Posts filed under 'Science and Research'
Your pets can catch H1N1 flu from you, or pass it to you
Reuters reports that a pet cat had been infected with the pandemic swine flu virus, apparently by its owners, who had reported flu-like illness in the days before.
“This is just another illustration of why influenza viruses are so tricky and frustrating and interesting at the same time, is this ability to occasionally jump species,” said Dr. Carolyn Bridges of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bridges said it is impossible to know how many pets may have been infected — this particular cat lived near a sophisticated animal laboratory in Iowa where vets ran an influenza test out of curiosity. The good news is that the cat survived.
So here’s another reason to use commonsense: wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and consider whether the vaccination is right for you.
1 comment November 6, 2009
How cool is this? Sidewalks that generate electricity
Think about this: every time you take a step, you generate kinetic energy. What if the kinetic energy from thousands of pedestrians could be harnessed, stored and redirected for other uses?
A new product designed by Laurence Kemball-Cook, the director of Pavegen Systems Ltd., flexes beneath each step, absorbs the kinetic energy produced by every footstep, and creates 2.1 watts of electricity per hour. The energy is either stored within lithium polymer batteries or distributed to nearby lights, information displays, and much more.
Constructed from marine grade stainless steel and recycled materials, the surface of each slab features the rubber from old tires, and the internal components are made from recycled aluminum.
It is estimated that busy sidewalks receive up to 50,000 steps a day, so the potential energy is enormous.
The first prototypes have rolled out in East London. If all goes well, Pavegen has plans to go worldwide, to some of the busiest spots on earth. Fantastic idea!
Add comment October 29, 2009
We did not know that all bears hum (except pandas)
Here’s a great story about the Bearwalker of the Northwoods.
For 43 years, Professor Lynn Rogers has studied wild bears, walking and playing with them, gaining amazing insights into their behavior.
Professor Rogers has made a special study of the American Black Bear.
His studies reveal the bears as peaceful, playful creatures, which even hum when they are content.
Interestingly, in all of his years working, walking and living with bears, Professor Rogers has never been attacked. According to the article, there have been only 3 recorded black bear attacks on humans in the past 100 years.
Add comment October 27, 2009
Massive pod of killer whales sighted off Scotland
Finally, some GOOD news about the environment.
The BBC reports that, for the first time, a massive pod of up to 50 killer whales has been filmed off the coast of Scotland.
Evidently, the beautiful creatures dropped by to feed off of mackerel escaping fishing nets. They also eat scraps thrown back into the water by the fishing crews.
Killer whales are actually members of the dolphin family, and are known for their intelligence.
Scientists first documented this behavior in the 1980s and fishermen in Scotland have seen the behavior develop since.
“They are pretty quick to cotton on, and it’s something they are doing all around the world where there is a big fishery,” says Mr Andy Foote of the University of Aberdeen, a marine scientist advising the BBC Autumnwatch team.
“But what’s great about this one, is they aren’t viewed as a pest, they are just going after mackerel that are stuck in the nets or escaping and they don’t take any of the fishermen’s catch,” he says.
“They don’t damage the nets or get stuck in the nets, there is a benefit for both parties and the fishermen are really fond of the killer whales.”
So maybe, just maybe, the orcas and the fishermen can work as a team? And some human behavior can actually work out for the benefit of the creatures of the sea?
Add comment October 16, 2009
Butterfly “GPS” found in antenna
My sister and brother-in-law attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California. I remember visiting them once during the migration season of the Monarch butterfly.
They took me to a grove of eucalyptus trees that was filled with Monarch butterflies gathering for their yearly trip to Mexico.
The sight was awe-inspiring. It was hard to imagine that creatures who seem so delicate could withstand the rigors of such a long trip. And of course you wonder how they navigate all that way.
Now researchers have discovered that North America’s Monarch butterflies use a 24-hour “clock” in their antennae to help navigate the 2,500 miles to overwinter in Mexico.
It has long been understood that the butterflies navigate according to the position of the sun. But the role of the insects’ antenna was never thought to be central to their navigation.
Instead, it has always been thought that the butterflies used a 24-hour clock in their brains in conjunction with their “Sun compass” when they migrated.
According to Dr. Steven Reppert, co-author of the UMass Medical School study, “I think the take home message is that this really emphasizes the importance of this appendage, the antenna of the butterfly.
“I think it’s becoming more and more clear that the antennae have a number of functions that are independent from being odor detectors. They can function as ears, sensing sound and changes in barometric pressure, and now we can add to the list this function as a timepiece.”
The paper also suggests that other insects such as foraging honeybees and ants may use their antennae in a similar way.
The sad part about the study is that the researchers painted some of the butterflies’ antenna with black enamel paint to block the effects of the sun. The butterflies whose antennae were “blocked” all flew as a group in the wrong direction.
So now we know that for all intents and purposes, the antenna is critical to the life of the butterfly. But it seems almost like performing a lobotomy in order to prove that the brain matters.
Add comment September 25, 2009
Amateur archaeologist strikes pay dirt in England
We know this doesn’t have much to do with dogs (except that ours sometimes dig up the oddest things and bring them inside to show off).
But who doesn’t love a story about discovering a trove of hidden gold and silver?
Terry Herbert, 55, from the Staffordshire region of the United Kingdom, has always dreamed of unearthing something big. And his dreams came true when he took his metal detector to fields near his home that belong to a friend.
Mr. Herbert’s efforts led him to the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. More than 1,500 items include helmets, sword pommels and sword hilt ornaments.
Professional archaeologists believe the booty was possibly looted on the field of battle 1,400 years ago by a victorious warlord.
Dr. Michael Lewis, of the British Museum’s Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure, said that some of the items in the Staffordshire Hoard were unique and could not be compared to any earlier find in order to ascribe a value.
Leslie Webster, former keeper at the British Museum’s Department of Prehistory and Europe, added that the importance of the find couldn’t be overstated. “[It is] absolutely the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells,” he said.
But for Mr. Herbert, the experience has been priceless.
“I have this phrase that I say sometimes: ’Spirits of yesteryear take me where the coins appear’, but on that day I changed coins to gold,” he said.
“I don’t know why I said it that day, but I think somebody was listening and directed me to it. Maybe it was meant to be, maybe the gold had my name on it all along, I don’t know.”
Follow up, August 25, 2009:
Crowds of people are lining up to check out selected treasure on display at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in the UK. See what they have to say.
Add comment September 24, 2009
Norman Borlaug, “Father of the Green Revolution” who spent a lifetime “reaching for the stars,” has passed away at 95
The Associated Press reports that Norman Borlaug passed away September 12, 2009.
Borlaug is considered “the father of the Green Revolution,” and is credited with saving the lives of between 245 million and 1 billion people worldwide, due to his research and innovations in the production of high-yield crops.
Born March 25, 1914, Borlaug was an American agronomist, humanitarian, and Nobel Laureate. He is one of only 5 people to have won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. He was also a recipient of India’s second highest civilian honor for the work he did in introducing high=yield crop varieties and modern agricultural practices to India. His work also affected Mexico, Pakistan and countless other nations. In fact, through his innovations, Mexico became a net exporter of wheat.
Of course, there are two sides to every story. There is deep ambivalence world-wide about some of the more recent innovations in crops and agricultural practices, including controversy over genetically modified organisms and patenting of seeds. With that being said, we believe that one can never know where their innovations may lead. The important thing is to exhibit humility and humanitarian instincts throughout one’s life. And certainly, if at the end of one’s life you can say that they saved the lives of a quarter million to a billion people, that is something we should all honor.
Borlaug’s daughter remembers that this was one of her father’s favorite quotes:
“Reach for the stars. Although you will never touch them, if you reach hard enough, you will find that you get a little ’star dust’ on you in the process.”
Norman Borlaug was 95.
2 comments September 13, 2009
“New world” discovered in crater in New Guinea
A research team composed of British, American and New Guinean explorers entered a volcanic crater and discovered an eco-system that has evolved in isolation for the past 200,000 years, since the volcano last erupted.
It’s a jungle rainforest, teeming with life forms including fanged frogs, grunting fish and ginormous rats. (The rats evidently just over 32 inches from nose to tail. That’s BIG.)
The scientists hope that the discovery will show people the importance of rainforest ecosystems and raise ecological awareness.
Add comment September 8, 2009
The origins of flowers
Everyone loves flowers. That includes Charles Darwin, who was fascinated as a child by the peonies in his family’s garden.
We love flowers too. Of course, we’re prejudiced, since we make products based on cold-pressed plants. Where would we be without flowering plants?
But did you know that most of the calories humans consume originate from flowers? That’s because cereal crops like wheat, rice and corn all start out as flowers.
Here’s a great story about research into the origins of flowers. Until recently, flowers have been a big mystery. The fossil records have revealed mainly simple plant organisms, and suddenly in the Cretaceous period there is an unexplained “flowering.”
1 comment September 8, 2009
Behind the facade: Monsanto, the giant of Genetically Modified Organisms, and its “green” claims
Here’s an interesting article from the UK Guardian about the business practices of Monsanto.
As many of you probably know, Monsanto is the giant among developers and producers of Genetically Modified seed crops. Corn, soy beans, and other staple crops have been genetically engineered in Monsanto labs.
GMOs, or genenetically modified organisms, are organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes.
GMOs have been banned in many countries outside the USA. Safety concerns are uppermost. Another issue is that many GMO crops have been modified so that the seeds from this year’s crops cannot be saved and used to plant the fields for next year’s crops. Since the seeds are patented, farmers are forced to buy new seeds every year from companies like Monsanto.
But the point of this article is different. This article points out that Monsanto has made huge efforts to jump on the “green” bandwagon. Their website and PR efforts focus on the ways they are helping to “save the planet.” In this case, their “green” efforts involve developing corn that requires less water. However, as the article points out, Monsanto develops and tests most of its genetically engineered products on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. While doing that, they consume an extraordinary amount of water. So much that local farmers have been forced to institute a law suit, in order to get their fair share of the water resources from the island.
Once again, it’s a case of looking beyond the claims and the hype.
I should mention, of course, that Dog-Wa products do not include any GMOs. From the point of view of health, safety, and sustainability, we do not believe that genetically modified organisms have the evidence to back up the health and safety claims.
Add comment September 5, 2009
