Saturday, October 31, 2015

Breathtaking images

Mother Nature looking her beautiful best: The breathtaking images submitted for the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards

  • Incredible submissions for the 2016 awards have been revealed two months ahead of the competition's closing date
  • Some of the greatest landscape and wildlife images have be entered into the competition, now in its eighth year
  • Contest is open to photographers of all levels - with both amateurs and professionals being invited to submit photos
Eagles battling in the snow, a tiger prowling the long grass of India and an erupting volcano in Chile.
These are some of the stunning images in the running for the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards - with many capturing breathtaking shots of mother nature at her finest in the likes of Switzerland and Canada.
One photographer, Z Chen from China, submitted an incredible still of the sunset around Viti, a crater in Iceland that is shaped like a love heart, and another, Amri Arfianto from Indonesia, captured the moment a male peacock spread his tail feathers with eye-popping style.
So far, this year's 'open' category submissions, sent in to the World Photography Organisation, include an extraordinary variety of incredible images of wildlife and some of Earth's greatest landscapes. 
All winning and shortlisted photographers will be included in a global press campaign in London in April 2016 - the selected Open Photographer of the Year will also receive $5,000 (£3,260) plus flights and accommodation to the awards.
Launched in 2008, the awards are dedicated to supporting and cultivating photographic culture and are open to photographers of all levels - from amateurs to 'fully-fledged' professionals - and winners will be selected in four categories (professional, open, student and youth).  
The open and youth competitions close on January 5, while entries for the professional competition must be submitted by January 8.
Zay Yar Line from Burma shared this image of a fisherman 'leg rower' from Innlay Lake in Myanmar rowing his boat with his legs
Zay Yar Line from Burma shared this image of a fisherman 'leg rower' from Innlay Lake in Myanmar rowing his boat with his legs
Giovanni Frescura from Italy shared his image - of an eagle latching on to another as they battle in the snow - with the competition
Giovanni Frescura from Italy shared his image - of an eagle latching on to another as they battle in the snow - with the competition
Eduardo Minte from Chile captured the spectacular moment the Calbuco Volcano - the third most active Volcano in Chile - erupted for the second time this year. The volcano had been dormant for the last 43 years until this April
Eduardo Minte from Chile captured the spectacular moment the Calbuco Volcano - the third most active Volcano in Chile - erupted for the second time this year. The volcano had been dormant for the last 43 years until this April

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Amri Arfianto from Indonesia submitted this breathtaking image of a peacock spreading out its tail feathers to display the bright eyespots
Amri Arfianto from Indonesia submitted this breathtaking image of a peacock spreading out its tail feathers to display the bright eyespots
Antje Kakuschke from Germany snapped this image of hundreds of King Penguins standing together and looking in different directions
Antje Kakuschke from Germany snapped this image of hundreds of King Penguins standing together and looking in different directions
These monkeys were caught having a soak in a hot spring during a light snow flurry in Japan by photographer Christopher Yeoh, Australia
These monkeys were caught having a soak in a hot spring during a light snow flurry in Japan by photographer Christopher Yeoh, Australia
Simone Cmoon from Switzerland sent in this incredible image of the stars, flowers and settled snow above The Bernese Alps
Simone Cmoon from Switzerland sent in this incredible image of the stars, flowers and settled snow above The Bernese Alps
Joanna Szewczyk from Poland took this eye-catching shot of a lone zebra strolling down a path leading towards mountains and dry land
Joanna Szewczyk from Poland took this eye-catching shot of a lone zebra strolling down a path leading towards mountains and dry land
Douglas Croft from USA captured the moment a gray whale and her calf glided silently through the kelp forests along the Californian coast
Douglas Croft from USA captured the moment a gray whale and her calf glided silently through the kelp forests along the Californian coast
Henrik Spranz from Germany sent in his incredible image of a cute critter jumping up to reach wild berries for its lunch
Henrik Spranz from Germany sent in his incredible image of a cute critter jumping up to reach wild berries for its lunch
Kris Williams from the UK took an amazing picture of a starry night above a derelict farm surrounded by barley fields on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales
Kris Williams from the UK took an amazing picture of a starry night above a derelict farm surrounded by barley fields on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales
Sara Brudkiewicz from Poland captured a stag caught in the rainfall. The animal stands strong and has water falling from its antlers
Sara Brudkiewicz from Poland captured a stag caught in the rainfall. The animal stands strong and has water falling from its antlers
Michael Pachis's incredible image shows a stunning bald eagle captured standing in the rain. The droplets splash against his feathers 
Michael Pachis's incredible image shows a stunning bald eagle captured standing in the rain. The droplets splash against his feathers 
Vladimir Cech Junior from Czech Republic managed to capture an image of this stunning tiger prowling through the long grass in India
Vladimir Cech Junior from Czech Republic managed to capture an image of this stunning tiger prowling through the long grass in India
Taha Ahmed from India captured this neutral coloured pelican and submitted the stunning imagery to the 2016 Sony  Photography Awards
Taha Ahmed from India captured this neutral coloured pelican and submitted the stunning imagery to the 2016 Sony Photography Awards
This short-tailed weasel was captured mid-air fleeing in the snow with a freshly killed vole - shot by Canadian photographer Stuart McKay
This short-tailed weasel was captured mid-air fleeing in the snow with a freshly killed vole - shot by Canadian photographer Stuart McKay
Sheldon Bilsker from Canada published this photo of a Rufous Hummingbird, known for its amazing flight skills, in its natural environment
Sheldon Bilsker from Canada published this photo of a Rufous Hummingbird, known for its amazing flight skills, in its natural environment
Z Chen from China submitted an incredible still of the sunset around Viti, a bright blue crater in Iceland that is shaped like a love heart
Z Chen from China submitted an incredible still of the sunset around Viti, a bright blue crater in Iceland that is shaped like a love heart
Govindarajan Venugopal from India submitted his image of zebras stood in a field during sunrise with rays seeping through the clouds
Govindarajan Venugopal from India submitted his image of zebras stood in a field during sunrise with rays seeping through the clouds
Taha Ahmed from India also submitted this shot, which appears to show both grey-scale and colourful birds in flight at night-time
Taha Ahmed from India also submitted this shot, which appears to show both grey-scale and colourful birds in flight at night-time

Act of kindness

Commuter's act of kindness goes viral after he sits in an empty seat next to a Muslim woman wearing a niqab on a packed train when other passengers ostracised her

  • A Muslim woman was surrounded by empty seats on a packed train
  • Dante Jamie Coyne went over to sit next to her and she thanked him
  • He posted a Facebook status which has been liked over 40,000 times 
  • Are you the woman in the photo? Email femail@mailonline.co.uk 
A Muslim woman wearing in a niqab was ostracised on a packed train by commuters who refused to sit next to her, until a kind stranger intervened.
Dante Jamie Coyne, from Woking, said he was surprised to find no one would sit next to her on the Monday morning train and went over to take a seat.
He posted what happened on Facebook which has now been liked more than 44,000 times.
Scroll down for video 
A Muslim woman in a veil was left ostracised on a packed train by commuters who refused to sit next to her, until Dante Jamie Coyne sat next to her
A Muslim woman in a veil was left ostracised on a packed train by commuters who refused to sit next to her, until Dante Jamie Coyne sat next to her
Dante posted what happened on Facebook on Monday which has gone viral after receiving over 40,000 likes
Dante posted what happened on Facebook on Monday which has gone viral after receiving over 40,000 likes
Dante posted on Facebook: 'Now everyone who knows me can fully support I joke about pretty much anything and everything, I do not offend intentionally and I would never make someone uncomfortable on purpose.
'I jump on a busy train this morning and everyone made it beyond obvious they would not sit in this section of 6 seats, I loudly announced "I'll sit here then" and took my seat. 
'We said nothing the entire journey but as she got off train she nodded at me and heard a very quiet "thank you".
Dante has been hailed as a gentleman by many commenting on his Facebook status
Dante has been hailed as a gentleman by many commenting on his Facebook status
'Guys dont be so judgemental.'
He included the ‪#‎DontJudgeByTheBooksCover‬ in his status which has also been shared over 4,000 times.
The story has resonated with many people and the status posted on Monday, which has 44,107 likes, has had comments from women with similar stories.
Women posted they had received similar treatment to the woman when they wore a hijab
Women posted they had received similar treatment to the woman when they wore a hijab
One woman posted she 'couldn't help but cry' because of his kind gesture
One woman posted she 'couldn't help but cry' because of his kind gesture
While one woman said the people in the carriage had no heart and called Dante a 'decent guy'
While one woman said the people in the carriage had no heart and called Dante a 'decent guy'
One woman wrote: 'I get the same when I wear my hijab.'
While another had similar experiences and said she 'couldn't help but cry.'
She wrote: I know the feeling all too well.'
While others felt Dante was a great guy for his gesture and one posted: 'Thank you for making someone's day a little easier.' 
Dante was overwhelmed by the attention and said he was taking a break from Facebook but hoped 'in time I see others do this more often'
Dante was overwhelmed by the attention and said he was taking a break from Facebook but hoped 'in time I see others do this more often'
After his post went viral, Dante was overwhelmed by the attention.
He thanked people who had got in touch and said: 'I hope in time I see others do this more often.'
He posted he would be taking a break from Facebook after the interest he has received since he posted the status.
Posted: 30 Oct 2015 09:29 AM PDT
15-year-old invents $12 probe that harnesses energy from ocean currents
Many of us have been bestowed the project of a pen pal in school. Teachers assign these projects in hopes of children being able to get a glimpse of another child’s life and culture, opening their mind to how other kids around the world live. Hannah Herbst, a 15-year old teenager in Florida, did not take this project lightly but used her pen pal’s story to inspire a pretty impressive invention for harnessing energy from ocean currents.
“I found out that she’s living in energy poverty, and she doesn’t have access to things that I take for granted every day,” Herbst explains the motivation from her 9- year old pen pal in Ethiopia.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Posted: 29 Oct 2015 09:41 AM PDT
New Wifi technology captures human figures through walls
A group of researchers at MIT has developed a monitoring technology capable of capturing a human figure through walls using only WiFi signals. The software has actually been under development since 2013 but recent improvements allows it to use the wireless reflections bouncing off a human body to capture the silhouette of a person standing behind a wall. RF-Capture is also able to distinguish specific details of a person and even follow their movement.
As a developing technique, RF-Capture still needs a huge amount of post-processing: since anything can actually also reflect the wireless signals, it is necessary to capture a sequence of pictures and then “clean” all the background noise generated in order to have a clean image of human silhouettes.