Days On Earth Have Shortened Because of Japan Earthquake

The massive earthquake that rocked Japan on 11th March has not only devastated human life and economy, but has also shortened the length of a day on the Earth. It has also shifted the mass of the planet and shortened the day of the Earth by a fraction.

A scientific analysis has shown that the intense temblor generated from the earthquake has increased the spin of the Earth. As a result, the length of the 24 hours day has become shortened by 1.8 microseconds. This has been observed by Richard Gross, a noted geophysicist working at NASA.

A microsecond is considered to be the millionth of a second. Since the distribution of the mass of the Earth has changed, the Earth is expected to rotate a bit faster and this will obviously shorten the length of the day by 1.8 microseconds. The earthquake in Japan has made the mass of the Earth get shifted towards the Equator.

Initial data collected by NASA suggested that the Japan earthquake has moved the island by 8 feet. The Japan earthquake 2011 has also shifted the figure axis of the earth by 6.5 inches, which is approximately 17 centimeters. Figure axis is very important as the mass of the Earth is balanced around it.

However, this is not for the first time that a major tremble has changed the length of the day. Massive earthquakes held in the past have also changed the length of the day by microseconds. The massive earthquake held in China last year has also shortened the length of the day by 1.26 microseconds.

Japan earthquake 2011 is the largest ever earthquake recorded in Japan and it has also been recorded as the fifth largest earthquake to strike on this earth since the year 1900. The earthquake has already expected to have killed 10,000 people and has destroyed the country’s power supply and the economy as well.

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Scientists of MIT develops low-cost artificial leaf which can produce electricity!!!

 According to TG Daily MIT scientists have created what they say is the world's first practical 'artificial leaf', a solar cell the size of a playing card that mimics photosynthesis.

"A practical artificial leaf has been one of the Holy Grails of science for decades. We believe we have done it," says team leader Daniel Nocera.

"The artificial leaf shows particular promise as an inexpensive source of electricity for homes of the poor in developing countries. Our goal is to make each home its own power station."

Placed in a single gallon of water in bright sunlight, the device could produce enough electricity to supply a house in a developing country with electricity for a day, Nocera said.

It wrks by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, which are stored in a fuel celland used to produce electricity.

Artificial leaves have been around for a while - indeed, the first was created more than ten years ago. But existing versions tend to be expensive and have a short lifespan.

Nocera's new leaf is made of inexpensive materials that are widely available, works under simple conditions and is highly stable, he says. In laboratory studies, a prototype operated continuously for more than 45 hours without a drop in performance.

It's based on several newly-discovered catalysts, made of nickel and cobalt, that can efficiently split water into hydrogen and oxygen, under normal conditions. Right now, Nocera says his leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural leaf - but says he's optimistic that he can boost efficiency much further.

"Nature is powered by photosynthesis, and I think that the future world will be powered by photosynthesis as well, in the form of this artificial leaf," he says.

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Moon to come closet to earth on March 19 after 18 years!!!!

Rare celestial event will happen on 19 March. At that time, the full moon will appear and the distance to the nearest position to earth. This phenomenon can only happen once every 18 years.

On March 19, 2011, the moon will be at the closest distance to Earth at the same time almost simultaneously with the peak of the full moon.

Based on astronomical data, on the same day at 19:10 GMT distance of 356,577 kilometers of the moon with the earth. An hour earlier, the peak full moon occurred on March 19 at 18:11 GMT.

In astrological terms, that position is known as a super moon or  super extreme moon  that is believed by some as a sign of disaster for the living beings on earth.

What to look out for is the impact of the strengthening of the tidal effect on Earth, especially in sea water when the top of the full moon closest to the distance of the moon. When bad weather at sea and coastal areas reinforced with maximum tidal effects when perigee and full moon, he said, be wary of potential hazards in coastal areas that might cause flooding tide (rob) a larger than normal. Similarly, when a buildup of energy in earthquake prone areas and the mountain erupted, the strengthening effect of the tides the moon may have the potential to trigger release of energy.

Closest moon taken from my cellphone

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