SF Source Book

Finger Motion Car Stereo Control

2011-02-11T13:11:00.001-05:00

A new device is being presented this week that lets you control your car stereo by finger movements while your hands are still gripping the steering wheel.
You just signal with your index finger and the volume of the car stereo is raised or the AC is turned down. Finally a solution to driver distraction? Combine it with a holographic heads up display and you may have a full solution that keeps the driver engaged.

SF Source Book has moved!

2010-06-24T11:59:00.003-04:00

Click on the link below to go to the new site. All previous posts have been imported.

www.sfsourcebook.com

Sharks Carrying Drug-Resistant "Bacterial Monsters"

2010-06-24T10:53:00.001-04:00

From feeds.nationalgeographic.com:

The finding suggests antibiotics such as penicillin may be leaching into the environment and spurring drug-resistant bacteria to evolve and multiply in the oceans.

...

Read the complete article: Sharks Carrying Drug-Resistant "Bacterial Monsters"

Something to Chew On: Bite Marks Suggest Ancient Mammals Dined On Dinosaur Bones

2010-06-24T08:03:00.001-04:00

From rss.sciam.com:

TOOTHSOME TALE: These tooth marks suggest early mammals chewed on dinosaur bones for ...

Read the complete article: Something to Chew On: Bite Marks Suggest Ancient Mammals Dined On Dinosaur Bones

Harvesting energy from touch screens

2010-06-23T20:21:00.001-04:00

From www.nanotech-now.com:

The field of energy harvesting has been advancing rapidly with a considerable amount of research and development currently underway at several research laboratories across the globe.

...

Read the complete article: Harvesting energy from touch screens

U.S. World Cup match may set internet record

2010-06-23T14:27:00.001-04:00

From www.cnn.com:

(Mashable) -- The dramatic ending to the World Cup match between the U.S. and Algeria on Wednesday could set a new record for internet traffic.

...

Read the complete article: U.S. World Cup match may set internet record

Scientific Integrity Is Already in Force Despite Tardy Report, Says Holdren

2010-06-23T11:58:00.001-04:00

From news.sciencemag.org:

Presidential science adviser John Holdren is nearly a year late on delivering a plan for ensuring scientific integrity across the executive branch of the U.S. government. But Holdren says not to worry. In what appears to be a reinterpretation of what his boss requested in a March 2009 presidential memorandum, Holdren says that his tardy report will simply suggest ways to enhance policies that have already elevated the status of science in government decision-making.

...

Read the complete article: Scientific Integrity Is Already in Force Despite Tardy Report, Says Holdren

In Race to Build New Particle Smasher, Japan Gets $100 Million Head Start Over Italy

2010-06-23T08:09:00.001-04:00

From news.sciencemag.org:

Things are heating up in a race to build a new type of particle smasher known as a "super B factory." The Japanese government will invest $100 million to transform the KEKB collider at the Japanese particle-physics laboratory, KEK, in Tsukuba, into Super KEKB, which will smash electrons into positrons at 40 times the rate of the current accelerator, physicists working on the project say. Meanwhile, researchers in the United States and Italy are hoping the Italian government will soon approve plans to build a similar, competing machine.

...

Read the complete article: In Race to Build New Particle Smasher, Japan Gets $100 Million Head Start Over Italy

Can the President Summon Anyone He Wants?

2010-06-22T21:49:00.001-04:00

From www.livescience.com:

As Commander in Chief of the United States military, the President can summon any member of the military to his office. For example, President Obama summoned Gen. Stanley McChrystal to a meeting Tuesday. Regular civilians cannot be made to appear before the President, however.

...

Read the complete article: Can the President Summon Anyone He Wants?

Italy puts seismology in the dock

2010-06-22T21:47:00.001-04:00

From www.nature.com:

Scientists who assessed earthquake risk at L'Aquila could be indicted on manslaughter charges.

...

Read the complete article: Italy puts seismology in the dock

Synthetic antibodies successfully tested in mice

2010-06-22T21:39:00.001-04:00

From www.scienceagogo.com:

Researchers from the University of California - Irvine (UCI) have created the first "plastic antibodies" to be successfully employed in live organisms - stopping the spread of bee venom through the bloodstream of mice.

...

Read the complete article: Synthetic antibodies successfully tested in mice

Scientists discover heavenly solar music

2010-06-22T08:07:00.001-04:00

From www.sciencedaily.com:

ScienceDaily (June 21, 2010) — Musical sounds created by longitudinal vibrations within the Sun's atmosphere, have been recorded and accurately studied for the first time by experts at the University of Sheffield, shedding light on the Sun's magnetic atmosphere.

...

Read the complete article: Scientists discover heavenly solar music

Life-extending Drug May Also Combat Obesity

2010-06-21T20:17:00.001-04:00

From www.livescience.com:

The compound resveratrol, which is present in red wine and gained fame for its supposed life-extending properties, might also help combat obesity, a new study in animals suggests.

...

Read the complete article: Life-extending Drug May Also Combat Obesity

Semiconductor manufacturing technique holds promise for solar energy

2010-06-21T17:50:00.001-04:00

From www.brightsurf.com:

The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one of the world's leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. The IET publishes more than 100 new titles every year; a rich mix of books, journals and magazines with a back catalogue of more than 350 books in 18 different subject areas including:

...

Read the complete article: Semiconductor manufacturing technique holds promise for solar energy

Amazing Aurora Seen From Space

2010-06-21T15:18:00.001-04:00

From feeds.space.com:

A spectacular display of Earth's southern auroras was captured on camera by astronauts on the International Space Station during a recent solar storm.

...

Read the complete article: Amazing Aurora Seen From Space

New evidence for hot climate forcing early humans to walk upright

2010-06-21T10:20:00.001-04:00

From www.scienceagogo.com:

The Turkana ...

Read the complete article: New evidence for hot climate forcing early humans to walk upright

Stunning Sunrise and Aurora, As Seen from the Space Station

2010-06-21T08:07:00.001-04:00

From www.universetoday.com:

Sunrise as seen by Doug Wheelock (Astro_Wheels on Twitter) from the ISS.

...

Read the complete article: Stunning Sunrise and Aurora, As Seen from the Space Station

Why you won't pay for Facebook

2010-06-20T20:42:00.000-04:00

From www.cnn.com:

(CNN) -- Millions of Facebook addicts worldwide worry that someday soon they'll have to pay to use the site.

...

Read the complete article: Why you won't pay for Facebook

Father's Day at 100: How It Began, Why Dad Gets Fewer Gifts

2010-06-20T17:44:00.001-04:00

From feeds.nationalgeographic.com:

As Father's Day hits its centennial today, sons and daughters around the world are expected to open their wallets wider—slightly—in celebration. Because of the slowly recovering global economy, people are expected to spend about 4 percent more than in 2009 on cards, ties, tools, clothes, and other Father's Day gifts.

...

Read the complete article: Father's Day at 100: How It Began, Why Dad Gets Fewer Gifts

It's not just teens who text and drive

2010-06-20T14:40:00.001-04:00

From www.cnn.com:

(CNN) -- Adults are just as likely as teenagers to text while driving, according to a report released Friday by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.

...

Read the complete article: It's not just teens who text and drive

Vuvuzela buzz infects app stores and Twitter

2010-06-20T11:24:00.001-04:00

From www.cnn.com:

(CNN) -- The droning honk of the vuvuzela has become the real star of the World Cup -- the kind of star some soccer fans love and others hate.

...

Read the complete article: Vuvuzela buzz infects app stores and Twitter

Astronomy Without A Telescope – SETI 2.0

2010-06-20T08:05:00.001-04:00

From www.universetoday.com:

Fifty years of eerie silence in the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence has prompted some rethinking about what we should be looking for.

...

Read the complete article: Astronomy Without A Telescope – SETI 2.0

Father's Day 2010 Is Centennial: How Did Holiday Start?

2010-06-19T21:12:00.001-04:00

From feeds.nationalgeographic.com:

As Father's Day hits its centennial on June 20, 2010, sons and daughters around the world are expected to open their wallets wider—slightly—in celebration. Because of the slowly recovering global economy, people are expected to spend about 4 percent more than in 2009 on cards, ties, tools, clothes, and other Father's Day gifts.

...

Read the complete article: Father's Day 2010 Is Centennial: How Did Holiday Start?

LSU professor uses volcanic emissions to study Earth's atmospheric past

2010-06-19T17:11:00.001-04:00

From www.brightsurf.com:

Decorate your home or office with high quality wall décor. Concept for Mars Volcanic Emission Life Scout is that perfect piece that matches your style, interests, and budget.

...

Read the complete article: LSU professor uses volcanic emissions to study Earth's atmospheric past

Are the recent deadly floods related?

2010-06-19T13:40:00.001-04:00

From rssfeeds.usatoday.com:

With all the floods in the central USA recently, it's worth asking if there is some connection between last week's deadly flash flood in Arkansas and Monday's flood in Oklahoma, along with the devastating floods in Nashville in May?

...

Read the complete article: Are the recent deadly floods related?

When Humans Left Africa, Malaria Came Along

2010-06-19T11:28:00.001-04:00

From news.sciencemag.org:

When humans left Africa some 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, some were already infected with the world's most deadly malaria parasites, a new study says. The findings contradict the view, held by some scientists, that malaria only began afflicting us about 10,000 years ago, around the time agriculture was invented.

...

Read the complete article: When Humans Left Africa, Malaria Came Along

U.S. Leading Charge on Synthetic Biology Funding

2010-06-19T08:12:00.001-04:00

From www.wired.com:

Synthetic biology received about $430 million in U.S. government funding from 2005 to 2010, far outpacing European governments, which gave their synthetic biologists $160 million over the same period. The emerging field received nearly no funding before 2005, according to a new Woodrow Wilson Center report.

...

Read the complete article: U.S. Leading Charge on Synthetic Biology Funding

University of Minnesota researchers clear major hurdle in road to high-efficiency solar cells

2010-06-18T19:38:00.001-04:00

From www.nanotech-now.com:

By showing how energy that is now being lost from semiconductors in solar cells can be captured and transferred to electric circuits, the team has opened a new avenue for solar cell researchers seeking to build cheaper, more efficient solar energy devices. The work is published in this week's ...

Read the complete article: University of Minnesota researchers clear major hurdle in road to high-efficiency solar cells

Cheap camera used to measure oxygen levels

2010-06-18T15:30:00.001-04:00

From www.newscientist.com:

Forget checking for oxygen with a glowing splint: the 21st-century version of the classic test carried out by students across the world uses a digital camera instead. Taking photographs of the invisible gas could eventually become a cheap way to diagnose medical disorders, including cancer.

...

Read the complete article: Cheap camera used to measure oxygen levels

Sense of direction hard-wired into brain

2010-06-18T12:07:00.001-04:00

From www.scienceagogo.com:

First suggested by 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant, University College scientists now have empirical evidence for the theory that a pre-wired spatial framework exists in mammalian brains. The new findings may help researchers in fields as diverse as neurology, robotics and artificial intelligence.

...

Read the complete article: Sense of direction hard-wired into brain

Physics in free fall

2010-06-18T09:46:00.001-04:00

From www.sciencenews.org:

In an experiment that puts the good old-fashioned egg drop to shame, European physicists dropped a small blob of ultracold atoms down a 146-meter-tall shaft. The result: no yolk on their face.

...

Read the complete article: Physics in free fall

Personality traits predict fertility

2010-06-17T22:52:00.001-04:00

From www.scienceagogo.com:

The reproductive success of both men and women is influenced by our personality traits, say University of Sheffield scientists who found that women with higher levels of neuroticism and extraverted men were likely to give birth to a larger number of children.

...

Read the complete article: Personality traits predict fertility

FIFA World Cup 2010: A Satellite Tour of the 32 Competing Nations

2010-06-17T19:18:00.001-04:00

From news.discovery.com:

About 20 years from today, an asteroid about the size of a 25-story building will come closer to Earth than the networks of communications satellites orbiting the ...

Read the complete article: FIFA World Cup 2010: A Satellite Tour of the 32 Competing Nations

Why didn't Apple anticipate the iPhone 4 frenzy?

2010-06-17T15:04:00.001-04:00

From www.usatoday.com:

USA TODAY's Edward C. Baig and Jefferson Graham preview the new iPhone 4, introduced at the Apple Worldwide Developer's Conference in San Francisco.

...

Read the complete article: Why didn't Apple anticipate the iPhone 4 frenzy?

Pollutants make free-range eggs less healthy

2010-06-17T11:08:00.001-04:00

From www.scienceagogo.com:

Free-range eggs may not be as healthy as consumers think, with new research showing alarmingly high levels of dioxins in free-range eggs compared to cage laid eggs. The Taiwanese study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that free-range eggs in Taiwan contain at least five times higher levels of certain pollutants than regular eggs.

...

Read the complete article: Pollutants make free-range eggs less healthy

How to improve the IPCC

2010-06-17T08:07:00.001-04:00

From www.nature.com:

Code of conduct and rapid communication are key, scientists tell review panel.

...

Read the complete article: How to improve the IPCC

Wicked Lasers 'Lightsaber' Can Burn Eyes and Skin

2010-06-16T19:53:00.001-04:00

From www.livescience.com:

An ultra-powerful handheld laser that looks like a lightsaber from Star Wars can cause permanent eye damage and even set skin ablaze, according to its manufacturer, Wicked Lasers.

...

Read the complete article: Wicked Lasers 'Lightsaber' Can Burn Eyes and Skin

New model is proposed to explain absence of organic compounds on surface of Mars

2010-06-16T14:22:00.001-04:00

From www.brightsurf.com:

This fourth edition of the highly successful and concise textbook contains about 20 % new data. Now included are chapters on 19F and 31P NMR as well as references to important Raman bands. With their unique approach of presenting - in the form of texts, tables, charts, and graphs - a succinct compilation of essential reference data for the interpretation of NMR, IR, UV/Vis, and mass spectra, the authors also provide a hands-on guide for interpreting experimental spectral data and elucidating the structure of the respective compounds behind them.

...

Read the complete article: New model is proposed to explain absence of organic compounds on surface of Mars

Tomato lovers sound off on heirlooms vs. hybrids

2010-06-16T11:54:00.001-04:00

From www.usatoday.com:

Male, author of 100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden (Workman Publishing), has grown more than 2,500 varieties of heirlooms, several of which she believes only she and one other person in this tomato-loving world are growing.

...

Read the complete article: Tomato lovers sound off on heirlooms vs. hybrids

UN body will assess ecosystems and biodiversity

2010-06-16T08:07:00.000-04:00

From www.nature.com:

The United Nations is setting up a body to monitor global ecology modelled on its influential climate panel. Last week, representatives from 85 countries gathered in Busan, South Korea, to approve the formation of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which will operate much like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

...

Read the complete article: UN body will assess ecosystems and biodiversity

Unusual Views of the Soyuz Rocket

2010-06-15T19:37:00.001-04:00

From www.universetoday.com:

Two NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut will launch to the International Space Station later today, and astronauts Douglas Wheelock has been able to get up close and personal with the Soyuz rocket that will take them there. He's taken a few pictures of his rocket from unusual vantage points and posted them on Twitter, and is sharing his prelaunch experiences, too (@Astro_Wheels). Wheelock has big shoes to fill in the Twitter and picture-taking department, as JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi set a new standard in making his time on board ...

Read the complete article: Unusual Views of the Soyuz Rocket

Mars' missing water

2010-06-15T15:29:00.000-04:00

From www.scienceagogo.com:

University of Colorado at Boulder scientists have uncovered new evidence for a massive ocean that covered a third of Mars' surface some 3.5 billion years ago. And now they want to know; "where did all the water go?"

...

Read the complete article: Mars' missing water

Diseased cells fail to win approval

2010-06-15T12:10:00.001-04:00

From www.nature.com:

Consent form signed by clinic's donors falls short of 'high ethical standards' set by the NIH.

...

Read the complete article: Diseased cells fail to win approval

Microsoft unveils redesigned Xbox 360

2010-06-15T08:07:00.001-04:00

From www.msnbc.msn.com:

A smaller, thinner and quieter Xbox was unveiled Monday by Microsoft. The game console has a 250-gigabyte hard drive as well as built in Wi-Fi, and will sell for the same price as the current Xbox 360 Elite model — $299. The new model should be in stores by the end of this week. ...

Read the complete article: Microsoft unveils redesigned Xbox 360

Was the New World Settled Twice?

2010-06-14T20:33:00.001-04:00

From news.sciencemag.org:

Facing the past. This 11,000-year-old Paleoamerican skull from Lagoa Santa, Brazil, may provide clues to separate migrations from Asia to the Americas.

...

Read the complete article: Was the New World Settled Twice?

Fern's evolution gives arsenic tolerance that may clean toxic land

2010-06-14T16:59:00.001-04:00

From www.sciencedaily.com:

ScienceDaily (June 14, 2010) — Isolating a gene that allows a type of fern to tolerate high levels of arsenic, Purdue University researchers hope to use the finding to create plants that can clean up soils and waters contaminated by the toxic metal.

...

Read the complete article: Fern's evolution gives arsenic tolerance that may clean toxic land

Japanese Spacecraft Returns From Asteroid Sampling Mission

2010-06-14T13:30:00.000-04:00

From www.wired.com:

The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa returned from its seven-year trek to the asteroid Itokawa on Sunday, and a capsule that hopefully contains pieces of the asteroid was recovered in the Australian outback Monday morning. The mission was the first round trip to a planetary body beyond the moon, and — if the capsule isn’t empty — the fourth space-sample return mission ever.

...

Read the complete article: Japanese Spacecraft Returns From Asteroid Sampling Mission

Good or Bad, Baby Names Have Long-lasting Effects

2010-06-14T09:28:00.001-04:00

From www.livescience.com:

Choosing a baby name proves to be a challenging task for many parents. And they're wise to work hard at it. A name can have a profound impact on a child that reverberates well into adulthood, a growing body of research suggests.

...

Read the complete article: Good or Bad, Baby Names Have Long-lasting Effects

First Mexican-American and African-American genomes completed

2010-06-13T22:25:00.001-04:00

From www.sciencenews.org:

Researchers recently compiled the complete genetic instruction books for two people of mixed ethnic ancestry — a Mexican-American and an African-American. Carlos Bustamante of Stanford University School of Medicine reported the accomplishment June 12 at Genetics 2010: Model Organisms to Human Biology, a meeting of the Genetics Society of America.

...

Read the complete article: First Mexican-American and African-American genomes completed

NIH chief Collins faces stem cell donation dilemma

2010-06-13T20:02:00.001-04:00

From www.usatoday.com:

For a decade, Oleg Verlinsky and colleagues at Chicago's Regenerative Genetics Institute created human embryonic stem cells marked with these diseases and others — made from embryos donated by suffering families — hoping to combat these illnesses.

...

Read the complete article: NIH chief Collins faces stem cell donation dilemma

Asteroid probe makes fiery return to Earth

2010-06-13T15:59:00.001-04:00

From www.msnbc.msn.com:

ADELAIDE, Australia - A fiery burst of light over the Australian Outback late Sunday marked the return of a Japanese space probe, potentially carrying samples from an asteroid that could offer insights into the creation and makeup of the solar system.

...

Read the complete article: Asteroid probe makes fiery return to Earth

'Threat' to porn site visitors

2010-06-13T12:03:00.001-04:00

From news.bbc.co.uk:

Visitors to porn sites are at serious risk of being exploited by cyber criminals, a study has suggested.

...

Read the complete article: 'Threat' to porn site visitors

Corporations boost security spending

2010-06-12T22:03:00.001-04:00

From rssfeeds.usatoday.com:

Spending on tech security by big corporations appears to be bouncing back in 2010, following a year of belt-tightening. But the uptick may not be enough bolster corporate defenses against increasingly aggressive cybercriminals. Hanging in the balance is a potential loss of consumer confidence in digital services.

...

Read the complete article: Corporations boost security spending

Knighthood for UK chief scientist

2010-06-12T18:11:00.001-04:00

From news.bbc.co.uk:

He was refering to the impact of climate change on food, energy and water security.

...

Read the complete article: Knighthood for UK chief scientist

Poll: American opinion on climate change warms up

2010-06-12T15:05:00.000-04:00

From www.brightsurf.com:

What is the truth about global warming? Are the ice caps melting? Will polar bears and penguins soon be found starving on small floating icebergs? Does the future survival of man hinge on an immediate reduction in carbon emissions?

...

Read the complete article: Poll: American opinion on climate change warms up

Comprehensive Reports Focus is on Nanotechnology, Health and the Environment: Greenberg Traurig and Intertox to Present

2010-06-12T11:32:00.001-04:00

From www.nanotech-now.com:

The report, titled "Nanotechnology, Health and the Environment," was authored by shareholders of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP; the managing director of Intertox, Inc., a scientific consulting and research firm specializing in nanotechnology-related issues; and the chief executive officer of BPT Pharmaceuticals. It summarizes the nanotechnology-related efforts of U.S. government and industry regarding nanotechnology environmental, health and safety (EHS) policy. Nanotechnology may substantially improve the quality of both human life and the natural environment, according to the authors of the report: Chinh H. Pham, Chair of Greenberg Traurig's ...

Read the complete article: Comprehensive Report's Focus is on Nanotechnology, Health and the Environment: Greenberg Traurig and Intertox to Present

Kids, researchers experiment with 'video playdates'

2010-06-12T08:59:00.000-04:00

From www.cnn.com:

Back then, Ella would do silly things like try to hand her grandmother stickers through the computer screen during video chats, says her mother, Robin Riggs.

...

Read the complete article: Kids, researchers experiment with 'video playdates'

Hayabusa spacecraft headed back toward Earth, perhaps with asteroid dust in hand

2010-06-11T21:37:00.000-04:00

From rss.sciam.com:

A Japanese spacecraft that visited an asteroid and perhaps even sampled its surface is returning home. The Hayabusa probe, launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2003, will release a heat-shielded return capsule on June 13 that may contain the first ever samples captured directly from an asteroid. JAXA reported June 9 that the spacecraft's final course correction had been completed, leaving Hayabusa on its planned trajectory toward Australia. But whether the capsule can survive the searing heat of atmospheric reentry is another question—as are the contents ...

Read the complete article: Hayabusa spacecraft headed back toward Earth, perhaps with asteroid dust in hand

Polls: Americans still worried about global warming

2010-06-11T18:31:00.001-04:00

From rssfeeds.usatoday.com:

Two separate polls out this week, from Stanford and Yale Universities, show that Americans are still concerned about global warming and the effects of carbon dioxide on the world's climate.

...

Read the complete article: Polls: Americans still worried about global warming

New online map shows network of protection for North America's marine ecosystems

2010-06-11T14:53:00.001-04:00

From www.brightsurf.com:

Presents the coastal realm as a heterogeneous, diverse ecosystem of exceptionall high biological diversity and productivity, and where conservation challenges are most difficult and urgent Examines the critical issues facing coastal-marine conservation and the mechanisms for dealing with them Reviews the basic science required for addressing conservation issues by presenting the coastal realm as a land-sea ecosystem of global...

...

Read the complete article: New online map shows network of protection for North America's marine ecosystems

A Titanic Challenge

2010-06-11T11:33:00.001-04:00

From SEEDMAGAZINE.COM:

What might a glut of hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Mexico—and a dearth of them on Saturn's moon, Titan—imply about humanity's long-term prospects?

...

Read the complete article: A Titanic Challenge

Global warming's impact on Asia's rivers overblown

2010-06-11T08:07:00.001-04:00

From www.nature.com:

Although global warming is expected to shrink glaciers in the Himalayas and other high mountains in Central Asia, the declining ice will have less overall impact on the region's water supplies than previously believed, a study concludes.

...

Read the complete article: Global warming's impact on Asia's rivers overblown

Noninvasive Ultrasound Pulses Could Treat Neuro Disorders, Enhance Cognitive Function

2010-06-10T21:43:00.001-04:00

From www.popsci.com:

The complexity of the brain makes it one of the most fascinating and sophisticated pieces of biology that we know of. But when things start to go sideways up there, modern medicine is often calls for treatments like surgery or shock stimulation, practices that can result in even more damage to fragile brain tissues. But a new method of noninvasive brain stimulation could diagnose and treat an array of neurological ailments using nothing but pulses of harmless ultrasound.

...

Read the complete article: Noninvasive Ultrasound Pulses Could Treat Neuro Disorders, Enhance Cognitive Function

Familiar comets may have distant roots

2010-06-10T19:31:00.001-04:00

From www.sciencenews.org:

When it comes to adoption, the sun may have it all over celeb parent Angelina Jolie. Most of the hundreds of billions of small fry in the outermost reaches of the solar system — comets in a vast reservoir called the Oort cloud — might have been born around other stars and only later moved to the sun, new computer simulations suggest.

...

Read the complete article: Familiar comets may have distant roots

Youngest Planet Confirmed; Photos Show It Grew Up Fast

2010-06-10T16:23:00.001-04:00

From feeds.nationalgeographic.com:

They're not the most aww-inspiring baby pictures, but new telescope images prove the youngest known planet outside our solar system does in fact exist—and that planets can grow up fast—a new study says.

...

Read the complete article: Youngest Planet Confirmed; Photos Show It Grew Up Fast

Latest Wall Art from Cassini

2010-06-10T13:58:00.000-04:00

From www.universetoday.com:

Oh, wow — what a gorgeous image! Just the latest from our resident artist in space, the Cassini spacecraft. Rhea, saturn's second largest moon sits in front of the rings, joined by two smaller moons in the background. Rhea (1528 kilometers, 949 miles across) is in the center foreground. Janus (179 kilometers, 111 miles across) can be seen beyond the rings on the right of the image. Prometheus (86 kilometers, 53 miles across) is visible orbiting between the main rings and the thin F ring on the left of the ...

Read the complete article: Latest Wall Art from Cassini

Vodka's Tasty Secret Revealed in Special Chemistry

2010-06-10T11:01:00.001-04:00

From www.livescience.com:

Premium vodka's popularity among social drinkers may rely upon the high-end liquor's internal chemical structure, researchers say. People can apparently detect such subtleties despite vodka appearing both colorless and tasteless.

...

Read the complete article: Vodka's Tasty Secret Revealed in Special Chemistry

Tardy Transit? Tweet to the Top

2010-06-10T08:09:00.001-04:00

From www.wired.com:

Riders of San Francisco’s often infuriating Municipal Railway — known to locals as Muni — have a new way of expressing their displeasure with service outages, delayed trains and late buses: Tweeting the man in charge.

...

Read the complete article: Tardy Transit? Tweet to the Top

Japanese Firm Designing Futuristic Space Mega-Projects

2010-06-09T20:44:00.001-04:00

From www.universetoday.com:

Space based solar power? How about a Moon-based solar collector that would beam energy back to Earth. This is just one idea proposed by a 200-year-old Japanese construction company, Shimizu that prides itself in forward-thinking technology and structure development. For this "Luna Ring," an array of solar cells would extend like a belt along the entire 11,000 km lunar equator, and laser power transmission facilities would beam a high-energy-density laser towards receiving stations on Earth.

...

Read the complete article: Japanese Firm Designing Futuristic Space Mega-Projects

Spectacular Moon Photo Caught Over Chile

2010-06-09T18:08:00.001-04:00

From feeds.space.com:

The photo, released Monday, shows a dazzling full moon as it sets behind the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile's Atacama Desert while dawn approaches, coloring the sky with deep hues of blue and purple. The moon was last full on May 27 and appears larger than normal in the photograph, but it is actually an optical illusion.

...

Read the complete article: Spectacular Moon Photo Caught Over Chile

Suicidal Tendencies

2010-06-09T15:15:00.000-04:00

From SEEDMAGAZINE.COM:

High-profile suicides of public intellectuals have contributed to the stereotype of “tormented ...

Read the complete article: Suicidal Tendencies

Garmin, TomTom see no detours for GPS navigation

2010-06-09T12:39:00.001-04:00

From www.usatoday.com:

It's arguably the coolest-looking GPS navigation device to date. But ...

Read the complete article: Garmin, TomTom see no detours for GPS navigation

First Beehives from Biblical Israel Discovered

2010-06-09T09:39:00.000-04:00

From www.livescience.com:

Recently discovered beehives from ancient Israel 3,000 years ago appear to be the oldest evidence for beekeeping ever found, scientists reported.

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Read the complete article: First Beehives from Biblical Israel Discovered

Pie Are Square; Oil Spills Are Round

2010-06-08T22:21:00.000-04:00

From SFSB Discover Magazine:

Ah, not this one again. The folks at Iglu Cruises have put together a helpful infographic to explain various features of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill (via Deep Sea News). Here’s the bit where they compare the recent spill (which, by the way, is still ongoing at a fantastic rate) to previous oil spills. Click for full resolution.

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Read the complete article: Pie Are Square; Oil Spills Are Round

From Internet Week NY, here's Mr. CollegeHumor

2010-06-08T18:29:00.001-04:00

From www.cnn.com:

New York (CNN) -- Trying to create the next "David After Dentist" or become the next "Numa Numa" guy?

...

Read the complete article: From Internet Week NY, here's Mr. CollegeHumor

Amount of Dust, Pollen Matters for Precipitation in Clouds, Climate Change, Colorado State University Atmospheric Scientists Reveal

2010-06-08T15:53:00.001-04:00

From www.brightsurf.com:

After rain comes down, the sun comes out and dries the puddles. But the water isn't gone. The heat from the sun has turned it into water vapor-it has evaporated. Eventually, this moisture in the air condenses to form new clouds. Soon the rain will fall again. Read on to find out all the ups and downpours of the water cycle!

...

Read the complete article: Amount of Dust, Pollen Matters for Precipitation in Clouds, Climate Change, Colorado State University Atmospheric Scientists Reveal

University of Leicester uses NanoSight to characterize marine viruses & bacteriophages

2010-06-08T13:01:00.001-04:00

From www.nanotech-now.com:

About NanoSightNanoSight Limited, of Salisbury, UK, provides unique nanoparticle characterization technology. �Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis� (NTA) detects and visualizes populations of nanoparticles in liquids down to 10nm (material dependent) and measures the size of each particle from direct observations of diffusion. This particle-by-particle methodology goes beyond traditional light scattering techniques such as Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), or Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (PCS), in providing high-resolution particle size distributions. Additionally NanoSight measures concentration and validates all data with video of particles moving under Brownian ...

Read the complete article: University of Leicester uses NanoSight to characterize marine viruses & bacteriophages

New Power Tools Singlehandedly Tackle a Slew of Jobs

2010-06-08T10:41:00.001-04:00

From www.popsci.com:

Why Now? Contractors and ambitious DIYers want to do projects more efficiently. And in many cases, toolmakers are taking advantage of the zip and design flexibility offered by compact 12-volt lithium-ion batteries. With less weight and space devoted to the power source, there's room for what users want at the business end.

...

Read the complete article: New Power Tools Singlehandedly Tackle a Slew of Jobs

Extreme Life on Earth Could Survive on Mars, Too

2010-06-08T08:03:00.001-04:00

From feeds.space.com:

A new discovery of bacterial life in a Martian-like environment on Earth suggests our neighboring red planet could also be hospitable to some form of microbial life.

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Read the complete article: Extreme Life on Earth Could Survive on Mars, Too

Earth and Moon formed later than previously thought, new research suggests

2010-06-07T20:36:00.001-04:00

From www.sciencedaily.com:

ScienceDaily (June 7, 2010) — Astronomers have theorized that the planet Earth and the Moon were created as the result of a giant collision between two planets the size of Mars and Venus. Until now, the collision was thought to have happened when the solar system was 30 million years old, or approximately 4,537 million years ago. But new research shows that Earth and the Moon must have formed much later -- perhaps up to 150 million years after the formation of the solar system.

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Read the complete article: Earth and Moon formed later than previously thought, new research suggests

Strange Discovery on Titan Leads to Speculation of Alien Life

2010-06-07T17:32:00.001-04:00

From feeds.space.com:

New findings have roused a great deal of hoopla over the possibility of life on Saturn's moon Titan, which some news reports have further hyped up as hints of extraterrestrials.

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Read the complete article: Strange Discovery on Titan Leads to Speculation of Alien Life

Jobs unveils iPhone 4 with HD video recording

2010-06-07T14:50:00.001-04:00

From www.msnbc.msn.com:

Apple unveiled the iPhone 4, its fourth-generation cell phone, which CEO Steve Jobs introduced by joking: "I don't know if you've ever seen this" — a reference to a prototype of the phone that was seen worldwide two months when a gadgets website obtained it.

...

Read the complete article: Jobs unveils iPhone 4 with HD video recording

Trucks Could Be Next Electric Power Frontier

2010-06-07T10:48:00.001-04:00

From feeds.nationalgeographic.com:

Hybrid electric power makes the most sense for trucks that make numerous stops and starts, like utility vehicles, analysts say.

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Read the complete article: Trucks Could Be Next Electric Power Frontier

This Week in the Future, May 31-June 4, 2010

2010-06-07T08:05:00.001-04:00

From www.popsci.com:

Dolphins own iPads and the ocean is full of robot fish, but it's okay, someone's going to blow it all up anyway. It's about time to move to Mars.

...

Read the complete article: This Week in the Future, May 31-June 4, 2010

NOAA Asks for Time Out on Oil Plume Research Cruises

2010-06-06T21:24:00.001-04:00

From news.sciencemag.org:

Telltale. Water samples have confirmed that the spike in fluorescence (green line) about 1.3 kilometers deep is a plume of oil.

...

Read the complete article: NOAA Asks for Time Out on Oil Plume Research Cruises

Washable Keyboards Could Squash Germs in Hospital ERs

2010-06-06T17:35:00.001-04:00

From www.livescience.com:

A new study has shown that the computer keyboards with the most germs on them in a hospital's emergency room (ER) were actually those found in the triage and registration areas.

...

Read the complete article: Washable Keyboards Could Squash Germs in Hospital ERs

Saturn moon offers hints of early life on Earth

2010-06-06T14:59:00.001-04:00

From www.usatoday.com:

Saturn's largest moon, Titan possesses an ammonia and methane atmosphere that obscures its frozen surface from view. Since a 1980 Voyager I flyby, astrobiologists have been tantalized by the world, seeing it as a chilled time capsule of early planetary conditions at the start of the 4.6-billion year old solar system.

...

Read the complete article: Saturn moon offers hints of early life on Earth

With Foursquare's founder, life is a virtual game

2010-06-06T10:59:00.001-04:00

From www.cnn.com:

New York (CNN) -- Dennis Crowley was jogging across a New York bridge when he spotted something exciting: a cartoon mushroom, spray-painted on the sidewalk.

...

Read the complete article: With Foursquare's founder, life is a virtual game

Shuttle successor succeeds in first test flight

2010-06-06T08:26:00.001-04:00

From www.msnbc.msn.com:

Liftoff came after hours of delay, sparked initially by launch-pad telemetry problems, then by a sailboat that strayed into a restricted area of the launch range. The day's first countdown was aborted at virtually the last second, due to an alert about one of the engine igniters. The launch software was quickly adjusted for a second countdown that went all the way to zero.

...

Read the complete article: Shuttle successor succeeds in first test flight

Successful blast-off for Falcon 9

2010-06-05T22:41:00.001-04:00

From news.bbc.co.uk:

The California-based firm developed the vehicle with a large subsidy from Nasa.

...

Read the complete article: Successful blast-off for Falcon 9

New Flu Vaccines Could Protect Against All Strains

2010-06-05T18:36:00.001-04:00

From www.wired.com:

A new vaccine may be able to provide some protection against all strains of influenza.

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Read the complete article: New Flu Vaccines Could Protect Against All Strains

The star of Africa's savanna ecosystems may be the lowly termite

2010-06-05T15:12:00.000-04:00

From www.brightsurf.com:

Termite Mound, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa is digitally printed on archival photographic paper resulting in vivid, pure color and exceptional detail that is suitable for any museum or gallery display. Finding that perfect piece to match your interest and style is easy and within your budget!

...

Read the complete article: The star of Africa's savanna ecosystems may be the lowly termite

The Most Sensitive Radio Telescope in the World: Arecibo Observatory

2010-06-05T12:48:00.001-04:00

From discovermagazine.com:

Puerto Rico is home to the largest, most sensitive radio telescope in the world. For more than 40 years, the Arecibo Observatory has measured the motions of galaxies, mapped the surface of Venus, studied the physics of pulsars, and listened for signals from extraterrestrial life.

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Read the complete article: The Most Sensitive Radio Telescope in the World: Arecibo Observatory

Greener Pastures

2010-06-05T10:05:00.001-04:00

From SEEDMAGAZINE.COM:

Dominant theory says that desertification is caused by overgrazing. Operation Hope, winner of the 2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge, has upended this idea—restoring degraded African grasslands into lush, green pasture.

...

Read the complete article: Greener Pastures

Space taxi reaches orbit in first flight test

2010-06-04T22:36:00.000-04:00

From www.newscientist.com:

A private company has launched a new rocket that may carry NASA astronauts to orbit after the space shuttle's retirement.

...

Read the complete article: Space taxi reaches orbit in first flight test

Food Fight, Conclusion

2010-06-04T18:28:00.001-04:00

From SEEDMAGAZINE.COM:

What's the surest path to sustainable food security?Highly efficient farming that draws on the arsenal of modern technology? Diversified agriculture driven by the conservation of nature and culture?In their closing statements, our debaters remain steadfast in their opposing stances.

...

Read the complete article: Food Fight, Conclusion

Markedly higher risk of suicide in men with low IQ scores

2010-06-04T15:12:00.000-04:00

From www.scienceagogo.com:

In the largest study of its kind ever undertaken, a team of researchers analyzed the medical records of more than one million men dating back over 24 years and compared rates of hospital admission for attempted suicide against IQ scores. They found that even after adjusting for factors such as age and socioeconomic status, men with lower IQ scores were significantly more likely to have attempted suicide. The findings appear in the British Medical Journal.

...

Read the complete article: Markedly higher risk of suicide in men with low IQ scores

The Mystery of the Rocketing Particles That Shouldn't Exist

2010-06-04T11:58:00.001-04:00

From discovermagazine.com:

From deep space, cosmic rays come fast and pack a heck of a punch. They may also carry clues to the most vexing mysteries in the universe.

...

Read the complete article: The Mystery of the Rocketing Particles That Shouldn't Exist

Forget noisy blimps… say hello to the Airfish

2010-06-04T08:10:00.001-04:00

From www.newscientist.com:

The next time you're at a music festival and see a giant rainbow trout swishing around in the sky, there's just a chance you might not be intoxicated. Instead, it might be materials scientists from Switzerland testing their latest invention: an airship that moves like a fish. Of course, they call it the Airfish.

...

Read the complete article: Forget noisy blimps… say hello to the Airfish

Yangtze River's True Age Revealed

2010-06-03T21:10:00.001-04:00

From www.livescience.com:

The Yangtze River, the third-longest river in the world at 3,915 miles (6,300 kilometers), was dated to 45 million years old, according to the study, which is detailed in the June 3 edition of the journal Geology.

...

Read the complete article: Yangtze River's True Age Revealed

SF Source Book

Finger Motion Car Stereo Control

SF Source Book has moved!

Sharks Carrying Drug-Resistant "Bacterial Monsters"

Something to Chew On: Bite Marks Suggest Ancient Mammals Dined On Dinosaur Bones

Harvesting energy from touch screens

U.S. World Cup match may set internet record

Scientific Integrity Is Already in Force Despite Tardy Report, Says Holdren

In Race to Build New Particle Smasher, Japan Gets $100 Million Head Start Over Italy

Can the President Summon Anyone He Wants?

Italy puts seismology in the dock

Synthetic antibodies successfully tested in mice

Scientists discover heavenly solar music

Life-extending Drug May Also Combat Obesity

Semiconductor manufacturing technique holds promise for solar energy

Amazing Aurora Seen From Space

New evidence for hot climate forcing early humans to walk upright

Stunning Sunrise and Aurora, As Seen from the Space Station

Why you won't pay for Facebook

Father's Day at 100: How It Began, Why Dad Gets Fewer Gifts

It's not just teens who text and drive

Vuvuzela buzz infects app stores and Twitter

Astronomy Without A Telescope – SETI 2.0

Father's Day 2010 Is Centennial: How Did Holiday Start?

LSU professor uses volcanic emissions to study Earth's atmospheric past

Are the recent deadly floods related?

When Humans Left Africa, Malaria Came Along

U.S. Leading Charge on Synthetic Biology Funding

University of Minnesota researchers clear major hurdle in road to high-efficiency solar cells

Cheap camera used to measure oxygen levels

Sense of direction hard-wired into brain

Physics in free fall

Personality traits predict fertility

FIFA World Cup 2010: A Satellite Tour of the 32 Competing Nations

Why didn't Apple anticipate the iPhone 4 frenzy?

Pollutants make free-range eggs less healthy

How to improve the IPCC

Wicked Lasers 'Lightsaber' Can Burn Eyes and Skin

New model is proposed to explain absence of organic compounds on surface of Mars

Tomato lovers sound off on heirlooms vs. hybrids

UN body will assess ecosystems and biodiversity

Unusual Views of the Soyuz Rocket

Mars' missing water

Diseased cells fail to win approval

Microsoft unveils redesigned Xbox 360

Was the New World Settled Twice?

Fern's evolution gives arsenic tolerance that may clean toxic land

Japanese Spacecraft Returns From Asteroid Sampling Mission

Good or Bad, Baby Names Have Long-lasting Effects

First Mexican-American and African-American genomes completed

NIH chief Collins faces stem cell donation dilemma

Asteroid probe makes fiery return to Earth

'Threat' to porn site visitors

Corporations boost security spending

Knighthood for UK chief scientist

Poll: American opinion on climate change warms up

Comprehensive Reports Focus is on Nanotechnology, Health and the Environment: Greenberg Traurig and Intertox to Present

Kids, researchers experiment with 'video playdates'

Hayabusa spacecraft headed back toward Earth, perhaps with asteroid dust in hand

Polls: Americans still worried about global warming

New online map shows network of protection for North America's marine ecosystems

A Titanic Challenge

Global warming's impact on Asia's rivers overblown

Noninvasive Ultrasound Pulses Could Treat Neuro Disorders, Enhance Cognitive Function

Familiar comets may have distant roots

Youngest Planet Confirmed; Photos Show It Grew Up Fast

Latest Wall Art from Cassini

Vodka's Tasty Secret Revealed in Special Chemistry

Tardy Transit? Tweet to the Top

Japanese Firm Designing Futuristic Space Mega-Projects

Spectacular Moon Photo Caught Over Chile

Suicidal Tendencies

Garmin, TomTom see no detours for GPS navigation

First Beehives from Biblical Israel Discovered

Pie Are Square; Oil Spills Are Round

From Internet Week NY, here's Mr. CollegeHumor

Amount of Dust, Pollen Matters for Precipitation in Clouds, Climate Change, Colorado State University Atmospheric Scientists Reveal

University of Leicester uses NanoSight to characterize marine viruses & bacteriophages

New Power Tools Singlehandedly Tackle a Slew of Jobs

Extreme Life on Earth Could Survive on Mars, Too

Comprehensive Reports Focus is on Nanotechnology, Health and the Environment: Greenberg Traurig and Intertox to Present