We’ve been hearing for a little over three years that David Gordon Green, director of Pineapple Express, wants to remake the horror classic Suspiria. However, just recently we found out the hold-up was the original film’s director, Dario Argento, holding back the remake rights. Thankfully, the filmmaker released the remake rights and we heard Green might tackle the project this year. Now, whilst promoting the opening of his new comedy Your Highness on April 8th (watch the most recent hilarious red band trailer here), Green himself confirms the remake as his hopeful next film and talks about his take on the project.

Green spoke with The Playlist saying, “I’m hopefully going to get into a horror film, [Suspiria] next. That’s the goal.” As for his version of the story, Green says it’s rather unconventional and may be a challenge to get off the ground, “[Our Suspiria] doesn’t follow the trend of the traditional horror movies of late, so it’s a leap of faith, financially.” However, he says his version doesn’t disrespect the original film, “It’s actually very faithful. I’m gonna put my spin on it, but in terms of a pitch, it’s going to remain quite faithful to [the original].” In addition, Green also commented on Natalie Portman’s rumored involvement which doesn’t seem to be in the cards anymore:
“I want an unknown cast, and I think she’s a little too old for it. My version isn’t necessarily about ballet, it’s more of an all-girls boarding school, so I think she’s probably too old to pass for a high school-er. I don’t think it will have names, but hopefully it will be at a studio. Because I definitely enjoy having a movie that gets marketed that people go to see. But there’s no greater passport. ‘Suspiria’ is a great reason to move to Germany, hang out there for awhile, discover some new European cast members, find something scary.”
So it sounds like the Suspiria remake may actually be closer to a reality. The question is whether or not a studio will be willing take on an unconventional horror flick without at least one big name attached to the feature. As for anyone worried about the director of Pineapple Express and Your Highness taking on a horror flick like this, let’s not forget that before Green took on big studio comedies, he also directed low key indie dramas like All the Real Girls and Snow Angels. So the guy is a versatile filmmaker. Sound good?

Tyre manufacturer steps into social media

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 NOVEMBER 2010 — Tyre manufacturer Goodyear Malaysia has stepped into social media with the release of an iPhone app called Goodyear Highway Helper, it said.

Tyre manufacturer

Goodyear Malaysia managing director Nasution Abdul Rahman said the company has also revamped its website (www.goodyear.com.my) to increase interactivity with consumers.

Apple highlights the best of iTunes in 2010 in Tyre manufacturer

“The Goodyear Highway Helper, a free downloadable application from Apple iTunes, provides users with quick access to important contact information – such as emergency help, police, tow trucks and taxis,” said Nasution.

“It also contains helpful car maintenance advice, safe driving tips and troubleshooting guides, along with dealer search functions,” he said. “The Goodyear Highway Helper is equipped with fun, interactive games which can even be played among friends.”

Global tyre manufacturer Goodyear employs almost 70,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 25 countries around the world along with two Innovation Centres in Akron, Ohio, US, and Colmar Berg, Luxembourg.

Added value when customers need it most in Tyre manufacturer

Nasution said the Goodyear Highway Helper was also created to provide a customer information service. “We developed the iPhone application to provide added value to our customers, especially when they need it the most. It’s not only informative, but also entertaining as well, with games that can be shared among friends on Facebook.”

“In addition, the revamped corporate website now includes a Request for Quote function, where visitors can search for the right tyres to fit a particular make or model of car, and get quotes for easier reference,” he said.

“This feature also allows consumers to check and compare prices online and across stores before making a final purchase at a retail store of their choice for iPhone application,” said Nasution : Tyre manufacturer.

AP – This artist rendering provided by NASA, shows Kepler-11, a sun-like star around which six planets orbit. …

50 potential planets that appear to be in the habitable zone

WASHINGTON – An orbiting NASA telescope is finding whole new worlds of possibilities in the search for alien life, spotting more than 50 potential planets that appear to be in the habitable zone.

In just a year of peering out at a small slice of the galaxy, the Keplertelescope has discovered 1,235 possible planets outside our solar system. Amazingly, 54 of them are seemingly in the zone that could be hospitable to life — that is, not too hot or too cold, Kepler chief scientist William Borucki said.

Until now, only two planets outside our solar system were even thought to be in the “Goldilocks zone.” And both those discoveries are highly disputed.

Fifty-four possibilities is “an enormous amount, an inconceivable amount,” Borucki said. “It’s amazing to see this huge number because up to now, we’ve had zero.”

The more than 1,200 newfound celestial bodies are not confirmed as planets yet

The more than 1,200 newfound celestial bodies are not confirmed as planets yet, but Borucki estimates 80 percent of them will eventually be verified. At least one other astronomer believes Kepler could be 90 percent accurate.

After that, it’s another big step in proving that a confirmed planet has some of the basic conditions needed to support life, such as the proper size, composition, temperature and distance from its star. More advanced aspects of habitability such as atmospheric conditions and the presence of water and carbon require telescopes that aren’t built yet.

Just because a planet is in the habitable zone doesn’t mean it has life. Mars is a good example of that. And even if some these planets are found to contain life, it may not be intelligent life; it could be bacteria or mold or some kind of life form people can’t even imagine.

All the celestial bodies Kepler looks at are in our Milky Way galaxy, but they are so far away that traveling there is not a realistic option. In some cases it would take many millions of years with current technology.

But what Kepler is finding in distant parts of the galaxy could be applied to exploring closer stars, astronomers say.

“Our grandchildren will have to decide what’s the next step,” Borucki said at a NASA news conference. “Do they want to go there? Do they want to send a robot?”

Before Wednesday, the count of confirmed planets outside the solar system stood at 519. That means Kepler could triple the number. And those findings are from Kepler’s scanning of just one four-hundredth of the night sky, so the actual number of planets out there is presumably hundreds of times greater, Borucki said.

That is exciting to astronomers, since the more planets there are, the greater the odds that life exists elsewhere in the universe.

Yale University astronomer Debra Fischer, who wasn’t part of the Kepler team but serves as an outside expert for NASA, said the new information “gives us a much firmer footing” to hope for worlds that could harbor life.

“I feel different today, knowing these new Kepler results, than I did a week ago,” Fischer said. She said Kepler “has blown the lid off of everything we know about extrasolar planets.”

Another outside astronomer, Lisa Kaltenegger of Harvard University, called the findings “exciting good news.”

Kepler also found that there are many more relatively small planets than there are giant planets. That is encouraging, too: Astronomers think a planet needs to be solid — rocky like Earth or Mars — for life to develop. And very large planets are unlikely to be solid; they are more prone to be gas behemoths like Jupiter.

Sixty-eight of the planet candidates Kepler found are considered Earth-sized, including the first ones ever discovered to be smaller than Earth. An additional 288 planets were less than twice the size of Earth, which is still in that optimum zone for life.

Only five of the 54 potentially habitable celestial bodies are close to the size of Earth, while the rest approach the gassy girths of Neptune or Jupiter, Borucki said.

To be in the habitable zone, a planet has to be the proper distance from its star so that it could have liquid water on its surface, at least sometimes. NASA considers habitable-zone temperatures to be roughly between 0 degrees and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The proper distance varies by star; smaller, weaker stars, for example, would require planets to be closer to be habitable.

Because of the various factors that could make planets more prone to life, University of California Santa Cruz astronomer Greg Laughlin created a formula that puts a dollar value on these far-off planets with the idea that the first planet that is incredibly similar to Earth would have a value of $1 million.

Until Wednesday, the highest value Laughlin assigned to an exoplanet, which is what astronomers call a planet outside our solar system, was a measly $158. One of Kepler’s new discoveries is worth nearly a quarter-million dollars, Laughlin figures.

Kepler was launched in 2009 and orbits the sun between Earth and Mars. It needs time to find planets, identifying them by watching them repeatedly move past the star they orbit.

Kepler scientists are strict about calling candidate planets confirmed. Of 400 candidate planets announced last year, only nine of Kepler’s discoveries had been confirmed before Wednesday.

Of the more than 800 new candidates, both in and out of the habitable zone, only six are confirmed, all way too hot for life. And they are strange — all densely packed and circling a single star. Five of them are closer to their star than Mercury is to our sun, and they move in precise circular and stable orbits.

That strange star system is 2,000 light years from Earth, according to a separate study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. A light year is nearly 6 trillion miles.

Media tablet sales will reach more than 202 units in four years, up from 17.4

Global tablet sales are expected to rise to 242.3 million units in 2015, according to new research from Suppli.

Media tablet sales will reach more than 202 units in four years, up from 17.4 million in 2010, while sales of PC-type tablets will jump to 39.3 million units in 2015 from 2.3 million in 2010.

“The remarkable expansion of the tablet market from 2010 to 2015 will be driven by three successive waves of growth,” said Rhoda Alexander, director of monitor research at IHS.

competitors, particularly Android-based models.

“The first wave, which is hitting in 2010 and 2011, was created by the arrival of the iPad and the ensuing tsunami of demand for the device. The second wave, arriving in 2011 and 2012, will be propelled by a deluge of iPad competitors, particularly Android-based models. The third wave, which will turn up in 2013, will consist of a flood of models based on the Windows operating system that will expand the reach of tablets into traditional computer markets.”

Apple’s iPad is expected to dominate sales until 2013

Apple’s iPad is expected to dominate sales until 2013, when competitor products are likely to gain traction. Tablets with Android’s operating system will be Apple’s main rival, with comparable and sometimes superior features to the iPad, including in-built support for a 4G wireless communications technology (as demonstrated at the CES).

By 2013, the iPad will decline to less than 50% of overall tablet sales, according to iSuppli.

“The year 2013 will mark a critical juncture, as the tablet market turns into a battleground between media tablets using mobile operating systems, and PC-type tablets employing the Windows operating system,” Alexander added. “Add to this mix the competition from ever-improving smart phones, and the mobile device market will get very interesting.”

However, last week Business Insider said Apple “is likely to dominate the tablet industry for years to come”. By contrast, Business Insider predicts that the iPad will maintain a ‘very high’ market share – as much as 60% – for “at least several years”.

“In the long-term, we don’t think the tablet market will be as lopsided as the MP3 or PC markets, where a lone platform (iPod, Windows) annihilates everyone else. But we also don’t think it will be as evenly distributed as the smartphone market, where no single platform has more than about one third of the market.”

The article says distribution is the fundamental difference between the smartphone market and tablet market. Business Insider expects consumers to buy tablets from an electronics retailer such as Apple.com or Walmart, not a wireless carrier store. This is largely because people will not want to sign up for a two-year wireless data contract for their tablet computer, as they might for a smartphone.

It also comes down to price, according to Business Insider – “we believe Apple will continue to price the iPad aggressively so it does not lose this market to cheap, inferior competitors”. Within the next couple of years, Business Insider predicts that Apple will continue to dominate, followed by Android, with the rest of the tablet market splitting in the difference – including RIM’s PlayBook.
Media tablet sales will reach more than 202 units in four years, up from 17.4

LONDON: A 19-year-old girl in the US is getting treatment for her addiction of eating soaps and detergent powders.

Tempestt Henderson, from Florida, eats up to five bars of soap a week and washing powder as well, the Daily Mail reported here.

According to doctors, the toxic compulsion is a rare medical condition, PICA, which causes an appetite for substances that are largely non-nutritive.

People suffering form PICA have been known to compulsively eat metal, coins, chalk, batteries and toothbrushes. It can often be caused by a mineral deficiency, which explains why pregnant women often crave eating coal when needing iron.

“In the shower, I like to lather up a green bar of soap, and lick the bubbles. And as the soap disintegrates, I pop a tiny amount of the soap into my mouth and suck it. It’s heavenly,” she was quoted as saying.

“I love the clean feeling it gives me. Eating soap feels so much cleaner than just washing with it.”

The doctor gave Tempestt intensive Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), to give her replacement thoughts that will prevent her from compulsively reaching for soap.

“I’m learning to think about positive things when I feel I need to eat soap,” she said.

She has also been encouraged to go for long walks, avoiding places where soap is present, like bathrooms and laundrettes.

According to psychologists, Tempestt most likely turned to soap eating as a comforting coping mechanism when she found herself away from her family.
US girl eats five soaps a week

What we know???

We’re just a day away from getting our first look at the long-awaited, next-generation iPad—or that’s what we’re expecting, at least.

Indeed, with all the leaks, rumors, and wild guesses we’ve been hearing in the past months about the next iPad, it’s easy to forget that Apple hasn’t even officially announced the thing yet, much less doled out any details or pictures.

Since we still have a little time to kill before Apple ends the suspense, let’s go ahead and summarize what we know, what we think we know, and—most importantly—what we definitely don’t know about the iPad 2.

What we know

The original iPad is still the only iPad, for now: Like I just said, Apple has yet to announce, acknowledge, make veiled references to, or even hint at a new iPad. Well … strike that: during Apple’s most recent quarterly earnings call, Apple COO Tim Cook told analysts (who’d been asking about competition from impending Android-based tablets) that “we’re not sitting still” in terms of the tablet market, a remark that may qualify as a vague hint.

Apple is holding an iPad-related event Wednesday: The invitations went out last week, with an image showing a Mac OS calendar page peeled back to reveal an iPad peeking out from behind. The caption: “Come see what 2011 will be the year of.” So yes—the writing’s on the wall, but the invite stops short of saying “come meet the iPad 2″ or anything like that.

Last but not least, we know that … uh … : If we’re only talking about things we definitely know about the next iPad … well, strictly speaking, we don’t know much more than what I just outlined above. Oh, wait: Wednesday’s Apple event will be held in San Francisco, at 10 in the morning local time. And iPad-related topics are on the agenda. There you go.

What we don’t know

What it’ll be called: Everyone’s been calling the next iPad the “iPad 2,” and there’s even a new (and likely fan-generated) rendering of the next-generation tablet floating around with the “iPad 2″ name stamped on the back. But as far as I know, no one’s come out and reported that the iPad 2 will, in fact, be called the iPad 2. Apple’s been known to throw curve balls when it comes to naming its next-gen products (like, for example, the iPhone 3G and 3GS), so I wouldn’t put all my eggs in the “iPad 2″ basket.

How much internal storage it’ll have: Will we get an iPad 2 model with 128GB of built-in flash storage, or will the largest next-gen iPad still top out at 64GB? Hard to say. There have been scattered reports of iPad 2 mockups with “128GB” etched onto the back, but that may be more a case of wishful thinking than a concrete clue. I predict the priciest iPad will still offer “just” 64GB of flash storage (which still costs a premium compared to conventional disc-based hard drives), but that’s only a guess on my part.

How much it will cost: Apple is in the habit of marking its next-generation products with the same price as the previous generation, and there’s no reason to believe that Cupertino will change course with the iPad 2. Again, though, we’ve yet to hear any reliable rumors about pricing. (For the record, the current iPad costs anywhere from $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only version to $829 for the 64GB 3G iPad.)

When it will ship: Conventional wisdom initially had it that the new iPad would probably hit stores about a month or so after being announced, but now there’s talk the iPad 2 might be available immediately. Maybe so, but personally, I’m hedging my bets until Apple serves up the official line.

What we think we know

Slimmer profile, less heft: Just about everyone seems to agree that the redesigned iPad will be “smaller” and “lighter” than its predecessor, complete with a flatter back and tapered edges. Indeed, chatter about a slimmed-down iPad 2 shell has been so consistent (not to mention a logical progression for the iPad line) that I’d be shocked if it didn’t come to pass Wednesday.

A camera, or two: Another consistent iPad 2 rumor has it that Apple will fix one of the biggest criticisms of the original iPad—namely, the lack of a camera. A recent Wall Street Journal story claimed that the new iPad will have “at least” one camera in front for FaceTime video chat, and there have been countless sightings of purported iPad 2 cases with strategically placed holes in back for a second, rear-facing lens. While there still seems to be some lingering doubt about a second camera, a front-facing lens is pretty much a no-brainer, particularly since each and every iPad competitor out there has one.

Same-resolution display: The hot rumor back in December had it that the iPad 2 would arrive with a sharper, 2,048-by-1,536 pixel display, good for a “retina”-style screen similar to the one on the iPhone 4. But the latest word and some leaked spy shots have poured cold water on the buzz, and it’s now looking almost certain that the revamped iPad display will come with a 1,024-by-768-resolution display, same as the original. Oh well. (Don’t worry; recent chatter has it that the iPad 3—yes, 3—might get the retina-display treatment.)

Faster, beefier processor: “Dual-core” is the gotta-have spec when it comes to this year’s hottest smartphones and gadgets, and the iPad 2 is no exception. Most believe the revamped tablet will get an updated, dual-core version of Apple’s A4 “system-on-a-chip,” complete with 512MB of RAM (double the 256MB RAM in the original iPad) and some seriously souped-up graphics capabilities.

Better speaker: The new iPad is reportedly in line for an improved, “wide-ranged” speaker, with the more prominent speaker grille said to be sitting right where the current three-hole speaker on the first iPad lives. Or so they say.

No SD card: An SD (or microSD) card slot on the next iPad would allow for easy memory expansion and speedy photo uploading. It’s a nice idea, but early buzz on Apple adding an SD card slot to the iPad has given way to near-universal agreement that it won’t actually happen. Bummer.

No 4G support: Not on Verizon Wireless, at least, according to the Wall Street Journal, which adds that the 3G version of the iPad 2 will be available through AT&T and Verizon but not Sprint or T-Mobile.

So, got any predictions about Wednesday’s iPad announcement? Post ‘em below.

— Ben Patterson is a technology blogger for Yahoo! News.

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Flat stomach food guide (Getty Images

Tired of not knowing what kinds of foods to eat? Not sure how much fat, calories and sodium you should be consuming everyday? All the tips you need are here….

In addition to regular exercise, you’ll also want to add some fat burning foods to your diet to help trim your waistline.

Foods that are high in protein and fibre are the best kinds of food to eat if you want to burn fat around your middle.

Did you know that it takes more energy to digest protein than it does to digest fat? So the more protein you eat, the more calories your body burns.

Eggs
Eggs are super high in protein and can help you burn that unwanted belly fat. They contain the vitamin B12 – a great supplement for breaking down fat cells.

You may have heard all the warnings about eggs and your health. That’s because a couple of eggs will put you over the recommended daily amount of cholesterol.

Well, more recent studies have shown that dietary cholesterol has a minimal impact on blood cholesterol. Dietary fat is the real culprit. It’s what raises your bad cholesterol levels.

However, if you’re still worried about your overall cholesterol intake from eating too many eggs, you can remove the yolk and still benefit from the high protein contained in eggs.

Low fat dairy products
According to an article in Obesity Research, women who ate low-fat dairy products, such as nonfat yogurt and low-fat milk, three to four times a day, lost 70 per cent more fat than low-dairy dieters.

In another study done at Purdue University those who consumed 3 cups of fat-free milk gained less weight over the course of 2 years than those on low calcium diets.

So, not only do dairy products help you strengthen your bones, they can also play an essential role in burning that unwanted body fat.

If you are a regular consumer of milk and other dairy products, that’s great, just watch your proportions and perhaps switch over to the low or no fat varieties.

Beans
While beans are often associated with the gastrointestinal disturbances they may cause, they are also very good sources of protein, fibre and iron.

Some of the best kinds of beans to eat are:
- Navy beans
- White beans
- Kidney beans
- Lima beans

And as always, limit baked and refried beans in your diet as refried beans contain tons of saturated fat, while baked beans are usually loaded in sugar. Sure, you’ll be getting your protein but you’ll also be consuming a lot of fat and sugar that you don’t need.

Here’s something else to remember. Be sure to cook your beans thoroughly because our digestive tracks are not adapted to breaking down some proteins that are contained in certain beans.

Tip: A vegetable called Edamame (pronounced ed-uh-ma-may) – an organic soybean in a pod often served at Japanese restaurants.

All you do is boil them for three minutes, add a pinch of salt and eat the soybeans out of the pods. They are surprisingly tasty and very good for you. One serving contains 10 grams of soy protein. The best place to find them is at a store that sells organic foods.

Oatmeal
While it may not be the tastiest thing you can eat, oatmeal definitely has some great nutritional qualities.

You may have noticed that many of the oatmeal brands are now boasting that eating more oatmeal will help lower your cholesterol level. That’s because oatmeal is loaded with soluble fibre which helps reduce blood cholesterol by flushing those bad digestive acids out of your system.

The best kind of oatmeal to eat is unsweetened and unflavoured. While it’s tempting to select the apples and cinnamon flavour and load it with butter and sugar – you really lose out on all the health benefits. If you must sweeten your bowl of oatmeal, do so by adding fruit.

Or add a spoonful of honey (much better for you than sugar) and a handful of raisins or dried cranberries.

Oatmeal is also beneficial in fighting colon cancer and heart disease.

Olive oil
Certain fats are good for you and your body needs them. Olive oil is one of those ‘good fats’. In fact, it’s so good that it helps you burn fat and keeps your cholesterol down.

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that researchers are finding provide outstanding health benefits. One ounce of extra virgin olive oil contains about 85 per cent of the daily value for monounsaturated fat.

So instead of taking a swig of orange juice in the morning, many dieters are picking up a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.

Whole grains
These days everyone seems to be screaming “No carbs!” It’s as if the world has gone no-carb crazy and everyone is running from sliced breads and pastas.

Well the truth is, your body needs carbohydrates. If you go without them completely your body will start to crave them. So it’s not a good idea to exclude all carbs because the right kinds are actually good for you.

It’s the processed carbohydrates that are bad for you – the white breads, bagels, pastas, and white rice to name a few.

The above foods have all been processed, thus stripping out all the nutrients leaving you with loads of starch.

The key is to eat ‘whole grain’ foods because they haven’t been processed and contain the fiber and minerals your body needs.

So don’t be fooled by a loaf of bread labeled ‘wheat’. Regular wheat bread is still lacking in vitamins and minerals. Manufacturers add molasses to it so it turns brown.

Don’t let them trick you. The only kind of bread that’s good for you is the kind that’s labeled ‘whole grain’.

Meat and fish
Turkey and beef are great for building muscle and boosting the immune system, but as always you have to be careful as:

Basted turkeys are usually injected with fatty substances while beef contains saturated fat. If you are going to eat beef, be sure to consume the leanest cuts you can find by looking for ‘loin’ or ’round’ on the labels.

Salmon and tuna are also good sources of protein. They both contain omega-3 fatty acids which may sound bad, but are actually healthy fats. These two foods are also good for giving your immune system a nice boost and should be consumed at least thrice a week.

Read more: Flat stomach food guide – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/Flat-stomach-food-guide/articleshow/5214840.cms#ixzz1FBwAiqqt

NEW iPad 2...

As you can see some new images of the iPad 2 have surfaced which show it on a side by side comparison with the current generation iPad lying next to it. Although the pictures don’t show the front of the iPad 2 so that we can see the size of the screen and confirm the appearance of front camera the images look pretty convincing. The new design is better over the older generation iPad and it looks a bit smaller and slimmer.

So far it has been made known that the iPad 2 will feature facetime via a front facing camera, an OLED display (which is possible because this iPad looks like it does use OLED due to the thin build) and possibility of a better resolution?

Apple could do their big reveal of the iPad 2 on the March 2nd Apple event let’s wait and see whether Apple will commercialize these babies quickly or will they take their time?

Future versions of Thunderbolt will use fibre optics

Intel has rolled out a high-speed PC connection technology named Thunderbolt, in collaboration with Apple.

The connector runs at 10Gbps and enables high-speed data transfer and high-definition (HD) display on a single cable.

Computer connections

Apple collaborated on the technology and the company’s new line of MacBook Pro laptop computers will be the first devices to use it.

“Working with HD media is one of the most demanding things people do with their PCs,” said Mooly Eden, general manager, PC Client Group, Intel.

“With Thunderbolt technology, Intel has delivered innovative technology to help professionals and consumers work faster and more easily with their growing collection of media content, from music to HD movies. We’ve taken the vision of simple, fast transfer of content between PCs and devices, and made it a reality.”

Bob Mansfield, Apple’s senior-vice president of Mac hardware engineering said, “With ultra-fast transfer speeds, support for high-resolution displays and compatibility with existing I/O technologies, Thunderbolt is a breakthrough for the entire industry and we think developers are going to have a blast with it.”

Thunderbolt is powered by an Intel controller chip, and uses a small connector suitable for mobile devices that will be included in products supporting the technology.

Development for the technology has been under way for several years under the codename ‘Light Peak’.

Intel said several companies are developing Thunderbolt technology-based products, including Aja, Apogee, Avid, Blackmagic, LaCie, Promise, and Western Digital.

The chip maker said it is working with the industry on a range of Thunderbolt products including computers, displays, storage devices, audio/video devices, cameras, docking stations and more.

Telescopes such as Nasa's Kepler observatory are finding huge numbers of exoplanets

The European Space Agency (Esa) has selected four new mission concepts to compete for a launch opportunity at the start of the 2020s.

The mission ideas cover a broad range of disciplines, from investigations of black holes and general relativity to a near-Earth asteroid sample-return and studies of planets orbiting far-away stars.

The concepts have rather impenetrable names right now – Loft, STE-Quest, MarcoPolo-R, and Echo – but that will change for the one eventually selected.

“Originally we had 47 proposals,” said Fabio Favata, head of Esa’s Science Planning and Community Coordination Office.

“Our working groups and the Space Science Advisory Committee did a great job in trimming the list when they had quite a number of missions that could all potentially make good candidates,” he told BBC News.

The mission concepts are put together by research teams whose members drawn from across Europe:

Large Observatory For X-ray Timing (Loft): The mission would go after the fast-moving, high-energy environments that surround black holes, neutron stars and pulsars – objects that can produce sudden and very rapid bursts of X-rays. By observing this emission, scientists would hope to address questions related to fundamental physics: they could probe the effects of matter entering ultra-strong gravitational fields and ultra-dense states. They could also measure more accurately the mass and spin of black holes; and in the case of the biggest such objects in the Universe, this has something interesting to say about how they, and the galaxies that host them, formed.

Space-Time Explorer and Quantum Equivalence Principle Space Test (STE-Quest): Again, this mission would address some big physics topics. One objective would be to test “the equivalence principle”, which underpins several fundamental assumptions including the idea that gravity will accelerate all objects in a vacuum equally regardless of their masses or the materials from which they are made. The Apollo 15 astronaut Dave Scott famously demonstrated this principle when he dropped a hammer and feather on the Moon in 1971 and both hit the surface at the same time. STE-Quest would put very sensitive instrumentation on an orbiting to do a far more precise test of whether gravity really is so blind or perhaps varies on some scales.

MarcoPolo-R: This is an idea that has been around for a while. The mission would attempt to return a sample of material from an asteroid for detailed analysis in Earth laboratories. The most primitive asteroids contain geochemistry not observable in Earth rocks because they are constantly recycled. As such, asteroids can tell scientists a lot about conditions in the early Solar System, and about the original “stuff” that went into making the planets billions of years ago. One potential target is actually two asteroids in close proximity – a binary known as (175706) 1996FG3. The larger rock is about 1.5km across; its companion is less than half a km in diameter.

Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory (Echo): This is a 1.2m telescope that would study planets circling far-away stars. In recent years, hundreds of these so-called exoplanets have been detected, but we know precious little about them yet. Echo would observe the planets as they moved in front of their stars. From the way the light is attenuated, the telescope’s detectors would be able to probe the atmospheres of these worlds. Echo would look for the presence of molecules such as ozone and carbon dioxide in the atmospheres. These and other markers might tell us something about whether any of the exoplanets have conditions capable of supporting life.

It takes a long time to plan and then implement a mission. The science has to be compelling and the engineering requirements must be realistic. The feasibility of implementing this quartet will now be thoroughly investigated before a “winner” is chosen. It could take up to four years for a final decision to be made.

Esa is running the competition under its Cosmic Vision programme, and has about 470 million euros (at 2010 prices) to spend on what it terms a Medium Class science mission. The member states would individually cover the cost of building any instruments that go on the spacecraft.

This new opportunity is known as M3; the reason being that there is already a competition in play for an M1 and an M2 spacecraft, with the first of these likely to launch in 2017.

Esa has a Large Class of much more expensive ventures, as well. This competition is in the final stages of selection with a launch opportunity proposed for 2020. If the winner of this competition is delayed for any reason and cannot make the 2020 slot, Esa would like the M3 proposal to be ready to take its place on the launch pad.

A controversial theory that challenges the existence of dark matter has been buoyed by studies of gas-rich galaxies.

Instead of invoking dark matter, the Modified Newtonian Dynamics theory says that the effects of gravity change in places where its pull is very low.

The new paper suggests that Mond better predicts the relationship between gassy galaxies’ rotation speeds and masses.

However, critics maintain that dark matter theory is a better general description of the Universe we see.

The study, available online, will be published in Physical Review Letters.

The theory that first proposed dark matter was developed in large part to account for mass that, if everything else we think about gravity is correct, seemed to be missing in rotating galaxies.

Standard formulations of gravity have it that matter circling, for instance, spiral galaxies, should rotate more slowly with increasing distance from the centre of the galaxy – much as the outer planets in our Solar System orbit more slowly than their innermost counterparts.

But the matter in rotating galaxies seems consistently to rotate with roughly equal speed near their cores and at their edges.

In the standard dark matter theory, cosmologists proposed a massive yet invisible quantity of material in order to solve this “flat rotation curve” problem.

This dark matter is imagined to exist in a “halo” around galaxies, providing the extra gravitational pull necessary to speed up those outlying bodies.

By contrast, Modified Newtonian Dynamics (Mond) first appeared in 1983, when Mordehai Milgrom of the Weizmann Institute in Israel proposed it in an Astrophysical Journal paper.

As a modification to the dearly-held formulation of gravity laid out by Isaac Newton, the theory came immediately under fire. It has always maintained a minority position among theories proposed to solve the missing mass problem.

Trompe le Mond

Now, Stacy McGaugh of the University of Maryland in the US says that a study of galaxies that have few stars and are dominated by gas adds weight to the Mond theory.

The current work hinges on what is known as the Tully-Fisher relation, which maps out the interplay between galaxies’ mass and their speed of rotation.

However, mass estimation is a tricky business because it depends on the amount of light a galaxy emits, which varies considerably with the types and quantities of stars it contains.

To get around this error, Professor McGaugh studied 47 gas-rich galaxies with few stars, known as low surface-brightness galaxies.

He found that the Mond theory neatly predicts the relation between the galaxies’ masses with their rotation speed – and contends that dark matter theory would do so far less accurately.

“My attitude toward low surface brightness galaxies at first was ‘great, this will finally be able to falsify the Mond theory’,” Professor McGaugh told BBC News, “but it was the only thing that explains this shift in the relation.”

“Whenever I look at smallish things like individual galaxies it works really well.”

However, he conceded that “when you get up to the big scale of clusters of galaxies and you try to apply Mond to the whole thing, you fall short of fixing the missing mass problem”.

Dan Hooper, a theoretical astrophysicist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in the US, said that Professor McGaugh’s formulation “overstates the case” in that it assumes all galaxies will have the same ratio of normal matter to dark matter.

“That’s not what we’d expect,” he told BBC News.

“Some galaxies have very little stars and gas material compared to dark matter, and we don’t expect the biggest galaxies to have the same fraction – which would change the shape of that line (relating galactic mass to spin speed).”

“I don’t think the Mond/dark matter debate hinges on the Tully-Fisher anymore,” he added. “Mond only explains galaxies – everything else it fails to do or simply can’t address.”

Nevertheless, Mond still counts several prominent cosmologists among its adherents, and Professor McGaugh said his work continues to show that Mond is a serious contender that dark matter theory will have to work to disprove.

“Sometimes I wish I didn’t work on this,” Professor McGaugh said. “If your own data don’t get in your face about this, it’s easy to say ‘so-and-so screwed up’.”

He maintains that Mond represents a missing piece of the dark matter model that a majority of his peers hold to be a complete picture of the makeup of our Universe.

“At the very least, it’s telling us something about dark matter that’s not native to our current model.”

My Best Apple Setup:2

SAN FRANCISCO —

New Intel “Thunderbolt” technology for moving digital films and other data “blazingly fast.”

Apple on Thursday unveiled an updated line of MacBook Pro laptop computers featuring new Intel “Thunderbolt” technology for moving digital films and other data “blazingly fast.”

<h1>Apple also upgraded MacBook Pro models with the latest multi-core chips<h1/>

from Intel and high-definition “FaceTime” cameras for video chat and other uses.

“The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers,” said Apple senior vice president of marketing Philip Schiller.

<h2>Apple also released to software developers a preview of the next generation Macintosh operating system<h2/>

named “Lion,” which it said “takes the best ideas from iPad and brings them to the Mac.”

Cupertino, California-based Apple has sold more than 15 million iPads since the tablet computers became available in the market in April of last year.

<h3>Apple has a tradition of releasing new products annually and is expected to introduce a second-generation iPad tablet computer at a press March 2 press event in San Francisco.<h3/>

MacBook Pro Refresh

The Web site MacRumors said it has confirmed images and detailsabout the MacBook Pro refresh expected Thursday.

One of the features on the new MacBook is LightPeak, the super-fast Intel connector, which Apple seems to be calling “Thunderbolt.” (Not to be confused with the HTC handset of the same name.) A shot of the side of the new low-end 13-inch laptop — which MacRumors says it has confirmed — shows a port in between the USB and FireWire ports with a lightning bolt-shaped icon. A specifications sheet up on MacRumors from the French site Mac4Ever indicates that the Thunderbolt port will also support Mini DisplayPort devices.

The new 13-inch laptops are said to be 12.78 by 8.94 by 0.95 inches and weigh 4.5 pounds, the same as the current model.

Related Stories:

Will Apple’s MacBook Pro launch celebrate Jobs’s birthday?
Reports: High-speed Light Peak connection in new MacBook Pro, iPad 2?

Samsung user Alex Roebuck took this picture of his 'bricked' phone

<h1>Microsoft has withdrawn a software update for its Windows Phone system after it made some handsets unusable.<h1/>

The problem appears to have affected a small number of mobiles made by Samsung.

Owners reported their phones crashing, and in some cases failing to start up altogether.

Microsoft said it was working to fix the issue and would send out a new update as soon as possible.

The download in question was the first update for Windows Phone since it launched last October.

“In some circumstances it renders the phone completely unusable and can’t be restored to a previous version,” said Leigh Geary, editor of Coolsmartphone.com.

“It is going to portray Microsoft in a bad light,” he added.

Angry users shared their experiences of installing it on user forums.

“I’ve got an unmodified Samsung Omnia 7, now bricked,” wrote one contributor to Microsoft’s Answers site.

<h2>My phone is currently unusable, even after hard reset,another user wrote on the same site.<h2/>

Technical issue

In a statement, Microsoft said: “We have identified a technical issue with the Windows Phone update process that impacts a small number of phones.

“We have temporarily taken down the latest software update for Samsung phones in order to correct the issue and as soon as possible will redistribute the update.”

Samsung Omnia 7 owner Alex Roebuck tried to upgrade, but found his phone became unusable.

He said it was unclear if he should take up the issue with his network provider or Microsoft.

“I do not want to be without my handset, so I have decided to wait for a few days to see if a solution can be found, either by Microsoft or the hacker community,” he told BBC News.

The update problem comes at a bad time for Microsoft, as it attempts to grow its share of the lucrative smartphone market.

The company recently announced a partnership with Nokia to manufacture handsets running the Windows Phone operating system.