German schoolboy, 13, corrects NASA's asteroid figures: paper A 13-year-old German schoolboy corrected NASA's estimates on the chances of an asteroid colliding with Earth, a German newspaper reported Tuesday, after spotting the boffins had miscalculated. Nico Marquardt used telescopic findings from the Institute of Astrophysics in Potsdam (AIP) to calculate that there was a 1 in 450 chance that the Apophis asteroid will collide with Earth, the Potsdamer Neuerster Nachrichten reported. NASA had previously estimated the chances at only 1 in 45,000 but told its sister organization, the European Space Agency (ESA), that the young whizzkid had got it right. The schoolboy took into consideration the risk of Apophis running into one or more of the 40,000 satellites orbiting Earth during its path close to the planet on April 13 2029. Those satellites travel at 3.07 kilometers a second (1.9 miles), at up to 35,880 kilometers above earth -- and the Apophis asteroid will pass by earth at a distance of 32,500 kilometers. If the asteroid strikes a satellite in 2029, that will change its trajectory making it hit earth on its next orbit in 2036. Both NASA and Marquardt agree that if the asteroid does collide with earth, it will create a ball of iron and iridium 320 meters (1049 feet) wide and weighing 200 billion tones, which will crash into the Atlantic Ocean. The shockwaves from that would create huge tsunami waves, destroying both coastlines and inland areas, whilst creating a thick cloud of dust that would darken the skies indefinitely. The 13-year old made his discovery as part of a regional science competition for which he submitted a project entitled: "Apophis -- The Killer Asteroid." © 2008 AFP

Swarm of Earthquakes Detected Off Oregon Apr 11, 9:04 PM (ET) By JEFF BARNARD GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - Scientists listening to underwater microphones have detected an unusual swarm of earthquakes off the central Oregon Coast. Scientists don't know what the earthquakes mean, but they could be the result of magma rumbling underneath the Juan de Fuca Plate - away from the recognized earthquake faults off Oregon, said geophysicist Robert Dziak of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Ore. They hope to send out the OSU research ship, Wecoma, to take water samples, looking for evidence that sediment on the ocean bottom has been stirred up and chemicals in the water that would indicate magma is moving up through the crust, Dziak said. There have been more than 600 quakes over the past 10 days in a basin 150 miles southwest of Newport. The biggest was magnitude 5.4 and two others were more than magnitude 5.0, OSU reported. They have not followed the typical pattern of a major shock followed by a series of diminishing aftershocks, and few have been strong enough to be felt on shore. It looks like what happens before a volcanic eruption, except there are no volcanoes in the area, Dziak said.

Kung-fu star Jackie Chan to chop down Olympic protestors Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Kung-fu action hero Jackie Chan has warned anyone planning to stop him carrying the Olympic Torch he will come out fighting. The Hong Kong hardman, whose films include Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon, is due to carry the torch when it nears Beijing, the venue for this summer's Olympic Games. The Torch Relay's journey through Europe and North America has seen it become a magnet for protestors angry at China's human rights However, Chan insists anyone trying to protest on his watch can expect short shrift, warning: 'Demonstrators better not get anywhere near me.' And the 54-year-old, speaking at the launch of latest movie Forbidden Kingdom, claimed many of the protestors are simply publicity seekers. 'They are doing it for no reason. They just want to show off on the TV,' he said. 'They know, "if I can get the torch, I can go on the TV for the world news".' And the actor said he's excited about his homeland hosting the Olympics for the first time, insisting it will speed up China's development.

Bamboozled After being told by Marilyn Monroe authority Mark Bellinghaus to expect an article that debunks the 1950s stag film story that ran in Monday's (4.14) New York Post , the piece has turned up on Defamer . Whatever. The gist is that the film is a fake . The story says that claims about the alleged Monroe sex film by Keya Morgan , the Manhattan-based memorabilia collector who claims to have brokered the sale of the 15-minute blowjob reel, are "outrageous." The piece reports that Morgan "has thus far refused to disclose either the names of either the seller or buyer of the tape; additionally, he has not been able to provide evidence that this alleged sale even occurred." Defamer 's Mark Graham worked with Bellinghaus, Ernest W. Cunningham (author of "The Ultimate Marilyn") and freelance journalist Jennifer J. Dickinson to put together the debunk piece. Nobody claims to have seen the disputed stag film (the buyer being anonymous and apparently unreachable) but whoever the performer is, it's not and never was Marilyn Monroe, according to assertions.

120th Anniversary Eiffel Tower Observation Deck designed by Serero that will go up next year. In celebration of the 120th birthday of the tower, the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel decided to restructure the public reception and access areas of the tower, and the result will be a temporary horizontal extension of the 3rd floor of the tower. Serero’s design is built out of carbon kevlar, steel connectors, and metal mesh.

A LOTTO winner who scooped £5.1million just three years ago is now SKINT and on BENEFITS. Divorced Pete Kyle splashed out on luxury homes, flash cars and holidays following his jackpot — one of Britain’s biggest ever Lottery wins. But now he is on the dole after squandering ALL of his massive fortune at the rate of £4,600 A DAY . He is working as a caretaker at a grubby budget hotel and also claims around £100 a week in disability living allowance and mobility allowance. Pals say tattooed Pete, 55, from Plymouth, Devon, lost the cash in a series of dodgy investments. One source told The Sun: “He had a golden opportunity to turn his life around — and then blew it. “He took some bad advice from bad people and handed his money over too readily to them. Now he’s got nothing and even owes cash. “It’s hard to believe he was a millionaire, now he’s just a mess.” The former Royal Artillery gunner won his fortune in February 2005. He celebrated by playing bingo with his mates and promptly won another £500. He then blew cash on a £550,000 house, a £40,000 Mercedes, a £40,000 Range Rover and another £20,000 4x4. He also gave money to kids Gemma, 23, and Roy, 14.

Cebu hospital apologizes for surgery 'spectacle' 04/16/2008 Sun.Star: CEBU CITY, Philippines - That's how several doctors described the behavior of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) doctors and nurses during the operation to remove a perfume canister from the anus of a male patient. Doctors involved in the operation were seen laughing boisterously during the operation, which was recorded on video. A video clip was later uploaded to the video sharing website YouTube. Dr. Emmanuel Gines, VSMMC media liaison officer and emergency room department head, said in a radio interview that they will apologize to the 39-year-old patient identified only as Jan-Jan because of the embarrassment he suffered. Gines said at least six doctors, including Dr. Ariel Arias, are being investigated. He could not say how many nurses were placed under investigation. A five-member body tasked to look into the controversy is expected to release its findings this Friday. Gines, a surgeon, said that taking a video and laughing at a patient while he is being operated on is inappropriate. GMA News

Burglar chased by kickboxer A burglar picked the wrong house to raid when he ended up being chased and caught by an international kickboxer. When four-months pregnant Tracey Lowe heard a noise in the living room at Harcourt Road, Cradley Heath, at 3am she thought it was her son Richard Cole, 20, coming home late. But when she went to see what was going on she found herself in the living room face to face with an intruder. Her screams alerted Richard, who will represent England at the World Kickboxing Championships in the summer, and her husband Duncan, who is a first dan black belt in the sport, and they gave chase. Tracey, aged 38, an advertising sales executive, said: “When I opened the living room door I expected to see Richard but there was a stranger just standing there staring at me. “It was like that for several seconds, it was surreal. Then I just screamed and Richard and Duncan came running down the stairs. “The burglar fled through the kitchen window where he came in and they raced after him in their pants.”

This Saturday, March 24, 2007 file photo shows French film legend and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot prior to a march of various animal rights associations, in Paris. Bardot is back on trial in France, facing charges of fanning discrimination and racial hatred against Muslims.

Putin secretly divorces his wife and marries rhythmical gymnast Alina Kabaeva? A recent issue of Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper said that Russia’s outgoing President Vladimir Putin was going to marry a girl who is 30 years younger. Furthermore, the newspaper wrote that Putin secretly divorced his wife, Lyudmila Putin, in February of the current year. With reference to rumours, La Repubblica wrote that Putin was going to remarry on June 15 th .. His new wife will be Alina Kabaeva, the rhythmic gymnast, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics and obtained numerous European awards, the newspaper said. According to the newspaper, “Russians consider Kabaeva to be sexier than Sharapova and Kournikova.” Pravda

A 26-year-old entrepreneur from Texas was named Miss USA on Friday, besting 50 other beauty queens for the coveted crown.

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