Complete census of wide visual companions to nearby G-dwarf stars can be achieved by selecting candidates from the 2MASS Point-Source Catalog and checking their status by secondepoch imaging. Such data are obtained for 124 candidates with separations up to 20, 47 of which are shown to be new physical low-mass stellar companions. A list of visual binaries with G-dwarf primaries is produced by co...

We present an analysis of eleven years of precision radial velocity measurements of 76 nearby solar type stars from the Lick radial velocity survey. For each star, we report on variability, periodicity and long term velocity trends. Our sample of stars contains eight known companions with mass (Mp sin i) less than 8 Jupiter masses (MJ ), six of which were discovered at Lick. For the remaining s...

In this review I present the binary model for the shaping of planetary nebulae (PNe) as I view it, in the context of historical evolution of other models for the shaping of PNe over more than 30 years. In describing the binary model, I concentrate on works published since the last IAU meeting on PNe. I think stellar companions are behind the shaping of bipolar PNe, i.e., having two lobes with a...

Companion Cognitive Systems is a cognitive architecture inspired by natural intelligent systems. In this paper, we describe seven design goals of Companions, relate them to properties of human reasoning, and discuss their implications. We present our experiences in developing and experimenting with Companions so far, and the challenges that remain.

Precise radial–velocity observations at Haute–Provence Observatory (OHP, France) with the ELODIE echelle spectrograph have been undertaken since 1994. In addition to several discoveries described elsewhere, including and following that of 51 Peg b, they reveal new sub–stellar companions with essentially moderate to long periods. We report here about such companions orbiting five solar–type star...

Almost half of the stellar systems in the solar neighborhood are made up of multiple stars. In multiple-star systems, planet formation is under the dynamical influence of stellar companions, and the planet occurrence rate is expected to be different from that for single stars. There have been numerous studies on the planet occurrence rate of single star systems. However, to fully understand pla...

Aims. We present the results of a deep imaging survey of stars surrounded by planets detected through the radial velocity technique. The purpose is to search for and to characterize long-period stellar and substellar companions. The sample contains a total of 26 stars, among which 6 exhibit additional radial velocity drifts. Methods. We used NACO, at the ESO Very Large Telescope, and PUEO-KIR, ...

The imagination and creativity of children is often puzzling to the adult mind. Pretend play and make-believe friends are often prevalent in the life of a child. Past research shows a relationship between the use of the imagination in children’s play and their social, cognitive, and emotional development. Furthermore, there are a number of gender differences in the type of imaginary play and pr...