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Friday, July 31, 2015

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Earth's 'magnetic personality' much older than previously thought

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Earth's magnetic field has been a life preserver, protecting against relentless solar winds, streams of charged particles rushing from the Sun, that otherwise could strip away the planet's atmosphere and water. "It would be a pretty barren planet without it," said University of Rochester geophysicist John Tarduno. Researchers on Thursday said evidence entombed in tiny crystals retrieved from the outback of western Australia indicates the magnetic field arose at least 4.2 billion years ago, much earlier than previously believed.

When is a jackal not a jackal? When it's really a 'golden wolf'

Scientists said on Thursday a comprehensive genetic analysis found that these populations are made up of two entirely distinct species, with those in Africa different from the others. The scientific name for the golden jackal is Canis aureus. The researchers proposed renaming those in Africa Canis anthus, or the African golden wolf.

U.S. lawmakers question NASA, Air Force on blast probe led by SpaceX

By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fourteen U.S. lawmakers on Thursday told the Air Force and NASA they had "serious concerns" about the fact that SpaceX is leading an investigation into the June 28 explosion of its Falcon 9 rocket, and whether it would receive enough oversight. Republican Representatives Mike Coffman from Colorado and Randy Forbes from Virginia led the bipartisan group, which questioned the two government agencies about what the explosion means for future NASA and Air Force launches.

Zoom In on NYC in United Nations' 'My Planet from Space' (Video)

This gorgeous satellite view of the busy Big Apple as seen from orbit offers a glimpse into the new "My Planet from Space" exhibit currently on view at the United Nations. The video shows a satellite photo of New York City, pointing out the metropolis' boroughs before focusing in on the United Nations building, the home of the new exhibition. The image was captured by Japan's ALOS satellite in June 2010, with the European Space Agency unveiling it as part of its Earth from Space video series to spotlight the U.N.'s "My Planet from Space: Fragility and Beauty" exhibit.

Closest Rocky Alien Planet Discovered

Astronomers have discovered a rocky exoplanet that lies just 21 light-years from Earth — closer than any other confirmed rocky alien world. The alien planet, called HD 219134b, is about 4.5 times more massive than Earth, making it a so-called "super Earth," a new study reports. HD 219134b lies extremely close to its host star, completing one orbit every three days, so its surface is too hot to harbor life as we know it, researchers said.

Blue Moon Full Moon Rises Tonight: What to Expect

There's a "Blue Moon" in the sky tonight — but that doesn't mean the lunar surface will turn indigo. Tonight's (July 31) moon will be a gorgeous sight, but it won't look different than any other full moon. The term Blue Moon has come to refer to the second full moon in a given month (since full moons come around about every 29 days, most months only contain one).

For Dr. Seuss, Nonsensical Rhymes Came with a Reason

Most fans of Dr. Seuss can predict how a line from one of his books will end the moment they hear the beginning. For instance, many will fondly remember the line, "I do not like green eggs and ham," and be able to parrot what comes next: "I do not like them Sam I Am." The predictability of Dr. Seuss' lines and imaginative drawings have been catnip to young readers for decades. Now, more than half a century after "Green Eggs and Ham" (Random House, 1960) was published, Dr. Seuss is asking a new generation of readers, "What Pet Should I Get?" (Random House, 2015).

NYC Light Show Aims to Raise Awareness About Endangered Species

On Saturday (Aug. 1), New York's Empire State Building will be converted into a giant billboard to draw attention to the plight of endangered animals around the world. From 9 p.m. to midnight EDT on Saturday, the Empire State Building's southern face will feature images of a snow leopard, a golden lion tamarin, a manta ray and many other creatures that could soon be wiped out in Earth's sixth mass extinction, according to Louie Psihoyos and Travis Threlkel, the organizers of the upcoming event. Psihoyos, a photographer and Academy Award-winning filmmaker (he directed the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove"), is co-founder of the animal rights and conservation organization Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS).

Shake, Rattle and Build: Colliding Bricks Self-Assemble Into Objects

A team of researchers at Israel's Bar-Ilan University built a cylinder from half-inch (about 1.3 centimeters), pyramid-shaped "bricks" of plastic, each with a set of small depressions and studs on its sides and a magnet under the surface. In their experiment, Hacohen and her team put the bricks in a container and spun them at rotation frequencies between 200 and 350 revolutions per minute.

'Magnetic' Discovery May Reveal Why Earth Supports Life and Mars Doesn't

Earth's magnetic field, which protects the planet from harmful blasts of solar radiation, is much older than scientists had previously thought, researchers say. Without Earth's magnetic field, solar winds — streams of electrically charged particles that flow from the sun — would strip away the planet's atmosphere and oceans. As such, Earth's magnetic field helped to make life on the planet possible, researchers have said.

Deadly Fungus Could Threaten US Salamanders

Each year, thousands of live salamanders arrive in shipments on U.S. shores, a trade that must stop immediately, scientists say. According to new research, a ban on salamander imports is crucial to stopping the spread of a deadly fungus that kills almost every salamander it infects. Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, also known as Bsal, is a chytrid fungus, and a close relative of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a frog fungus that is threatening species worldwide.

1 in 5 Adult Americans Report Having a Disability

About one in eight adults say they have mobility limitations, such as difficulty walking or climbing stairs, making this the most common type of disability, according to the report. The South had the highest percentages of people with disabilities, according to the report. Although the report did not analyze the reasons for the disparity between states, the South tends to have higher rates of chronic diseases associated with disability, including heart disease and diabetes, than the rest of the country, the CDC said.

Exercise in Teen Years Tied to Lower Mortality Later

During the study, 5,282 of the women died, including 2,375 who died from cancer and 1,620 who died from cardiovascular disease. "In women, adolescent exercise participation, regardless of adult exercise, was associated with reduced risk of cancer and all-cause mortality," study author Sarah J. Nechuta, an assistant professor of medicine Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said in a statement.

'Leaky' Vaccines May Fuel Evolution of Deadlier Viruses

Some vaccines may cause viruses to evolve into deadlier forms, a new study suggests. The effect has so far been demonstrated with just one bird virus, though it's possible it may also occur with some human vaccines, the researchers said.

Cheers! 'Blue Moon' Beer Celebrates Lunar Sight for 20th Anniversary

In a coincidence of cosmic proportions, the second full moon of July rises tonight, making it a so-called "Blue Moon" — and Blue Moon Brewing Co. will celebrate its 20th anniversary by painting the town red. A celestial Blue Moon comes around roughly every 2.7 years. Tonight (July 31), a Blue Moon will rise on the same night as Blue Moon Brewing Co. celebrates its 20th anniversary with parties and events at more than 750 locations across the country.

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