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Science By PR Blitz

Science By PR Blitz

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

The recent report of a set of fossils of geniune significance for our understanding of human evolution highlights just how scientifically pathetic the PR circus over the primate fossil Darwinius masillae really was. Paleontologist Jørn Hurum, who purchased the fossil from a collector, clearly thought he had made the find of his life, and so he decided to milk it for all it was worth. The result was science via PR blitz.
The Elettra Experience

The Elettra Experience

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

Just over a year ago, the Daresbury synchrotron closed down (Is The Ring Destined For The Cracks Of Doom?) and I was contemplating the prospect of travelling to THE Continent (OK, the European mainland) in order to continue our Small-angle X-ray scattering work. 

The Ph.D. Octopus by William James

The Ph.D. Octopus by William James

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

I am not the first to point out PhD snoobery.  This is an account from 1903 which appeared in the Harvard Monthly.


Quote:
It Would Take A Long Time to Swim From Chile to California

It Would Take A Long Time to Swim From Chile to California

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

Hey, my boss is in the news! Kinda sorta, if you count tiny local papers you've never heard of. And why not--especially when they run articles about people you know?
Together with the Noyo Harbor Commission, Dr. Gilly and Supervisor Kendall Smith will be discussing, in depth, the Humboldt squid, nicknamed "red devil" for its red color and fierce nature to attack everything in sight from fish to scuba divers, and their migration towards Northern California from their natural South American habitat.
Women Actually Are Better Than Men At Identifying Emotions, Says Study

Women Actually Are Better Than Men At Identifying Emotions, Says Study

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

Are women naturally different from men when it comes to detecting emotions?    Biology may play a role, since there are few opportunities for socialization to shape such gender differences, and some  evolutionary psychologists have suggested that females, because of their role as primary caretakers, are wired to quickly and accurately decode or detect distress in preverbal infants or threatening signals from other adults to enhance their chances at survival. 

But women are better than men at distinguishing between emotions, especially fear and disgust, according to a new study published in Neuropsychologia and have a keener sense for processing auditory, visual and audiovisual emotions. 
Alcohol Tolerance 'Switch' Found

Alcohol Tolerance 'Switch' Found

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

Lightweight drinkers rejoice, it may be nature that keeps you from pounding shots like Indiana Jones squeeze Marion in "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

Researchers at North Carolina State University have found a genetic 'switch' in fruit flies that plays an important role in making flies more tolerant to alcohol.  If you're reading this site, you will not that doesn't automatically translate to humans but a counterpart human gene contributes to a shift from metabolizing alcohol to the formation of fat in heavy drinkers. This shift can lead to fatty liver syndrome – a precursor to cirrhosis.
Selfing Or Mating? Sex With A Partner Is An Evolutionary Advantage

Selfing Or Mating? Sex With A Partner Is An Evolutionary Advantage

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

It takes two to reproductively tango for humans but even when plants  (or animals) can self-fertilize their offspring have longer lives when a mate is involved in the process, according to over 100 mini-evolution experiments involving nematode worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) at the University of Oregon. Going it alone increases susceptibility to genetic mutations and reduces that adaptability to changing environments, says their report in Nature.
Canary Islands Anthropology - Early Residents Were Berbers

Canary Islands Anthropology - Early Residents Were Berbers

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

By studying the Y chromosome from human dental remains from the Canary Islands, researchers have determined the origin and evolution of paternal lineages from the pre-Hispanic era to the present day. To date, only mitochondrial DNA had been studied, which merely reflects the evolution of maternal lineages, but a team of Spanish and Portuguese researchers carried out molecular genetic analysis of the Y chromosome (transmitted only by males) of the aboriginal population of the Canary Islands to determine their origin and the extent to which they have survived in the current population.

The results suggest a North African origin for these paternal lineages which, unlike maternal lineages, have declined to the point of being practically replaced today by European lineages.
Biomass burning in India and pollution

Biomass burning in India and pollution

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

A spatially resolved biomass burning data set, and related emissions of SO2 and aerosol chemical constituents was constructed for India, for 1996–1997 and extrapolated to the INDOEX period (1998–1999). Sources included biofuels (wood, crop waste and dungcake) and forest fires (accidental, shifting cultivation and controlled burning). PM emission factors were compiled from studies of Indian cooking stoves and from literature for open burning. BC and OM emissions were estimated from these, accounting for combustion temperatures in cooking stoves. SO2 emission factors were based on fuel sulphur content and reported
Biomass utilization for food, fuels and chemicals.

Biomass utilization for food, fuels and chemicals.

Oct 21 2009 | comment(s)

Biomass consumption 5.1. Biofuels Rural and urban biofuel consumption were estimated using respective per capita consumption at a district level, and results aggregated at the state and national level. Total biofuel (all fuels) consumption was 538MTyr_1 for 1996–1997. Rural fuelwood consumption was 293MTyr_1, with the states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal accounting 51% of total consumption. Urban fuelwood consumption was very low (9MTyr_1). Crop waste consumption was 116MTyr_1, with east-coast states (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal) contributing 50% of the total. The estimated dung-cake consumption was 121MTyr_1 (Fig. 2) with Uttar Pradesh alone contributing 40MTyr_1. The
People, Planet & Profit - Location Matters

People, Planet & Profit - Location Matters

Oct 20 2009 | comment(s)

Global climate reminds us it is one world afterall. NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center released the September temperatures. Separately, the combined global land and ocean surface temperature or the average land surface temperature proves September the second warmest on record, behind 2005. The former was 1.12 degrees F above the last century's average of 59.0 degrees F while the latter 1.75 degrees F above the last century's average of 53.6 degrees F. In addition, the global ocean surface temperature was tied for the fifth warmest on record for September. Most of the world’s land areas experienced higher-than-average temperatures.
WHIZ KIDS Film Director Reaches Back To Childhood In Telling The Stories Of The Next Generation Of Scientists.

WHIZ KIDS Film Director Reaches Back To Childhood In Telling The Stories Of The Next Generation Of Scientists.

Oct 20 2009 | comment(s)

When I was 12 years old, I entered the seventh grade quite unremarkably.  Short, scrawny, and high-voiced, I saw nothing too exciting about my future.  Perhaps worse, those around me saw nothing either.  It was during this time I met Mrs.

Oct 20 2009 | comment(s)

Oct 20 2009 | comment(s)

When I was 12-years-old, I entered the seventh grade quite unremarkably.  Short, scrawny, and high-voiced, I saw nothing too exciting about my future.  Perhaps worse, those around me saw nothing either.  It was during this time I met Mrs. Klingensmith, otherwise known as Rata.  She was the first teacher I’d known who didn’t mind students using her first name.  In fact, she encouraged it.  Rata taught a one-quarter pre-biology course in which I was

Hit By A Meteorite?

Hit By A Meteorite?

Oct 20 2009 | comment(s)

A Canadian SUV was just hit by a meteorite. Some people have all the luck

For most of recorded history, no one had ever been hit by a meteorite. This was a useful factoid for us scientists when speaking to the public. It reaffirmed both probability-- how little of the Earth's surface area we cover-- and safety concerns.

Then, in 1823 it all changed. A horse was hit. Life had been damaged from space for the first time on record.
Plants collected and reported from different tribal and rural areas of Rajasthan.

Plants collected and reported from different tribal and rural areas of Rajasthan.

Oct 20 2009 | comment(s)

The plants collected and reported from different tribal and rural areas of Rajasthan. Species namely Azadirachta indica, Tinospora cordifolia, Phyllanthes emblica are used in diabeties. Boerhaavia diffusa, is generally used in liver disorders. Euphorbia hirta is often used for longer period against asthmatic problems for permanent recovery. Phyllanthus emblica are given to cure jaundice generally with buttermilk. The use of the plant parts as a crude drugs by various communities local people and vaidya’s in Rajasthan for various ailments no doubt indicates that the plant must have medicinal properties in it. Therefore, the plant requires a thorough screening of it's bioactive properties for the reported efficacies.
Important medicinal plants from different regions of Rajasthan.

Important medicinal plants from different regions of Rajasthan.

Oct 20 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.
Crude drugs sold in market of Jaipur

Crude drugs sold in market of Jaipur

Oct 20 2009 | comment(s)

The following crude drugs are sold in market of Jaipur and their photographs are enclosed. (a) Vajradanti : Barleria prionitis / Indigofera trita (b) Brahmi : Bacopa monniri / Centella asiatica (c) Sikkakai-Acacia consinna (d) Ashwagandha – Withania somnifera CHAPTER-3 Morphological studies of some important medicinal plants (1) Morphology of Aloe vera:
Bacopa monniera L. (family Scrophulariaceae) (BM) is an Ayurvedic medicine, clinically used for memory enhancing

Bacopa monniera L. (family Scrophulariaceae) (BM) is an Ayurvedic medicine, clinically used for memory enhancing

Oct 20 2009 | comment(s)

As stress is linked to many diseases, research on an effective antistress agent (adaptogen) from plants has gained importance. We report the investigations on the adaptogenic property of a standardized extract of Bacopa monniera against acute (AS) and chronic stress (CS) models in rats.It is concluded that the standardized extract of B. monniera possesses a potent adaptogenic activity.