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NGC-4945: A Lot Like Our Milky Way ...

NGC-4945: A Lot Like Our Milky Way ...

Sep 02 2009 | comment(s)

A new image of nearby galaxy NGC 4945 shows that it looks a lot like our own Milky Way.

NGC 4945 seems to be a spiral galaxy with swirling, luminous arms and a bar-shaped central region, though NGC 4945 has a brighter center that likely harbors a supermassive black hole which is devouring reams of matter and blasting energy out into space.
Is Aloe vera good for health?

Is Aloe vera good for health?

Sep 02 2009 | comment(s)

Aloe plant has over 112 species. Generally Aloe vera is projected as health tonic. However in some literature 4 species are mentioned out of which Aloe vera is declared toxic to eat or drink. All over the world lot of health products in the name of nature cure are being sold. Aloe vera cream could be good for health but it is not safe to drink Aloe vera juices. People dry the leaves and crush them and mix with water and sell as Aloe vera drinks.

I invite comments and suggestions What do you feel about this.
What Mothballs And Interstellar Clouds Have In Common

What Mothballs And Interstellar Clouds Have In Common

Sep 02 2009 | comment(s)

One component of interstellar clouds emitting unusual infrared light known as the Unidentified Infrared Bands (UIRs) is a gaseous version of naphthalene, the chief component of mothballs back on Earth, according to research led by Michael Duncan, Regents Professor of Chemistry at the University of Georgia, along with doctoral student Allen Ricks and Gary Douberly, now an assistant professor in the department of chemistry at UGA.

The UIRs have been seen by astronomers for more than 30 years, but no one has ever identified what specific molecules cause these patterns. 
Winds, Weaker Current Implicated In Higher Eastern Seaboard Water Levels

Winds, Weaker Current Implicated In Higher Eastern Seaboard Water Levels

Sep 02 2009 | comment(s)

The Eastern Seaboard had higher than normal sea levels in June and July and a new NOAA technical report blames persistent winds and a weakened current in the Mid-Atlantic . 

After observing water levels six inches to two feet higher than originally predicted, NOAA scientists began analyzing data from select tide stations and buoys from Maine to Florida and found that a weakening of the Florida Current Transport—an oceanic current that feeds into the Gulf Stream—in addition to steady and persistent Northeast winds, contributed to this anomaly.
Methane A Growing Concern In Global Warming

Methane A Growing Concern In Global Warming

Sep 02 2009 | comment(s)

There were a number of reasons carbon dioxide got singled out as a primary contributor to global warming and a key one was that it was the easiest problem to fix in Europe - more nuclear power and closing Soviet-era factories made goals achievable.  The US had no quick fix, since environmentalists dislike nuclear power in America, and with world leader China exempt from emissions caps, the effort to curb CO2 basically stalled.
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum ) an Indian holy plant has vast medicinal properties: Ethnobotany.

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum ) an Indian holy plant has vast medicinal properties: Ethnobotany.

Sep 02 2009 | comment(s)

 Tulsi ( Ocimum sanctum ) has potential as anticancer plant.


The term ethnobotany was first used by Harshberger in 1885 and its scope was much elaborated later by Ford in 1978 and Faulks in 1958 (Trivedi,2002). Studies of medicinal plant based on ancient literature and its investigation in modern light is known as ethnobotany.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Dumbing down of The Science Channel.

Dumbing down of The Science Channel.

Sep 02 2009 | comment(s)

More reality programs, less hard science coverage, and when they do cover hard science it's watered down.  This is all true as the production values of the programs have increased while the science value has decreased.  
When the science channel started many years ago here are some of the shows they had. 
  • Skeptical Inquirer  - Cold hands off debunking of things like acupuncture.
  • Understanding - in depth hard core exposition of physics, chemistry, or biology.
  • A number of documentary series. 
Discovery: Supermassive Black Hole Is One Billion Times The Size Of Our Sun

Discovery: Supermassive Black Hole Is One Billion Times The Size Of Our Sun

Sep 02 2009 | comment(s)

A giant galaxy, so distant that it is seen as it was 12.8 billion years ago, is as large as the Milky Way and contains a supermassive black hole with at least a billion times as much matter as our Sun.

The discovery, in a paper in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society by University of Hawaii astronomer Dr. Tomotsugu Goto and colleagues, lays claim to the most distant supermassive black hole ever found.
Humboldt squid make the news (barely) in Washington

Humboldt squid make the news (barely) in Washington

Sep 02 2009 | comment(s)

The first Squid-A-Day is my very own study organism: Dosidicus gigas, the Humboldt squid! They seem to be mellowing out as they move north; after causing serious media hullabaloo in San Diego all summer, they squeezed only six sentences out of the Associated Press with their arrival in Washington State.

The AP gets kudos for calling Humboldts "large" not "giant" (giant squid are an entirely different species) and knowing that they eat "small fish" not "humans" (as other sensationalist news outlets have sometimes claimed).
What is good for bioenergy is also good for heart

What is good for bioenergy is also good for heart

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)

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Proteolytic enzymes and Cardenoloids from Calotropis spp have great potential for drug development.

Proteolytic enzymes and Cardenoloids from Calotropis spp have great potential for drug development.

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)

Raheem  et. al.,(2007)isolated the  proteolytic enzymes from Calotropis procera (<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Sodom apple leaves) were extracted by aqueous infusion and characterised for its thermal and pH stabilities.

Latex bearing plants have great medicinal potential

Latex bearing plants have great medicinal potential

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)

The latex bearing plants Euphorbia antiquorum, E. antisyphilitica, E. caducifolia, E. neerifolia, E. nivulia, E. royleana, Calotropis procera, C.

On Citizen Science, Citizen Journalism, and Satellites

On Citizen Science, Citizen Journalism, and Satellites

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)

This here, "The Sky By Day", is my science writing column.  I write about current news and cultural issues in space and computer science.  Very simple, very journalistic:

    See Alex write.  Write, Alex, write!

I have started a new project, to launch a satellite into space.  It's called Project Calliope, and myself and my team will write about it here at SB here in the new column, Satellite Diaries:

  See Alex do science.  Sciencify, Alex, sciencify!
Scientific Blogging University Writing Competition - Begins Today!

Scientific Blogging University Writing Competition - Begins Today!

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)

Today marks the start of the (first) Scientific Blogging University Writing Competition. We decided to do this because, since our inception, the scientific community has been incredibly gracious about embracing Science 2.0.

The top question we have been asked in emails is 'What should I write about?' and the answer is, we don't know. Since the contest covers 11 schools and all science disciplines we have no idea what will resonate with the audience. Whatever you write should have some popular interest - no one wins "American Idol" doing Gregorian chants, for example - but it's your own voice so you have to write what is interesting to you.
Are you the same person you were a minute ago?

Are you the same person you were a minute ago?

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)



You have the same skin, same bones, the same meat. More importantly, when speaking about the mind, the essence of your good self, you have the same brain: the same neurons (more or less), the same synapses, the same blood vessels and connective tissue inside your skull.

More profoundly, you have the same memories. And unless something alarming happens to you like an almighty thwack upon your head, you have the same impression of an unbroken continuum of consciousness.
Excessive tree felling , irregular construction and greed for developing tourist spots natural water bodies is destroying water reservoirs which are drying up. .

Excessive tree felling , irregular construction and greed for developing tourist spots natural water bodies is destroying water reservoirs which are drying up. .

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)

It is sad story of Jaipur (Rajasthan) India that water bodies are drying up. First was the lake of Ramgarh which has supplied water for hundreds of years has dried up due to illegal tree felling resulting in silting due to loss of soil binding on hills.
Now is the lake at Amber fort of Jaipur which has dried up due to greed to develop tourist spot by making illegal construction blocking natural flow of water
There is urgent need to attract global atttention how to restore these water bodies and restore the pinick city of Jaipur to its old glory. Suggestions are invited by experts globally.
Environmental problems of Holy city of Ajmer (Rajathan) India need urgernt attention

Environmental problems of Holy city of Ajmer (Rajathan) India need urgernt attention

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> With puskher lake dried up due to human settlement activities, pollution and destruction of vegetation urgent action is required to restore the old glory of the world famous Pushkar.

 

Jatropha curcus a source of Biofuel in developing countries

Jatropha curcus a source of Biofuel in developing countries

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)

Jatropha curcus a source  of Biofuel in developing countries<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

For Quality Fusion Surfing, Try Riding The Solar Wind

For Quality Fusion Surfing, Try Riding The Solar Wind

Sep 01 2009 | comment(s)

Researchers at the University of Warwick have found what could be the signal of ideal wave 'surfing' conditions for individual particles within the massive turbulent ocean of the solar wind, a discovery that could give a new insight into just how energy is dissipated in solar system sized plasmas such as the solar wind and could provide significant clues to scientists developing fusion power which relies on plasmas.

The research, led by Khurom Kiyanai and Professor Sandra Chapman in the University of Warwick’s Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics, looked at data from the Cluster spacecraft quartet to obtain a comparatively “quiet” slice of the solar wind as it progressed over an hour travelling covering roughly 2,340,000 Kilometers.