Featured Articles

Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years

Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years

Nov 26 2009 | comment(s)

Introduction





“Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years, and an impressive number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources, many based on their use in traditional medicine.” These plant-based traditional medicine systems continue to play an essential role in health care, with about 80% of the world’s inhabitants relying mainly on traditional medicines for their primary health care. Plant products also have an important role in the health care systems of the remaining 20%, who reside in developed countries. About 25% of prescription drugs dispensed from community pharmacies in the United States from 1959 to 1980 contained plant extracts or active principles derived from higher plants.
Robot Airplane on Mars!!!

Robot Airplane on Mars!!!

Nov 26 2009 | comment(s)



<!--paging_filter-->

Since budget cuts and the inability to overcome problems like boredom and high radiation doses
have ruled out any manned mission to Mars in the foreseeable future, NASA has shifted gears back towards a program of robotic exploration. To that end, NASA now wants a rocket-powered airplane to fly around the Red Planet, photographing the surface.
The plane, repetitively named ARES (not to be confused

What's Up With Climate Change And The Ozone Hole?

What's Up With Climate Change And The Ozone Hole?

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

Yes, what's up! Here we go. Climate change and ozone depletion affect one another in complicated ways. In simple terms, "the ozone hole" pertains to the Southern Hemisphere. However, reductions in ozone content in the stratosphere above the Arctic have been recorded during the northern winter untill early spring (January through March) in recent  years. These reductions, about 20-25%, are much smaller than those measured in each southern spring (September through December) over the Antarctic ozone hole, the big one.
Darwin Vs Genesis: Literary Deathmatch

Darwin Vs Genesis: Literary Deathmatch

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species, The Star has decided to trash Darwin.

No, they're not going creationist on us, but Stephen Marche argues that Genesis beats the Origin hands down as literature:
Three things for which I am thankful

Three things for which I am thankful

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

I know Thanksgiving is tomorrow but I'm getting a head start, in anticipation of the food coma I assume I will be in tomorrow. In no particular order, I am thankful for:

1. Jessica Hagy, at Indexed.



2. Humor, especially the ability to laugh at one's self (always a lot of fodder for jokes).
A long time ago, in a shoe factory far, far away...

A long time ago, in a shoe factory far, far away...

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

Cue the Star Wars music! Fellow fans, rejoice - you can now wear your love for all things SW loud and proud - on your feet.

The folks at adidas Originals were either desperate for a new fan base or wanted to express their inner sci-fi selves. Regardless, the Spring/Summer 2010 collection will feature Star Wars-themed shoes and clothing. Select stores will start selling the goods in January 2010.
Robotic Arm Opens Doors For the Wheelchair Bound

Robotic Arm Opens Doors For the Wheelchair Bound

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)



For people confined to wheelchairs, the proliferation of ramps has greatly enhanced their mobility. Unfortunately, opening doors remains an omnipresent, and frustrating, challenge. Oddly enough, opening doors also presents a serious impediment for anthropomorphic robots. Now, robotics engineer Erin Rapacki has solved both problems with a single stroke.
Thanksgiving Dinner In 30 Minutes Or Less (technically

Thanksgiving Dinner In 30 Minutes Or Less (technically "fewer"...)

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

If you're reading this, your blood pressure is likely already that of a kid's pump rocket (blasts 30 feet in the air!!!). Never fear. You will survive Turkey Day. Gobble-fricking-gobble. Now to the list.

1. Turkey: Buy a cook-in-the-bag turkey breast roast. Turn on the oven. Throw it in. If your guests or house pets don’t see you carve it, they will never know your dinner never gobbled (or, more precisely, that it is the unholy conglomeration of many separate gobblers).

2. Mashed Potatoes: Buy instant. Just add boiling water and enough butter and cream cheese to mask the slightly musty taste.

3. Gravy: In the can.

4. Cranberry Sauce: In the can. Be sure to actually place in dish and mash until the dog-food-esque shape is unrecognizable.
A New Class of Jet Fuel: bio-derived synthetic paraffinic kerosene (bio-SPK).

A New Class of Jet Fuel: bio-derived synthetic paraffinic kerosene (bio-SPK).

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

A New Class of Jet Fuel: bio-derived synthetic paraffinic kerosene (bio-SPK). Airlines are under serious pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so when the most prolific oil refinery technology provider on the planet teams up with the world’s biggest airplane manufacturer, they produce results—and a new class of fuel.

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

Millions of miles of coastline around the globe offer an alternative place to grow plants which grow in sea water and in inland marshes and coastal regions. Try to findout how .
Global warming and climate change issues need a global outlook but regional solutions

Global warming and climate change issues need a global outlook but regional solutions

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

Global warming and climate change issues need a global outlook
Diamonds Are A Driver's Best Friend

Diamonds Are A Driver's Best Friend

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

Missouri can proudly claim it is first in the nation - first to test a new "diverging diamond" interchange that improves traffic flow by eliminating problematic left turns. Sound boring? I admit, the story didn't jump out at me at first. But the myriad diagrams with tiny cars moving across the screen got me hooked, and now I hope that the experiment, if successful, spreads across the country. Even Popular Science reported on the action.
San Francisco Bay Area - based Eco-Fuel Global this week entered a groundbreaking agreement with the Government of Rwanda estimated to be worth in excess of $250 m; to produce bio-fuels from Jatropha Curcas.

San Francisco Bay Area - based Eco-Fuel Global this week entered a groundbreaking agreement with the Government of Rwanda estimated to be worth in excess of $250 m; to produce bio-fuels from Jatropha Curcas.

Nov 25 2009 | comment(s)

San Francisco Bay Area - based Eco-Fuel Global this week entered a groundbreaking agreement with the Government of Rwanda estimated to be worth in excess of $250 m; to produce bio-fuels from Jatropha Curcas. In the run up to the Copenhagen climate talks, this deal will see the replacement of up to 20% of the Rwandan fossil fuel requirement with low emission bio-fuels.
Five Tips For Particle Physics Ph. D. Wannabes - Part II

Five Tips For Particle Physics Ph. D. Wannabes - Part II

Nov 24 2009 | comment(s)

This is the second part of a two-part collection of tips for particle physics graduate students. The first part is here.

Three: be a fool today if you want to be a guru tomorrow


The third advice I have in store for Jane is maybe the toughest to follow, at least at first. But I do believe it is of critical importance for her to grow, become knowledgeable, and distinguish herself from the rest of the pack.
science meets fantasy...or vice versa

science meets fantasy...or vice versa

Nov 24 2009 | comment(s)

One of those areas that always fascinated me was looking at historical figures and events and trying to figure out the science behind it.  For example, I had a genetics professor in college whose hobby was to study famous people who had died for "mysterious" or "unknown" reasons, and see what genetic disorder they might have had.  It was pretty interesting, although the nagging "we won't ever know unless we dig them up and test their remains" issue always bugged me.
More Cephalopods in COML!

More Cephalopods in COML!

Nov 24 2009 | comment(s)

I love that the Census of Marine Life is getting news coverage! It proves that people can get excited over cool exploratory science--natural history of the deep--that doesn't have any immediate application.

If you want to hear deep-sea species discussed in a truly awesome Scottish accent, play this video and have a listen to Dr. Alan Hughes.
20 Reasons To Be Thankful (Medical Advances)

20 Reasons To Be Thankful (Medical Advances)

Nov 24 2009 | comment(s)

The Wall Street Journal published a list of 20 medical advances for which we should be thankful. WSJ says that amid all the bad news about medicine in the media - H1N1, failed miracle drugs, etc, contentious health-care reform issues - it's easy to overlook how much progress has been made in recent years.

Without further ado:
Growth and productivity of Jatropha curcas under semi arid conditions

Growth and productivity of Jatropha curcas under semi arid conditions

Nov 24 2009 | comment(s)

Growth and productivity of Jatropha curcas under semi arid conditions . ASHWANI KUMAR Engery Plantation Demonstration project and Biotechnology Center. Bio-Technology Lab Department of Botany University of Rajasthan, Jaipur - 302 004 Email. msku31@yahoo.com ABSTRACT:
HIGH FREQUENCY MULTIPLE SHOOT REGENERATION FROM TISSUE CULTURES OF ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS

HIGH FREQUENCY MULTIPLE SHOOT REGENERATION FROM TISSUE CULTURES OF ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS

Nov 24 2009 | comment(s)

HIGH FREQUENCY MULTIPLE SHOOT REGENERATION FROM TISSUE CULTURES OF ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS NEETU VIJAY AND ASHWANI KUMAR* Plant Biotechnology Lab, Department of Botany , University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302004, ` Email- msku31@yahoo.com asp_neetu@yahoo.co.in * Corresponding author ABSTRACT: