Physicists have been able to calculate the mass of the heaviest known particle with unprecedented accuracy.
Scientists at CERN have been able to accurately measure the mass of an elementary particle called the t-quark. It is the heaviest of all elementary particles known to science. The findings bring scientists even closer to a better understanding of how the universe works, reports ScienceAlert.
To have an idea about certain elementary particles, physicists collide beams of protons in the Large Hadron Collider. As a result of this process, the t-quark also appears.
According to a CERN report, new data from a recent experiment showed that the mass of the t-quark is 172.76 gigaelectronvolts (GeV). And this result is 0.12 GeV more accurate than previous calculations.
Although this result in itself is a big step forward for particle physics, CERN believes that even more accurate results can be achieved during future experiments.
The t-quark gets its mass from a bond with the elusive Higgs boson, scientists say. This coupling is the strongest known in the Standard Model of elementary particles. It is worth recalling that the t-quark, after its appearance at the Large Hadron Collider, almost always decays into a W-boson and a b-quark.
Physicists as a result of the experiment found that the W-boson has a larger mass than predicted by the Standard Model of particle physics. If these data are confirmed, then this will mean that the entire Standard Model is erroneous, as well as our understanding of the Universe. Therefore, it is so important to know the most accurate mass of the t-quark, because with the help of this data, scientists can get more accurate information about both the Higgs boson and the W-boson.
Scientists have begun searching for the yet unknown fifth force of nature at the Large Hadron Collider. If it exists, it will lead to the creation of a completely new physics and a new understanding of the structure of the Universe.
We remind you that scientists managed to set a new record at the Large Hadron Collider. They have succeeded in accelerating proton beams to higher energies than ever before.
The leadership of the Afghan Taliban has ordered all Afghan women to wear a burqa in public places, the Associated Press reported, citing the Ministry of Dissemination of Virtues and Eradication of Vices.
“We want our sisters to live with dignity and safety,” said Khalid Hanafi, Acting the line minister in the Taliban government.
The obligatory wearing of the burqa was also announced at the disposal of the Taliban’s supreme leader Haybatullah Ahunzada, presented to the media, AFP reported. It says that “women who are not very young and not very old” should cover their faces in front of all men who are not members of the family. “Therefore, the recommendations are to wear a burqa, a garment covering women from head to toe with only an eye opening.
Such restrictions on the way women should dress existed during the previous hardline Taliban rule between 1996 and 2001.
After coming to power again last year, the Taliban decided not to open schools for girls over 6th grade. They backed away from their promise not to hinder the girls from studying and decided to meet the demands of the hard core among their supporters at the expense of their even greater isolation from the international community. The decision thwarted the Taliban’s attempts to have its rule recognized by international financial donors at a time when Afghanistan is in a growing humanitarian crisis. The international community has called on the Taliban leadership to reopen schools.
epa05363950 Police officers patrol a security perimeter near a house where a French police officer and his wife have been murdered by an assailant allegedly claimed as a ISIS fighter, in Magnanville, near Paris, France, 14 June 2016. The police officer was stabbed outside his house and his partner was killed by the hostage taker, late 13 June 2016. The attacker was killed during the police raid. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
The facade of a Turkish mosque in Metz, eastern France, was slightly damaged on Thursday night against Friday during the week by Molotov cocktail incendiary bottles, AFP reported. This caused a stir in the city, where a rally is planned for Saturday. The investigation is entrusted to the departmental security, Metz prosecutor Yves Badork told AFP, adding that “at this stage, no version is given priority.”
“I strongly condemn this act of Islamophobia,” Metz mayor Francois Grosdidie said on Twitter, calling for a “support rally” at noon in the city center. “This is the first case of an attack on a place of worship in Metz. We have never succumbed to this desire for destruction. This is an extremely serious fact,” the city councilor confirmed on the local radio station. The damage was determined by “believers who came to the (Friday) morning prayer,” said the secretary of the Turkish community association, which runs the mosque’s religious and cultural center. A complaint has been filed, he said. Three Molotov cocktail bottles were placed in front of the façade, but only two were set on fire, he added, adding that the center had never been the target of such an attack.
The flames have slightly blackened the facade in places. A bottle was placed near the electrical installation with the obvious intention of damaging it.
“Everyone is amazed,” the secretary added, calling for “unification”, the key word at Saturday’s Metz demonstration.
Eyes are a mirror of the soul What feelings can a look express? Is it possible to guess a person’s intentions from his eyes? How does the eye react to different emotions? We will explain these and other things in this article. The human appearance, body and facial expressions are able to convey any emotion. And yet, if people have learned to control facial expressions and body movements to hide their true feelings, then it is almost impossible to control eye expressions. What the eyes say – learn their language Our eyes will tell and reveal exactly what a person feels or thinks at the moment. No wonder there is a judgment that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. You can find out a lot about how often your interlocutor looks at you, as well as where exactly he directs his gaze. In psychology, several types of views are defined, each of which shows the nature of relationships between people.
If, for example, the gaze is focused on the eye-bridge-forehead area, it shows a business connection, maintains a serious, working atmosphere during a conversation. The so-called social view characterizes more friendly, calm communication, while the interlocutor looks in the area of the “eyeballs”. If the interlocutor looks in the eyes and below – in the chest, it shows his sexual interest and such a look is called intimate. Knowing the above subtleties accepted in our culture, you can understand how a person treats you – as a friend, employee or sees you as an attractive person of the opposite sex.
The direction of the interlocutor’s gaze speaks volumes
However, social norms of communication are different for different nations. For example, among the Japanese it is considered acceptable to direct your gaze to the neck, and direct face-to-face contact is considered unacceptable. Therefore, in an attempt to interpret the behavior of the interlocutor, it is always good to remember his national characteristics.
The direction of the gaze can also tell about the feelings of the listener or interlocutor. So, if the speaker averts his eyes during a conversation, it may signal that he is: hiding some information; not sure what he says; lies; And if the listener carefully looks away, most often it shows that he: does not completely agree with the speaker; doubts his words; does not want feelings (shame, resentment, disagreement, etc.) to be visible; The most obvious example of life is children. When they quarrel, they almost always hide their eyes: or look down. Duration of the gaze When making eye contact with strangers (on the street, in public transport, shops, etc.), one tends to look away, as open viewing is uncomfortable for most of us. Strangers look at each other for a moment and a long look is considered a challenge. This can be either a sign of sympathy or covert aggression. The fact is that in the animal kingdom, a long and insistent look means the same thing. It is believed that the gaze should be held for no more than 3 seconds. If he is detained for more, it causes the interlocutor uncomfortable feelings and is perceived as a signal of danger. This approach is used by experienced manipulators to unbalance a person and deprive him of confidence. When the gaze changes its direction too quickly, psychologists explain this reaction as strong excitement, secrecy, cunning, dishonesty, shame, fear or just proof of boredom.
Pupil size
Surprisingly, even the size of the pupils can say a lot about the interlocutor. One cannot consciously control the changes in the pupils, so their reaction will betray one’s true feelings. From joy, excitement, sexual interest in a person, the pupils dilate. In addition, dilated pupils are considered an indirect sign of trust in the interlocutor. The bent pupils “speak” of hostility, fear, aggression or irritation. When trying to interpret human behavior, we should not forget about the natural contraction of the pupils in bright light and their dilation in the dark, as well as when taking certain drugs. In general, the size of the pupils can say a lot about the interlocutor.
The color of the iris
According to esoterics, even a person’s character can be recognized by the color of his eyes. For the owners of blue eyes we can say that they are romantic, dreamy, sentimental, but at the same time they are very touchy and vulnerable. Green-eyed people are assertive, sensible and purposeful. Curiosity, restraint and perseverance characterize gray-eyed individuals. The browns have energy in their character, entrepreneurship, they are gambling personalities, they show a thirst for power. If the color of the iris is ambiguous and combines several shades – such as gray and green, then their owner has characteristics of both colors. The degree of expression of each trait in the character directly depends on the intensity of the color.
The cave where the images were found, unlike anything known so far, was discovered by scientists long ago. But only now has it become possible to “see” its richly decorated ceiling – with the help of not very archaeological equipment. In 1998, in Alabama, archaeologists discovered a cave with several fragments of pottery, as well as coal suitable for radiocarbon dating. The pottery turns out to be similar to specimens from the Woodland period (from around 1000 BC to 1000 AD). Radiocarbon analysis gives two dates for two groups of specimens: it turns out that the cave was guaranteed to be visited in 133-433 and 660-949 AD. A group of scientists led by Jan Simek from the University of Tennessee (USA) studied the ceiling of this cave: it must be said that it is very low – from 60 centimeters to 1.25 meters. The results are presented in an article published in the journal Antiquity. Cave 19 in Alabama itself (archeological sites are sometimes given numbers instead of proper names to keep their location secret) is huge. It has both vertical galleries, typical of karst caves, and galleries with low ceilings. On the ceiling of just such a gallery with an area of 20 by 25 meters, scientists have discovered the largest North American rock paintings known today. So far, they have not been paid attention to, because they are difficult to distinguish: for this you have to lie on the floor. Simek applied the method of photogrammetry, which has long been known and widely used for applied purposes, but not in archeology. Shortly before the drawings were made, a thin layer of clay formed on the ceiling of the cave – probably a remnant of a large muddy stream. It is in this layer that the drawings are located. It is now difficult to say whether the ancient artists used any tools or painted with their fingertips. The specific microclimate of the cave not only provides a “canvas” for the rock paintings, but also preserves them: the clay layer is preserved by oxidation caused by condensation of moisture.
What did the people of pre-Columbian America draw?
Humans and animals. On the ceiling, the image of a rattlesnake about three meters long is completely distinguishable – it is believed to have been a sacred animal among a number of indigenous peoples of the southeastern part of the modern United States. Scientists have described the five largest drawings. In addition to the rattlesnake on the ceiling there are human figures and intricate patterns. Two of the anthropomorphic figures are slightly longer than 1.8 meters, the other is slightly longer than 90 centimeters. These people seem to be dressed in ceremonial clothes and perform some kind of ritual.
Researchers suggest that some of the anthropomorphic figures depict ghosts rather than people, and the whole complex of drawings is dedicated to the spirit world. It is not yet possible to test this hypothesis. Simek believes that the use of photogrammetry to study caves with traces of human habitation will make it possible to find more similar drawings. And then it will be possible to talk about a system of ideas, and not about the work of one person (or group of artists).
Simek’s hypothesis about the object of the image (the afterlife) is supported by the place chosen for the drawings. The gallery in which they were found is located in the dark area of the cave, that is, the sunlight does not reach that far. Ancient artists painted their paintings in the light of torches made from arundinaria (or American bamboo). In fact, according to the remains of the torch, one of the dates for visiting the cave has been set. In addition, virtually all peoples of pre-Columbian North America (and those living in the modern United States and Mesoamerica) considered the caves a passage to the realm of the dead. The late Woodland period, to which the drawings seem to belong, is characterized by the fact that the population of eastern North America is beginning to spread over more and more areas, although it is not increasing in number. This led to the isolation of tribes that had previously maintained cultural and commercial ties. As a result, some elements of the material culture of different peoples proved to be completely unique: for example, some managed without bows and arrows, although the proliferation of these weapons was extremely wide. The extent to which such peoples have been able to preserve common cultural and religious ideas is a matter for future research.
Serbian Bishop Photius announced that talks between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Macedonian Orthodox Church were held in the city of Nis last weekend, with the participation of Serbian Patriarch Porphyry.
The news of the talks was announced after the liturgy for “St. George” yesterday and it became clear that the meeting was attended by Bishop Photius himself. According to him, as early as this month, “it is possible for the Macedonian Orthodox Church to return to canonical unity with the Serbian Orthodox Church.”
“This will put an end to the 1967 schism of the Macedonian Orthodox Church,” the Serbian bishop said, adding that “the return of the Macedonian Orthodox Church could take place during the Serbian Orthodox Church’s May meeting.”
“This is a great challenge. If God has said the prayers of Bishop Nicholas, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Saints Clement and Nahum, and Saints Sava of Serbia, it can lead to the restoration of unity and the removal of the schism from 1967 We are on the threshold of this decision, and that is why I call you to prayer. This is for the good of our holy churches, for the good of our Serbian and Macedonian people, who are two fraternal peoples, “said Bishop Photius.
Let us recall that at the end of last year, the Serbian Orthodox Church called for a meeting between Patriarch Porphyry and the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Stefan. But so far there was no information about such a meeting. At the same time, Macedonian politicians and a local bishop are constantly lobbying the Ecumenical Patriarch for the recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church and its declaration as an autocephalous church.
Years ago, the Macedonian Orthodox Church demanded that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church be declared their mother church, but as soon as a commission was formed at the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the issue, Macedonian bishops began seeking direct assistance from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
PARIS, May 6, 2022 — Forced Organ Harvesting from living people specifically to sell their organs for profitable transplant surgeries is among the most egregious crimes against humanity conceivable. Witnesses first testified about China’s abuses before U.S. Congress in 2001. In 2006, allegations were raised of the brutal persecution of Falun Gong, a peaceful spiritual discipline that follows the principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance whose adherents are subjected to the industrialized practice of organ harvesting throughout China’s military and civilian hospital systems.
A plethora of research, investigation and testimony have compiled copious evidence of organ harvesting since 2006 which was reviewed and assessed by the independent China Tribunal, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice. Their judgment concludes unanimously that Falun Gong practitioners have been victims of this transplant abuse. 2019 and 2022 peer-reviewed publications add further evidence. In June 2021 a group of 12 U.N. Special Rapporteurs expressed concerns about forced organ harvesting in China. After a U.S. congressional House Resolution 343 in 2016, the European Parliament has passed the resolution, “Reports of continued organ harvesting in China” [P9 TA(2022)0200] on May 5, 2022.
The accumulated evidence on forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners validated by concerns expressed by parliamentary bodies leaves no doubt that the time to act is now.
Between 2012 and 2018, DAFOH has organized a global petition campaign to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights demanding he call upon China to immediately stop the forced organ harvesting and to conduct further investigations. More than three million people in over 50 countries and regions signed the petition, reflecting a global concern by the public that action be taken to stop China’s unethical transplant practices. In a recent side event to the UNHRC in March 2022, panelists proposed the establishment of a U.N. Special Rapporteur on forced organ harvesting.
In consideration of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s visit to China in the upcoming days, we would like to highlight point twelve of the European Urgent Resolution “On continued reports on Forced Organ Harvesting’ adopted yesterday by the European Parliament(1):
“12. Requires that the Chinese authorities grant open, unfettered and meaningful access to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the mandate holders of the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council to visit Xinjiang; asks the Chinese Government to cooperate with the UN organisations on this matter; urges the UN Human Rights Council to deal with the issue of forced organ harvesting as a matter of priority;”
We therefore, call upon Mme High Commissioner to acknowledge the evidence prompting concerns by millions of people around the world and demand that China end unethical and illegal transplant practices and to allow free and independent investigations.
What do you initially pay attention to when choosing a wine? First, as a rule, the color is white or red, and then the most important thing is whether it is dry or sweet. If everything is clear with sweets, then the term “dry” – why it is so called.
Let’s find out
Everyone has tried grapes and knows how sweet they are, and the amount of carbohydrates is generally comparable to chocolate. This is because berries are high in natural sugars. In the process of converting grape juice into wine, yeast turns it into ethanol. If the winemaker’s goal is sweet wine, the fermentation is stopped before the yeast has turned it into sugar. This is how port wines are made, for example, they are fortified with grape alcohol and about half of the sugar remains in the drink. If the goal is to create dry wine, the fermentation is not interrupted and all the sugar is converted into alcohol. But this does not mean that the wine will be high in alcohol, less sweet grapes are used to make it. It turns out that “dry” is a wine with a minimum amount of residual sugar and this term is accepted in all countries, it is just accepted. When choosing for yourself, look for varieties – zinfandel, primitive, nutmeg, vionia, gewürztraminer. These are the most popular dry wines, they are in the vast majority on store shelves, so lovers of semi-sweet have a great choice.
By standard, the concentration of sugars in dry wines is not more than 4 grams per liter. In the European Union, wine is considered dry if it contains 4-9 grams of sugar per liter. Due to this, many dry wines from Europe, coming to our country, become semi-dry. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, always look at the label how many grams of sugar per liter there are and the amount of carbohydrates, so in time you will find your wine among them.
How about the dry mouth that remains after wine?
Exactly the same astringency you feel after an unripe paradise apple or strong black tea. These are the tannins that create an astringent feeling, add intensity, bitterness and astringency to the taste. These substances are found in wood, bark, leaves and fruits. In grapes they are in the husk, seeds and ridges. If you do not like the astringency of wine, choose white wines. In the production of red wine, the contact of the wine with the skin of the grapes is much longer. In sweet wines, sugar smoothes the astringency caused by tannins
The life expectancy of Bulgarians is already very low, but because of Kovid -19 it has decreased even more, by 2.2 years, which is a record for the EU. This shows a study by Eurostat, quoted by “Now”. According to inconclusive data for 2021, the pandemic has had a negative impact, shortening the lives of Europeans in almost half of the EU member states. The most serious decline was registered in Slovakia and Bulgaria (-2.2 years compared to 2020), followed by Latvia (-2.1 years) and Estonia (-2 years). Life expectancy in the EU has been steadily increasing in recent decades, rising by an average of 2 years per decade since the 1960s, according to Eurostat statistics. But the coronavirus has broken this trend. In 2021, some Western European member states have returned to predictable life expectancy, while others – especially in Eastern Europe, have experienced this year.
We remind you that according to a report quoted earlier this year by Euobserver, Romanians and Bulgarians are dying even younger than before because of Covid-19. Life expectancy in both Bulgaria and Romania decreased by 1.5 and 1.4 years, respectively, in 2020, which is twice the European average (0.7 years). In Bulgaria, like Romania, the “Covid-19 pandemic” has temporarily turned years of progress in life expectancy, which was already the lowest in the EU in 2019, the report said. Despite improvements in the health system over the last decade, life expectancy remains alarming, with life expectancy in Romania and Bulgaria increasing by four and two years respectively between 2000 and 2019, but still below the EU average with incredible six and eight years.
There is another negative trend – in Romania, women live on average eight years longer than men (78.4 years compared to 70.5), which is one of the most significant differences between the sexes in terms of life expectancy in the EU. Among the main factors leading to the shortening of the lives of many Bulgarians and Romanians is the sick health care system, the newspaper writes. The per capita spending on prevention in both countries is the lowest in the EU, the document said. The health system is understaffed and underrepresented.
In recent years, healthcare in both countries has consistently ranked last in the EU according to the Euro Health Consumer Index. Romania (661 euros per capita) and Bulgaria (626 euros per capita) spend less on their healthcare systems than any other member state, according to Eurostat, and are well behind the top of the list – Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark, with over € 5,500 in healthcare costs per capita each year.
Another problem identified in the report is the lack of medical staff. For Romania, “the migration of medical staff has contributed to the shortage of health workers in the country, and the number of doctors and nurses per capita is well below the EU average. This has a negative impact on access to care and increases waiting times.” In Bulgaria, “several factors contribute to the shortage of nurses, including the low number of graduate nurses, the loss of trained nurses due to emigration, the aging workforce (the average age of nurses is over 50) and dissatisfaction with wages and working conditions” .
The UN chief welcomed on Friday afternoon, the unity of the Security Council in support of peace in Ukraine, while also assuring that he would continue to “spare no effort” in saving lives, reducing suffering and finding the path of peace.
“For the first time, the Security Council spoke with one voice for peace in Ukraine”.
Last week the UN chief flew to Europe where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv.
His diplomacy paved the way for joint UN-Red Cross humanitarian missions, which have so far evacuated about 500 civilians from Mariupol and the beleaguer steel plant in Azovstal.
Today, for the first time, the Security Council spoke with one voice for peace in Ukraine. @antonioguterres welcomes this support and will continue to spare no effort to save lives, reduce suffering and find the path of peace: https://t.co/LLHeGusG4M
He was referring to the presidential statement on Ukraine released minutes earlier by the Security Council.
“The Security Council expresses deep concern regarding the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine,” said the Council President for the month of May, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield of the United States, on behalf of the Ambassadors.
“The Security Council recalls that all Member States have undertaken, under the Charter of the United Nations, the obligation to settle their international disputes by peaceful means,” the communication continued.
It went on to express “strong support” for the Secretary-General’s efforts to find a peaceful solution.
“The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council in due course after the adoption of the present statement,” concluded the statement.
The adopted text was drafted by Norway and Mexico.
How we got here
Since Russia launched what it called a “special military operation” on 24 April, a draft Security Council resolution that would have deplored Moscow’s invasion was never adopted.
However, shortly thereafter, the 193-member General Assembly did adopt two non-binding resolutions, deploring Russia’s “aggression against Ukraine.”
It also condemned Russia for creating a “dire” humanitarian situation and demanded that its troops “immediately, completely and unconditionally” withdraw and that there be aid access and civilian protection.
