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STSF Jami
STSF GM-
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Posts posted by STSF Jami
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** Spoilers ** ** Spoilers **
Personally, I enjoyed Star Trek: Into Darkness.
I’m not a movie critic but I do know what I like in films and New TOS Star Trek is what I like. It’s nice not to hear the F-Bomb dropped every other word, heroes I can readily identify, characters who overcome shortcomings and a good old fashioned adventure. There is nothing wrong with a straightforward science fiction adventure.
= = =
It’s a Submarine!
I know I spotted a lot of the dorky and extreme nerdy complaints at various places on the Internet concerning the images leaked of the Enterprise apparently underwater?
“It’s a starship, it can’t be underwater.”
“The nacelles aren’t designed for that.”
And so on and so on. Typically in the Trek movies/TV shows, whenever a crew was dispatched to help or observe an alien race without detection the ship was parked behind a convenient moon or asteroid or maintaining an orbit, underwater was just never the sneaky option.
Therefore, this new take on the ‘let’s hide the ship’ rocked out!
The Tribble
There was a tribble. Enough said, my life is now complete.
= = =
Thanks all and these are just my opinions.
- Crash
The submarine? I decided long ago that if the ship can go into space it certainly can survive under water. Kind of makes sense, yanno?
Tribble, yes! Makes me wonder if that was the cause of the multiplicity of the little darlin's.
All great comments, Crash. Enjoyed the read!
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Roster:
CO: Wes Roberts
XO: STSF Jami
HELM: Michael Hill
TOPS: taehjae
USS Serenity (post-Voy Danube-class runabout) is currently approaching planet DKM537, to conduct a survey while the Revenge is taking care of other issues
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Happy Birthday
USS Manticore
~Fifteen Glorious Years~
as
~Tugboat for the Galaxy~
Don't Panic
and
Don't Forget Your Towel!
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From the Penn State Daily Newswire:
Astronomers, including Penn State Behrend alumnus, discover five new planets
Two planets possess habitable characteristics
April 18, 2013
A NASA-led team of astronomers has discovered five new planets, two of which are a habitable distance from their star.
“It’s the system that most resembles the Earth’s,” said Justin R. Crepp, assistant professor of physics at the University of Notre Dame and a 2003 alumnus of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. “These are the smallest planets we have found so far in a habitable zone.”
Size is a key factor in determining a planet’s potential for sustaining life. A planet two or three times the size of Earth is almost certain to be rocky, Crepp said. Larger planets are a mixture of rock and gas, or mostly gas.
A planet is within a system’s “habitable zone” when it is solid, with the possibility of water on its surface.
One of the new planets is 1.41 times larger than the earth’s radii, according to the new study, which was published in Science magazine. The other is 1.61 times larger than earth.
The planets were detected by astronomers using the Kepler space telescope. Kepler’s lens is focused on the Cygnus and Lyra constellations; it watches for variations in brightness in more than 100,000 stars.
A star’s intensity dims when a planet passes in front of it, casting a shadow. It’s difficult to see – NASA compares it to the brightness of a car headlight when a fruit fly passes by – but if the dimming repeats at regular intervals, astronomers have good reason to believe a planet is orbiting the star.
The star in this particular study is called Kepler-62. It’s roughly 1,000 light years from Earth.
One of the new planets transits, or passes in front of, Kepler-62 every 5.7 days. Others transit every 122 and 266 days.
Crepp studied the K-62 system from the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, eliminating any other factors – a binary star, for example – that could mimic the signatures of planets in transit.
The Kepler team has found planets before: 115 have been confirmed since the satellite launched in 2009. Most are far larger than Earth, and are made entirely of ice or gas.
Smaller planets are more difficult to see. But astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics now believe that 6 percent of red dwarf stars – the most common in our galaxy – have habitable, Earth-sized planets. Any one of them could fundamentally upend our view of the universe.
“Fifty years ago, you couldn’t imagine that this would ever happen,” Crepp said. “They are literally rewriting the textbooks as we speak.”
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[it sounds a bit strange and quite comical at first, but the implications are interesting.
This article has been abridged and links removed. - J]
Rats' brains are more like ours than scientists previously thought
By Seth Palmer
March 26, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Neuroscientists face a multitude of challenges in their efforts to better understand the human brain. If not for model organisms such as the rat, they might never know what really goes on inside our heads.
The brain is a phenomenal processor that in a year's time can generate roughly 300,000 petabytes of data -- 30,000 times the amount generated by the Large Hadron Collider. Trying to decipher its signals is a daunting prospect.
But particularly for individuals who have lost a limb or been partially or fully paralyzed, such research has potentially life-changing results because it can enable such biotechnological advances as the development of a brain-computer interface for controlling prosthetic limbs.
Such devices require a detailed understanding of the motor cortex, a part of the brain that is crucial in issuing the neural commands that execute behavioral movements. A recent paper published in the journal Frontiers in Neural Circuits by Jared Smith and Kevin Alloway, researchers at the Penn State Center for Neural Engineering and affiliates of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, details their discovery of a parallel between the motor cortices of rats and humans that signifies a greater relevance of the rat model to studies of the human brain than scientists had previously known.
"The motor cortex in primates is subdivided into multiple regions, each of which receives unique inputs that allow it to perform a specific motor function," said Alloway, professor of neural and behavioral sciences. "In the rat brain, the motor cortex is small and it appeared that all of it received the same type of input. We know now that sensory inputs to the rat motor cortex terminate in a small region of the motor cortex that is distinct from the larger region that issues the motor commands. Our work demonstrates that the rat motor cortex is parcellated into distinct subregions that perform specific functions, and this result appears to be similar to what is seen in the primate brain."
"You have to take into account the animal's natural behaviors to best understand how its brain is structured for sensory and motor processing," said Jared Smith, graduate student in the Huck Institutes' neuroscience program and the first author of the paper. "For primates like us, that means a strong reliance on visual information from the eyes, but for rats it's more about the somatosensory inputs from their whiskers."
In fact, nearly a third of the rat's sensorimotor cortex is devoted to processing whisker-related information, even though the whiskers' occupy only one-third of one percent of the rat's total body surface. In humans, nearly 40 percent of the entire cortex is devoted to processing visual information even though the eyes occupy a very tiny portion of our body's surface.
[abridged]
"This study opens up avenues for studying some very complex neural processes in rodents that are more like our own than we had previously thought," said Smith. "The tools now available for studying activity in the rodent brain are improving at a remarkable pace, and the findings are even more interesting as we discover just how similar these mammalian relatives are to us. This is a very exciting time in neuroscience."
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May have only been for a second, but it was well worth it.
(Can anyone photoshop this so both he and I are in Starfleet uniforms?)
That is awesome, Lawliet! So glad you had a chance to meet him!
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Earth-sized planets in habitable zones are more common than previously thought
By Anne Danahy
March 12, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The number of potentially habitable planets is greater than previously thought, according to a new analysis by a Penn State researcher, and some of those planets are likely lurking around nearby stars.
"We now estimate that if we were to look at 10 of the nearest small stars we would find about four potentially habitable planets, give or take," said Ravi Kopparapu, a post-doctoral researcher in geosciences. "That is a conservative estimate," he added. "There could be more."
Kopparapu detailed his findings in a paper accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters. In it, he recalculated the commonness of Earth-sized planets in the habitable zones of low-mass stars, also known as cool stars or M-dwarfs.
Scientists focus on M-dwarfs for several reasons, he explained. The orbit of planets around M-dwarfs is very short, which allows scientists to gather data on a greater number of orbits in a shorter period of time than can be gathered on Sun-like stars, which have larger habitable zones. M-dwarfs are also more common than stars like the Earth's Sun, which means more of them can be observed.
According to his findings, "The average distance to the nearest potentially habitable planet is about seven light years. That is about half the distance of previous estimates," Kopparapu said. "There are about eight cool stars within 10 light-years, so conservatively, we should expect to find about three Earth-size planets in the habitable zones."
The work follows up on a recent study by researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics which analyzed 3,987 M-dwarf stars to calculate the number of Earth-sized planet candidates in cool stars' habitable zones—a region around a star where rocky planets are capable of sustaining liquid water and therefore life. That study used habitable zone limits calculated in 1993 by Jim Kasting, now an Evan Pugh Professor in Penn State's Department of Geosciences. Kopparapu noticed that its findings, based on data from NASA's Kepler satellite, didn't reflect the most recent estimates for determining whether planets fall within a habitable zone.
These newer estimates are based on an updated model developed by Kopparapu and collaborators, using information on water and carbon dioxide absorption that was not available in 1993. Kopparapu applied those findings to the Harvard team's study, using the same calculation method, and found that there are additional planets in the newly determined habitable zones.
"I used our new habitable zone calculations and found that there are nearly three times as many Earth-sized planets in the habitable zones around these low mass stars as in previous estimates," Kopparapu said. "This means Earth-sized planets are more common than we thought, and that is a good sign for detecting extraterrestrial life."
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 12/18/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Mission Executive Officer (MXO) - Arizhel
Helm/Operations Officer (HOPS) - Ian Johnson
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) - TKAR
Chief Science Officer (CSCI) - STSF Jami
Mission Brief:
USS Avenger (post-Voy Miranda-class frigate) is currently cruising through deep space.
Chat log will be posted when available.
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 11/20/2012=/\==/\=
.
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
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Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Mission Executive Officer (MXO) - STSF Jami
Helm/Operations Officer (HOPS) - Thau'Shir Mrkath
Tactical Officer (TAC) - Arizhel
Mission Brief: USS Serenity (post-Voy Danube-class runabout) is currently approaching planet
DKM537 to conduct a planetary survey. USS Avenger is elsewhere.
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The Tuesday 9pm academy has been cancelled as well.
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 10/23/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Helm/ Operations Officer (Helm/Ops) - Ens Red Shurt
Chief Security Officer (CSEC) - STSF Jami
Assistant Security Officer (ASEC) - Ehecatl1906
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) - TKAR
Mission Brief: USS Serenity (post-Voy Danube-class runabout) is currently approaching planet DKM537, to conduct a planetary survey while the USS Avenger is taken care of a small border matter.
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 10/16/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Commanding Officer (CO) - TMir
Helm (HELM) - Ens Shurt (NPC)
Chief Engineering Officer (CENG) - Lucien Tremblay
Assistant Engineering Officer (AENG1) - STSF Jami
Assistant Engineering Officer (AENG2) - TKAR
Mission Briefing: USS Serenity (post-Voy Danube-class runabout) is returning to the Avenger after
a command conference at SB 248.
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According to NBC news, Neil Armstrong died at 2:45 PM from complications following cardiac bypass surgery. Those of you old enough to remember his first step on the moon on July 20, 1969, will remember, also, his historic words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Sorely missed but never forgotten.
Neil Alden Armstrong,
shortly before he set off for the Moon
with fellow astronauts
Michael Collins and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin.
(Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
Neil Alden Armstrong
August 5, 1930 - August 25, 2012
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From the Penn State Newswire:
First Evidence Is Discovered of a Planet's Destruction by Its Star
The first evidence of a planet's destruction by its aging star has been discovered by an international team of astronomers. The evidence indicates that the missing planet was devoured as the star began expanding into a "red giant" -- the stellar equivalent of advanced age. "A similar fate may await the inner planets in our solar system, when the Sun becomes a red giant and expands all the way out to Earth's orbit some five-billion years from now," said Alexander Wolszczan, Evan Pugh Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State University, who is one of the members of the research team. Wolszczan also is the discoverer of the first planet ever found outside our solar system.
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 8/7/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Mission Executive Officer (MXO) - Ehecatl
Helm/Operations Officer (HOPS) - Capt "Crash" Calestorm
Chief Science Officer (CSCI) - Lerak tr'Pexil
Assistant Science Officer (ASCI) - STSF Jami
Chief Engineering Officer (CENG) - Wx Murray
Assistant Engineering Officer (AENG) - Jaroninul
Mission Brief:
USS Avenger (post-Voy Miranda-class frigate) is currently cruising through deep space.
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 7/31/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Executive Officer (XO) - STSF Jami
Chief Security Officer (CSEC) - Arizhel
Assistant Security Officer (ASEC1) - Ehecatl
Assistant Security Officer (ASEC2) - Capt Calestorm
Assistant Security Officer (ASEC3) - Nijil tr'Korjata
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) - TKAR
Mission Brief:
USS Avenger (post-Voy Miranda-class frigate) is currently over DKM-573. During negotiations, extremists broke into the conference and abducted several personnel, including the executive officer.
A Security team has been dispatched to the last known location of the XO's comm, a cave complex in an obscure mountain range.
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Atragon, I want to be the first to thank you for keeping the dream alive! You, the GM Council, the GMs, and especially the players make this forum a place to live the dream!
So keep on keepin' on, and Happy Anniversary to Us!
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 7/24/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Helm Officer (Helm) - JM Ramos
Operations Officer (OPS) - STSF Jami
Chief Security Officer (CSEC) - Nijil tr’Korjata
Chief Science Officer (CSCI) - Arizhel
Assistant Science Officer (ASCI) - WxMurray
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) - TKAR
USS Avenger (post-Voy Miranda-class frigate) is cruising deep space. It's deep in the middle of the third watch. Helm, Ops, and Science are the only stations currently manned.
Ops is currently the Watch officer, and has command of the ship.
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 7/17/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Helm Officer (Helm) - JM Ramos
Operations & Tactical Officer (TOPS) - Capt Calestorm
Chief Science Officer (CSCI) - STSF Jami
Assistant Science Officer (ASCI1) - TKAR
Assistant Science Officer (ASCI2) - Nijil tr'Korjata
Mission Briefing:
USS Avenger (post-Voy Mirana-class frigate) is entering the DKM537 system. The system is a "young" star system, less than 50 million years old. The Avenger is doing a full survey of the system, and to leave buoys to monitor.
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 7/10/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Chief Engineering Officer (CENG) - STSF Jami
Assistant Engineering Officer (AENG1) - Arizhel
Assistant Engineering Officer (AENG2) - TKAR
Assistant Engineering Officer (AENG3) - JM Ramos
Assistant Engineering Officer (AENG4) - WxMurray
Mission Brief: USS Avenger is currently dead in space, having been attacked by an unidentified, mile long wedge-shaped ship. Most of the saucer is holed, engines are off-line.
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 7/3/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Special Guest (SG) - Ethan Neufeld
Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Chief Security Officer (CSEC) - Capt Calestorm
Assistant Security Officer (1ASEC) - JM Ramos
Assistant Security Officer (2ASEC) - STSF Jami
Assistant Security Officer (3ASEC) - TKAR
Mission Briefing:
USS Avenger (post-Voy Miranda-class frigate) is currently orbiting planet DKM-537.
The Captain, and a Security Detail, have been invited down to meet with the leaders in this First Contact situation. The Captain and detail have just finished beaming down.
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Hello Everyone,
I'm sure that by now most of you have heard of the severe storms that hit the east coast of the United States this past week. Unfortunately the storms left 2+ million people without power (including air conditioning, refrigeration, and other things needed to combat the 100+ deg heat). Several of those affected happen to be STSF GMs. Your patience is appreciated during this time as we shuffle around personnel for advanced games, academies, and the posting of logs.
Thanks.
J
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=/\==/\= STSF ACADEMY =/\==/\=
=/\==/\= 6/26/2012=/\==/\=
Game Master (GM) - TMir
Game Master (GM) - STSF Jami
Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - TMir
Mission Executive Officer (MXO) - STSF Jami
Special Guest Visitor (SGV) - Ethan Neufeld
Chief Security Officer (CSEC) - Arizhel
Assistant Security Officer (1ASEC) - JMRamos
Assistant Security Officer (2ASEC) - Pat Stewart
Assistant Security Officer (3ASEC) - TKAR
Mission Briefing:
USS Avenger (post-Voy Miranda-class frigate) is currently orbiting planet DKM-537.
During a routine away team mission, the Captain was abducted by persons unknown.
No ransom demands have been transmitted, but Vulcan life signs have been detected in a coastal fortress on the eastern seaboard of the main continent. Security has dispatched an assault team to rescue her.
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GAME MASTERS
T'Mir
STSF Jami (AFK)
COMMAND
CO: T'Mir
ENGINEERING:
CENG- Atragon9
AENG- Jmramosnx1701D
SECURITY:
CSEC- Arizhel
ASEC- Tkar
ASEC- Patstewart
MISSION BRIEF
USS Havoc (post-Voy Danube-class runabout) has crashed on the surface of a Class M planet. The CO, XO, CMO, and HOPS are dead, and not getting any better.
in STSF Academy
Posted · Report post
Sorry for the lack of academy tonight, folks. Circumstances beyond our control made it impossible. Hope to see everyone who wanted to attend either next week or Saturday night at midnight ET.