Tag: science

east of the atlantic

THE DENSITY OF BONE: Visiting Biologist Patrick Lau in his office and laboratory at DLR Campus

After passing passport control at the campus’ gates, it is building 24 on the DLR area. A large place, almost like a little town in the suburbs of Cologne, located in a wood. Not many know that it is the home of the German Aerospace Center DLR, as well as the European Space Agency ESA.

Every astronaut heading for outer space has to come here. Frank de Winne, Belgium commander of the international space station ISS, called it “the Houston of Europe.”

But there is more than just space travelling. There is research in progress. Often influenced by space travelling.

At building 24, biologist Patrick Lau works in a team of doctors, engineers and psychologists. Researching on the density of human bones. The loss and growing of cells. Most of the time in balance, disorders can affect the continous process. Also being in outer space can prevent the bone from growing and stabilizing. An astronaut’s problem.

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east of the atlantic, west of the atlantic

HOW TO VOLUNTEER WORLDWIDE – A German network now connects people with their favourite social project

While many, especially young people after school or while at college, are looking for doing something meaningful, the opportunities for volunteering are quite diverse. And in times of the internet: also very global.

From environmental research in Brasil to working with young people in Asia, it is more about finding the right spot, than aboubt finding any spot.

A German start up company now heads into that direction. Volunteer World brings together people and projects. And then helps in organising the trip – by raisings funds, checking visa requirements and working out travel insurances.

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west of the atlantic

CLASSIC CAMERA: Polaroid instant camera – 7 facts about the technical revolutionary item

1. Polaroid. In 1933 physician Edwin Herbert Land invented a filter that later enabled him to build a camera (first presented at a summit of the Optical Society of America in 1944) that made the captured photo available instantly. In 1937 Land had started a company named Polaroid.

2. The name Polaroid later became the generally used name for instant cameras.

3. Today, after the initial company went bankrupt around 2007, films are still produced by the Impossible Project – for several models of Polaroid cameras, and for the 8×10 inch format.

4. After 1944 various companies, apart from Polaroid, built and sold instant cameras.

5. Polaroid inventor Edwin Herbert Land died March 1, 1991 in Cambridge, USA. In 1933, during the time of his invention, he was studying at famous Harvard University.

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