technology within a few months, the Iowa group will describe their findings and offer hypotheses on how the production of some pigments unwittingly cooks up PCBs along the way.

Of course, the burning question about these unusual airborne PCBs is: So what? Are they toxic? If they are, at what concentrations? Hu says there are no answers yet. Indeed, until now, there hadn’t really been a reason to investigate.

Now that we’ve learned these pollutants get out of paint and accumulate in the air, it’s time to start investigating whether they pose any risks to health. Fortunately, Hu says he’s got colleagues at Iowa who are just about to embark on such studies. (Some PCBs are suspected carcinogens, but those tend to be ones that – unlike PCB-11 and -209 – mimic the biological action of dioxins.)

As for tips to apply at the paint store . . . Hu recommends avoiding green, blue, red and orange paint. Actually, to play it safe, he says: “I would stay with white and black.”

Not me – I’m allergic to both. And that’s why I’m hoping green chemists will take an interest in formulating recipes for PCB-free tints. ( sciencenews.org )

READ MORE - When Green Paint Isn't So "Green"

Big Bang Atom Smasher Records First Proton Hits

Big Bang Atom Smasher Records First Proton Hits —The world's largest atom smasher made another leap forward Monday by circulating beams of protons in opposite directions at the same time and causing the first particle collisions in the $10 billion machine after more than a year of repairs, organizers said.

The true test of the Large Hadron Collider will come in the first two months of 2010, when scientists plan to start deliberately crashing protons into each other to see what they can discover about the makeup of the universe and its tiniest particles.

(Image: German Rolf-Dieter Heuer, right, Director General of CERN, and Steve Myers, left, CERN's Director for Accelerators and Technology, during a press conference on the LHC restart at CERN)

The collisions — seen by massive detectors — were a side effect of the quick advances being made by the LHC during its startup phase, which began Friday night, said Rolf Heuer, director-general of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN.

"It's a great achievement to have come this far in so short a time," said Heuer. "But we need to keep a sense of perspective — there's still much to do before we can start the LHC physics program."

Collisions were recorded in all four of the main detectors at "experiments" in rooms the size of cathedrals about 100 meters (300 feet) underground around the collider.

"This is great news, the start of a fantastic era of physics and hopefully discoveries after 20 years' work by the international community to build a machine and detectors of unprecedented complexity and performance," said Fabiola Gianotti, who represents the Atlas partical physics experiment for about 2,000 other scientists.

"It was standing room only in the ALICE control room and cheers erupted with the first collisions," said Juergen Schukraft, spokesman for that experiment, which involves heavy ion physics. "This is simply tremendous."

A CERN statement said the simultaneous beams and collisions demonstrate the excellent performance of the control system.

While the initial collisions were a side effect, intentional hits could begin within the next 10 days, mainly to check how the machine is working, said CERN spokesman James Gillies.

Ultimately, the collider aims to create conditions like they were 1 trillionth to 2 trillionths of a second after the Big Bang — which scientists think marked the creation of the universe billions of years ago. Physicists also hope the collider will help them see and understand other suspected phenomena, such as dark matter, antimatter and supersymmetry.

The collider was started with great fanfare Sept. 10, 2008, only to be heavily damaged by an electrical fault nine days later. It took 14 months to repair and add protection systems to the machine before it was restarted.

The protons were traveling Monday at almost the speed of light — 11,000 times a second in each direction around the 27-kilometer (17-mile) tunnel under the Swiss-French border at Geneva.

Initial signs are very good, physicists told a news conference. The beam is of superb quality, with the protons tightly packed into hairlike lines and guided by some 1,600 superconducting magnets — 15 meters (50 feet) long — operating at temperatures colder than outer space for maximum electrical efficiency.

So far the machine is operating at 450 billion electron volts of energy, which is relatively low compared with its design capability of more than 14 times that. It soon will overtake the world's current most powerful accelerator, the Tevatron at Fermilab outside Chicago, which operates at 1 trillion electron volts, or TeV.

Myers said the CERN collider should be ramped up to 1.2 TeV by Christmas. CERN might decide to make the first collisions at the current low energy or at 1.2 TeV, but that will be more for calibration purposes than for making scientific discoveries, he said.

Physicists said the discoveries could begin in the first half of next year when the collider reaches 3.5 TeV. CERN is hoping to have the first collisions at that energy in January or early February, said Gillies.

"That would really mark the start of the research program," he said.

Myers said the collider may even go up to 5 TeV before the end of 2010.

Tejinder S. Virdee, a physicist from London's Imperial College who represents more than 2,000 scientists on CMS, another of the experiments with its own detectors at CERN, said it could take several years before the collider discovers the elusive Higgs boson, a particle that theoretically gives mass to other subatomic particles, and thus everything in the universe.

That is because the Higgs boson is believed to be hard to see and needs powerful energy to be revealed, Virdee said.

"This is going to take a few years," he said.

Director-General Heuer said CERN was being as cautious as a driver would be with the first production model of a new car.

"We'll never accelerate this the first time with a kick-start to its maximum velocity," he said.

Once it is tested out, he added, "we can open windows into new physics and that could happen already next year. It depends on how kind nature is to us." ( AP )

READ MORE - Big Bang Atom Smasher Records First Proton Hits

Bioengineers Produce Plastic Without the Use of Fossil Fuels

Bioengineers Produce Plastic Without the Use of Fossil Fuels. A team of pioneering South Korean scientists have succeeded in producing the polymers used for everyday plastics through bioengineering, rather than through the use of fossil fuel based chemicals. This groundbreaking research, which may now allow for the production of environmentally conscious plastics, is published in two papers in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering to mark the journal's 50th anniversary.

Polymers are molecules found in everyday life in the form of plastics and rubbers. The team, from the prestigious KAIST University and the Korean chemical company LG Chem, led by Professor Sang Yup Lee focused their research on Polylactic Acid (PLA), a bio-based polymer which holds the key to producing plastics through natural and renewable resources.

"The polyesters and other polymers we use everyday are mostly derived from fossil oils made through the refinery or chemical process," said Lee. "The idea of producing polymers from renewable biomass has attracted much attention due to the increasing concerns of environmental problems and the limited nature of fossil resources. PLA is considered a good alternative to petroleum based plastics as it is both biodegradable and has a low toxicity to humans."

Until now PLA has been produced in a two-step fermentation and chemical process of polymerization, which is both complex and expensive. Now, through the use of a metabolically engineered strain of E.coli, the team , have developed a one-stage process which produces polylactic acid and its copolymers through direct fermentation. This makes the renewable production of PLA and lactate-containing copolymers cheaper and more commercially viable.

"By developing a strategy which combines metabolic engineering and enzyme engineering, we've developed an efficient bio-based one-step production process for PLA and its copolymers," said Lee. "This means that a developed E. coli strain is now capable of efficiently producing unnatural polymers, through a one-step fermentation process,"

This combined approach of systems-level metabolic engineering and enzyme engineering now allows for the production of polymer and polyester based products through direct microbial fermentation of renewable resources.

"Global warming and other environmental problems are urging us to develop sustainable processes based on renewable resources," concluded Lee. "This new strategy should be generally useful for developing other engineered organisms capable of producing various unnatural polymers by direct fermentation from renewable resources". ( nsf.org )

READ MORE - Bioengineers Produce Plastic Without the Use of Fossil Fuels

New Hydrogen-Storage Method Discovered

New Hydrogen-Storage Method Discovered - Scientists at the Carnegie Institution have found for the first time that high pressure can be used to make a unique hydrogen-storage material.

The discovery paves the way for an entirely new way to approach the hydrogen-storage problem. The researchers found that the normally unreactive, noble gas xenon combines with molecular hydrogen (H2) under pressure to form a previously unknown solid with unusual bonding chemistry.

The experiments are the first time these elements have been combined to form a stable compound. The discovery debuts a new family of materials, which could boost new hydrogen technologies. The paper is published in the November 22, 2009, advanced online publication of Nature Chemistry.

Xenon has some intriguing properties, including its use as an anesthesia, its ability to preserve biological tissues, and its employment in lighting. Xenon is a noble gas, which means that it does not typically react with other elements.

(This schematic shows the structure of the new material, Xe(H2)7. Freely rotating hydrogen molecules (red dumbbells) surround xenon atoms (yellow).

As lead author Maddury Somayazulu, research scientist at Carnegie's Geophysical Laboratory, explained: "Elements change their configuration when placed under pressure, sort of like passengers readjusting themselves as the elevator becomes full. We subjected a series of gas mixtures of xenon in combination with hydrogen to high pressures in a diamond anvil cell. At about 41,000 times the pressure at sea level (1 atmosphere), the atoms became arranged in a lattice structure dominated by hydrogen, but interspersed with layers of loosely bonded xenon pairs. When we increased pressure, like tuning a radio, the distances between the xenon pairs changed–the distances contracted to those observed in dense metallic xenon."

The researchers imaged the compound at varying pressures using X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopy. When they looked at the xenon part of the structure, they realized that the interaction of xenon with the surrounding hydrogen was responsible for the unusual stability and the continuous change in xenon-xenon distances as pressure was adjusted from 41,000 to 255,000 atmospheres.

Why was the compound so stable? "We were taken off guard by both the structure and stability of this material," said Przemek Dera, the lead crystallographer who looked at the changes in electron density at different pressures using single-crystal diffraction. As electron density from the xenon atoms spreads towards the surrounding hydrogen molecules, it seems to stabilize the compound and the xenon pairs.

"Xenon is too heavy and expensive to be practical for use in hydrogen-storage applications," remarked Somayazulu. "But by understanding how it works in this situation, researchers can come up with lighter substitutes."

"It's very exciting to come up with new hydrogen-rich compounds, not just for our interest in simple molecular systems, but because such discoveries can be the foundation for important new technologies," commented Russell Hemley, director of the Geophysical Laboratory and a co-author. "This hydrogen-rich solid represents a new pathway to forming novel hydrogen storage compounds and the new pressure-induced chemistry opens the possibility of synthesizing new energetic materials." ( nsf.org )

READ MORE - New Hydrogen-Storage Method Discovered