tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35740281786743008142011-08-27T17:13:34.580-04:00The world of science is fascinating, and new discoveries and technologies happen every day. Most of it is buried in the news and you just don't ever find out about it!~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.comBlogger1111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-32832534003582231282010-08-16T15:39:00.003-04:002010-08-16T15:46:31.359-04:00

I once rode the Aerosmith Rock 'n' Roller Coaster seven times in a row down in the Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, Florida. After my seventh ride, my brain felt loose in my cranium and my head was pounding with pain. I immediately took two Advil and thankfully did not throw up.So how is it, scientifically, that a 78-old man can ride a roller coaster 90 times in one day?

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-61346005134549955252009-11-08T08:16:00.000-05:002009-11-08T08:19:18.332-05:00

You just have to go to the link and read it ... the LHC just can't catch a break.The Large Hadron Collider, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, just cannot catch a break. First, a coolant leak destroyed some of the magnets that guide the energy beam. Then LHC officials postponed the restart of the machine to add additional safety features. Now, a bird dropping a piece of bread on a

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-34815619887309648792009-08-28T12:52:00.004-04:002009-08-28T13:02:14.343-04:00

The title of this article begins with "NOSTRIL RIVALRY," which is intriguing enough, since I'd heard about ocular and two-ear rivalry (both of which this article in Science News explains briefly).Essentially, when the nostrils take conflicting whiffs of scents, the brain decides which one you will smell.In an experiment, 12 volunteers were exposed to two different scents, one in each nostril. One

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-12925316308009744872009-08-27T11:12:00.002-04:002009-08-27T11:19:17.976-04:00

I remember in the beginning of the second installment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy (The Two Towers), Frodo and Sam are in Mordor walking in circles on their way to Mount Doom. Remember? "This looks familiar." "We've been here before, we're walking in circles." I thought, how can you be walking in circles when you are supposed to be headed toward the giant volcano in the distance?This

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-20811682822067195362009-08-26T15:39:00.003-04:002009-08-26T15:47:41.155-04:00

Twenty healthy, non-obese people skip breakfast and participate in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan while looking at pictures of food. There are two groups of food: high calorie food which consisted of pizza, cake, and chocolate; and low calorie food like salad, fish and vegetables.Surprise, surprise:The brain's reward center lit up more vividly, or became more active, when

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-1874538743378945382009-08-25T09:48:00.002-04:002009-08-25T10:01:47.098-04:00

Of course, my eyes were immediately drawn to the title of this article.You see, I have two teenage boys. It's just me and two teenage boys. Teenage boys are, well, not very clean. I could use harsher words ("disgusting" is a good word), but in order to be fair and diplomatic and tactful, I'll just say that they are "not very clean."I go to bed pretty early because I wake up pretty early. They

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-69672710281554503192009-08-24T11:48:00.002-04:002009-08-24T11:54:34.224-04:00

When we are down in the dumps, what do most of us reach out for? Comfort food! Mashed potatoes, meat loaf, spaghetti and meatballs, ice cream, .... The list goes on, and includes macaroni and cheese.NASA must provide the crew with some 20,000 meals -- light, with a shelf life of five years. Scientists are experimenting with packaging and preservation, but so far, mac and cheese is

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-48930298162590275342009-08-20T08:00:00.001-04:002009-08-20T08:03:05.150-04:00

A carnivorous pitcher plant big enough to gobble up rats has been named in honor of British TV naturalist David Attenborough. The plant was discovered on the Philippine island of Palawan during a 2007 scientific expedition and now dubbed Nepenthes attenboroughii. Redfern Natural History Productions, a British publishing company that backed the expedition, said the plant appears to live only on

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-22808282660936057602009-08-11T09:35:00.003-04:002009-08-11T11:04:14.312-04:00

National Geographic contributor Ann Minard writes about the Perseid Meteor Shower that is expected to shoot 80 meteors per hour across the night sky on August 12th, and that the shower will be visible from any vantage point on the earth. The article offers the following tips for viewing the shower:1. The moon will provide some interference for the Perseids, at just over half full and rising

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-77816511603109588012009-08-07T09:45:00.002-04:002009-08-07T09:51:18.411-04:00

This economist.com article begins: What has mystified scholars over the ages is how these tall, wooden buildings cope so well with the earthquakes and typhoons that plague Japan. Many have been struck by lightning and burned to the ground. Others have been torched by marauding warlords. Fire was a perennial hazard in Japan when wood and paper buildings were the norm. But, remarkably, only two of

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-15780350455415349302009-08-04T11:40:00.002-04:002009-08-04T11:46:49.027-04:00

BBC News writes: Would-be astronauts competing for China's next space programme must comply with 100 rules - excluding those with bad breath or a runny nose.The list, intended to recruit "super human beings", also prohibits those with body odours, tooth cavities or scars which may "burst open" in space.China will launch a space module next year and hopes for a docking by 2011. I think it's

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-31809127064385110732009-07-22T12:17:00.002-04:002009-07-22T12:24:31.737-04:00

Scientists have been working toward addressing the fact that up to 59 percent of glaucoma patients regularly skip their drops, even though untreated glaucoma can lead to blindness. A possible solution is a method that utilizes the contact lens to dispense the drug into the body. According to the wired.com article:Researchers have been working for nearly a decade on drug-dispensing contact

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-77117863199884054372009-07-21T10:24:00.002-04:002009-07-21T10:31:43.009-04:00

BBC news reports "Scuba divers off the Californian city of San Diego are being menaced by large numbers of jumbo squid."Evidentally, the five-foot long jumbo flying squid do not generally affect swimmers because they remain deeper in the water. However, many have been washing up on the beach in San Diego, and affecting scuba divers.Diver and amateur underwater cameraman Roger Uzun said he swam

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-6649056672602727312009-07-20T08:40:00.003-04:002009-07-20T08:45:17.670-04:00

My first response when I saw images from the glass boxes of the Sears Tower was, "Wow, I would still be able to see the magnificent view below through the puddle of vomit at my feet!"After the nausea fades, I have to admit, such a feat seems utterly amazing to me.This article by Henry Fountain, published in the NY Times on July 6th, explains how the engineers built such a structure (four of them!

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-1814141786022876182009-07-09T07:30:00.002-04:002009-07-09T07:43:11.014-04:00

As an advocate for issues such as this, with the environment in mind, I'm applauding this move by the city of Bundanoon in New South Wales, Australia. "In a first for the world, an Australian town is about to forbid bottled water to be sold in their town due to worries about their environmental affects. Bundanoon, a small town with a population of 2,000, is anticipated to vote in favor of

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-17507109295034649262009-07-06T08:34:00.003-04:002009-07-06T08:48:27.902-04:00

We all hear about plants and animals disappearing off the face of the earth every day. We know that the polar bears and penguins are in danger because the polar ice caps are melting. Various forms of sea life are dying off because the oceans are getting warmer. And tigers in Bangladesh are growing few in number as human encroachment into their habitat puts them in contact with each other.

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-64172324984821280312009-07-01T08:44:00.002-04:002009-07-01T08:49:26.889-04:00

Wired always has the coolest, weirdest stories, doesn't it? In this June 30 article by Hadley Leggett, we are told that we too can learn to maneuver through our lives by echolocation - just like dolphins and bats.With just a few weeks of training, you can learn to "see" objects in the dark using echolocation the same way dolphins and bats do.Ordinary people with no special skills can use tongue

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-56997902591871280772009-06-29T09:22:00.003-04:002009-06-29T15:51:12.223-04:00

In the next episode of Criminal Minds, we investigate a stalker who watches his prey from afar before ambushing the unsuspecting victims with ferocious and violent attacks.Sounds like a real detective drama playing out in the Journal of Zoology in which a new study has shown that Great White Sharks do indeed stalk their prey, and do not attack randomly as previously believed.The researchers found

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-83109631540827109262009-06-25T08:47:00.002-04:002009-06-25T08:48:06.591-04:00

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-42103678059835999922009-06-24T08:44:00.002-04:002009-06-24T08:52:28.058-04:00

When I was a young girl of about 13, I read a novel called "A Town Like Alice" by author Nevile Shute. I loved the story and fell in love with the Australia. Someday I hope to take a lengthy trip, maybe even retire there.Over the years, my fascination with Australia has never faded, so here is a nice list of the strange and fascinating animals that live there. I love the quote at the top of

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-20646377772431600522009-06-22T07:49:00.001-04:002009-06-22T07:58:18.358-04:00

Have you ever suspected you might have a conversation like this?Johnny: Hey Fred, nice to meet you. I'm a salesman, what do you do for a living?Fred: Nice to meet you, Johnny. I measure the velocity of raindrops for a living!Not me, but now I know it could happen. Physicist from Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton and the National University of Mexico in Mexico City have been

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-28558976727885334302009-06-18T07:21:00.002-04:002009-06-18T07:32:28.078-04:00

Scientific American published this article, written by Brendan Borrell, about a solar observer who becomes an entomological sleuth. Here's a brief summary: Larry Webster, solar observer and overall caretaker at the Mt. Wilson Observatory just outside of Los Angeles, decided to clean up a bit in preparation for some visitors. He cleaned up some rodent droppings and hauled out some boxes. In a

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-49240289949587181352009-06-17T08:22:00.002-04:002009-06-17T08:33:32.498-04:00

An automobile that can tell when you've had a stroke, heart attack or other medical emergency while driving, and will slow down and stop ... that's what the future holds for BMW. The German automaker, founded in 1916, is known for its performance and luxury autos and owns and produces the MINI brand. BMW is also the parent company of the Rolls-Royce brand.So why does BMW care about the quality

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-78564147771431713702009-06-16T08:21:00.002-04:002009-06-16T08:25:17.716-04:00

White rooftops retain less heat resulting in less use of air conditioning which would combat global warming. Makes sense to me! Energy Secretary Steven Chu says, if all rooftops and roads in the world were made white it could combat global warming. "That would be the equivalent as if you took off all the automobiles of the world for of the world for eleven years," Chu said. I'm off to find

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-50800109077024709172009-06-15T07:32:00.003-04:002009-06-15T07:56:45.028-04:00

In this amazing article in June 2009's Scientific American, stars and their extrasolar planets are revealed. We learn about the different types of stars - white dwarfs and brown dwarfs in particular, and we see that when supernovae occur, these affect the orbiting bodies, leaving corpses of solar systems in place, many still orbiting the still-magnetic remnant of the star. Some stars rise from

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-51139164980695068782009-06-12T10:04:00.003-04:002009-06-12T10:29:04.753-04:00

The obesity epidemic is affecting the health of humans on this earth in so many ways. We read about the early onset of diabetes and increased occurrences of heart disease, but Science Daily writes on June 8th and June 9th two different, yet similiar, articles about the increase of colorectal cancer among younger patients.The June 8 article, Colorectal cancer increasing among young adults, begins

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-67858925339250228752009-06-11T10:02:00.002-04:002009-06-11T10:16:03.170-04:00

I don't like moths. It may be due to my strange fascination with Godzilla movies as a child. The idea of a giant moth carrying twin sirens around was very freaky. I also remember an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" about a moth collector's collection that came to life and then pinned HIM to a board. Very spooky stuff.Certainly my dislike of moths drew me to this MSNBC article. Or it

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-90831695549911651642009-06-10T12:44:00.002-04:002009-06-10T12:52:04.419-04:00

I was half-heartedly watching HGTV yesterday evening, when I saw this Fab Tree Hab Living Tree House.The house is built around eight trees that are at least 9 feet tall and uses a "living lattice system" to accommodate growth. Take a look at the slideshow at this site http://www.archinode.com/bienal.html and read about the interesting new concepts in green living.

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-22921457903833025362009-06-09T07:25:00.002-04:002009-06-09T07:34:28.222-04:00

Orlando Salinas for foxnews writes, "Scientists may have come up with a better mousetrap when it comes to repelling mosquitoes."I don't know about you, but I'm a huge walking target when I step outdoors in warmer weather. My summer fragrance is Deep Woods Off. Bugs just love me! Especially mosquitoes but I'm also known to attract bees (mostly those pesky sweat bees), gnats, and the occasional

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-38050043327604435722009-06-08T08:24:00.002-04:002009-06-08T08:32:23.410-04:00

I can't tell you how many times I hear people telling me that a glass of red wine is good for you. I don't know if it's true or not. I do enjoy a glass of wine every now and then, perhaps twice a month, but I don't drink it because it's good for me or because of the antioxidants or whatever. I enjoy my occasional glass of wine because I enjoy it as a rare treat. It tastes good. It helps me

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-69225076564769026032009-06-06T11:00:00.002-04:002009-06-06T11:09:20.281-04:00

During the days of Pangea, it appears that Utah would have been considered "highlands" at 200 to 1,000 meters above sea level. Generally, lowland fossils are well-preserved due to the concept of the great flood, while highland fossils, being exposed to the elements are not. In the case of Utah, the desert sands may have been instrumental in preserving fossils. (see http://www.dinosauria.com/jdp

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-73075070325401973682009-06-05T07:17:00.003-04:002009-06-05T17:27:44.041-04:00

I saw Disney/Pixar's Wall-E. I really liked it - it was a charming tale of a lonely robot who is destined to spend his life on the now evacuated earth, cleaning up the mess we humans have made. Enter EVE. Eve is a newer high-tech robot that is dropped off on earth by a giant spaceship and flutters around in search of life. And Wall-E experiences something humanlike - love.However, I am not

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-8937702768505607832009-06-04T08:37:00.002-04:002009-06-04T08:45:39.642-04:00

From Wired.com, a first glance at the all-electric Coda sedan. Coda Automotive unveiled the Coda on Wednesday and promised to begin selling it by this time next year. The four-door, five-passenger mid-size car features pedestrian styling, a range of 90 to 120 miles and a whopping $45,000 price tag. It will be available only in California to start, but the company plans to roll it out nationally

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-10036987237982834472009-06-03T08:12:00.002-04:002009-06-03T08:19:46.975-04:00

Stephen Strasburg, the right-handed pitcher at San Diego State University, is one heck of a ball player. You see, he "has a fastball that tops 100 miles per hour -- the speed long seen as the holy grail of baseball. He has a sharp-breaking, knee-buckling curveball. And he throws strikes."According to the article at foxnews.com, "the crucial question for the Nationals and other Major League teams

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-72900944948149085332009-06-02T08:09:00.004-04:002009-06-03T16:07:09.056-04:00

In this article posted at npr, scientists who were concerned about seemingly lost populations of emperor penguins in Antarctica have utilized a novel method of finding them -- using satellites to spot guano from space! The large colonies of penguins leave prominent poop stains on the ice which are visible from outer space. And its no wonder! According to wikipedia, "the Emperor Penguin (

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-77740553383570550212009-06-01T09:28:00.002-04:002009-06-01T09:37:47.455-04:00

This year marks the Hubble Telescope's 19th year in operation. Enjoy some of the beautiful images the Hubble has captured over the years here: http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/technology/110/.Wikipedia says this about the Hubble: "The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by the space shuttle in April 1990. It is named after the American astronomer Edwin

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-42197652480139527512009-06-01T08:01:00.002-04:002009-06-01T08:10:24.946-04:00

According to bbc news, "Scientists say a natural supplement made from tomatoes, taken daily, can stave off heart disease and strokes. The tomato pill contains an active ingredient from the Mediterranean diet - lycopene - that blocks "bad" LDL cholesterol that can clog the arteries."This corresponds with the Mayo Clinic's assertion that "The Mediterranean diet is thought to reduce your risk of

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-31081548144940091152009-05-30T11:25:00.002-04:002009-05-30T11:32:58.472-04:00

I'm willing to bet that most people know at least two diabetics, and their eating habits are so refined that they know the sugar content in most foods. Defined by wikipedia, diabetes is a syndrome of disordered metabolism, usually due to a combination of hereditary and environmental causes, resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels. Diabetes develops due to a diminished production of

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-4560341121829097692009-05-29T12:51:00.002-04:002009-05-29T12:56:51.721-04:00

In this abcnews article, Ewen Callaway writes: A newly identified gene called happyhour makes fruit flies sensitive to booze. Drugs that mimic the effects of the gene may offer a new treatment against alcohol abuse, researchers say. Isn't it amazing that by studying a fruit fly a researcher could come up with a treatment for alcoholism? Amazing.

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-82983821750957853112009-05-28T09:04:00.003-04:002009-05-28T13:13:44.157-04:00

Is it a pit bull? How about a Rottweiler? Maybe those dogs from Magnum, P.I., Doberman pinschers? I know - it's gotta be one of the Mastiff Breeds! Nope. According to Discovery News (and printed in ABC Australia News), it's Lady from Lady and the Tramp - a cocker spaniel!According to the article, the University of Barcelona team "discovered that English cocker spaniels were more likely than

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-67470180860964097772009-05-27T07:56:00.004-04:002009-05-27T08:01:46.654-04:00

From msnbc: Sneaky sperm whales had been snagging an easy meal by stealing black cod from deep-sea fishing lines off Sitka, Alaska. Now, underwater video has revealed their cod-thieving secret: The giant marine mammals pluck the fishing line at one end to shake the black cod free at the other end. All I can say (after chuckling, of course) is "GO WHALES!"

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-89236784919235647982009-05-26T09:17:00.001-04:002009-05-26T09:18:52.560-04:00

It's sort of like the idea that if you dress weird when you report for jury selection, you won't get selected. According to this article in Eureka Science News: Rare traits persist in a population because predators detect common forms of prey more easily. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Ecology found that birds will target salamanders that look like the majority – even

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-44205814831602811882009-05-22T12:11:00.002-04:002009-05-22T12:15:17.106-04:00

Too cute!Once you've looked at all of the babies, why not comment with your favorite "aww"-producing baby animal? Personally I can't decide, although I will say that the baby whale shark does not produce an "aww" sound from me! :)

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-16402594359807739862009-05-21T08:49:00.002-04:002009-05-21T08:53:21.497-04:00

All I can say is, this is brilliant!Astronauts aboard the space station celebrated a space first on Wednesday by drinking water that had been recycled from their urine, sweat and water that condenses from exhaled air. They said "cheers," clicked drinking bags and toasted NASA workers on the ground who were sipping their own version of recycled drinking water.

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-5268278874660364542009-05-19T12:02:00.002-04:002009-05-19T12:15:18.724-04:00

A little bit of sci-tech for you on this fine Tuesday from NPR. As an internet junkie with a few dozen accounts for various websites, it really is tempting to use super-easy passwords to help us remember. It's also tempting to use the same username and password on all sites.As cumbersome as they are, I have created what I consider to be devilishly good passwords. For example: IheartNew$b0y$,

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-11472345870289717062009-05-18T09:14:00.002-04:002009-05-18T09:18:17.039-04:00

In my constant search for interesting science info, I came across this site. I plan on spending some hours perusing the factoids and goofs. Enjoy!

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-49251290536641331642009-05-15T07:24:00.001-04:002009-05-15T07:26:33.258-04:00

SunChips and National Geographic have joined forces to create the Green Effect, an initiative to inspire individuals to spark a green movement in their communities.YOU could be the one to make a difference in your community—for the planet! Submit a description of your Green Effect idea by June 8, 2009. Ten finalists will be announced July 7, 2009. Online viewers and a distinguished panel of

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-33530656652654387662009-05-14T09:40:00.002-04:002009-05-14T09:46:06.961-04:00

As I began searching for something new to post today, I found myself drifting to my own thoughts, staring off into space.Then I found this article, which suggests I might solve problems faster if I daydream. Contrary to common opinion, the brains of daydreamers may not be slacking off, but working harder, new research has shown.I am going to try to implement this strategy: 1) I notice a problem

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-83185079454674221552009-05-13T07:42:00.003-04:002009-05-13T08:45:29.387-04:00

Banana peels. Remember them? Those pesky problematic peels that catch pedestrians unaware? Well now there is a real USE for the peels!Banana skins, leaves and stems can be combined with other materials to make a low-cost replacement for wood that would be used for cooking, and would particularly aid the impoverished by providing a source of energy for preparing meals. So here is a way to

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-71883061312214196332009-05-12T09:38:00.004-04:002009-05-12T11:27:13.423-04:00

As the new movie warps into theaters this week, we ask physicist Lawrence Krauss, author of The Physics of Star Trek, how the sci-fi franchise keeps it real, and also how it bends--or breaks--a few laws of natureWho went to see Star Trek this past weekend? Let me raise my hand in affirmation. I loved it!ScientificAmerican.com spoke to Lawrence Krauss, author of The Physics of Star Trek, and the

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-6856350894021644152009-05-11T09:52:00.002-04:002009-05-11T10:03:59.099-04:00

Interesting article addressing the growing presence of scientists in pop culture, particularly film. Wouldn't it be nice to see a generation of young people being influenced by the movies in a positive way and taking an interest in science? Not for personal world domination, of course, but for the desire to unravel the mysteries of science, whether in health care, earth science, space, biology,

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-25319315068184385502009-05-11T07:38:00.004-04:002009-05-11T07:49:49.895-04:00

This article takes this blog back to its beginning when I blogged about belching sheep and farting sea creatures. Let me set it up by giving you some background information. A nice explanation is available from foodreference.com: Livestock animals naturally produce methane as part of their digestive process, belching it while chewing cud and excreting it in their waste. According to the

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-21911293016447854942009-05-08T11:16:00.005-04:002009-05-08T13:23:21.574-04:00

Cool discovery! When the Neofem2 gene is active, the workers behave. When it is suppressed, the workers behave ... as if the queen is dead ... even to the point of reproducing ... which, as you know, is the queen's job! "A worker in an Australian termite species pretty much sticks to its worker role unless researchers silence its queen's Neofem2 gene. Then workers grow more likely to butt each

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-38972590527716025632009-05-07T12:23:00.004-04:002009-05-07T12:39:53.030-04:00

Since today is the National Day of Prayer, I thought I would dig and see if I could find anything about prayer and science. I found this particular article which is about an interesting study of the effects of a patient's perception of prayer upon post-surgery healing.In the study, patients were in one of three groups: those who believed someone was praying for them, those who believed someone

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-71274192618132323732009-05-07T08:38:00.003-04:002009-05-07T08:51:24.985-04:00

Following up on a previous post and in case you missed it, NASA says "no" to naming the new Node 3 after Steven Colbert, but has agreed to name a treadmill after him. The Node will be named "Tranquility," which came in eighth in the poll, and refers to the "Sea of Tranquility" where Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 20, 1969.NASA has turned Colbert's name into the following acronym: Combined

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-61358904474159350492009-05-06T13:31:00.002-04:002009-05-06T13:33:58.213-04:00

Interesting photo gallery and some good education about laws of physics and how our beloved heroes and villains break them! Enlightening but I still love my superheroes!

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-23865106086329593232009-05-06T09:54:00.001-04:002009-05-06T09:55:39.683-04:00

Wired.com's cheat codes for everyday life - too cool, funny, and thought-provoking not to share!

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-88255062822333250142009-05-06T09:03:00.003-04:002009-05-06T09:16:52.025-04:00

When my brother and I were kids he had a golden retriever named Eddie (named after Eddie Van Halen). I don't talk much about Eddie. He chewed up all of my shoes in one day!Anyway, we kept little dog biscuits in the house for Eddie (the slobbering shoe destroyer).One day, I was looking at the dog biscuits and smelled them, and realized that they didn't smell too bad. Being the older sibling, I

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-83796006565539436262009-05-05T13:06:00.005-04:002009-05-05T13:16:49.958-04:00

Isn't it just the cutest thing? Doesn't it look like a smiling car? And why not? This all electric, neighborhood cruiser is good for the environment, doesn't use up a lot of resources to operate, and it's adorable! I can just hear my neighbors saying "Awwwww" if they were to see one driving down my street.Unfortunately, at a top speed of 25 mph, it's primary use would be traveling through

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-7683885285302740922009-05-05T12:58:00.002-04:002009-05-05T13:04:00.914-04:00

Cool stuff! Spiderman would definitely have an easier time of things with this spider silk - for example, if he had to stop a getaway car moving off at 100 kilometres per hour. (Nanowerk News)Adding small amounts of metal to spider silk – a material already stronger and lighter than steel – makes it up to 10 times tougher, German researchers report.The scientists devised a way to incorporate

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-68161496585573240602009-05-04T11:39:00.004-04:002009-05-04T11:59:29.510-04:00

Scientific American blog post from April 30th. But with only a few days left in the auction, the bidding price remains $68,000 and Knome has received exactly zero bids. What gives? Ari Kiirikki, Knome's vice president of sales and business development, says the lack of bids may be due to the economic downturn, or that the people who might have the money and the inclination to bid on the prize

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-38129756178198777182009-05-03T18:07:00.003-04:002009-05-03T19:06:23.230-04:00

Of course, when I read this story title, I thought, "... ummm, Santa Claus?" That's ridiculous, of course. There is no such thing as Santa Claus. Unless you're five years old and reading this blog, and then I have to retract my previous statement and ensure you that YES! Santa Claus did indeed discover the North Pole and proceeded to build his awesome workshop, employ countless elves, and

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-81397350948198304422009-04-30T11:43:00.003-04:002009-04-30T12:00:25.264-04:00

I got an email this morning from Trek (I am a proud owner of a Trek road bike) declaring that May is National Bike Month. In conjunction with this, the League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week from May 11-15 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 15. Personally, I love to ride my bike to work, the grocer, the library, etc .... I always wear a helmet, and this post is to remind

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-40850715549630523222009-04-30T11:36:00.003-04:002009-04-30T11:42:16.326-04:00

I realize this isn't a news article, but I have often wondered how long it takes for what you eat to, uh, come out. So here you go, I'm sharing this information.Also, it may interest you to see a slideshow of the digestive system at the mayo clinic's website. It illustrates and describes your digestive system from the time you smell the apple pie baking in the oven to, well, you know.

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-50797941605150041002009-04-29T09:51:00.002-04:002009-04-29T09:58:16.106-04:00

What is swine flu?Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by influenza type A which infects pigs.There are many types, and the infection is constantly changing.Until now it has not normally infected humans, but the latest form clearly does, and can be spread from person to person - probably through coughing and sneezing.What is new about this type of swine flu?The World Health Organization has

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-86029657152516129372009-04-28T13:05:00.002-04:002009-04-28T13:11:02.585-04:00

Have you ever hung your clothes on the clothes line to dry instead of using your clothes dryer? If so, you are harnessing natural energy to do a job you might otherwise pay for in electricity costs. Same concept, bigger scale!I love to see progress in alternative energy, and this is huge! Want to see where other solar power plants are located? Visit http://www.industcards.com/ppworld.htm#

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-75711041608462189192009-04-27T12:34:00.003-04:002009-04-27T12:46:47.058-04:00

I have never really thought about this. IF I ever see a Mountain Lion, what should I do?The Mountain Lion, also known as puma, cougar, and catamount, can be found all over North America from the Florida everglades to the Canadian Rockies. The predator once roamed in large numbers throughout North America, but were virtually eliminated by hunters (for sport) and farmers (to protect their own

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-1231092021688487662009-04-25T23:14:00.003-04:002009-04-25T23:29:57.676-04:00

I haven't posted to this blog in about a week due to my schedule. I was at a working group meeting in Atlanta this past week, and working at another conference the weekend prior. However, at my most recent meeting in Atlanta, one of the "hot topics" in general discussion was the ecological footprints of each participants' home organization. One of my colleagues stated that her organization had

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-68122828151809708342009-04-16T14:58:00.001-04:002009-04-16T14:59:18.039-04:00

This is just so cool - kind of an old story, but too cool not to post! The video is less than 2 minutes long - shows the treadmill in use! :)

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-30940319844149256422009-04-14T12:48:00.003-04:002009-04-14T13:26:41.288-04:00

A bright spot in science news regarding video games! "Video Games Improve Vision, Study Says." Wheee! Oh wait, here's something else: Video Games, Cell Phones And Academic Performance: Some Good News! Yes! Let them play Grand Theft Auto to their hearts' content and get rid of their glasses!Wait, there's more ... Video Games Boost Visual Skills, Study Finds!My X-Box addicted teenage boys are

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-28447235559958490672009-04-13T11:23:00.004-04:002009-04-13T11:28:33.073-04:00

Astronaut Sunita Williams will appear on Tuesday's episode of "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central for the naming announcement.

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-8779150974294185242009-04-13T08:18:00.004-04:002009-04-13T08:30:54.588-04:00

My friend sent me an email entitled "Earth is populated with plenty of bizarre and astonishing creatures" and among the strange looking animals (to include the Dumbo Octopus and the Komondor Dog) was the blob fish. Now, honestly, if my son would have told me that there was indeed such a fish, I would have called him a liar.According to WikiAnswers.com, A fish that inhabits the deep waters off

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-74925987617646348052009-04-06T12:27:00.003-04:002009-04-06T13:38:20.291-04:00

There's a fungus among us! Remember that line from that old sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter?"If you google "world's largest living creature" you will get a list of cool sites, but I have to say that Wikipedia gives a nice diverse list of the world's largest living things. It correctly tells us that "a giant fungus of the species Armillaria ostoyae (honey mushrooms) in the Malheur National Forest in

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-78605144772295170272009-04-06T11:57:00.002-04:002009-04-06T12:26:51.502-04:00

Call it global warming or call it climate change. Either way, it's happening. Three items appeared today as I browsed my favorite science-related websites.The first item was a real eye-opener. As Antarctic or Arctic ice breaks apart and moves out into the ocean, it will melt, causing a rise in ocean levels. But the ice breaking apart in and of itself is a good indicator that temperatures are

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-44624740346169824592009-04-05T13:04:00.007-04:002009-04-06T07:01:21.097-04:00

I'm a vegetarian who eats fish and seafood. Formally, it's called pescetarianism. I do not consume chicken or beef or lamb, etc ... but I do like to eat fish as the varieties I like are high in omega-3 fatty acids. In Genesis 1:26, God gives man "dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-70006759707252844522009-04-03T08:07:00.006-04:002009-04-03T11:22:48.402-04:00

Okay, maybe this piece is not so obscure since it appeared in my top headlines for the morning, but anything that garners my initial response of "Ewwwww," deservedly belongs in this blog.Barry, the name of the giant worm by the way, was destroying coral reef and simply being a big bully at the aquarium in Cornwall, southwestern England, where it happily lives. The slimy, brown,

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-49475844988678978972009-04-02T15:56:00.003-04:002009-04-02T16:13:11.149-04:00

NASA held a contest urging people to vote for a name for the name of the new room of the international space station, and provided these names from which to choose: Serenity, Earthrise, Legacy and Venture. In addition to providing a list of pre-selected names, NASA gave voters the option of writing in a name.In comes Stephen Colbert. After backing out of the presidential election (he was only

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-107105085094441982009-04-01T10:50:00.000-04:002009-04-01T10:51:45.056-04:00

In an experiment, pairs of heterosexual college students who kissed for 15 minutes while listening to music experienced significant changes in their levels of the chemicals oxytocin, which affects pair bonding, and cortisol, which is associated with stress. Their blood and saliva levels of the chemicals were compared before and after the kiss.Both men and women had a decline in cortisol after

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-28835347817279358992009-03-31T09:32:00.002-04:002009-03-31T09:35:56.861-04:00

Why, oh why, can't we all just get along?The International Space Station, once a place where astronauts would share food and facilities, is said to be embroiled in a Cold War-like stand-off.

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-6608022038783086012009-03-30T07:43:00.003-04:002009-03-30T07:54:42.775-04:00

I was watching the original film version of "The Andromeda Strain" last night, so coming up on this news article this morning was kind of coincidental.Both a Spanish and a French astrophysicist have identified a band in the infrared range that serves to track the presence of organic material rich in oxygen and nitrogen in the interstellar dust grains. Should any telescope detect this band, the

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-79262143513434526072009-03-27T17:09:00.005-04:002009-03-27T17:22:25.113-04:00

When I was a kid I spent three years in Hawaii when my father was stationed at Hickam AFB. I loved it there. I loved the uniqueness of life in Hawaii. For instance, the sudden appearance and scampering across the walls of the gecko. (BTW, the ones I used to see look nothing like the GEICO gecko, more like the picture I've included here). The geckos were cool. My neighbors (who were a little

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-82635330099429767302009-03-26T11:07:00.002-04:002009-03-26T11:18:30.533-04:00

How would YOU feel if a few million rats showed up twice a century in YOUR neck of the woods?The flowering Melocanna baccifera bamboo plant, which reproduces every 48 to 50 years, accelerates reproduction in the rats. Rats feed on the fruit and kernel of the plant, which is high in fat. The blooming period lures tens of millions of rats, who turn to human crops after the bamboo fruits are

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-60683543762758864412009-03-24T07:22:00.005-04:002009-03-24T07:32:52.722-04:00

Adit A. Ginde, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, and colleagues compared levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D, a measure of the amount of vitamin D in the blood) from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), collected between 1988 and 1994, to those collected during NHANES 2001-2004. Complete data were available

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-46581563667680494632009-03-23T08:13:00.007-04:002009-03-23T10:05:14.472-04:00

3/23/09: New FDA-approved drug offers hope for gout sufferers (coffee mentioned as being good for gout sufferers)3/22/09: Studies suggest drinking coffee or tea may reduce the risk of stroke3/19/09: Is coffee good . . . or bad?3/19/09: Coffee or tea consumption may lower stroke risk3/17/09: Coffee may boost gut health: Nestle study3/17/09: Coffee may actually reduce the risk of Colon

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-31191701087860363612009-03-22T17:47:00.001-04:002009-03-22T17:49:00.074-04:00

A new study indicates that some aspects of peoples' cognitive skills - such as the ability to make rapid comparisons, remember unrelated information and detect relationships - peak at about the age of 22, and then begin a slow decline starting around age 27.Well, this finding sure would explain a lot! :)

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-23882508682137559232009-03-22T11:12:00.003-04:002009-03-22T11:21:33.199-04:00

I stopped buying bottled water about a year ago when I read about the petroleum necessary to produce and deliver the bottled water to my grocery store. Reusable shopping bags are produced and sold by Trader Joes and other grocers/retail outlets, which are made from recycled plastic beverage bottles. However, at the rate we are going, we better start finding other things to manufacture using

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-18134990655454291382009-03-22T11:05:00.002-04:002009-03-22T11:09:10.327-04:00

Scientists have reassembled a 500-million-year-old prehistoric predator after it emerged parts of the animal had been classified as separate species. Interestingly, this animal was discovered in pieces: "Although the first fragments were described nearly one hundred years ago, they were assumed to be part of a crustacean-like animal. It was not then realised that other parts of the animal were

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-69299450869578180612009-03-22T10:51:00.002-04:002009-03-22T10:57:12.671-04:00

Dolphins at SeaWorld have taught each other how to 'create' toys using bubble rings from their blowholes.Last year experts at the Florida attraction noticed that one of the animals had started blowing a silvery ring of bubbles by flicking its head in a certain way.But now they say more of their dolphins have learnt the trick from her and are even twisting, spinning and re-shaping the rings to

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-12312865288404689342009-03-18T14:19:00.002-04:002009-03-18T14:27:07.195-04:00

The world wide web is 20 years old this month! Scientific American has several articles available about it, on the web, of course!From inspirationonline.com, Tim Berners-Lee was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on Friday, July 16, 2004. He received the knighthood in recognition of his services to the development of the Internet through the invention of the Web, a system to organize, link and

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-55625940617867930742009-03-18T14:07:00.002-04:002009-03-18T14:11:51.298-04:00

This Science Daily article from March 6th (how did I miss this?) includes related articles dating back several years about the naked mole rat and its mysterious long life!Naked mole rats resemble pink, wrinkly, saber-toothed sausages and would never win a beauty contest, even among other rodents. But these natives of East Africa are the champs for longevity among rodents, living nine times longer

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-52253892516310079952009-03-18T13:25:00.002-04:002009-03-18T13:32:28.150-04:00

Science amazes me ... Scientists in California say they're trying to replicate the power of the sun by firing laser beams at a tiny pellet of hydrogen.Scientists aim to replicate the power of the Sun in a new nuclear fusion experiment involving laser beams being fired at a tiny pellet of hydrogen. The set up is capable of generating 500 trillion watts, and if successful could pave the way for a

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-9161010597461092712009-03-17T12:03:00.006-04:002009-03-17T12:20:31.854-04:00

I really like the movie "The Day After Tomorrow." The plot (from imdb): A climatologist tries to figure out a way to save the world from abrupt global warming. He must get to his young son in New York, which is being taken over by a new ice age.So when I read the headline in Cosmos Magazine "Rising sea levels threaten New York City" I immediately thought about the movie. Pewclimate.org asks

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-29279339076399205552009-03-16T09:39:00.003-04:002009-03-16T09:45:40.752-04:00

Look even THEY know how important it is to floss! Get with the program people! As my dentist told me, and I quote: "Small animals ... bacteria ... go ca-ca on your teeth." So brush and floss to get rid of the ca-ca!  

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-28169178496663796952009-03-13T11:22:00.006-04:002009-03-13T11:44:49.443-04:00

Researchers in Italy have uncovered what appear to be the remains of a female "vampire" in Venice, Reuters reported.The woman's remains were buried with a brick jammed between her jaws, most likely to prevent her from feeding on victims of a plague that swept the city in the 16th century, experts said.We humans are susceptible so something called "mass neuroses," where as a culture, town, or

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-21603440355988030472009-03-12T08:23:00.004-04:002009-03-12T08:27:02.993-04:00

This has been an issue for several months! Food Lion, which happens to be my preferred grocer, has sent me several emails over the past months with updated product lists of foods to avoid. Please note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has listed all recalled peanut-containing products at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph/recalls.html. People without Internet access can

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-493126640344237462009-03-11T15:13:00.003-04:002009-03-11T15:52:08.787-04:00

"Researchers in Canada and the U.S. say they think putting heated bat boxes in cold caves during the winter may help lower the number of bats dying from a fungus.White-nose syndrome, or WNS, has killed hundreds of thousands of bats in the past two years in the northeastern U.S. The syndrome, which appears to be spreading, is of concern because bats eat insects at night and fewer bats could mean

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-36835969541340900182009-03-10T18:22:00.002-04:002009-03-10T18:26:51.398-04:00

This is a cool finding!"A new study from North Carolina State University shows that painted road markings, such as the lines separating traffic lanes, are significantly better at reflecting headlights in the direction that the paint was applied. This finding will help determine how states comply with new federal safety regulations and save money on painting their roadways.The NC State researchers

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-87505770531656690462009-03-10T18:05:00.002-04:002009-03-10T18:07:08.867-04:00

  

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-24525265944285417232009-03-10T09:03:00.003-04:002009-03-10T09:13:25.880-04:00

"... the 31-year-old alpha male started building his weapons cache in the morning before the zoo opened, collecting rocks and knocking out disks from concrete boulders inside his enclosure. He waited until around midday before he unleashed a "hailstorm" of rocks against visitors, the study said."He's a big fella ... this link even has a representative image of the pile of rocks he threw. It was

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574028178674300814.post-6045512077933175982009-03-10T08:42:00.002-04:002009-03-10T08:55:13.583-04:00

~Kim~http://www.blogger.com/profile/17199643170226602332noreply@blogger.com0