aquarium fish: Guppy

The guppy prefers a hard water aquarium and can withstand levels of salinity up to 150% that of normal sea water, which has led to them being occasionally included in marine tropical community tanks, as well as in freshwater tropical tanks. Guppies are generally peaceful, though nipping behaviour is sometimes exhibited between male guppies or towards other top swimmers like platys and swordtails and occasionally other fish with prominent fins such as angelfish. Its most famous characteristic is its propensity for breeding, and it can breed in both fresh water and marine aquariums.

Guppy breeding by aquarists produces variations in appearance ranging from color consistency to fantails and "spike" swordtails. Selective breeding has created an avid "fancy guppy" collector group, while the "wild" guppy maintains its popularity as one of the hardiest aquarium fish.

Well fed adults often do not eat their own young, although sometimes safe zones are required for the fry. Specially designed livebearer birthing tanks, which can be suspended inside the aquarium, are available from aquatic retailers. These serve the dual purpose of shielding the pregnant female from further attention from the males, which is important because the males will sometimes attack the females while they are giving birth. It also provides a separate area for the newborn young as protection from being eaten by their mother. However, if a female is put in the breeder box too early it may cause her to have a miscarriage. Well planted tanks that offer a lot of barriers to adult guppies will shelter the young quite well. Java moss, Duckweed (Lemna Minor), and Water Wisteria are all excellent choices.

Cash Machine Fraud Warning

Criminals have attached card reading devices to at least two cash point machines in the District. Essex Police and Epping Forest District Council’s Safer Communities Department has advised people to be more vigilant when obtaining cash from a cash machine and to ensure that you shield your pin number and make sure that nobody is looking over your shoulder.

Safer Communities Manager, Caroline Wiggins said: "Please be very careful before withdrawing money from cash machines in the District and check to ensure that the machine has not been tampered with."

Criminals can obtain cards and pin numbers by using a flat card reading device placed directly over the machine slot. A very small pin-head camera is sometimes also placed to read your pin number. If you notice anything unusual about a cash machine, please report it to staff from where you are obtaining money from immediately.

Global fisheries show potential for comeback

Five out of 10 global ecosystems once threatened by overfishing are on the mend, according to a new study. A collaboration of scientists from seven countries analyzed fish populations around the world and found that the mass of fish removed from the ocean every year has decreased in some fisheries.

“This improvement might well be a reflection of the call to arms that has gone out over the last five to 10 years about the state of the ocean and its needs,” said Stephen Palumbi, professor of biology, director of Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station, and one of the 21 collaborating scientists. “It shows that fishery restrictions can actually pay off and things can get better.”

Fishing rates have dropped to at least a healthy level called maximum sustainable yield, which is the greatest amount of fish that can be harvested without depleting the population in the long term. The five ecosystems include oceans surrounding New Zealand; northwestern Australia; Iceland; the California current system stretching from Baja California to Canada; and western Canada and Alaska, up to the Bering Strait.

Well-documented decline

Scientists have presented numerous reports over the years cataloging the decline of marine ecosystems and the ominous collapse of global fisheries. A species collapse means the total mass of fish has fallen below 10 percent of original levels.

The new study, published in the July 31 edition of Science, was initiated by a disagreement between two groups of scientists. University of Washington fisheries scientist Ray Hilborn questioned methods used by a different group led by Boris Worm of Dalhousie University in Canada, which predicted in 2006 that most harvested fish species would collapse by 2048. Because the debate opened areas of common ground, the two began meeting to discuss their findings and eventually launch the new study.

The group used ecosystem models to analyze records of global catches, small-scale fishery data, trawl surveys and stock assessments, which show the status of exploited fish populations. Not all of their findings were good news; out of 166 fish stocks, 63 percent had collapsed, a figure similar to the one in the 2006 paper, Palumbi said. Five of 10 well-managed ecosystems are still in decline, including oceans surrounding southeastern Australia, the Gulf of Thailand, northern Europe, northeastern United States and eastern Canada.

Hopeful for recovery

The scientists still seem hopeful for the ecosystems’ recovery if a lower rate of harvesting is enforced. They suggest catch restrictions, closing areas, and implementing economic incentives such as sustainable fishery certification.

The authors of the paper point to a successful case in Kenya where fish populations living in coral reefs recovered after local communities closed areas and restricted fishing gear such as beach seines, which catch unwanted marine animals along with the target fish. Fish size and weight improved, leading to steep increases in fishers’ incomes.

Unfortunately, a promising global average based on the 10 studied ecosystems may hide regional variation. “These 10 ecosystems really are the elite fisheries of the world – the ones with the most funding, the most research, and the most enforcement,” Palumbi said. Recovery of fish stocks in a developing country, on the other hand, is challenging when locals lack alternative sources of food, income and employment.

The scientists also suggest joining forces of fishery management and conservation through marine protection acts. “The two together – well managed fisheries and marine protected areas – are likely to be great partners in rebuilding marine ecosystems. They’re different strategies but they’re quite complementary,” Palumbi said.

Computer Animation of Mitosis

This invention is a computer animation model depicting the process of cell reproduction, better known as mitosis. This invention aims to make the process of learning about mitosis and its phases more memorable and retainable for students. Learning from a textbook is often a tedious task, and I hope to improve learning motivation. The invention is an animation without voice over components. This animation is run at a standard of 12 frames per second (fps). This standard is used commonly when media is to be posted to the Internet, although other fps rates are used. For example, most animated feature films run at 24 fps, allowing the film and animation to run smoothly and be choppy. 12 fps can a be just as smooth as 24 fps, but the difference is that the 12 fps will run twice as fast as 24 fps. To create the animation I used the programs Paint Shop Pro v6.02 and Animation Shop 2 to create the drawing and into compile them to a working and full running animation.

Cash Conversion

This article describes how cash in the MARS’ Federal Fund will be converted to eMARS. It will describe some of the things that may go wrong with this conversion if grant accountants are not diligent about maintaining the crosswalk in the MPS database until they are asked to submit it on June 30.

Every dollar of cash residing in the Federal Fund when financial activity in MARS ceases during the weekend of July 8 and 9 will be converted to eMARS. Ideally, every dollar that is converted to eMARS will be associated with an eMARS program structure in the MPS database.

Since late November 2005 agency grant accountants have been encouraged to appropriately deal with residual cash balances identified with closed/inactive grants that will not convert to eMARS. This activity may have involved any or all of the following:

• Transferring cash from a state fund to cover residual cash deficits;


• Transferring positive residual cash balances to a state fund; or


• Consolidating positive residual cash balances in a pseudo-grant to mitigate the Federal Fund cash deficit that would result from transferring it to a state fund prior to the implementation of eMARS.

Grant accountants’ diligence to this effort will be measurable by the proportion of Federal Fund cash that is identified with eMARS’ program structures (i.e., grants or pseudo-grants).

What They Earn

Did you all know there’s a place where you can find what the big shots in Alabama government make? You can see that Troy King rakes in more than $160,000, that Joe Morton hauls in more than $190,000 and that Judge Bill Thompson brings in more than $194,000. Bob Riley is getting paid peanuts at nearly $113,000 a year. And Bill Johnson was pulling in about $88,000 a year. This explains all of the Mercedes and BMWs in the state-owned parking lots!
source : goathillnews.wordpress.com

Chrysler Cash for Clunkers Program, Smart PR Or Not?

Chrysler Corporation just announced a beefed up incentive, Cash for Clunkers, to entice buyers to purchase their fuel efficient cars. Combined with a government program of the same name, auto buyers who trade in their old gas guzzlers stand to receive incentives of between $4500 and $9000. The programs are designed to get older, less fuel efficient vehicles off the road, and to boost the sale of Chrysler products obviously. It’s too bad the program is not in effect here in Germany, or else we could trade the “clunker” Mercedes A190 we hare having so much trouble with. For US auto buyers and Chrysler, this seems to be a win-win proposition, as consumer trust in the Chrysler brand sank when news of their imminent bankruptcy hit the presses.

New car sales for Chrysler plummeted by 47% between the first half of 2008 and the same period this year., but the auto maker has had sales woes for years. For this writer, the question arises; “How is giving away thousands going to increase revenue?” The 33 Chrysler models eligible for these incentives will obviously be sub-compact, compact, or super fuel efficient sedans. The point here being, the price markup for lower priced vehicles net’s less cash when these vehicles are sold in the first place, or at least one would think so.

The government’s contribution not withstanding, just how is giving away profit going to help a car manufacturer in bankruptcy? Maybe I am stupid or something, but this feels like one of those “bait and switch” deals to me. Given a statement by Steven Beahm, VP-sales operations Chrysler, it looks like getting people inside the dealership may be the reason the auto maker is “piggybacking” on the government shell out:

It is also interesting to note that Ford plans no such “matching” program for their buyers, and why should they? According to Mark Fields, Ford President of the Americas; “We feel we have an appropriate level (of incentives) right now.”
source : pamil-visions.net/chrysler-cash-for-clunkers/23139/

British Airways To Raise GBP600M Of Cash Funding

LONDON (Dow Jones)--British Airways (BAY.LN), a U.K. airline, said Friday it plans to raise GBP600 million of cash funding to ensure it has strong liquidity consistent with the current difficult trading conditions.

MAIN FACTS:

-Launches GBP300 million convertible debt issue, which will be conditional on approval from shareholders.

-Funding expected to add GBP600 million of further liquidity bringing it to total of GBP2 billion.

-Revenue of GBP1.98 billion expected in first quarter ending June 30.

-Operating loss of around GBP100 million, which is slightly better than market expectation.

-GBP1.25 billion of cash and general facilities of around GBP130 million as at June 30.

-Securities will be senior unsecured convertible bonds due in 2014 which will be convertible into 15-20% of issued ordinary share capital of British Airways.

-Final size of offering will be determined at the time of pricing, which expected to be later Friday.

-Eligible existing institutional shareholders will be given opportunity to take up a pro rata allocation if they wish.

-Agreed terms with trustees of defined benefit pension schemes in U.K. to release some bank guarantees back to airline.

-Guarantees were provided in 2006 and were accessible by trustees only in event of airline's insolvency.

-Consequently up to $540 million (approximately GBP330 million) of bank facilities will become available for airline to draw in cash at any time until June 21, 2012.

-Already obtained facilities of more than $3 billion (GBP1.9 billion) specifically against future aircraft deliveries.

-Bookbuilding process will close prior to announcement of the final terms of convertible bonds which is expected to be made Friday and closing is expected on or about Aug. 13.
Source : http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090717-701369.html

Cash for clunker cars may hit some roadblocks

Victor Mansur, a recent UI graduate, drives a 1993 Jeep Cherokee. Under a government program to take effect at the end of the month, his vehicle could be eligible for a $4,500 rebate if he trades it in for a more fuel-efficient car.

But he — and local car dealers — have doubts whether people will trade in their clunkers in droves.
The Car Allowance Rebate System, or “Cash for Clunkers” program, will offer customers rebates of either $3,500 or $4,500 to trade in their older, less fuel-efficient cars to purchase or lease a new vehicle that gets more than 22 miles per gallon.

The goal of the program is to put more environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient vehicles on the road while increasing car sales and saving consumers gas money.

“It’s a win-win for everybody, not to mention the environment,” said Eric Bolton, a spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is working closely with manufacturers, dealers, and disposal facilities to get the program up and running.

But there’s a catch: The purchased cars must be brand-new.

“I wouldn’t do it because I would probably get more money for just trading in my car,” Mansur said.
UI junior Tor Smith, who drives a Mitsubishi truck, agreed.

“I don’t have the money to buy a new car right now,” she said.

Furthermore, there are specific requirements that eligible cars have to meet to be traded in. The vehicle must have been manufactured within 25 years of the buying/leasing date, have a combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less, and have been insured by the owner for at least one year.

Even local car dealers are uncertain about how popular the program will be. The recently signed law requires dealerships to recycle or destroy the old cars, so additional money for the trade isn’t an option.

If people can get more than the rebate amount for their car, there is little incentive to participate in the program, said Bruce Anderson, the general counsel for the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association.

More information : http://www.dailyiowan.com/2009/07/08/Metro/11979.html

Scrappage scheme, Darling?

Chancellor Alistair Darling has confirmed the long-expected news that the government will introduce a ‘cash for crapbox' (OK, that's not the official title, but it helps us remember it) car scrappage scheme, starting next month.

New car buyers will receive a £2,000 discount when they scrap their old car, which must be over 10 years old.

The government will stump up £1,000 of the discount, with the car industry paying the other half. The scheme will run from mid-May, and is scheduled to finish at the end of March next year.

Here's the technical stuff: the car you're scrapping must have been registered in the UK on or before July 31, 1999, and must have been continuously registered to a UK resident for 12 months before being scrapped. It must also have a current MOT certificate. So if you're thinking about hauling out the old Austin Allegro that's been rusting into a heap at the end of your garden for the past 20 years, don't. It won't work.

The £2,000 discount will apply to all new cars, not just low-CO2 or ‘green' vehicles - good news for Jaguar and Land Rover.

Darling also used the Budget to announce that fuel duty would increase by 2p per litre this September, and will rise by 1p per litre over the rate of inflation each April for the next four years. Oh, and some stuff about income tax and stamp duty, though we didn't really pay much attention to that.

Source : http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/scrappage-budget-2009-04-22

Rupee steady at 48.57 a dollar in early trade

The Indian rupee on Thursday remained steady at 48.57/58 against the US currency in early trade on weakening of dollar in the overseas
market.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange
(forex) market, the domestic currency resumed at 48.57/58 a dollar against its previous close of 48.55/56.

Forex dealers said the Indian benchmark Sensex is expected to open in a strong note in tandem with other Asian markets, which are higher by up to 2% in the morning trade, influencing rupee sentiment.

The Indian benchmark Sensex on Wednesday ended up 99 points or 0.69% on late buying support.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/Rupee-steady-at-4857-a-dollar/articleshow/4700151.cms

US banks pay back bail-out cash

US banks have started to pay back money borrowed through the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program (Tarp). Ten banks have collectively repaid $68bn(£41.5bn) out of the $700bn provided through taxpayer money.

Of these, JP Morgan repaid $25bn, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley each paid $10bn, US Bancorp paid $6.6bn and American Express returned $3.4bn. Before being allowed to pay back money, the banks had to be able to show that they were able to raise cash privately.

Other banks to repay funds on Wednesday included Capital One Financial, which paid $3.6bn, BB&T Corp paid $3.1bn, Bank of Mellon New York paid back $3bn, State Street returned $2bn while Northern Trust returned $1.57bn. The 10 banks were given the permission last week to return the funds after undergoing government financial stress tests but Wednesday was the first day they could return the money.

"Real stability can return return only if our industry accepts that certain practices were unhealthy and not in the long-term interests of individual institutions and the financial system, as a whole," said Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman's chief executive, in a letter given to congressmen and senators. By repaying the funds, the banks will no longer have to pay dividends to the government or limit pay and bonuses.

Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8105461.stm

Sidelined cash is huge, but is it antsy to go somewhere?

Besides the apparently moderating recession, what gets Wall Street bulls excited these days is talking about the mountain of cash sitting on the sidelines -- particularly in money market mutual funds.

Money fund assets have risen dramatically in the last three years, to the current $3.7 trillion from $2 trillion in mid-2006.

Sooner or later, bulls surmise, investors will grow weary of tiny yields on money funds -- now averaging a record low 0.15% on taxable funds -- and will funnel a chunk of that cash into the stock market, providing more fuel for an extended bull run.

In a research report on Monday, Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank in Chicago, said that whenever money market assets have exceeded 25% of the capitalization of the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, stocks have rallied over the following two years. That number currently is 43% after having peaked at 58% in mid-December.

There’s no doubt that some fickle money-fund cash will flow into stocks; indeed, after peaking in early January, money fund assets have edged lower as the stock market has surged.

But money funds might not provide as much juice as the bulls expect.

For one thing, much of the cash flow into money funds over the past two years had little to do with the collapsing stock market, said Peter Crane, chief executive of research firm Crane Data.

Corporations, which account for two-thirds of money-fund assets, have built up funds for purposes ranging from emergency reserves to bankrolling mergers, and are unlikely to put that cash into stocks, Crane said.

Source : http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2009/06/besides-the-moderating-recession-what-gets-wall-street-bulls-excited-these-days-is-talking-about-the-mountain-of-cash-sittin.html

£885m of tenants' cash safeguarded

The Government has acted to protect the public from potential service cuts or council tax increases that could result from local authority investments in Icelandic banks while efforts continue to recover the money.

Local Government Minister John Healey has laid regulations before Parliament that enable authorities to postpone any possible budgetary impact of this until 2010-11.

Without this help, they would have to make immediate provision for possible losses in their revenue budgets - with potentially serious impacts on council tax or services.

New statistics published today show that as at the end of last year, 125 local authorities in England had outstanding investments of around £923.2million in Icelandic banks.

John Healey said:

"Following the failure of Icelandic banks last year the Government - with the Local Government Association - acted immediately to ensure no local authority faced serious short term difficulty as a result. We continue to work closely with the banks and Icelandic authorities to help local authorities and other creditors recover their money.

"This money isn't lost but it is at risk so under normal financial rules this risk would need to be taken into account in their budgets. I was concerned about the possible, and potentially unnecessary, effect this could have on services and council tax. That's why I am taking this exceptional step that gives authorities some breathing space that should allow them to be clearer what sums, if any, are still at risk. Meanwhile the Government will continue its efforts to ensure that investors recover as much as possible from the banks."

The regulations come into force on 31 March 2009 and apply immediately.

Toy Till

Cash registers were invented in the1880s to prevent shop assistants making mistakes with customers' change. This toy till is mechanically operated, not electronically and it uses pounds, shillings and pence. It was made before the introduction of decimal currency in 1971.

Children often play with toys that replicate adult work and life.

Toy tills like these were designed to be educational, helping children to develop their numeracy skills.

$950 One-off Cash Bonus to Support Jobs

The Rudd Government today announced five key $950 one-off payments for low and middle income households and individuals.

The Government is providing these cash payments to immediately support jobs and strengthen the Australian economy during a severe global recession.

These targeted cash bonuses are a key element of the Government’s $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan to support up to 90,000 Australian jobs.

To immediately stimulate the economy in the shortest possible time, five groups of one-off cash bonuses will be paid in March and April 2009.

These five key bonuses include a:

• Tax Bonus for Working Australians of up to $950 paid to every eligible Australian worker earning $100,000 or less. This will support up to 8.7 million individuals.


• $950 Single Income Family Bonus to support 1.5 million families with one main income earner.


• $950 Farmers' Hardship Bonus paid to around 21,500 drought affected farmers and farm dependent small business owners receiving exceptional circumstances related income support.


• $950 per child Back to School Bonus to support 2.8 million children from low- and middle-income families.


• $950 Training and Learning Bonus paid to students and people outside of the workforce returning to study to help with the costs of education and training.

To support jobs in the middle of a severe global recession the Government must stimulate the economy in the most immediate manner possible.

That is why one off cash bonuses to people and families who are doing it toughest are a key part of our Nation Building and Jobs Plan.

These one off cash bonuses reflect the weight of economic authority – including the advice of the International Monetary Fund – that targeted one off payments rather than generalised tax cuts spread over a lengthy period are more likely to be consumed, and thus provide a more effective economic stimulus and provide more support for Australian jobs.

There will be no quick fixes, but the Government is determined to act swiftly and decisively to support Australian households, growth and jobs.

These cash bonuses will stimulate consumption quickly, supporting economic activity and jobs until our nation building initiatives have an impact.

This $12.7 billion package is a major economic initiative to deal with these extraordinary economic times and is in addition to the Economic Security Strategy that the Rudd Government delivered in December 2008.

Payday Loans Equal Very Costly Cash

The ads are on the radio, television, the Internet, even in the mail. They refer to payday loans, cash advance loans, check advance loans, post-dated check loans, or deferred deposit loans. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, says that regardless of their name, these small, short-term, high-rate loans by check cashers, finance companies and others all come at a very high price.

Here’s how they work: A borrower writes a personal check payable to the lender for the amount the person wants to borrow, plus the fee they must pay for borrowing. The company gives the borrower the amount of the check less the fee, and agrees to hold the check until the loan is due, usually the borrower’s next payday. Or, with the borrower’s permission, the company deposits the amount borrowed — less the fee — into the borrower’s checking account electronically. The loan amount is due to be debited the next payday. The fees on these loans can be a percentage of the face value of the check — or they can be based on increments of money borrowed: say, a fee for every $50 or $100 borrowed. The borrower is charged new fees each time the same loan is extended or “rolled over.”

The federal Truth in Lending Act treats payday loans like other types of credit: the lenders must disclose the cost of the loan. Payday lenders must give you the finance charge (a dollar amount) and the annual percentage rate (APR — the cost of credit on a yearly basis) in writing before you sign for the loan. The APR is based on several things, including the amount you borrow, the interest rate and credit costs you’re being charged, and the length of your loan.

A payday loan — that is, a cash advance secured by a personal check or paid by electronic transfer is very expensive credit. How expensive? Say you need to borrow $100 for two weeks. You write a personal check for $115, with $15 the fee to borrow the money. The check casher or payday lender agrees to hold your check until your next payday. When that day comes around, either the lender deposits the check and you redeem it by paying the $115 in cash, or you roll-over the loan and are charged $15 more to extend the financing for 14 more days. If you agree to electronic payments instead of a check, here’s what would happen on your next payday: the company would debit the full amount of the loan from your checking account electronically, or extend the loan for an additional $15. The cost of the initial $100 loan is a $15 finance charge and an annual percentage rate of 391 percent. If you roll-over the loan three times, the finance charge would climb to $60 to borrow the $100.

More cash for council homes

The Scottish Government today announced an additional £25 million to support the construction of local authority homes.

The money, which is expected to support 3,000 jobs, takes the total government investment in council house building to £50 million, the most spent in 30 years.

Just last week the Scottish Government announced the first 14 councils to benefit from the fund when almost £17 million was allocated. Work is currently underway to allocate the remainder of the cash as quickly as possible.

Announcing the additional investment today, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said:

"The Scottish Government is investing record amounts in affordable housing, more than 1.5 billion pounds over three years, despite the tightest settlement from Westminster since devolution.

"These are hard times for businesses and families across Scotland and this government is working hard to meet this challenge, safeguard jobs, support the construction industry and keep the economy moving.

"In the Scottish Government's first year in office, more public sector homes were started than at any time since the early 1990s.

"The announcement of additional funding today will help local authorities to continue to reverse the decades of decline in council house building, providing people and their families with access to good quality homes that they can afford."

The council house building fund is just one part of a wider package supporting affordable housing in the economic downturn. Already the Scottish Government has:

• announced a record £644 million for the affordable housing investment programme this year

• extended the open market shared equity pilot to cover the whole of Scotland, backed by £60 million

• announced its intention to legislate to end the right to buy on all new build social housing

• launched the £35 million Homeowners Support Fund which helps households in financial difficulty

Christmas in Korogocho: How DFID cash helps children in Kenya's slums

Christmas 2008 has now come and gone. In the UK, most children got excited about Christmas, whether they had lots of wishes and expectations, or only one.

Kenyan children have wishes too. Meet Margaret Wamboi, who is 13 years old. Orphaned by AIDS, she lives in the slum of Korogocho in Nairobi. It's not a pretty place. In fact, 'Korogocho' means 'dumping-ground' in Kiswahili. So, what was Margaret's Christmas wish?

"My dream is to find a sponsor who will help me go to secondary school" she says. The evening we spoke to her she'd just finished her last day of primary school. Primary education is free in Kenya but Margaret knows her family doesn't have enough money for secondary school fees. Margaret's big sister Wahu, 16, looks after her and five other children also orphaned by AIDS. Wahu's dream, too, is that her sister Margaret is able to continue her education. "The biggest Christmas present for me that I would love, would be for the children all to go to school." Click on the video (right) to hear Margaret and Wahu's story.

The fact is that most children in Korogocho - a dangerous and unforgiving place inhabited by some 300,000 of the poorest, most desperate people in East Africa - will not get a present this Christmas. But, as journalist Alex Renton reports, DFID, Unicef and the Kenyan government are working together to give these and other orphaned and vulnerable children small amounts of cash that will help realise their wishes for the future.

Steam engine

In simple terms, it is the vapor released when water is heated to the boiling point. Both colorless and odorless, this vapor can provide a powerful source of energy and pressure. During classical times, man began to experiment with harnessing the power of steam. Greek engineer Heron (or Hero) of Alexandria developed a simplified steam device called an aeolipile or "wind ball" in which steam power caused a ball to revolve. Although Heron thought of this rotating device as a novelty or toy, the design principle he used is similar to that of today's jet propulsion. In 1679, French mathematician and physicist Denis Pepin invented a type of pressure cooker called the steam digester - an early forerunner of the autoclave. Serious efforts to harness steam power were made in 17th century Britain when it became necessary to pump floodwaters out of coalmines. In 1698, Thomas Savoy patented a crude steam engine that accomplished this task. In 1712, Thomas Newcomen improved upon his partner's idea with the development of an atmospheric steam engine. Enter James Watt, Glasgow scientist, depicted in the image below in his shop. A Newcomen engine was brought to him for repair, and his experiments and improvements resulted in his 1769 patent that ultimately became the dominant steam engine design of the times. The first effective high pressure steam engine in the United States was designed and built by a little known Delaware inventor, Oliver Evans. His 1801 invention, detailed in the 1893 lithograph above, is largely responsible for America's industrialization in the 19th century. Steam engines were adapted to power early locomotives, steamboats, fire fighting equipment and factory machines; even though more sophisticated power methods have evolved, steam engines are still used for power generation today.