Astronomers have discovered the youngest known supernova in the Milky Way galaxy, still just a baby at 140 years old. The scientists who announced their findings Wed. 14th, used a radio observatory in New Mexico and NASA's Chandra X-ray observatory in space to identify when the supernova, or stellar explosion occured. They put the star-dying event at sometime around 1868.



Kepler's Supernova Remnant.

SUPERNOVA. A supernova is a stellar explosion. They are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly out shines an entire galaxy before fading from view over several weeks or months. During this short interval, a supernova can radiate as much energy as the Sun could emit over its life span. The explosion expels much or all of a star's material at a velocity of up to a tenth the speed of light, driving a shock wave into the surrounding interstellar medium. This shock wave sweeps up an expanding shell of gas and dust called a supernova remnant.

Several types of supernova exist that may be triggered in one of two ways, involving either turning off or suddenly turning on the production of energy through nuclear fusion. After the core of an aging massive star ceases to generate energy from nuclear fusion, it may undergo sudden gravitational collapse into a neutron star or black hole, releasing gravitational potential energy that heats and expels the star's outer layers. Alternatively, a white dwarf star may accumulate sufficient material from a stellar companion ( usually through accretion, rarely via a merger ) to raise its core temperature enough to ignite carbon fusion, at which point it undergoes runaway nuclear fusion, completely disrupting it. Stellar cores whose furnaces have permanently gone out collapse when their masses exceed the Chandrasekhar limit, while accreting white dwarfs ignite as they approach this limit ( roughly 1.38 times the mass of the Sun ). White dwarfs are also subject to a different, much smaller type of thermonuclear explosion fueled by hydrogen on their surfaces called a nova. Solitary stars with a mass below approximately nine solar masses, such as the Sun itself, evolve into white dwarfs without ever becoming supernovae.

On average, supernovae occur about once every 50 years in a galaxy the size of the Milky Way and play a significant role in enriching the interstellar medium with heavy elements. Furthermore, the expanding shock waves from the supernova explosions can trigger the formation of new stars. NOVA ( plural novae ) means " new " in Latin, refering to what appears to be a very bright new star shining in the celestial sphere, the prefix " super " distinguishes supernovae from ordinary novae, which also involve a star increasing in brightness, though to a lesser extent and through a different mechanism. According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, the word supernova was first used in print in 1926.

TO BE CONTINUED..............

It's 11:30 at night here in the foothills of Mt.Rainier.. I just went out on the back porch to get another glass of wine. I keep it in the old fridge on the porch. I heard this hooty, hoot, hoot out in the woods.. what a pretty song the hooty owl is singing tonight.
Hooty hoot hoot hoot.

Whether you use them for seasoning, sweetening, or snacking, the foods you choose can function as health boosting agents. And some vital nutrients come in surprising packages. These 6 super foods are packed with benefits, and flavor.

COCONUT MILK.
The coconut is an unusual fruit. It's rich, and the fat is mostly saturated. In the South Pacific, traditional diets use copious amounts of coconut oil, yet studies there have shown that people don't get heart disease. In the U.S., research to support the heart-healthy claim is still being conducted. But we do know that coconut flakes, coconut milk and cream, and coconut oil contain lots of an antiviral, antibacterial fatty acid called lauric acid, one of the immune boosters babies get from breast milk.
COOKING TIP. Mix a can of coconut milk with a pint of chicken stock and some grated ginger for a coconut chicken soup.

GRASS FED BEEF.
All beef is a great source of iron, B vitamins and zinc, three nutrients many Americans don't get enough of. About 50 years ago, we started to fatten cattle on grain instead of grass. But grass-fed beef has many virtues. According to Loren Cordain, a professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University, grass-fed beef resembles the wild game our ancestors ate. It contains less fat, less saturated fat, more CLA ( an anti-cancer fat ) and more Omega-3 fatty acids than grain fed beef.
COOKING TIP. Grass-fed beef is very lean. Use it ground up for spaghetti sauce, chili and meatloaf.

NUTS.
Almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts and hazelnuts are all rich in monounsaterated and polyunsaterated fats and antioxidants. Walnuts are one of the best vegetarian sources of the Omega-3 fatty acids that fight obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Meanwhile, Brazil nuts are incredibly rich in the antioxidant selenium, essential for sperm health.
COOKING TIP. Put nuts in a blender with a little olive oil, milk or water for fresh nut butter.

CINNAMON.
Here's one superfood that's easy on the waistline and popular with children. The bark of the cinnamon tree, native to Sri Lanka, turns out to have extraordinary health benefits. Various research conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests that cinnamon regulates blood sugar, inhibits cancer cells and is anti-inflammatory.
COOKING TIP. Sprinkle it on French toast, oatmeal, hot buttered bread or a cup of hot chocolate. Cinnamon is great on sauteed bananas.

RAW HONEY & MOLASSES.
If you have a sweet tooth, try these whole, natural sweeteners instead of sugar. Unfiltered, raw honey contains many phytonutrients and enzymes to aid digestion. Molasses is the nutritious byproduct from boiling sugar cane down to white sugar. Blackstrap molasses is from the third boiling, which concentrates nutrients and, unsulfured, is a surprisingly good source of iron and many other minerals.
COOKING TIP. Unlike honey, which is best unheated, molasses already has been boiled, so there's there's no reason not to cook with it. Think spicy baked goods like muffins and pumpkin pie.
REMEMBER: ( When you catch the mole, use only the moles asses ).

OLIVE OIL.
Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats ( which reduce inflammation ), phenols ( cancer fighting antioxidants ) and vitamin E ( which lowers the risk of heart disease, protects skin from damaging agents, and prevents nerve damage ). Cold-pressed, extra virgin oil contains more phenols, and its vitamin E is undamaged.
COOKING TIP. Gently saute' vegetables in it, drizzle it on salads or use it in pesto.