Left unchecked, climate change aligned with population explosion and low agricultural yields will drastically increase global poverty and hunger over the next two decades, warns the international aid organization Oxfam in a report released today (May 31).
The prices of staple foods such as corn and rice will speed up their ascent, Oxfam predicts, and will climb by 180 percent and 130 percent, respectively, by the year 2030.
In a world where the poorest people now spend as much as 80 percent of their incomes on food — the average Filipino spends proportionally four times more on sustenance than the average British person, for example — drastic food scarcities and price hikes will likely push many struggling populations into hunger and, potentially, starvation.
Food Prices, Global Hunger to Skyrocket by 2030, Oxfam Warns - Yahoo! News
May 31, 2011
Cell phone use may cause cancer in humans: WHO
The use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices are "possibly carcinogenic to humans", the World Health Organisation's cancer research agency said Tuesday.
The radio frequency electromagnetic fields generated by such devices were deemed as potential cancer agents "based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer," the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said in a statement.
A group of experts meeting in the French city of Lyon over the past eight days "reached this classification based on its review of the human evidence coming from epidemiological studies," said Jonathan Samet, president of the work group.
Cell phone use may cause cancer in humans: WHO - Yahoo! News
The radio frequency electromagnetic fields generated by such devices were deemed as potential cancer agents "based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer," the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said in a statement.
A group of experts meeting in the French city of Lyon over the past eight days "reached this classification based on its review of the human evidence coming from epidemiological studies," said Jonathan Samet, president of the work group.
Cell phone use may cause cancer in humans: WHO - Yahoo! News
Sugar may be sapping your memory
Do you ever forget people's names? Enter a room and forget why you went there? Forget a word mid-sentence? As we get older, these types of "senior moments" happen more often. Many of the people I evaluate worry that these slips mean they are getting Alzheimer's disease. In most cases, they aren't. They're just part of normal, age-related memory decline. Starting at about age 30, our ability to process and remember information declines with age.
Sugar may be sapping your memory - Health - Diabetes - msnbc.com
Sugar may be sapping your memory - Health - Diabetes - msnbc.com
May 30, 2011
Global carbon emissions at record high: IEA
Carbon-dioxide emissions hit a record high last year, the International Energy Agency said on Monday, dimming the prospects of limiting the global temperature increase to two degrees Celsius.
"Energy-related carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2010 were the highest in history, according to the latest estimates," the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a statement.
After a dip in 2009 caused by the global financial crisis, emissions are estimated to have climbed to a record 30.6 gigatonnes (Gt), a five percent jump from the previous record year in 2008, when levels reached 29.3 Gt, the IEA said.
Global carbon emissions at record high: IEA - Yahoo! News
"Energy-related carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2010 were the highest in history, according to the latest estimates," the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a statement.
After a dip in 2009 caused by the global financial crisis, emissions are estimated to have climbed to a record 30.6 gigatonnes (Gt), a five percent jump from the previous record year in 2008, when levels reached 29.3 Gt, the IEA said.
Global carbon emissions at record high: IEA - Yahoo! News
Stay away from energy drinks, doctors say
In a new report, a large group of American doctors urge kids and teens to avoid energy drinks and only consume sports drinks in limited amount.
The recommendations come in the wake of a national debate over energy drinks, which experts fear may have side effects.
"Children never need energy drinks," said Dr. Holly Benjamin, of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who worked on the new report. "They contain caffeine and other stimulant substances that aren't nutritional, so you don't need them."
Stay away from energy drinks, doctors say | Reuters
The recommendations come in the wake of a national debate over energy drinks, which experts fear may have side effects.
"Children never need energy drinks," said Dr. Holly Benjamin, of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who worked on the new report. "They contain caffeine and other stimulant substances that aren't nutritional, so you don't need them."
Stay away from energy drinks, doctors say | Reuters
May 29, 2011
Aussie student finds universe's 'missing mass'
A 22-year-old Australian university student has solved a problem which has puzzled astrophysicists for decades, discovering part of the so-called "missing mass" of the universe during her summer break.
Undergraduate Amelia Fraser-McKelvie made the breakthrough during a holiday internship with a team at Monash University's School of Physics, locating the mystery material within vast structures called "filaments of galaxies".
Monash astrophysicist Dr Kevin Pimbblet explained that scientists had previously detected matter that was present in the early history of the universe but that could not now be located.
Undergraduate Amelia Fraser-McKelvie made the breakthrough during a holiday internship with a team at Monash University's School of Physics, locating the mystery material within vast structures called "filaments of galaxies".
Monash astrophysicist Dr Kevin Pimbblet explained that scientists had previously detected matter that was present in the early history of the universe but that could not now be located.
May 25, 2011
Long-distance commuters get divorced more often, Swedish study finds
Commuting to work can be advantageous in terms of income and career opportunities, and it presents a good alternative to moving. But long commuting times also entail less time for family and friends and can lead to stress and health problems. Pair relationships are also jeopardized, and according to a new dissertation from Umeå University, the risk of separation is 40 percent higher among long-distance commuters than among other people.
Long-distance commuters get divorced more often, Swedish study finds
Long-distance commuters get divorced more often, Swedish study finds
More Calcium 'Doesn't Stop Osteoporosis'
There's no need for people to increase their calcium dose to stave off osteoporosis in later life, new research suggests.
While moderate amounts of calcium (about 700mg a day) are essential, increasing the dose with the hope of cutting the risk of bone disease and fractures offers no extra benefit.
In the latest study, Swedish researchers analysed data for more than 60,000 women who were followed for up for 19 years.
More Calcium 'Doesn't Stop Osteoporosis' - FoxNews.com
While moderate amounts of calcium (about 700mg a day) are essential, increasing the dose with the hope of cutting the risk of bone disease and fractures offers no extra benefit.
In the latest study, Swedish researchers analysed data for more than 60,000 women who were followed for up for 19 years.
More Calcium 'Doesn't Stop Osteoporosis' - FoxNews.com
May 24, 2011
IBM Watson Supercomputer Graduates From 'Jeopardy!' To Medicine
Some guy in his pajamas, home sick with bronchitis and complaining online about it, could soon be contributing to a digital collection of medical information designed to help speed diagnoses and treatments.
A doctor who is helping to prepare IBM's Watson computer system for work as a medical tool says such blog entries may be included in Watson's database.
IBM Watson Supercomputer Graduates From 'Jeopardy!' To Medicine: "or who is helping to prepare IBM's Watson computer system for work as a medical tool says such blog entries may be included in Watson's database."
A doctor who is helping to prepare IBM's Watson computer system for work as a medical tool says such blog entries may be included in Watson's database.
IBM Watson Supercomputer Graduates From 'Jeopardy!' To Medicine: "or who is helping to prepare IBM's Watson computer system for work as a medical tool says such blog entries may be included in Watson's database."
Cultured men are happier and healthier, study finds
Men who visit art galleries, museums, and the theatre regularly tend to enjoy better health and are more satisfied with life, reveals a study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
The study found that both men and women who play musical instruments, paint or visit the theatre or museums felt in better health, enjoyed life more, and were less likely to be anxious or depressed then people who do not participate in cultural activities.
However, the effect was most pronounced in men who were interested in watching and looking at culture rather than doing creative or active cultural activities themselves.
Cultured men are happier and healthier, study finds
The study found that both men and women who play musical instruments, paint or visit the theatre or museums felt in better health, enjoyed life more, and were less likely to be anxious or depressed then people who do not participate in cultural activities.
However, the effect was most pronounced in men who were interested in watching and looking at culture rather than doing creative or active cultural activities themselves.
Cultured men are happier and healthier, study finds
Meditation Yoga And Music Promote Healing
While most know that a combination of meditation and yoga can exponentially facilitate an increase in the overall health and well being of a person, what some might not realize is that by throwing music into the healing mix, you might just launch yourself off the wellness chart…in a good way.
While yoga and meditation are two practices that help to open up different parts of the body, both physically and mentally, a little thing known in music as the Mozart Effect can help balance your body’s 7 chakras and bring about harmony on an energetic level.
Meditation Yoga And Music Promote Healing | Meditation At The Daily Heal
While yoga and meditation are two practices that help to open up different parts of the body, both physically and mentally, a little thing known in music as the Mozart Effect can help balance your body’s 7 chakras and bring about harmony on an energetic level.
Meditation Yoga And Music Promote Healing | Meditation At The Daily Heal
Robots develop language to 'talk' to each other
Robots are developing their own language to help them navigate and improve their intellectual ability.
The Lingodroid research project lets robots generate random sounds for the places they visit in both simulations and a real office.
The "words" are shared and the robots play games to establish which sound represents which location.
BBC News - Robots develop language to 'talk' to each other: "location was broadly tied to the sensory horizon of the sonar and laser-range finder they have on board, said Dr Schulz. Each chunk of territory was typically a couple of metres in diameter, she said."
The Lingodroid research project lets robots generate random sounds for the places they visit in both simulations and a real office.
The "words" are shared and the robots play games to establish which sound represents which location.
BBC News - Robots develop language to 'talk' to each other: "location was broadly tied to the sensory horizon of the sonar and laser-range finder they have on board, said Dr Schulz. Each chunk of territory was typically a couple of metres in diameter, she said."
Self-healing polymer generates army interest
Imagine a scratched watch face or car door that can magically repair itself using ultraviolet light. This is not science fiction but the work of US-Swiss researchers.
Scientists from Fribourg University and two laboratories in the United States have developed a polymer-based coating, known as a “metallo-supramolecular” polymer, that can heal itself when placed under ultraviolet light for less than a minute.
Self-healing polymer generates army interest. - swissinfo
Scientists from Fribourg University and two laboratories in the United States have developed a polymer-based coating, known as a “metallo-supramolecular” polymer, that can heal itself when placed under ultraviolet light for less than a minute.
Self-healing polymer generates army interest. - swissinfo
Concerts, Museums Good for Your Health, Study Says
People who go to museums and concerts or create art or play an instrument are more satisfied with their lives, regardless of how educated or rich they are, according to a study released Tuesday.
But the link between culture and feeling good about oneself is not quite the same in both sexes, according to the study, published in the British Medical Association's Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
For men, passive activities such as taking in a concert or museum exhibition are associated with an upbeat mood and better health, it found.
For women, though, the link is active, in that they were less likely to feel anxious, depressed or feel unwell if they played music or created art.
Concerts, Museums Good for Your Health, Study Says - FoxNews.com
But the link between culture and feeling good about oneself is not quite the same in both sexes, according to the study, published in the British Medical Association's Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
For men, passive activities such as taking in a concert or museum exhibition are associated with an upbeat mood and better health, it found.
For women, though, the link is active, in that they were less likely to feel anxious, depressed or feel unwell if they played music or created art.
Concerts, Museums Good for Your Health, Study Says - FoxNews.com
May 20, 2011
High iron, copper levels block brain-cell DNA repair
No one knows the cause of most cases of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative disorders. But researchers have found that certain factors are consistently associated with these debilitating conditions. One is DNA damage by reactive oxygen species, highly destructive molecules usually formed as a byproduct of cellular respiration. Another is the presence of excessive levels of copper and iron in regions of the brain associated with the particular disorder.
High iron, copper levels block brain-cell DNA repair
High iron, copper levels block brain-cell DNA repair
Future Clothes Could Use Engineered Scents to Change Mood and Enhance Memory
These futuristic clothes stink. No, literally — they smell, and they do so in a way that may forever change your relationship to fashion. Wired to emit specially designed aromatherapy fragrances that can alternatively evoke memories, enhance alertness or increase calmness, the concept of a wardrobe dubbed Smart Second Skin apparel could radically transform your daily sensory environment into a tool for fighting Alzheimer’s disease or simply changing moods.
Speaking at the Humanity + Transhumanism conference held here last weekend, Jenny Tillotson, a senior research fellow in Fashion and Textile Design at the University of the Arts, London, detailed how a scent-augmented wardrobe could alter the wearer′s mind for the better.
Future Clothes Could Use Engineered Scents to Change Mood and Enhance Memory - Yahoo! News
Speaking at the Humanity + Transhumanism conference held here last weekend, Jenny Tillotson, a senior research fellow in Fashion and Textile Design at the University of the Arts, London, detailed how a scent-augmented wardrobe could alter the wearer′s mind for the better.
Future Clothes Could Use Engineered Scents to Change Mood and Enhance Memory - Yahoo! News
Talk with a dolphin via underwater translation machine
A DIVER carrying a computer that tries to recognise dolphin sounds and generate responses in real time will soon attempt to communicate with wild dolphins off the coast of Florida. If the bid is successful, it will be a big step towards two-way communication between humans and dolphins.
Since the 1960s, captive dolphins have been communicating via pictures and sounds. In the 1990s, Louis Herman of the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory in Honolulu, Hawaii, found that bottlenose dolphins can keep track of over 100 different words. They can also respond appropriately to commands in which the same words appear in a different order, understanding the difference between "bring the surfboard to the man" and "bring the man to the surfboard", for example.
Talk with a dolphin via underwater translation machine - tech - 09 May 2011 - New Scientist
Since the 1960s, captive dolphins have been communicating via pictures and sounds. In the 1990s, Louis Herman of the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory in Honolulu, Hawaii, found that bottlenose dolphins can keep track of over 100 different words. They can also respond appropriately to commands in which the same words appear in a different order, understanding the difference between "bring the surfboard to the man" and "bring the man to the surfboard", for example.
Talk with a dolphin via underwater translation machine - tech - 09 May 2011 - New Scientist
May 19, 2011
Black Hole Driven Starships Might Ply the Galaxy
Black holes are the universe's Energizer Bunnies. They are the most efficient "machines" for transforming matter into energy through their intense gravitational pull.
For example, the early universe was ablaze with untold supermassive black holes pouring out prodigious amounts of energy from the cores of galaxies. 11 billion years ago the black holes did the heavy lifting by reheating the universe and therefore inhibiting new generations of stars to form in some small galaxies.
Black Hole Driven Starships Might Ply the Galaxy : Discovery News
For example, the early universe was ablaze with untold supermassive black holes pouring out prodigious amounts of energy from the cores of galaxies. 11 billion years ago the black holes did the heavy lifting by reheating the universe and therefore inhibiting new generations of stars to form in some small galaxies.
Black Hole Driven Starships Might Ply the Galaxy : Discovery News
Countdown to Singularity -- "A Computer Model of the Human Brain Will Be Completed in 12 Years"
"It's a new brain. The mammals needed it because they had to cope with parenthood, social interactions, complex cognitive functions. It was so successful an evolution from mouse to man it expanded about a thousand fold in terms of the numbers of units to produce this almost frightening organ. It is evolving at an enormous speed."
Countdown to Singularity -- "A Computer Model of the Human Brain Will Be Completed in 12 Years"
Countdown to Singularity -- "A Computer Model of the Human Brain Will Be Completed in 12 Years"
Eat a protein-rich breakfast to reduce food cravings, prevent overeating later, researcher finds
A University of Missouri researcher has found that eating a healthy breakfast, especially one high in protein, increases satiety and reduces hunger throughout the day. In addition, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) the researchers found that eating a protein-rich breakfast reduces the brain signals controlling food motivation and reward-driven eating behavior.
"Everyone knows that eating breakfast is important, but many people still don't make it a priority," said Heather Leidy, assistant professor in the MU Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. "This research provides additional evidence that breakfast is a valuable strategy to control appetite and regulate food intake."
Eat a protein-rich breakfast to reduce food cravings, prevent overeating later, researcher finds
"Everyone knows that eating breakfast is important, but many people still don't make it a priority," said Heather Leidy, assistant professor in the MU Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. "This research provides additional evidence that breakfast is a valuable strategy to control appetite and regulate food intake."
Eat a protein-rich breakfast to reduce food cravings, prevent overeating later, researcher finds
Dark energy is driving universe apart: NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer finds dark energy repulsive
A five-year survey of 200,000 galaxies, stretching back seven billion years in cosmic time, has led to one of the best independent confirmations that dark energy is driving our universe apart at accelerating speeds.
The survey used data from NASA's space-based Galaxy Evolution Explorer and the Anglo-Australian Telescope on Siding Spring Mountain in Australia.
The findings offer new support for the favored theory of how dark energy works -- as a constant force, uniformly affecting the universe and propelling its runaway expansion. They contradict an alternate theory, where gravity, not dark energy, is the force pushing space apart. According to this alternate theory, with which the new survey results are not consistent, Albert Einstein's concept of gravity is wrong, and gravity becomes repulsive instead of attractive when acting at great distances.
Dark energy is driving universe apart: NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer finds dark energy repulsive
The survey used data from NASA's space-based Galaxy Evolution Explorer and the Anglo-Australian Telescope on Siding Spring Mountain in Australia.
The findings offer new support for the favored theory of how dark energy works -- as a constant force, uniformly affecting the universe and propelling its runaway expansion. They contradict an alternate theory, where gravity, not dark energy, is the force pushing space apart. According to this alternate theory, with which the new survey results are not consistent, Albert Einstein's concept of gravity is wrong, and gravity becomes repulsive instead of attractive when acting at great distances.
Dark energy is driving universe apart: NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer finds dark energy repulsive
The Twitter Trap
Last week my wife and I told our 13-year-old daughter she could join Facebook. Within a few hours she had accumulated 171 friends, and I felt a little as if I had passed my child a pipe of crystal meth.
I don’t mean to be a spoilsport, and I don’t think I’m a Luddite. I edit a newspaper that has embraced new media with creative, prizewinning gusto. I get that the Web reaches and engages a vast, global audience, that it invites participation and facilitates — up to a point — newsgathering. But before we succumb to digital idolatry, we should consider that innovation often comes at a price. And sometimes I wonder if the price is a piece of ourselves.
The Twitter Trap - NYTimes.com
I don’t mean to be a spoilsport, and I don’t think I’m a Luddite. I edit a newspaper that has embraced new media with creative, prizewinning gusto. I get that the Web reaches and engages a vast, global audience, that it invites participation and facilitates — up to a point — newsgathering. But before we succumb to digital idolatry, we should consider that innovation often comes at a price. And sometimes I wonder if the price is a piece of ourselves.
The Twitter Trap - NYTimes.com
Want to Be Happy? Stop Trying
While the pursuit of happiness may seem like a reasonable aim, new research shows that making happiness a personal goal will only stand in the way of your achieving it.
The researchers found that women who valued happiness more tended to report being less happy and more depressed than women who didn't place such a high premium on a lasting smile. [5 Things That Will Make You Happier]
Want to Be Happy? Stop Trying - Yahoo! News
The researchers found that women who valued happiness more tended to report being less happy and more depressed than women who didn't place such a high premium on a lasting smile. [5 Things That Will Make You Happier]
Want to Be Happy? Stop Trying - Yahoo! News
May 18, 2011
Loving Apple looks like a religion to an MRI scan
Later today, BBC 3 will be airing Secrets of the Superbrands, a documentary about the relationship between consumers and the brands that shape our behavior, our desires and our lives. Series creator Alex Riley let slip an interesting tidbit in a preview post about the series:
"The Bishop of Buckingham -- who reads his Bible on an iPad -- explained to me the similarities between Apple and a religion. And when a team of neuroscientists with an MRI scanner took a look inside the brain of an Apple fanatic it seemed the bishop was on to something. The results suggested that Apple was actually stimulating the same parts of the brain as religious imagery does in people of faith."
BBC: Loving Apple looks like a religion to an MRI scan
"The Bishop of Buckingham -- who reads his Bible on an iPad -- explained to me the similarities between Apple and a religion. And when a team of neuroscientists with an MRI scanner took a look inside the brain of an Apple fanatic it seemed the bishop was on to something. The results suggested that Apple was actually stimulating the same parts of the brain as religious imagery does in people of faith."
BBC: Loving Apple looks like a religion to an MRI scan
Red wine offers scientists a clue to superconductive future
Japanese scientists at a boozy office party stumbled across a discovery they hope will help revolutionize efficient energy transmission one day: red wine makes a metal compound superconductive.
The researchers plan to showcase their surprise findings later this year, the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the phenomenon of superconductivity, the zero-loss flow of electricity through certain materials.
The "eureka" moment came when National Institute for Materials Science researchers found that an iron-based compound became superconductive after being soaked in alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine and sake.
Red wine offers scientists a clue to superconductive future | MNN - Mother Nature Network
The researchers plan to showcase their surprise findings later this year, the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the phenomenon of superconductivity, the zero-loss flow of electricity through certain materials.
The "eureka" moment came when National Institute for Materials Science researchers found that an iron-based compound became superconductive after being soaked in alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine and sake.
Red wine offers scientists a clue to superconductive future | MNN - Mother Nature Network
First man cured of HIV
Doctors have declared a man cured of HIV five years after he received a bone marrow transplant and radiation therapy – but keep wearing those condoms as in the short term that cure will only work for a very small number of people.
On December 2 last year researchers published a paper in the Journal of the American Society of Hematology arguing that it is “reasonable to conclude that cure of HIV infection has been achieved in this patient”.
Six months later they now have the confidence to state that a cure has been affected.
Timothy Ray Brown, known as the “Berlin patient” was HIV positive and being treated for leukaemia in Germany in 2007 when his doctor, Gero Hutter, decided to follow up on a hunch.
First man cured of HIV | Star Online
On December 2 last year researchers published a paper in the Journal of the American Society of Hematology arguing that it is “reasonable to conclude that cure of HIV infection has been achieved in this patient”.
Six months later they now have the confidence to state that a cure has been affected.
Timothy Ray Brown, known as the “Berlin patient” was HIV positive and being treated for leukaemia in Germany in 2007 when his doctor, Gero Hutter, decided to follow up on a hunch.
First man cured of HIV | Star Online
Invisibility cloak: Scientists achieve optical invisibility in visible light range of spectrum
"Seeing something invisible with your own eyes is an exciting experience," say Joachim Fischer and Tolga Ergin. For about one year, both physicists and members of the team of Professor Martin Wegener at KIT's Center for Functional Nanostructures (CFN) have worked on refining the structure of the Karlsruhe invisibility cloak to such an extent that it is also effective in the visible spectral range.
Invisibility cloak: Scientists achieve optical invisibility in visible light range of spectrum
Invisibility cloak: Scientists achieve optical invisibility in visible light range of spectrum
Drinking Coffee Helps Avoid Prostate Cancer, Study Says
Men should drink coffee regularly to avoid developing prostate cancer, according to a major study published Wednesday.
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health said men who drink coffee on a daily basis are around 20 to 60 percent less likely to develop any form of the disease—with a higher intake linked to a lower risk.
The men least likely to develop lethal prostate cancer were those drinking six or more cups of coffee a day, but even those drinking no more than three cups a day lowered the risk by 30 percent, the 12-year study found.
Drinking Coffee Helps Avoid Prostate Cancer, Study Says - FoxNews.com
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health said men who drink coffee on a daily basis are around 20 to 60 percent less likely to develop any form of the disease—with a higher intake linked to a lower risk.
The men least likely to develop lethal prostate cancer were those drinking six or more cups of coffee a day, but even those drinking no more than three cups a day lowered the risk by 30 percent, the 12-year study found.
Drinking Coffee Helps Avoid Prostate Cancer, Study Says - FoxNews.com
Brain region necessary for making decisions about economic value identified
Neuroeconomic research at the University of Pennsylvania has conclusively identified a part of the brain that is necessary for making everyday decisions about value. Previous functional magnetic imaging studies, during which researchers use a powerful magnet to determine which parts of a subjects brain are most active while doing a task, have suggested that the ventromedial frontal cortex, or VMF, plays an evaluative role during decision making.
Brain region necessary for making decisions about economic value identified
Brain region necessary for making decisions about economic value identified
May 17, 2011
Better passwords get with the beat
No password is 100% secure. There are always ways and means for those with malicious intent to hack, crack or socially engineer access to a password. Indeed, there are more and more websites and databases compromised on a seemingly daily basis. A new approach to verifying passwords that also takes into account the speed with which a user types in their login and the gaps between characters would render a stolen password useless.
Better passwords get with the beat
Better passwords get with the beat
May 16, 2011
New solar product captures up to 95 percent of light energy
Efficiency is a problem with today's solar panels; they only collect about 20 percent of available light. Now, a University of Missouri engineer has developed a flexible solar sheet that captures more than 90 percent of available light, and he plans to make prototypes available to consumers within the next five years.
New solar product captures up to 95 percent of light energy
New solar product captures up to 95 percent of light energy
Dead human skin helps clean the air
The dead cells that slough off your skin every day pile up in the dust that collects around your home. But this grimy-sounding stuff actually helps clean the air indoors, according to new research.
Oil associated with dead skin cells removes the pollutant ozone, a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. In fact the oil, squalene, reduces indoor ozone levels by about 2 to 15 percent. Its molecules contain six double bonds between carbon atoms, and these bonds interact with — and break apart — ozone.
Dead human skin helps clean the air - Technology & science - Science - msnbc.com
Oil associated with dead skin cells removes the pollutant ozone, a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. In fact the oil, squalene, reduces indoor ozone levels by about 2 to 15 percent. Its molecules contain six double bonds between carbon atoms, and these bonds interact with — and break apart — ozone.
Dead human skin helps clean the air - Technology & science - Science - msnbc.com
Computer Desktop Clutter Reveals Your Personality
Computer users with messy desktops are more likely to be liberal, educated city-dwellers who are career-minded and good at math, while those that keep their computer icons neat and tidy are more likely to be young tech-savvy suburbanites that say their personal life is more important than work. At least according to a new survey.
A new study by Hunch.com — a site that makes recommendations based on preferences, ranging from which car you should drive to which vacation or college choice is best for you — suggests your computer desktop says a lot about you, from education level to political views.
Computer Desktop Clutter Reveals Your Personality - Yahoo! News
A new study by Hunch.com — a site that makes recommendations based on preferences, ranging from which car you should drive to which vacation or college choice is best for you — suggests your computer desktop says a lot about you, from education level to political views.
Computer Desktop Clutter Reveals Your Personality - Yahoo! News
Global warming might hurt your heart
Global warming may be melting glaciers and forcing polar bears onto land, but doctors warn it could also affect your heart.
"If it really is a few degrees warmer in the next 50 years, we could definitely have more cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, of the department of cardiology at Sweden's Karolinska Institute.
On the sidelines of the European Society of Cardiology's annual meeting in Vienna this week, some experts said the issue deserves more attention. It's well-known that people have more heart problems when it's hot.
Global warming might hurt your heart - Health - Heart health - msnbc.com
"If it really is a few degrees warmer in the next 50 years, we could definitely have more cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, of the department of cardiology at Sweden's Karolinska Institute.
On the sidelines of the European Society of Cardiology's annual meeting in Vienna this week, some experts said the issue deserves more attention. It's well-known that people have more heart problems when it's hot.
Global warming might hurt your heart - Health - Heart health - msnbc.com
Memristors' current carves protected channels
A circuit component touted as the "missing link" of electronics is starting to give up the secrets of how it works.
Memristors resist the passage of electric current, "remembering" how much current passed previously.
Researchers reporting in the journal Nanotechnology have now studied their nanoscale makeup using X-rays.
They show for the first time where the current switching process happens in the devices, and how heat affects it.
BBC News - Memristors' current carves protected channels
Memristors resist the passage of electric current, "remembering" how much current passed previously.
Researchers reporting in the journal Nanotechnology have now studied their nanoscale makeup using X-rays.
They show for the first time where the current switching process happens in the devices, and how heat affects it.
BBC News - Memristors' current carves protected channels
May 14, 2011
Scientists cure cancer, but no one takes notice
Scientists cure cancer, but no one takes notice
Canadian researchers find a simple cure for cancer, but major pharmaceutical companies are not interested.
Researchers at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada have cured cancer last week, yet there is a little ripple in the news or in TV. It is a simple technique using very basic drug. The method employs dichloroacetate, which is currently used to treat metabolic disorders. So, there is no concern of side effects or about their long term effects.
This drug doesn’t require a patent, so anyone can employ it widely and cheaply compared to the costly cancer drugs produced by major pharmaceutical companies.
Canadian researchers find a simple cure for cancer, but major pharmaceutical companies are not interested.
Researchers at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada have cured cancer last week, yet there is a little ripple in the news or in TV. It is a simple technique using very basic drug. The method employs dichloroacetate, which is currently used to treat metabolic disorders. So, there is no concern of side effects or about their long term effects.
This drug doesn’t require a patent, so anyone can employ it widely and cheaply compared to the costly cancer drugs produced by major pharmaceutical companies.
Twitter feed lawsuit underscores power of a tweet
Twitter feed lawsuit underscores power of a tweet - Yahoo! News
When Adorian Deck was home sick from high school, he entertained himself like countless other teenagers have in recent years: He started a Twitter account.
Unlike other teenagers, Deck's account became a sensation. Deck, under the handle (at)OMGFacts, tweeted random bits of celebrity gossip and quirky trivia. In less than a year, he had attracted more than 300,000 followers.
Now Deck, 17, is suing a business partner who promised to take OMG Facts to the next level, but who the Northern California teen says deceived him into turning over the rights to his creation.
When Adorian Deck was home sick from high school, he entertained himself like countless other teenagers have in recent years: He started a Twitter account.
Unlike other teenagers, Deck's account became a sensation. Deck, under the handle (at)OMGFacts, tweeted random bits of celebrity gossip and quirky trivia. In less than a year, he had attracted more than 300,000 followers.
Now Deck, 17, is suing a business partner who promised to take OMG Facts to the next level, but who the Northern California teen says deceived him into turning over the rights to his creation.
Technology turns air into a multi-touch screen
Technology turns air into a multi-touch screen - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com
Touch-sensitive frames have enabled surfaces to become interactive for years, but their size and responsiveness tend to be limited. A new prototype called "ZeroTouch" might look like an empty frame, but it's actually full of advanced capabilities.
The 28-inch ZeroTouch frame with scalloped edges can detect whatever moves around inside it. Fingertips, hands, arms, and even inanimate objects pass through an invisible two-dimensional optical web that tracks them. Put ZeroTouch on a computer screen and it turns into an interactive surface that can be manipulated with a stylus.
Touch-sensitive frames have enabled surfaces to become interactive for years, but their size and responsiveness tend to be limited. A new prototype called "ZeroTouch" might look like an empty frame, but it's actually full of advanced capabilities.
The 28-inch ZeroTouch frame with scalloped edges can detect whatever moves around inside it. Fingertips, hands, arms, and even inanimate objects pass through an invisible two-dimensional optical web that tracks them. Put ZeroTouch on a computer screen and it turns into an interactive surface that can be manipulated with a stylus.
Toward faster transistors: Physicists discover physical phenomenon that could boost computers' clock speed
Toward faster transistors: Physicists discover physical phenomenon that could boost computers' clock speed
In the 1980s and '90s, competition in the computer industry was all about "clock speed" -- how many megahertz, and ultimately gigahertz, a chip could boast. But clock speeds stalled out almost 10 years ago: Chips that run faster also run hotter, and with existing technology, there seems to be no way to increase clock speed without causing chips to overheat.
In this week's issue of the journal Science, MIT researchers and their colleagues at the University of Augsburg in Germany report the discovery of a new physical phenomenon that could yield transistors with greatly enhanced capacitance -- a measure of the voltage required to move a charge. And that, in turn, could lead to the revival of clock speed as the measure of a computer's power.
In today's computer chips, transistors are made from semiconductors, such as silicon. Each transistor includes an electrode called the gate; applying a voltage to the gate causes electrons to accumulate underneath it. The electrons constitute a channel through which an electrical current can pass, turning the semiconductor into a conductor.
In the 1980s and '90s, competition in the computer industry was all about "clock speed" -- how many megahertz, and ultimately gigahertz, a chip could boast. But clock speeds stalled out almost 10 years ago: Chips that run faster also run hotter, and with existing technology, there seems to be no way to increase clock speed without causing chips to overheat.
In this week's issue of the journal Science, MIT researchers and their colleagues at the University of Augsburg in Germany report the discovery of a new physical phenomenon that could yield transistors with greatly enhanced capacitance -- a measure of the voltage required to move a charge. And that, in turn, could lead to the revival of clock speed as the measure of a computer's power.
In today's computer chips, transistors are made from semiconductors, such as silicon. Each transistor includes an electrode called the gate; applying a voltage to the gate causes electrons to accumulate underneath it. The electrons constitute a channel through which an electrical current can pass, turning the semiconductor into a conductor.
May 11, 2011
Internet Use Linked to Teen Drinking
Internet Use Linked to Teen Drinking - FoxNews.com
Teens who drink alcohol spend more time using the computer for activities such as social networking than do those who don't drink alcohol, according to a new study.
The study found a link between recreational use of the computer (for non-school related activities) and teen drinking.
The finding suggests certain online activities may influence teen drinking. For instance, it's possible references to alcohol on social networking sites or online advertisements may encourage teenagers to drink, the researchers say.
Teens who drink alcohol spend more time using the computer for activities such as social networking than do those who don't drink alcohol, according to a new study.
The study found a link between recreational use of the computer (for non-school related activities) and teen drinking.
The finding suggests certain online activities may influence teen drinking. For instance, it's possible references to alcohol on social networking sites or online advertisements may encourage teenagers to drink, the researchers say.
May 10, 2011
Fundamental question on how life started solved: Supercomputer calculates carbon nucleus
Fundamental question on how life started solved: Supercomputer calculates carbon nucleus
For carbon, the basis of life, to be able to form in the stars, a certain state of the carbon nucleus plays an essential role. In cooperation with US colleagues, physicists from the University of Bonn and Ruhr-Universität Bochum have been able to calculate this legendary carbon nucleus, solving a problem that has kept science guessing for more than 50 years.
For carbon, the basis of life, to be able to form in the stars, a certain state of the carbon nucleus plays an essential role. In cooperation with US colleagues, physicists from the University of Bonn and Ruhr-Universität Bochum have been able to calculate this legendary carbon nucleus, solving a problem that has kept science guessing for more than 50 years.
Can Eating Local Honey Cure Allergies?
Can Eating Local Honey Cure Allergies? - NYTimes.com
Among allergy sufferers, there is a widespread belief that locally produced honey can alleviate symptoms — the idea being that the honey acts like a vaccine. Bees that jump from one flower to the next end up covered in pollen spores, which are then transferred to their honey. Eating that honey — just a spoonful a day — can build up immunity through gradual exposure to the local allergens that can make life so miserable for allergy sufferers.
Among allergy sufferers, there is a widespread belief that locally produced honey can alleviate symptoms — the idea being that the honey acts like a vaccine. Bees that jump from one flower to the next end up covered in pollen spores, which are then transferred to their honey. Eating that honey — just a spoonful a day — can build up immunity through gradual exposure to the local allergens that can make life so miserable for allergy sufferers.
Acetaminophen Tied to Blood Cancers
Acetaminophen Tied to Blood Cancers - FoxNews.com
"New research shows chronic users of acetaminophen, a top-selling painkiller known as Tylenol in the U.S. and paracetamol in Europe, are at slightly increased risk for blood cancers.
Yet the risk remains low, and it's still uncertain what role the drug plays.
The finding adds another twist to the complicated evidence linking cancer and painkillers, and hints acetaminophen might be different from the rest."
"New research shows chronic users of acetaminophen, a top-selling painkiller known as Tylenol in the U.S. and paracetamol in Europe, are at slightly increased risk for blood cancers.
Yet the risk remains low, and it's still uncertain what role the drug plays.
The finding adds another twist to the complicated evidence linking cancer and painkillers, and hints acetaminophen might be different from the rest."
Study: Taking 'The Pill' Affects Women’s Attractiveness to Men
Study: Taking 'The Pill' Affects Women’s Attractiveness to Men - FoxNews.com
New studies suggest that when women use hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control pills, it disrupts chemical signals, affecting their attractiveness to men and women's own preferences for romantic partners, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
The type of man a woman is drawn to is known to change during her monthly cycle -- when a woman is fertile, for instance, she might look for a man with more masculine features.
Taking the pill or another type of hormonal contraceptive upends this natural dynamic, making less-masculine men seem more attractive, according to a small but growing body of evidence.
New studies suggest that when women use hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control pills, it disrupts chemical signals, affecting their attractiveness to men and women's own preferences for romantic partners, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
The type of man a woman is drawn to is known to change during her monthly cycle -- when a woman is fertile, for instance, she might look for a man with more masculine features.
Taking the pill or another type of hormonal contraceptive upends this natural dynamic, making less-masculine men seem more attractive, according to a small but growing body of evidence.
Big Asteroid's Approach in November Excites Astronomers
Big Asteroid's Approach in November Excites Astronomers - FoxNews.com
An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier will come closer to Earth this autumn than our own moon does, causing scientists to hold their breath as it zooms by. But they'll be nervous with excitement, not with worry about a possible disaster.
There's no danger of an impact when the asteroid 2005 YU55 makes its close flyby Nov. 8, coming within 201,700 miles (325,000 kilometers) of Earth, scientists say.
An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier will come closer to Earth this autumn than our own moon does, causing scientists to hold their breath as it zooms by. But they'll be nervous with excitement, not with worry about a possible disaster.
There's no danger of an impact when the asteroid 2005 YU55 makes its close flyby Nov. 8, coming within 201,700 miles (325,000 kilometers) of Earth, scientists say.
Original versus copy: Researchers develop forgery-proof prototypes for product authentication
Original versus copy: Researchers develop forgery-proof prototypes for product authentication
Styrian pumpkin-seed oil or cheap copy? When you choose a product, you want the quality you've paid for. But how can you test that what's inside is what it says on the label? The future of quality protection belongs to electronic components and so-called RFID tags. In the future, consumers will be able to test the authenticity of a product using their mobile phones.
For this, all the data has to be electronically checked. In the framework of the "Crypta" project supported by the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT), scientists from Graz University of Technology have now developed a prototype which safeguards objects according to new standards.
Styrian pumpkin-seed oil or cheap copy? When you choose a product, you want the quality you've paid for. But how can you test that what's inside is what it says on the label? The future of quality protection belongs to electronic components and so-called RFID tags. In the future, consumers will be able to test the authenticity of a product using their mobile phones.
For this, all the data has to be electronically checked. In the framework of the "Crypta" project supported by the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT), scientists from Graz University of Technology have now developed a prototype which safeguards objects according to new standards.
Scientists achieve guiding of electrons by purely electric fields
Scientists achieve guiding of electrons by purely electric fields
The investigation of the properties of electrons plays a key role for the understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. However, being extremely small and quick, electrons are difficult to control. Physicists around Dr. Peter Hommelhoff, head of the Max Planck Research Group "Ultrafast Quantum Optics" at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (Garching near Munich), have now demonstrated efficient guiding of slow electrons by applying a microwave voltage to electrodes fabricated on a planar substrate.
The investigation of the properties of electrons plays a key role for the understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. However, being extremely small and quick, electrons are difficult to control. Physicists around Dr. Peter Hommelhoff, head of the Max Planck Research Group "Ultrafast Quantum Optics" at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (Garching near Munich), have now demonstrated efficient guiding of slow electrons by applying a microwave voltage to electrodes fabricated on a planar substrate.
May 9, 2011
5 Wacky Things That Are Good for Your Health | Fecal Transplants, Barefoot Running & Tongue Scraping | Bad Medicine | LiveScience
5 Wacky Things That Are Good for Your Health | Fecal Transplants, Barefoot Running & Tongue Scraping | Bad Medicine | LiveScience
You no doubt have heard of the resurgence of leeches, used in modern medicine to heal wounds. Other crazy ideas are gaining acceptance, too. We list them here, from the tamest to the hardest to stomach.
You no doubt have heard of the resurgence of leeches, used in modern medicine to heal wounds. Other crazy ideas are gaining acceptance, too. We list them here, from the tamest to the hardest to stomach.
Sexual orientation affects cancer survivorship, study finds
Sexual orientation affects cancer survivorship, study finds
Gay men have a higher prevalence of cancer compared with heterosexual men, and lesbian and bisexual female cancer survivors report lower levels of health than heterosexual female cancer survivors. Those are the conclusions of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
Gay men have a higher prevalence of cancer compared with heterosexual men, and lesbian and bisexual female cancer survivors report lower levels of health than heterosexual female cancer survivors. Those are the conclusions of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
May 6, 2011
Prolonged Bottle Feeding Linked to Obesity
Prolonged Bottle Feeding Linked to Obesity - FoxNews.com
Babies who are still drinking from a bottle after the age of one are more likely to become obese, U.S. researchers said today.
A study of almost 7,000 children by scientists at Temple University in Philadelphia found that those who were still being put to bed with a bottle of milk at age two were 30 percent more likely to be obese at age five.
"A 24-month-old girl of average weight and height who is put to bed with an eight-ounce bottle of whole milk would receive approximately 12 per cent of her daily caloric needs from that bottle," said Rachel Gooze, from the university's Centre for Obesity Research and Education.
Babies who are still drinking from a bottle after the age of one are more likely to become obese, U.S. researchers said today.
A study of almost 7,000 children by scientists at Temple University in Philadelphia found that those who were still being put to bed with a bottle of milk at age two were 30 percent more likely to be obese at age five.
"A 24-month-old girl of average weight and height who is put to bed with an eight-ounce bottle of whole milk would receive approximately 12 per cent of her daily caloric needs from that bottle," said Rachel Gooze, from the university's Centre for Obesity Research and Education.
Obese Teens Lack Vitamin D, Study Finds
Obese Teens Lack Vitamin D, Study Finds - Yahoo! News
Low levels of vitamin D are common in obese adolescents, a new study finds.
Researchers screened 68 obese adolescents and found low vitamin D levels in all of the girls (72 percent were deemed deficient and 28 percent insufficient) and in 91 percent of the boys (69 percent deficient and 22 percent insufficient).
After treatment, 43 of the youths had their vitamin D levels measured again and, although levels generally increased, normal levels were achieved in just 28 percent of the participants. In the others, repeated bouts of vitamin D treatment did not bring the teens' vitamin D levels to normal, which the researchers described as "concerning."
Low levels of vitamin D are common in obese adolescents, a new study finds.
Researchers screened 68 obese adolescents and found low vitamin D levels in all of the girls (72 percent were deemed deficient and 28 percent insufficient) and in 91 percent of the boys (69 percent deficient and 22 percent insufficient).
After treatment, 43 of the youths had their vitamin D levels measured again and, although levels generally increased, normal levels were achieved in just 28 percent of the participants. In the others, repeated bouts of vitamin D treatment did not bring the teens' vitamin D levels to normal, which the researchers described as "concerning."
Depressed People Make Better Decisions
Depressed People Make Better Decisions - FoxNews.com
Depression might not be all bad, new research finds. People with major depressive disorder do better on a decision-making task than people without the disease.
Depression is a psychiatric condition defined by consistently low mood, low self-esteem and loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities. About 20 percent of people worldwide suffer from major depressive disorder, the clinical name, at some point during their lifetime.
This is the first time a positive cognitive effect has been seen in people with major depressive disorder. The researchers suggest that these patients process information more systematically and analytically than their chipper counterparts. They might unconsciously put more effort into their decisions because they desire control of their environment.
Depression might not be all bad, new research finds. People with major depressive disorder do better on a decision-making task than people without the disease.
Depression is a psychiatric condition defined by consistently low mood, low self-esteem and loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities. About 20 percent of people worldwide suffer from major depressive disorder, the clinical name, at some point during their lifetime.
This is the first time a positive cognitive effect has been seen in people with major depressive disorder. The researchers suggest that these patients process information more systematically and analytically than their chipper counterparts. They might unconsciously put more effort into their decisions because they desire control of their environment.
Special report: Big Pharma's global guinea pigs
Special report: Big Pharma's global guinea pigs | Reuters
The Polish port city of Gdansk is famous for its shipyards. Hungary's fifth largest city, Pecs, is known for its ancient architecture and brewery. Neither is particularly renowned for medicine. Yet when AstraZeneca Plc tested its big new drug hope Brilinta on heart attack patients in a major clinical study, it was hospitals in these places that enrolled some of the highest number of patients anywhere in the world.
In fact, Poland and Hungary together accounted for 21 percent of all subjects studied in the pivotal 18,000-patient trial -- more than double the United States and Canada combined.
A few years ago that would have been unthinkable. Major drug companies, with an eye on the commercial promise of the world's largest and most profitable market, would have run half their tests on a major cardiovascular medicine like this in U.S. hospitals under the supervision of U.S. doctors.
Today, the clinical trials business has gone global as drugmakers seek cheaper venues for studies and cast their net further afield for big pools of "treatment-naive" patients who are not already taking other drugs that could make them unsuitable subjects for testing new ones. And it is not only the practicalities of running big clinical trials as efficiently and cheaply as possible that is driving the change. The drug industry is also paying a lot more attention these days to the promise of emerging markets, whose healthcare authorities, just like those in the United States and Western Europe, are keen to see cutting-edge science conducted in their backyards.
The Polish port city of Gdansk is famous for its shipyards. Hungary's fifth largest city, Pecs, is known for its ancient architecture and brewery. Neither is particularly renowned for medicine. Yet when AstraZeneca Plc tested its big new drug hope Brilinta on heart attack patients in a major clinical study, it was hospitals in these places that enrolled some of the highest number of patients anywhere in the world.
In fact, Poland and Hungary together accounted for 21 percent of all subjects studied in the pivotal 18,000-patient trial -- more than double the United States and Canada combined.
A few years ago that would have been unthinkable. Major drug companies, with an eye on the commercial promise of the world's largest and most profitable market, would have run half their tests on a major cardiovascular medicine like this in U.S. hospitals under the supervision of U.S. doctors.
Today, the clinical trials business has gone global as drugmakers seek cheaper venues for studies and cast their net further afield for big pools of "treatment-naive" patients who are not already taking other drugs that could make them unsuitable subjects for testing new ones. And it is not only the practicalities of running big clinical trials as efficiently and cheaply as possible that is driving the change. The drug industry is also paying a lot more attention these days to the promise of emerging markets, whose healthcare authorities, just like those in the United States and Western Europe, are keen to see cutting-edge science conducted in their backyards.
Florida elders are smoking more Weed
Need for weed | need, weed - WPEC 12 West Palm Beach
There is a growing trend of seniors lighting up and smoking marijuana because they believe it is better than their prescription drugs, with less dangerous side effects.
"I call it the new don't ask, don't tell," said Amy Cavinaugh.
Cavinaugh started using marijuana five years ago after having a double mastectomy from breast cancer. She used the illegal drug to fight off nausea from chemotherapy.
"I did find it to be very effective," said Cavinaugh.
There is a growing trend of seniors lighting up and smoking marijuana because they believe it is better than their prescription drugs, with less dangerous side effects.
"I call it the new don't ask, don't tell," said Amy Cavinaugh.
Cavinaugh started using marijuana five years ago after having a double mastectomy from breast cancer. She used the illegal drug to fight off nausea from chemotherapy.
"I did find it to be very effective," said Cavinaugh.
Some black holes may be older than time
Some black holes may be older than time - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
An intriguing new hypothesis suggests some black holes could have formed before the formation of our universe.
The work by Professor Bernard Carr from Queen Mary University in London and Professor Alan Coley from Canada's Dalhousie University, examines a cosmology in which the universe goes through cycles of birth and death.
According to their work published on the pre-press website arXiv.org, some black holes could be remnants of a previous universe that collapsed in a big crunch and was then reborn in the big bang - 13.7 billion years ago.
An intriguing new hypothesis suggests some black holes could have formed before the formation of our universe.
The work by Professor Bernard Carr from Queen Mary University in London and Professor Alan Coley from Canada's Dalhousie University, examines a cosmology in which the universe goes through cycles of birth and death.
According to their work published on the pre-press website arXiv.org, some black holes could be remnants of a previous universe that collapsed in a big crunch and was then reborn in the big bang - 13.7 billion years ago.
Meteor Shower Tonight to Rain Bits of Halley's Comet on Earth
Meteor Shower Tonight to Rain Bits of Halley's Comet on Earth - Yahoo! News
Bits and pieces of the famous Halley's Comet will light up the overnight sky in a promising meteor shower, weather permitting, skywatching experts say.
The annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak early tomorrow morning (May 6) and is expected to put on a dazzling display of "shooting stars" for skywatchers graced with good weather and clear skies. That's because the moon, which is currently in its unlit new phase, won't interfere with the meteor light show as it did with last month's Lyrid shower.
Bits and pieces of the famous Halley's Comet will light up the overnight sky in a promising meteor shower, weather permitting, skywatching experts say.
The annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak early tomorrow morning (May 6) and is expected to put on a dazzling display of "shooting stars" for skywatchers graced with good weather and clear skies. That's because the moon, which is currently in its unlit new phase, won't interfere with the meteor light show as it did with last month's Lyrid shower.
A soundproof room, but you can hear outside - Technology & science
A soundproof room, but you can hear outside - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com
Imagine a room where a band is playing. Neighbors can't hear the music, but if someone outside the room is talking, the musicians can hear it.
The concept — a kind of one-way mirror for sound — seems imaginary, but two Italian scientists recently pushed this kind of sound manipulating technology closer to reality.
"Nonlinearity makes our world much richer than a linear world," said Giulio Casati, a physics professor and director of the Center for Nonlinear and Complex Systems at the University of Insubria. "It allows us much more possibility."
Imagine a room where a band is playing. Neighbors can't hear the music, but if someone outside the room is talking, the musicians can hear it.
The concept — a kind of one-way mirror for sound — seems imaginary, but two Italian scientists recently pushed this kind of sound manipulating technology closer to reality.
"Nonlinearity makes our world much richer than a linear world," said Giulio Casati, a physics professor and director of the Center for Nonlinear and Complex Systems at the University of Insubria. "It allows us much more possibility."
Critics: New Gun Law Will Kill Kids
Critics: New Gun Law Will Kill Kids - Yahoo! News
Florida is set to become the first state to pass a law that would limit doctors' ability to council parents about gun safety in the home. Pediatricians decry the law as wrongheaded, and they're backed by statistics that suggest the law will kill kids.
Last week, the state legislature approved a bill that would make it legal to impose punishment on doctors who ask about guns kept in the home. The bill awaits approval from Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is known to support gun rights and will likely sign the bill, said Dr. Louis St. Petery, a pediatrician in Tallahassee, Fla., and executive vice president of the Florida Pediatric Society.
Florida is set to become the first state to pass a law that would limit doctors' ability to council parents about gun safety in the home. Pediatricians decry the law as wrongheaded, and they're backed by statistics that suggest the law will kill kids.
Last week, the state legislature approved a bill that would make it legal to impose punishment on doctors who ask about guns kept in the home. The bill awaits approval from Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is known to support gun rights and will likely sign the bill, said Dr. Louis St. Petery, a pediatrician in Tallahassee, Fla., and executive vice president of the Florida Pediatric Society.
May 4, 2011
Revolutionary new paper computer shows flexible future for smartphones and tablets
Revolutionary new paper computer shows flexible future for smartphones and tablets
The world's first interactive paper computer is set to revolutionize the world of interactive computing.
"This is the future. Everything is going to look and feel like this within five years," says creator Roel Vertegaal, the director of Queen's University Human Media Lab. "This computer looks, feels and operates like a small sheet of interactive paper. You interact with it by bending it into a cell phone, flipping the corner to turn pages, or writing on it with a pen."
The world's first interactive paper computer is set to revolutionize the world of interactive computing.
"This is the future. Everything is going to look and feel like this within five years," says creator Roel Vertegaal, the director of Queen's University Human Media Lab. "This computer looks, feels and operates like a small sheet of interactive paper. You interact with it by bending it into a cell phone, flipping the corner to turn pages, or writing on it with a pen."
What baby eats in first days may impact health later
What baby eats in first days may impact health later - Health - Kids and parenting - msnbc.com
The food babies eat during their first days of life may have a long-term impact on their health, a new study suggests.
The results of the research show babies who are breast-fed have lower blood pressure when they are three years old compared with babies who are given formula with high amounts of protein. In addition, breast-fed babies also had slightly bigger heads than those who were fed a low-protein formula.
However, the blood pressure and head circumference of the children in the study were within normal range, regardless of the food they ate, said the researchers, from the Claude Bernard University in France.
The food babies eat during their first days of life may have a long-term impact on their health, a new study suggests.
The results of the research show babies who are breast-fed have lower blood pressure when they are three years old compared with babies who are given formula with high amounts of protein. In addition, breast-fed babies also had slightly bigger heads than those who were fed a low-protein formula.
However, the blood pressure and head circumference of the children in the study were within normal range, regardless of the food they ate, said the researchers, from the Claude Bernard University in France.
Boy with brain cancer 'cured' after secretly fed medical marijuana by father
Boy with brain cancer 'cured' after secretly fed medical marijuana by father | Mail Online
A desperate father whose son was suffering from a life-threatening brain tumour has revealed he gave him cannabis oil to ease his pain. And he has now apparently made a full recovery.
Cash Hyde, known as Cashy, was a perfectly healthy baby when he was born in June 2008 but became sick shortly before his second birthday.
At first he was misdiagnosed with glandular fever before his parents Mike and Kalli, from Missoula in Montana, were given the devastating news he had a serious brain tumour.
The little boy had to have arduous chemotherapy treatment to reduce the growth, which had drastic side effects including seizures and a blood infection.
A desperate father whose son was suffering from a life-threatening brain tumour has revealed he gave him cannabis oil to ease his pain. And he has now apparently made a full recovery.
Cash Hyde, known as Cashy, was a perfectly healthy baby when he was born in June 2008 but became sick shortly before his second birthday.
At first he was misdiagnosed with glandular fever before his parents Mike and Kalli, from Missoula in Montana, were given the devastating news he had a serious brain tumour.
The little boy had to have arduous chemotherapy treatment to reduce the growth, which had drastic side effects including seizures and a blood infection.
For the First Time, Humans See Quantum Entanglement With the Naked Eye
For the First Time, Humans See Quantum Entanglement With the Naked Eye | Popular Science
Physicists at the University of Geneva in Switzerland have devised a new kind of quantum experiment using humans as photon detectors, and in doing so have made the quantum phenomenon of entanglement visible to the naked eye for the first time.
For those that need a primer, entanglement is that strange quantum phenomenon that links two particles across distances such that any any measurements carried out on one particle immediately changes the properties of the other--even if they are separated by the entire universe. Einstein called it “spooky action at a distance.” And indeed it is weird.
Physicists at the University of Geneva in Switzerland have devised a new kind of quantum experiment using humans as photon detectors, and in doing so have made the quantum phenomenon of entanglement visible to the naked eye for the first time.
For those that need a primer, entanglement is that strange quantum phenomenon that links two particles across distances such that any any measurements carried out on one particle immediately changes the properties of the other--even if they are separated by the entire universe. Einstein called it “spooky action at a distance.” And indeed it is weird.
New evidence that caffeine is a healthful antioxidant in coffee
New evidence that caffeine is a healthful antioxidant in coffee
Scientists are reporting an in-depth analysis of how the caffeine in coffee, tea, and other foods seems to protect against conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and heart disease on the most fundamental levels.
Annia Galano and Jorge Rafael León-Carmona describe evidence suggesting that coffee is one of the richest sources of healthful antioxidants in the average person's diet. Some of the newest research points to caffeine (also present in tea, cocoa, and other foods) as the source of powerful antioxidant effects that may help protect people from Alzheimer's and other diseases. However, scientists know little about exactly how caffeine works in scavenging the so-called free radicals that have damaging effects in the body. And those few studies sometimes have reached contradictory conclusions.
Scientists are reporting an in-depth analysis of how the caffeine in coffee, tea, and other foods seems to protect against conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and heart disease on the most fundamental levels.
Annia Galano and Jorge Rafael León-Carmona describe evidence suggesting that coffee is one of the richest sources of healthful antioxidants in the average person's diet. Some of the newest research points to caffeine (also present in tea, cocoa, and other foods) as the source of powerful antioxidant effects that may help protect people from Alzheimer's and other diseases. However, scientists know little about exactly how caffeine works in scavenging the so-called free radicals that have damaging effects in the body. And those few studies sometimes have reached contradictory conclusions.
Natural protection against radiation
Natural protection against radiation
In the midst of ongoing concerns about radiation exposure from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, scientists are reporting that a substance similar to resveratrol -- an antioxidant found in red wine, grapes and nuts -- could protect against radiation sickness.
They found that resveratrol protected cells in flasks but did not protect mice (stand-ins for humans in the laboratory) from radiation damage. However, the similar natural product called acetyl resveratrol did protect the irradiated mice. It also can be produced easily in large quantities and given orally. The authors caution that it has not yet been determined whether acetyl resveratrol is effective when orally administered.
In the midst of ongoing concerns about radiation exposure from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, scientists are reporting that a substance similar to resveratrol -- an antioxidant found in red wine, grapes and nuts -- could protect against radiation sickness.
They found that resveratrol protected cells in flasks but did not protect mice (stand-ins for humans in the laboratory) from radiation damage. However, the similar natural product called acetyl resveratrol did protect the irradiated mice. It also can be produced easily in large quantities and given orally. The authors caution that it has not yet been determined whether acetyl resveratrol is effective when orally administered.
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