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Source: EurekAlert!  Astronomers have, using a suite of four telescopes, have been able to capture a detailed image of Altair. The star spins so quickly that it is oblong in shape (see the photo, the axis of rotation is top right to lower left), 22 percent wider than it is long. Altair is one of our sun's close neighbours, only 15 light years away. Colour variations on the image shown here represent variations in surface temperature. The team hopes to generate detailed images of other nearby stars, and next hope to turn the technique to finding plants around these stars. |
Source: Reuters  Dutch scientists are developing a procedure to grow pork in a lab, thus, avoiding the slaughter of living animals. Thus far they have managed to coax muscle stem cells to multiple and are bulking them up through electronic stimulation. They have, so far, only been successful in growing a thin layer of muscle cells. |
Source: CBC News The Manitoba First Nations are seeking compensation for every cellphone signal that crosses First Nations land. They propose that like water and land rights, airspace rights should also be respected, although this is stretching the idea of "airspace" well beyond it's usual application. The claim is unique, but other First Nations groups are watching closely in anticipation of following suit. |
Source: ars technica  This week, Microsoft introduced a new concept PC called the Surface. The system consists of a video display projected onto the underside of a glass-surfaced table, and uses 5 near-infrared cameras to detect interactions with the glass plate. This is accomplished by illuminating the top of the glass plate with infrared light so that anything in contact with it disturbs the uniform light pattern. In theory, thousands of separate "events", such as finger-touches, can be detected, but they decided to limit the number of events to 52: enough for 4 people to use all ten fingers and still track 12 objects. It can also recognize objects that have their base marked with patterns of dots so that their orientation can be detected. Want one? It'll set you back between $5,000(US) and $10,000(US). Check out the video clip at Popular Mechanics to get an idea of what this thing is capable of. Really neat concept! |
Source: The Independent ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small} _luaineach posted a few days ago. Researchers at Sheffield University believe that sodium benzoate, a preservative used in soft drinks, damage mitochondrial DNA, sometimes even deactivating it. Mitochondria are the "engines" of our cells, converting oxygen into chemical energy. The researchers point out that many neuro-degenerative illnesses, like Parkinson's, are linked to mitochondrial damage. Although this does not mean that soft drinks cause brain damage, it does indicate that consuming large quantities of soft drinks might result in a greater susceptibility to neurological disorders later in life according to the researchers. For those who are unfamiliar with sodium benzoate (and now I can dust off the old copy of Food Additives Databook) it is used to fight spore-formers (yeasts, molds, and some bacteria) in acidic foods (like soft drinks, fruit juices, pie fillings, preserves, margarine, and salad dressings to name but a few). In combination with Vitamin C, it forms benzene, a known carcinogen; however, it is typically used at less than 0.1% so is generally not considered a health risk. |
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