Ancient Cosmic Dust from Triassic Halite

We describe the discovery of fossil micrometeorites in ancient Triassic rock salt; the first to be found in salt and the oldest complete micrometeorites found to date. We present an estimated flux rate of micrometeorites to Earth at this time

A critical analysis of the hydrino model

Recently, spectroscopic and calorimetric observations of hydrogen plasmas and chemical reactions with them have been interpreted as evidence for the existence of electronic states of the hydrogen atom with a binding energy of more than 13.6 eV. The theoretical basis for such states, that have been dubbed hydrinos, is investigated. We discuss both, the novel deterministic model of the hydrogen atom, in which the existence of hydrinos was predicted, and standard quantum mechanics. Severe inconsistencies in the deterministic model are pointed out and the incompatibility of hydrino states with quantum mechanics is reviewed.Comment: 9 page

Measuring micro-organism gas production

Transducer, which senses pressure buildup, is easy to assemble and use, and rate of gas produced can be measured automatically and accurately. Method can be used in research, in clinical laboratories, and for environmental pollution studies because of its ability to detect and quantify rapidly the number of gas-producing microorganisms in water, beverages, and clinical samples

Macrospin Models of Spin Transfer Dynamics

The current-induced magnetization dynamics of a spin valve are studied using a macrospin (single domain) approximation and numerical solutions of a generalized Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. For the purpose of quantitative comparison with experiment [Kiselev {\it et al.} Nature {\bf 425}, 380 (2003)], we calculate the resistance and microwave power as a function of current and external field including the effects of anisotropies, damping, spin-transfer torque, thermal fluctuations, spin-pumping, and incomplete absorption of transverse spin current. While many features of experiment appear in the simulations, there are two significant discrepancies: the current dependence of the precession frequency and the presence/absence of a microwave quiet magnetic phase with a distinct magnetoresistance signature. Comparison is made with micromagnetic simulations designed to model the same experiment.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figures. Email [email protected] for a pdf with higher quality figure

Gun Control: College Student Attitudes and the Meaning for Appalachian Social Workers

Senseless and tragic shootings across communities such as Newtown, Connecticut have riveted public attention on gun control. Bombarded by pro- and anti-gun-control forces, policy makers are often reactionary. Social workers must deal with these policies and the clients who fear them. Social scientists have suggested that cultural world views have greater influence on this issue than any other predictors. A survey of rural Appalachian college students (N=294) explored gun control attitudes in order to consider what makes compromise and consensus on the issue of gun control so difficult. It considers these influences and their implications for rural social workers

Applications of acoustics in the measurement of coal slab thickness

The determination of the possibility of employing acoustic waves at ultrasonic frequencies for measurements of thicknesses of slabs of coal backed by shale is investigated. Fundamental information concerning the acoustical properties of coal, and the relationship between these properties and the structural and compositional parameters used to characterize coal samples was also sought. The testing device, which utilizes two matched transducers, is described

Decay rate and other properties of the positronium negative ion

A new method for detecting the positronium minus ion is described, and the possibility of a long positronium mean free path in a solid is discussed