Kebenaran Al-Qur'an: Tentang Lubang Hitam (Black Hole)

Abad ke-20 menyaksikan banyak sekali penemuan baru tentang peristiwa alam di ruang angkasa. Salah satunya, yang belum lama ditemukan, adalah Black Hole [Lubang Hitam]. Ini terbentuk ketika sebuah bintang yang telah menghabiskan seluruh bahan bakarnya ambruk hancur ke dalam dirinya sendiri, dan akhirnya berubah menjadi sebuah lubang hitam dengan kerapatan tak hingga dan volume nol serta medan magnet yang amat kuat. Kita tidak mampu melihat lubang hitam dengan teropong terkuat sekalipun, sebab tarikan gravitasi lubang hitam tersebut sedemikian kuatnya sehingga cahaya tidak mampu melepaskan diri darinya. Namun, bintang yang runtuh seperti itu dapat diketahui dari dampak yang ditimbulkannya di wilayah sekelilingnya. Di surat Al Waaqi'ah, Allah mengarahkan perhatian pada masalah ini sebagaimana berikut, dengan bersumpah atas letak bintang-bintang:

Maka Aku bersumpah dengan tempat beredarnya bintang-bintang. Sesungguhnya sumpah itu adalah sumpah yang besar kalau kamu mengetahui. (QS. Al Waaqi'ah, 56: 75-76)

Istilah "lubang hitam" pertama kali digunakan tahun 1969 oleh fisikawan Amerika John Wheeler. Awalnya, kita beranggapan bahwa kita dapat melihat semua bintang. Akan tetapi, belakangan diketahui bahwa ada bintang-bintang di ruang angkasa yang cahayanya tidak dapat kita lihat. Sebab, cahaya bintang-bintang yang runtuh ini lenyap. Cahaya tidak dapat meloloskan diri dari sebuah lubang hitam disebabkan lubang ini merupakan massa berkerapatan tinggi di dalam sebuah ruang yang kecil. Gravitasi raksasanya bahkan mampu menangkap partikel-partikel tercepat, seperti foton [partikel cahaya]. Misalnya, tahap akhir dari sebuah bintang biasa, yang berukuran tiga kali massa Matahari, berakhir setelah nyala apinya padam dan mengalami keruntuhannya sebagai sebuah lubang hitam bergaris tengah hanya 20 kilometer (12,5 mil)! Lubang hitam berwarna "hitam", yang berarti tertutup dari pengamatan langsung. Namun demikian, keberadaan lubang hitam ini diketahui secara tidak langsung, melalui daya hisap raksasa gaya gravitasinya terhadap benda-benda langit lainnya. Selain gambaran tentang Hari Perhitungan, ayat di bawah ini mungkin juga merujuk pada penemuan ilmiah tentang lubang hitam ini:

Maka apabila bintang-bintang telah dihapuskan (QS. Al Mursalaat, 77: 8)

Selain itu, bintang-bintang bermassa besar juga menyebabkan terbentuknya lekukan-lekukan yang dapat ditemukan di ruang angkasa. Namun, lubang hitam tidak hanya menimbulkan lekukan-lekukan di ruang angkasa tapi juga membuat lubang di dalamnya. Itulah mengapa bintang-bintang runtuh ini dikenal sebagai lubang hitam. Kenyataan ini mungkin dipaparkan di dalam ayat tentang bintang-bintang, dan ini adalah satu bahasan penting lain yang menunjukkan bahwa Al Qur'an adalah firman Allah:

Demi langit dan Ath Thaariq, tahukah kamu apakah Ath Thaariq? (yaitu) bintang yang cahayanya menembus. (QS. At Thaariq, 86: 1-3)

Source: Harun Yahya

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The Winner Battle of the Bands is Bluesy "Brighter Side"

CANTON — An audible, collective groan could be heard at The Repository’s 8th Annual Battle of the Bands when emcees Dan Kane and Aron Kitzmiller announced “The Brighter Side” as its first-ever blues band entry.

Those groans turned to screams as about 1,200 fans, mostly Stark County teens, jumped to their feet to cheer on this year’s hands-down winner of the event Saturday night at the Palace Theatre.

Winning over the crowd with his shockingly mature voice and cool, relaxed stage presence was 14-year-old lead singer Jake Friel. He stunned the young audience with his harmonica playing on the original song, “Bad,” as well as their cover of Jimi Hendricks’ “Red House.”

“When we saw the crowd response, it was awesome,” said Friel, who admitted to being very nervous playing for an audience of his peers. “It was so cool. I felt like we were bringing the blues back.”

His mom, Nan Friel, said their usual audience is in the 40-65 age range. She was moved to tears by the crowd reaction and the sight of all the represented schools’ fans on their feet for them.

“What’s really cool is my dad performed at The Palace in 1931, so it’s come full circle,” she said of Jake’s grandfather, a Vaudeville performer.

Jake, she said, has grown up listening to the blues, as has the rest of his band members, who all come from musical families.

Lead guitarist Fuad Farah, drummer David Wilson and bassist Noah Simionides round out the group that represented GlenOak High School.

Farah’s father, Dr. Constantine Farah, serves as their musical director and arranges their songs.

Picking this year’s winner were five local musicians and club promoters: Nick Brewer, Tim Eddings, Nate Monea, Billy Ludwig and Andy Dolson.

Dolson said that while the decision was tough, it was unanimous.

“If I were listening to this band at a club and I hadn’t known they were in high school, they still would have wowed me,” he said.

“They clearly caught the attention of everyone in the room.”

Giving them a run for the money were seven talented bands.

Perry’s Across the Viaduct was the first band on stage. Lead singer Steven Turner charmed the audience with his laugh as he encouraged their cheers. Their choice of cover song, “Animal” by Neon Trees, was ideal for his voice.

Jackson High School’s Line of Defense walked out on stage like they owned it. Seasoned performers, the band’s cover of “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol was also well-suited to the lead singer Zakk Stayer’s deep, rock star voice.

O.N.E. from Hoover High School featured sweet-voiced Emily Jackson and stand-out lead guitarist Matt Chambers.

Back for a second try was Lake High School’s Sicadia, whose rock version of “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black-eyed Peas, was a fan favorite.

Jackson High School’s “Motion” seemed to have the largest fan base, along with Hoover’s NOCA.

Motion performed “Hey Ya,” another Black-Eyed Peas song, as their cover, while NOCA showed off a true hard rock sound.

Finally, Messy Face from Jackson High School featured talented vocalist Erin Mason, who performed a strong version of Katy Perry’s “Hot and Cold.”

“All the bands were great,” said Dolson, but it was The Brighter Side who stole the show. “There was just something about their stage presence.”

Source: http://www.cantonrep.com/carousel/x868521675/Bluesy-Brighter-Side-is-Battle-of-the-Bands-winner

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Wisconsin layoffs loom amid budget impasse

(Reuters) - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker issued layoff warning notices on Friday to unions representing state workers as a battle intensified between Republican and Democratic lawmakers over union bargaining rights that has sparked protests and a national debate.

"If the Senate Democrats come back to Wisconsin, these notices may be able to be rescinded and layoffs avoided," Walker said in a statement. "This action is necessary due to the delay in passage of the budget repair bill."

The warning notices were sent to at least 13 unions including AFSCME, Association of State Prosecutors and Wisconsin Education Association Council. The notes do not represent actual layoffs, but took the war of words between the newly elected governor and state Democrats to a new level.

The number of potential layoffs was not specified, but Walker said this week about 1,500 workers would be affected.

Walker, a Republican who this week projected a budget deficit for Wisconsin of $3.6 billion for the coming two years, has proposed a budget "fix" for the current year ending in June that would eliminate most of the collective bargaining rights for most of the state's 300,000 public employees.

That measure drew more than 70,000 protesters to the capital a week ago the biggest local march since the Vietnam War. It has also become the epicenter of a national debate on union rights.

Walker's bill remains stalled in the Wisconsin Senate where all 14 Democrats fled to neighboring Illinois two weeks ago to deny the measure the quorum it needs to pass in the chamber.

Dave Hansen, one of the 14, issued a statement on Friday saying that while he had believed the two sides were making progress earlier in the week, "it has become increasingly apparent that Governor Walker is not interested in compromise, but instead appears intent on prolonging the impasse."

Behind-the-scenes negotiations have failed to produce a compromise. Just one Democrat is needed for a quorum.

Walker told reporters late on Thursday that "extremist elements" among 14 absent Democrats had blocked progress.

"Just when we think the process is moving forward, we see no action," Walker said. "We're frustrated."

Walker said some of the absent Democrats, who have been threatened with $100-a-day fines and the prospect of being arrested and taken to the Senate if they return to Wisconsin, appear willing to stay away "not only for several more months, but potentially the next two years."

With no action expected on the bill, Walker said he will be forced to send out layoff notices to 1,500 state employees, saving some $30 million.

"The reality is, we shouldn't have to be going down the path of preparing for layoffs." Walker said.

POTENTIAL BACKLASH?

In the Midwest, the traditional "Rust Belt" heartland of the country and home to big unionized manufacturers like the auto and steel industries, there were signs that some Republican budget "hawks" were taking caution from Wisconsin.

A poll by Rasmussen Reports of 800 Wisconsin voters on March 2 found 34 percent strongly approved of Walker's performance as governor, while 48 percent strongly disapproved. Walker was elected with a 52 percent majority last November.

In Ohio, where legislators are considering even more stringent curbs on unions, the Republican leader of the state's House of Representatives decided on Friday to hold at least three weeks of debate on a bill -- a setback for its backers.

Republican Gov. John Kasich had hoped to enact Senate Bill 5 by March 15 when he is scheduled to unveil his two-year budget proposal for fiscal 2012-2013.

The vote in the Ohio Senate on Wednesday was 17 to 16 with six Republicans joining Democrats in voting against.

In Indiana, where 38 Democrats have also fled the state to delay a vote on bills they say would harm workers' rights, Republicans on Friday voted to impose a $250-a-day fine starting on Monday for members who aren't on the House floor.

Protests against the Wisconsin bill included a two-week-long occupation of the state Capitol building.

Walker's budget repair bill increases worker contributions to their pensions and health care and Walker said it provides tools for local governments to cut expenses, reducing the need for layoffs in the current fiscal year.

The group Americans for Prosperity said on Friday they will do a "Stand Against Spending, Stand With Walker" bus tour around Wisconsin on Saturday in support Walker's plan, with a rally planned for Sunday in Madison but not at the Capitol.

Opponents including the AFL-CIO and other unions said they will continue to organize protests at the Capitol on Saturday and Sunday along with smaller events throughout the state.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/05/us-wisconsin-budget-idUSTRE72041C20110305

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Apple may be prepping iPad 3 for fall 2011 launch

Reports have emerged of a fall launch of Apple's third-generation iPad in order to match the touchscreen tablet's release schedule with the company's annual iPod releases and the holiday season.

John Gruber of Daring Fireball sparked the first rumors Wednesday when he mentioned that the HP TouchPad may "bump up against the release of the iPad 3" in a post. HP unveiled the webOS-based tablet Wednesday, though the device will not become available until "later in the summer."

After speculation arose that Gruber's comments were based on inside information, he clarified his thoughts as mere guesswork in a subsequent post.

"My gut feeling is that Apple will move the iPad to a September release schedule, alongside the iPods," he wrote. "But they wouldn’t want to wait over a year and a half from the announcement of the original iPad to announce the second one."

Gruber guesses that Apple will release the second-generation iPad "fairly soon," possibly in March with a shipping date in early April. The updated device would be faster, with "more RAM, maybe more storage, thinner and lighter, a front-facing camera." He also believes iOS 5 would be announced in March and ship in June.

"iPad 3, shipping in September, announced at the annual iPod event. Running iOS 5.1, same as the next-generation iPod Touch," predicted Gruber, adding that the release may be more like an iPad 2.5, iPad 2 HD or iPad 2 Pro--"a new higher-end model that sits atop the iPad product family, not a replacement for the iPad 2 models."

Gruber's conjectures were followed by a report from TechCrunch's MG Siegler that lent credence to the speculation, though for different reasons. Siegler cited a "very good" anonymous source that claims Apple is planning a "big fall surprise" related to the iPad 3.

"We don’t have any more concrete information beyond that," said Siegler. "But, as of right now, the plan is apparently to release one iteration of the iPad in the next few weeks. And then blow the doors open with another new version in the fall."

He went on to surmise that a third-generation iPad could have "a retina-like display" or perhaps "another, slightly smaller form factor," though Apple CEO Steve Jobs has downplayed the possibility.

While Apple has yet to formally announce the second-generation iPad, reports of the device have picked up steam as of late. On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple has begun manufacturing the next-generation tablet. As reported by AppleInsider in January, the iPad 2 is expected to be thinner and lighter, with a faster processor, more memory, a FaceTime-ready camera and an upgraded graphics processor.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/09/apple_may_be_prepping_ipad_3_for_fall_2011_launch_rumor.html

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Kebenaran Al-Quran: Tentang Lalat

“Hai manusia, telah dibuat perumpamaan, maka dengarkanlah olehmu perumpamaan itu. Sesungguhnya segala yang kamu seru selain Allah sekali-kali tidak dapat menciptakan seekor lalat pun, walaupun mereka bersatu untuk menciptakannya. Dan jika lalat itu merampas sesuatu dari mereka, tiadalah mereka dapat merebutnya kembali dari lalat itu. Amat lemahlah yang menyembah dan amat lemah (pulalah) yang disembah. Mereka tidak mengenal Allah dengan sebenarbenarnya. Sesungguhnya Allah benar-benar Mahakuat lagi Mahaperkasa.” (QS. Al Hajj, 22: 73-74)

Lalat adalah jenis serangga yang berasal dari subordo Cyclorrapha ordo Diptera. Secara morfologi lalat dibedakan dari nyamuk (subordo Nematocera) berdasarkan ukuran antenanya; lalat berantena pendek, sedangkan nyamuk berantena panjang. Lalat umumnya mempunyai sepasang sayap asli serta sepasang sayap kecil yang digunakan untuk menjaga stabilitas saat terbang. Lalat sering hidup di antara manusia dan sebagian jenis dapat menyebabkan penyakit yang serius. Lalat disebut penyebar penyakit yang sangat serius karena setiap lalat hinggap di suatu tempat, kurang lebih 125.000 kuman yang jatuh ke tempat tersebut.

Lalat sangat mengandalkan penglihatan untuk bertahan hidup. Mata majemuk lalat terdiri atas ribuan lensa dan sangat peka terhadap gerakan. Beberapa jenis lalat memiliki penglihatan tiga dimensi yang akurat. Beberapa jenis lalat lain, misalnya Ormia ochracea, memiliki organ pendengaran yang sangat canggih.

Pemandangan Panoramik dari Ribuan Lensa

Lensa-lensa berbentuk segi enam yang membentuk mata lalat memberikan bidang penglihatan yang jauh lebih besar daripada lensa biasa. Pada sebagian lalat, kadang-kala terdapat hingga 5000 lensa. Di samping itu, struktur bulat mata juga memungkinkan lalat melihat ke belakang tubuh, dan dengan demikian memberinya keunggulan atas musuhnya.

Pompa Penyerap pada Lalat: Belalai

Ciri khas lalat lainnya adalah cara mereka mencerna makanan. Tidak seperti organisme hidup lain, lalat tidak mencerna makanan di dalam mulut, tetapi di luar tubuh mereka. Lalat menuangkan cairan khusus ke atas makanannya dengan belalai (prosbosis), mengubah kekentalan makanan tersebut agar sesuai untuk diserap. Kemudian, lalat menyerap makanan tersebut dengan pompa penyerap di kerongkongannya.

Mulut Lalat dan Ritsleting

Ritsleting baru ditemukan satu abad yang lalu. Akan tetapi, lalat telah menggunakan sistem ritsleting untuk menutup bibir bagian bawahnya selama ratusan ribu tahun, sejak mereka diciptakan. Ujung belalai atau proboscis mengembang, membantu memperlihatkan ritsleting alami tersebut.

Sebagai Obat
Berdasarkan Hadits berikut:

Dari Abu Said Al-Khudri dari Rasulullah bersabda: “Sesungguhnya pada salah satu diantara dua sayap lalat itu terdapat racun dan syap lainnya terdapat obat penawarnya. Apabila lalat jatuh di makanan maka celupkanlah karena lalat mengedepankan racun dan mengakhirkan obat penawarnya”.

Sumber:
Harun Yahya: Keajaiban Flora dan Fauna
http://id.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalat
http://sayyidario.blogspot.com/2010/10/riset-hadits-mikrobiologi-kebenaran.html

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