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Topics address positron-electron pair production and annihilation phenomena in various astrophysical sources including galaxies and galactic nuclei, neutron stars, and cosmic background radiation.

Topics address positron-electron pair production and annihilation phenomena in various astrophysical sources including galaxies and galactic nuclei, neutron stars, and cosmic background radiation.

From the interaction of physics and astrophysics we are witnessing in these years a splendid synthesis of theoretical, experimental and observational results originating from three fundametal physical processes. They were originally proposed by Dirac, by Breit and Wheeler and by Sauter, Heisenberg, Euler and Schwinger. The vacuum polarization process in strong electromagnetic field, pioneered by Sauter, Heisenberg, Euler and Schwinger, introduced the concept of critical electric field. It has been searched without success for more than forty years by heavy-ion collisions in many of the leading particle accelerators worldwide. The novel situation today is that these same processes can be studied on a much more grandiose scale during the gravitational collapse leading to the formation of a black hole being observed in Gamma Ray Bursts. This report is dedicated to the scientific race in act. The theoretical and experimental work developed in Earth-based laboratories is confronted with the theoretical interpretation of space-based observations of phenomena originating on cosmological scales. What has become clear in the last ten years is that all the three above mentioned processes, duly extended in the general relativistic framework, are necessary for the understanding of the physics of the gravitational collapse to a black hole. Vice versa, the natural arena where these processes can be observed in mutual interaction and on an unprecedented scale, is indeed the realm of relativistic astrophysics.

LibriVox volunteers bring you 20 different recordings of <em>Winter: A Dirge</em> by Robert Burns. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of January 13th, 2008.

LibriVox volunteers bring you 11 recordings of Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns. This was the weekly poetry project in honor of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a cultural event originating from Vancouver, Canada, celebrating the timely coincidence of Robert Burns Day with the Chinese New Year. January 25th, 2009 marked the convergence of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and Chinese New Year's Eve. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia.)

3Crevice

By William J. Burns and Isabel Ostrander

The sudden death of wealthy and prominent financier, Pennington Lawton from an apparent heart attack, followed by the shocking revelation of his impending bankruptcy, leaves his sole heir and only daughter, Anita, distraught and nearly penniless. Nonetheless, she is determined to unravel the mystery surrounding her father’s death and the loss of his great fortune. To this end she engages the famous detective, Henry Blaine who is determined to unravel the tangled web of deception and restore both her father’s reputation and Anita’s inheritance. <br /><br /> Isabel Ostrander, who also wrote under the pseudonyms Christopher B. Booth, Robert Orr Chipperfield, David Fox, and Douglas Grant, was a prolific author of early American crime fiction. In <i>The Crevice</i> she collaborated with coauthor, William J. Burns, who served for three years as director of the Bureau of Investigation (a predecessor of the FBI)and was also famous for his exploits as a private detective. His cases served as material for the “true” crime stories he later wrote and published in detective magazines in the early 20th century. (summary by J. M. Smallheer)

A LibriVox' Weekly Poetry tribute to Robbie Burns on the upcoming Robbie Burns Day. (January 25)<br /><br /> Robert Burns (also known as Robbie Burns, Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, Robden of Solway Firth, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as The Bard) was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a light Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these writings his political or civil commentary is often at its bluntest.</p> Burns Night, in effect a second national day, is celebrated on Burns's birthday, 25 January, with Burns suppers around the world, and is more widely observed in Scotland than the official national day, St. Andrew's Day. <br /><br /> The format of Burns suppers has changed little since. The basic format starts with a general welcome and announcements, followed with the Selkirk Grace. After the grace comes the piping and cutting of the haggis, when Burns's famous "Address to a Haggis" is read and the haggis is cut open. The event usually allows for people to start eating just after the haggis is presented. At the end of the meal, a series of toasts and replies is made. This is when the toast to "the immortal memory", an overview of Burns's life and work, is given. The event usually concludes with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne".<br /> A crater on Mercury is named after Burns. (Summary from Wikipedia)

5Joyful Widower

By Robert Burns

LibriVox volunteers bring you 12 recordings of The Joyful Widower by Robert Burns.<br> This was the Weekly Poetry project for June 23, 2019. <br> ------<br> Most of this song is by Burns: his fancy was fierce with images of matrimonial joy or infelicity, and he had them ever ready at the call of the muse. It was first printed in the Musical Museum.] (text )

First published in 1927, "Tombstone" defined the legend of lawman-gunfighter Wyatt Earp. A mixture of fact and fiction, Walter Noble Burns's portrayal of Earp has profoundly influenced subsequent generations of historians, novelists, and screen writers. But Burns' book covers much more of Tombstone Arizona's history than just the Earp brothers, introducing the reader to such colorful characters as Curly Bill, John Slaughter, Indian Charlie, Coyote Smith, and John Ringo. This important book was the result of careful research and interviews of old-timers who knew Tombstone in its roaring days. - Summary by Dale Barkley

From the darkest corners of the Amazon to the idyllic island paradise of Borneo, the early years of Weird Tales were chocked full of dread tales of jungle terrors. Fierce beasts, deadly cannibals and all other manner of unknown horrors await beneath the lush canopies of trees. Even if you aren't foolish enough to brave the dangers of the jungle, the jungle may come to you instead! Join us for another fright-filled collection of stories from the celebrated halls of Weird Tales magazine! - Summary by Ben Tucker

This is a captivating and influential biography that immortalizes the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid as a mythic hero of the Old West. First published in 1926, this dramatic portrait of Billy's life and experiences in the violent war between rival gangs in New Mexico has left an indelible mark on the historical literature of the American frontier. Burns' portrayal of Billy the Kid kindled a lasting fascination with the legendary outlaw, and his book remains a seminal work in the study of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War. Even a century later, Burns' vivid narrative and compelling characterization continue to captivate readers and historians alike. - Summary by Dale Barkley