Coming soon: An atomic clock that can fit in your pocket

Knowing what time it is down to the very last sliver of a second is easy but only if you happen to have an atomic clock in your pocket. Unfortunately, most such devices wouldn't fit. In fact, there probably wouldn't even be room in the average studio apartment. But all that may be about to change.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are developing what they say is a highly accurate atomic clock the size of a Rubik's cube, measuring about 2 inches in each dimension. The clock could one day be used to keep time in places where conventional clocks, like the ones on a cell phone, don't work like underwater or in war zones, where signal jamming limits connectivity to satellite networks the researchers said.

Like other atomic clocks, the MIT prototype keeps time by measuring the natural vibration, or oscillation, of cesium atoms in a vacuum. All atoms oscillate at a particular frequency when they move between two energy levels, but since the 1960s, cesium's frequency has been used to define the length of one second. Essentially, one second equals 9,192,631,770 oscillations of a cesium atom. [Wacky Physics: The Coolest Little Particles in Nature]

To keep track of cesium's oscillations, scientists typically use what's known as a fountain clock: a huge tabletop covered in wires and high-tech equipment that looks nothing at all like the clock on your kitchen wall. Resembling a fountain spewing water at the sky, the clock tosses small clouds of cesium atoms several feet into the air and then keeps track of how many times they oscillate, or move up and down, through a microwave beam.

It takes a big clock to keep track of more than 9 billion oscillations. So, to shrink one of these oversized instruments, the researchers decided to measure fewer oscillations at a time 10-milliseconds' worth, to be exact. By multiplying the number of oscillations that occur in 10 milliseconds by 100, the researchers can estimate how many oscillations would occur in a full second. They also changed the beam that the atoms are moving through from a microwave beam to a laser beam, which is easier to control in a small space.

With these modifications, the MIT team was able to make its fountain clock much more compact than, say, the NIST-F2 the cesium fountain atomic clock that serves as America's master clock at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado. However, MIT's miniaturized atomic clock isn't nearly as accurate as the NIST-F2, which can keep time without losing or gaining a single second for 300 million years.

"That's fine, because we're not trying to make the world's standard we're trying to make something that would fit in, say, a Rubik's cube, and be stable over a day or a week," Krish Kotru, a graduate student in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and co-author of a new paper outlining the clock project, said in a statement.

If the researchers can shrink their clock down to a portable size, it can be used in places where cell phones, which also run on atomic time, won't work. Submarine crews or deep-sea divers may even be able to use these highly accurate clocks underwater. Furthermore, soldiers on the battlefield could use the devices even if satellite signals are jammed, the researchers said.

There are other miniaturized versions of these clocks, known as chip-size atomic clocks (CSACs), already on the market. CSACs, which are about the size of a matchbox, solve the portability problem, but they sacrifice a lot of the preciseness of conventional atomic clocks, according to the researchers.

"We have a path toward making a compact, robust clock that's better than CSACs by a couple of orders of magnitude, and more stable over longer periods of time," Kotru said. "Additional miniaturization could ultimately result in a handheld device with stability [that is] orders of magnitude better than compact atomic clocks available today."

To test the alleged robustness of their new clock, the team simulated carrying the device over rugged terrain by moving the clock's laser beam from side to side as it probed the cloud of cesium atoms. But even with its laser beam shaking around, the clock still kept time accurately, according to the researchers.

Lets say one day we got it small enough so you could put it in your backpack, or in your vehicle, said Kotru. Having it be able to operate while youre moving across the ground is important.

Such a device, he added, could take on more high-tech applications, such as synchronizing telecommunications networks.

Copyright 2014 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Burkina Faso names army colonel Zida as prime minister

(Reuters) - Burkina Faso's transitional government named Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida as prime minister on Wednesday, four days after he restored the country's constitution under pressure from the African Union and the West.

Zida declared himself head of state on Nov. 1 after mass protests toppled President Blaise Compaore who then fled the West African country. The African Union gave Zida two weeks to restore civilian rule or face economic sanctions.

As prime minister, Zida, a large, bespectacled man with a trademark red beret, will help Burkina Faso's newly appointed interim president, Michel Kafando, to appoint a 25-member government that will steer the country to new elections in 2015.

Neither Kafando, a former foreign minister and ambassador to the United Nations, nor Zida will be allowed to take part in next year's presidential election.

Compaore triggered the protests against his rule last month when he tried to change the constitution and extend his 27-year grip on power.

Compaore was a regional power broker and a key Western ally against Islamist militants. France has a special forces unit based in Burkina Faso as part of a regional counter-terrorism operation. The country has long been one of Africa's cotton producers and is now also mining gold.

Hong Kong Activists Try to Storm Legislature

Tensions spiked at democracy protests that have gripped Hong Kong for nearly two months as a small group of activists clashed with police while trying to break into the city's legislature early Wednesday.

Police arrested six people in the overnight clashes and warned of more arrests. The scuffling came hours after authorities enforced a court order to clear some barricades from a small section of a nearby site occupied by pro-democracy activists.

The clashes underscored mounting frustration as the protests calling for free elections in China's semiautonomous territory drag on for more than 50 days with no end in sight.

Protest leaders distanced themselves from and condemned the violence, which was apparently organized through an Internet forum known to attract people with radical views. But they also blamed the Hong Kong government for angering demonstrators by failing to respond to their demands.

The protesters used metal barricades and concrete slabs to smash glass doors at the legislature before police used pepper spray, batons and riot shields to push them back. Police said the protesters repeatedly charged their cordon and injured three officers.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Fernando Cheung tried to intervene, but was pulled aside by protesters.

"We can't agree with the reason for taking this action," said Joshua Wong, the 18-year-old leader of Scholarism, one of two student groups leading the protests.

A third group involved in organizing the protests, Occupy Central, said that those responsible for the violence misled the crowd into attacking the legislature by spreading "false information." Rumors were reportedly circulating that lawmakers were scheduled to pass a bill that could restrict Internet freedom, when in reality the bill is still being discussed.

The student-led democracy protesters reject restrictions laid down by Beijing on inaugural 2017 elections for Hong Kong's top leader. But the students have been fighting to maintain momentum as the Hong Kong government appears to adopt a strategy of standing by in hopes it fizzles out.

The students' requests to talk to China's Communist leaders in Beijing have been rebuffed and three student leaders were prevented from flying to the Chinese capital on the weekend.

Authorities are expected to enforce a separate court order later this week requiring removal of some barricades from a second protest site in the Mong Kok district.

The Pirelli 2015 Calendar Has Landed

If you receive a Pirelli calendar in your lifetime, it pretty much means you've made it.

Circulated to only a hundred or so ultra VIPs each year, the calendar features a number of models in scantily clad outfits (we hear Leonardo DiCaprio is a big fan).

This year, Adriana Lima, Natalia Vodianova, Raquel Zimmermann, Isabeli Fontana, Sasha Luss, Anna Ewers, Carolyn Murphy, Cameron Russell, Gigi Hadid, Candice Huffine, Karen Elson and Joan Smalls have been photographed for the calendar, which was shot by Steven Meisel and styled by Carine Roitfeld.

Isabeli Fontana, who appears in the calendar for the eighth year running, told Vanity Fair she was becoming Raquel Welch, with the whip and cowgirl pants.

Meanwhile Natalia Vodianova flew in from Paris to shoot the calendar in New York mere days after giving birth to her fourth child, Maxim.

"I left him at home, in Paris, and I flew here to New York - even if only for a few hours - because I know what it means to work with Steven, Vodianova explained. It's a magical experience."

Self-proclaimed plus size model, Candice Huffine, says the calendar is a sign of the times this year.

"My presence on this set - the most glamorous in the world - is a sign that things are really changing," she said.

Carine Roitfeld, who styled the shoot, also weighed in on the end product, saying photographer Steven Meisel had made the girls truly beguiling.

"Personally, I've always loved shapely models, who often turn out to be more at ease with their bodies than normal ones," Roitfeld said. "That's precisely why I like them. Beauty inhabits different worlds and different ideas of beauty."

Harga BBM Naik, Ini Skenario Nasib Jokowi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pakar hukum tata negara, Refly Harun, mengatakan kenaikan harga bahan bakar minyak bersubsidi tidak akan berdampak pada pemakzulan Presiden Joko Widodo. Kenaikan BBM tersebut hanya akan menyebabkan syok terapi yang kemungkinan berlangsung hingga akhir tahun ini. "Tidak lama, kok. Saya kira dampak bisa segera diredam. Kepercayaan masyarakat pun tetap akan tinggi kepada pemerintah yang sekarang," katanya saat dihubungi Tempo, Selasa, 18 November 2014.

Menurut Refly, ada beberapa hal yang akan mengakibatkan pemakzulan pemerintah. Di antaranya, melakukan tindak pidana korupsi dan pidana lainnya, pengkhianatan kepada negara, menjadi warga negara asing atas kemauan sendiri, serta tidak lagi memenuhi syarat sebagai presiden atau wakilnya (klik infografis: Jalur Menuju Pemakzulan). Refly berujar, kebijakan pemerintah bisa saja keliru, tapi bukan berarti menjadi kesalahan yang utama dan fatal.

Seharusnya, tutur dia, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat dapat menggunakan hak-haknya untuk mengkritisi kebijakan tersebut. Namun, dalam hal ini, Refly menyarankan DPR tidak perlu menggunakan hak interpelasi. "Cukup hak bertanya saja, kenapa dan bagaimana soal BBM naik. Mereka pun harus meyakinkan kelancaran program selanjutnya," ujarnya.

Pendapat serupa disampaikan oleh pengamat politik dari Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Siti Zuhro. Menurut dia, DPR tak bisa memakzulkan presiden dengan menggunakan hak interpelasi. Menurut dia, jika tidak berbuat makar dan menyimpang dari konstitusi, presiden tak akan bisa dimakzulkan. "Tak ada alasan untuk impeachment, apalagi dengan sistem presidensial," kata Siti ketika dihubungi kemarin. Hak interpelasi, ujar dia, bisa digunakan DPR kapan saja ketika merasa ada kebijakan pemerintah yang tidak jelas. Pemerintah juga mempunyai hak jawab untuk menjelaskan poin-poin yang ditanyakan DPR. "Kalau diterima, ya, tidak masalah," tuturnya. Soal kenaikan harga BBM, Siti mengatakan pemerintah tinggal menjelaskan alasan menaikkan harga BBM. Selain itu, bisa juga dijelaskan alokasi dana subsidi akan digunakan untuk apa saja. "Dijelaskan saja dengan data dan rincian yang terukur," ujarnya. Menurut dia, seorang kepala negara harus mampu mengelola kekuatan di dalam dan luar koalisinya, supaya kebijakannya dapat berjalan baik.

Strangers Lift Car to Save Woman’s Life

b Videos like these are a refreshing reminder that together, people have unlimited amounts of strength.

In a CCTV video from Thursday, from eastern Zhejiang Province of China, a couple on a scooter is seen riding along a city street when suddenly they are hit by a vehicle.

The husband is thrown, while his wife is caught and pulled under what appears to be an Opel Astra Estate.

Her husband, along with a police officer who happened to be nearby, quickly band together to try to lift the car.

But with inspiring immediacy, motorists and other passers-by gather to combine their strength. A small army of good Samaritans joins to help.

The Herculean efforts of about 20 people raised the car high enough so the woman could be pulled to safety.

Last reports by local media were that the woman was recovering at her local hospital, which no doubt is thanks to the quick action of those selfless onlookers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QmWmxeW-Hs

US Mum accused of squandering Donated Funds on Boyfriend’s Rap Album & Designer Clothes

Many may remember the sad story of a struggling single mum in Arizona who was arrested for leaving 2 of her children in a hot car while she attended a job interview.

At the time, her children were taken into care while she was arrested then charged with felony abuse.

People all over the world empathised with Shanesha Taylor as she was viewed as a struggling woman eager to provide for her family against all odds.

After the news went viral, donations poured in – totalling approximately $114,000.

Prosecutors also offered her a lenient plea deal which would allow her avoid jail. All she had to do was put $40,000 in a trust fund for her children along with other minor requirements. The original amount for the trust fund was actually $60,000 but this was reduced by prosecutors, yet Shanesha still did not fulfil her commitment.

According to prosecutors and former supporters, Shanesha went in a different direction. She failed to put the money in the trust fund by the specified deadline and is being accused by former supporters of squandering the donated money on frivolous items such as “paying for studio time for her baby daddy’s rap album”, “designer clothes”, “family trips” and more non-essentials.

Reverend Jarrett Maupin, a former supporter of Shanesha also alleges that she has been offered jobs and simply never showed up. Preferring to enjoy her new found “wealth”.

Now Shanesha’s plea deal is off the table, her lawyers have quit and she is set to go to trial for the felony abuse trial.

People who donated to Shanesha’s cause are said to be disappointed, discouraged and several are demanding for a refund.

Pics: See how Nigerians are struggling to buy ticket for the match today

Men and football sha...lol. Nigerians in Uyo pictured struggling to buy the N500 ticket for the Nigeria-South Africa match happening in Uyo, Akwa Ibom this evening. See more pics after the cut..

Indonesian police force female recruits to undergo 'virginity tests'

business but it's interesting to read.

According to Human Rights Watch, the organization fighting to get the practice abolished - female police recruits who make only 3% of the country's police force, are being forced to take 'virginity test' before they begin training.

The Indonesia police recruitment website says, ‘All women who want to become policewomen should keep their virginity."

The female police officers who have undergone this test, which examines them to make sure their hymens are still intact, say its ‘painful, traumatic and really upsetting’ and are asking that it be stopped. "I feared that after they performed the test I would not be a virgin any more. It really hurt. My friend even fainted because … it really hurt, really hurt.’ a recruit told HRW Human Rights Watch say they are working with the government to get rid of the practice as its ‘discriminatory and a form of gender-based violence’.

Photos: Navy Seal who killed Osama Bin Laden revealed

UK Daily Mail has revealed the identity of the Navy Seal who shot terror chief Osama bin Laden dead in the special force's most famous operation at Abbottobad, in Pakistan, on 2 May 2011. His name is Rob O'Neill, 38, (pictured above), a highly-decorated veteran who quit after 16 yrs service.

O'Neil waived his anonymity recently and agreed to sit down with Fox News later this month to talk about his life and that operation that finally brought some peace to America and its allies.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline Rob's father, Tom O'Neill, said he's not afraid that his son has gone public "People are asking if we are worried that ISIS will come and get us because Rob is going public. I say I'll paint a big target on my front door and say come and get us.'

The former member of SEAL Team Six from Butte, Montana, has been portrayed on screen in Zero Dark Thirty, Captain Phillips and Lone Survivor.

The US military are not in agreement of his coming out now to talk about the operation and he now faces being frozen out of its circles for these closely-held secrets.

He is now a regular motivational speaker. He talks about applying the lessons of his time in the SEALs to business decision making.

O'Neill is the second SEAL of the 23 involved in the raid to make his identity public. He said his decision to speak out was prompted by losing some of his military benefits by quitting the SEALs after 16 years rather than staying for a full 20 years of service.

Philippines to Quarantine 112 Peacekeepers Returning from Liberia

No fewer than 100 soldiers returning to the Philippines from a peacekeeping mission in Liberia will be quarantined on a secluded island, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Lt.-Col Harold Cabunoc disclosed to newsmen in Manila.

According to him, the 112-member peacekeeping contingent is due to arrive in Manila on November 11th.

The military initially planned to quarantine them at a military facility in the northern province of Tarlac, but local officials opposed the plan, expressing concern about the safety of the residents.

“The chief of staff has decided to put the peacekeeping forces in a secluded place.

“That is an island paradise, but I could not disclose the exact location as of now.

“The soldiers will stay on the island for 21 days as required by the Department of Health,’’ Cabunoc added.

According to the most recent data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Philippines recalled the soldiers amid the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia, where 6,535 people have been infected by the virus, killing 2,413 of them.

“In all eight affected countries, 13,567 people have been infected since the start of the outbreak last year with 4,951 deaths reported mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea,’’ the WHO said.

FRSC Gets Court’s Approval on New Number Plate

The Court of Appeal, Lagos, has granted the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) the permission to go ahead with the new number plate.

Justice Shagbaor Ikegh, gave the ruling in a judgment on Friday which was released to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiff, Emmanuel Ofoegbu, had filed a suit against the FRSC before a Federal High Court, Lagos.

The plaintiff had challenged the Oct. 1, 2013 deadline set for motorists to change to the number plate and the threat to impound vehicles of defaulters.

“I would allow this appeal in part; for the avoidance of doubt, this appeal only succeeds in part to the effect that regulations 2012 has legal force, and is enforceable from October 1st, 2013, the administrative date set by FRSC.

“The part of the decision of the lower court declaring the regulation 2012 unconstitutional is hereby set aside,” Ikegh ruled.

Justice John Tsoho of the lower court had on March 26 described as unconstitutional the threats by FRSC to impound vehicles of defaulters, including the applicant’s vehicle(s) over the redesigned plates.

Tsoho held that although the FRSC had statutory powers and responsibilities, it was overreaching itself by its proposed action since there was no penal law under which same could be executed.

The judge had held that the FRSC could not force it upon Nigerians, a hastily conceived policy, without an enabling legal framework.

He said nothing had invalidated the old number plates, describing the plans by the FRSC as dictatorial and an arbitrary use of power contrary to the constitution.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the lower court, the FRSC had approached the appellate court, seeking an order upturning its verdict.

NAN also reports that the FRSC, in its appeal, had raised four issues for determination — whether the trial court was right when it took notice of newspaper publication on the alleged threat to impound vehicles of defaulters.

It also urged the appellate court to decide whether the trial court was right to hold that the National Road Traffic Regulation (NRTR) 2012 was a hastily conceived policy without a legal framework.

The FRSC had also queried the locus standi of the respondent to have initiated the suit at the lower court, and whether the court was right to have granted an injunction in his favour.

By October 31st judgment, three of the issues raised by the FRSC were resolved in favour of the respondent, Ofoegbu.

The court, however, upheld the validity of the NRTR 2012, adding that by the provisions of Section 5 of the FRSC Act 2007, the National Assembly had delegated the authority to the agency to so act.

“In respect of the issue of fear of impounding the vehicle of the respondent by the appellant, Section 35(1) of the constitution makes personal liberty of a person an issue of fundamental human right.

“The application of the respondent was brought to protect his personal right to liberty and protection of his movable property, therefore, the appellant has no legal framework to enforce regulation 2012 as it relates to impounding the respondent’s vehicle.

“The respondent would have the standing to sue to enforce his rights,” the court held.

On the issue of locus standi, the appellate court held that the respondent disclosed a sufficient personal interest on the face of the application.

Ikegh said: “I find no substance in the argument that the respondent lacked the locus to have brought the action at the lower court.

“He has the locus standi to bring the action as rightly held by the said court.”

On the issue of reliance on newspaper publications, the appellate court held that although the trial court was in error to have relied on same without the reaction of the appellant, there was, however, evidence in the form of affidavit in support.

The court, therefore, discountenanced the newspaper report, adding that the decision of the lower court that the respondent proved his case can still stand based on the affidavit.

On the issue of injunction granted by the lower court, the appellate court held that the Federal High Court granted exactly what was requested by the respondent for his benefit.

Ruling on the issue of validity of the regulations 2012, the court held: “The effect of regulations 230 (2) of 2012 preserves the NRTR 2004.

“Its effect is that all acts done under the 2004 regulation would remain valid until the time frame expires.

“The lower court was, therefore, right in issuing an injunction to protect the respondent’s right to enjoyment of the number plate issued on March 18th, 2013 which expired on March 17th, 2014.

Ahead of tough election, White House blames dismay with Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With many races still tight but polls showing a general trend in favor of Republicans, the White House on Monday blamed voter dissatisfaction with Washington for what could be an Election Day rout for President Barack Obama's Democrats.

Both parties pushed to get voters to the polls in a final effort to sway the electorate ahead of Tuesday's election, which could shift control of the U.S. Senate and upend policy priorities for the last two years of Obama's final term.

The president, who spent the weekend campaigning in Michigan, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, stayed in Washington on Monday and met with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen about the U.S. and global economy.

Obama will face pressure to make changes at the White House if his party loses across the board. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 75 percent of respondents believed the administration needs to "rethink" how it approaches major issues facing the United States ( http://bit.ly/1ph8sLs ). Sixty-four percent said Obama should replace some of his senior staff after the election ( http://bit.ly/1rTVVbb ).

"At this point, I don't anticipate that will happen," he told a briefing. He said a key factor driving the election was "frustration with the failure of Washington, D.C., to put in place policies that are helpful to middle-class families."

Vice President Joe Biden told CNN in an interview broadcast on Monday that he expected Democrats would hold the Senate and dismissed suggestions that the White House would have to change the way it does business.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll showed respondents wanted the administration to "refocus" on tax reform, the Islamic State, immigration reform, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Iran's nuclear program, income inequality, Israeli-Palestinian peace and tensions between Ukraine and Russia, in that order.

Voters elect 36 senators, all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 36 state governors on Tuesday. Control of the Senate may not be clear, though, for some weeks, depending on the outcomes of races in Georgia and Louisiana that could spur runoffs.

Democrats had hoped a superior get-out-the-vote effort, which helped Obama win the White House in 2012, would offset apathy among their core constituency groups, which have a history of sitting out non-presidential elections.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) joins U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) at a re- … But the Republican Party has stepped up its "ground game." Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said volunteers would keep knocking on doors until polls closed.

"We’ve completely revamped our ground game, and nearly all of our time and resources have gone toward expanding the electorate by persuading and turning out voters who typically don’t vote and turning them out as early as possible," she said.

Democrats sent out an email from first lady Michelle Obama, who is much more popular than her husband, urging supporters to get to the polls.

"With Election Day coming up tomorrow, right now is your time to make your biggest impact by getting out the vote, so Democrats can win crucial elections," she wrote.

Republicans must pick up six Senate seats and retain those they have to reclaim the majority from Democrats and control both chambers of Congress. Polls show several races are toss-ups.

One is in New Hampshire, where Republican Scott Brown is challenging incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.

A WMUR/University of New Hampshire poll put Shaheen, a first-term U.S. senator and former governor, leading by 49 percent to 48 percent, while a New England College survey showed Brown, a former U.S. senator from Massachusetts, ahead by 49 percent to 48 percent.

Races in Colorado, North Carolina, Kansas, Iowa and Alaska are also tight.

(Additional reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Caren Bohan and Doug Royalty)

Stock futures point to lower open, energy shares in view

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Tuesday, with investors taking a pause following a rally that has taken major indexes to repeated records, although a sharp decline in crude oil prices could weigh on energy shares.

Both the Dow and S&P 500 had inched up to intraday records in Monday's session but ended the day with slight losses. The quiet session followed the Dow's biggest weekly gain since January 2013 and the S&P's biggest two-week jump since December 2011.

Energy companies will be in focus as U.S. crude futures CLc1 slumped 2.3 percent to $76.87 per barrel after top oil exporter Saudi Arabia cut sales prices to the United States. The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE.P) fell 1.3 percent to $84.95 in premarket trading. Chevron Corp (CVX.N) fell 1 percent to $115.66. While the broader market has rallied this year, energy has lagged. The S&P energy index .SPNY is down 3.3 percent in 2014, the only one of the ten primary sectors that is negative on the year. This is the fourth straight day that crude has fallen, losing 6.7 percent over that period. It is down more than 30 percent from a recent closing peak.

Also in focus is the U.S. midterm election. Investors appear less concerned with whether Republicans take control of the Senate, as expected, or Democrats hang on to their majority by a slim margin. However, volatility may spike if, come Wednesday morning, some races remain so close that the majority party in the Senate is unclear.

Alibaba Group Holding (BABA.N) was by far the most active stock of Tuesday's premarket session, with more than 5.2 million shares changing hands, though the stock was flat around $101.80. The Chinese e-commerce giant reported its first quarterly results as a public company, posting revenue growth of 53.7 percent.

Among other earnings, Priceline Group Inc (PCLN.O) fell 5.7 percent to $1,129.75 before the bell after reporting its results. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN.O) lost 6.5 percent to $369.50 after cutting the top end of its full-year sales outlook.

On the upside, Office Depot Inc (ODP.O) climbed 13 percent to $5.75 before the bell. The office supplies retailer reported its first quarterly profit after three quarters of losses. It also raised its adjusted full-year operating income outlook.

The market's recent rally has largely come on strong corporate financial results, which have eased concerns about the pace of economic growth. With results in from 73 percent of companies, three-quarters have beaten analysts' expectations, according to Thomson Reuters data, above the long-term average of 63 percent.