When skiers first learn to ski, their teacher may be connected to them on a tether until the skier can control the sit-ski on their own.
Mono-ski
A mono-ski is a sled used by a skier with paraplegia, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy. Mono-skis are used only in para-alpine skiing. People who use mono-skis need good balance to stop themselves from falling over. The mono-ski has a chair with one ski attached to the bottom.
People first used mono-skis in 1985 in the United States. Mono-skis allow skiers to ski using the same way that people who stand ski down a hill.
Mono-skis have a hydraulic lift. This makes it easier for a skier to get in and out of the mono-ski.
Most distant things
This article lists the most distant things known to us, all of which are galaxies or energy sources inside galaxies. Their distances are described in two ways. redshift = z, and billion light years (Gly).
As of 2012, there are only about 50 possible objects z=8 or farther, and another 100 z=7 candidates. Candidates vary in their notablity, so not everything is included here. 1 Gly = 1 billion light-years = 10 ly.
Double play
A double play is a play in baseball. It is when two outs are performed in one playing action. Double plays are called "the pitcher's best friend", because they cause more problems for offenses than any other plays. The most common type of double play is when there is a player on first base and a ground ball is hit toward the middle of the infield.
UDFj-39546284
UDFj-39546284 is a 'stellar structure' (probably a galaxy) reported January 27, 2011 as light from the oldest object. It was detected through infrared observation by the Hubble Space Telescope. It was reported in December 2012 to be at redshift z = 11.9 using Hubble and Spitzer telescope data, including Hubble Ultra-Deep Field (HUDF).
The actual stellar source of the light detected no longer exists. The image is likely to correspond to a compact mini-galaxy of blue stars that existed as we see it 13.42 billion years ago, around "380 million years" after the Big Bang (estimated at 13.8 billion years ago).
At the time of the announcement, it was the oldest galaxy found. It beat the previous distance record holder by about 150 million light years. With the revision of the distance, it again became the oldest galaxy found as of December 12, 2012. The next attempt to see further will be the James Webb Space Telescope launched sometime this decade.
Unlike UDFy-38135539, UDFj-39546284 has not been spectroscopically confirmed. A galaxy first formed near to the end of the Dark Ages, it offers information from early after the Big Bang.
Athens Olympics
Athens Olympics can mean:
Cypriniformes
Cypriniformes is a group of ray-finned fish, which includes carps and minnows. The group contains 320 genera, with over 3200 species.
London Olympics
London Olympics can mean:
Googoosh
Faegheh Atashin (, , born on 5 May 1950 in Tehran), known by her stage name Googoosh (, ), is an Iranian singer and actress. She is considered one of most iconic female pop-singers in Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries.
Googoosh has been married three times. She has a son, Kambiz. She currently lives in Los Angeles.
Studio albums
Albums (Since she returned to music)
Anthem of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Anthem of Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic () was the national anthem of Armenia when it was a republic of the Soviet Union.
The writer of the lyrics was Armenak Sarkisya, a poet. The composer of this song was Aram Khachaturian. He was known for his ballets.
Like many national anthems of republics of the Soviet Union, this song praised Vladimir Lenin, the October Revolution and Communism. It also praised the friendship of republics of the Soviet Union. "Hayastan" in the lyrics was the name that the Armenian ethnic called themselves. "Severe" in the lyrics means the Armenian history, such as earthquakes.
After Armenia became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991, the national anthem was changed to "Our Fatherland".
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island (URI) is the main public research university in the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It was established in 1892 as Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The name was changed to Rhode Island State College around 1909, and officially to University of Rhode Island during 1951. URI is in Kingston, Rhode Island.
In 1888 the university was chartered as Rhode Island's agricultural school and became the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1892. The first class of 17 students was graduated two years later.
Fluorescence
Fluorescence is the light given off by certain substances when it absorbs light or other electromagnetic radiation. First the substance absorbs the energy, then it emits light. When the light source is removed, the fluorescence stops occurring. It is a form of luminescence.
In most cases, the light given off has a longer wavelength and lower energy than the absorbed light.
One of the most surprising types of fluorescence is when a substance absorbs ultraviolet light that cannot be seen by the human eye, but gives off visible light.
Fluorescence is used in many fields such as mineralogy, gemology, chemical sensors (fluorescence spectroscopy), dyes, biological detectors, and fluorescent lights.
Fluorescence in the life sciences is a way of tracking biological molecules. A protein or other component can have a fluorescent dye attached to it, which allows a scientist to visually find the specific protein with a microscope.
Travesti
In theatre, travesti (meaning "disguised") is a character performed by a person of the opposite gender. A woman performing as a male in male clothing is called a breeches role. Famous travesty roles in opera include Cherubino in "The Marriage of Figaro", Siebel in "Faust", and Octavian in "Der Rosenkavalier". In ballet, the role of Frantz in "Coppélia" was a travesty role at the Paris Opéra until the 1950s. Carabosse in Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Sleeping Beauty" is performed by a man in woman's clothing. The Stepsisters in Prokofiev's ballet "Cinderella" are sometimes played by men in women's clothing. The title character is a travesty role in the Broadway musical "Peter Pan".
Greyfriars Bobby
Greyfriars Bobby (4 May 1855 - 14 January 1872) was a Skye terrier. He belonged to a policeman in Edinburgh named John Gray. When Mr. Gray died in 1858, he was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby stayed near the grave of Mr. Gray long after the funeral. He would not leave.
The little dog came to be called Greyfriars Bobby. He stayed at the grave for the rest of his life. Bobby died in 1872. He was buried just inside the gates of the kirkyard. His grave is marked by a small pink granite stone. Bobby's collar and bowl are displayed in the Museum of Edinburgh.
In 1873, Lady Angela Burdett-Coutts erected a drinking fountain "(pictured)" in Edinburgh to the memory of Greyfriars Bobby. The bronze statue of Bobby on top of the fountain was made by William Brodie. The fountain and statue have long been favourites of Scots.
The fountain is near the George IV Bridge in Edinburgh. The statue of Bobby sits on top of a column of granite. At the bottom, there is an eight-sided drinking basin for dogs. Near the top, there is a drinking spout for people. In 1957, the water was turned off because of health concerns.
Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson wrote a book about Bobby in 1912. It has never been out of print. A movie based on the book was made in 1961. This movie stars Tam O'Shanter as Bobby, and is described as "a tearjerker, one that saddens and lifts the spirit at the same time."
Luminescence
Luminescence is light emitted by a substance not caused by heat. In contrast, incandescence is light emitted by a substance as a result of heating.