Alastair Preston Reynolds is a British science fiction author. He specialises in hard science space opera, he spent his early years in Cornwall, moved back to Wales before going to Newcastle University, where he read physics and astronomy. Afterwards, he earned a PhD in astrophysics from the University of St Andrews. In 1991, he moved to Noordwijk in the Netherlands. There, he worked for the European Space Research and Technology Centre until 2004 when he left to pursue writing full-time, he lives near Cardiff. Reynolds wrote his first four published science fiction short stories while still a graduate student, in 1989–1991. In 1991 Reynolds graduated and moved from Scotland to the Netherlands to work at ESA, he started spending much of his writing time on a first novel, which turned into Revelation Space, while the few short stories he submitted from 1991–1995 were rejected. This ended in 1995 when his story "Byrd Land Six" was published, which he says marked the beginning of a more serious phase of writing.

As of 2011 he has published over nine novels. His works are hard science fiction veiled behind space opera and noir toned stories, reflect his professional expertise with physics and astronomy, included by extrapolating future technologies in terms that are consistent, for the most part, with current science. Reynolds has said he prefers to keep the science in his books to what he believes will be possible, he does not believe faster-than-light travel will be possible, but that he adopts science he believes will be impossible when it is necessary for the story. Most of Reynolds's novels contain multiple storylines that appear to be unrelated, but merge in the story. Five of his novels and several of his short stories take place within one consistent future universe now called the Revelation Space universe after the first novel published in it, although it was developed in short stories for several years before the first novel. Although most characters appear in more than one novel, the works set within this future timeline have the same protagonists twice.

The protagonists from one work belong to a group, regarded with suspicion or enmity by the protagonists of another work. While a great deal of science fiction reflects either optimistic or dystopian visions of the human future, Reynolds's future worlds are notable in that human societies have not departed to either positive or negative extremes, but instead are similar to those of today in terms of moral ambiguity and a mixture of cruelty and decency and opportunity, despite their technology being advanced; the Revelation Space series includes six novels, seven novellas, six short stories set over a span of several centuries, spanning CE 2205 to 40 000, although the novels are all set in a 300-year period spanning from CE 2427 to 2727. In this universe, extraterrestrial sentience exists but is elusive, interstellar travel is undertaken by a class of vessel called a lighthugger which only approaches the speed of light. Fermi's paradox is explained as resulting from the activities of an inorganic alien race referred to by its victims as the Inhibitors, which exterminates sentient races if they proceed above a certain level of technology.

The trilogy consisting of Revelation Space, Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap deals with humanity coming to the attention of the Inhibitors and the resultant war between them. Century Rain takes place in a future universe independent of the Revelation Space universe and has different rules, such as faster-than-light travel being possible through a system of portals similar to wormholes. Century Rain departs from Reynolds's previous works, both in having a protagonist, much closer to the perspective of our real world, serving as a proxy for the reader in confronting the unfamiliarity of the advanced science fiction aspects and in having a much more linear storytelling process. Reynolds's previous protagonists started out absorbed in the exoticisms of the future setting and his previous Revelation Space works have several interlinked story threads, not contemporaneous. According to Alastair himself, no sequel will be made on Century Rain. Pushing Ice is a standalone story, with characters from much less distant in the future than in any of his other novels, set into a framework storyline that extends much further into the future of humanity than any of his previous novels.

It contains an alternative interpretation of the Fermi paradox: intelligent sentient life in this universe is scarce. Reynolds states that he is "firmly intending" to return to the Pushing Ice setting to write a sequel; the Prefect marked a return to the Revelation Space universe. Like Chasm City, it is a stand-alone novel within that setting, it is set prior to any of the other Revelation Space novels, though still 200 years after the original human settlement is established on the planet Yellowstone in the Epsilon Eridani system. It was published in the United Kingdom on 2 April 2007. Since its publication, the title of The Prefect has been changed to Aurora Rising to more align with the name of the sequel, Elysium Fire, published in 2018, marking the first novel length return to the Revelation Space universe since 2007; this sub-series within the Revelation Space universe is now called The Prefect Dreyfus Emergen

Nehru Science Centre is the largest interactive science centre in India. It is located in Mumbai; the centre is named after Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1977, the centre started with the'Light and Sight' exhibition, in 1979 a Science Park was built. On 11 November 1985 it was opened to the public by Rajiv Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India. In 1977, Nehru Science Centre, first conceived as a Science & Technology Museum in late sixties, took final shape as India's largest interactive science centre, to match the world trends in such public institutions; the centre opened its first semi-permanent exhibition `Light & Sight' in 1977 followed by the world's first Science Park in 1979, during the International Year of the child. On 11 November 1985 the full-fledged science centre was opened to public by the late Rajiv Gandhi Prime Minister of India. Nehru Science Centre, the largest Science Centre in the country has a sprawling 8 acres of science park with varieties of plants and shrubs. More than 500 hands-on and interactive science exhibits on energy, kinematics, transport, etc. are installed in the park.

The NSC building, with its unique architecture, houses several permanent science expositions on various theme. National Council of Science Museums, the parent body of Nehru Science Centre, with its 25 science centres / museums all over the country, has the best infrastructure and skilled manpower to conceptualise, design and organise high quality science exhibits and other related educational programmes and activities; the centre is one of the four national level science museums in NCSM, working as the Western Zone Headquarters with five science centres in Nagpur, Bhopal and Goa under its umbrella, caters to the people in the Western part of India. As a part of its activities, the centre organises regular extensive science education programmes and competitions for the benefit of the common people and students in particular; every year, the centre is visited by over 750,000 people. More than 500 hands-on and interactive science exhibits are based on various aspects of science and technology, there is a collection of some historical artefacts of science and technology.

The 3D Science Show is organised at the centre. Nehru Science Centre, first conceived as a Science & Technology Museum in late sixties, took final shape as India's largest interactive science centre in 1977 to match the world trends in such public institutions; the centre opened its first semi-permanent exhibition `Light & Sight' in 1977 followed by the world's first Science Park in 1979, during the International Year of the child. The full- fledged science centre was opened to public on 11 November 1985 by late Rajiv Gandhi the Prime Minister of India. National Council of Science Museums, the parent body of Nehru Science Centre, with its 29 Science Centres / Museums all over the country, has the best infrastructure and skilled manpower to conceptualise, design and organise high quality science exhibits and other related educational programmes and activities; the centre is open to the public every day from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, including Sundays and public holidays, throughout the year except two days: One on the 2nd day of Holi and Second on the day of Diwali.

Swami Vivekananda Planetarium, Mangalore Official website

Pisang Awak is an edible banana cultivar belonging to the AABB banana cultivar group. This cultivar is grown worldwide.'Pisang Awak' is known in Australia as'Ducasse' and'Kayinja' in Uganda. The Malaysian name pisang awak is more used among research institutions. In Thailand it is known as kluai nam wa; the term nam wa has crossed over into the Khmer language where the banana is known in Cambodia as chek nam va, but is known in the Khmer-speaking Thai province of Surin as chek sâ or white banana. This banana variety has multiple romanizations including'Namwah Tall'. In Vietnamese it is known as chuối chuối xiêm. In the Philippines it is called lagkitan in the Southern Tagalog region or botolan in the Palawan region; as a stout mutation,'Dwarf Pisang Awak' is known in America as'Dwarf Namwah' as popularized by Agristarts. It is known to produce seed with the availability of fertile pollen.'Pisang Awak' is a cross between Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. It belongs to the tetraploid AABB genome group, although it was earlier belonged to the triploid ABB genome group.

Synonyms include: Musa paradisiaca var. awak.'Pisang Awak' is grown in Uganda for making banana beer. In Cambodia,'Pisang Awak' is favored over varieties for its multiple uses while other varieties are valued for the fruit; the banana blossoms and pseudostem, although astringent, are eaten as a vegetable. The leaves used as a wrap for cooking food such as amok and ansom chek in which the fragrance of the banana leaves is transferred to the food being cooked. Banana Banana Cultivar Groups Musa Musa acuminata

Rolla is a city in Morton County, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 442. For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre. In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U. S. state. In 1886, Morton County was established; the first post office at Rolla was established in 1907.

Rolla was laid out in 1913. Rolla is named after Rollie Ray Williamson, who came to Western Kansas in 1907 in a covered wagon with his mother and uncle to meet his father, who had homesteaded in the area. In the 1930s, the prosperity of the area was affected by its location within the Dust Bowl; this catastrophe intensified the economic impact of the Great Depression in the region. Rolla is located at 37°7′6″N 101°37′57″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.37 square miles, all of it land. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rolla has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps; as of the census of 2010, there were 442 people, 166 households, 124 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,194.6 inhabitants per square mile. There were 190 housing units at an average density of 513.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 83.3% White, 1.1% African American, 1.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 9.5% from other races, 3.2% from two or more races.

Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.2% of the population. There were 166 households of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, 25.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age in the city was 35.1 years. 30.8% of residents were under the age of 18. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3 % female. As of the census of 2000, there were 482 people, 165 households, 121 families residing in the city; the population density was 1,411.1 people per square mile. There were 199 housing units at an average density of 582.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 81.95% White, 1.87% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 12.45% from other races, 3.32% from two or more races.

Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.41% of the population. There were 165 households out of which 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.1% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone, 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.54. In the city, the population was spread out with 35.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $38,500, the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $24,886 versus $14,583 for females; the per capita income for the city was $13,211. About 8.8% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Rolla is a part of USD 217 Rolla. The Rolla High School mascot is Pirates; the Rolla Pirates won the Kansas State High School Class BB state basketball tournament in 1958, the 8-Man football championship in 1973 and the 8-Man DII football championship in 1996. CityRolla - Directory of Public OfficialsSchoolsUSD 217, local school districtMapsRolla City Map, KDOT

Inger Frimann Hanmann was a Danish artist, specializing in painting and enamelwork. Her younger daughter Charlotte Hanmann is a photographer and graphic artist. Inger Hanman's best known enamel art works are displayed in Danske Bank. Inger Clausen was born on 7 November 1918 in Denmark, her father was Niels Christoffer Clausen, a veterinarian. Her mother was Dagmar Madsen, her father encouraged her to take part in horse boxing. At the same time she evinced keen interest in painting; when her father moved to Copenhagen, she went with him, taking up studies at the Design School for Women from 1935 to 1938. During these studies she was influenced by the paintings of Matisse and Picasso in the museums, attended contemporary music and jazz concerts, she worked as a teacher. Hanmann married Niels Aage Hoppe, a lawyer, on 27 April 1938, they had Marianne. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 1947. In 1946, Hanmann attended Peter Rostrup Bøyesen's painting school in Copenhagen, completing her studies in 1952.

During this period she met Poul Hanman, a painter, married him after divorcing her first husband. They had a daughter, who became a famous a photographer and painter. Hanmann, along with her husband, lived in a small, modest apartment in Sydhavnen in southern Copenhagen for 30 years, they moved to an apartment on Gammel Kongevej and established their individual ateliers. Here they taught drawing, benefiting from the earnings they received from teaching art at evening classes. Inger Hanmann presented fashion designs in the Copenhagen newspapers while developing her own artistic style. A change in Hanmann's career occurred when she met Marius Schou, a director at C. Schous Fabrikker, who advised her to pursue her art work adopting the medium of industrial enamel, which the company produced; this brought about a change in her art presentations. She collaborated with A. Michelsen and Georg Jensen who were silversmiths, adapting her painting style to the creation of many enamelled holloware works, some inlaid with silver and gold leaf.

The effects of light and colour emanating from the enamel exerted considerable influence on Hanman's paintings. One of Hanmann's large enamel art works in connection with architecture is a sculpture at Landmandsbanken merged into Danske Bank, the largest enamel work in the world, unveiled on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the bank in 1971. For Copenhagen Airport, in 1989, she created an artefact in enamel, she has made several enamel reliefs for Stege School, Virum Hall and the swimming pool in Hørsholm. She created a large gable painting in Gammel Kongevej in 1990, a 15 meter high movable sculpture for the new Danish embassy in Berlin in 1999. Hanmann's non-figurative art works have been displayed at many exhibitions and in museums and internationally, she was the recipient of a grant from Denmark's National Bank Anniversary Foundation in 1984–85, benefited from an Anne Marie Telmányi Grant in 1988. Inger Hanmann died on 9 June 2007 and is buried in Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen

Roy Cornelius Smith is an American operatic tenor, from Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Smith has performed leading tenor roles at many opera houses and festivals including the Salzburg Festival, Spoleto Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Volksoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, he has performed as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice, Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal and with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2011 Smith made his Bregenzer Festspiele debut, performing the title role in Andrea Chénier. Opera News stated "Roy Cornelius Smith has crossed into the dramatic repertoire, his voice darkening and gaining power, but without loss of its inherent sweetness and trumpet-like metallic top. Creating a vivid, charismatic character, Smith excelled in the role's two big arias an impassioned ringing'Improviso'", his 2012/13 season included new productions of La fanciulla del West and Don Carlo at the National Theatre Mannheim, where he will be heard as Otello, Riccardo in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera, as Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca, debuts at the Norwegian National Opera as Canio.

Last season included his first Dick Johnson in La fanciulla del West with Lyric Opera of Chicago opposite Deborah Voigt, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Claudio Vellutini of Mundoclasico.com stated "American tenor Roy Cornelius Smith took over the demanding role of Dick Johnson. He showed remarkable command of the technical challenges of his part and his top register sounded bold and sonorous... At the end of the evening, the audience rewarded him with a standing ovation."Smith debuted with the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen where he sang Turiddu in Cavalleria rusticana, directed by Kasper Holten and Canio in Pagliacci, directed by Paul Curran under the baton of Stefano Ranzani. He performed Calaf in Turandot with New Orleans Opera opposite Lise Lindstrom and Deutsche Oper in Berlin opposite Maria Guleghina, Dick Johnson in La fanciulla del West with Nashville Opera. Recent performances include Deutsche Oper Berlin as Calaf in Turandot, New York City Opera as Haman in Esther, the title role in Andrea Chénier with Nashville Opera, Radames in Aida with Opera Birmingham, Erik in Der fliegende Holländer with New Orleans Opera, Pollione in Norma at the Chautauqua Institution.

Other highlights include Calaf in Berlin, Birmingham, North Carolina and Memphis. His successful debut as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with the Vienna Volksoper led to an invitation to sing Calaf in a new Barbe/Doucet production of Turandot for which he received rave reviews. Musical America exclaimed "his voice is huge and Italianate, his phrasing and use of dynamics generous and elegant, his stage presence endearing.'Nessun dorma', sung sweetly and thrillingly, stopping the show cold." His international debut occurred in 1998 at the prestigious Salzburger Festspiele, where he sang Fatty, the Bookkeeper, in Kurt Weill's Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny.. That same season he reprised the role in English for the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Smith has a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the American Conservatory of Music in Hammond and Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Tennessee. 1990 winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions 1997 Licia Albanese/Puccini International Voice Competition 1999 MacAllister Awards including the "Audience Favorite Award" The Houston Grand Opera Young Artist Award Metropolitan Opera, Roy Cornelius, performance record on the MetOpera Database Oestreich, James R.

A Don Giovanni Close to the Edge, Like Everyone Else, The New York Times, 7 June 2005 Silverman, New York City Opera Revives Esther and Itself, ABC News/Associated Press, 8 November 2009 von Rhein, Elektra electrifies – First nighters cheer splendor of Lyric cast, Chicago Tribune, 1 October 1992, p. 28 Official website