Fully printed carbon nanotube transistor circuits for displays:
'via Blog this'
Since the invention of liquid crystal displays in the mid-1960s, display electronics have undergone rapid transformation. Recently developed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have shown several advantages over LCDs, including their light weight, flexibility, wide viewing angles, improved brightness, high power efficiency and quick response.
OLED-based displays are now used in cell phones, digital cameras and other portable devices. But developing a lower-cost method for mass-producing such displays has been complicated by the difficulties of incorporating thin-film transistors that use amorphous silicon and polysilicon into the production process.
Now, researchers from Aneeve Nanotechnologies, a startup company at UCLA's on-campus technology incubator at the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), have used low-cost ink-jet printing to fabricate the first circuits composed of fully printed back-gated and top-gated carbon nanotube-based electronics for use with OLED displays.
November 30, 2011
NASA's Swift finds a gamma-ray burst with a dual personality
NASA's Swift finds a gamma-ray burst with a dual personality:
'via Blog this'
A peculiar cosmic explosion first detected by NASA's Swift observatory on Christmas Day 2010 was caused either by a novel type of supernova located billions of light-years away or an unusual collision much closer to home, within our own galaxy. Papers describing both interpretations appear in the Dec. 1 issue of the journal Nature.
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the universe's most luminous explosions, emitting more energy in a few seconds than our sun will during its entire energy-producing lifetime. What astronomers are calling the "Christmas burst" is so unusual that it can be modeled in such radically different ways.
"What the Christmas burst seems to be telling us is that the family of gamma-ray bursts is more diverse than we fully appreciate," said Christina Thoene, the supernova study's lead author, at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Granada, Spain. It's only by rapidly detecting hundreds of them, as Swift is doing, that we can catch some of the more eccentric siblings."
'via Blog this'
A peculiar cosmic explosion first detected by NASA's Swift observatory on Christmas Day 2010 was caused either by a novel type of supernova located billions of light-years away or an unusual collision much closer to home, within our own galaxy. Papers describing both interpretations appear in the Dec. 1 issue of the journal Nature.
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the universe's most luminous explosions, emitting more energy in a few seconds than our sun will during its entire energy-producing lifetime. What astronomers are calling the "Christmas burst" is so unusual that it can be modeled in such radically different ways.
"What the Christmas burst seems to be telling us is that the family of gamma-ray bursts is more diverse than we fully appreciate," said Christina Thoene, the supernova study's lead author, at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Granada, Spain. It's only by rapidly detecting hundreds of them, as Swift is doing, that we can catch some of the more eccentric siblings."
Magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time
Magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time:
'via Blog this'
Scientists understand that Earth's magnetic field has flipped its polarity many times over the millennia. In other words, if you were alive about 800,000 years ago, and facing what we call north with a magnetic compass in your hand, the needle would point to 'south.' This is because a magnetic compass is calibrated based on Earth's poles. The N-S markings of a compass would be 180 degrees wrong if the polarity of today's magnetic field were reversed. Many doomsday theorists have tried to take this natural geological occurrence and suggest it could lead to Earth's destruction. But would there be any dramatic effects? The answer, from the geologic and fossil records we have from hundreds of past magnetic polarity reversals, seems to be 'no.'
Reversals are the rule, not the exception. Earth has settled in the last 20 million years into a pattern of a pole reversal about every 200,000 to 300,000 years, although it has been more than twice that long since the last reversal. A reversal happens over hundreds or thousands of years, and it is not exactly a clean back flip. Magnetic fields morph and push and pull at one another, with multiple poles emerging at odd latitudes throughout the process. Scientists estimate reversals have happened at least hundreds of times over the past three billion years. And while reversals have happened more frequently in "recent" years, when dinosaurs walked Earth a reversal was more likely to happen only about every one million years.
'via Blog this'
Scientists understand that Earth's magnetic field has flipped its polarity many times over the millennia. In other words, if you were alive about 800,000 years ago, and facing what we call north with a magnetic compass in your hand, the needle would point to 'south.' This is because a magnetic compass is calibrated based on Earth's poles. The N-S markings of a compass would be 180 degrees wrong if the polarity of today's magnetic field were reversed. Many doomsday theorists have tried to take this natural geological occurrence and suggest it could lead to Earth's destruction. But would there be any dramatic effects? The answer, from the geologic and fossil records we have from hundreds of past magnetic polarity reversals, seems to be 'no.'
Reversals are the rule, not the exception. Earth has settled in the last 20 million years into a pattern of a pole reversal about every 200,000 to 300,000 years, although it has been more than twice that long since the last reversal. A reversal happens over hundreds or thousands of years, and it is not exactly a clean back flip. Magnetic fields morph and push and pull at one another, with multiple poles emerging at odd latitudes throughout the process. Scientists estimate reversals have happened at least hundreds of times over the past three billion years. And while reversals have happened more frequently in "recent" years, when dinosaurs walked Earth a reversal was more likely to happen only about every one million years.
Climate change may happen more quickly than expected
Climate change may happen more quickly than expected:
'via Blog this'
As global temperatures continue to rise at an accelerated rate due to deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels, natural stores of carbon in the Arctic are cause for serious concern, researchers say.
In an article scheduled to be published Dec. 1 in the journal Nature, a survey of 41 international experts led by University of Florida ecologist Edward Schuur shows models created to estimate global warming may have underestimated the magnitude of carbon emissions from permafrost over the next century. Its effect on climate change is projected to be 2.5 times greater than models predicted, partly because of the amount of methane released in permafrost, or frozen soil.
'via Blog this'
As global temperatures continue to rise at an accelerated rate due to deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels, natural stores of carbon in the Arctic are cause for serious concern, researchers say.
In an article scheduled to be published Dec. 1 in the journal Nature, a survey of 41 international experts led by University of Florida ecologist Edward Schuur shows models created to estimate global warming may have underestimated the magnitude of carbon emissions from permafrost over the next century. Its effect on climate change is projected to be 2.5 times greater than models predicted, partly because of the amount of methane released in permafrost, or frozen soil.
Consumer Reports found alarming levels of arsenic in juice samples
Consumer Reports found alarming levels of arsenic in juice samples:
'via Blog this'
A recent Consumer Reports study found an alarming amount of poisonous arsenic in apple and grape juices after testing samples in the New York metropolitan area.
Consumer Reports says it’s a grave concern, considering the amount of juice children consume on a regular basis.
While the government sets limits on the levels of arsenic that can be present in water, no limits are in place for juice.
Out of 88 samples that were tested, 10 percent of the juice had arsenic levels that exceed the federal standards for bottled and municipal water. Twenty-five percent of the juices had also lead levels that exceeded water standards.
'via Blog this'
A recent Consumer Reports study found an alarming amount of poisonous arsenic in apple and grape juices after testing samples in the New York metropolitan area.
Consumer Reports says it’s a grave concern, considering the amount of juice children consume on a regular basis.
While the government sets limits on the levels of arsenic that can be present in water, no limits are in place for juice.
Out of 88 samples that were tested, 10 percent of the juice had arsenic levels that exceed the federal standards for bottled and municipal water. Twenty-five percent of the juices had also lead levels that exceeded water standards.
Chimpanzees self-medicate with food
Chimpanzees self-medicate with food - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com:
'via Blog this'
Analysis of the mostly non-nutritional and sometimes slightly toxic foods consumed determined that most had medicinal properties. Based on the study, the chimpanzee medicine chest appears to include the following: Antiaris toxicaria leaves (anti-tumor), Cordia abyssinica pith (anti-malarial and anti-bacterial), Ficus capensis (anti-bacterial), Ficus natalensis bark (anti-diarrheal), Ficus urceolaris leaves (de-worming agent), and many more.
The primates seemed to strategically go for the medicinal parts of these plants, and would consume them even when other more nutritious and palatable foods were available.
While chimps and humans appear to be the world's most self-medicating animals, another new study, accepted for publication in the journal Small Ruminant Research, documents how both wild and domesticated herbivores also consume plants for medical reasons.
'via Blog this'
Analysis of the mostly non-nutritional and sometimes slightly toxic foods consumed determined that most had medicinal properties. Based on the study, the chimpanzee medicine chest appears to include the following: Antiaris toxicaria leaves (anti-tumor), Cordia abyssinica pith (anti-malarial and anti-bacterial), Ficus capensis (anti-bacterial), Ficus natalensis bark (anti-diarrheal), Ficus urceolaris leaves (de-worming agent), and many more.
The primates seemed to strategically go for the medicinal parts of these plants, and would consume them even when other more nutritious and palatable foods were available.
While chimps and humans appear to be the world's most self-medicating animals, another new study, accepted for publication in the journal Small Ruminant Research, documents how both wild and domesticated herbivores also consume plants for medical reasons.
Is Addiction the Result of Brain Evolution?
Is Addiction the Result of Brain Evolution? | Psychology Today:
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What about addiction? We know that the tendency to pursue specific rewards (drugs, booze, porno, food, internet gambling, feet if you're a foot fetishist, etc.) grows easily into addiction. That's why so many of us are addicted to something. And we know that certain brain processes, like the rise in dopamine whenever you're reminded of the thing you want, are what make addiction happen. In fact, much of the prefrontal cortex seems prewired for addiction. Increased dopamine flow cultivates more and more synapses in the orbitofrontal (lower/prefrontal) cortex, and in the nearby ventral striatum -- synapses that represent all the details, value, and importance of the thing you crave. Which dredges up more dopamine, so you wire up more synapses, and on and on it goes. No wonder we're easily addicted. Our brains seem perfectly designed for it.
'via Blog this'
What about addiction? We know that the tendency to pursue specific rewards (drugs, booze, porno, food, internet gambling, feet if you're a foot fetishist, etc.) grows easily into addiction. That's why so many of us are addicted to something. And we know that certain brain processes, like the rise in dopamine whenever you're reminded of the thing you want, are what make addiction happen. In fact, much of the prefrontal cortex seems prewired for addiction. Increased dopamine flow cultivates more and more synapses in the orbitofrontal (lower/prefrontal) cortex, and in the nearby ventral striatum -- synapses that represent all the details, value, and importance of the thing you crave. Which dredges up more dopamine, so you wire up more synapses, and on and on it goes. No wonder we're easily addicted. Our brains seem perfectly designed for it.
November 29, 2011
Graphene lights up with new possibilities: Two-step technique makes graphene suitable for organic chemistry
Graphene lights up with new possibilities: Two-step technique makes graphene suitable for organic chemistry:
'via Blog this'
The future brightened for organic chemistry when researchers at Rice University found a highly controllable way to attach organic molecules to pristine graphene, making the miracle material suitable for a range of new applications.
The Rice lab of chemist James Tour, building upon a set of previous finds in the manipulation of graphene, discovered a two-step method that turned what was a single-atom-thick sheet of carbon into a superlattice for use in organic chemistry. The work could lead to advances in graphene-based chemical sensors, thermoelectric devices and metamaterials.
Graphene alone is inert to many organic reactions and, as a semimetal, has no band gap; this limits its usefulness in electronics. But the project led by the Tour Lab's Zhengzong Sun and Rice graduate Cary Pint, now a researcher at Intel, demonstrated that graphene, the strongest material there is because of the robust nature of carbon-carbon bonds, can be made suitable for novel types of chemistry.
'via Blog this'
The future brightened for organic chemistry when researchers at Rice University found a highly controllable way to attach organic molecules to pristine graphene, making the miracle material suitable for a range of new applications.
The Rice lab of chemist James Tour, building upon a set of previous finds in the manipulation of graphene, discovered a two-step method that turned what was a single-atom-thick sheet of carbon into a superlattice for use in organic chemistry. The work could lead to advances in graphene-based chemical sensors, thermoelectric devices and metamaterials.
Graphene alone is inert to many organic reactions and, as a semimetal, has no band gap; this limits its usefulness in electronics. But the project led by the Tour Lab's Zhengzong Sun and Rice graduate Cary Pint, now a researcher at Intel, demonstrated that graphene, the strongest material there is because of the robust nature of carbon-carbon bonds, can be made suitable for novel types of chemistry.
The Cognitive Benefits Of Chewing Gum
The Cognitive Benefits Of Chewing Gum | Wired Science | Wired.com: "adult neurogenesis"
'via Blog this'
Why do people chew gum? If an anthropologist from Mars ever visited a typical supermarket, they’d be confounded by those shelves near the checkout aisle that display dozens of flavored gum options. Chewing without eating seems like such a ridiculous habit, the oral equivalent of running on a treadmill. And yet, people have been chewing gum for thousands of years, ever since the Ancient Greeks began popping wads of mastic tree resin in their mouth to sweeten the breath. Socrates probably chewed gum.
It turns out there’s an excellent rationale for this long-standing cultural habit: gum is an effective booster of mental performance, conferring all sorts of benefits without any side-effects. The latest investigation of gum chewing comes from a team of psychologists at St. Lawrence University. The experiment went like this: 159 students were given a battery of demanding cognitive tasks, such as repeating random numbers backwards and solving difficult logic puzzles. Half of the subjects chewed gum (sugar-free and sugar-added) while the other half were given nothing. Here’s where things get peculiar: those randomly assigned to the gum-chewing condition significantly outperformed those in the control condition on five out of six tests. (The one exception was verbal fluency, in which subjects were asked to name as many words as possible from a given category, such as “animals”.) The sugar content of the gum had no effect on test performance.
'via Blog this'
Why do people chew gum? If an anthropologist from Mars ever visited a typical supermarket, they’d be confounded by those shelves near the checkout aisle that display dozens of flavored gum options. Chewing without eating seems like such a ridiculous habit, the oral equivalent of running on a treadmill. And yet, people have been chewing gum for thousands of years, ever since the Ancient Greeks began popping wads of mastic tree resin in their mouth to sweeten the breath. Socrates probably chewed gum.
It turns out there’s an excellent rationale for this long-standing cultural habit: gum is an effective booster of mental performance, conferring all sorts of benefits without any side-effects. The latest investigation of gum chewing comes from a team of psychologists at St. Lawrence University. The experiment went like this: 159 students were given a battery of demanding cognitive tasks, such as repeating random numbers backwards and solving difficult logic puzzles. Half of the subjects chewed gum (sugar-free and sugar-added) while the other half were given nothing. Here’s where things get peculiar: those randomly assigned to the gum-chewing condition significantly outperformed those in the control condition on five out of six tests. (The one exception was verbal fluency, in which subjects were asked to name as many words as possible from a given category, such as “animals”.) The sugar content of the gum had no effect on test performance.
Antique Stradivarius violin 'replicated' by radiologist
BBC News - Antique Stradivarius violin 'replicated' by radiologist:
'via Blog this'
A Stradivarius violin has been "recreated" using an X-ray scanner normally used to detect cancers and injuries, according to researchers.
The US-based group used a computerised axial tomography (CAT) scanner on the 307-year-old instrument to reveal its secrets.
They then used the data recovered to build "nearly exact copies".
The team said the technique could be used to give musicians access to rare musical equipment.
'via Blog this'
A Stradivarius violin has been "recreated" using an X-ray scanner normally used to detect cancers and injuries, according to researchers.
The US-based group used a computerised axial tomography (CAT) scanner on the 307-year-old instrument to reveal its secrets.
They then used the data recovered to build "nearly exact copies".
The team said the technique could be used to give musicians access to rare musical equipment.
How the brain strings words into sentences
How the brain strings words into sentences:
'via Blog this'
Distinct neural pathways are important for different aspects of language processing, researchers have discovered, studying patients with language impairments caused by neurodegenerative diseases.
While it has long been recognized that certain areas in the brain's left hemisphere enable us to understand and produce language, scientists are still figuring out exactly how those areas divvy up the highly complex processes necessary to comprehend and produce language.
Advances in brain imaging made within the last 10 years have revealed that highly complex cognitive tasks such as language processing rely not only on particular regions of the cerebral cortex, but also on the white matter fiber pathways that connect them.
'via Blog this'
Distinct neural pathways are important for different aspects of language processing, researchers have discovered, studying patients with language impairments caused by neurodegenerative diseases.
While it has long been recognized that certain areas in the brain's left hemisphere enable us to understand and produce language, scientists are still figuring out exactly how those areas divvy up the highly complex processes necessary to comprehend and produce language.
Advances in brain imaging made within the last 10 years have revealed that highly complex cognitive tasks such as language processing rely not only on particular regions of the cerebral cortex, but also on the white matter fiber pathways that connect them.
Antibiotics in swine feed encourage gene exchange
Antibiotics in swine feed encourage gene exchange:
'via Blog this'
A study to be published in the online journal mBio® on Nov. 29 shows that adding antibiotics to swine feed causes microorganisms in the guts of these animals to start sharing genes that could spread antibiotic resistance.
Livestock farms use antibiotic drugs regularly, and not just for curing sick animals. Antimicrobial drugs are used as feed additives to boost animal growth, a profitable but controversial practice that is now banned in the European Union and under scrutiny here in the United States. Using antibiotics in animal feed saves farms money, but opponents argue the practice encourages antimicrobial resistance among bacteria that could well be consumed by humans. Today, livestock producers in the U.S. use an estimated 24.6 million pounds of antimicrobials for nontherapeutic purposes every year. The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently urged the federal government to follow up on plans to evaluate the impacts of the use of antibiotics as growth promoters.
'via Blog this'
A study to be published in the online journal mBio® on Nov. 29 shows that adding antibiotics to swine feed causes microorganisms in the guts of these animals to start sharing genes that could spread antibiotic resistance.
Livestock farms use antibiotic drugs regularly, and not just for curing sick animals. Antimicrobial drugs are used as feed additives to boost animal growth, a profitable but controversial practice that is now banned in the European Union and under scrutiny here in the United States. Using antibiotics in animal feed saves farms money, but opponents argue the practice encourages antimicrobial resistance among bacteria that could well be consumed by humans. Today, livestock producers in the U.S. use an estimated 24.6 million pounds of antimicrobials for nontherapeutic purposes every year. The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently urged the federal government to follow up on plans to evaluate the impacts of the use of antibiotics as growth promoters.
Colombia architect leads bamboo building crusade
Colombia architect leads bamboo building crusade - latimes.com:
'via Blog this'
When it comes to uses of bamboo, many think of chopsticks, panda food or patio furniture. Simon Velez, on the other hand, envisions bus stations, churches or bridges.
The Bogota, Colombia-based architect is leading a global crusade for new uses of the plant, a giant member of the grass family, as a strong, eco-sustainable, aesthetically pleasing material that can substitute for wood and concrete in many projects.
Velez was long a lonely advocate, with most of his colleagues viewing bamboo as fit only for use as a finishing material in matting or plywood. But the ideas espoused by the 62-year-old architect are slowly taking root.
'via Blog this'
When it comes to uses of bamboo, many think of chopsticks, panda food or patio furniture. Simon Velez, on the other hand, envisions bus stations, churches or bridges.
The Bogota, Colombia-based architect is leading a global crusade for new uses of the plant, a giant member of the grass family, as a strong, eco-sustainable, aesthetically pleasing material that can substitute for wood and concrete in many projects.
Velez was long a lonely advocate, with most of his colleagues viewing bamboo as fit only for use as a finishing material in matting or plywood. But the ideas espoused by the 62-year-old architect are slowly taking root.
Delay in Clamping Umbilical Cord Has Benefits Months Later
Delay in Clamping Umbilical Cord Has Benefits Months Later - NYTimes.com:
'via Blog this'
Waiting three minutes or longer before clamping a newborn’s umbilical cord reduces the prevalence of iron deficiency at four months, a large trial has found.
Swedish researchers studied 334 infants, randomly assigning half to have their cords clamped within 10 seconds of birth and the rest to clamping after three minutes or longer. The two groups were statistically identical in gestational age, head circumference, health and age of the mother, and other characteristics.
In blood tests at two days after birth, there were no significant differences in iron status. But when researchers analyzed blood taken at four months, they found iron concentrations were 45 percent higher in the delayed clamping group, and iron deficiency was significantly more prevalent in those who were clamped early.
'via Blog this'
Waiting three minutes or longer before clamping a newborn’s umbilical cord reduces the prevalence of iron deficiency at four months, a large trial has found.
Swedish researchers studied 334 infants, randomly assigning half to have their cords clamped within 10 seconds of birth and the rest to clamping after three minutes or longer. The two groups were statistically identical in gestational age, head circumference, health and age of the mother, and other characteristics.
In blood tests at two days after birth, there were no significant differences in iron status. But when researchers analyzed blood taken at four months, they found iron concentrations were 45 percent higher in the delayed clamping group, and iron deficiency was significantly more prevalent in those who were clamped early.
So What Does it Mean that Studies Reveal that Moderate Drinkers Are Healthier than Teetotalers?
So What Does it Mean that Studies Reveal that Moderate Drinkers Are Healthier than Teetotalers ? | Personal Health | AlterNet:
'via Blog this'
We know too much drinking can be hazardous to our health. But new research suggests that drinking too little might be hazardous, too.
I don't want to go to rehab, but a raft of recent studies show that moderate alcohol consumption lowers our risks for many dire conditions including heart disease, stroke, gallstones, diabetes and dementia. Some studies even suggest that the answer to pesky menopause symptoms comes in six-packs and goes great with pretzels.
'via Blog this'
We know too much drinking can be hazardous to our health. But new research suggests that drinking too little might be hazardous, too.
I don't want to go to rehab, but a raft of recent studies show that moderate alcohol consumption lowers our risks for many dire conditions including heart disease, stroke, gallstones, diabetes and dementia. Some studies even suggest that the answer to pesky menopause symptoms comes in six-packs and goes great with pretzels.
Why fish is good for your brain: Study suggests it can make Alzheimer's far less likely
Why fish is good for your brain: Study suggests it can make Alzheimer's far less likely | Mail Online:
'via Blog this'
Eating oily fish such as salmon and trout can significantly improve your memory say scientists.
A new study found that a fatty acid found in fish and seafood can boost memory function by 15 per cent.
Scientists are now highlighting the importance of a fish-rich diet for maintaining optimal brain health and preventing the onset of dementia.
'via Blog this'
Eating oily fish such as salmon and trout can significantly improve your memory say scientists.
A new study found that a fatty acid found in fish and seafood can boost memory function by 15 per cent.
Scientists are now highlighting the importance of a fish-rich diet for maintaining optimal brain health and preventing the onset of dementia.
Coffee and Cancer of the endometrium
Coffee and Cancer | Health Goes Strong:
'via Blog this'
I read lots of medical studies every day and write about only a few of them. But I am always drawn to anything that suggests that coffee is actually a health food. This has been my theory for many years and now science seems to be catching up.
Some recent studies have suggested that my favorite morning brew can help ward off Parkinson's disease, dementia and diabetes. Now a new study from researchers at Harvard Medical School indicates that drinking four or more cups of coffee a day can reduce a woman's risk of cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus.
'via Blog this'
I read lots of medical studies every day and write about only a few of them. But I am always drawn to anything that suggests that coffee is actually a health food. This has been my theory for many years and now science seems to be catching up.
Some recent studies have suggested that my favorite morning brew can help ward off Parkinson's disease, dementia and diabetes. Now a new study from researchers at Harvard Medical School indicates that drinking four or more cups of coffee a day can reduce a woman's risk of cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus.
The incredible shrinking laboratory or 'lab-on-a-chip'
The incredible shrinking laboratory or 'lab-on-a-chip' | Science | guardian.co.uk:
'via Blog this'
A lab-on-a-chip crams the pipettes, beakers and test tubes of a modern chemistry lab onto a microchip-sized wafer of glass or plastic to provide on-the-spot test results
When a doctor wants to carry out a test, she will probably prick you with a needle, fill up several test tubes of your blood, label, package and send them to some centralised hospital laboratory. Technicians will then take the contents, perform the various biochemical analyses needed, write up the results and send back the documentation in a few weeks, perhaps longer if there's a backlog.
'via Blog this'
A lab-on-a-chip crams the pipettes, beakers and test tubes of a modern chemistry lab onto a microchip-sized wafer of glass or plastic to provide on-the-spot test results
When a doctor wants to carry out a test, she will probably prick you with a needle, fill up several test tubes of your blood, label, package and send them to some centralised hospital laboratory. Technicians will then take the contents, perform the various biochemical analyses needed, write up the results and send back the documentation in a few weeks, perhaps longer if there's a backlog.
World on track for nearly 11-degree temperature rise, energy expert says
World on track for nearly 11-degree temperature rise, energy expert says - The Washington Post:
'via Blog this'
The chief economist for the International Energy Agency said Monday that current global energy consumption levels put the Earth on a trajectory to warm by 6 degrees Celsius (10.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by 2100, an outcome he called “a catastrophe for all of us.”
Fatih Birol spoke as as delegates from nearly 200 countries convened the opening day of annual U.N. climate talks in Durban, South Africa.
International climate negotiators have pledged to keep the global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above pre-industrial levels. The Earth has already warmed 0.8 degrees Celsius, or 1.4 Fahrenheit, so far, according to climate scientists.
'via Blog this'
The chief economist for the International Energy Agency said Monday that current global energy consumption levels put the Earth on a trajectory to warm by 6 degrees Celsius (10.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by 2100, an outcome he called “a catastrophe for all of us.”
Fatih Birol spoke as as delegates from nearly 200 countries convened the opening day of annual U.N. climate talks in Durban, South Africa.
International climate negotiators have pledged to keep the global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above pre-industrial levels. The Earth has already warmed 0.8 degrees Celsius, or 1.4 Fahrenheit, so far, according to climate scientists.
November 28, 2011
Herbicide atrazine spurs reproductive problems in many creatures, report finds
Herbicide atrazine spurs reproductive problems in many creatures, report finds:
'via Blog this'
An international team of researchers has reviewed the evidence linking exposure to atrazine -- an herbicide widely used in the U.S. and more than 60 other nations -- to reproductive problems in animals. The team found consistent patterns of reproductive dysfunction in amphibians, fish, reptiles and mammals exposed to the chemical.
Atrazine is the second-most widely used herbicide in the U.S. More than 75 million pounds of it are applied to corn and other crops, and it is the most commonly detected pesticide contaminant of groundwater, surface water and rain in the U.S.
'via Blog this'
An international team of researchers has reviewed the evidence linking exposure to atrazine -- an herbicide widely used in the U.S. and more than 60 other nations -- to reproductive problems in animals. The team found consistent patterns of reproductive dysfunction in amphibians, fish, reptiles and mammals exposed to the chemical.
Atrazine is the second-most widely used herbicide in the U.S. More than 75 million pounds of it are applied to corn and other crops, and it is the most commonly detected pesticide contaminant of groundwater, surface water and rain in the U.S.
Future Farmers Hold Environment’s Fate in Their Hands
Future Farmers Hold Environment’s Fate in Their Hands - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
Global food demand will double by 2050, according to a new projection, and the farming techniques used to meet that unprecedented demand will significantly determine how severe the impact is on the environment, researchers say.
The study researchers warn that meeting the demand for food will clear more land, increase nitrogen use and significantly add to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. These actions could harm the atmosphere and cause the extinction of numerous species, they say.
"Agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions could double by 2050 if current trends in global food production continue," study researcher David Tilman, of the University of Minnesota, said in a statement. "This would be a major problem, since global agriculture already accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions."
'via Blog this'
Global food demand will double by 2050, according to a new projection, and the farming techniques used to meet that unprecedented demand will significantly determine how severe the impact is on the environment, researchers say.
The study researchers warn that meeting the demand for food will clear more land, increase nitrogen use and significantly add to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. These actions could harm the atmosphere and cause the extinction of numerous species, they say.
"Agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions could double by 2050 if current trends in global food production continue," study researcher David Tilman, of the University of Minnesota, said in a statement. "This would be a major problem, since global agriculture already accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions."
Are Violent Video Games Altering Your Child’s Brain?
Are Violent Video Games Altering Your Child’s Brain? | Fox News:
'via Blog this'
A new study has found that violent video games can alter the brains of young men after a mere week of playing.
Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe how playing video games might affect the brain. The results indicated that boys who played violent video games experienced changes in regions associated with cognitive function and emotional control.
Even more concerning, the researchers believe that these changes are likely long-term. However, the study did not test whether these mental changes lead to physical violence.
'via Blog this'
A new study has found that violent video games can alter the brains of young men after a mere week of playing.
Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe how playing video games might affect the brain. The results indicated that boys who played violent video games experienced changes in regions associated with cognitive function and emotional control.
Even more concerning, the researchers believe that these changes are likely long-term. However, the study did not test whether these mental changes lead to physical violence.
Cancer-Fighting Cells Get Boost From Viagra | Fox News
Cancer-Fighting Cells Get Boost From Viagra | Fox News:
'via Blog this'
Viagra may provide more than a wake-up to a man's sex life – it may help the body's immune system fight cancer, a new study involving mice suggests.
Scientists in Germany genetically engineered mice to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and found that when these mice were given Viagra in their drinking water, they lived twice as long as untreated mice.
The drug works because it "wakes up" the immune system to fight cancer, said study researcher Viktor Umansky, an immunologist at the German Cancer Research Center, in Heidelberg.
'via Blog this'
Viagra may provide more than a wake-up to a man's sex life – it may help the body's immune system fight cancer, a new study involving mice suggests.
Scientists in Germany genetically engineered mice to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and found that when these mice were given Viagra in their drinking water, they lived twice as long as untreated mice.
The drug works because it "wakes up" the immune system to fight cancer, said study researcher Viktor Umansky, an immunologist at the German Cancer Research Center, in Heidelberg.
Alzheimer's: Deep brain stimulation 'reverses' disease
BBC News - Alzheimer's: Deep brain stimulation 'reverses' disease:
'via Blog this'
Scientists in Canada have raised a tantalising prospect - reversing Alzheimer's disease.
Brain shrinkage, declining function and memory loss had been thought to be irreversible.
They used a technique known as deep brain stimulation - applying electricity directly to regions of the brain. In two patients, the brain's memory hub reversed its expected decline and actually grew.
'via Blog this'
Scientists in Canada have raised a tantalising prospect - reversing Alzheimer's disease.
Brain shrinkage, declining function and memory loss had been thought to be irreversible.
They used a technique known as deep brain stimulation - applying electricity directly to regions of the brain. In two patients, the brain's memory hub reversed its expected decline and actually grew.
NYC hospital CEOs grab millions of dollars in salary, bonuses, retirement and expenses
NYC hospital CEOs grab millions of dollars in salary, bonuses, retirement and expenses - NYPOST.com:
'via Blog this'
Who wants to be a hedge funder when you can run a hospital?
The heads of New York City’s biggest medical centers and even of some of the smaller ones — all nonprofits that receive billions in taxpayer money — continue to rake in big bonuses and fat retirement checks.
Despite a struggling health-care industry and a flatlining economy, four hospital CEOs received $1 million-plus bonuses, and the president of an ailing Brooklyn hospital cashed out a $3.3 million retirement payment, a Post review of just-filed tax forms for 2010 found.
'via Blog this'
Who wants to be a hedge funder when you can run a hospital?
The heads of New York City’s biggest medical centers and even of some of the smaller ones — all nonprofits that receive billions in taxpayer money — continue to rake in big bonuses and fat retirement checks.
Despite a struggling health-care industry and a flatlining economy, four hospital CEOs received $1 million-plus bonuses, and the president of an ailing Brooklyn hospital cashed out a $3.3 million retirement payment, a Post review of just-filed tax forms for 2010 found.
Dreaming 'eases painful memories’
BBC News - Dreaming 'eases painful memories’:
'via Blog this'
Scientists have used scans to shed more light on how the brain deals with the memory of unpleasant or traumatic events during sleep.
The University of California, Berkeley team showed emotional images to volunteers, then scanned them several hours later as they saw them again.
'via Blog this'
Scientists have used scans to shed more light on how the brain deals with the memory of unpleasant or traumatic events during sleep.
The University of California, Berkeley team showed emotional images to volunteers, then scanned them several hours later as they saw them again.
Ohio Third-Grader Weighing 200 Pounds Placed In Foster Care
Ohio Third-Grader Weighing 200 Pounds Placed In Foster Care | Fox News:
'via Blog this'
An eight-year-old Ohio boy who weighs more than 200 pounds was taken from his family and placed in foster care after social workers said his mother was not doing enough to control his weight, The Plain Dealer reported.
The third grader is considered severely obese by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, putting him at risk of developing diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
'via Blog this'
An eight-year-old Ohio boy who weighs more than 200 pounds was taken from his family and placed in foster care after social workers said his mother was not doing enough to control his weight, The Plain Dealer reported.
The third grader is considered severely obese by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, putting him at risk of developing diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
Scientists Discover Gene That Allows People To Get By On Four Hours Sleep
Scientists Discover Gene That Allows People To Get By On Four Hours Sleep | Fox News:
'via Blog this'
German scientists discovered a gene that may explain why some people can get by with as little as four hours sleep a night, while others need much longer.
More than 4,000 people from seven European countries took part in the project, which involved filling out a questionnaire on their sleeping habits.
Scientists from the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich then analyzed their answers, along with their genes.
They found that those people with two copies of one common variant of the gene ABCC9 slept for a significantly shorter period than those with two copies of the other version.
'via Blog this'
German scientists discovered a gene that may explain why some people can get by with as little as four hours sleep a night, while others need much longer.
More than 4,000 people from seven European countries took part in the project, which involved filling out a questionnaire on their sleeping habits.
Scientists from the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich then analyzed their answers, along with their genes.
They found that those people with two copies of one common variant of the gene ABCC9 slept for a significantly shorter period than those with two copies of the other version.
'Anthrax isn't scary at all compared to this': Man-made flu virus with potential to wipe out many millions should never have been created
'Anthrax isn't scary at all compared to this': Man-made flu virus with potential to wipe out many millions should never have been created, warns frightened scientist | Mail Online:
'via Blog this'
A group of scientists is pushing to publish research about how they created a man-made flu virus that could potentially wipe out civilisation.
The deadly virus is a genetically tweaked version of the H5N1 bird flu strain, but is far more infectious and could pass easily between millions of people at a time.
The research has caused a storm of controversy and divided scientists, with some saying it should never have been carried out.
'via Blog this'
A group of scientists is pushing to publish research about how they created a man-made flu virus that could potentially wipe out civilisation.
The deadly virus is a genetically tweaked version of the H5N1 bird flu strain, but is far more infectious and could pass easily between millions of people at a time.
The research has caused a storm of controversy and divided scientists, with some saying it should never have been carried out.
UN warns 25 pct of world land highly degraded
UN warns 25 pct of world land highly degraded - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
The United Nations has completed the first-ever global assessment of the state of the planet's land resources, finding in a report Monday that a quarter of all land is highly degraded and warning the trend must be reversed if the world's growing population is to be fed.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that farmers will have to produce 70 percent more food by 2050 to meet the needs of the world's expected 9 billion-strong population. That amounts to 1 billion tons more wheat, rice and other cereals and 200 million more tons of beef and other livestock.
'via Blog this'
The United Nations has completed the first-ever global assessment of the state of the planet's land resources, finding in a report Monday that a quarter of all land is highly degraded and warning the trend must be reversed if the world's growing population is to be fed.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that farmers will have to produce 70 percent more food by 2050 to meet the needs of the world's expected 9 billion-strong population. That amounts to 1 billion tons more wheat, rice and other cereals and 200 million more tons of beef and other livestock.
Coffee-Drinking Provides Raw Sewage Red Flag
Coffee-Drinking Provides Raw Sewage Red Flag - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
How many cups of coffee have you had today? A new study finds that your caffeine habit could provide a red flag to alert authorities of sewer leaks and overflows.
About 3 percent of caffeine from coffee, chocolate, tea and energy drinks ends up in the sewer system, excreted through human urine. In urban areas where the only source of caffeine is human urine, high levels of the compound in rivers or other bodies of water (where human urine and feces should not be present) are signs of contamination by fecal coliform bacteria, the new research finds.
"If fecal coliforms come from human sewage, they will come with caffeine," study researcher Sébastien Sauvé, an environmental chemist at the University of Montreal, told LiveScience. "So if we find caffeine, that means it came from sanitary contamination."
'via Blog this'
How many cups of coffee have you had today? A new study finds that your caffeine habit could provide a red flag to alert authorities of sewer leaks and overflows.
About 3 percent of caffeine from coffee, chocolate, tea and energy drinks ends up in the sewer system, excreted through human urine. In urban areas where the only source of caffeine is human urine, high levels of the compound in rivers or other bodies of water (where human urine and feces should not be present) are signs of contamination by fecal coliform bacteria, the new research finds.
"If fecal coliforms come from human sewage, they will come with caffeine," study researcher Sébastien Sauvé, an environmental chemist at the University of Montreal, told LiveScience. "So if we find caffeine, that means it came from sanitary contamination."
November 24, 2011
UW scientists grow neurons that integrate into brain
UW scientists grow neurons that integrate into brain - JSOnline:
'via Blog this'
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have grown human embryonic stem cells into neurons that appear capable of adapting themselves to the brain's machinery by sending and receiving messages from other cells, raising hopes that medicine may one day use this tool to treat patients with such disorders as Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Researchers inserted the human cells into the brains of mice where they successfully integrated themselves into the wiring. Then the UW team applied a new technology, using light to stimulate the human cells and watching as they in turn activated mouse brain cells.
In a lab dish, the brain cells or neurons began firing simultaneously "like a power surge lighting up a building," said Jason Weick, an assistant scientist at UW who worked on the study published online Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
'via Blog this'
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have grown human embryonic stem cells into neurons that appear capable of adapting themselves to the brain's machinery by sending and receiving messages from other cells, raising hopes that medicine may one day use this tool to treat patients with such disorders as Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Researchers inserted the human cells into the brains of mice where they successfully integrated themselves into the wiring. Then the UW team applied a new technology, using light to stimulate the human cells and watching as they in turn activated mouse brain cells.
In a lab dish, the brain cells or neurons began firing simultaneously "like a power surge lighting up a building," said Jason Weick, an assistant scientist at UW who worked on the study published online Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Canada third-highest in post-surgical 'foreign bodies'
Canada third-highest in post-surgical 'foreign bodies':
'via Blog this'
Canadians scheduled to go under the knife take note: Canada has the third-highest incidence of "foreign bodies" being left inside patients after surgeons sew them up, according to an international report card that compares health-care systems in developed countries.
Surgical teams across Canada need to do a better job of implementing existing safety procedures, said Brenda Tipper, from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Switzerland came in first for having the most foreign bodies left in patients and Australia was second.
'via Blog this'
Canadians scheduled to go under the knife take note: Canada has the third-highest incidence of "foreign bodies" being left inside patients after surgeons sew them up, according to an international report card that compares health-care systems in developed countries.
Surgical teams across Canada need to do a better job of implementing existing safety procedures, said Brenda Tipper, from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Switzerland came in first for having the most foreign bodies left in patients and Australia was second.
Meeeoooow! The claws come out when women see a sexual rival
Meeeoooow! The claws come out when women see a sexual rival:
'via Blog this'
Young women are more likely to be nasty to women they consider to be a sexual rival, says a University of Ottawa professor’s study of how young women reacted to the same woman dressed two ways.
In the study, published Tuesday in the journal Aggressive Behaviour, other women gauged the “bitchiness” of female undergraduates’ reactions to the same attractive young woman. In one scenario, the woman was dressed provocatively. In the other, she was dressed conservatively.
'via Blog this'
Young women are more likely to be nasty to women they consider to be a sexual rival, says a University of Ottawa professor’s study of how young women reacted to the same woman dressed two ways.
In the study, published Tuesday in the journal Aggressive Behaviour, other women gauged the “bitchiness” of female undergraduates’ reactions to the same attractive young woman. In one scenario, the woman was dressed provocatively. In the other, she was dressed conservatively.
Shakespeare 'could help doctors become better'
BBC News - Shakespeare 'could help doctors become better':
'via Blog this'
Reading William Shakespeare could give physicians a fresh insight into the links between emotion and illness, a retired doctor and scholar believes.
Dr Kenneth Heaton says many doctors fail to connect psychological problems with physical symptoms - and argues the playwright could help them do it.
He listed dozens of examples in which Shakespeare described these phenomena in his works.
'via Blog this'
Reading William Shakespeare could give physicians a fresh insight into the links between emotion and illness, a retired doctor and scholar believes.
Dr Kenneth Heaton says many doctors fail to connect psychological problems with physical symptoms - and argues the playwright could help them do it.
He listed dozens of examples in which Shakespeare described these phenomena in his works.
Well-done steaks 'double prostate cancer risk': Even small amounts of over-cooked meat can be dangerous
Well-done steaks 'double prostate cancer risk': Even small amounts of over-cooked meat can be dangerous | Mail Online:
'via Blog this'
An appetite for well-done steaks and burgers could raise the odds of prostate cancer, experts warn.
Scrutiny of the eating habits of almost 1,000 men linked over-cooked red meat to the deadliest form of the disease.
Well and very-well done burgers were among the most dangerous meats – doubling the odds of aggressive prostate cancer, even when eaten in small amounts.
'via Blog this'
An appetite for well-done steaks and burgers could raise the odds of prostate cancer, experts warn.
Scrutiny of the eating habits of almost 1,000 men linked over-cooked red meat to the deadliest form of the disease.
Well and very-well done burgers were among the most dangerous meats – doubling the odds of aggressive prostate cancer, even when eaten in small amounts.
Last time carbon dioxide levels were this high: 15 million years ago, scientists report
Last time carbon dioxide levels were this high: 15 million years ago, scientists report / UCLA Newsroom:
'via Blog this'
You would have to go back at least 15 million years to find carbon dioxide levels on Earth as high as they are today, a UCLA scientist and colleagues report Oct. 8 in the online edition of the journal Science.
"The last time carbon dioxide levels were apparently as high as they are today — and were sustained at those levels — global temperatures were 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher than they are today, the sea level was approximately 75 to 120 feet higher than today, there was no permanent sea ice cap in the Arctic and very little ice on Antarctica and Greenland," said the paper's lead author, Aradhna Tripati, a UCLA assistant professor in the department of Earth and space sciences and the department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
'via Blog this'
You would have to go back at least 15 million years to find carbon dioxide levels on Earth as high as they are today, a UCLA scientist and colleagues report Oct. 8 in the online edition of the journal Science.
"The last time carbon dioxide levels were apparently as high as they are today — and were sustained at those levels — global temperatures were 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher than they are today, the sea level was approximately 75 to 120 feet higher than today, there was no permanent sea ice cap in the Arctic and very little ice on Antarctica and Greenland," said the paper's lead author, Aradhna Tripati, a UCLA assistant professor in the department of Earth and space sciences and the department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
Traffic pollution may be linked to diabetes risk
Traffic pollution may be linked to diabetes risk | Reuters:
'via Blog this'
People who live in areas with high levels of traffic-related air pollution may face a slightly increased risk of developing diabetes, Danish researchers conclude in a new study.
They found that people living in urban areas with high levels of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant found in traffic exhaust, were four percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than people living in neighborhoods with cleaner air.
'via Blog this'
People who live in areas with high levels of traffic-related air pollution may face a slightly increased risk of developing diabetes, Danish researchers conclude in a new study.
They found that people living in urban areas with high levels of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant found in traffic exhaust, were four percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than people living in neighborhoods with cleaner air.
Choline-rich diet tied to sharper memory
Choline-rich diet tied to sharper memory | Reuters:
'via Blog this'
People who get plenty of choline in their diets may perform better on memory tests, and be less likely to show brain changes associated with dementia, a new study suggests.
The study can only point to a correlation between memory and dietary choline -- a nutrient found in foods like saltwater fish, eggs, liver, chicken, milk and certain legumes, including soy and kidney beans.
The findings, researchers say, do not mean that choline is the answer to staving off Alzheimer's disease -- the memory-robbing disease that affects 26 million people globally.
'via Blog this'
People who get plenty of choline in their diets may perform better on memory tests, and be less likely to show brain changes associated with dementia, a new study suggests.
The study can only point to a correlation between memory and dietary choline -- a nutrient found in foods like saltwater fish, eggs, liver, chicken, milk and certain legumes, including soy and kidney beans.
The findings, researchers say, do not mean that choline is the answer to staving off Alzheimer's disease -- the memory-robbing disease that affects 26 million people globally.
November 23, 2011
Another helping of grasshopper?
Another helping of grasshopper? - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com:
'via Blog this'
If you want to try something new for Thanksgiving, Matthew Krisiloff has a suggestion: add some insects to the meal.
Many Americans would respond to such a suggestion with a definite "Ew, no thanks," but not Krisiloff. The University of Chicago freshman is the president of Entom Foods, a startup encouraging people to seriously consider insects as a food source. He and four other students started the company last year.
Entom Foods aims to make Americans feel more comfortable eating bugs by removing elements that turn many people off — eyes, wings, legs and crunchy exoskeletons. Eventually, the company hopes to produce processed bug-based foods, such as insect cutlets. Krisiloff hopes marketing the insects in a familiar form will remove the "ick" factor and encourage more people to add insects to their diets.
'via Blog this'
If you want to try something new for Thanksgiving, Matthew Krisiloff has a suggestion: add some insects to the meal.
Many Americans would respond to such a suggestion with a definite "Ew, no thanks," but not Krisiloff. The University of Chicago freshman is the president of Entom Foods, a startup encouraging people to seriously consider insects as a food source. He and four other students started the company last year.
Entom Foods aims to make Americans feel more comfortable eating bugs by removing elements that turn many people off — eyes, wings, legs and crunchy exoskeletons. Eventually, the company hopes to produce processed bug-based foods, such as insect cutlets. Krisiloff hopes marketing the insects in a familiar form will remove the "ick" factor and encourage more people to add insects to their diets.
Physicists set strongest limit on mass of dark matter
Physicists set strongest limit on mass of dark matter:
'via Blog this'
Brown University physicists have set the strongest limit for the mass of dark matter, the mysterious particles believed to make up nearly a quarter of the universe. The researchers report in Physical Review Letters that dark matter must have a mass greater than 40 giga-electron volts. The distinction is important because it casts doubt on recent results from underground experiments that have reported detecting dark matter.
If dark matter exists in the universe, scientists now have set the strongest limit to date on its mass.
In a paper to be published on Dec. 1 in Physical Review Letters, Brown University assistant professor Savvas Koushiappas and graduate student Alex Geringer-Sameth report that dark matter must have a mass greater than 40 giga-electron volts in dark-matter collisions involving heavy quarks. (The masses of elementary particles are regularly expressed in term of electron volts.) Using publicly available data collected from an instrument on NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and a novel statistical approach, the Brown pair constrained the mass of dark matter particles by calculating the rate at which the particles are thought to cancel each other out in galaxies that orbit the Milky Way galaxy.
'via Blog this'
Brown University physicists have set the strongest limit for the mass of dark matter, the mysterious particles believed to make up nearly a quarter of the universe. The researchers report in Physical Review Letters that dark matter must have a mass greater than 40 giga-electron volts. The distinction is important because it casts doubt on recent results from underground experiments that have reported detecting dark matter.
If dark matter exists in the universe, scientists now have set the strongest limit to date on its mass.
In a paper to be published on Dec. 1 in Physical Review Letters, Brown University assistant professor Savvas Koushiappas and graduate student Alex Geringer-Sameth report that dark matter must have a mass greater than 40 giga-electron volts in dark-matter collisions involving heavy quarks. (The masses of elementary particles are regularly expressed in term of electron volts.) Using publicly available data collected from an instrument on NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and a novel statistical approach, the Brown pair constrained the mass of dark matter particles by calculating the rate at which the particles are thought to cancel each other out in galaxies that orbit the Milky Way galaxy.
New material can enhance energy, computer, lighting technologies
New material can enhance energy, computer, lighting technologies:
'via Blog this'
Arizona State University researchers have created a new compound crystal material that promises to help produce advances in a range of scientific and technological pursuits.
ASU electrical engineering professor Cun-Zheng Ning says the material, called erbium chloride silicate, can be used to develop the next generations of computers, improve the capabilities of the Internet, increase the efficiency of silicon-based photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electrical energy, and enhance the quality of solid-state lighting and sensor technology.
Ning's research team of team of students and post-doctoral degree assistants help synthesize the new compound in ASU's Nanophotonics Lab in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, one of the university's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
'via Blog this'
Arizona State University researchers have created a new compound crystal material that promises to help produce advances in a range of scientific and technological pursuits.
ASU electrical engineering professor Cun-Zheng Ning says the material, called erbium chloride silicate, can be used to develop the next generations of computers, improve the capabilities of the Internet, increase the efficiency of silicon-based photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electrical energy, and enhance the quality of solid-state lighting and sensor technology.
Ning's research team of team of students and post-doctoral degree assistants help synthesize the new compound in ASU's Nanophotonics Lab in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, one of the university's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
Fruit fly intestines could hold a vital clue to increasing human longevity
Fruit fly intestines could hold a vital clue to increasing human longevity:
'via Blog this'
There seems to be one surefire way to increase longevity in animals. It's caloric restriction, which means placing them on a near-starvation diet. We don't know if that could work on humans... but fruit flies might be able to give us the answer.
There's no reason to think that caloric restriction wouldn't work on humans, but it's not something that's easily tested. After all, an experiment designed to test the effectiveness of human caloric restriction would, by design, have to run at least a hundred years, and there are some thorny ethical questions about asking people to spend a century fasting if we're not even sure if they would get any longevity benefit out of it. And, of course, there's also the question of whether 150 years of caloric-restricted living is really better than 80 normal years.
'via Blog this'
There seems to be one surefire way to increase longevity in animals. It's caloric restriction, which means placing them on a near-starvation diet. We don't know if that could work on humans... but fruit flies might be able to give us the answer.
There's no reason to think that caloric restriction wouldn't work on humans, but it's not something that's easily tested. After all, an experiment designed to test the effectiveness of human caloric restriction would, by design, have to run at least a hundred years, and there are some thorny ethical questions about asking people to spend a century fasting if we're not even sure if they would get any longevity benefit out of it. And, of course, there's also the question of whether 150 years of caloric-restricted living is really better than 80 normal years.
Report: 1 in 5 U.S. children at risk of hunger
Report: 1 in 5 U.S. children at risk of hunger - CNN.com:
'via Blog this'
Students gathered as the chef sliced tomatoes with a plastic knife in a Brooklyn public school cafeteria. Their eyes followed as she held up a slender green cylinder before the crowd of parents and kids in plastic aprons and hairnets.
"What's that?" kids shouted.
"It's a scallion. But don't eat it now," warned Leigh Armstrong, a culinary student and volunteer chef. "It doesn't taste like celery."
Armstrong was helping at Cooking Matters, a free, six-week class that teaches parents and kids how to shop for and prepare healthy, inexpensive meals. The program launched 20 years ago through the nonprofit Share our Strength, and it now serves more than 11,000 families across the country.
'via Blog this'
Students gathered as the chef sliced tomatoes with a plastic knife in a Brooklyn public school cafeteria. Their eyes followed as she held up a slender green cylinder before the crowd of parents and kids in plastic aprons and hairnets.
"What's that?" kids shouted.
"It's a scallion. But don't eat it now," warned Leigh Armstrong, a culinary student and volunteer chef. "It doesn't taste like celery."
Armstrong was helping at Cooking Matters, a free, six-week class that teaches parents and kids how to shop for and prepare healthy, inexpensive meals. The program launched 20 years ago through the nonprofit Share our Strength, and it now serves more than 11,000 families across the country.
Inside The Brains Of Psychopaths | Fox News
Inside The Brains Of Psychopaths | Fox News:
'via Blog this'
Differences in psychopaths' brains may help explain their anti-social behavior, according to new research.
Psychopaths are identified as highly selfish, and lacking in emotion and conscience. Experts estimate that about 1 percent of the general population and as many as 25 percent of male offenders in federal correctional settings are psychopaths. Research looking into the minds of psychopaths has found not only differences in their brains but also, at least in one recent study, speech patterns.
In the new study, which relied on scans of the brains of psychopaths incarcerated in Wisconsin, the researchers found reduced connections between a part of the brain associated with empathy and decision-making, known as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), and other parts of the brain.
'via Blog this'
Differences in psychopaths' brains may help explain their anti-social behavior, according to new research.
Psychopaths are identified as highly selfish, and lacking in emotion and conscience. Experts estimate that about 1 percent of the general population and as many as 25 percent of male offenders in federal correctional settings are psychopaths. Research looking into the minds of psychopaths has found not only differences in their brains but also, at least in one recent study, speech patterns.
In the new study, which relied on scans of the brains of psychopaths incarcerated in Wisconsin, the researchers found reduced connections between a part of the brain associated with empathy and decision-making, known as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), and other parts of the brain.
Why Americans still breathe known hazards decades after ‘clean air’ law
Why Americans still breathe known hazards decades after ‘clean air’ law | iWatch News:
'via Blog this'
The stumbling, two-decade-old war on hazardous air pollutants — declared on Nov. 15, 1990, the day President George H. W. Bush signed the Clean Air Act amendments into law — has stalled on bureaucratic dawdling, industry resistance, legal maneuvering, limited resources and politics. Untainted air for all Americans — promised by Bush — has proved elusive.
As the Center for Public Integrity’s iWatch News and NPR have reported, the pollutants persist in hundreds of communities, the result of regulators’ failure to act on a mandate from Washington and the best consensus from scientists. Internal records show that Clean Air Act violations sometimes languish for years without sufficient scrutiny or enforcement.
'via Blog this'
The stumbling, two-decade-old war on hazardous air pollutants — declared on Nov. 15, 1990, the day President George H. W. Bush signed the Clean Air Act amendments into law — has stalled on bureaucratic dawdling, industry resistance, legal maneuvering, limited resources and politics. Untainted air for all Americans — promised by Bush — has proved elusive.
As the Center for Public Integrity’s iWatch News and NPR have reported, the pollutants persist in hundreds of communities, the result of regulators’ failure to act on a mandate from Washington and the best consensus from scientists. Internal records show that Clean Air Act violations sometimes languish for years without sufficient scrutiny or enforcement.
Many Kindergarteners Already on Road to Obesity, Study Finds
Many Kindergarteners Already on Road to Obesity, Study Finds - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
Today's kindergarteners are heavier than kids brought up in the 1970s and 1980s and appear to be on the road to becoming overweight and obese in the years to come, a new study finds.
"It's not just kids who are already overweight getting more and more so, there is an entire shift. Even those who are normal weight are gaining weight," said lead study author Ashlesha Datar, senior economist at RAND Corp. in Santa Monica, Calif.
Researchers analyzed data on nearly 6,000 white, black and Hispanic children who participated in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study -- a nationally representative sample -- and had their height and weight measured over nine years, in kindergarten, first, third, fifth and eighth grades.
'via Blog this'
Today's kindergarteners are heavier than kids brought up in the 1970s and 1980s and appear to be on the road to becoming overweight and obese in the years to come, a new study finds.
"It's not just kids who are already overweight getting more and more so, there is an entire shift. Even those who are normal weight are gaining weight," said lead study author Ashlesha Datar, senior economist at RAND Corp. in Santa Monica, Calif.
Researchers analyzed data on nearly 6,000 white, black and Hispanic children who participated in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study -- a nationally representative sample -- and had their height and weight measured over nine years, in kindergarten, first, third, fifth and eighth grades.
Study Finds Ignorance Is Bliss, and Then Some
Study Finds Ignorance Is Bliss, and Then Some | Psych Central News:
'via Blog this'
Troubling new research suggests that the less people know about important complex issues such as the economy, energy consumption and the environment, the more they want to avoid becoming well-informed.
Researchers also determined that the more urgent the issue, the more people want to remain unaware.
“These studies were designed to help understand the so-called ‘ignorance is bliss’ approach to social issues,” said author Steven Shepherd, a graduate student with the University of Waterloo in Ontario. “The findings can assist educators in addressing significant barriers to getting people involved and engaged in social issues.”
'via Blog this'
Troubling new research suggests that the less people know about important complex issues such as the economy, energy consumption and the environment, the more they want to avoid becoming well-informed.
Researchers also determined that the more urgent the issue, the more people want to remain unaware.
“These studies were designed to help understand the so-called ‘ignorance is bliss’ approach to social issues,” said author Steven Shepherd, a graduate student with the University of Waterloo in Ontario. “The findings can assist educators in addressing significant barriers to getting people involved and engaged in social issues.”
Soaring BPA Levels Found in People Who Eat Canned Foods
Soaring BPA Levels Found in People Who Eat Canned Foods - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
Eating canned food every day may raise the levels of the compound bisphenol A (BPA) in a person's urine more than previously suspected, a new study suggests.
People who ate a serving of canned soup every day for five days had BPA levels of 20.8 micrograms per liter of urine, whereas people who instead ate fresh soup had levels of 1.1 micrograms per liter, according to the study. BPA is found in many canned foods — it is a byproduct of the chemicals used to prevent corrosion.
When the researchers looked at the rise in BPA levels seen in the average participant who ate canned soup compared with those who ate fresh soup, they found a 1,221 percent jump.
'via Blog this'
Eating canned food every day may raise the levels of the compound bisphenol A (BPA) in a person's urine more than previously suspected, a new study suggests.
People who ate a serving of canned soup every day for five days had BPA levels of 20.8 micrograms per liter of urine, whereas people who instead ate fresh soup had levels of 1.1 micrograms per liter, according to the study. BPA is found in many canned foods — it is a byproduct of the chemicals used to prevent corrosion.
When the researchers looked at the rise in BPA levels seen in the average participant who ate canned soup compared with those who ate fresh soup, they found a 1,221 percent jump.
Livestock farmers say ethanol eats too much corn
Livestock farmers say ethanol eats too much corn - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
Livestock farmers are demanding a change in the nation's ethanol policy, claiming current rules could lead to spikes in meat prices and even shortages at supermarkets if corn growers have a bad year.
The amount of corn consumed by the ethanol industry combined with continued demand from overseas has cattle and hog farmers worried that if corn production drops due to drought or another natural disaster, the cost of feed could skyrocket, leaving them little choice but to reduce the size of their herds. A smaller supply could, in turn, mean higher meat prices and less selection at the grocery store.
'via Blog this'
Livestock farmers are demanding a change in the nation's ethanol policy, claiming current rules could lead to spikes in meat prices and even shortages at supermarkets if corn growers have a bad year.
The amount of corn consumed by the ethanol industry combined with continued demand from overseas has cattle and hog farmers worried that if corn production drops due to drought or another natural disaster, the cost of feed could skyrocket, leaving them little choice but to reduce the size of their herds. A smaller supply could, in turn, mean higher meat prices and less selection at the grocery store.
November 22, 2011
Sharp rise in hospitalizations tied to energy drinks
Sharp rise in hospitalizations tied to energy drinks: report | Reuters:
'via Blog this'
Emergency room visits linked to energy drink consumption have surged in recent years, according to a report released on Tuesday, as more people combine the popular beverages with alcohol and drugs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said hospitalizations in the United States tied to energy drinks have jumped tenfold to 13,114 in 2009 from 1,128 visits in 2005. The most recent year for which data is available is 2009.
The agency, a unit of the Department of Health and Human Services, said that 44 percent of the visits involved people who had combined the stimulant-rich drinks with alcohol, pharmaceuticals or illicit drugs.
'via Blog this'
Emergency room visits linked to energy drink consumption have surged in recent years, according to a report released on Tuesday, as more people combine the popular beverages with alcohol and drugs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said hospitalizations in the United States tied to energy drinks have jumped tenfold to 13,114 in 2009 from 1,128 visits in 2005. The most recent year for which data is available is 2009.
The agency, a unit of the Department of Health and Human Services, said that 44 percent of the visits involved people who had combined the stimulant-rich drinks with alcohol, pharmaceuticals or illicit drugs.
Study Links Coffee to Lower Risk of Endometrial Cancer
Study Links Coffee to Lower Risk of Endometrial Cancer - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
Women who drink moderate to high amounts of coffee may reduce their risk for endometrial cancer, new research reveals.
The finding stems from what investigators call the largest study to date to explore the impact of coffee and tea on the risk of endometrial cancer, which is cancer that originates in the lining of the uterus.
The study found that women who consume four or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day appear to lower their risk for endometrial cancer by 25 percent, relative to women who drink less than one cup a day.
'via Blog this'
Women who drink moderate to high amounts of coffee may reduce their risk for endometrial cancer, new research reveals.
The finding stems from what investigators call the largest study to date to explore the impact of coffee and tea on the risk of endometrial cancer, which is cancer that originates in the lining of the uterus.
The study found that women who consume four or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day appear to lower their risk for endometrial cancer by 25 percent, relative to women who drink less than one cup a day.
Cactus goo can clean up drinking water
Cactus goo can clean up drinking water - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com:
'via Blog this'
The slimy ooze inside prickly pear cactuses that helps the plants store water in the desert can also be used for scouring arsenic, bacteria and cloudiness out of rural drinking water, according to research at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Biochemical engineer Norma Alcantar first learned of the cactus's unique abilities from her grandmother, a native of north central Mexico. There, the residual water from boiling the flat, oval-shaped lobes of prickly pear for salads and other dishes was used to clear up cloudy water drawn from the river before use for cooking or drinking.
'via Blog this'
The slimy ooze inside prickly pear cactuses that helps the plants store water in the desert can also be used for scouring arsenic, bacteria and cloudiness out of rural drinking water, according to research at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Biochemical engineer Norma Alcantar first learned of the cactus's unique abilities from her grandmother, a native of north central Mexico. There, the residual water from boiling the flat, oval-shaped lobes of prickly pear for salads and other dishes was used to clear up cloudy water drawn from the river before use for cooking or drinking.
Carbon nanotube 'space camouflage' coating invented
BBC News - Carbon nanotube 'space camouflage' coating invented:
'via Blog this'
Tiny carbon tubes can be used to hide three-dimensional objects from view, according to a team of researchers.
The nanotubes are one-atom thick sheets of graphene wrapped into cylindrical tubes.
Engineers from University of Michigan found they could be used to obscure objects so that they appeared to be nothing more than a flat black sheet.
'via Blog this'
Tiny carbon tubes can be used to hide three-dimensional objects from view, according to a team of researchers.
The nanotubes are one-atom thick sheets of graphene wrapped into cylindrical tubes.
Engineers from University of Michigan found they could be used to obscure objects so that they appeared to be nothing more than a flat black sheet.
Abnormal levels of caffeine in water indicate human contamination
Abnormal levels of caffeine in water indicate human contamination:
'via Blog this'
Researchers led by Prof. Sébastien Sauvé of the University of Montreal's Department of Chemistry have discovered that traces of caffeine are a useful indicator of the contamination of our water by sewers. "E coli bacteria is commonly used to evaluate and regulate the levels of fecal pollution of our water from storm water discharge, but because storm sewers systems collect surface runoff, non-human sources can contribute significantly to the levels that are observed," Sauvé explained.
'via Blog this'
Researchers led by Prof. Sébastien Sauvé of the University of Montreal's Department of Chemistry have discovered that traces of caffeine are a useful indicator of the contamination of our water by sewers. "E coli bacteria is commonly used to evaluate and regulate the levels of fecal pollution of our water from storm water discharge, but because storm sewers systems collect surface runoff, non-human sources can contribute significantly to the levels that are observed," Sauvé explained.
Girls feel more anger, sadness than boys when friends offend
Girls feel more anger, sadness than boys when friends offend:
'via Blog this'
Girls may be sugar and spice, but "everything nice" takes a back seat when friends let them down.
In a Duke University study out November 22, researchers found that pre-teen girls may not be any better at friendships than boys, despite previous research suggesting otherwise. The findings suggest that when more serious violations of a friendship occur, girls struggle just as much and, in some ways, even more than boys.
The girls in this study were just as likely as boys to report that they would seek revenge against an offending friend, verbally attack the friend and threaten to end the friendship when their expectations were violated, such as telling one of their secrets to other children.
'via Blog this'
Girls may be sugar and spice, but "everything nice" takes a back seat when friends let them down.
In a Duke University study out November 22, researchers found that pre-teen girls may not be any better at friendships than boys, despite previous research suggesting otherwise. The findings suggest that when more serious violations of a friendship occur, girls struggle just as much and, in some ways, even more than boys.
The girls in this study were just as likely as boys to report that they would seek revenge against an offending friend, verbally attack the friend and threaten to end the friendship when their expectations were violated, such as telling one of their secrets to other children.
Blocked holes can enhance rather than stop light going through
Blocked holes can enhance rather than stop light going through:
'via Blog this'
Conventional wisdom would say that blocking a hole would prevent light from going through it, but Princeton University engineers have discovered the opposite to be true. A research team has found that placing a metal cap over a small hole in a metal film does not stop the light at all, but rather enhances its transmission.
In an example of the extraordinary twists of physics that can occur at very small scales, electrical engineer Stephen Chou and colleagues made an array of tiny holes in a thin metal film, then blocked each hole with an opaque metal cap. When they shined light into the holes, they found that as much as 70 percent more light came through when the holes were blocked than when they were open.
'via Blog this'
Conventional wisdom would say that blocking a hole would prevent light from going through it, but Princeton University engineers have discovered the opposite to be true. A research team has found that placing a metal cap over a small hole in a metal film does not stop the light at all, but rather enhances its transmission.
In an example of the extraordinary twists of physics that can occur at very small scales, electrical engineer Stephen Chou and colleagues made an array of tiny holes in a thin metal film, then blocked each hole with an opaque metal cap. When they shined light into the holes, they found that as much as 70 percent more light came through when the holes were blocked than when they were open.
Terminator-Style Contact Lens Closer to Reality
Terminator-Style Contact Lens Closer to Reality - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com:
'via Blog this'
Cyborgs of the future beware: Humans are working on computerized contact lenses with display technology.
"Some day maybe we'll have full-fledged streaming in your contact lenses," said Babak Amir Parviz, an associate professor of electrical engineering at the University of Washington who co-authored a paper describing the computerized new contact lens in the latest issue of the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering.
'via Blog this'
Cyborgs of the future beware: Humans are working on computerized contact lenses with display technology.
"Some day maybe we'll have full-fledged streaming in your contact lenses," said Babak Amir Parviz, an associate professor of electrical engineering at the University of Washington who co-authored a paper describing the computerized new contact lens in the latest issue of the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering.
November 21, 2011
Unearthing a new quantum state of matter: Quantum physics discoveries could change face of technology
Unearthing a new quantum state of matter: Quantum physics discoveries could change face of technology:
'via Blog this'
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have made advances in better understanding correlated quantum matter that could change technology as we know it, according to a study published in the Nov. 20 edition of Nature.
'via Blog this'
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have made advances in better understanding correlated quantum matter that could change technology as we know it, according to a study published in the Nov. 20 edition of Nature.
Algae biomass increased by more than 50 percent
Algae biomass increased by more than 50 percent:
'via Blog this'
Research at Iowa State University has led to discovery of a genetic method that can increase biomass in algae by 50 to 80 percent. The breakthrough comes from expressing certain genes in algae that increase the amount of photosynthesis in the plant, which leads to more biomass.
'via Blog this'
Research at Iowa State University has led to discovery of a genetic method that can increase biomass in algae by 50 to 80 percent. The breakthrough comes from expressing certain genes in algae that increase the amount of photosynthesis in the plant, which leads to more biomass.
At Last, Scientists Explain Why Animals Want Things But Objects Don't
At Last, Scientists Explain Why Animals Want Things But Objects Don't | Psychology Today:
'via Blog this'
If it were a snake it would have bit us. It's sitting right under our noses. It's the unifying insight behind the two biggest breakthrough clues toward solving the biggest remaining scientific mystery. Grateful and greatly encouraged by the breakthrough clues we ran with them, ignoring their underlying and unifying insight, the insight that made them both possible. We ignored the underlying insight until Terrence Deacon's book, Incomplete Nature: The Emergence Of Mind From Matter, whose 600 exquisitely reasoned and written pages I'll attempt to summarize here.
The biggest remaining scientific mystery is how to close the explanatory gap between the hard and the soft sciences, between energy and information, between physical forces and living desires, between a values-neutral physio-chemical universe and the values-driven bio-psycho-social universe--in a word, between clockwork physics and ever-game-changing life.
In other words, why can we talk about a living creature's intentions, preferences, desires, appetites, adaptations, functions, and purposes, but not a rock, a planet's, or an atom's? What changed, making information and intention cause matter to behave so differently, the way it most obviously does with life? And precisely how do intentions change things?
'via Blog this'
If it were a snake it would have bit us. It's sitting right under our noses. It's the unifying insight behind the two biggest breakthrough clues toward solving the biggest remaining scientific mystery. Grateful and greatly encouraged by the breakthrough clues we ran with them, ignoring their underlying and unifying insight, the insight that made them both possible. We ignored the underlying insight until Terrence Deacon's book, Incomplete Nature: The Emergence Of Mind From Matter, whose 600 exquisitely reasoned and written pages I'll attempt to summarize here.
The biggest remaining scientific mystery is how to close the explanatory gap between the hard and the soft sciences, between energy and information, between physical forces and living desires, between a values-neutral physio-chemical universe and the values-driven bio-psycho-social universe--in a word, between clockwork physics and ever-game-changing life.
In other words, why can we talk about a living creature's intentions, preferences, desires, appetites, adaptations, functions, and purposes, but not a rock, a planet's, or an atom's? What changed, making information and intention cause matter to behave so differently, the way it most obviously does with life? And precisely how do intentions change things?
After 25 years, sustainability is a growing science that's here to stay
After 25 years, sustainability is a growing science that's here to stay:
'via Blog this'
Sustainability has not only become a science in the past 25 years, but it is one that continues to be fast-growing with widespread international collaboration, broad disciplinary composition and wide geographic distribution, according to new research from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Indiana University.
The findings, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were assembled from a review of 20,000 academic papers written by 37,000 distinct authors representing 174 countries and over 2,200 cities. Authors of the paper, Los Alamos research scientist LuÃs M. A. Bettencourt, and Jasleen Kaur, a Ph.D. student in Indiana University Bloomington's School of Informatics and Computing, also identified the most productive cities for sustainability publications and estimated the field's growth rate, with the number of distinct authors doubling every 8.3 years. The study covered research generated from 1974 through 2010.
'via Blog this'
Sustainability has not only become a science in the past 25 years, but it is one that continues to be fast-growing with widespread international collaboration, broad disciplinary composition and wide geographic distribution, according to new research from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Indiana University.
The findings, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were assembled from a review of 20,000 academic papers written by 37,000 distinct authors representing 174 countries and over 2,200 cities. Authors of the paper, Los Alamos research scientist LuÃs M. A. Bettencourt, and Jasleen Kaur, a Ph.D. student in Indiana University Bloomington's School of Informatics and Computing, also identified the most productive cities for sustainability publications and estimated the field's growth rate, with the number of distinct authors doubling every 8.3 years. The study covered research generated from 1974 through 2010.
World's first night-blooming orchid discovered
World's first night-blooming orchid discovered - Technology & science - Science - OurAmazingPlanet - msnbc.com:
'via Blog this'
A "nocturnal" orchid that blooms only under the cover of darkness has been discovered on a tropical island in the South Pacific — a first for the orchid world, scientists say.
The new night-flowering species, Bulbophyllum nocturnum, was described by researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in England, and the Center for Biodiversity Naturalis in the Netherlands.
'via Blog this'
A "nocturnal" orchid that blooms only under the cover of darkness has been discovered on a tropical island in the South Pacific — a first for the orchid world, scientists say.
The new night-flowering species, Bulbophyllum nocturnum, was described by researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in England, and the Center for Biodiversity Naturalis in the Netherlands.
Birth of famous black hole: Longstanding mysteries about object called Cygnus X-1 unraveled
Birth of famous black hole: Longstanding mysteries about object called Cygnus X-1 unraveled:
'via Blog this'
For the first time, astronomers have produced a complete description of a black hole, a concentration of mass so dense that not even light can escape its powerful gravitational pull. Their precise measurements have allowed them to reconstruct the history of the object from its birth some six million years ago.
Using several telescopes, both ground-based and in orbit, the scientists unravelled longstanding mysteries about the object called Cygnus X-1, a famous binary-star system discovered to be strongly emitting X-rays nearly a half-century ago. The system consists of a black hole and a companion star from which the black hole is drawing material. The scientists' efforts yielded the most accurate measurements ever of the black hole's mass and spin rate.
'via Blog this'
For the first time, astronomers have produced a complete description of a black hole, a concentration of mass so dense that not even light can escape its powerful gravitational pull. Their precise measurements have allowed them to reconstruct the history of the object from its birth some six million years ago.
Using several telescopes, both ground-based and in orbit, the scientists unravelled longstanding mysteries about the object called Cygnus X-1, a famous binary-star system discovered to be strongly emitting X-rays nearly a half-century ago. The system consists of a black hole and a companion star from which the black hole is drawing material. The scientists' efforts yielded the most accurate measurements ever of the black hole's mass and spin rate.
Coffee Delivers Jolt Deep In The Brain
Coffee Delivers Jolt Deep In The Brain - Science News:
'via Blog this'
Most caffeine addicts would tell you that coffee sharpens the mind. It turns out that in rodents, a single dose of caffeine does indeed strengthen brain cell connections in an underappreciated part of the brain, scientists report online November 20 in Nature Neuroscience.
A clearer idea of caffeine’s effect on the brain could allow scientists to take advantage of its stimulating effects and perhaps even alleviate some symptoms of brain disorders. “Caffeine is something people are very interested in,” says neuroscientist Susan Masino of Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., who was not involved in the study.
So far, most of caffeine’s effects have been illuminated by studies using doses much higher than an average person’s morning cup of joe, says study coauthor Serena Dudek of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
'via Blog this'
Most caffeine addicts would tell you that coffee sharpens the mind. It turns out that in rodents, a single dose of caffeine does indeed strengthen brain cell connections in an underappreciated part of the brain, scientists report online November 20 in Nature Neuroscience.
A clearer idea of caffeine’s effect on the brain could allow scientists to take advantage of its stimulating effects and perhaps even alleviate some symptoms of brain disorders. “Caffeine is something people are very interested in,” says neuroscientist Susan Masino of Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., who was not involved in the study.
So far, most of caffeine’s effects have been illuminated by studies using doses much higher than an average person’s morning cup of joe, says study coauthor Serena Dudek of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
Overweight people eat less often: study
Overweight people eat less often: study | Reuters:
'via Blog this'
Overweight adults eat less often than people in the normal body weight range, but still take in more calories and are less active over the course of the day, according to a U.S. study.
By contrast, normal weight adults, including those who had lost a lot of weight and kept it off, ate more often, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
'via Blog this'
Overweight adults eat less often than people in the normal body weight range, but still take in more calories and are less active over the course of the day, according to a U.S. study.
By contrast, normal weight adults, including those who had lost a lot of weight and kept it off, ate more often, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Study Finds Foster Children Often Given Antipsychosis Drugs
Study Finds Foster Children Often Given Antipsychosis Drugs - NYTimes.com:
'via Blog this'
Foster children are being prescribed cocktails of powerful antipsychosis drugs just as frequently as some of the most mentally disabled youngsters on Medicaid, a new study suggests.
The report, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, is the first to investigate how often youngsters in foster care are given two antipsychotic drugs at once, the authors said. The drugs include Risperdal, Seroquel and Zyprexa — among other so-called major tranquilizers — which were developed for schizophrenia but are now used as all-purpose drugs for almost any psychiatric symptoms.
'via Blog this'
Foster children are being prescribed cocktails of powerful antipsychosis drugs just as frequently as some of the most mentally disabled youngsters on Medicaid, a new study suggests.
The report, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, is the first to investigate how often youngsters in foster care are given two antipsychotic drugs at once, the authors said. The drugs include Risperdal, Seroquel and Zyprexa — among other so-called major tranquilizers — which were developed for schizophrenia but are now used as all-purpose drugs for almost any psychiatric symptoms.
Beware of "Big Soda's" Misleading Marketing Tricks!
Beware of "Big Soda's" Misleading Marketing Tricks!:
'via Blog this'
Soda, which is loaded with sugar primarily in the form of high fructose corn syrup, is a leading contributor to the rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases facing Americans.
So when I say that drinking a can of soda is just as bad for you as smoking a cigarette (and maybe even worse) it is not an exaggeration.
Drinking soda is in many ways worse for you than smoking, and it is only because of massive marketing campaigns from the industry that these sugary beverages are deemed acceptable for our most vulnerable members of society – our kids.
'via Blog this'
Soda, which is loaded with sugar primarily in the form of high fructose corn syrup, is a leading contributor to the rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases facing Americans.
So when I say that drinking a can of soda is just as bad for you as smoking a cigarette (and maybe even worse) it is not an exaggeration.
Drinking soda is in many ways worse for you than smoking, and it is only because of massive marketing campaigns from the industry that these sugary beverages are deemed acceptable for our most vulnerable members of society – our kids.
Quantum theorem shakes foundations
Quantum theorem shakes foundations : Nature News & Comment:
'via Blog this'
At the heart of the weirdness for which the field of quantum mechanics is famous is the wavefunction, a powerful but mysterious entity that is used to determine the probabilities that quantum particles will have certain properties. Now, a preprint posted online on 14 November1 reopens the question of what the wavefunction represents — with an answer that could rock quantum theory to its core. Whereas many physicists have generally interpreted the wavefunction as a statistical tool that reflects our ignorance of the particles being measured, the authors of the latest paper argue that, instead, it is physically real.
“I don't like to sound hyperbolic, but I think the word 'seismic' is likely to apply to this paper,” says Antony Valentini, a theoretical physicist specializing in quantum foundations at Clemson University in South Carolina.
'via Blog this'
At the heart of the weirdness for which the field of quantum mechanics is famous is the wavefunction, a powerful but mysterious entity that is used to determine the probabilities that quantum particles will have certain properties. Now, a preprint posted online on 14 November1 reopens the question of what the wavefunction represents — with an answer that could rock quantum theory to its core. Whereas many physicists have generally interpreted the wavefunction as a statistical tool that reflects our ignorance of the particles being measured, the authors of the latest paper argue that, instead, it is physically real.
“I don't like to sound hyperbolic, but I think the word 'seismic' is likely to apply to this paper,” says Antony Valentini, a theoretical physicist specializing in quantum foundations at Clemson University in South Carolina.
Study rejects faster-than-light neutrino claims
Study rejects faster-than-light neutrino claims - Technology & science - Science - msnbc.com:
'via Blog this'
Scientists studying the same neutrino particles that colleagues say appear to have traveled faster than light rejected the startling finding this weekend, saying their tests had shown it must be wrong.
The September announcement of the faster-than-light finding, backed up last week after new studies, caused a furor in the scientific world, as it seemed to suggest that Albert Einstein's ideas on relativity, and much of modern physics, were based on a mistaken premise.
'via Blog this'
Scientists studying the same neutrino particles that colleagues say appear to have traveled faster than light rejected the startling finding this weekend, saying their tests had shown it must be wrong.
The September announcement of the faster-than-light finding, backed up last week after new studies, caused a furor in the scientific world, as it seemed to suggest that Albert Einstein's ideas on relativity, and much of modern physics, were based on a mistaken premise.
UN: Concentrations of greenhouse gases hit record
UN: Concentrations of greenhouse gases hit record - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
Global warming gases have hit record levels in the world's atmosphere, with concentrations of carbon dioxide up 39 percent since the start of the industrial era in 1750, the U.N. weather agency said Monday.
The new figures for 2010 from the World Meteorological Organization show that CO2 levels are now at 389 parts per million, up from about 280 parts per million a quarter-millenium ago. The levels are significant because the gases trap heat in the atmosphere.
'via Blog this'
Global warming gases have hit record levels in the world's atmosphere, with concentrations of carbon dioxide up 39 percent since the start of the industrial era in 1750, the U.N. weather agency said Monday.
The new figures for 2010 from the World Meteorological Organization show that CO2 levels are now at 389 parts per million, up from about 280 parts per million a quarter-millenium ago. The levels are significant because the gases trap heat in the atmosphere.
November 18, 2011
World's lightest material is a metal 100 times lighter than styrofoam
World's lightest material is a metal 100 times lighter than styrofoam:
'via Blog this'
A team of researchers from UC Irvine, HRL Laboratories and the California Institute of Technology have developed the world's lightest material -- with a density of 0.9 mg/cc -- about one hundred times lighter than Styrofoam™.
Their findings appear in the Nov. 18 issue of Science.
The new material redefines the limits of lightweight materials because of its unique "micro-lattice" cellular architecture. The researchers were able to make a material that consists of 99.99 percent air by designing the 0.01 percent solid at the nanometer, micron and millimeter scales. "The trick is to fabricate a lattice of interconnected hollow tubes with a wall thickness 1,000 times thinner than a human hair," said lead author Dr. Tobias Schaedler of HRL.
'via Blog this'
A team of researchers from UC Irvine, HRL Laboratories and the California Institute of Technology have developed the world's lightest material -- with a density of 0.9 mg/cc -- about one hundred times lighter than Styrofoam™.
Their findings appear in the Nov. 18 issue of Science.
The new material redefines the limits of lightweight materials because of its unique "micro-lattice" cellular architecture. The researchers were able to make a material that consists of 99.99 percent air by designing the 0.01 percent solid at the nanometer, micron and millimeter scales. "The trick is to fabricate a lattice of interconnected hollow tubes with a wall thickness 1,000 times thinner than a human hair," said lead author Dr. Tobias Schaedler of HRL.
Neutrino experiment replicates faster-than-light finding
Neutrino experiment replicates faster-than-light finding : Nature News & Comment:
'via Blog this'
Physicists have replicated the finding that the subatomic particles called neutrinos seem to travel faster than light. It is a remarkable confirmation of a stunning result, yet most in the field remain sceptical that the ultimate cosmic speed limit has truly been broken.
The collaboration behind the experiment, called OPERA (Oscillation Project with Emulsion-tracking Apparatus), made headlines in September with its claim that a beam of neutrinos made the 730-kilometre journey from CERN, Europe's particle-physics lab near Geneva in Switzerland, to the Gran Sasso National Laboratory near L'Aquila, Italy, faster than the speed of light. The result defies Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity, which states that this cannot happen.
'via Blog this'
Physicists have replicated the finding that the subatomic particles called neutrinos seem to travel faster than light. It is a remarkable confirmation of a stunning result, yet most in the field remain sceptical that the ultimate cosmic speed limit has truly been broken.
The collaboration behind the experiment, called OPERA (Oscillation Project with Emulsion-tracking Apparatus), made headlines in September with its claim that a beam of neutrinos made the 730-kilometre journey from CERN, Europe's particle-physics lab near Geneva in Switzerland, to the Gran Sasso National Laboratory near L'Aquila, Italy, faster than the speed of light. The result defies Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity, which states that this cannot happen.
November 17, 2011
Metallic Hydrogen Makes Its Debut, Maybe
Metallic Hydrogen Makes Its Debut, Maybe - Science News:
'via Blog this'
Hydrogen gas squeezed at tremendous pressures has transformed into a metal in the laboratory. So say a pair of scientists in Germany, whose bold claim is being met with skepticism.
Many scientists have tried to make metallic hydrogen since its existence was first predicted in 1935. The exotic substance is thought to form at high pressures, such as those in Jupiter’s core. It may be a superconductor at room temperature, useful for making wires that carry electricity with little loss of current. And NASA hopes to one day put it to work as a rocket fuel that would be more powerful than anything around today.
'via Blog this'
Hydrogen gas squeezed at tremendous pressures has transformed into a metal in the laboratory. So say a pair of scientists in Germany, whose bold claim is being met with skepticism.
Many scientists have tried to make metallic hydrogen since its existence was first predicted in 1935. The exotic substance is thought to form at high pressures, such as those in Jupiter’s core. It may be a superconductor at room temperature, useful for making wires that carry electricity with little loss of current. And NASA hopes to one day put it to work as a rocket fuel that would be more powerful than anything around today.
Today's teens will die younger of heart disease, study finds
Today's teens will die younger of heart disease, study finds:
'via Blog this'
A new study that takes a complete snapshot of adolescent cardiovascular health in the United States reveals a dismal picture of teens who are likely to die of heart disease at a younger age than adults do today, reports Northwestern Medicine research.
"We are all born with ideal cardiovascular health, but right now we are looking at the loss of that health in youth," said Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., chair and associate professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "Their future is bleak."
'via Blog this'
A new study that takes a complete snapshot of adolescent cardiovascular health in the United States reveals a dismal picture of teens who are likely to die of heart disease at a younger age than adults do today, reports Northwestern Medicine research.
"We are all born with ideal cardiovascular health, but right now we are looking at the loss of that health in youth," said Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., chair and associate professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "Their future is bleak."
The World's most difficult chemical experiment: The struggle to discover the secret of super-heavy elements
The World's most difficult chemical experiment: The struggle to discover the secret of super-heavy elements:
'via Blog this'
In order to find the chemical properties of super-heavy elements, chemists must conduct one of the world's most demanding chemical experiments in a matter of seconds. When scientists discover new elements, that is just the beginning of a voyage of discovery in the world of chemistry.
'via Blog this'
In order to find the chemical properties of super-heavy elements, chemists must conduct one of the world's most demanding chemical experiments in a matter of seconds. When scientists discover new elements, that is just the beginning of a voyage of discovery in the world of chemistry.
Americans Getting Fatter and Sicker
Americans Getting Fatter and Sicker - Maggie Fox - NationalJournal.com:
'via Blog this'
Congress and the Obama administration may be struggling to find ways to save money on health care costs, but they are fighting even more of a losing battle than expected, heart experts said on Wednesday. Two studies presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando show Americans are getting even fatter and less healthy.
One team projects that by 2020, more than 80 percent of U.S. men and more than 70 percent of women will be overweight or obese, and more than half will either have full-blown diabetes or be well on the way to developing it.
'via Blog this'
Congress and the Obama administration may be struggling to find ways to save money on health care costs, but they are fighting even more of a losing battle than expected, heart experts said on Wednesday. Two studies presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando show Americans are getting even fatter and less healthy.
One team projects that by 2020, more than 80 percent of U.S. men and more than 70 percent of women will be overweight or obese, and more than half will either have full-blown diabetes or be well on the way to developing it.
One in 12 teenagers self harm, study finds
One in 12 teenagers self harm, study finds | Reuters:
'via Blog this'
One in 12 young people, mostly girls, engage in self-harming such as cutting, burning or taking life-threatening risks and around 10 percent of these continue to deliberately harm themselves into young adulthood, a study found Thursday.
Since self-harming is one of the strongest predictors of who will go on to commit suicide, the psychiatrists who conducted the study said they hoped its findings would help galvanize support for more active and earlier intervention for people at risk.
'via Blog this'
One in 12 young people, mostly girls, engage in self-harming such as cutting, burning or taking life-threatening risks and around 10 percent of these continue to deliberately harm themselves into young adulthood, a study found Thursday.
Since self-harming is one of the strongest predictors of who will go on to commit suicide, the psychiatrists who conducted the study said they hoped its findings would help galvanize support for more active and earlier intervention for people at risk.
One In Five American Adults Takes Psychiatric Drugs
One In Five American Adults Takes Psychiatric Drugs | Fox News:
'via Blog this'
The medicating of Americans for mental illnesses continued to grow over the past decade, with one in five adults now taking at least one psychiatric drug such as antidepressants, antipsychotics and anti-anxiety medications, according to an analysis of pharmacy claims data released Wednesday.
Among the most striking findings was a big increase in the use of powerful antipsychotic drugs across all ages, as well as growth in adult use of drugs for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a condition typically diagnosed in childhood. Use of ADHD drugs such as Concerta and Vyvanse tripled among those aged 20 to 44 between 2001 and 2010, and it doubled over that time among women in the 45-to-65 group, according to the report.
'via Blog this'
The medicating of Americans for mental illnesses continued to grow over the past decade, with one in five adults now taking at least one psychiatric drug such as antidepressants, antipsychotics and anti-anxiety medications, according to an analysis of pharmacy claims data released Wednesday.
Among the most striking findings was a big increase in the use of powerful antipsychotic drugs across all ages, as well as growth in adult use of drugs for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a condition typically diagnosed in childhood. Use of ADHD drugs such as Concerta and Vyvanse tripled among those aged 20 to 44 between 2001 and 2010, and it doubled over that time among women in the 45-to-65 group, according to the report.
Europe In The Grip Of Drug-Resistant Superbugs
Europe In The Grip Of Drug-Resistant Superbugs | Fox News:
'via Blog this'
Superbugs capable of evading even the most powerful antibiotics are increasing their grip in Europe with rates of drug resistance in one type of bacteria reaching 50 percent in the worst-hit countries, health officials said Thursday.
In a report on multi-drug resistant bacteria, or so-called superbugs, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which monitors disease across the European Union, said the need to combat resistance was "critical."
'via Blog this'
Superbugs capable of evading even the most powerful antibiotics are increasing their grip in Europe with rates of drug resistance in one type of bacteria reaching 50 percent in the worst-hit countries, health officials said Thursday.
In a report on multi-drug resistant bacteria, or so-called superbugs, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which monitors disease across the European Union, said the need to combat resistance was "critical."
November 16, 2011
Lack of soap means illness, death for millions of children
Lack of soap means illness, death for millions of children - CNN.com:
'via Blog this'
It still makes Fatoma Dia's eyes widen whenever the Hilton hotel cleaning worker sees a bar of barely used soap on a bathroom counter.
"This," she says, picking it up with a gloved hand and dropping it in a brown bucket, "is valuable where I come from."
The 35-year-old grew up in a mountainous region of southern Sudan where soap can cost more than a day's wages. Because some in the region, could not wash, they got sick.
Across the globe, 2.4 billion people do not have access to clean sanitation, according to the World Health Organization. An estimated 1.5 million children die every year because their immune systems are not mature enough to battle diarrheal and respiratory diseases spread in contaminated environments.
'via Blog this'
It still makes Fatoma Dia's eyes widen whenever the Hilton hotel cleaning worker sees a bar of barely used soap on a bathroom counter.
"This," she says, picking it up with a gloved hand and dropping it in a brown bucket, "is valuable where I come from."
The 35-year-old grew up in a mountainous region of southern Sudan where soap can cost more than a day's wages. Because some in the region, could not wash, they got sick.
Across the globe, 2.4 billion people do not have access to clean sanitation, according to the World Health Organization. An estimated 1.5 million children die every year because their immune systems are not mature enough to battle diarrheal and respiratory diseases spread in contaminated environments.
Alcoholics More Likely to Die of Cancer: Study
Alcoholics More Likely to Die of Cancer: Study - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
Alcoholics have a higher rate of death from cancer and other causes than other people, a new study finds.
Italian researchers examined data on nearly 2,300 male and female alcoholics who were treated at the Alcohol Center of Florence between 1985 and 2001.
They found a higher rate of death among alcoholics than among the general population for multiple types of cancers, particularly cancers of the pharynx, oral cavity, liver and larynx. Risk of death from cancer of the esophagus, rectum, pancreas and breast was also heightened among alcoholics.
'via Blog this'
Alcoholics have a higher rate of death from cancer and other causes than other people, a new study finds.
Italian researchers examined data on nearly 2,300 male and female alcoholics who were treated at the Alcohol Center of Florence between 1985 and 2001.
They found a higher rate of death among alcoholics than among the general population for multiple types of cancers, particularly cancers of the pharynx, oral cavity, liver and larynx. Risk of death from cancer of the esophagus, rectum, pancreas and breast was also heightened among alcoholics.
Sexually Active Teenage Boys Risk Small Reproductive Organs, Study Shows
Sexually Active Teenage Boys Risk Small Reproductive Organs, Study Shows | Fox News:
'via Blog this'
Teenage boys may take some convincing about a new U.S. study that claims having sex during adolescence could stunt the growth of their reproductive organs.
Researchers from Ohio State University said that being sexually active while the nervous system was still developing can be linked to "lasting effects on the body and mood" into adulthood.
'via Blog this'
Teenage boys may take some convincing about a new U.S. study that claims having sex during adolescence could stunt the growth of their reproductive organs.
Researchers from Ohio State University said that being sexually active while the nervous system was still developing can be linked to "lasting effects on the body and mood" into adulthood.
New mouthwash targeting harmful bacteria may render tooth decay a thing of the past
New mouthwash targeting harmful bacteria may render tooth decay a thing of the past:
'via Blog this'
A new mouthwash developed by a microbiologist at the UCLA School of Dentistry is highly successful in targeting the harmful Streptococcus mutans bacteria that is the principal cause tooth decay and cavities.
Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay or cavities, is one of the most common and costly infectious diseases in the United States, affecting more than 50 percent of children and the vast majority of adults aged 18 and older. Americans spend more than $70 billion each year on dental services, with the majority of that amount going toward the treatment of dental caries.
'via Blog this'
A new mouthwash developed by a microbiologist at the UCLA School of Dentistry is highly successful in targeting the harmful Streptococcus mutans bacteria that is the principal cause tooth decay and cavities.
Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay or cavities, is one of the most common and costly infectious diseases in the United States, affecting more than 50 percent of children and the vast majority of adults aged 18 and older. Americans spend more than $70 billion each year on dental services, with the majority of that amount going toward the treatment of dental caries.
Alcoholics' 'injured brains' work harder to complete simple tasks: Finger tapping study shows alcoholics may recruit other brain regions
Alcoholics' 'injured brains' work harder to complete simple tasks: Finger tapping study shows alcoholics may recruit other brain regions:
'via Blog this'
Alcoholic brains can perform a simple finger-tapping exercise as well as their sober counterparts but their brain must work a lot harder to do it, according to a Vanderbilt study released by the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
Chronic drinking is associated with abnormalities in the structure, metabolism and function of the brain. One of the consequences of these deficits is impairment of motor functioning.
The new study, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a finger-tapping exercise, found that the frontal lobe and cerebellum activities were less integrated in alcoholic individuals.
'via Blog this'
Alcoholic brains can perform a simple finger-tapping exercise as well as their sober counterparts but their brain must work a lot harder to do it, according to a Vanderbilt study released by the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
Chronic drinking is associated with abnormalities in the structure, metabolism and function of the brain. One of the consequences of these deficits is impairment of motor functioning.
The new study, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a finger-tapping exercise, found that the frontal lobe and cerebellum activities were less integrated in alcoholic individuals.
Employees Afraid to Ask Bosses for Time Off
Employees Afraid to Ask Bosses for Time Off - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
New research reveals employees are hesitant to use their vacation time — even if they have days off to spare.
A recent Harris Interactive study conducted for JetBlue Airways found that 57 percent of working Americans will have unused vacation time at year’s end. The survey discovered most employees leave an average of 11 vacation days on the table, or 70 percent of their total allotted time off.
And it’s not because they lack the desire to take a break.
'via Blog this'
New research reveals employees are hesitant to use their vacation time — even if they have days off to spare.
A recent Harris Interactive study conducted for JetBlue Airways found that 57 percent of working Americans will have unused vacation time at year’s end. The survey discovered most employees leave an average of 11 vacation days on the table, or 70 percent of their total allotted time off.
And it’s not because they lack the desire to take a break.
November 15, 2011
'Sweet spot' for life's chemistry found
'Sweet spot' for life's chemistry found - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com:
'via Blog this'
When scientists realized early Earth didn't have the right ingredients for life on its own, they started looking in space for the complex organic molecules needed to get things going.
Of particular interest is methanol, which can trigger the more complex chemistry that leads to amino acids, the building blocks for proteins and life.
"Methanol is the most complex molecule you can form at the really low temperatures in interstellar space," astronomer Douglas Whittet, of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, told Discovery News. "When you put methanol into a newly forming star system, you have some heat from a proto-sun and that's when methanol really takes off. It's the springboard for more exciting chemistry that follows."
'via Blog this'
When scientists realized early Earth didn't have the right ingredients for life on its own, they started looking in space for the complex organic molecules needed to get things going.
Of particular interest is methanol, which can trigger the more complex chemistry that leads to amino acids, the building blocks for proteins and life.
"Methanol is the most complex molecule you can form at the really low temperatures in interstellar space," astronomer Douglas Whittet, of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, told Discovery News. "When you put methanol into a newly forming star system, you have some heat from a proto-sun and that's when methanol really takes off. It's the springboard for more exciting chemistry that follows."
Is Information Overload Making Us Depressed?
Is Information Overload Making Us Depressed? – TIME Healthland:
'via Blog this'
To improve your well-being, Weil suggests, cut down on your consumption of data. "The modern downpour of data is largely worthless distraction," Weil writes, "and the sheer amount is drowning us." He argues that the modern Information Age, this "revolution in information delivery," offers little in the way of genuinely useful information — exposing us instead to a torrent of what Francis Heylighen, a cyberneticist at the Free University of Brussels, called "irrelevant, unclear, and simply erroneous data fragments" or "data smog" — and it's seriously bringing us down.
'via Blog this'
To improve your well-being, Weil suggests, cut down on your consumption of data. "The modern downpour of data is largely worthless distraction," Weil writes, "and the sheer amount is drowning us." He argues that the modern Information Age, this "revolution in information delivery," offers little in the way of genuinely useful information — exposing us instead to a torrent of what Francis Heylighen, a cyberneticist at the Free University of Brussels, called "irrelevant, unclear, and simply erroneous data fragments" or "data smog" — and it's seriously bringing us down.
High IQ linked to drug use
High IQ linked to drug use – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs:
'via Blog this'
The "Just Say No" generation was often told by parents and teachers that intelligent people didn't use drugs. Turns out, the adults may have been wrong.
A new British study finds children with high IQs are more likely to use drugs as adults than people who score low on IQ tests as children. The data come from the 1970 British Cohort Study, which has been following thousands of people over decades. The kids' IQs were tested at the ages of 5, 10 and 16. The study also asked about drug use and looked at education and other socioeconomic factors. Then when participants turned 30, they were asked whether they had used drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin in the past year.
'via Blog this'
The "Just Say No" generation was often told by parents and teachers that intelligent people didn't use drugs. Turns out, the adults may have been wrong.
A new British study finds children with high IQs are more likely to use drugs as adults than people who score low on IQ tests as children. The data come from the 1970 British Cohort Study, which has been following thousands of people over decades. The kids' IQs were tested at the ages of 5, 10 and 16. The study also asked about drug use and looked at education and other socioeconomic factors. Then when participants turned 30, they were asked whether they had used drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin in the past year.
LHC reveals hints of 'new physics' in particle decays
BBC News - LHC reveals hints of 'new physics' in particle decays:
'via Blog this'
Large Hadron Collider researchers have shown off what may be the facility's first "new physics" outside our current understanding of the Universe.
Particles called D-mesons seem to decay slightly differently from their antiparticles, LHCb physicist Matthew Charles told the HCP 2011 meeting on Monday.
The result may help explain why we see so much more matter than antimatter.
'via Blog this'
Large Hadron Collider researchers have shown off what may be the facility's first "new physics" outside our current understanding of the Universe.
Particles called D-mesons seem to decay slightly differently from their antiparticles, LHCb physicist Matthew Charles told the HCP 2011 meeting on Monday.
The result may help explain why we see so much more matter than antimatter.
Contraceptive pill associated with increased prostate cancer risk worldwide, study finds
Contraceptive pill associated with increased prostate cancer risk worldwide, study finds:
'via Blog this'
Use of the contraceptive pill is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer around the globe, finds research published in BMJ Open.
Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the developed world and the use of the contraceptive pill has soared over the past 40 years, say the authors.
'via Blog this'
Use of the contraceptive pill is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer around the globe, finds research published in BMJ Open.
Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the developed world and the use of the contraceptive pill has soared over the past 40 years, say the authors.
November 14, 2011
Cardiac cells 'heal heart damage'
BBC News - Cardiac cells 'heal heart damage':
'via Blog this'
Stem cells taken from a patient's own heart have, for the first time, been used to repair damaged heart tissue, researchers claim.
The study, published in the Lancet, was designed to test the procedure's safety, but also reported improvements in the heart's ability to pump blood.
The authors said the findings were "very encouraging"
Other experts said techniques with bone marrow stem cells were more advanced and that bigger trials were needed.
'via Blog this'
Stem cells taken from a patient's own heart have, for the first time, been used to repair damaged heart tissue, researchers claim.
The study, published in the Lancet, was designed to test the procedure's safety, but also reported improvements in the heart's ability to pump blood.
The authors said the findings were "very encouraging"
Other experts said techniques with bone marrow stem cells were more advanced and that bigger trials were needed.
Exposure to Toxic Solvents Linked to Parkinson's Disease
Exposure to Toxic Solvents Linked to Parkinson's Disease - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
Exposure to the industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) appears to greatly increase the risk of Parkinson's disease, and exposure to two other solvents also boosts the chances of developing the neurodegenerative disorder, a new study indicates.
As many as 500,000 people in the United States have Parkinson's disease and more than 50,000 new cases are diagnosed in the country each year. Some research suggests that genetic and environmental factors might trigger Parkinson's, and several studies have reported that exposure to solvents may increase the risk.
In this new study, U.S. researchers interviewed 99 pairs of elderly twins about their lifetime occupations and hobbies. Exposure to TCE was associated with a sixfold increased risk of Parkinson's disease. Exposure to perchloroethylene (PERC) and carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) were also associated with increased risk.
'via Blog this'
Exposure to the industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) appears to greatly increase the risk of Parkinson's disease, and exposure to two other solvents also boosts the chances of developing the neurodegenerative disorder, a new study indicates.
As many as 500,000 people in the United States have Parkinson's disease and more than 50,000 new cases are diagnosed in the country each year. Some research suggests that genetic and environmental factors might trigger Parkinson's, and several studies have reported that exposure to solvents may increase the risk.
In this new study, U.S. researchers interviewed 99 pairs of elderly twins about their lifetime occupations and hobbies. Exposure to TCE was associated with a sixfold increased risk of Parkinson's disease. Exposure to perchloroethylene (PERC) and carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) were also associated with increased risk.
'Smog-eating' material breaking into the big time
BBC News - 'Smog-eating' material breaking into the big time:
'via Blog this'
What material can you find in toothpaste, sunscreen, solar cells, on the baseline at Wimbledon, in a Roman church, and along a tunnel in Brussels?
Full marks if you guessed titanium dioxide, a nearly ubiquitous but wholly unsung material.
Its brilliant white has made it a staple in pigments - hence Wimbledon - but its eco-credentials are still coming to the fore.
Titanium dioxide does a couple of clever tricks that mean we may well be seeing a lot of it in the future: it's self-cleaning, and it breaks down pollutants in the air.
'via Blog this'
What material can you find in toothpaste, sunscreen, solar cells, on the baseline at Wimbledon, in a Roman church, and along a tunnel in Brussels?
Full marks if you guessed titanium dioxide, a nearly ubiquitous but wholly unsung material.
Its brilliant white has made it a staple in pigments - hence Wimbledon - but its eco-credentials are still coming to the fore.
Titanium dioxide does a couple of clever tricks that mean we may well be seeing a lot of it in the future: it's self-cleaning, and it breaks down pollutants in the air.
Breakthrough: Israel Develops Cancer Vaccine
Breakthrough: Israel Develops Cancer Vaccine | United with Israel:
'via Blog this'
Vaxil’s groundbreaking therapeutic vaccine, developed in Israel, could keep about 90 percent of cancers from coming back.
As the world’s population lives longer than ever, if we don’t succumb to heart disease, strokes or accidents, it is more likely that cancer will get us one way or another. Cancer is tough to fight, as the body learns how to outsmart medical approaches that often kill normal cells while targeting the malignant ones.
'via Blog this'
Vaxil’s groundbreaking therapeutic vaccine, developed in Israel, could keep about 90 percent of cancers from coming back.
As the world’s population lives longer than ever, if we don’t succumb to heart disease, strokes or accidents, it is more likely that cancer will get us one way or another. Cancer is tough to fight, as the body learns how to outsmart medical approaches that often kill normal cells while targeting the malignant ones.
Male Nurses More Masculine than Other Guys
Male Nurses More Masculine than Other Guys - Yahoo! News:
'via Blog this'
Despite the old stereotype that nursing is a "women's profession," male nurses display more typically masculine traits than men who work in other vocations, a new study suggests.
The results show male nursing students scored higher on tests to measure masculinity than college men studying other subjects.
"The nursing profession is attracting males who hold a high degree of masculinity," the researchers wrote in the November issue of the American Journal of Men's Health. "Efforts should be made to counteract the prevailing belief that male nurses are effeminate."
'via Blog this'
Despite the old stereotype that nursing is a "women's profession," male nurses display more typically masculine traits than men who work in other vocations, a new study suggests.
The results show male nursing students scored higher on tests to measure masculinity than college men studying other subjects.
"The nursing profession is attracting males who hold a high degree of masculinity," the researchers wrote in the November issue of the American Journal of Men's Health. "Efforts should be made to counteract the prevailing belief that male nurses are effeminate."
November 10, 2011
A fetus can sense Mom's psychological state
A fetus can sense Mom's psychological state:
'via Blog this'
As a fetus grows, it's constantly getting messages from its mother. It's not just hearing her heartbeat and whatever music she might play to her belly; it also gets chemical signals through the placenta. A new study, which will be published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that this includes signals about the mother's mental state. If the mother is depressed, that affects how the baby develops after it's born.
'via Blog this'
As a fetus grows, it's constantly getting messages from its mother. It's not just hearing her heartbeat and whatever music she might play to her belly; it also gets chemical signals through the placenta. A new study, which will be published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that this includes signals about the mother's mental state. If the mother is depressed, that affects how the baby develops after it's born.
How do we humans fuel our big brains?
How do we humans fuel our big brains? - Technology & science - Science - LiveScience - msnbc.com:
'via Blog this'
Half a million years ago, the human brain started expanding. Bigger brains need more energy to keep trucking, but scientists have been stumped as to where we found this extra juice when our metabolic rate, which is how we churn out energy, is on par with our pea-brained cousins.
One recent theory suggests that our brain's need for energy was fed by a smaller gut, since an easier-to-digest diet would free up energy from the gut to build up the brain. New research suggests this might not be the case, that storing energy in our fat deposits is more important.
" Animals with big brains, they had very low adipose (fat) tissue. Animals that had large adipose tissues had smaller brains," study researcher Ana Navarrete, of the University of Zurich, in Switzerland, told LiveScience. "Either you have a much (bigger) brain or a lot of adipose tissue. Usually they are mutually exclusive."
'via Blog this'
Half a million years ago, the human brain started expanding. Bigger brains need more energy to keep trucking, but scientists have been stumped as to where we found this extra juice when our metabolic rate, which is how we churn out energy, is on par with our pea-brained cousins.
One recent theory suggests that our brain's need for energy was fed by a smaller gut, since an easier-to-digest diet would free up energy from the gut to build up the brain. New research suggests this might not be the case, that storing energy in our fat deposits is more important.
" Animals with big brains, they had very low adipose (fat) tissue. Animals that had large adipose tissues had smaller brains," study researcher Ana Navarrete, of the University of Zurich, in Switzerland, told LiveScience. "Either you have a much (bigger) brain or a lot of adipose tissue. Usually they are mutually exclusive."
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