This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Kent professor Dr Cyril Isenberg cleans up with soap suds theory - Kent Online
Comments |
Read all comments on this story.
A professor from Kent is hoping to clean up...
by using soap to solve mathematical problems.
Dr Cyril Isenberg from the University of Kent came up with the idea which works out distance and area equations using the properties made from soap bubbles.
Now his idea - which involves a wire cube dipped into a soap solution to explain it - has been dubbed one of the best articles of the last 100 years by American Scientist magazine.
The work, titled 'The soap film: an analogue computer', was first published in 1976.
But it got scientists into a lather, and is now considered a game-changing piece of work.
Dr Isenberg, now an honorary lecturer at the University of Kent's school of engineering and digital arts, still soft soaps students with talks linking the beauty and art of bubbles with their science.
Dr Isenberg said: “Mathematicians have been trying to work out
area problems for years.
“By using the soap film you can provide an analogue solution… and
it gives them a guide of trying to find an analytic solution to
these problems.
"It’s a subject where everybody can do the demonstrations and see
for themselves the interesting properties."
Professor Mark Burchell, Dean of Kent’s Faculty of Sciences, said
he’s delighted Dr Isenberg’s article has been recognised in the
prestigious journal.
He said: “For many years he has given his highly popular talks linking beauty and art of bubbles with the equally beautiful science that explains them.”
Tuesday, June 12 2012
Print Article
Buy a KM Picture
The KM Group does not moderate comments.
Please click here for our house rules.
Source: www.kentonline.co.uk
Kent State's 2012 NCAA baseball journey nothing short of a rollercoaster ride to the College World Series - Cleveland Plain Dealer
EUGENE, Ore. -- Kent State's run to the College World Series has been a two-week highlight reel, which included riding into the postseason with a 21-game winning streak and playing a 21-inning thriller that set the tone for two weekends of superlatives. There were five one-run games in six playoff contests, with the Golden Flashes coming out on top in four.
"Nail-biters are more fun when you pull them out," said KSU shortstop Jimmy Rider, who had the game-winning hit in Kent's deciding victory Monday afternoon over Oregon. "Every pitch, every swing means that much more."
Monday night's 3-2 clincher epitomized the Golden Flashes' resolve to make history and become the first Kent team to advance to the CWS in Omaha, Neb.
Freshman pitcher Brian Clark from Munroe Falls worked the final two innings, first giving up the hit that allowed Oregon to tie the game at 2-2 in the eighth, then shutting down the Ducks the rest of the way. After a 1-2-3 ninth inning that included Clark's lone strikeout, head coach Scott Stricklin said his team ran off the diamond and into the dugout with someone screaming, "Let's go to Omaha."
But none of it might have happened with a loss to Kentucky in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament on June 1, instead of 21-inning, 7-6 win that happened, in part, because a Wildcat player failed to touch first base in the 12th and was called out, instead of starting the inning with a ringing double off the wall in left.
Kent won the Gary Regional, 3-2, on a three-run homer by Evan Campbell that hit the outfield railing and bounced back onto the field, and should have been ruled a double. In Saturday's 7-6 win over Oregon in the super regional opener, the Flashes needed a diving catch by Campbell in center to keep the Ducks from scoring the winning run in the bottom on the ninth.
Kent lost, 3-2, to Oregon on Sunday. But the Flashes bounced back on Monday as Rider delivered his 103rd hit of the season and 350th of his career, both school records.
"I can't describe it," Stricklin said. "I can't put it into words. To do this on national TV, everyone saw we could play with the No. 5 team in the country. We were just as good."
The Flashes defeated Kentucky out of the SEC, which was ranked No. 1 in the country during the season, Big Ten champion Purdue and Pac-12 champion Oregon in its postseason run, going 5-1 in the process.
Playing his part was the flawless catching performance of David Lyon, handling his pitchers deftly and picking off base-runners seemingly every night. There were a pair of pitching gems -- Ryan Bores from Strongsville pitched Kent's lone complete game of the season in KSU's 7-3 victory over Purdue in Gary. This came immediately following the 21-inning marathon when the Flashes needed relief for its exhausted bullpen.
The second came Monday night in a combined four-hitter against the Ducks. Sophomore Tyler Skulina from Strongsville gave up two hits in 5.2 innings, Casey Wilson from Sagamore Hills allowed one hit in 1.1 innings, and Clark -- who gave up a two-run single in the eighth before closing the door.
"The biggest key was Brian Clark," Stricklin said. "He gave up the hit and could have folded, but he didn't. He got better."
Stricklin is the fifth KSU alum on the Flashes coaching roster to take a team to an NCAA championship tournament.
"For some reason a lot of places seem to frown on hiring alums," Kent associate athletic director Cathy O'Donnell said Monday. "But for us it seems to work very well. Our most successful coaches seem to be our alums and assistants [who] seem to understand the chemistry of Kent State."
Stricklin joins KSU alums Herb Page (men's golf), Mike Morrow (women's golf), Brice Biggan (gymnastics) and Jim Andrassy (wrestling) who have taken teams and/or players to NCAA title events. Afterward, Stricklin tried to put the accomplishment into words.
"To be at my alma mater, to be the head coach, to take a team to Omaha, I wish I could find the words for you, but I can't," Stricklin said. "It's indescribable how I feel and how proud I am."
Derek Toadvine talks about scoring the winning run
On the final play, Stricklin thought Derek Toadvine, who had retreated to second base to tag up on Rider's bloop, had too far to go to score on the play. He wasn't sure Rider's ball would fall in. Yet, Stricklin was still set to celebrate.
"I was playing defense in the dugout, because I was thinking, 'we can't run out of the dugout on a hit,'" Stricklin said. "We can't be out with the ball in play. I was on the top step, holding guys back. But I have to admit, I started running out prematurely. I haven't been in the middle of a dog pile since 1993 [as a player]. But I got in the middle of that one. ... It was a lot of fun ... and a great feeling."
Kent plays its first College World Series game at 5 p.m. Saturday against Arkansas.
Source: www.cleveland.com
Heavy rain brings more flood risks - The Guardian
The misery is set to continue with the number of flood alerts soaring for southern England and Wales, with forecasters revealing there will be no respite from the rain over coming days.
The EA said there is a "continued" risk of surface water flooding from overwhelmed drains across parts of London, East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
Some 51 flood alerts have been issued across England and Wales, with seven flood warnings for parts of the River Ouzel in Leighton Buzzard, the River Mole in West Sussex and Surrey, the River Colne in Hertfordshire, and the Barnham, Aldingbourne and Lidsey Rifes in West Sussex.
Further flood alerts are expected for the South West later amid forecasts of torrential downpours in Torbay and south Devon.
Wiggonholt in West Sussex received the biggest lashing on Monday with 63 millimetres of rainfall during the last 24 hours.
"It is June's rainfall in one day," said Victoria Kettley, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association. The average June rainfall for south east, central and southern England is 50 millimetres.
The flooding has already wreaked havoc across parts of the country, causing the closures of roads and a hospital. Emergency cases at Worthing Hospital in West Sussex were diverted to neighbouring Brighton and Chichester for several hours overnight because of flooding.
Meanwhile, a special disaster fund is to be set up after more than 1,500 people were evacuated and 150 rescued in Mid Wales over the weekend. Water up to five feet gushed through homes and businesses in Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd, with the clean-up and insurance costs expected to run into millions of pounds.
Further rain is forecast to fall across the UK on Tuesday but with less ferocity. On Wednesday there will be further showers, the heaviest of which will be across Wales and south-west England.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Chloe Sims is almost au naturel without make-up - Daily Mail
By Holly Thomas
|
She's scarcely been seen without several layers of slap since she found fame on The Only Way Is Essex.
But it appears even Chloe Sims is capable of leaving the house (almost) au naturel sometimes.
The 30-year-old was seen leaving an Essex salon without make-up on yesterday.
Scrubs off well! Chloe Sims looked pretty without make-up in Essex yesterday
True to her TOWIE roots her appearance wasn't entirely without cosmetic aid- with groomed eyebrows and a slick of lipstick.
Chloe looked pretty with the low-maintainance look- proving that she could perhaps afford to dedicate less of her usual schedule to hair and make-up.
The brunette grinned as she headed for Boots, wearing a grey tracksuit and carrying a Chanel handbag.
Smiles all round: Chloe looked in good spirits as she smiled for photographers on the outing
Just a temporary lapse! The 30-year-old was seen stocking up on beauty essentials at Boots
Chloe stocked up on a few beauty essentials including hair sprays and body lotion, indicating that she is unlikely to make a habit of yesterday's nonchalance regarding grooming.
The mother-of-one must be thankful of the chance to relax a little, having only recently returned from filming the forthcoming TOWIE special in Marbella.
Kept it low-key: Chloe wore a cosy grey tracksuit, though her Chanel handbag added a touch of glamour
Pushed for time: Chloe hasn't had as much space in her schedule for grooming recently
Cosmetics queen: Chloe as she normally looks, with a full face of make-up
She appears to be throwing herself back into home life enthusiastically, and tweeted yesterday: 'Good morning!! Busy day sorting myself out first stop nails @belles_beausx need to buy a sofa today too!! 2 months without one #notime'
Chloe hit the Windsor races over the weekend- but again was pushed for time preparation-wise beforehand.
She tweeted a few days previously: 'I need a fascinator for Saturday helppppp does anyone know any websites? No time to go to shops!! X'
Chloe certainly hasn't had many minutes to spare lately, having been out and about constantly while in Spain with her pal Lauren Pope.
Besides one notably low-key lunch, the pair were hardly seen without being done up to the nines.
VIDEO: Britney's 'X Factor protest' & Madonna's nipple flash. See today's showbiz roundup...
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
