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Monday, February 2, 2015

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See NASA Launch Rockets Into the Northern Lights in These Spectacular Photos

Five rockets launched from Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska this week carried experiments aimed at studying the science behind the aurora borealis. Photographer Jamie Adkins captured long exposures of the rockets as they lifted off, and combined them into a single image. The first rocket, a NASA Terrier-Improve Malemute sounding rocket, took off at 4:13 a.m. EST (0913 GMT), followed one minute later by a NASA Terrier-Improved Orion rocket. Another Malemute rocket was launched at 4:46 a.m. EST (0946 GMT), followed one minute later by another Orion rocket.

Greenland's Hidden Ice Layers Revealed in New Map

Layer by layer, scientists have filled in a new map of the hidden expanses of Greenland's vast ice sheet, revealing where the island hides its oldest ice. The research team built the 3D map of Greenland's ice sheet using data from airborne radar and ice cores. Radar measurements revealed the ice's thickness, and was also used to find internal layers concealed under the surface. The ice cores provided precisely dated ages for these different layers at various points around the island.

Facebook Users Aren't Bragging — Really!

Everyone knows that Facebook is just a place for people to brag about their perfect lives: engagements, job promotions, weddings. New research finds that although positive news is more likely to be shared on the social media site than negative news, people do attempt to be modest. Positive news is more likely to be shared indirectly — with a subtle status change, for example — compared to a more direct approach, such as with a boastful wall post. "We suspect that there are 'face' considerations related to this finding," study leader Jennifer Bevan, a professor of communication studies at Chapman University in California, wrote in an email to Live Science.

When Ant-Eating Bears Arrive, A Native Plant Thrives

Biologist Josh Grinath seized a rare chance to study an ecosystem from top to tiny bottom when a black bear blundered through his Rocky Mountain meadow research plot, gobbling up ants and gnawing on equipment. Grinath, a researcher at Florida State University, was already analyzing the codependent relationship between ants and treehoppers, which are tiny insects that poop sweet honeydew juice. The ants ward off predators that eat treehoppers, and in return, gorge on honeydew. Grinath's earlier research in the meadow showed that rabbitbrush produces fewer seeds and struggles to grow whenever ants and treehoppers are present on the plants.

1st Americans Used Spear-Throwers to Hunt Large Animals

Despite a lack of archaeological evidence, the first North Americans have often been depicted hunting with spear-throwers, which are tools that can launch deadly spear points at high speeds. Current models of Paleo-Indian society are based on the assumption that hunters sometimes used spear-throwers, or atlatls, said study author Karl Hutchings, an archaeologist at Thompson Rivers University in Canada. "We can now be assured that those assumptions were right," Hutchings told Live Science. Archaeological evidence indicates that hunter-gathers in the Old World used atlatls beginning at least 18,000 years ago.

650-Year Drought Triggered Ancient City's Abandonment

Scientists have long debated whether it was drought or cultural forces that led to the abandonment of Cantona, a once-fortified city located just east of modern-day Mexico City. In its heyday, about 90,000 people lived in Cantona, which is located in a dry volcanic basin.

People with Dementia May Have Hidden Talents, Strange Case Shows

A 60-year-old businessman lost his job and much of his personality to dementia. The Korean man, called J.K. in the report, had developed a form of dementia known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), in which the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain shrink. As a result of the condition, J.K.'s personality gradually changed. The case shows that people with dementia may have hidden talents and abilities that can emerge when given the opportunity, said Dr. Daniel Potts, a dementia specialist in Alabama and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Toddler Foods Have as Much Salt as Junk Food

Unfortunately, new research finds that many foods marketed to the 1- to 3-year-old set are high in salt and added sugar. Meanwhile, 32 percent of toddler dinners, and most fruit-based and savory snacks, include at least some added sugar, the researchers reported. "Some of the foods had about similar [sugar or salt] content to what we see in adult foods," study co-author Mary Cogswell, a senior scientist in the division for heart disease and stroke prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told Live Science. These findings are concerning, Cogswell said, because research shows that kids set their taste preferences early in life.

As Bamboo Forests Fade, Can Pandas Survive? (Op-Ed)

Giant pandas, with their fuzzy raccoon eyes and innocent faces, are one of the world's most treasured endangered species. It helps explain why the latest threat to giant pandas , rising global temperatures, has raised such alarm. Poaching and habitat destruction over the past 3,000 years have brought the total panda population down below 2,000 individuals in the wild. Today, giant pandas exist in an area that is less than 1 percent of their historical range.

The Cheapest, Cleanest Way to Meet Electricity Demand (Op-Ed)

Last year, the United States' largest electric grid operator held an auction to determine how to meet future electricity demand in its service area, spanning all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia. The winning resource, which will supply 47.5 percent of all new electrical capacity for PJM in 2017–2018, was "demand response," a set of techniques for reducing peak electricity demand. Demand response technologies, which range from smart thermostats and water heaters in homes to sophisticated industrial systems, aren't discussed as often as renewables or conventional fossil fuel technology, but they will be critical for the future of our electricity system. During different hours of the day and different days of the year, demand for electricity is not constant.

Human Nature May Seal the Planet's Warming Fate (Op-Ed)

Raghu Murtugudde is executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Forecasting System at the University of Maryland Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) and a professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science. The metaphor of a frog in a pot being warmed slowly seems quite apt for the way humanity is struggling with global warming.

Fear, Ridicule, Danger: Is It Safe to Be a Climate Scientist? (Op-Ed)

Minda Berbeco is programs and policy director at the National Center for Science Education and visiting scholar at the UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology.

The Hunt for Alien Extremophiles is Taking Off (Kavli Q+A)

Lindsay Borthwick, writer and editor for The Kavli Foundation, contributed this article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Jocelyne, how have those boundaries shifted in recent years?

'Rise of the Machines' is Not a Likely Future (Op-Ed)

Michael Littman is a professor of computer science at Brown University. He is co-leader of Brown's Humanity-Centered Robotics Initiative, which aims to document the societal needs and applications of human-robot interaction research as well as the ethical, legal and economic questions that will arise with its development. Every new technology brings its own nightmare scenarios. Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are no exceptions.

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Sunday, February 1, 2015

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No, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vaginas Don't Need to Be Steam Cleaned

Gwyneth Paltrow is at it again. And, in fact, some methods of cleaning the vagina, such as douching, can have negative side effects.

Man Huffs Air Duster, Gets Frostbite and Breathing Problems

A 40-year-old man in Michigan who intentionally inhaled three cans of compressed air to get high was rushed to a hospital, where doctors treated him for frostbite and significant swelling in his airway, according to a new report of his case. The case highlights the dangers of huffing, the case report said. Although huffing is typically seen in teenagers, who often can't afford other recreational drugs, it's important to recognize that older people also abuse and huff substances, said Dr. Amanda Winston, an internal medicine and pediatrics resident at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan, who treated the man and co-authored the case report, published Jan. 7 in the journal BMJ Case Reports. "It's a quick, cheap and easy high," Winston told Live Science.

NASA satellite to measure water in Earth's soil sent into orbit

By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - - An unmanned Delta 2 rocket lifted off from California on Saturday carrying a NASA satellite to measure moisture in the top layer of the Earth's soil, data to be used in weather-forecasting and tracking of global climate change. Soil moisture is a variable that binds together all of the planet's environmental systems, scientists say. "It's the metabolism of the system," said Dara Entekhabi, lead scientist of NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory. The 127-foot (39 meter) rocket, built and flown by United Launch Alliance (ULA), blasted off at 6:22 a.m. PST (9 a.m. ET) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, located on California's central coast, a live NASA Television broadcast showed.

Seattle vs. Boston: Who Wins the 'Energy Bowl'?

The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will face each other on the gridiron for Super Bowl supremacy Sunday (Feb. 1). The company compared energy usage in Boston, Seattle, their respective states and even their respective stadiums to award a title that quarterback Tom Brady didn't even know he was fighting for. Seattle and Washington state put up a strong front. The Seahawk's home, CenturyLink Field, gets 30 percent of its energy from solar panels, despite Seattle's famously cloudy weather.

Scientist considered father of birth control pill dies

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Carl Djerassi, the chemist widely considered the father of the birth control pill, has died.

How to See Asteroid Juno in the Night Sky with Binoculars

While we know of millions of asteroids today, they were totally unknown to astronomers until 17th century astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi spotted Ceres, the largest and first known asteroid, in the early hours of New Year's Day in 1801. Juno is quite a small body, measuring only 170 miles (274 kilometers) across. To give you some idea of scale, Juno is large enough to fit in between the cities of New York and Boston. Juno is quite a small object, and it is also quite far away.

Super Bowl: 4 Tips for a Super-Healthy Game Day

Diet and exercise may not be the first thing on your mind on Super Bowl Sunday, but there are a number of easy steps you can take to make game day a little healthier. Here are four tips for a healthy Super Bowl. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests incorporating push-ups into your Super Bowl party games — for example, when one team scores a first down, the fans of the opposing team have to do 10 push-ups. Rather than sticking to chips and soda during the Super Bowl, try to incorporate some healthful snacks into the menu, such as fruits and vegetables, the CDC says.

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Saturday, January 31, 2015

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Scientists abandon highly publicized claim about cosmic find

NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists who made headlines last March by announcing that they'd found long-sought evidence about the early universe are now abandoning that claim.

Evidence for Cosmic Inflation Theory Bites the (Space) Dust

Two groups of scientists announced today (Jan. 30) that a tantalizing signal — which some scientists claimed was "smoking gun" evidence of dramatic cosmic expansion just after the birth of the universe — was actually caused by something much more mundane: interstellar dust. In the cosmic inflation announcement, which was unveiled in March 2014, scientists with the BICEP2 experiment, claimed to have found patterns in light left over from the Big Bang that indicated that space had rapidly inflated at the beginning of the universe, about 13.8 billion years ago. But in a statement today, scientists with the European Space Agency said that data from the agency's Planck space observatory has revealed that interstellar dust caused more than half of the signal detected by the Antarctica-based BICEP2 experiment. "Unfortunately, we have not been able to confirm that the signal is an imprint of cosmic inflation," Jean-Loup Puget, principal investigator of the HFI instrument on Planck at the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale in Orsay, France, said in the statement.

Americans Will Vote for Climate-Loving Politicians, New Poll Suggests

Most Americans support government action to combat the effects of global warming and will likely vote for candidates who put forth a promising stance on environmental issues, a new poll has found. The telephone poll — conducted by The New York Times, Stanford University and the nonpartisan environmental research group Resources for the Future — surveyed 1,006 adults across the nation from Jan. 7 to 22. Participants were asked questions such as whether they think climate change is human-caused, if global warming is perceived as a serious threat and if they have strong opinions on the matter. Respondents were also probed about government-related issues, including whether they think the government should limit greenhouse gases and how a candidate's opinion on climate change affects their vote.

NASA satellite to map soil moisture poised for launch

An unmanned Delta 2 rocket is being prepared for launch on Saturday to put a NASA satellite into orbit that is expected to improve drought monitoring and flooding forecasts. The 127-foot-tall (39-metre) rocket, built and flown by United Launch Alliance, is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 6:20 a.m. PST (1420 GMT). Launch originally was planned for Thursday but was delayed 24 hours due to high winds, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said. United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, postponed the flight for one more day so that technicians could repair insulation on the rocket that had become detached during Thursday's launch attempt.

Mars Fossils? Curiosity Rover Team Questions Report on Potential Microbe Traces

Scientists on the Curiosity team have brought into question a recent report about potential trace fossils in the NASA Mars rover's images of the Gillespie rock outcrop. Astrobiology Magazine reached out to the team and to the study's author for further comments. In a paper published last month in the journal Astrobiology, geobiologist Nora Noffke drew attention to features in Martian rocks that she suggested bore striking resemblance to trace fossils of microbial mats on Earth. As Curiosity's project scientist Ashwin Vasavada explained to other news outlets (including Space.com), the team had evaluated the features as non-biological, likely having been shaped by erosion or the transport of sand in water.

Super Bowl in Space: Astronauts May Watch the Big Game in Orbit

When more than 100 million people on Earth tune in for the Super Bowl kick-off this Sunday, NASA's astronauts in space will probably be sleeping. But two the American astronauts living and working on the International Space Station are football fans, and at least one of them says he hopes to wake up in time to see the end of the Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots or the Seattle Seahawks. "Regrettably, our bedtime, or at least my bed time is quite early," the station's commander, NASA astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore, said in an interview with reporters earlier this week. There are no microwaves or ovens on the space station, and definitely no grills.

Fugitive Shipwreck Hunter Captured After 2 Years on the Lam

Tommy Thompson — a famous shipwreck hunter who located a Gold Rush-era wreck, and then became embroiled in a long legal drama over the spoils — has been captured in Florida after more than two years in hiding. "I haven't been out of Florida since 2005 because I'm sensitive to materials that are north," Thompson said, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Who's Who? Centuries-Old Owl Mix-Up Fixed

Once mistaken for another species of owl, the golden-eyed "desert tawny owl" is now finally getting its due. In a new report, researchers examined the plumage and body shape of owl specimens from museums around the world that had previously been thought to be members of a species called Hume's owl. The researchers also analyzed the owls' mitochondrial DNA, and found it was about 10 percent different from that of the Hume's owl, which is properly known as species Strix butleri. "We reinvestigated it using all techniques available to us, and realized — especially based on the fact that there were massive genetic differences between Hume's type and specimens from elsewhere — that it was pretty obvious that there were two species involved," said Guy Kirwan, a research associate at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and co-author of the new report.

Quantum Experiment Helps Prove Einstein's Theory of Relativity

Building a quantum computer can sometimes yield unexpected benefits — like providing the right environment to demonstrate that Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity is, in fact, correct. The experiment used partially entangled atoms that were a byproduct of an attempt to build quantum computers. Special relativity is a cornerstone of modern physics, and was formulated by Einstein in 1905. Since relativity says the speed of light in a vacuum is constant, space should look the same in every direction, no matter what.

NASA Launches Satellite to Get the Dirt on Earth's Dirt

NASA launched its newest Earth-observing mission Saturday (Jan. 31), sending a satellite to the ultimate height to study the dirt below our feet. The space agency's new Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite (SMAP) satellite successfully launched to space atop an unmanned United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force base in California at 9:22 a.m. EST (1422 GMT). SMAP is designed to map the moisture levels in topsoil around the world to help scientist better predict droughts, floods and other weather factors. The spacecraft soared into space and deployed its solar arrays after a flawless launch, NASA officials said.

Rocket blasts off with NASA satellite to track climate change

By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla (Reuters) - An unmanned Delta 2 rocket lifted off from California on Saturday carrying a NASA satellite to measure how much water is in Earth's soil, information that will help weather forecasting and tracking of global climate change. The tiny amount of soil moisture links the planet's overall environmental systems – its water, energy and carbon cycles - as well as determines whether particular regions are afflicted with drought or flooding. "It's the metabolism of the system," NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory lead scientist Dara Entekhabi told reporters at a prelaunch news conference.

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