In case you haven’t heard, the world will be plunged into darkness for 15 days in November, all thanks to rare phenomenon caused by the movement of Venus and Jupiter.
But before you start worrying about what this once-in-a-million event will do to your light bill, just know this: it’s not true.
Many have reported the Earth will experience 15 days of total darkness between Nov. 15-29. The world, the reports said, will stay dark from Nov. 15 at 3 a.m. (no word if this is Central, Standard or any other time) and will end Nov. 30, 4:45 p.m. The article, which contains official-looking maps, charts and other documents, said President Obama has received a 1,000 page document about the coming phenomenon from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
The reason for the blackout, the sites claim, is what’s described as “close parallelism” between Venus and Jupiter that will cause Venus to shine brighter with that light heating up Jupiter. This reaction will release hydrogen in to the atmosphere, causing a massive explosion on the sun. The sun will react to the outburst by attempting to cool itself down and will turn blue as a result.
Next thing you know, we will all be in the dark for two weeks.
The stories go on to say Bolden doesn’t think the Earth will experience any major issues during the blackout.
“This event will be similar to what Alaskans experience in the winter,” Bolden supposedly said. “The only other effect it will have it everyone will get to have a true Black Friday after Thanksgiving.”
There’s even a hashtag – #NovemberBlackOut – where people can discuss what they are going to do during the days of darkness.
The whole thing is bunk, of course.
The blackout rumors first surfaced in 2012 and were connected to interest in the Mayan calendar.
“Neither NASA nor any other scientific organization is predicting such a blackout,” he said. “The false reports on this issue claim that some sort of “alignment of the Universe” will cause a blackout. There is no such alignment.”
The rumor surfaced again earlier this year.
This time Snopes, the website that reports on the validity of rumors and urban legends, weighed in.
“No, the universe is not about to realign in June 2015, nor will there be a multi-day blackout at that time during which the Earth will shift into a new dimension. Neither NASA nor any other credible scientific entity has made such a pronouncement. Ever,” the website said.
Whew. Let the sunshine in.
NASA says Earth will be plunged into darkness for 15 days in November? Well.
In case you haven’t heard, the world will be plunged into darkness for 15 days in November, all thanks to rare phenomenon caused by the movement of Venus and Jupiter.
But before you start worrying about what this once-in-a-million event will do to your light bill, just know this: it’s not true.
Many have reported the Earth will experience 15 days of total darkness between Nov. 15-29. The world, the reports said, will stay dark from Nov. 15 at 3 a.m. (no word if this is Central, Standard or any other time) and will end Nov. 30, 4:45 p.m. The article, which contains official-looking maps, charts and other documents, said President Obama has received a 1,000 page document about the coming phenomenon from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
The reason for the blackout, the sites claim, is what’s described as “close parallelism” between Venus and Jupiter that will cause Venus to shine brighter with that light heating up Jupiter. This reaction will release hydrogen in to the atmosphere, causing a massive explosion on the sun. The sun will react to the outburst by attempting to cool itself down and will turn blue as a result.
Next thing you know, we will all be in the dark for two weeks.
The stories go on to say Bolden doesn’t think the Earth will experience any major issues during the blackout.
“This event will be similar to what Alaskans experience in the winter,” Bolden supposedly said. “The only other effect it will have it everyone will get to have a true Black Friday after Thanksgiving.”
There’s even a hashtag – #NovemberBlackOut – where people can discuss what they are going to do during the days of darkness.
The whole thing is bunk, of course.
The blackout rumors first surfaced in 2012 and were connected to interest in the Mayan calendar.
“Neither NASA nor any other scientific organization is predicting such a blackout,” he said. “The false reports on this issue claim that some sort of “alignment of the Universe” will cause a blackout. There is no such alignment.”
The rumor surfaced again earlier this year.
This time Snopes, the website that reports on the validity of rumors and urban legends, weighed in.
“No, the universe is not about to realign in June 2015, nor will there be a multi-day blackout at that time during which the Earth will shift into a new dimension. Neither NASA nor any other credible scientific entity has made such a pronouncement. Ever,” the website said.
Whew. Let the sunshine in.
EU research money should be spent on organic farming, says new study
PRESS RELEASE
EU research money should be spent on organic farming, says new study
BRUSSELS, 22 October 2015 – Increasing investment in research for organic farming will help to provide answers to many environmental and social issues of Europe’s farming systems, says a new study presented today in the European Parliament. The study, carried out by the Université Catholique de Louvain (BE) and the Organic Research Centre (UK), reveals a paradox between the potential of and actual investment in organic farming research. Scientific evidence shows that organic farming is better placed to address sustainability challenges than conventional farming. This is in clear contrast to the limited research money spent on organic farming, both at European and national levels.
“The organic food and farming sector is a frontrunner in the transition towards sustainable food systems”, comments Eduardo Cuoco, head of the TP Organics secretariat, “In 2014, TP Organics published a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Organic Food and Farming. The agenda shows that the organic sector has much to offer for the whole of agriculture, both in terms of designing more sustainable production systems, and for the design of resilient business models. The study presented today points out that the EU and Member States underinvest in research to deliver on this potential. The Horizon 2020 Work Programme adopted last week contained significantly more budget for organic farming than previous EU research programmes, but it is only a first step. A fair share of public money should be allocated to the development of the organic sector.”
“Organic farming is often criticized for having lower yields than conventional farming”, adds co-author of the study Susanne Padel from the Organic Research Centre and member of the TP Organics Steering Committee, “but given the huge discrepancies in research investment between organic and conventional farming, organic is performing amazingly well. Whilst the productivity of conventional farming systems is reaching a plateau despite intensive use of fossil energy and non-renewable inputs, the potential of the productivity of organic farming has still to be explored.”
Background information
The study “Research and organic farming” was carried out by researchers from the Université Catholique de Louvain (BE) and the Organic Research Centre (UK) and was commissioned by the Greens in the European Parliament. It was presented at the conference “Research for Transition” on 22 October 2015.
For more information please contact: Eduardo Cuoco, +39 328 417 8783, info@tporganics.eu
A NEW PARTY FROM THE PDP
It is clear that the PDP in Nigeria will give rise to a new party very soon as notable members are now strategizing on the way forward for the party following its relocation from the government to the opposition. One of the options being considered is the floating of a new political party that will group together politicians from the PDP and other groups and ‘friends’ from the APC . Last week, some northern elements in the party met in the house of a former governor from the North to finalise former move. A former South south senator has been empowered to further reach out to the south west in order to woo undecided politicians. Also a former governor in the North west is talking to his colleagues from the zone to close ranks and field a strong candidate in 2019 elections.
The next meeting will hold next month in a North east capital city
Short articles invited
Can you write an article on food and feed safety ?. Send a short one to sfoodfeedf@yahoo.com
SYMPOSIUM ON MYCOTOXINS HELD IN ABUJA
An international symposium on Minimizing Mycotoxins in Food and Feeds was held at the Raw Materials Research and Development from September 8 -12 2015. Participants were drawn from many countries in Africa and Europe.
dele fapohunda
EU BAN ON NIGERIAN CROPS
The recent banning of some Nigerian export crops from entering the EU until June 2016 should kickstart necessary steps to bring all non oil exports to international standards. Presence of aflatoxin at levels beyond the permissible was one of the reasons. It is believed that awareness on AFLATOXINs and other mycotoxins will be stepped up… Otherwise the consequences of non compliance will always catch up with any country that deliberately displays ignorance or negligence
dele fapohunda
Cancer and Mycotoxin
organic agriculture
PARTNERSHIP/AGENCY ON ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND BIODEGRADABLES IS NEEDED. CONTACT <sfoodfeedf@yahoo.com> immediately
WHAT BUHARI SHOULD DO
ADVICE TO BUHARI
1 PREPARE A SYLLABUS OF YOUR PROGRAMME, POWER AND OIL SECTOR REFORMS SHOULD BE NUMBER 1
NUMBER 2 IS UNEMPLOYMENT
NUMBER 3 IS CORRUPTION
WHEN ALL THESE ARE ADDRESSED THEN WE CAN SCORED HIM AND MAKE A CONCLUSION WHETHER HE PERFORMED OR FAILED
OBITUARY
DR MRS EDEMA , FORMER EDITOR OF MYCOTOXIN NEWSLETTER DIED EARLY LAST MONTH. MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE. INFORMATION ON HER CAN BE GOT FROM THE PRESIDENT, MYCOTOXIN SOCIETY OF NIGERIA, DR NEGEDU