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The Stars and Our Destiny: A Short History of the Optical Telescope

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Text by CHARLIE NAVARATHNA Photos by ARCHIVIST LLEWELLYN "The human species may not be here on earth forever, the arrival of a giant meteor from the asteroid belt could someday end our existence. To have the ability to examine the heavens by using telescopes is a look into the past and the future.  We look at Earth's moon and the stars to learn about the space around us and how it relates to our planet below. A question often asked: "What will they find out there?" Those who gave us the invention and development of the telescope have educated us with a rich understanding and contribution to history. These wonderful instruments, the telescopes, open the way to a deeper and more perfect understanding of nature. Early people knew the sky well and made many observations with their naked eyes. Each group had its own myths about the celestial objects in the ...

Science | Sunday, 1 November 2009

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Second Life and the Issue of Health

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Text and Photos by THANE MACBETH This was one of the two winning entries in the Health category of the magazine article writing contest for November. The strength of Second Life is its ability to bring together diverse people from all over the world with all of their varied backgrounds, ideas, and issues. One of the issues that looms large in the lives of many of those people is health. Naturally, because of its virtual nature, Second Life lacks the ability to affect people’s health in a physical sense, but by that very nature it is perfectly positioned to address this issue with the dissemination of information that can enhance the lives of those seeking advice regarding their health. Health information is readily available in Second Life, mostly in the form of informational headquarters of organizations dedicated to inform people about a single health issue. These issues run the gamut from mental ...

Health | Sunday, 1 November 2009

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Virtual Possibilities for Teens with Disabilities

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Text by BETHANY VELDE Photos by VERDE OTAARED This was one of the two winning entries in the Health category of the magazine article writing contest for November There has been much wonderful writing of late about how to make Second Life accessible for those with disabilities, both teen and adult. Articles such as Julia Tuason's present clearly the potential social/emotional benefit that SL has for the disabled, as well as an additional learning benefit " ...it allows students with disabilities to directly witness a process they otherwise could have only read in a text book,” Tuason said. “Research involving kinesthetic learning has proved the simulated movement experienced through Second Life helps the disabled with learning and retention.” Articles have also been presented introducing special voice-to-text programs, keyboards, mice, and other unique technology that will allow the disabled to access the world of Second Life, a world Julia describes as "a liberating ...

Health | Sunday, 1 November 2009

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