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May 24, 2012
Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation
Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll
Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble?
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak!
May 23, 2012
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
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Jewish World Review
How Olympic technology works
By
Marshall Brain
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT)
In ancient Greece, the original Olympic games were a no-tech event. Athletes competed in the nude in sports such as running and wrestling, and there was no such thing as a carbon fiber bicycle.
That certainly isn't the case today. Some sports, like archery, cycling and shooting, require equipment. And in every sport, the athletes use all sorts of technology to improve performance. 2008 marks the most technology-laced Olympics ever. Let's look at some of the equipment that will make 2008 the fastest Olympics to date.
The most obvious piece of technology on display this year is the swimsuits. Many of the swimmers are using LZR Racer suits from Speedo. These suits feature a very tight fit, a slippery synthetic fabric and ultrasonically welded seams to streamline the body. There is also a structural feature sewn into the suit that helps to keep the legs aligned with the upper body. Since even a thousandth of a second can mean the difference between winning and losing in the pool, every tiny bit helps. Many world records have fallen since the suit's introduction.
Any athlete who is competing outdoors this year faces the heat. The funny thing about heat is that it can slow an athlete down. Any energy that the body spends on keeping the body cool is energy wasted. And overheating could lead to a breakdown. So several manufacturers have introduced new cooling suits meant to be worn before the race. Nike's is the simplest. It is essentially a water-filled vest that you put in the freezer. Once the water has turned to ice, you wear the vest for about an hour before the race. It pre-cools the torso, meaning that it takes longer for the body to overheat.
Athletes have been using low-oxygen training for decades. The basic idea is very simple. The athlete trains at high altitude, where there is less oxygen to breathe. The body responds to the lack of oxygen by boosting the number of red blood cells flowing in the bloodstream. Then, when the athlete comes down to sea level, the extra red blood cells increase performance by improving oxygen flow to the muscles.
The only problem is that as soon as the athlete comes down, the body starts reducing the number of red blood cells again, and the effect is soon lost. Now athletes have a high tech way to keep the red cell count high. It is called a hypoxic tent. The tent is made of sealed plastic, and an air handler reduces the amount of oxygen in the tent to simulate any altitude. By sleeping in the tent, the athlete's body keeps the red cell count high.
Then there are the shoes. Runners in particular depend on their footwear. So manufacturers like Nike and Adidas have been working to make the best shoe possible. One longstanding effort has been to make the shoes lighter. This year, materials like carbon nanotubes and Vectran have brought the weight down to the lowest levels ever. And Adidas has been experimenting with asymmetric shoes for track athletes. The idea is that the athlete spends a significant amount of time running in the turns, and in a turn you want one kind of shoe on the left foot and a different kind of shoe on the right foot.
Gymnastic shoes have been pared down as well. There isn't even a heel anymore - just a thin traction area that the front of the foot. One shoe weighs about a third of an ounce, or 10 grams. For comparison, a U.S. quarter weighs 7 grams.
Cycling has always been a hotbed of innovation, and carbon frames are now standard equipment to make the bikes lighter. But every little bit helps. For example, there is now a new front wheel that has just eight spokes - four on each side. For comparison, a "normal" bicycle might have 32 spokes per wheel. Less spokes means less weight and less air resistance. And the rear wheels have morphed into composite disks that are made in one piece and bonded to the hub. These are the lightest and most aerodynamic rear wheels yet.
There are many other breakthroughs as well, including carbon fiber baseball bats, lightweight jerseys that improve the flow of air, electronic air pistols and even robotic ping pong opponents used during practice. It should all add up to a record-breaking Olympics.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Comment by clicking here.
Previously:
How Personal Rapid Transit works
How 3G works
How the Global Position System (GPS) works
How octane works
How cruise missiles work
How submarines work
How miles work
How octane works
How food preservation works
How beer works
How holding your breath works
How smoke detectors work
How heat pumps work
How your night vision works
How concentrating solar collectors work
How your key fob works
How the common cold works
How the Large Hadron Collider Works
How making a TV show works
How dry cleaning works
How exoskeletons work
How an oil refinery works
How landfills work
How the Orion spacecraft works
The cutting edge in HDTV
Redefining the CD
How the HDMI cable scam works
How glow-in-the-dark toys work
How the subprime mortgage crisis works
How gift cards work
How Tasers work
How giant TV screens work
How foreclosure works
How Air Force One works
How wildfire fighting works
How vitamins work
How ejection seats work
How reattaching limbs works
How hot air balloons work
How paparazzi work
How counterfeiting works
How CDs work
How the Edsel worked
How Stinger missiles work
How hybrid cars work
How sharks work
How mosquitoes work
How diesel engines work
How water towers work
How the Dawn mission works
How Kassam rockets work
How the North American Eagle works
Why aren't we flying to work?
How tofu and soy milk work
How Colony Collapse Disorder works
How airbags work
How the U.S. income tax works
How gum works
How caffeine works
How Daylight Saving Time works
How a cruise missile works
How snow making works
© 2007, How Stuff Works Inc. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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