GoogleTrends

Monday, September 28, 2015

FeedaMail: Science News Headlines - Yahoo! News

Science News Headlines - Yahoo! News

Why Does the Moon Turn Red During a Total Lunar Eclipse?

Tonight, an oversized ruby-colored sphere will rise in the sky as a total lunar eclipse turns the normally pallid moon scarlet. The so-called supermoon is also at the perfect spot in its orbit so the alignment between the sun, Earth and moon will be perfect … for a total lunar eclipse: At about 8:11 p.m. EDT (0011 GMT), the moon will tiptoe into the outer portion of Earth's shadow, becoming totally bathed in the darkest part of that shadow at 10:47 p.m. EDT (0247 GMT), with the total lunar eclipse ending at about 1:22 a.m. EDT (0522 GMT). When the Earth is directly in front of the sun — blocking the sun's rays from lighting up the moon — you'd see a fiery rim encircling the planet.

Supermoon Lunar Eclipse 2015: Full 'Blood Moon' Coverage

A total lunar eclipse will spawn a rare and dramatic 'supermoon' blood moon on Sept. 27, 2015. For our full viewing guide, read: 'Supermoon' Lunar Eclipse: When and Where to See It

NASA to Unveil Big Mars Discovery Monday: How to Watch Live

NASA will reveal a "major science finding" about Mars on Monday morning (Sept. 28), and you can follow the announcement live.

Apple Watch Credited with Saving Life: What Conditions Can It Detect?

A Massachusetts teen says the Apple Watch saved his life, by alerting him that his heart rate was much higher than normal, leading to a diagnosis of a life-threatening condition. Experts say the gadget — and similar devices — could potentially detect alterations in people's heart rates that might be a sign of health problems. Paul Houle Jr., a high school senior, said he felt back pain after two football practices on the same day, but he didn't think much of it, according to Huffington Post.

'Supermoon' Total Lunar Eclipse Thrills Skywatchers Around the World

The first "supermoon" total lunar eclipse in more than three decades did not disappoint, with the moon thrilling skywatchers around the world as it passed through Earth's shadow. On Sunday evening (Sept. 27), the slightly-larger-than-normal full moon shined brightly in Earth's skies and then dove into the planet's shadow, turning a gorgeous reddish-gold color as observers with clear skies enjoyed the view. The event marked the first supermoon total lunar eclipse since 1982, and the last until 2033 — and it was visible to potentially billions of people across the Western Hemisphere and parts of Europe, Africa and Asia.

'Angelina Effect' Is Real: Actress Raised Breast Surgery Awareness

Angelina Jolie Pitt's breast surgery increased women's awareness of reconstructive breast surgery options, according to a new study from Austria. Many researchers and media stories have speculated this, but the new research is the first prospective, scientific study to look at the impact of Jolie Pitt's announcement, the researchers said. Jolie Pitt made headlines in May 2013 was she announced that she had undergone a double mastectomy because she had tested positive for a mutation in the BRCA1 gene.

I'm all ears: fossils reveal human ancestors' hearing abilities

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two-million-year-old fossils including the three tiny bones of the middle ear are helping scientists figure out the auditory abilities of early human ancestors at a time when they were beginning to hear more like a person and less like a chimpanzee. A study published on Friday involving two species from South Africa, Australopithecus africanus and Paranthropus robustus, showed they boasted better hearing than either chimps or people in a frequency range that may have facilitated vocal communication in a savanna habitat. Both species featured a mixture of ape-like and human-like anatomical traits and inhabited grassland ecosystems with widely spaced trees and shrubs, as opposed to the forests of earlier members of human lineage.

U.S. culls over 1,200 Oregon cormorants, sparks outcry

By Shelby Sebens PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - The U.S. federal government has killed more than 1,000 seabirds on an Oregon island since May to protect endangered salmon as part of a plan that environmentalists say is flawed and are seeking to stop with a lawsuit. "Government agents are racing about in their boat blowing birds out of the sky," said Bob Sallinger, conservation director of the Audubon Society of Portland. "The public has a right to see how the federal government is squandering millions of taxpayer dollars killing protected wild birds." The government workers started culling the birds on May 24 as part of a multi-year plan to kill 11,000 double-crested cormorants, which U.S. wildlife officials say are putting endangered salmon at risk by eating juvenile fish.

Tanzanian engineer invents low-cost water filter

(Reuters) - It looks good enough to drink but just seconds before, this water was full of dirt and bacteria. Dr. Askwar Hilonga is a Tanzanian scientist who has created a water filter that he says can remove 99.9 percent of bacteria, micro-organisms and viruses. The invention uses nanotechnology to filter out contaminants and produce clean water. The idea was inspired by a visit to his parents' village outside Arusha in Tanzania, where many people still risk their lives drinking dirty water and often suffer from water-borne diseases. Catherine Nanyaro is a housewife and lives in Arusha.

Eyes on space, India launches 'mini-Hubble'

India launched its first space research observatory and several U.S. satellites on Monday, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's drive to expand his country's influence in the competitive, $300 billion global space industry. The observatory, named ASTROSAT, will help Indian scientists intensify space exploration efforts by studying distant celestial objects and conduct deeper analyses of star systems. "This launch ... is important for astronomical sciences," Harsh Vardhan, India's minister for earth sciences, said in a statement.

Aww! Panda Cub Bei Bei Is a 'Precious Treasure'

A giant-panda cub at Smithsonian's National Zoo is no longer nameless: The furry youngster will now be called Bei Bei (BAY-BAY), which means "precious treasure" in Mandarin, according to his naming ceremony, held at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., this morning (Sept. 25). First ladies Michelle Obama and Peng Liyuan (of the People's Republic of China) revealed Bei Bei's name with the help of third-graders from the Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School, who helped unfurl the scrolls bearing the panda's name in Mandarin and English.

They're Out There! Most People Believe in E.T.

A majority of people, particularly guys, in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany say they believe that intelligent life is out there. Fifty-six percent of Germans, 54 percent of Americans and 52 percent of people from the United Kingdom believe that alien life capable of communication lives somewhere among the stars, according to a new survey by the marketing research firm YouGov. However, in the United Kingdom at least, people are slightly cautious about whether humans should reach out to E.T. Among U.K. respondents, 46 percent said a digital message should be sent into space in the hopes that it reaches intelligent aliens.

Mishka, 1st Sea Otter with Asthma, Learns to Use an Inhaler

The air was hazy from forest fires, and Mishka, a 1-year-old sea otter at the Seattle Aquarium, could barely breathe. Aquarium staff jumped into action, putting an oxygen mask on the 45-lb. (20 kilograms) sea otter and administering anti-inflammatory medication to help her breathe. After several medical tests, Mishka became the first-known sea otter (Enhydra lutris) to be diagnosed with asthma.

Rare 'Supermoon' Total Lunar Eclipse Thrills Skywatchers Around the World

Nectar-Slurping Bat Tongues Move Like Human Bowels

Tongue waggles resembling bowel movements could help some bats drink flower nectar, researchers say. Many insects rely on flower nectar as their main source of food, and have specialized mouthparts to siphon the sweet liquid.

Water Woes: Firefighters Get Creative to Douse Flames in California

California's drought could make fighting wildfires even harder, experts say. California is facing one of its worst fire seasons on record, with nearly three-dozen wildfires blazing across the Golden State, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. But the drought has also dried up water sources needed to help douse the flames, said Carroll Wills, the communications director for the California Professional Firefighters Association.

Unusual Allergy: Girl Reacts to Food Only After Exercise

A teenage girl in Canada had an unusual food allergy that showed up only after she exercised, according to a new report of her case. The 17-year-old's allergy first appeared when she had a small snack — a few rice crackers and hummus — right before she worked out on a treadmill at her home. "We hope that this case will serve as an important reminder that although rare, food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis exists and making a diagnosis can lead to life-saving preventative strategies," the researchers at Montreal Children's Hospital, who worked on the girl's case, wrote in their report, published online Sept. 3 in the Journal of Medical Case Reports.

Man's Heavy Metal Poisoning Leads to Vision Loss, Baldness

Thallium poisoning can cause nerve pain, confusion and loss of muscle control, and the heavy metal can be fatal in high doses, according to the report of the young man's case. The patient "had all the hallmark signs" of thallium poisoning, said Dr. Enchun Liu, a ophthalmologist at the Retina Institute in St. Louis, Missouri, who treated the man for his vision problems and was the lead author of the case report, published Sept. 24 in JAMA Ophthalmology. "This was the first case of thallium poisoning I've ever seen," Liu told Live Science.

God Help Us? How Religion is Good (And Bad) For Mental Health

This week millions of Americans are navigating crushing crowds and spending hours traveling in order to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis on his first visit to this country. To those who are devoutly religious, the pope's U.S. trip presents a unique opportunity to get papal blessings, receive mercy and feel closer to God. But even those devoted Catholics who aren't in the front row seat for Francis' visit may see benefits to their belief. A slew of research has tied being religious with better well-being and overall mental health. A number of studies have found that devout people have fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as a better ability to cope with stress.

Salty Water Flows on Mars Today, Boosting Odds for Life

Liquid water flows on Mars today, boosting the odds that life could exist on the Red Planet, a new study suggests. The enigmatic dark streaks on Mars — called recurring slope lineae (RSL) — that appear seasonally on steep, relatively warm Martian slopes are likely caused by salty liquid water, researchers said. "Liquid water is a key requirement for life on Earth," study lead author Lujendra Ojha, of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, told Space.com via email.

Belgian scientists look for biofuel clues in panda poo

By Robert-Jan Bartunek BRUGELETTE, Belgium (Reuters) - Belgian researchers are examining the excrement of giant pandas to try to understand how they can digest tough bamboo, hoping for clues on how to develop new generations of biofuel. The genetic make-up of endangered pandas is that of a carnivore but the animals have adapted to a diet consisting almost exclusively of bamboo. "We can look for new enzymes which could be used to degrade tough biomass," said Korneel Rabaey, professor for biochemical and microbial technology at Ghent University, standing outside the giant panda enclosure at the Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium.

Ringing Ears and Chronic Pain Share Unexpected Link

In the review, the authors proposed that tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, and chronic pain are the result of similar changes in two regions of the brain. These regions — the nucleus accumbens and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex — are both in the front of the brain, and may act as "gatekeepers" for sensory stimuli such as noise and pain, the researchers said. "It's a very clever system," said Josef Rauschecker, a professor of physiology and biophysics at Georgetown University and lead author of the review, published today (Sept. 23) in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

Scientists find evidence of recent water flows on Mars - study

By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla (Reuters) - Scientists analysing data from a NASA spacecraft have found the first evidence that briny water flowed on the surface of Mars as recently as last summer, a paper published on Monday showed, raising the possibility that the planet could support life. "It suggests that it would be possible for life to be on Mars today," John Grunsfeld, NASA's associate administration for science, told reporters. Under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found on Mars," said Jim Green, the agency's director of planetary science.

Evidence found of summertime water flows on Mars

By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla (Reuters) - Scientists have found the first evidence that briny water may flow on the surface of Mars during the planet's summer months, a paper published on Monday showed. Scientists developed a new technique to analyze chemical maps of the Martian surface obtained by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. The slopes, first reported in 2011, appear during the warm summer months on Mars, then vanish when the temperatures drop.

Scientists find evidence of recent water flows on Mars - study

By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla (Reuters) - Scientists analyzing data from a NASA spacecraft have found the first evidence that briny water flowed on the surface of Mars as recently as last summer, a paper published on Monday showed, raising the possibility that the planet could support life. "It suggests that it would be possible for life to be on Mars today," John Grunsfeld, NASA's associate administration for science, told reporters. Under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found on Mars," said Jim Green, the agency's director of planetary science.

The AstroCritic: What 'The Martian' Gets Right About Astronauts

Leroy Chiao, AstroCritic, is a former NASA astronaut and commander of the International Space Station. Chiao is the special adviser for human spaceflight to the Space Foundation and the Houston Association for Space and Science Education. Some time ago, I participated in a remote panel discussion via streaming video that included Andy Weir, author of "The Martian" (Crown, 2014).

(Sponsor this newsletter)

Delievered to you by Feedamail.
Unsubscribe

Sunday, September 27, 2015

FeedaMail: Science News Headlines - Yahoo! News

Science News Headlines - Yahoo! News

(Sponsor this newsletter)

Supermoon Lunar Eclipse Rises Tonight: Watch It Live in Slooh Webcast

In a total lunar eclipse this Sunday (Sept. 27), the surface of the moon will appear to be a deep crimson color, and people around the world will be able to watch the celestial spectacle online. The so-called supermoon lunar eclipse will be visible in most of North America, South America, Europe, Africa, western Asia and the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Slooh broadcast begins at 8 p.m. EDT (midnight GMT), and will provide views of the eclipse from three different countries, including a stream of the eclipse rising over Stonehenge in England, as well as expert commentary.

Why Tonight's Full Moon Is a 'Harvest Moon' Lunar Eclipse

The full moon tonight (Sept. 27) will be an especially special lunar occasion. In addition to being a traditional "harvest moon," the moon will be at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, making it a so-called "supermoon." Plus, skywatchers people across North and South America, Europe and Africa will get to see a lunar eclipse, because the moon will pass into the Earth's shadow. You can watch the harvest moon lunar eclipse live in a webcast by the Slooh Community Observatory.

Tonight's Dazzling 'Supermoon' Lunar Eclipse: What You'll See

Here's how it will happen: To start with, there will be a full moon, which occurs every 29.5 days when the sun, Earth and moon are pretty well lined up, with Earth in the middle. Tonight, the moon is in just the right spot on its orbit — which takes it above and below the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun — so the alignment will be perfect, and Earth will cast its shadow across the face of the moon. In fact, full moons are never totally full, because when they would be, the moon is in total eclipse.

10 Surprising Facts About Lunar Eclipses

As the full moon shines in the night sky tonight (Sept. 27), it will pass through Earth's shadow in a total lunar eclipse. You can watch the lunar eclipse in a webcast by the Slooh Community Observatory. You can also see the total lunar eclipse webcast on Space.com, courtesy of Slooh.

Total Lunar Eclipse: US Weather Forecast to See the Blood Moon Tonight

About 70 percent of the country will be able to get a good view of the total lunar eclipse tonight (Sept. 27). Unfortunately for many who live east of the Mississippi River, the odds of seeing the moon as it passes completely into the Earth's shadow are rather poor, according to current weather projections. Read on below to get our supermoon lunar eclipse weather forecast for skywatchers across the United States.

(Sponsor this newsletter)

Delievered to you by Feedamail.
Unsubscribe

Saturday, September 26, 2015

FeedaMail: Science News Headlines - Yahoo! News

Science News Headlines - Yahoo! News

(Sponsor this newsletter)

Space Race on Earth: Astronauts Compete in 2,000-Mile Road Rally

A new international space race is set to launch between astronauts from the United States, Brazil, France and India. But instead of blasting off for the moon or Mars, the space explorers have traded in their rockets for minivans and are racing from Connecticut's capital to Florida's Space Coast. Dubbed the "Space Race," this year's rally is an 8-day, 2,000-mile (3,200 km) trivia game, where the United States serves as the game board.

Art Project to Beam Neil Armstrong's Heartbeat, Footprint Back to the Moon

Clar's two-part event will bounce some very special radio waves off of the moon from a radio dish in Italy and retrieve them at Dwingeloo Radio Observatory in the Netherlands. For the project, Clar took a copy of Armstrong's electrocardiogram (EKG) — a record of his heart's electrical activity — captured as the astronaut stepped onto the surface of the moon for the first time. Clar turned the EKG into sound with the help of data scientist Ryan Compton.

Rare 'supermoon' eclipse to unfold Sunday night

By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - Sky-watchers around the world are in for a treat Sunday night and Monday when the shadow of Earth casts a reddish glow on the moon, the result of rare combination of an eclipse with the closest full moon of the year. The total "supermoon" lunar eclipse, also known as a "blood moon" is one that appears bigger and brighter than usual as it reaches the point in its orbit that is closest to Earth. It just appears slightly bigger in the sky," planetary geologist Noah Petro, with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said.

Lunar Décor: 'Luna' Lamp Brings the Moon Down to Earth

Ever look up at the full moon on a clear night and wish you could bring it straight into your home? Currently available via an Indiegogo fundraiser campaign, the lamp, made by a company called Acorn Studios, has an adjustable luminosity, and comes in seven different sizes, ranging from 3.2 inches (8.1 centimeters) in diameter, which can be purchased for $75, to 23.6 inches (59.9 cm), for $875. In addition to being advertised as a piece of art, Acorn Studios touts the Luna's durability, so it can be put on the floor and even be played with.

Total Lunar Eclipse: How to Judge the Moon's Brightness and Color

A lunar eclipse provides spectacular viewing opportunities for everyone, from amateur skywatchers to experienced observers — read on to learn how to describe what you see.

Rare 'Supermoon' Lunar Eclipse Coming Sunday: Skywatching Tips

A rare supermoon lunar eclipse will grace the night sky on Sunday (Sept. 27), and if you live in the Western Hemisphere, you could have spectacular views of this celestial treat. This so-called "Blood Moon" effect is caused by light refracting through Earth's atmosphere from sunsets and sunrises, according to NASA. The last time this type of lunar eclipse occurred was in 1982, and it won't happen again until 2033.

Blood Moon Prophecy: The Science of Supermoon Eclipse Superstitions

A full "supermoon" will pass precisely within Earth's shadow this Sunday (Sept. 27), creating a total lunar eclipse and bathing our planet's natural satellite in rusty hues. This eye-catching lunar eclipse will give night owls everywhere a reason to look up in wonder, but not everyone thinks this weekend's "blood moon" is a harmless celestial event. One of those doomsayers is John Hagee, a Christian evangelical minister from San Antonio who has stirred up controversy with his sermons (and books and television broadcasts) about the alleged religious significance of the upcoming lunar eclipse.

What a Precious Bei Bei! Panda Cub Grows Up (Photos)

The baby giant panda at the Smithsonian's National Zoo now has a name: Bei Bei (BAY-BAY), which means "precious treasure," a nod to his sister's name, Bao Bao, which has the same meaning. Bei Bei has come a long way since he was born blind and deaf on Aug. 22. The images below show how the little panda has grown over the past month. [ Read the full story on Bei Bei's naming ceremony]

(Sponsor this newsletter)

Delievered to you by Feedamail.
Unsubscribe