Neutron stars

An artists depiction of a neutron star

Neutron Stars are the left-overs of stars that have died in supernovae. They are the smallest and densest stars ever found. They are very rare and very small. However, they are extremely interesting.

A supernova happens at the end of a giant star's life when they are unable to stop the heavy core of the star from collapsing under the gravity that it produces. This causes a huge implosion, which is the opposite of an explosion, often burning brighter than an entire galaxy. When all the materials from the outer shell is ejected, a lone neutron star, about the size of a city, shines dimly.

The inner structure of a neutron star.
The inner core's structure is unknown

This neutron star, approximately 140000 times smaller than the Sun, weighs up to 3 times as heavy as the Sun! A single teaspoon of neutron star weighs as much as a mountain. Thus, the strong gravitational forces and magnetic fields of the neutron star will destroy any object that comes too close to it.


In conclusion neutron stars are very strange and dangerous. However I am fascinated by them.


Credits for an artists depiction of a neutron star:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ANeutron_star_cross_section.svg
By Robert Schulze (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Credits for the inner structure of a neutron star: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ANeutron_star_illustrated.jpg
By Casey Reed - Penn State University (Casey Reed - Penn State University) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Vidoe Game Review : OpenTTD

OpenTTD

This is a COMPLETELY FREE (!) free and open source game based on

 Chris Sawyer's 1995 game Transport Tycoon and Transport Tycoon Deluxe. You use buses, trucks, trains, planes and ships to transport passengers and goods over a 32 bit landscape with towns, cities, factories and farms.

You start (by default) in the beginning of 1950 and then you build a transport empire until...forever. You can set AI opponents to compete with. There are random disasters that happen and they can damage your transportation empire. There are new vehicles every few years. There are different landscapes that you can play like sub-artic and Toyland (OH GOSH MY EYES! :o) but they only slightly change the mechanics.

Lastly since there are a lot of mods like one that puts you on the fictional third moon of Pluto called Nix (but that one's not completed yet) and some that enhances AI.

Conclusion: The game is very hard if you don't understand how it works but I still like as you can watch you empire slowly but surely grow. Go to the OpenTTD Wiki to see all the vehicles. I give it a 8 out of 10.

P6 PSLE Exams

This year I turned 12 years old and I had to go to the final year of primary school in Singapore. I was unable to write too many blog posts due to PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination). But, I am now able to create some posts as the PSLE exam is over. Expect one this week.