Super-Earths Get Magnetic 'Shield' from Liquid Metal

by Charles Q. Choi, SPACE.com Contributor

Date: 22 November 2012 Time: 02:01 PM ET

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A new study suggests that the extreme pressures inside so-called super-Earth planets may create liquid magnesium oxide, a liquid metal, suggesting that similar processes may help create protective magnetic fields around the worlds. This image depicts a laser-shock experiment on Earth that recreated conditions deep within the planet as part of the study. Image released Nov. 22, 2012. CREDIT: Eugene Kowaluk, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester View full size image

Within supersized alien versions of Earth, a common transparent ceramic may become a flowing liquid metal, perhaps granting those distant worlds magnetic fields to shield life from harmful radiation, researchers say.
Among the hundreds of extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, that astronomers have discovered in recent years are so-called "super-Earths," which are rocky planets like Earth but larger, at up to 10 times its mass. Scientists have discovered super-Earths that may support oceans of water on their surfaces on their surfaces, and others that may even be planets made of diamond.
The increased mass of super-Earths would bring about internal pressures much greater than Earth's. Such high pressures would lead to large viscosities and high melting temperatures, meaning the interiors of super-Earths might not separate into rocky mantles and metallic cores like Earth's does.

'Star Trek' desks boost math skills

PTI | Nov 24, 2012, 04.34 AM IST

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READ MORE Math|Liz Burd|Durham University

Results from a 3-year project by the Durham University who worked with over 400 pupils, mostly 8-10 year olds, show that collaborative learning increases both fluency and flexibility in math.

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LONDON: Researchers are designing new interactive multi-touch 'smart' desk classrooms which have been found to boost pupils' mathematical skills. Using multi-user desks in the the "classroom of the future" the children were able to work together in new ways to solve questions and problems using inventive solutions.

Results from a 3-year project by the Durham University who worked with over 400 pupils, mostly 8-10 year olds, show that collaborative learning increases both fluency and flexibility in math.

It also shows that using an interactive 'smart' desk can have benefits over doing mathematics on paper. The 'Star Trek classroom' could also help learning and teaching in other subjects.

Seeing what your friends are doing, and being able to fully participate in group activities, offers new ways of working in class, the researchers say. The findings published in the journal Learning and Instruction, show that children using these SynergyNet classrooms improve in both mathematical flexibility and fluency, while children working on traditional paper-based activities only improve in flexibility.

Researchers found that 45% of students who used the desks increased in the number of unique mathematical expressions they created, compared to 16% in the traditional paper-based activity.

"Our aim was to encourage far higher levels of active student engagement, where knowledge is obtained by sharing, problem-solving and creating, rather than by passive listening. This classroom enables both active engagement and equal access," lead researcher, Liz Burd, said.

"We found our tables encouraged students to collaborate more effectively. We were delighted to observe groups of students enhancing others' understanding of mathematical concepts. Such collaboration just did not happen when students used paper-based approaches," said Burd.

Researchers designed software and desks that recognize multiple touches on the desktop using vision systems that see infrared light.

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