Pulsar
A pulsar (short for pulsating radio star) is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation. This radiation can be observed only when the beam of emission is pointing toward Earth (much the way a lighthouse can be seen only when the light is pointed in the direction of an observer), and is responsible for the pulsed appearance of emission. Neutron stars are very dense, and have short, regular rotational periods. This produces a very precise interval between pulses that range roughly from milliseconds to seconds for an individual pulsar. Pulsars are believed to be one of the candidates of high and ultra-high energy astroparticles (see also Centrifugal mechanism of acceleration).
The precise periods of pulsars make them useful tools. Observations of a pulsar in a binary neutron star system were used to indirectly confirm the existence of gravitational radiation. The first extrasolar planets were discovered around a pulsar, PSR B1257+12. Certain types of pulsars rival atomic clocks in their accuracy in keeping time.
Pulsar (Marvel Comics)
Pulsar is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe, a member of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard.
Publication history
The character first appeared as Impulse in X-Men #107 (October 1977-February 1978), and was created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum.
The character subsequently appears in X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers #2 (June 1990), Quasar #32 (March 1992), Inhumans Vol. 4 #4 (September 2000), JLA/Avengers #1 (September 2003), and Uncanny X-Men #477 (October 2006) and #480 (January 2007).
Impulse appeared as part of the "Imperial Guard" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #6.
Fictional character biography
Pulsar is a long-time member of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard, also known as Impulse. He is made of pure energy, and his form is only contained by his costume. He can release blasts of energy from his visor.
He was with the Imperial Guard the first time they fought the X-Men.
He was seemingly killed by Vulcan, who breached Impulse's suit. Pulsar later reappeared alive, battling alongside the rest of the Imperial Guard in an assault on the Kree, where Pulsar gravely wounded the Inhuman elite warrior, Gorgon.
Pulsar (watch)
Pulsar is a brand of watch and a division of Seiko Watch Corporation of America (SCA). While Pulsar was the world's first electronic digital watch, today Pulsar watches are usually analog. They generally use the same movements as the lower-end Seikos such as the 7T62 quartz chronograph movement.
History
The first Pulsar was a brand of The Hamilton Watch Company which announced that it was making the watch in early 1970. It was developed jointly by Hamilton and Electro/Data, Inc. In the spring of 1972, the first Pulsar watch was marketed by The Hamilton Watch Co. (the parent company, not the Hamilton Watch Division). With an 18-carat gold case, the world's first all-electronic digital watch was also the first to use a digital display — created with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A button was pressed to display the time. The first Pulsar initially sold for $2100 ($12,300 in 2016 dollars).
The Potpourri segment in the October 1972 issue of Playboy mentions the first Pulsar - and carries a photo.
Humanoid
A humanoid (/ˈhjuːmənɔɪd/; from English human and -oid "resembling") is something that has an appearance resembling a human being. The earliest recorded use of the term, in 1870, referred to indigenous peoples in areas colonized by Europeans. By the 20th century, the term came to describe fossils which were morphologically similar, but not identical, to those of the human skeleton. Although this usage was common in the sciences for much of the 20th century, it is now considered rare. More generally, the term can refer to anything with uniquely human characteristics and/or adaptations, such as possessing opposable anterior forelimb-appendages (thumbs), visible spectrum-binocular vision (having two eyes), or biomechanic digitigrade-bipedalism (the ability to walk on heels in an upright position).
In theoretical convergent evolution
Although there are no known humanoid species outside the genus Homo, the theory of convergent evolution speculates that different species may evolve similar traits, and in the case of a humanoid these traits may include intelligence and bipedalism and other humanoid skeletal changes, as a result of similar evolutionary pressures. American psychologist and Dinosaur intelligence theorist Harry Jerison suggested the possibility of sapient dinosaurs. In a 1978 presentation at the American Psychological Association, he speculated that dromiceiomimus could have evolved into a highly intelligent species like human beings. In his book, Wonderful Life, Stephen Jay Gould argues that if the tape of life were re-wound and played back, life would have taken a very different course.Simon Conway Morris counters this argument, arguing that convergence is a dominant force in evolution and that since the same environmental and physical constraints act on all life, there is an "optimum" body plan that life will inevitably evolve toward, with evolution bound to stumble upon intelligence, a trait of primates, crows, and dolphins, at some point.
The Humanoid
L'umanoide, internationally released as The Humanoid and Humanoid, is a 1979 Italian science fiction film directed by Aldo Lado (credited as George B. Lewis).
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References
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Humanoid (disambiguation)
A humanoid is any being whose body structure resembles that of a human (i.e., bipedal, etc.).
Humanoid may also refer to:
- Creation of the Humanoids, a movie based on the novel
- "Stakker Humanoid", a hit single by the above artist.
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