Mysteries of Moon

Despite being creatures of the night bats appear to have a strong aversion to being in direct moonlight.Scientists in Mexico have determined that bats appear to stay in the shadows and that they are less active in moonlit environments than they are in areas with a lot of cover. Regarded as "the first reliable evaluation of the lunar phobia phenomenon", the research suggests that bats" fear of themoon could stem from a lack of feeding opportunities and a greater risk of being attacked by predators."The effect of moonlight on the activity of bats had not been revised despite the existence of information accumulated over 20 years in different parts of the world," said biologist Romeo Saldana-Vazquez.

"Habitats where light enters more easily causes more bat-activity decreases compared with bats that forage in the darkest places." Scientists in Mexico collated studies of bat behaviour from all over the world and analysed them for evidence of "lunar phobia" or "fear of the moon".  

View: Full article |  Source: BBC News  

An in-house police publication recently revealed the case of an investigation of a "suspicious light".The humorous incident was detailed in the magazine"s Dogberry column. According to the report, a British policeman had been on duty in Worcestershire when he had witnessed a bright light shining from the other side of some hills. Concerned that someone was up to suspicious activities, he called up hisSergeant to report that he was going to investigate and that he might need backup.A short time later the same officer reported back in to reveal what he had found.

"Twenty minutes later the PC called his sergeant back to reassure him that everything was ok and that he had found the source of the light," the magazine article read. "This diligent PC had in fact discovered the moon." A British policeman put his colleagues on alert as he investigated a"suspicious bright light" - only to find it was the moon, an in-house magazine for the police reported on Wednesday.  

View: Full article |  Source: News24  

Over the years there has been much debate over what words Armstrong used in his famous phrase."That"s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." It"s one of the most recognizable phrases in history, Neil Armstrong uttered these famous words as he stepped on to the lunar surface as the first human ever to walk on another world. But has history got it right ? After returning to the Earth, Armstrong pointed out that his actual words were "one small for a man", but that the "a" was too quiet to hear properly on therecording.NASA has always supported Armstrong"s position on the matter, claiming that there was indeed an additional "a" in the statement.

In 2006 a computer analysis conducted by Peter Shann Ford also seemed to confirm that there was a missing word in there but that it was too quiet for a human to pick up. Smithsonian"s space curator, Roger Launius, also reviewed this evidence and found the conclusions convincing."I thought about it after landing," Armstrong had said in 2011 interview. "It, you know, was a pretty simple statement, talking about stepping off something. Why, itwasn"t a very complex thing. It was what it was." The astronaut acknowledged during a 30th anniversary gathering in 1999 that he did not hear himself say it either when he listened to the transmission from the July 20, 1969, moon landing.  

View: Full article |  Source: New Zealand Herald  

The first human being ever to set foot on another world, Neil Armstrong, has died aged 82.On July 20th 1969 as Commander of Apollo 11, Armstrong emerged from the lunar lander and said "that"s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." His words would go on to become one of the most recognizable phrases ever spoken, a testament to the courage of he and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin as they stepped in to the unknown.Armstrong remained a veryprivate man following his return from the moon and was often regarded as a reluctant hero.

"I guess we all like to be recognized not for one piece of fireworks but for the ledger of our daily work," he said in 2005 during an interview.When asked about the footprints that he and Buzz had left on the lunar surface he said "I kind of hope that somebody goes up there one of these days and cleans them up." On the moon itself he added "It"s an interesting place to be. I recommend it." U. S. astronaut NeilArmstrong, who took a giant leap for mankind when he became the first person to walk on the moon, has died at the age of 82, his family said on Saturday.  

View: Full article |  Source: Reuters