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December, 28th 2014 - Book Review

Wandering in a local bookstore, I stumbled on the cover of a book that immediately caught my attention.
The figure showed an aggregate of particles, symmetrical with a hole at the center.
The headline read: GLI INGRANAGGI DI DIO (Life's Ratchet - original title).
The structure, although different from some memories that I had, recalling the form of an amazing biological mechanism in which I had come across a few years ago.
Having to tell my work (I'm a biomedical engineer, specializing in the design of acquisition devices for neurophysiology) to the class of my daughter, then at the last year of the elemtary school, I had to document the functioning of neurons and cells in general, finding that recent studies on the ATP synthesis had shown that the formation of this molecule was not the product of a biochemical reaction, but rather the action of a mechanical assembly! It was incredible. A real nano-engine on the membrane of mitochondria, powered by a proton battery, rotates at the speed of 20 revolutions per second, and this movement compresses the molecules literally, phosphorus against ADP molecules to recharge and generate ATP, then used in all the molecular processes, as energy storage for the operation of the cell.
Stunning.
So it was inevitable that the image on the cover and the title attracted me without escape.
One thing, however, I was braked: that title was a bit disturbing. I was aware of the positions of creationists about ATP-synthase (the nano-motor) and I was afraid to find that content inside. I then peeled the back cover to investigate better.
Peter M. Hoffmann, physicist, teaches physics and materials science at Wayne University in Detroit: the first book. I don't think he is a creationist... I go to Google and skim its science curriculum. Definitely not a creationist.
I buy the book.
"Life's Ratchet" is a book that shows the wonders of life without invoking the divine power, using only the balance between "Case and Necessity" and freeing God from this task, leaving Him the option, much more demanding, to give an explanation (for those who want to try) for the availability of a large amount of high quality of primordial energy and, perhaps, to our intelligence (if we have ones...).
It is the kind of book that forces me to take notes and annotations on the side of the pages (I rarely do it) and that left me satisfied, as at the end of a beautiful day.
Thanks Professor Hoffmann.

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In recent years I have had the opportunity to organize a number of meetings with high-level scientific experts in astronomy, astrophysics and engineering.
Here I collect some information.

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Jean-Pierre Luminet V2.0

Again this year, on December 3, 2013, prof. Jean-Pierre Luminet gifted us with a trip to Italy and to Venice. He presented here his latest volume translated into italian language: "Il Bastone di Euclide".
Here some nice pictures we shot that day.

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Conference Fabio Biancat-Marchet (ESO) and Gianpietro Marchiori (EIE Group)

Friday, November 29th, Dr. Fabio Biancat-Marchet ESO (European Southern Observatory) Dr. Gianpietro Marchiori, president of the EIE-GROUP, presented the ALMA Radio Telescope and the antenna technology.
It was a very pleasant meeting very busy and with very interesting contents.

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Conference Dr. Carlo Burigana (INAF)

Astrophysicist Carlo Burigana presented the latest results from ESA's Planck satellite that mapped, with precision never achieved before, the cosmic background radiation (CMB).
The currently most accepted theory for the origin of the Universe is the Big Bang. According to this theory, our universe began about 13.8 billion years ago from a phase at high temperature and energy density, from which originated the expansion of space.
This singularity phase, often imagined as "an explosion", has not yet terminated its effects. It can still be seen in the Cosmos as a fossilized remain.
The ESA (European Space Agency) Planck satellite, launched in 2009, measured with a precision never achieved before, the temperature fluctuations of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) revealing interesting structures, some yet to be decoded, which testify the first moments of the Universe and its evolution up to the present time.

Carlo Burigana, born in Mestre, graduated at Padova (Italy) in Astronomy. Now astrophysicist at the INAF IASF Bologna, he coordinated the team dedicated to the observing strategy of the Planck satellite and astrophysical analysis (non-CMB Science).

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Jean-Pierre Luminet al Museo di Marghera!

On 13 and 14 December 2012, prof. Jean-Pierre Luminet held two major conferences in Venice and Mestre. The prof. Jean-Pierre Luminet is an astrophysicist, writer, artist and musician of international popularity. Director of Research at the French CNRS and member of the "Laboratoire Univers et Theories (LUTH)" works at the Observatory of Paris-Meudon.
In 2007 he won the "Prix Europeen de la communication scientifique" and the scientific community has dedicated to him the asteroid 5523-Luminet.
In 2003 his researches on cosmology and the shape of the Universe gained the cover of the magazine "Nature".
He wrote tens of books, many translated also in italian language:
"L'Occhio di Galileo" (La Lepre edizioni, 2012), "La parrucca di Newton" (La Lepre Edizioni, 2011), "Finito o infinito?" (Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2006), "L'invenzione del big bang" (Dedalo, 2006), "La segreta geometria del cosmo" (Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2004) e "Buchi Neri" (Marco Nardi Editore, 1992).
During his journey he had the time to visit the Museum and the Planetarium in Marghera (Venice)

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Stelle in Laguna 2011

Public sky observation from Piazza S. Marco in the heart of Venice.
Thanks to the contribution of local amateur astronomers and of the group of Mestre "Guido Ruggeri," and under the patronage of the Municipality of Venice, we were able to deploy 10 telescopes and give the chance to the visitors to see the Moon, Jupiter, the Pleiades and other objects.
The evening was so beautiful and we were also able to see some meteor of Draconids shower.

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Meeting at Ca' Roman - Pellestrina-Venice, 10 August 2012

We were invited by Lipu (Lega per la Protezione degli Uccelli - Birds Protection Organization) section of Venice to organize an observing evening at the oasis of Ca 'Roman Pellestrina on the 10th of August. The beautiful nature was the setting for our shooting stars.

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We have recovered a magazine article about Guido Ruggieri: "Beyond the Sky" published March 1958. To view or download it click here.

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I added at the end of this page, a playlist of MP3 files retrieved from old tape recording of a lecture by prof. Giuliano Preparata, that I attended. I was afraid I had lost it but it did peek out from a drawer of old things.
On May 24, 1991 (twenty three years ago!), prof. Preparata illustrated at Ateneo Veneto, in Venice, his ideas about physics in general and in particular his research on cold fusion. It is impressive to listen to the words from that time and realize how little has changed in the last twenty years.
Forgive the quality of the recording but at the time I had no other means to to it better.
Enjoy the listening.

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STRANGE PAGES

Try this technique to number the pages of your notes or documents. Check how efficient it is!
LINK ITA LINK ENG

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Links

For each activity I do, and I have done, I will leave on this site a trace of the main things that make it up.
I would like to find the time to leave wiring diagrams, maps, mechanical drawings, and more hoping that they will be useful to someone.

For any information about the topics listed, please contact me at the address indicated in the homepage.

Project Name	Description	Scheme	Picture	Link
FCU	Airbus Flight Control Unit	---		FCU
MERIDIANE	Progetto digitale (CAD) e costruzione	---		MER
MERIDIANA PORTATILE	Progetto digitale (CAD) e costruzione	---		PME
NAVIGAZIONE ASTRONOMICA	Serie di lezioni	---		NAV
CANE CHIAMA	Dispositivo di monitoraggio abbaio e trasmissione GSM di allarmi	---		---
MSP430	Raccolta di codice Assembler per MSP430 - F169 e F2013	---		---
Astrolabio	Progetto CAD di un Astrolabio	---		AST
Programmazione QT	Raccolta di esempi di codice	---		QT
EMI-SPY	Rivelatore di campi elettromagnetici	---	---	EMI
GPS ruspante	Ricevitore GPS home-made	---	---	GPS
Radioamatori (IW3FTI)	Applicazioni radio	---	---	RAM
Video Shuttle-Discovery e ISS (passaggio su Mestre)	20110308	---		DVD WMV
Riparazione HP-nx5000	20110408	---		REP
Emilio del Giudice: MP3 conferenza Vittorio Veneto	20110609	---		Parte1
Emilio del Giudice: MP3 conferenza Vittorio Veneto	20110609	---		Parte2
Emilio del Giudice: MP3 conferenza Vittorio Veneto	20110609	---		Parte3
Emilio del Giudice: MP3 conferenza Vittorio Veneto	20110609	---		Parte4
Giuliano Preparata - Ateneo Veneto 1991, "Capire l'ordine della materia"	19910524	---		Parte1
Giuliano Preparata - Ateneo Veneto 1991, "Capire l'ordine della materia"	19910524	---		Parte2
Giuliano Preparata - Ateneo Veneto 1991, "Capire l'ordine della materia"	19910524	---		Parte3
Giuliano Preparata - Ateneo Veneto 1991, "Capire l'ordine della materia"	19910524	---		Parte4
Serata E-Cat a Marghera	20110527	---	E-CAT	Foto
GIOCO?	Nuovo modo di numerare le pagine degli appunti. PROVATE!	---		pdf
Riparazione Alimentatore	20111020	---		ALM
Triangolo Astronomico	20120324	---		TA
Raccolta funzioni Geogebra	20120324	---		RAR
Astronomia a Scuola	20120402	---		ASTRO
Newton la Mela e la Luna: come Newton arrivò alla legge di Gravitazione Universale	20120523	---		NWT
Riparazione lavastoviglie REX-RP40	20120610	---		REX
Macchina ENIGMA Simulatore software	20130128	---		Scarica il programma

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Bizarre ideas for the future.

Beware! I want the copyright!

Idea	Description
n-Dimensional Music	When we hear music, we are "forced" to listen to the mix that has been determined by the producer. The availability of multi-channel playback systems and the large amount of memory now available, allows the players to record all the instruments on independent tracks, and the listener to decide how to mount the song.
X-Vision	When you are driving on a highway and you have in front a truck or a large vehicle, you are not able to assess in advance what is happening on the road, opposite to what happens when a car, for example, is ahead of you. This creates a situation of potential danger and risk of rear-end collisions, mitigated only by a strict observance of the safety distance. If, however, a camera is applied on the windshield of the truck and a large video panel is applied on the back of the vehicle, the car that follows will be able to see through the truck being able to anticipate the situation that occurs on roadway. As if the truck was transparent. Bah!...
Continuous Notes	When you have to take notes it would be helpful not to have to stop writing to turn the page and find yourself with the text divided on two opposite sides. To solve this problem, I developed an alternative technique of page numbering. To better explain this technique I have prepared two documents found here in italian and here in english.
Short-Landing	When an aircraft lands, it needs a certain space to reduce its speed, maintaining a correct attitude and make a soft landing. Immediately before the touch-down, the airplane configuration must change to allow the wings to provide increased lift at a low speed. For this reason flaps and slats are extended. The speed must be reduced due to the limited runway length. However, the speed reduction is with respect to ground, which cannot be necessarily the same respect to air! You can have very different ground speed (GS) in respect to air speed (IAS). If the headwind on landing is very strong, the airplane will land in a very small space. To summarize: as seen from the runway you must have a low ground speed (GS), to keep the aircraft in flight it will be necessary, however, a to-air high speed (IAS). To solve this problem, instead of changing the configuration of the wings (flaps/slats) it needs to build an appropriate (!) Wind-Tunnel within which the aircraft enters! The head-wind, contrary to the motion of the aircraft, will provide high IAS and the modulation of this flow will allow the aircraft to reach a GS=0 and stops the aircraft in a very short space. Too complex? 2103Sept15: NASA has developed a wind tunnel to test the specimens of a real F15 airplane. An entire aircraft is placed in the tunnel to verify the correctness of the models used in the simulation. The plant consumes 104MW (!) The equivalent of a city of 290 thousand inhabitants.
ISS and Soyuz	One of the most critical moments in the missions to the International Space Station (ISS) is the docking of the shuttle vehicle. Even the slightest error can cause serious damage to the delicate structure of the station. To reduce the risk, we could launch the cargo transported by shuttle to the station and have it delivered with a network of, e.g. Velcro. The parcels would be subsequently brought into the station by a robotic arm. The intensity of the launch would be adjusted in order to reduce the effects of the momentum transferred to the orbital station. These effects could be mitigated by running the cargo from two sides so as to cancel the total momentum. ;)
PERSONAL CONDITIONING	Why do we affect very large areas to give comfort to our bodies in the hot summer days? Would not it be better (and more efficient) to control ONLY the atmosphere around the body? A dress packaged with materials that are cooled under the control of an appropriate electronic system, able to maintain a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius, could satisfy the thermoregulation system body and give relief even in extremely hot environments. As prototype, one could realize a wearable jacket, with a microstructured cavities, filled with a liquid maintained at the correct temperature by a cooling system. The challenge is to implement this system in the most comfortable and lightweight as possible.
FOOD FOR THE FUTURE	It seems that we need to eat to survive(!) To carry out this important task we need the raw material, available on this planet. In particular, take the proteins necessary for our survival, we must feed on other animals or plants (other live beings). However, the assumption of what we need to survive can be made using genetic engineering. In a future (maybe not too far away) we will be able to synthesize proteins and all the elements that we need, from the basic elements (carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, etc.), without the suppression of other forms of life. We could then leave the planet intact without interfering with the food chain of other living beings. This technology would also allow us to colonize other planets without having to transfer the food.

Gianpietro Favaro - gianpif@gmail.com

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A PIXAR piece...

During the exhibition of the Venice Film Festival in 2009, the entire team of PIXAR came to receive the award for the movie "UP". On this occasion we had the opportunity to meet John Lasseter, Brad Bird ("The Incredibles") and Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo") and to autograph the CARS T-shirt of my son.

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