Hubble Sees an Ancient Globular Cluster

This image captures the stunning NGC 6535, a globular cluster 22,000 light-years away in the constellation of Serpens (The Serpent) that measures one light-year across.

Globular clusters are tightly bound groups of stars which orbit galaxies. The large mass in the rich stellar centre of the globular cluster pulls the stars inward to form a ball of stars. The word globulus, from which these clusters take their name, is Latin for small sphere.

Globular clusters are generally very ancient objects formed around the same time as their host galaxy. To date, no new star formation has been observed within a globular cluster, which explains the abundance of aging yellow stars in this image, most of them containing very few heavy elements.

NGC 6535 was first discovered in 1852 by English astronomer John Russell Hind. The cluster would have appeared to Hind as a small, faint smudge through his telescope. Now, over 160 years later, instruments like the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) on the NASA/ European Space Agency (ESA) Hubble Space Telescope allow us to marvel at the cluster and its contents in greater detail.

European Space Agency

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Gilles Chapdelaine

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AP-GfK Poll: Americans Support Menu Labeling by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

More than half of Americans say they already have enough information at restaurants to decide whether they are making a healthy purchase. But they want even more.

Published: December 30, 2014 at 10:21PM

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Why some homeowners don’t refinance

As many as 7.4 million mortgage borrowers could qualify for more affordable mortgages, but most don’t even apply.

from Home mortgage rates and real estate news – CNNMoney.com http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~3/lrd3QJvjGD0/index.html

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Space Simulation Chamber Prepared for Testing Webb Telescope

This photo was captured from outside the enormous mouth of NASA’s giant thermal vacuum chamber, called Chamber A, at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Previously used for manned spaceflight missions, this historic chamber is now filled with engineers and technicians preparing a lift system that will be used to hold the James Webb Space Telescope during testing.

The James Webb Space Telescope is the scientific successor to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. It will be the most powerful space telescope ever built. Webb is an international project led by NASA with its partners, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

> Related: Amazing View of Engineers Preparing NASA’s Gigantic Space Simulation Chamber for Massive Test

Image Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn

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IMF Focus on Cutting Debt Over Health Spending Worsened Ebola in Africa-Study by REUTERS

By REUTERS

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was partially responsible for the scale of the Ebola crisis in three West African countries as its policies hampered healthcare spending in these post-conflict states, according to a new study.

Published: December 30, 2014 at 03:01AM

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Are We Really Eating Too Much Sugar? by Unknown Author

By Unknown Author

Readers, including nutritionists and the Sugar Association, respond to an Op-Ed essay calling sugar addictive.

Published: December 29, 2014 at 07:00PM

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Wealthy Russians aren’t buying U.S. homes anymore

With the price of oil tanking and the value of the ruble hitting an all-time low against the U.S. dollar, high-end real estate brokers in Manhattan, Miami and other major cities have been losing some of their best customers: deep-pocketed Russians.

from Home mortgage rates and real estate news – CNNMoney.com http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~3/BukbU8l8dXM/index.html

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View of the Alps From Space

Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA) took this photograph of the Alps from the International Space Station, and posted it to social media on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014. She wrote, “I’m biased, but aren’t the Alps from space spectacular? What a foggy day on the Po plane, though! #Italy”

Image Credit: NASA/ESA/Samantha Cristoforetti

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Settlement Reached in Horse Deaths Caused by Tainted Feed by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Florida equestrian center where 22 horses were poisoned by tainted feed has reached a settlement with the company that produced and sold the feed.

Published: December 29, 2014 at 03:27AM

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U.N. Reopens Nile Route to Bring Aid to Hunger-Hit South Sudan by REUTERS

By REUTERS

The United Nations said on Monday it had begun delivering food aid to war-torn South Sudan via the Nile River from Sudan for the first time since it became independent in 2011, warning the country could face a “hunger catastrophe”.

Published: December 29, 2014 at 01:58AM

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Elder-Care Challenges Prompt Tech Executives to Create Startups, Apps by REUTERS

By REUTERS

For years, Google Inc’s commerce chief, Stephanie Tilenius, held a demanding job and helped oversee the medical care of her parents, an experience that led her to leave the Internet search giant in 2012 and start a company to help patients combat…

Published: December 28, 2014 at 03:09AM

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Housing 2015: The return of first-time home buyers

With rents expected to continue to rise faster than incomes, many Millennials may finally start looking to buy homes next year. What they will find are much more favorable conditions. Here’s what to expect in 2015’s housing market.

from Home mortgage rates and real estate news – CNNMoney.com http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_realestate/~3/5VxqP7qv4MQ/index.html

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Sangria (sans alcohol)

Sangria (sans alcohol)

By Mark Hyman, MD

Published: December 26, 2014

• Yield: 6 Servings


• Prep: 10 mins

Ever wonder what you’d gain by losing the alcohol from favorite your holiday beverage? If there were one indulgence to skip out on, it would be the blood sugar – altering alcohol! Alcohol lowers blood glucose, which not only inhibits wise decision – making (should I lounge on the couch or go for a refreshing walk outside?) but it sets you up for unmanageable cravings. Take control of your holidays by eliminating the alcohol – not the fun!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces pomegranate juice (unsweetened, cold-pressed, not from concentrate)


• 4 ounces cranberry juice (unsweetened)


• 1 juice and zest from 1 orange (organic)


• 1 juice and zest from 1 lemon or lime (organic)


• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1 pinch ground nutmeg


• 1 large lemon, sliced and pitted (organic)


• 1 large lime, sliced and pitted (organic)


• 1 cup pomegranate seeds or whole cranberries


• 8 ounces sparkling water


• ice (optional)


• lemon rind curls (optional for garnish)

Instructions

1. In a large pitcher, mix the pomegranate, cranberry, orange and lemon or lime juices together. Stir in zests from fruit, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add in fruit slices and stir. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.


2. When ready to serve, add sparkling waterand ice (if using) to the sangria. Stir to combine and garnish with lemon curls.


3. Nutritional analysis per serving (1 cup, with ice): calories 66, fat 0 g, saturated fat 0 g, cholesterol 0 mg, fiber 2 g, protein 0 g, carbohydrate 17 g, sodium 8 mg

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Life Support Ends for Dead Irishwoman, Live Fetus by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A clinically dead pregnant Irishwoman was removed from life support Friday after a Dublin court ruled that her 18-week-old fetus also was doomed to die. The case highlighted fear and confusion among doctors over how to observe Ireland’s ban on…

Published: December 26, 2014 at 04:10AM

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Obama Personal Chef to Hang Up Apron After 6 Years by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

For six years, Sam Kass cooked up policy as well as meals for President Barack Obama and his family. He was not only their personal chef but also senior adviser for nutrition policy, giving him a seat at the table where administration officials…

Published: December 24, 2014 at 10:22PM

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Scrooges of the World, Begone! by NICHOLAS KRISTOF

By NICHOLAS KRISTOF

Haiti might not seem like the obvious place for a celebration, but its slow successes in battling poverty actually offer inspiration.

Published: December 24, 2014 at 07:00PM

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10 least affordable rental markets

In most markets, buying is more affordable than renting. But that doesn’t mean renting is cheap.

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