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Saturday, December 12, 2015

Traces of a 'Lost' Stonehenge Appear in Rock Quarry

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Clash of dueling climate realities: Science and politics

LE BOURGET, France (AP) — Two sets of reality are clashing as climate talks go into overtime: Diplomatic real politics and hard science.

Body left for science slips out of van on Texas road

An elderly woman's body donated to a medical research lab was discovered on the side of a north Texas road after falling through the back window of a transport van, police said on Friday. The mortuary van carrying the body of Nell Joseph, 79, was headed to a Science Care facility in Colorado on Tuesday when a rear window broke and the cadaver slid out onto the highway without the driver noticing, said police in Denton, north of Dallas. Melinda Ellsworth, a spokeswoman for Science Care, said the van was carrying multiple donors but only Joseph's body fell off the vehicle.
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Singapore students build personal flying machine

A team of eight engineering students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have built a personal flying machine, dubbed 'Snowstorm'. It could only be demonstrated by flying it indoors, due to Singapore's legal requirements for personal aerial vehicles. Resembling a giant drone, 'Snowstorm' comprises of motors, propellers and landing gears set within a hexagonal frame and can be controlled by the person sitting in it, or remotely.
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The Latest: Top climate scientist praises draft of pact

LE BOURGET, France (AP) — The latest on the U.N. climate conference outside Paris (all times local):

Traces of a 'Lost' Stonehenge Appear in Rock Quarry

A few tantalizing pieces of evidence hint that there may have been an earlier, lost precursor to Stonehenge somewhere in Wales. Some of Stonehenge's bluestones were mined from a rocky outcrop called Craig Rhos-y-felin, part of Preseli Hills in Wales. This raises the possibility that one or two of the bluestones from Stonehenge may have first been used in some other, earlier henge in Wales before being removed from that monument and transported to the Salisbury Plain in England.
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Nearly 200 nations near a deal to slow global warming

LE BOURGET, France (AP) — France presented negotiators from nearly 200 nations with what it called a "final draft" of an unprecedented climate deal to slow global warming and urged them to approve it on Saturday. The deal would slow rising temperatures and sea levels, and eventually hold man-made emissions to the levels that nature can absorb.

Melting glaciers blamed for subtle slowing of Earth's rotation

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The melting of glaciers caused by the world's rising temperatures appears to be causing a slight slowing of the Earth's rotation in another illustration of the far-reaching impact of global climate change, scientists said on Friday. The driving force behind the modest but discernible changes in the Earth's rotation measured by satellites and astronomical methods is a global sea level rise fueled by an influx of meltwater into the oceans from glaciers, the researchers said. "Because glaciers are at high latitudes, when they melt they redistribute water from these high latitudes towards lower latitudes, and like a figure skater who moves his or her arms away from their body, this acts to slow the rotation rate of the Earth," Harvard University geophysicist Jerry Mitrovica said.

Northrop says it will bid if Pentagon opens GPS satellite tender

By Andrea Shalal PALMDALE, Calif. (Reuters) - Northrop Grumman Corp this week said it would bid if the U.S. Air Force opens a fresh competition for next-generation GPS satellites next year, as expected, and perhaps later on a new ground control system. Tom Vice, president of Northrop's Aerospace Systems division, said he expects the Air Force to launch a competition for new Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, and Northrop was ready to participate. Northrop already builds satellites for the U.S. intelligence community and is building the powerful new James Webb telescope for NASA.

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Friday, December 11, 2015

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SpaceX rocket aiming to fly again next week after accident

By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - Privately-owned Space Exploration Technologies is aiming to return its repaired Falcon 9 rocket to flight next week, following a launch accident six months ago, the company said on Thursday. For its mission on Dec. 19, the California-based SpaceX plans to launch 11 small commercial communications satellites for ORBCOMM Inc, which provides machine-to-machine messaging services, such as between retailers and shipping containers. SpaceX, which has a backlog of 60 missions worth about $8 billion, has been grounded since June 28 when its 19th Falcon 9 rocket exploded minutes after launch.

Lost Tomb of 'Suleiman the Magnificent' Possibly Unearthed

The lost tomb of Suleiman the Magnificent, one of the greatest rulers of the Ottoman Empire, may have been unearthed in southern Hungary. In addition to his military prowess, Suleiman "the lawgiver" simplified Ottoman legal code and funded the construction of some of Istanbul's most gorgeous architecture.

A new space race: satellites could test the world's climate vows

By Barbara Lewis, Richard Valdmanis and David Stanway PARIS (Reuters) - Scientists from the United States, Japan, and China are racing to perfect satellite technology that could one day measure greenhouse gas emissions from space, potentially transforming the winner into the world's first climate cop. Monitoring a single country's net emissions from above could not only become an important tool to establish whether it had met its promises to slow global warming, a point of contention at climate talks in Paris, but also help emitters to pinpoint the sources of greenhouse gases more quickly and cheaply. "We know satellite technology is evolving so that there is an increasing ability to actually tell whether countries are telling the truth." Most estimates of greenhouse gas emissions are now based on calculations of energy use and other proxy data, rather than on-the-ground measurements, leaving a huge margin of error when nations submit their figures to the United Nations.

Too early to use gene editing in embryos - scientist

By Julie Steenhuysen WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One of the scientists who discovered powerful tools for altering genes is not convinced the case has been made for using the technology on human sperm, eggs and embryos. "The tools are not ready," biologist Emmanuelle Charpentier said in an interview on Wednesday during a global meeting on the technology. Changes made in the genes of human reproductive cells, known as germline cells, would be passed along to future generations.

Scientists coax computers to think like people

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For artificial intelligence and smart machines to really take off, computers are going to have to be able to think more like people, according to experts in the field. The research was published in the journal Science.

Scientists coax computers to think like people

After the genome, AstraZeneca taps 'secretome' for novel drugs

By Ben Hirschler LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca is diving into the world of proteins secreted by cells - collectively known as the secretome - in the hunt for new drugs and better "cell factories" for making biotech medicines. The so-called secretome accounts for around one third of human proteins and the idea of mapping them all follows the decoding of the human genome in 2000, since when there has been a surge in scientific buzzwords ending in "ome". AstraZeneca hopes to get in on the ground floor of this opportunity through a three-year collaboration with the newly established Wallenberg Center for Protein Research in Sweden.

Three International Space Station crewmen heading back to Earth

By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Three International Space Station crew members got a jump on holiday travel, boarding a Russian Soyuz capsule on Friday for an express ride back to Earth. NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and Japan's Kimiya Yui pulled away from the station at 4:49 a.m. EST (0949 GMT) as the orbital outpost soared 250 miles (400 km) over Earth, a NASA Television broadcast showed.

How El Niño Made the Pacific a Hurricane Hotbed in 2015

A record-breaking number of furious storms rocked the Pacific Ocean during the 2015 hurricane season, while the Atlantic Ocean stayed relatively quiet, likely because of El Niño, new research shows. El-Niño-influenced storms raged throughout the Pacific during this year's six-month hurricane season, which lasted from June 1 to Nov. 30. But the Atlantic spent its third consecutive year with below-average storm activity, the Earth Observatory reported.

Female Mass Killers: Why They're So Rare

As last week's shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, unfolded, the narrative seemed sickeningly familiar: A few moments of chaos ending in multiple deaths. Female mass killers are "so rare that it just hasn't been studied," said James Garbarino, a psychologist at Loyola University Chicago who has researched human development and violence. Women commit only about 10 percent to 13 percent of homicides n the United States, said Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor and author of "The Myth of Martyrdom: What Really Drives Suicide Bombers, Rampage Shooters, and Other Self-Destructive Killers" (St. Martin's Press, 2013).

When Will Flu Season Start?

It may be late fall, but there's not much flu going around in the United States so far this season, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And during the last week of November, 44 states reported minimal flu activity (the level of activity that's normal for the off season), while just two states (Oklahoma and South Carolina) reported increased, or moderate flu activity. No states reported high flu activity.

High-School Cheerleading Injuries Are Often Severe

High school cheerleaders have an overall rate of injuries that is lower than that of most other high school sports, but the injuries that do occur among cheerleaders tend to be more severe, a new study suggests. In the study of 22 high school sports, there were 17 sports that had higher injury rates than cheerleading, the researchers found. "Although overall injury rates are relatively low, cheerleading injuries may be more severe when they do occur," the researchers, from the Colorado School of Public Health and the University of Colorado, wrote in their study, published today (Dec. 10) in the journal Pediatrics.

Cholesterol Levels Are a Problem for Many US Kids

About 20 percent of U.S. children have problems with their cholesterol levels, such as high levels of "bad" cholesterol or low levels of "good" cholesterol, according to a new report. The report found that, overall, 7.4 percent of children ages 6 to 19 have high levels of total cholesterol, meaning their cholesterol levels are at or above 200 milligrams per deciliter. High cholesterol levels are more common in children who are obese, the report found.

Why the 'Hoverboard' Scooter Is So Fly

Some call them hoverboards; others call them smart or self-balancing scooters. But whatever you call the two-wheeled motorized vehicles you've probably seen rolling over sidewalks of late, one thing is certain: These futuristic gadgets are pretty cool. And the physics and mechanics that make them go are cool, too.

Climate draft puts temperature limit out of reach: scientists

By Nina Chestney and Alister Doyle PARIS (Reuters) - A deal to slow climate change being thrashed out in Paris fails to map out steep enough cuts in carbon dioxide emissions to limit global warming to the target of at least "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), scientists said on Friday. Negotiations on the draft agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions, blamed for warming the planet and disrupting the climate, were extended by a day on Friday to Saturday to try to overcome stubborn divisions among the 195 countries taking part. The draft text, released on Thursday and subject to revision, also proposes that emissions peak "as soon as possible", with rapid cuts thereafter towards achieving "greenhouse gas emissions neutrality in the second half of the century".

Climate draft puts temperature limit out of reach - scientists

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Thursday, December 10, 2015

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Apple CEO: More computer science and coding education needed

Apple CEO Tim Cook says teaching coding to kids is just as important as teaching any other foreign language. And the younger kids start learning it, the better. Cook spoke to a group of New York third ...

Modest Chinese dinosaur was forerunner to later horned behemoths

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With their elaborate horns, bony neck frills and bulldozer-like bodies, members of the horned dinosaur group like Triceratops were among Earth's most impressive beasts during the Cretaceous Period near the end of the age of dinosaurs. At about 3 feet long (1 meter), it was much smaller than later members of the group, formally called ceratopsians. Triceratops, which lived alongside Tyrannosaurus rex in western North America about 67 million years ago, exceeded 30 feet (9 meters) in length.

First ever test-tube dogs give 'puppy love' a new meaning

By Joseph Ax NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rarely is a major scientific breakthrough so darn cute. Dogs share more than 350 similar heritable disorders and traits with humans, almost twice as many as any other species, according to the paper.

5 Scientifically Proven Ways to Make Your Gifts Meaningful

Holiday gift buying can feel a little empty, when all of those endless lists, long lines at the mall and dollars spent lead to a 5-minute frenzy of flying wrapping paper and ribbon. Years of scientific research on gift giving have turned up a few ways to make the whole process a little more fulfilling. The following tips can help make gift giving more meaningful for both the giver and the recipient.

Novel Chemical 'Washes Away' Alzheimer's Plaque in Mice

Scientists in Korea have found a small molecule that, when added to the drinking water of mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease, washed away the protein plaques associated with the disease and improved the mice's learning and memory functions. The chemical, called EPPS — short for 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1- piperazinepropanesulphonic acid — posed no ill effect for the mice even at high doses. The scientists hope to conduct further studies to determine whether the EPPS is safe and effective for humans with Alzheimer's disease.

Only Half of Overweight Americans Are Serious About Weight Loss

Most overweight Americans want to lose a few pounds, but only half say they are seriously trying to do so, a new poll suggests. The poll was conducted last month, and participants were asked to report their actual weight and their ideal weight. For men, the average weight was 196 lbs. (89 kg), and the average ideal weight was 183 lbs. (83 kg).

Being Happy Doesn't Really Increase Your Life Span

In other words, poor health, and not unhappiness, was the true cause of early death, the researchers said. "Illness makes you unhappy, but unhappiness itself doesn't make you ill," study researcher Bette Liu, of the University of New South Wales in Australia, said in a statement.

50 Shades of Green? Environmental Attitudes Vary Widely in US

You don't have to be a nature lover to be "green." A new survey suggests that Americans' attitudes about protecting the environment aren't just linked to their love of the great outdoors. Turns out, religion and politics might be strongly tied to how people perceive environmental issues, according to the survey of 1,500 Americans who answered questions about their interactions with the natural world, their religious and political beliefs and their stance on environmental issues, such as global warming. Based on the answers, the researchers created nine distinct profiles, or "shades" of green: Only 10 percent of Americans fall into the group that the researchers labeled "outdoor greens." This group consists of staunch environmentalists who also spend a lot of time enjoying nature.

Dinosaur Blood Vessels Survived 80 Million Years Without Fossilizing

Tiny, delicate vessels that carried blood through a duck-billed dinosaur 80 million years ago never fossilized and still contain the beast's tissue, a new study finds. Researchers discovered the prize specimens on the femur (leg bone) of Brachylophosaurus canadensis, a 30-foot-long (9 meters) duck-billed dinosaur that was excavated in Montana in 2007. Now, several tests show that the specimens are the original blood vessels, making them the oldest blood vessels on record to survive with their original components, the researchers said.

IVF Puppies: First Litter Born by In Vitro Fertilization

The first-ever litter of puppies conceived through in vitro fertilization was born recently, unlocking a reproductive secret in domestic dogs that has helped researchers solve a decades-old canine biology puzzle. The findings, published online today (Dec. 9) in the journal PLOS ONE, outline the eggs-ceptional process that produced seven healthy puppies — five with two beagle parents and two with a cocker spaniel father and a beagle mother — born by scheduled caesarian section to a host female dog. In vitro ("outside the body") fertilization, also known as IVF, combines the egg and sperm in an artificial environment, creating an embryo that is then implanted in a host that carries it to full term.

Angkor Wat Yields Astounding Buried Towers & Spiral Structure

Eight buried towers and the remains of a massive spiral structure created from sand have been discovered at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The massive structure — almost a mile long — contains a spiral design, with several rectangular spirals that form a giant structure, archaeologists say. "This structure, which has dimensions of more than 1,500 m × 600 m (about 1 mile by 1,970 feet) is the most striking discovery associated with Angkor Wat to date.

Da Vinci Droid & Dancing Machines: Japan Convention's Coolest Bots

Leonardo da Vinci (or rather, a robot that looks a heck of a lot like the Renaissance painter and inventor) made an appearance at a robotics show in Japan last week. The humanoid da Vinci bot was on display at the Robot Exhibition 2015 (iREX), a biannual convention that opened in Tokyo on Dec. 2. With its long white beard, bright blue eyes and pensive facial expressions, the da Vinci robot really does bear a striking resemblance to the man best known as the inventor of flying machines and painter of the Mona Lisa.

Bigger Smiles, Less Hair: How Yearbook Photos Have Changed

People now may have more to smile about — at least when it comes to their yearbook photos. High school seniors today are much more likely to smile for the camera in their senior- year snaps, compared with the turn of the 20th century, new research finds. Few young women now would contemplate shellacking their hair into a beehive, instead opting for longer, more natural locks, said study lead author Shiry Ginosar, a doctoral candidate in computer science at the University of California at Berkeley.

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