John Dalton grew up to be an English chemist, meteorologist and physicist. Before he had propounded the Atomic Theory, he had already attained a significant status. He worked for the development of modern Atomic Theory, Gas Law, and his research on colour blindness. Until 1800, he had also worked as a teacher of mathematics and natural philosophy at the "New College" in Manchester, a dissenting academy. A second work by Dalton "Elements of English Grammar" was published in 1801.
Much of Dalton's collected work was damaged during the bombing of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society on 24 December 1940. The damaged papers are now in the John Rylands Library having been deposited in the university library by the Society.
Dalton never married and had only a few close friends. He lived for more than a quarter of a century with his friend the Rev. W. Johns in George Street, Manchester. He suffered a minor stroke in 1837; a second one in 1838 left him with a speech impediment, though he still was able to carry on with his experiments. On July 27, 1844, Dalton, fell from his bed and was found lifeless by his assistant.
John Dalton was from a Quaker family at Eaglesfield in England, born on September 06, 1766. He was a son of a weaver, he joined his older brother, Jonathan at age 15 in running a Quaker school in nearby Kendal.

German researchers say they had evidence that sowing the ocean with iron particles sucks up and stores carbon dioxide.
But their work, touching on a fiercely controversial issue called geo-engineering, came under attack from other scientists and environmentalists.
They claim a far bigger question - whether such schemes could damage the marine biosphere - remained unanswered.
Published in the science journal Nature, the paper is one of the biggest and most detailed probes into ocean fertilisation, a practice that is banned under international law although scientific research into it is permitted.
Its goal is to take CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in the deep sea so that it no longer adds to the greenhouse effect.
This would be done by scattering the ocean surface with iron dust, a nutrient for microscope marine vegetation called phytoplankton. As the plants gorge on the iron, they also suck up atmospheric CO2 thanks to natural photosynthesis.
In the next step, the phytoplankton die and sink to the deep ocean floor - taking with them the CO2, which would lie in the sediment, possibly for centuries.
Critics, though, say geo-engineering schemes are riddled with unknowns, both in cost effectiveness and risks for the environment.
Creating a 'fluff layer'
Scientists led by Victor Smetacek of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven took a research ship to the Southern Ocean off Antarctica in 2004.
There, they located a giant eddy - a slowly-moving clockwise-rotating swirl 60 kilometres across that had relatively little interchange with the rest of the ocean - and used it as a test bed for a five-week experiment.
They scattered seven tonnes of commercial iron sulphate particles, which within four weeks developed into a giant bloom of diatom plankton.
The diatoms then died, sinking in clumps of entangled cells, "far below" a depth of 1000 metres, according to samples measured with a fluorometer.
They were probably deposited on the sea floor in a "fluff layer" that should remain for "many centuries and longer," Smetacek's team say.
Further work is needed to see what happens when sideways currents hit the diatom blooms, they add.
Wider effects unknown
Other voices sounded a loud note of caution, saying the experiment took place in exceptional conditions and did not consider other environmental consequences.
Among them was Professor John Shepherd, who chaired a landmark report in 2009 by Britain's Royal Society into geo-engineering.
It concluded that ocean fertilisation would not suck up that much CO2 and could be harmful to the marine biosphere.
"Whilst the new research is an interesting and valuable contribution in this evolving field, it does not address the potential ecological side effects of such a technology in what is a poorly understood field," says Shepherd.
The Canada-based ETC Group, an environmental NGO campaigning against geo-engineering, says the study "only focuses on a few narrow aspects and disregards or ignores others."
"The intended purpose of ocean fertilisation is to significantly disrupt marine ecosystems through drastic changes on phytoplankton, which is the base of the marine food web, so the effects would propagate throughout the ocean in unpredictable ways," it says.

Severe typhoon hits Hong Kong, market delays opening

A severe typhoon hit Hong Kong on Tuesday, disrupting business across the financial hub, with offices and the stock market to remain closed for at least part of the morning after the city raised its highest typhoon warning overnight.
Typhoon Vicente battered Hong Kong with gale-force winds and torrential rain, grounding flights and shutting port operations.
Authorities hoisted the No 10 tropical cyclone signal for several hours overnight, making this one of the strongest typhoons to hit the city in the past decade.
Financial markets, schools, businesses and non-essential government services close when a No. 8 signal or above is hoisted, posing a disruption to business in the capitalist hub and former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
By 8:00am (0000 GMT), the typhoon was veering away from the city and weakening, although the No 8 signal is expected to remain in force until at least 10:00am (0200 GMT), the Hong Kong Observatory said, which would force a closure of the stock market for the morning.
The market will be closed for the day if the No 8 signal remains in place until noon (0400 GMT).
Separately, China's National Meteorological Center issued an orange alert for Typhoon Vicente, the second highest warning level in China's four-tier typhoon warning system, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Strengthening gale-force winds overturned trees, churned up huge waves in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour and sent debris flying, injuring some 30 people as Vicente slammed into the city and the western reaches of China's Guangdong province.
Fifteen flights were cancelled and more than 200 delayed late on Monday, aviation authorities said, although Hong Kong's main carrier Cathay Pacific said it planned to resume some flights. Affected airlines are expected to have to clear a sizeable backlog of stranded passengers.
The Hong Kong Observatory raised the No 10 signal early on Tuesday as typhoon Vicente swept much closer to Hong Kong than initially thought, making this the first time the highest typhoon signal had been raised since 1999.
More than 30,000 Chinese fishing boats were alerted to return to harbour, with 10,560 fishermen taking shelter ashore in Guangdong, Chinese state media reported. Storm surges and sea wave warnings were heightened, with winds of up to 100 kph (60 mph) expected.

The vice-chancellor of a public university yesterday told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 how he was brutally tortured at the residence of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury's father in Chittagong by Pakistani army and their collaborators during the Liberation War.
Prof Dr Md Saleh Uddin, VC of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, said he was brutally tortured at the diktat of Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, father of war crimes accused Salahuddin Quader, at their Goods Hill residence.
Salahuddin Quader also beat him up during the torture, the vice-chancellor added.
"At one stage of torture, my lips and some portions of my face cracked and I fell on the ground," said Prof Saleh Uddin, adding he fainted several times on the day of his captivity in the third week of July in 1971.
The VC said although he was seriously wounded, Salahuddin Quader was not satisfied and slapped hard on his face as he did not cry.
Prof Saleh Uddin, 61, is the eighth prosecution witness in a case filed against the BNP lawmaker for his alleged involvement in war crimes committed during the Liberation War.
In 1971, Saleh Uddin was a student of economics at Chittagong University and lodged at the house of Raja Khan Chowdhury in Mohora village in Chittagong.
"One early morning in the third week of July, the then chairman of nearby Burishwar union and supporter of Convention Muslim League Shamsu Mia along with three others came to me between 5:30am and 6:00am and asked me to go with them," said Saleh Uddin.
After moving 200-300 yards, he saw a military jeep and two Pakistani soldiers. "They frisked me and took me on the jeep. Shamsu Mia sat beside the driver," Prof Saleh said.
Dropping Shamsu near his house, the jeep moved towards Salahuddin Quader's father Fazlul Quader Chowdhury's Goods Hill through Nojumia Haat and Arakan Road.
"I saw Fazlul Quader sitting on a chair in front of a tea table. I also saw Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury," he said, adding, Fazlul Quader enquired about his identity.
"As I replied, Fazlul Quader ordered others to beat me up."
The two soldiers dragged him to the first floor of Goods Hill. A few minutes later two men -- Hamidul Kabir and Sekandar -- entered the room. People called Hamidul as the chief of auxiliary force Al-Shams, said Saleh Uddin.
"Without making any conversation, they began to beat me up indiscriminately," he said, adding, Salahuddin Quader's men kept asking him, "Where are the arms? Where are the others [freedom fighters]?"
"At one stage, one soldier began to beat me up with the bed stands. They broke three bed stands. I almost fainted," the SUST VC said, adding that they kept asking him to answer their questions.
The men then dragged him down to the ground floor where Salahuddin Quader was waiting.
"He is not even shedding tears, what beating have you given him?" the VC quoted Salahuddin Quader as saying.
Salahuddin then slapped him hard on his left cheek and told his men to take him to the garage downstairs which was used as a torture cell, Saleh said.
They then started beating him up there with a hosepipe. "It seemed to me I would die anytime," he said.
Saleh Uddin fainted for a while and was later taken upstairs. Nurul Islam, a senior student of Chittagong University, who served as the principal of Pahartali College, came to meet him.
Nurul asked him whether he answered to their questions.
"I told him I was not involved in anything. What would I admit?" Saleh replied.
Nurul said he would see whether something could be done for Saleh Uddin. That evening some villagers went to Goods Hill and said Saleh Uddin was a good student and was not involved in anything wrong.
"Salahuddin Quader told me he would collect more information about me," Saleh said, adding, he was asked to stay in Mohora. The soldiers then escorted him to the village on a car.
After staying a few days in Mohora, Saleh left the village in fear.
In response to a question from the prosecution, Prof Saleh Uddin said during the torture, he saw another young captive on the first floor of Goods Hill and heard Salahuddin's driver saying "That man would be killed."
The youth was taken out after a few minutes. He did not see him again as long as he stayed at the house.
The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Md Nizamul Huq started recording Saleh Uddin's 100-minute testimony at around 10:00am yesterday. Salahuddin Quader was present in the court.
Defence counsel Ahsanul Huq Hena is set to cross-examine Saleh Uddin today.
Salahuddin Quader is facing 23 counts of crimes against humanity at the tribunal.
Later, cross-examination of the investigation officer by the defence of detained Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Delawar Hossain Sayedee continued for the 35th time at the tribunal.
Sayedee is facing 20 charges of crimes against humanity committed in 1971.
QUADER MOLLAH'S CASE
Meanwhile, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday adjourned the case proceeding against Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah till today.
The three-member tribunal headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir adjourned the case proceeding following a time plea of the prosecution, as they could not produce a female witness "due to illness of her mother".
Yesterday was fixed for recording the testimony of the fourth prosecution witness behind closed doors.
On July 12, the tribunal decided to allow two female witnesses, members of victims' families, to give their testimonies against the Jamaat assistant secretary general in closed doors to protect their identity and privacy.
Of them, the first female witness gave her testimony on July 17.
Ekramul Huqe, one of the defence counsels, told The Daily Star the prosecution sought time as they could not produce the witness before the court and the tribunal allowed them time till today.
Prosecutor Nurjahan Begum Mukta told The Daily Star, "We could not produce the witness due to her mother's illness and sought time."
 published copy by: the daily star bangladesh

Internet trends in Bangladesh

The rapid growth of digital technology is fundamentally changing the world as we know it. Global internet penetration in 2010 stood at 1.9 billion people and is expected to grow to 5 billion by 2015. It is unsurprising that with this in mind, information in the world (videos, music, documents etc.) that is stored online is also projected to grow from 800 exabytes to 53 zetabytes (eMarketer, 2011).
To put this into context, Google recently announced that there is 60 hours of video (YouTube Blog, 2012) uploaded onto YouTube each and every minute.
Mobile adoption is another factor that is further accelerating access to the internet. The “Queen of the Net” Mary Meeker forecasts mobile internet usage to outstrip desktop/large screen by 2015.
So why is this relevant to us in Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, with mobile subscribers just over 92 million and mobile internet access over 25 million users (BTRC, March 2012), it is fair to say, that these “pocket computers” will be the first entry point into the internet for many people in this country.
As access to internet explodes, the internet will increasingly become where people, of all ages and demographics, spend their time and as a result it will lead to significant changes in the way we go about our daily lives.
It is second nature for an individual in New York to purchase a flight via the internet and changes such as these are soon to take place here.
G&R Ad Network, a company that manages internet ad campaigns across over 150 local websites reaching over 90% of Bangladeshis online, has built-up unique insight into how users within the country and abroad browse the web.
G&R analysed millions of data points and put together 3 key trends that can help show where the internet in Bangladesh is going.
1. Internet consumption is accelerating
The internet subscriber base in Bangladesh (excluding mobile) currently stands at just over 1.5 million (BTRC, Feb 2012). However, total desktop internet users in Bangladesh is actually far greater than that number, likely driven by heavy usage in offices, internet cafes and multiple users accessing the internet from a single household. Local industry estimates suggest that in 2011 access to the web was closer to 8 million users, having grown 300% since 2010 and expected grow a further 500% by 2020 (BCG, 2010). This acceleration of internet consumption is undoubtedly fueled not only by the growth in access, such as through WIMAX modems, but also through the proliferation of increasingly affordable laptops, desktops and tablets.
2. Those with access browse a lot
Until now, it wasn't clear how people in Bangladesh actually spend their time on the web on a daily basis. The data G&R gathered sheds some more light on consumer behaviour online.
The average user accesses the web on 3 separate occasions throughout the day, with usage peaking during the morning hours. In addition, a total of 4 different websites are typically visited during these sessions.
While usage of social networks and email services account for a considerable portion web activity, the data collected by the G&R indicates that Bangladeshis also spend a lot of time browsing the web. Such users are actively seeking information and content online and this is only going to grow further as more local websites and web applications start to enter the public domain.
3. Web usage varies considerably by day of week
Which days are Bangladeshis most online is a question that has been asked a lot at G&R. As visualised in the chart on left , web usage varies considerably based on the day of the week. Internet traffic among local Bangladeshis peaks on Mondays and is generally higher during the working days. Fridays represent substantially less traffic, but it is worth noting that internet consumption remains high for non-resident Bangladeshis visiting local Bangladeshi sites on Fridays.
Final thoughts
The rapid development of the online space in Bangladesh is very exciting and promising. The frenetic popularity of global platforms like Google, Facebook and Twitter as well as the innovation and growth of local websites, Bangla content, localised online tools and ecommerce which indicates that the internet will have an increasingly positive impact on the daily lives of people in this country

D.Net launches audio-visual content for potential female migrants

D.Net, a social enterprise through its research and with active participation of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), Bangladesh and WordForge Foundation, Spain and funding from Spanish Agency for International Development(AECID), has prepared an interactive audio-visual digital content titled “ Aparajitar Abhijatra” for potential female migrants of Bangladesh to uplift their competence level for global employment market to promote access to information and knowledge for all citizens.
To launch “Aparajita's Abhijatra”, a launching ceremony was held yesterday at Marble Room, Ruposhi Bangla Hotel.
Minister for Ministry of Labour and Employment and Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, Bangladesh Government Eng. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, MP was present as chief guest.
Prepared under D.Net's project “Empowerment of Women through the use of ICT in Bangladesh”, this content will be available on D.net's Abolombon website (www.abolombon.org/aparajita) and BMET's official website (Aparajita quicklink) as well as on DVD.
It takes them through the process of preparation, helping them at each step, providing sufficient information for them to make informed choices. It provides vital information on how to apply for passport, visa; how and where to take training; how to proceed at airports and inside airplane. It also informs the prospective migrants on what to expect at overseas workplace, how to make their own living, how to send money back home, how to manage possible risks and crisis, etc. among other issues.
This content will be distributed free of cost among government and non-government agencies, pallitathya kendras, Union Information Service Centers (UISCs), Technical Training centres who are working in this particular filed.
This content has been developed in a way that it can be an income generating source for them by providing administrative services, counseling services, briefing services to women in rural areas who are interested to become overseas workers from Bangladesh.
The event was chaired by Begum Samsun Nahar,director general, bureau of manpower, employment and training (BMET). Dr. Jafar Ahmed Khan, secretary, ministry of expatriates welfare and overseas employment, Dr. Tasnim Siddique, founding chair, refugee and migratory movement research unit and Javiar Sole, president, world forge foundation were present as special guests.
Terming the launching ceremony as a unique event, Dr. Jafar Ahmed Khan said that the content had all the necessary information in it. He requested D.Net to disseminate information and assured that Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment will help D.Net in this regard.
Minister Eng. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, MP in his speech said that for economic development of the country migration of female worker should be encouraged. He requested D.Net to provide high priority in effectively disseminating this information across the country.
He said Ministry of Labour and Employment and Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment will provide help and support to D.Net in those initiatives.

New router from Netgear

Computer City Technologies Ltd. has brought Netgear dual band Wi Fi router WNDR3700 in Bangladesh.
The router features IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.11 a/n 5.0 GHz, five 10/100/1000 (1 WAN and 4 LAN) Gigabit Ethernet ports with auto-sensing technology, Gigabit for faster wired connections, Genie - Easy dashboard control for home network, ReadySHARE USB storage for HD video streaming, IPv6 compliant (Internet Protocol Version 6).
The product has a price-tag of Tk 15,500.

Asus' new products

Global Brand Private Limited, the authorised distributor of Asus in Bangladesh, recently unveiled two new models of all-in-one PC ET2410EUTS and ET2410IUTS and A44HR laptop.
All-in-one PC
The two models are equipped with a sensitive display 23.6 inches multi-touch typing which allows a precise and accurate. These PCs allow you to watch TV at full 1080P resolution for having integrated hybrid digital/analog TV tuner with remote control.
Other features of the PCs include 2GB DDR3 RAM, 500 GB HDD, DVD writer, gigabit LAN, WLAN, webcam, HDMI port, USB ports and more.
ET2410EUTS and ET2410IUTS have price tags of Tk 70,000 and 78,000 respectively.
A44HR laptop
The laptop is equipped with Intel Core i3 2.30 GHz processor and comes with AMD Radeon HD 7470M graphics with 1GB dedicated video memory.
The A44HR features 16:9, 14-inch high definition LED panel and Altec Lansing speakers with SRS Premium Sound for great multimedia experience.
It also features 2GB DDR3 RAM, 500 GB HDD, DVD writer, gigabit LAN, 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN, webcam and more.
The laptop has a price tag of Tk 46,500

Global PC sales flat as consumers eye new gadgets

Worldwide sales of personal computers fell 0.1 percent in the second quarter of the year as consumers turned their attention to newer gadgets like tablets, a survey showed Wednesday.
The quarterly report from research firm Gartner showed PC shipments, excluding tablet computers, totaled 87.5 million units in the second quarter of 2012, a small drop year-over year.
"In the second quarter of 2012, the PC market suffered through its seventh consecutive quarter of flat to single-digit growth," said Mikako Kitagawa, analyst at Gartner.
She said that despite high expectations for the thin and light notebook segment known as ultrabooks, this sector was small and had little impact on overall sales.
"Consumers are less interested in spending on PCs as there are other technology products and services, such as the latest smartphones and media tablets that they are purchasing," she added.
"This is more of a trend in the mature market as PCs are highly saturated in these markets."
Hewlett-Packard continued to be the top PC seller with 14.9 percent market share even though its global shipments declined 12.1 percent.
It was trailed closely by Lenovo at 14.7 percent, with Acer Group third, at 11 percent and Dell fourth at 10.7 percent.
Gartner said in a statement that "Lenovo's aggressive expansion damaged its competitor's performance, namely HP and Dell, by taking shares from them."
In the US market, HP was on top with a 25 percent market share, followed by Dell at 21.7 percent and Apple at 12 percent.
A separate report last week by ABI Research said tablet computers are expected to overtake notebook PCs by 2016 as consumers shift to newer devices like the Apple iPad.

Gas found in Comilla Reserve seems medium in size; Bapex plans to supply gas from early next year

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration Company (Bapex) hit a natural gas reservoir at Srikail in Comilla yesterday, seven years after a failed attempt in the area.
Bapex Managing Director Mortuza Ahmad Faruque believes the reservoir might be medium in size but bigger than the Sangu and Semutang gas fields.
He said they had found a gas flow at the rate of 15 to 16 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) with a pressure of 1,900 pounds per square inch (psi) during a test run in an exploratory well in Srikail in the morning.
The Bapex chief expects the gas pressure would reach up to 2,700 psi at the well head when the field is ready for commercial production.
He said Bapex had resources almost ready to produce 25 to 30 mmcfd of gas from DecemberJanuary.
The country is now at least 500 mmcfd gas short in supply which is affecting the power generation and burner usage in homes. This discovery is considered big, but it would not solve the crisis entirely.
This is the second gas discovery in the present government's tenure. The first one, discovered last year also by Bapex, is in Sundalpur of Noakhali. The small field has been producing 10 to 12 mmcfd gas for the last few months.
The lone national exploration wing that presently produces 85 to 90 mmcfd gas from different small gas fields, tried to find gas in Srikail in 2005. But instead of gas, it found water and sand in the first exploratory well.
In 2007, Bapex conducted a seismic survey to understand the prospects better. Upon completion, it prepared a project to drill a new exploratory well. Accordingly, it started drilling a well on May 5 this year and completed the task of drilling up to 3,214 metres on June 30, in less than two months.
It started testing the well from July 12.
“We started getting gas from a depth of 3,020 metres. The gas layer is 15 metres thick. We have found another layer 2,970 metres below the ground which will be tested later,” said the Bapex MD.
Bapex will conduct a three dimensional seismic survey there in October to properly assess the size of the gas field. It will drill more wells based on the study.
“To avail this gas commercially, we will need a gas processing plant and install a three-kilometre feeder pipeline to connect the Srikail field with the nearby gas transmission system of Bakhrabad fields,” the MD said.
Since installing a processing plant is time consuming, Bapex plans to create a makeshift arrangement to process the gas through alternative means.
“We were approved of a project cost amounting to Tk 81 crore. Of this, Tk 60 crore has been spent on drilling and with the remaining funds we can easily go for an early commercial production,” Faruque said.
For Bapex, this is the most productive period. Right now, all its five drilling rigs are in operation in different locations.
“One rig is ready to start drilling in Sunetra from July 16,” he said.
Sunetra in Sunamganj-Netrakona is Bapex's biggest hope. Based on a seismic study, Bapex believes it has a gas structure with the promise of getting no less than two to three trillion cubic feet reserve.
Another rig is ready to start drilling the 17th well of the country's biggest and oldest gas field Titas. Two other rigs are now drilling in Salda and Kailastila fields.