Science Log
August
2003 Science News, Sector 001
- USS
TEXAS | |
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CNN,
12-Aug-03 Caligula
– There has always been some question in the minds of researchers as to
the mental state of the Roman Empire’s third ruler, Caligula. Archeologists have now answered
that question and determined that the ruler was probably a maniac. Recent digs at his palace have
determined that he built his temple right up to the Temple of Castor and
Pollux, figuratively using the Temple as a front porch. This suggests he thought himself a
god. |
CNN, 13-Aug-03 Classroom Cameras – To increase security and keep an eye on students, classrooms in Biloxi, Mississippi public schools are now equipped with cameras. The Biloxi public school district is one of the first districts in the US to install the cameras. At present, no written policies have been implemented as to how the cameras will be used. Only a limited number of people are authorized to view the tapes. |
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CNN, 08-Aug-03 California Water Supply – The California Coastal Commission is warning that the state’s proposal to allow more companies to remove water from the Pacific Ocean, strip the salt and use as a fresh water source could have serious affects on marine plant and animal populations. The Commission also cited a case in Florida where a desalination plant that recently opened continues to experience problems with the filters getting clogged. So if the desalination industries in California fail, who will pay for it? CNN, 12-Aug-03 Underwater Volcano – Researchers from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks have reported the discovery of a new underwater volcano near the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The volcano is active but dormant and rises 1903 feet off the ocean floor. If it erupts, it will form a new island. NASA
JPL News Release, 20-Aug-03
Disaster Prevention - The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory has developed software to link their earth sciences satellites equipped with special sensors to other satellites and that will alert ground officials to forest fires or other potential hazards. This process will be helpful, for example, in identifying fires in remote areas. CNN, 22-Aug-03 Ozone Hole – According to Australian scientists, the hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic may grow to a record size this year, potentially as large as the year 2000 hole of 10.9 million square miles. The full extent of the hole cannot be determined until late September since the coldest months for the Antarctic are August and September. CNN, 20-Aug-03 Swiss Glaciers Melting – Glaciers of the Swiss Alps are melting at a record rate, but scientists cannot agree upon the cause. The rate of melting increased starting in the 1970’s and since 2000 has caused unexpected flash flooding.
Wired News,
01-Aug-03 Changing Colors – As
reported in the journal Molecular
and Cellular Biology, scientists have developed a method for changing
the coat colors of mice. The
technique involves changing the diet of the fetus thus affecting genes. |
CNN,
07-Aug-03
Eye Gel for Aging –
Scientists from the Australian Vision Cooperative Research Center have
developed an ophthalmic gel to counteract the effects of natural aging of
the eyes. So far, the use of
the gel on animals has been promising and tests will begin soon on humans
to improve cataract surgery in elderly patients. CNN, 07-Aug-03Cloned Horse – Italian
scientists have created the first horse cloned from the female horse that
gave birth to her. The cloned
horse was named Prometheus after the Greek God. The success of this cloning could
lead to future cloning of racehorses. CNN, 08-Aug-03Lou Gehrig’s Disease –
Scientists from John Hopkins University have reported that a new gene
therapy has more than doubled the lives of mice inflicted with Lou
Gehrig’s Disease. They are
currently in the planning stages for human trails. CNN, 11-Aug-03Heart Repair –
Scientists have discovered a way to use genetically-enhanced bone marrow
cells to repair damaged heart tissue resulting from heart attacks. The process has been successful on
rats, but not yet tested on humans. CNN,
12-Aug-03 Drug for Parkinson’s –
Researchers with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center in Phoenix,
Arizona have discovered that some Parkinson’s patients taking the drug
Mirapex are experiencing an unusual side-effect….compulsive gambling. Although the risk is small,
doctors should inform their patients using the drug. Yahoo News, 25-Aug-03Lizard Saliva – Amylin
Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly have released recent studies pertaining to a
new experimental diabetes drug called Exenatide. The drug is derived from the
saliva of the Gila monster lizard of the Arizona desert and aids in
lowering blood sugar levels in human patients. CNN, 25-Aug-03Child Medical Student –
A twelve year old with an IQ of 200 has entered the University of
Chicago’s medical school and PhD program. So far, he has made A’s on all his
tests. |
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USA Today, 11-Aug-03 Iceman Murder – Scientists at the University of Queensland in Australia have discovered through DNA testing that Otzi, the 5300 year old Stone Age Iceman, did not freeze to death in the snow but instead was killed by one or more people. The DNA testing revealed that blood found on the body belonged to four different individuals. Since the snow is melting due to the heat wave in Europe, scientists will be heading back to the Italian Alps to look for more bodies. CNN,
14-Aug-03 Titanic Wreckage – Scientists from the Russian research vessel “Kekdysh” have reported that the Titanic, located at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Newfoundland, is rapidly disintegrating. Salvage activities and visits from treasure hunters may be causing the accelerated deterioration process. Depleted fish stocks from over-fishing are also a contributing factor, since the fish would typically eat the organic matter naturally breaking down the ship. |
Paranormal
News, 04-Aug-03
Walter Cronkite UFO Sighting - Bill Knell, a veteran paranormal investigator, has reported that during an interview for a 1973 CBS UFO documentary, Walter Cronkite described his encounter with a UFO. Cronkite was in the South Pacific and was watching an Air Force missile test when the encounter occurred. Objects near the UFO stopped in mid-air and the missile then exploded. However, for reasons unknown Cronkite did not describe his encounter for the documentary. Pittsburgh Live, 14-Aug-03 Kecksburg, PA UFO – The SciFi Channel hosted a town hall meeting in Kecksburg to initiate an open forum pertaining to the 1965 Kecksburg UFO case. About 50 people from surrounding areas attended. Bryant Gumble served as moderator for the event and resultant documentary that will air on October 17th. |
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CNN,
01-Aug-03
Tasmanian Cancer – A mysterious cancer is spreading throughout the Australian population of Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and may kill two-thirds of the population by 2006. The cancer, probably spread from biting during mating or fighting, causes large tumors that block the animals’ eyes, ears and mouths thus causing starvation. Wildlife biologists report that little can be done to stop the spread of the disease. National Geographic, 06-Aug-03Whale Beachings –
Researches have determined that the beachings of dwarf and pygmy sperm
whales in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico may be linked to heart
disease. The condition known
as cardiomyopathy is a common type of inherited human heart disease
resulting in sudden deaths of athletes. Heart disease was previously
thought to be rare among whales. CNN,
07-Aug-03
Walking on Water –
Scientists at the Massachusettes Institute of Technology (MIT) have
discover how some insects, such as water skimmers, stride across the
surface of water at speeds in excess of 60 inches per second. They use one of their three hairy
legs to create subsurface vortices to propel themselves. As recently reported in the
journal Nature, MIT used the discovery to create a robot named Robostrider made from
drink cans, steel wire, elastic bands and a pulley to demonstrate
propulsion on the surface of water. |
Nature
(continued) CNN,
07-Aug-03
Old Web Silk – A Swiss scientist has discovered the oldest
know strand of spider-web silk.
The strand was found in Lebanese amber and was dated to about 130
million years old.
CNN, 22-Aug-03Whale Jumps in Boat –
Migaloo, the only known albino humpback whale, measuring 30 feet in
length, and weighing 10 tons mysteriously jumped into a yacht near
Australia but suffered no life threatening injuries. The event came during the mating
season for humpbacks and may explain Migaloo’s behavior and the sinking of
the 40-foot yacht. No persons
aboard were injured. Yahoo News, 23-Aug-03Free Willy – Keiko, the
whale that starred in the Free Willy film and released a year ago in
coastal waters of Norway, keeps returning to the shoreline. Former keepers of the whale have
posted a guard near the site and roped off water areas to prevent people
from close encounters. A
recent attempt by teenagers to steal the orca has keepers and local
residents concerned for Keiko’s safety. CNN, 30-Jul-03Koalas and Birth
Control – Researchers at the Mount Eccles National Park in Victoria
Australia are planning to inject female koalas with contraceptives as a
counter measure to overpopulated conditions. The effectiveness of the
contraceptive should last about five years and has been used successfully
with kangaroos in zoos; however, it has never been used with animals in
the wild. |
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CNN,
07-Aug-03
Web Addiction - In an
article recently published in Current Psychology, two University of
Florida psychiatrists have developed a system for doctors to use to
determine when a patient’s use of the Internet is dysfunctional. The test is called MOUSE and
consists of five questions: M
– More than intended time spent online, O – Other responsibilities
neglected, U – Unsuccessful attempts to cut down, S – Significant
relationship discord because of use, E – Excessive thoughts or anxiety
when not online. The test can
also assist in determining if the behavior is isolated or related to other
disorders such as depression. | |
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CNN, 05-Aug-03Next
Mars Mission – The next NASA mission to Mars has been slated for 2007 as
part of the new Mars Scout Program.
The unmanned Phoenix lander will take ice and soil samples in Mars’
northern region. Estimated
costs for the program are $325 million.
CNN, 07-Aug-03Spirit Problem – An onboard computer failure was detected on NASA’s space rover Spirit, but officials are confident it will be fixed prior to the rover’s landing in January 2004. The malfunction affects the rover’s ability to gather information. CNN, 11-Aug-03Space
Wedding – A Russian cosmonaut aboard the International Space Station was
married to his earthbound sweetheart. Legal complications as a result of
Russian laws threatened the proceedings, but were dismissed. The Russian government plans to
add a clause in future pre-flight contracts prohibiting marriages in
space. SpaceDaily,
15-Aug-03
First China Manned
Launch – October 10th has been tentatively set for the first
manned mission by China into space.
Details pertaining to the launch of the Shenzhou-5 carrying a
single astronaut (“yuhangyuan”) have not yet been
released. |
Space
(Continued) NASA JPL News Release, 25-Aug-03Infrared Telescope –
The Space Infrared Telescope Facility was successfully launched by NASA at
Cape Canaveral, Florida and it is now in position behind and trailing the
Earth as it orbits the Sun.
After a series of tests are completed, the telescope will begin
it’s intended mission of probing deep space and should last between 2.5
and 5 years. Coast-to-Coast
AM Radio, 27-Aug-03
Mars - Richard C.
Hoagland reported during the broadcast, in his opinion, that NASA is
beginning to make subtle comments about bizarre anomalies on Mars to
prepare the public. The fact
that NASA now has competition with the space agencies of Europe and Japan
due to these agencies’ present missions to Mars may be a motivating factor
in the release of the truth.
Hoagland described comments made by NASA scientists in Science and
Nature journals indicating that a bizarre anomaly will be discovered and
will trigger a future manned mission to Mars. Hoagland reported that his research on Mars at the Lowell Observatory over the past couple of months has revealed images of blue/green regions and seasonal changes to the planet contrary to the red/brown/tan images released by NASA. Note: Richard Hoagland is a former museum space science Curator; former NASA Consultant; and was science advisor to Walter Cronkite and CBS News during the historic Apollo Missions to the Moon. |
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Wired News, 01-Aug-03 Mona Lisa Fog Bank – Unveiled at Siggraph’s Emerging Technologies exhibition in San Diego, a Finnish creator has developed the technology to cast a picture onto a fog bank. The military took an interest in the potential applications. Business 2.0 Magazine, 01-Aug-03 Gizmos – Nokia has developed a new music phone for
bicycles that attaches on top of the handlebars. The phone also includes a built-in
MP3 player, games, FM radio, and messaging keyboard. Nine hours of music can be
downloaded and the phone is equipped with a color screen. Cost: $299. Ingineo has developed
double vision sunglasses that include an LCD screen for watching TV and
slide shows. Cost: $699. Popular Science,
01-Aug-03 Snorkel
Radio – Amphicom has developed an FM snorkel radio and the device uses a
tiny antenna that runs up the snorkel barrel. No headphones are needed; but
instead the music vibrations travel up the jawbone to the inner ear as the
snorkeler bites down on the mouthpiece. Cost: $129. |
CNN, 12-Aug-03 Internet/Web – Did you know that there is a big difference between the Internet and the Web and that most people misuse both words? To clarify, the Internet is that massive matrix of communications devices that link together computers from around the world. Conversely, the Web is anything on the Internet that is accessed through URLs or Uniform Resource Locators.
Space.com, 04-Aug-03 Disney
Space Mission – The Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida has
opened the long-await Epcot attraction featuring a space-themed ride that
pulls nearly 2 g’s. As a
tribute to NASA and the space program, an estimated $100 million was spent
to develop and construct the attraction. NASA also assisted with the
project. |
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Please, if you should have any suggestions for this news log, contact me! | |
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Copies of original news articles are available per request to sleepykitties@sbcglobal.net. | |
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