We’re all aware of the severe genetic and unpleasant physical consequences that result from reproducing with a closely related relative.  Aside from unfortunate aesthetics, inbreeding can also lead to the extinction of small organismal populations.  This decrease of reproductive success is referred to as “inbreeding depression” and mechanisms that cause it are still being debated by biologists. 

The Antarctic landmass is losing its frontier status.  Housing thousands of decreasingly rugged inhabitants in heated, internet-ready comfort, it’s been so well-mapped that we even know where to find the donuts.  Underwater, however, is a different story.  Harsh temperatures, currents, pressure and ice surfaces have kept the submerged landscapes of glaciers inaccessible to all but penguins and Morgan Freeman’s voiceover.

A joint US-British team has nominated a new Ernest Shackleford to explore the uncharted Antarctic underwater.  But this time around, he’s a robot.

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, March 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- VoIP Over 3G, Skype Out, SIP Calling, and Twitter Support Make Nimbuzz the Most Comprehensive Mobile Social VoIP and Instant Messaging Application - and Turns iPod Touch Into iPhone

There is an old gag which asks: "Why don't polar bears eat penguins?" The answer is that polar bears inhabit arctic regions, whereas penguins inhabit antarctic regions, as shown here.

There is a saying that the poles are where weather is made. Weather is a heat-driven system, the temperature difference between the poles and the equator, amongst other things, drives our weather. Air is constantly being either warmed or cooled in a planet-wide system, but air is warmed much more in the equatorial regions and cooled more in the polar regions.  (Please note: this is a deliberate oversimplification for purposes of explanation.)

PITTSBURGH, March 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- The Release of ComponentOne Studio Enterprise 2009 Sets the Pace

The leader in the Microsoft Visual Studio component industry, ComponentOne, has expanded its offering of custom controls in the most complete suite in the market, ComponentOne Studio Enterprise 2009. This release includes new controls and updates that bring enhanced performance and presentation to Windows, Web, and Mobile application development.

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JENA, Germany, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Occlutech GmbH today announced that it had defeated a request for insolvency, launched at the Amtsgericht Gera in Germany by its US competitor AGA Medical.

The request by AGA was based on wrongful assumptions about Occlutech, and AGA announced that it had started the said request to recover damages. However, the court - Amtsgericht Gera in Germany - stated, that a proceeding regarding any damages has not yet been started.

LONDON, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarity Systems, a leader in corporate performance management (CPM) and Information Management Group (IMGROUP), an award-winning provider of information management services, today announced a partnership to provide planning, budgeting, financial consolidation and performance reporting solutions to UK businesses, public sector and not-for-profit organisations.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- IDC Keynote Speech on Middle East Enterprise Applications Market

Infor today announced that it will hold its inaugural Middle East customer event - Inforum Middle East 2009 - on Wednesday April 22, 2009 at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Deira Creek, Dubai. This event gathers Infor customers, partners, prospective customers and industry experts who want to connect, learn and maximise the value of their Infor solutions. Educational sessions, customer case studies and product-specific networking opportunities unite attendees with others in similar business environments.

LONDON, March 19 /PRNewswire/ --

Security concerns in the present world continue to grow in intensity and complexity. This opens the door to many opportunities within the European biometrics market, which is expected to experience substantial growth in the coming years despite the current economic downturn. Many of the common identity management measures currently in place such as access cards, employee IDs, password protection, personal identification numbers (PINs), passports, and the like, can be forgotten, lost, disclosed, or changed. Biometrics offers a more secure solution because it identifies an individual through the unique physiological or behavioural patterns.

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SAN JOSE, California, March 19 /PRNewswire/ --