Saturn water mystery finally solved

Water expelled from the moon Enceladus forms a giant torus of water vapour around Saturn, scientists have said.

The discovery by the European Space Agency's Herschel space telescope solves a 14-year mystery by identifying the source of the water in Saturn’s upper atmosphere.

It means that Enceladus is the only moon in the Solar System known to influence the chemical composition of its parent planet.

Enceladus expels around 250kg of water vapour every second, through a collection of jets from the south polar region, known as the Tiger Stripes because of their distinctive surface markings.

These crucial observations reveal that the water creates a doughnut-shaped torus of vapour surrounding the ringed planet.

The total width of the torus is more than ten times the radius of Saturn, yet it is only about one Saturn radius thick.

Enceladus orbits the planet at a distance of about four Saturn radii, replenishing the torus with its jets of water.

Despite its enormous size, it has escaped detection until now because water vapour is transparent to visible light, but not at the infrared wavelengths Herschel was designed to see.

Saturn's atmosphere is known to contain traces of gaseous water in its deeper layers. A particular enigma has been the presence of water in its upper atmosphere.

First reported in 1997 by teams using ESA’s Infrared Space Observatory, the source of this water was unknown until now.

Computer models of these latest Herschel observations show that about 3 to 5 per cent of the water expelled by Enceladus ends up falling into Saturn.

Lead researcher Paul Hartogh, of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, said: 'There is no analogy to this behaviour on Earth.

'No significant quantities of water enter our atmosphere from space. This is unique to Saturn.'

Although most of the water from Enceladus is lost into space, freezes on the rings or perhaps falls onto Saturn’s other moons, the small fraction that does fall into the planet is sufficient to explain the water observed in its upper atmosphere.

It is also responsible for the production of additional oxygen-bearing compounds, such as carbon dioxide.

Ultimately, water in Saturn's upper atmosphere is transported to lower levels, where it will condense but the amounts are so tiny that the resulting clouds are not observable.

Researcher Göran Pilbratt said: 'ESA’s Infrared Space Observatory found the water vapour in Saturn’s atmosphere. Then Nasa/ESA’s Cassini/Huygens mission found the jets of Enceladus.

"Now Herschel has shown how to fit all these observations together."

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Schoolboy, 16, who murdered his ex-girlfriend over a bet for a free breakfast

Babyfaced a schoolboy faces a life sentence after being convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend - a bet for a free breakfast.

Joshua Davies, 16, has promised a full breakfast, if he carried out his threat to kill Rebecca Aylward.

Rebecca Davies, 15, had separated, but she went to meet him, hoping to get back together.

Rebecca also bought new clothes, "date" ignorant Davies boasted to his friends how easy it would kill him.

Student obsessed had plotted to kill him, digital, in the river to drown him or throw off a cliff.

But instead of Davies, has attracted a happy and fun to Rebecca in the woods where he assaulted to death in a rock.

A murder trial heard that five weeks two days before the murder Davies texted her friend to say ". Say nothing, but you can just owe me a breakfast "

Judge Justice Lloyd Jones today lifted an order preventing the child to be named and photographed.

He said he was "in the public interest" that must be identified.

He said: "This is a crime against a small and close community, and it is right that people should know, has been convicted and was sentenced.

"I recognize that the emphasis on the welfare of the child is now changing, he was convicted of a very serious crime."

There were cheers and tears, and Rebecca's family in the public gallery at Swansea Crown Court jury that convicted a majority verdict of 10-2 after 20 hours of deliberation.

Sonia's mother Rebecca Aylward, 39, with a quiet smile as the verdict was announced.

Davies, dressed in a pale, open-necked shirt and dark trousers, showed no emotion when the jury delivered its verdict, but was in tears when the judge addressed him.

However, his family, close Aylwards the lower gallery of the population was breathless verdict.

Until now there was a ban Davies be publicly named - but the court yesterday lifted an order.

The murder trial heard how the teenage love story turned into a love-hate relationship, and finally a horrible murder.

Davies openly plotting to assassinate the cooling Rebecca texting their friends how he planned to do so.

The jury was given even a text list of proverbs and symbols used in Facebook, MSN, text and other social media to help them understand the conversations between teenagers.

In a text to a friend Davies asked: "What would you do if you really dead?"

The friend replied: "Oh, I want to buy breakfast."

Two days before the brutal murder Davies sent a message saying: ". Do not say anything, but you owe me a breakfast"

His friend replied: "The best text I've ever been a co-pilot Honestly, although I am happy to pay for breakfast ..

"I want all the details. Sadistic asshole." The text is complete with a smiley face symbol.

The court heard that on the morning of the murder Davies and his best friend, had breakfast together in the cafeteria area in the village of Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, South Wales.

Before going to visit his ex-girlfriend, his friend said: "The time has come."

GCSE students Rebecca was taken in the village with an aunt in the morning of Saturday, October 23, where Davies was waiting to meet her.

A few minutes later the pair went into the woods, where Davies took a stone and repeatedly struck his ex-girlfriend on the head.

Prosecutor Greg Taylor QC said: "When the killing of Rebecca Davies asked in the woods with his two friends meet in the woods.

"One of the children could see his long face, trembling with rage. I wanted to help.

"It flashes on her body and mind." Oh my God, is dead "

"Davies told the hood to see if she was dead, but did not."

Mr. Taylor told the court how Davies then described to his friends how he had killed the student.

He said: "Joshua told his friends:" She was part of me, and I thought, "That's what I want to go for it.

"I tried to break your neck. She screamed, so I took the stone and began to beat her with it.

"The worst thing was feeling and seeing the head give way."

Rebecca mother Sonia reported missing when he did not return to the family home in Maesteg, near Bridgend.

His body was found in the woods until the next day.

Davies has denied the murder and accused her best friend Rebecca died.

But a jury found him guilty of murder and was warned by the judge, he will be detained "at Her Majesty's pleasure".

The judge deferred sentence for psychiatric reports and decide on a minimum period of time when Davies will be eligible for parole.

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Vikes have trade for McNabb

Washington Redskins, and Vikings, Donovan McNabb has a preliminary agreement in place the veteran quarterback to be the exchange of Minnesota, sources told ESPN.

Issues of compensation that are stumbling blocks for trade may have been resolved.

One obstacle seems to be concerned about McNabb on Tuesday evening, as part of the situation of the Vikings' was handled. Sources said that there have been some who have expressed a preference for the organization following the acquisition of quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who has since been agreed with the Buffalo Bills.

McNabb is making less than $ 14,750,000, which would have paid for the Redskins, but it is unclear how it will pay and how to change the compensation incentives.

According to sources, the trade is a sixth-round draft 2.012 and a conditional sixth-round selection in 2013 to go to Washington. The Redskins had wanted to take the fifth and seventh of Minnesota.

Before reporting to reflect very Christian, with the Vikings quarterback drafted 12th overall choice in April, Twitter, "McNabb excited to participate. Learning a lot of Pro Bowler. But it does not mean I 'm not fight begins in one week "

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China Steps Up Monitoring Web, Driving Many Users Away Wi-Fi

Beijing - The new rules, which require bars, restaurants, hotels and libraries to install costly web tracking software will encourage many companies to cut Internet and sending a shudder through the capital of the game-play, web-grazing of writers who expect Wi-Fi to their Lattes and green tea.

The software, which costs companies about $ 3100, to give law enforcement officials the identity registration wireless service restaurant, a cafe, or a private school and monitor their web activity. Those who do not care about the regulation and aims to provide a $ 2,300 fine and smoothly whether to revoke the license.

"From the point of view of ordinary people, this policy is unfair," said Wang Bo, the owner of a coffee infusion which has pancakes, waffles, and the company of a number of cats dozing. "It 'just an attempt to control the flow of information."

It is unclear whether the new measures or implement strictly the first area in downtown Beijing, where they are already in place. But suggest that law enforcement officials, nervous about the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, partly enabled by the Internet, is fearless in their efforts to increase surveillance.

China has some of the world's most comprehensive online restrictions. Last year, the government has blocked more than a million websites, many of them pornographic, but also Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and avoid. Recent rules make it difficult for individuals not related to a business to create personal websites.

When it comes to search engines and microblogging, is dictated by the central government's propaganda department of topics and filter out words that the Communist Party considers a threat to national stability, or its reputation. In public Internet cafes, where most of the Chinese working class can access the Internet, customers will be given ID was before getting on the computer.

The new measures, it seems, is designed to close a loophole in the "Internet governance" as it is called, that which allowed for the laptop and students iPad land and expatriates, as well as hip and underemployed, to spend their days in cafes and lounges, surf the Internet in relative anonymity. This demographic group has been at the forefront of microblogging Juggernaut, which has revolutionized the way the exchange information in a way that Chinese sometimes intimidate officials.

"To be honest, I can not access the Internet at home or at work, but it is nice to sit in a comfortable and surf the Web," said Wang Fang, 28, an advertising sales agent often perform work of Kubrick leather chairs, high ceilings, coffee cleverly designed to disconnect the router earlier this month instead of paying for software. "If there is no Internet, there is no reason to come here." The manager said the loss of Wi-Fi has already led to a 30 percent drop in business.

Dongcheng Public Security Bureau did not respond to requests for comment Monday, but according to the circular of the public, the measure was designed to prevent criminals, who use the Internet "to make the transport of goods extortion, Gamble, and to spread damaging information the spread of computer viruses. " This malicious activity, the notice says, "not only harms the interests of the country and the masses, but also caused some companies to suffer financial losses."

Program Maker, Shanghai Rain-Soft Software, refused to discuss the operation of the product, but an employee of the company, said it had already been handed over to law enforcement officials in Beijing. Soft Rain in Shanghai has been paid about $ 310,000 to design a program based on the government Web site announced that the winning bid.

The bookstore owner said the store had been disconnected and free Wi-Fi, not for monetary reasons. "I refuse to be part of an Orwellian surveillance system that forces my customers to reveal their identity to a government that wants to control how they use the Internet," said the woman, who feared that the disclosure of name or the name of his shop to draw unwanted attention by the authorities.

During the survey of more than a dozen companies on Monday, nobody was willing to buy the software, which is designed to handle 100 users at a time. For many it was a matter of economics. "It might make sense in places like Starbucks and McDonald's, but we only have a couple of users at a time," Heng said Ray, owner of Sand Pebbles Lounge, a Mexican restaurant.

Like many other business owners, said he hoped fervently that the officer of the new regulations would soon disappear. In fact, he said he had no immediate plans to stop offering its customers Wi-Fi. "We have no problem allowing customers to surf the Internet, the government is not," he said. "If you want to install the software, you must pay the bill."

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Extreme Photo of the Week

Paragliding Bazaruto Island, Mozambique

"Flying a site like this is like an out-of-body," says Gavin McClurg and paragliding in the shape-shifting sand dunes of Bazaruto Island 20 miles long. "Are you looking for out of the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean endlessly churn out a huge lagoon islands of sand at high tide, and massive rivers low." And they added a hurry to be the first to paraglide there. Seasoned adventurer and photographer Jody MacDonald McClurg, I found this place and the sailing world kiteboarding, surfing and paragliding in which no one has done before in an expedition called "The Best Odyssey." "There were no signs of people just a serene beauty in every direction," says McClurg. "And it flies in the soft sand, so that no helmet or shoes were even necessary! A paraglider is rarely without stress, and just plain fun."

2011 Tour de France

Cyclists will speed Massiac during Stage 9 of Tour de France 2011. This stage of the race, there are 21 in total cover 129 miles of Issoire in Saint-Flour, in central France and was the scene of several accidents and pile-ups on wet roads. During the three weeks of the race, which ends July 24 on the Champs Elysees in Paris, the cyclists cover 2132 miles.

Bodyboarding at Shark Island, Australia

"I just wanted to have a bomb and was really enjoying the journey," says O'Leary, bodyboarders hunt to capture the two-meter wave in the challenge of Shark Island, in June 2011, near Sydney, Australia. "But I have not read the wave properly, so why should I crushed the reef." Surf brother, boogie boarding is a sport that is growing. "It 'been a real boom in new generations, not only in Australia but worldwide," said O'Leary, 19, who is boogie boarding for nine years. "People see it as a feasible means to ride the wave, like browsing the web. When you start getting the hang of, become dependent."

Climbing Near Squamish, British Columbia, Canada

"Since this crack was surprisingly confident when I was in motion," says John Furneaux climbing guide to combat the public image, 4 lengths of rope in the northern ramparts of Cape Stawamus. "Every time I tried to do a positive development, it felt like I could spit the pit at any time." Narrow spaces reserved for a spectacular view of the giant old cedar and Douglas fir, and Squamish, British Columbia, the gateway to a world-class rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, wind sports, and mountain biking. "As I'm sorry to give away my secret park," said Furneaux, "I must say that if people are looking for adventure, Squamish is really the place, they should go."

Ski Jumping in Alta, Utah

"When I go outside and get the first look at how far the earth, time stops, gets very quiet, I hear the birds singing, I drift around my thoughts all in a nanosecond," says professional skier Julian Carr flipping forward off a cliff 60 feet of the ski resort of Alta, Utah. Carr likes to run off cliffs on skis so it has two world records in sports. And with over 500 inches of annual snowfall, Alta is your favorite place on Earth to cliff jump. "Dust of light with a large base of Utah snow is the best! But do not tell anyone."

Sunset Highlining Near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"Escalade, and life in general, Brazil has been totally amazing, relaxed culture, different objectives of the climb, and inspiring landscape that combines jungle, mountains and sea," said Renan Ozturk climber artist's journey to filming a documentary about Brazilian friend who died, and to capture the adventures of his native country. Here, Ozturk carefully made his way through a highline in Gavea Pierre, overlooking the twinkling lights of Rio de Janeiro. "This was a terrifying moment to capture on film because I had to line up in the dark in a vacuum and then maintain the balance in the wind as strong as my good friend Tim ran a huge flash in my face. It was a great adventure."

Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Tahiti

"I surfed and tow surfed here before," says big wave surfer Chuck Patterson of Teahupoo, Tahiti, the famous surf spot. "But I've always wondered what it would feel to get in my stand up paddle in the tube board surfing, this is what I came for." The water is sucked from the shallow, sharp reefs, when the barrel of a break below the sea level. "This wave is incredibly difficult to paddle, not to mention surfing," says Patterson. "Errors can be expensive." Photos taken a camera mounted on his ship.

Ice Climbing in Eidfjord, Norway

"I felt like climbing a chandelier," says world-renowned climber Will Gadd to complete the first ascent of 650 meters during a frigid February Skrikjofossen Eidfjord, Norway. "It was by far the most difficult stunt I've ever climbed frozen or plan." Gadd But, given the opportunity to explore the caves behind the frozen waterfall is worth the risk. "The mix of light , mood and the temporary nature of these rooms jewelry inspires respect. " Gadd itinerary have yet to see another rise.

Kayaking La Paz Falls, Costa Rica

Professional kayaker Pat Keller sinks more than 120 meters from La Paz falls in the central highlands of Costa Rica. Keller has survived the collapse of the ends broke his right hand.

BASE Jumping, Utah

A Red Bull Air Force team sponsorship BASE jumps off a cliff in southwestern Utah. The extra fabric on the wing creates lift suits allowing the driver to "fly." Parachute with a safe landing.

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