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Also, Squid Don't Eat Sharks

Also, Squid Don't Eat Sharks

Nov 05 2009 | comment(s)

But you wouldn't know that from reading this article in the Winnipeg Free Press. It's like the definition of irresponsible journalism: repeating rumor as fact, failing to interview experts, and just flat-out making things up.

For example, did you know that "dime-sized suction cups on the tentacles of squid are lined with sharp teeth that leave permanent scars if they contact human skin?" No, you didn't, because it's not true. I've been scratched by these "teeth" countless times, and nope, no scars.
For chemists, infectious disease folks/techies, and Josh

For chemists, infectious disease folks/techies, and Josh

Nov 05 2009 | comment(s)

For chemists



For ID and IT



For Josh (and other Ohio natives)
Glioblastoma studies: Mice with Brain Tumors

Glioblastoma studies: Mice with Brain Tumors

Nov 05 2009 | comment(s)

In 1971, Richard Nixon signed a bill that launched the American “war on cancer.”  That war has sent millions of mice to their deaths. Survival has improved for some cancers; not so much for others. The War on Cancer is still on, and mice remain its conscripts.

















Aggression gene = reduced murder sentence

Aggression gene = reduced murder sentence

Nov 05 2009 | comment(s)

Instead of using someone else's urine in random drug testing, perhaps criminals can step it up a notch on the scientific ladder and use someone else's genome.

Can your genes ever absolve you of responsibility for a particular act?

New Scientist features a story that asks that very question, regarding the case of a man whose sentence was reduced because he had "gene variants linked to aggression."
First Find UNKNOWN Giant Galaxy Assembly Almost 7 Billion Light Years Distant

First Find UNKNOWN Giant Galaxy Assembly Almost 7 Billion Light Years Distant

Nov 04 2009 | comment(s)

Hello. See the giant structure in 2D and also in 3D. The positions of the galaxies in the newly found structure are shown in red in the second and third images. Other galaxies in "blue" are located in front or behind "the Giant." 

To relate to the size of things, consider first the Whirlpool Galaxy for example. This bright galaxy is 23 million light years away and 75,000 light years across.  


Credit: NAOJ.

Human Embryonic Stem Cells Differentiated Into Lung Tissue

Human Embryonic Stem Cells Differentiated Into Lung Tissue

Nov 04 2009 | comment(s)

Scientists have successfully differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC) into major cell types of lung epithelial tissue, a technique which could provide an alternative to lung transplants for patients with lung injury due to chronic pulmonary disease and inherited genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
Learn To Compute Higgs Limits On The Fly

Learn To Compute Higgs Limits On The Fly

Nov 04 2009 | comment(s)

I am presently into the second week of my lessons of Subnuclear Physics for the 2nd year of specialization in Physics, and I have just finished a lesson discussing the current searches for the Higgs boson at the Tevatron collider. Since the course has a focus on experimental techniques, I found it useful today to give as an exercise the determination of an order-of-magnitude estimate of cross section limits that the CDF experiments can set on a 160 GeV Higgs boson, with the data so far analyzed. It is an exercise I worked out by heart during my walk to the Physics Department: this should tell you it is not of overpowering difficulty.
Visitors

Visitors

Nov 04 2009 | comment(s)

When I was a child I would watch anything to do with science fiction. I don’t now, but, well, I still lean in that direction. I watch very little major-network television, and don’t really want to get hooked on a new series, but if it’s science fiction, I’m more likely to give it a try.

Some important medicinal plants from different regions of Rajasthan.

Some important medicinal plants from different regions of Rajasthan.

Nov 04 2009 | comment(s)

Collection of important medicinal plants from different regions of Rajasthan. Introduction– Rajasthan has a large population of about 5, 64, 73, 122 crore. Around 80 percent live in villages which utilizes local medicine. The people of Rajasthan can be broadly divided into ; those living into extreme wheather condition as in Western Rajasthan and others in milder climate. Rajasthan has rich biodiversity consisting of a large number of plants, some of which are used for their medicinal value. Although flora of Rajasthan has been compiled by Bhandari (1978) and Sharma (1976) but detailed information about their medicinal properties are lacking.
The Role of ethnobotany in relation to medicinal plants in India.

The Role of ethnobotany in relation to medicinal plants in India.

Nov 04 2009 | comment(s)

The Role of ethnobotany in relation to medicinal plants in India. Ethnobotany is usually defined as anthropological approach to botany. There are several methods of ethnobotanical research and those relevant to medicinal plants are archaeological search in literature, herbaria and the field studies. “Man, ever desirous of knowledge, has already explored many things, but more and greater still remains concealed; perhaps reserved for far distant generations, who shall prosecute the examination of their creator’s work in remote countries and make many discoveries for the pleasure and convenience of life…” The above quotation of Linneaus is the most appropriate to this chapter which deals with the relationship between medicinal plants and the total filed of ethnobotany.
Finger Length Linked To Social Behavior?

Finger Length Linked To Social Behavior?

Nov 04 2009 | comment(s)

Hormones called androgens are considered important in the development of masculine characteristics like aggression and strength and some believe that prenatal androgens affect finger length during development in the womb.

High levels of androgens, such as testosterone, increase the length of the fourth finger in comparison to the second finger. Some archaeologists and anthropologists are using finger ratios as an indicator of the levels of exposure to the hormone and recently compared this data with social behavior in primate groups. 
Survey Says Industry Support For Life Science Research On The Decline

Survey Says Industry Support For Life Science Research On The Decline

Nov 04 2009 | comment(s)

While more than half the academic life science researchers responding to a 2007 survey indicated having some relationship with private industry, the prevalence of such relationships – particularly direct funding for research studies – appears to be dropping.

The Results of a survey, appearing in the November/December 2009 issue of Health Affairs,
also suggest that interest in commercial applications of research appears to be growing, even among investigators without industry funding. The new study is a follow-up to 1985 and 1995 surveys by members of the same team.
Chemical Engineer Solves The Capitalism Problem

Chemical Engineer Solves The Capitalism Problem

Nov 03 2009 | comment(s)

Capitalism isn't perfect.  Because business, like science, is about excellence and not fairness some people are going to make more money than other people.  Some are going to be better at marketing and some are even going to cheat.

A professor in chemical engineering with no private sector experience has figured out how to redo capitalism so it works great - in a numerical model.
Should Government Do More To Protect Your Virtual Privacy?

Should Government Do More To Protect Your Virtual Privacy?

Nov 03 2009 | comment(s)

The details of your personal life, such as grocery purchases, pizza topping preferences and Amazon wish lists, are collected every day ― by both websites and traditional retailers. Though
this data seems fairly innocuous, when it's put together it can tell whoever is gathering it a
whole lot about your health, finances and behavior; and that means it can easily be used against you.

Dr. Michael Birnhack of Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Law and Prof. Niva Elkin-Koren from the University of Haifa recently completed a comprehensive study on information privacy laws in Israel and found compelling reasons for lawmakers everywhere to take notice.
Gravity Satellites Map Amazon (x3)

Gravity Satellites Map Amazon (x3)

Nov 03 2009 | comment(s)

Scientists used a pair of gravity-measuring satellites, GRACE, to look at Amazon river basin water levels and, hopefully, better predict future water storage and runoff.  The twin GRACE satellites measure the mass distribution of the Earth between the two satellites, and accumulating these measurements over time lets us know how the Earth's mass shifts around.  A team led by Shin-Chan Han compared this data with simulations to look at, basically, how water is stored, released, and sloshes about within the Amazon river basin.  They compared the data with simulations.
The Promise Of A Muon Collider

The Promise Of A Muon Collider

Nov 03 2009 | comment(s)

Based upon some recent statements by the DOE, the commitment to building a muon collider in this country may be more tangible:
 http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/10/its-on-god-part.html

Here is a conceptual layout:




The Fourier Transform As Diagonalization

The Fourier Transform As Diagonalization

Nov 03 2009 | comment(s)

Why is the Fourier Transform so useful both in theoretical and applied science and engineering?  In short, often it is more convenient to solve a problem in Fourier space than the space of the problem's original formulation.  In this case, one prescription to attack the problem is to convert the representation of the problem to Fourier space, solve the problem in Fourier space (where presumably it is simpler to solve) and then convert back to the original basis. The Fourier Transform may be expressed as:


Appearance Says A Lot When Making First Impressions

Appearance Says A Lot When Making First Impressions

Nov 03 2009 | comment(s)

With the publication of a paper in the upcoming issue of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, science has finally confirmed what most people have long thought. According to the study, physical appearance says a lot when seeing someone for the first time. What most people likely don't know, however, is that first impressions based solely on appearance are actually fairly accurate.
Wasted Fruit Flies May Help Scientists Cure Alcoholism

Wasted Fruit Flies May Help Scientists Cure Alcoholism

Nov 03 2009 | comment(s)

With the help of inebriated fruit flies, scientists have discovered an entire network of genes the tiny creatures share with humans that help explain why some people tolerate alcohol better than others and may one day lead to a cure for alcoholism. Their findings also yield more information about the negative side effects of excessive drinking, like liver damage. The study appears in the October issue of the Genetics.
New Treatment Option Emerging For Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

New Treatment Option Emerging For Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Nov 03 2009 | comment(s)

Patients with early stage, non-small cell lung cancer who are not able to undergo surgery, now have a highly effective treatment option. Physicians say that option, radical stereotactic radiosurgery performed with CyberKnife, leads to a 100 percent overall survival after three
years in patients with good lung function before treatment. These results were presented today at the annual CHEST meeting in San Diego.

For patients with small tumors characterized as early-stage disease, surgical removal of the affected lobe (lobectomy) is the standard of care. However, surgery is sometimes not an option because of other pre-existing medical conditions such as emphysema or heart disease.