Assorted News and Tech posts

Group defending anglophone rights in Quebec thretened - Several threatening emails were received by the Association of Western Quebecers that defends the right of English-speakers in Quebec. The group calling itself Ligue de Defense National sent two threatening emails to the association, the most recent stating that if they do not cease and desist then du plomb dans la tête. I'll leave that translation to the reader. Gatineau police are currently investigating.

Global warming = more expensive beer - Australian scientists warn that global warming will play havoc with the grains used to brew beer, resulting in rising beer prices. On the bright side, this might be just the impetus needed to get people to take global warming seriously. Found on Rick Mercer's blog.

Not all trans-fats are intrinsically evil - University of Alberta researchers conclude that not only may trans-fats found in yogurt, milk and cheese be good for you, they may even reduce your cholesterol levels. They distinguish between "natural trans-fats" from milk-based products and meats, and "industrial trans-fats" in many processed foods such as margarine and donuts. Found on Rick Mercer's blog.

Self-destructing corn - Scientists have developed a variety of genetically-modified corn that produces the very enzymes that would convert its cell walls into sugars after harvest. The corn was designed to produce the enzymes inside vacuoles so that the cell walls would be unaffected until after harvest when the vacuoles are broken during processing.

MDA sale of Canadian satellite technology blocked - Alliant Tech has 30 days to appeal the decision, which it probably will. As a side note, not only must the Industry Minister approve the sale, but so does the Foreign Minister because this sale involves the transaction of satellite technology. If either people say no, the deal don't go. Found on Rick Mercer's blog. Also, read the New York Times version of the story here.

Pollution may be making flowers smell dull - Researchers have proposed that pollution may be resulting in a weakening of the fragrance of flowers. Aside from making floral fragrance dull to humans, insects like bees are less able to follow the chemical trails. They postulate that this may be why bees populations are in decline.

Tech posts and images

How common is intelligent life in the universe? - An interesting article on Space.com explores the likelihood of our encountering other intelligent life.

Make my condoms green - Brazil, one of the world's largest single buyer of condoms in the world, plans to make their own using rubber harvested from trees in the rain forest.  The  approach is expected to create new jobs for people living in the Amazonian jungle, as well as help preserve the rain forest and reduce the cost of importing products that can be produced more cheaply locally. The government currently gives away free condoms to fight the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, much to the dismay of the Roman Catholic Church.

Depression a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease - US researchers report that people with recurrent symptoms of depression are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than those who show  no recurrent symptoms of depression.

Cars can be tracked using tire pressure gauge - A Tire Pressure Monitoring System uses uniquely-identifiable radio transmitters on each tire to broadcast to the current tire pressure to a sensor in the car. Some people are concerned that the car can be tracked by tracking the wireless signal generated by the tire because each sensor emits a unique ID so that it can be differentiated from both other tires in the car and other tires on other cars. Found on Slashdot.

Movement sensors less invasive for tracking office workers - Researchers at the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories have demonstrated that people can be accurately tracked in an office setting using a distributed array of low-cost motion sensors. The propose that tracking people in this way is more effective than traditional approaches using CCTV and is better at maintaining people's privacy. The system may have application in determining how people behave during emergencies so that escape procedures and mechanisms can be improved. Found on Slashdot.

( 10 tech images under the cut )