The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is keeping an eye on a set of solar storms and explosions that could disrupt satellite, telecommunications and electric equipment here on Earth in the next few days.

While activity had reportedly returned to somewhat normal levels when solar winds calmed Monday morning, another explosion Tuesday was three times larger than the February 15 flare, which, until now, was the most significant flare of this solar cycle.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory is reporting that the most recent flare, the third in the past three days, “will likely generate bright auroras as far south as Pennsylvania and could possibly upset electronic equipment, especially in space.”

The real forecast worth taking a look at, however, is the one for 2013, when solar activity levels are expected to peak with the next “solar maximum” within the 11-year activity cycle. Electric and magnetic interference from solar storms blasting electrically charged particles into the Earth’s magnetic field can cause major interferences on earth. Already this year, there have been reports of lost high-frequency radio communication with aircraft near the Arctic, along flight paths where pilots depend on such communication for flight safety and guidance.

Pilots and commercial aircraft are not the only ones at risk, either. NOAA cautions that many systems humans use every day are vulnerable to changes in space weather, including GPS applications in mobile phones and in cars, power grids and military satellites.

http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/09/solar-explosions-could-impact-earth/?hpt=hp_t2

Jared Medeiros was drunk when he wedged himself in an 18-inch storm drain. Neighbors heard the 21-year-old man as he began to yell for help while kicking his legs in the air. He was only visible from the knees down.

Medeiros had spent 40 minutes stuck in the storm drain, but he was conscious when emergency crews arrived. He was having trouble breathing and only minor injuries.

He told officers he was trying to retrieve some personal items that had fallen into the drain. The officers found his keys, cell phone and cash in the drain.

For less than the price of a one bedroom apartment in much of Manhattan, you can buy a whole town in South Dakota on the edge of the remote Badlands, 50 miles from the nearest town of any size.  The population is 9.

INCLUDED IN THE SALE:
46-Acres (approximately 12 acres in town-lots & 34 acres surrounding) U.S Post Office Land Lease…..Longhorn Fuel & Food Convenience Store, World Famous Longhorn Saloon, Very Large Dance Hall with basketball court, Large Museum with knotty pine interiors, Bunkhouse sleeps 8-10, 2 freestanding Retail Stores, Historic Train Depot, One Working Jail, One Abandoned Historic Jail, Many Out-Buildings, Residence Home, Residence Modular Home.

Read about it here:  http://blogs.forbes.com/clareoconnor/2011/07/27/entire-south-dakota-town-for-sale-for-799000/

And here is the realty listing:  http://buyscenicsd.com/

UV light increases our risk of melanoma and cataracts.  This is especially harmful at higher lattitudes where both a thinning ozone layer lets even more UV light through and the snow and ice reflect UV light back up at us.

Reindeer are not only resistant to the harmful effects of UV light, but also are actually able to visualize it.  This allows them to identify their food (lichen) and predators (wolves), which would otherwise blend into the snowy landscape.

UV light is otherwise invisible to all but a few mammals, such as some species of rodents, bats and marsupials.

Read more here:  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/babs-rsa051011.php

 

 

A 65-year-old Inocenta Hernandez from Guatemala City went running outside her house thinking there had been an explosion nearby, only to find that the sound was coming from inside her home. She returned indoor to find a three feet wide, 40 feet deep sinkhole beneath her bed. She was relieved that the damage was only to her house and none of her grandchildren, who had been playing near the bed.

Guatemala City is prone to the giant pits, which are often caused by tropical rain storms. A massive chasm had opened up in Guatemala City back in May 2010; it swallowed up whole buildings and an intersection. Miraculously no deaths were reported. A Texas sized pit had developed in the town of Diasetts, Texas in 2008. The 600 feet long, 150 feet wide gaping sinkhole sucked down a tractor, several telephone poles, and an assortment of oil field equipment.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/sinking-feeling-woman-finds-giant-sinkhole-under-her-203620309.html

 

Thanks to Mr. P Cuomo for bringing this to the attention of the It’s Interesting community.

 

This wedding dress was made from 12 rolls of toilet paper by design student Emily Menzies, 17.

She has been chosen as one of three winners of a Kleenex-sponsored competition, calling for “a glamorous, luxurious, high-fashion cocktail dress” – made 95 per cent out of toilet paper.

The three dresses will be shown on the catwalk at New Zealand Fashion Week next month.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/fashion/5264372/Student-rolls-out-a-toilet-paper-winner

Here are some other toilet paper fashion achievements:

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