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 This post may be somewhat unnecessary considering that I haven't posted anything here in two and a half months, but I want to say that I am formally shutting down ROBBLOG. I cut my blogging teeth over here and ROBBLOG will always have a place in my heart. I'll leave it up for the archive and, who knows, maybe someday I'll come back here but, for now: Happy trails, old friend... This is really cool:
"Throughout most of human history, the ability to digest lactose, the principal sugar of milk, has been switched off after weaning because there is no further need for the lactase enzyme that breaks the sugar apart. But when cattle were first domesticated 9,000 years ago and people later started to consume their milk as well as their meat, natural selection would have favored anyone with a mutation that kept the lactase gene switched on."The change may have been as recent as 3,000 years ago. Once again, throw this on the pile of data that supports evolution. (In your face creationism and Intelligent Design!) Figure it out people, ignoring scientific facts isn't going to help Americans compete.  HIV/AIDS Today is World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day, AIDSinfo Risk of progression to AIDS increases without steady anti-retroviral drug treatment. CBC Experts look to implement new strategies to prevent HIV transmission. WP Bill Clinton is starting a foundation to provide AIDS drugs to children. BBC Science The EU plans to spend 54 billion Euros on science over the next several years. BBC, ScienceNOW Scientists need to be involved in science debates to keep them from being dominated by minority views. BBC A single asteroid killed the dinosaurs. Reuters, NG Drugs The White House does not want to release documents concerning the "Plan B" contraceptive. WP Cancer Blocking progesterone may keep breast cancer gene, BRCA1, at bay. WP, Reuters Health Bush Administration abstinence-only policy for combating underage pregnancy does not work, contraception does. BBC, Reuters Space Steven Hawking says humans need to get out of the solar system to survive. AP, Reuters, BBC NASA says shuttle redesign can wait until 2008. AP Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy Monsoons in India have worsened with climate change. Reuters, Nature LA auto show highlights green cars. CSM Technology Microsoft releases Vista OS for business. Reuters, BBC Stem Cells Stem cells may be used to fix back pain. BBC Weather Hurricane season ends without one hitting the US, thanks to el Nino. AP, Reuters, Nature, NG Terrorism Al-Qaeda is making noise about a cyber attack on businesses set for today. AP Categories: Science news, Science, News  HIV/AIDS South Africa will use Friday's World AIDS Day to launch a new plan to fight HIV/AIDS and answer near universal criticism of their previous "strategy". Reuters Male circumcision in Africa may hold promise for limiting the spread of the disease. WP Universal AIDS test needed. Reuters Science Review says that scientific journal editors should scrutinize data more before accepting investigators submissions. WP, NYT Drugs Natural anti-inflammatory may be more potent than synthetic drugs, but without side effects. WP Health Arby's rules! They are taking the trans-fats out of their fries. WP Keep drinkin' (red wine that is), you'll live longer (then you can drink more). WP, BBC Space NASA sets next shuttle launch for Dec. 7th. WP, Reuters Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy Personal wind turbines are catching on in Britain. CSM The world is reacting to climate change even if the politicians are not. WP Demand for plug-in hybrid cars grows. Reuters GM is (finally) working on a plug-in hybrid. WP The EU is fighting over strong CO2 emission cuts. Reuters, BBC Heat stored in the North Atlantic may exacerbate climate change. Guardian Technology Price wars: Plasma TV prices keep going down. WP Miscellaneous Face transplant recipient can smile. BBC Ancient computer examined. BBC, NYT, Reuters, LiveScience.com, Nature, NG Categories: Science news, Science, News [Crossposted at Tokatakiya]
Resolution HR6164 (you can look up the text here) passed the House of Representatives on September 26th and has now been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee. HR 6164 aims to continue the Republican War on Science by crippling the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The President of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) detailed many of the insidious provisions of HR6164 in an open letter (pdf) to the HELP committee's ranking member, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass). "After careful review and modeling of future NIH budget scenarios, AASLD has concluded that the NIH Reform Act of 2006 will deal a sever and crushing blow to the future of biomedical research in this country. Damage to the research enterprise will result in the permanent loss of investigators and technical support staff from our academic centers with an inevitable negative impact on America's position as the world's leader in basic, translational and clinical research and as the creator of much-needed high paying, technology jobs in our country.Make no mistake, crippling the NIH like this will have unimaginably damaging effects on the biomedical sciences for years, possible decades, to come. This issue affects all Americans, every single one of us. The NIH provides the funding that fosters new treatments and cures, not to mention the many new biomedical start-ups that are built on discoveries made using NIH grant money. These start-ups create jobs. Not only is biomedical science THE growth industry of the 21st century but biomedical jobs will likely play a large part in replacing the manufacturing jobs that are being shipped overseas. This bill is short sighted. It will reduce the quality and quantity of science performed in this country. It will reduce the number of new treatments, cures, and drugs discovered in this country. It will damage the short and long-term growth of biomedical industry in this country at a time when job growth is (and will be) sorely needed. The good news is that this bill has not yet been passed. Here is a list of the Senators who sit on the HELP committee and whose votes are crucial to killing this bill. If you live in a state represented by one of the Senators on the HELP committee, I urge you to use the link above to write them and request that they vote against HR6164. If you don't live in one of these states, please contact your Senator and request that they vote against HR6164 (and urge their colleagues to vote against it) if it makes it to a floor vote. This isn't just legislation that will hurt scientists in their ivory towers, this will affect every man, woman, and child in the United States. (Very likely much of the rest of the world as well.) Please take this seriously and please take the time to write a note to your Senator to kill this bill. It will be the most important thing you do today.  Politics Science issues like stem cells and climate change are going to be high priority in new Democratic Congress. CSM Environment Democratic Congress unlikely to allow expanded offshore drilling. NYT Science Humorous names for genes discovered in fruit flies do not translate well to the clinic. NYT Animals Panda porn: what an age we live in. Reuters Cancer Manipulating immune cells can help fight melanoma. BBC, Guardian Firefighters have a higher risk of developing certain cancers. BBC HIV/AIDS Life expectancy with HIV has increased. NYT Health Doctors can use Google to help with diagnoses. BBC, CBC Children may have hardening arteries. Reuters Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy Kyoto countries are looking to extend the pact. Reuters Storm surge barriers may be needed to protect New York City. CSM Stem Cells Stem cells used to treat diabetes in mice. BBC And to restore sight in mice. WP Miscellaneous Accurate scientific facts are finding their way into TV shows. LAT Artificial stomach created. BBC Categories: Science news, Science, News In Japan.
Vestigial structures are parts of an animal that once had a function but are no longer used (think appendix). They are one of the many proofs of evolution. They represent a "snapshot" of evolution in progress. I always feel the need to say this, evolution is supported by as much data as any other concept in science. This is one more item on that list. A new study shows that, essentially, there won't be any fish left in 40 years.
No fish. 40 years. Oh well, let's get back to talking about important things: Gay marriage and flag burning. (Help.) [WP, NYT, BBC] The NYT has an article about research on "caloric restriction" in primates.
Caloric restriction has been shown to significantly extend lifespan in every organism in which it has been tested. Showing it works in primates means it will probably work in humans. This is fascinating. Unfortunately it would be a horrible way to live. Hopefully this research will uncover some lazier, undisciplined way to take advantage of this life extending mechanism. Update: Oops. I had the wrong link, its fixed now. I must apologize for my slacking the last two weeks. I was on vacation for a week and I've been busy with campaigning for Jim Webb. So, bear with me.
Thanks for your patience.  Space Panel endorses NASA plans for return to the moon. AP, Reuters, BBC, ScienceNOW Atlantis landing postponed. AP, WP, Reuters, BBC Cancer Eating fatty fish may reduce kidney cancer chances. Reuters Health Penis transplant removed. (Yeah, you read it right.) Reuters, AP, Guardian Sugar may help fight malaria. Reuters Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy Al Gore calls for immediate freeze in greenhouse gas emissions. NYT Technology Patent applied for on a single disk that will play on Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Reuters 3D TV? BBC Microsoft will start a YouTube of its own. BBC Evolution New species of shark discovered that walks on its fins. NYT Terrorism Fish are being used as sentinels against a bio-attack. WP Miscellaneous 200 year old seeds brought back to life. BBC Categories: Science news, Science, News  Terrorism "Bin Laden Trail 'Stone Cold'". WP Congress panel blames the EPA and New York officials for not protecting workers at Ground Zero. AP, NYT Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy Another study links stronger hurricanes to global warming. NYT, Reuters, AP, BBC, ScienceNOW NASA study says greenhouse gas emissions from humans are causing climate change, melting the Arctic. WP, NYT, Reuters, BBC, LiveScience.com Climatologist: We have 10-years to avert climate change disaster. Reuters Hybrid car marketability tied to high gas prices. Reuters 2006 hottest year on record. LiveScience.com Evolution Most recent Neanderthal fossils found. Guardian, LiveScience.com, ScienceNOW, Nature, NG Cancer Michigan may require 6th grade girls to receive the cervical cancer vaccine. (Good for them.) AP Nature Rare earthquake shakes the gulf coast. AP, NG Health Commercially bagged, fresh spinach may be harboring pathogenic E. coli. WP, AP, Reuters The reduction in air travel post-9/11 delayed the flu season. WP, AP, ScienceNOW, NYT McDonald's spend tiny, tiny amount of money to obesity research so they can say they are fighting it. (Less than $67 per McDonald’s restaurant in the world.) Reuters Technology Bionic arm. AP, WP Weather El Nino is back. ScienceNOW Space Space shuttle Atlantis (finally) launched on Saturday, no damage seen. WP, NYT, LAT, Reuters, BBC, CSM Earthlike worlds may not be uncommon. ScienceNOW Dwarf planet named. Reuters Extra-solar, low-density planet discovered – largest ever. Reuters, ScienceNOW, NG HIV/AIDS South Africa cuts power of AIDS minister (who doesn’t know anything about AIDS. AP, BBC Categories: Science news, Science, News  Health Commercially bagged, fresh spinach may be harboring pathogenic E. coli. WP, AP, Reuters DDT may make a comeback to fight malaria. AP Science The first tree genome has been sequenced. Nature Cancer Vitamin D may reduce risk of pancreatic cancer. AP Space Dwarf planet named. Reuters Extra-solar, low-density planet discovered – largest ever. Reuters, ScienceNOW, NG Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy 2006 hottest year on record. LiveScience.com The Bush administration to cut funds for 2 renewable energy sources. CSM Tidal energy off of Oregon is promising. CSM Technology Electronic voting to get worse before it gets better. WP MS iPod, Zune info. AP Miscellaneous Genetically engineered rice under scrutiny. Reuters Categories: Science news, Science, News  Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy NASA study says greenhouse gas emissions from humans are causing climate change, melting the Arctic. WP, NYT, Reuters, BBC, LiveScience.com Climatologist: We have 10-years to avert climate change disaster. Reuters Hybrid car marketability tied to high gas prices. Reuters Evolution Most recent Neanderthal fossils found. Guardian, LiveScience.com, ScienceNOW, Nature, NG Science Federal grant submission site still doesn’t work with Macs. WP Animals Smuggled orangutans to head home. Reuters Drugs Marijuana may improve hepatitis C therapy. WP Cancer Michigan may require 6th grade girls to receive the cervical cancer vaccine. (Good for them.) AP Health Medicare premiums set to rise next year. WP, NYT Heart transplant recipient doing fine 28 years later. AP Senator Clinton wants $1.9 billion to help ground zero workers with health problems. AP Polio outbreak in India. AP McDonald’s spend tiny, tiny amount of money to obesity research so they can say they are fighting it. (Less than $67 per McDonald’s restaurant in the world.) Reuters Space Spacewalk goes well for Atlantis. WP, NYT, LAT Technology Bionic arm. AP, WP ALL Segways to be recalled. AP More crazy crap from iPod. NYT New batteries aren’t coming soon. Reuters Weather El Nino is back. ScienceNOW Miscellaneous Former EPA head may be investigated for post-9/11 conduct. AP Categories: Science news, Science, News  Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy Another study links stronger hurricanes to global warming. NYT, Reuters, AP, BBC, ScienceNOW Asian and European countries say they will continue to cut emissions after the Kyoto protocols expire. AP Warmer winters may be causing an insect boom in Alaska. AP Climate change may be causing some glaciers to grow larger. NG Nature Rare earthquake shakes the gulf coast. AP, NG Health The reduction in air travel post-9/11 delayed the flu season. WP, AP, ScienceNOW, NYT Life expectancy related to where a person lives. AP Cigarette maker disputes finding that nicotine levels in cigarette have risen over the last 10 years. AP Potential weight-loss supplement from seaweed investigated. BBC Space Spacewalk scheduled for today. WP Russia and China to collaborate on plans for exploration of the moon. AP Technology Movies are coming to the iPod. WP HD TiVo. Reuters Miscellaneous Japan puts another satellite into orbit to spy on North Korea. Reuters Categories: Science news, Science, News  Terrorism "Bin Laden Trail 'Stone Cold'". WP Congress panel blames the EPA and New York officials for not protecting workers at Ground Zero. AP, NYT Space Space shuttle Atlantis (finally) launched on Saturday, no damage seen. WP, NYT, LAT, Reuters, BBC, CSM Earthlike worlds may not be uncommon. ScienceNOW HIV/AIDS South Africa cuts power of AIDS minister (who doesn’t know anything about AIDS. AP, BBC Health Researchers identify protein that "cuts" protein tangles that are hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. BBC Bird Flu Indonesia bird flu deaths: 48. AP Immune response may be key to bird flu. Nature, BBC Categories: Science news, Science, News  Cancer The rate of breast cancer in the US may have stopped increasing. WP Deaths from cancer have fallen. Reuters, LAT Health FDA approves implantable artificial heart. WP, AP, NYT, Reuters, LAT Most 9/11 first responders have lung problems. AP, NYT, CBC, Reuters HIV/AIDS Extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis is compounding South Africa's HIV crisis. NYT, BBC, ScienceNOW Space Shuttle launch delayed. AP, Reuters, BBC Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy British scientist says that the Earth's temperature will rise 10 degrees in the next 20 years. WP "Point of no return" coming on climate change. Guardian, Guardian Technology Intel will but 10,500 more jobs. Bloomberg, NYT, LAT, BBC Google to launch new feature: searchable news archive of the last 200 years. BBC Science Massive NIH mouse genome knock-out project announced. ScienceNOW Brain activity seen in unresponsive brain-damaged patients. NYT, AP, BBC, Reuters, WP, LAT, Guardian, Nature Stem Cells Gene discovered that connects lifespan, cancer, and stem cells. NYT, ScienceNOW Scientists who produced stem cell lines from single embryonic cells taken to task by Senators for how the work was presented. WP Categories: Science news, Science, News  Space Another launch attempt for the space shuttle may come today. WP, NYT, LAT, Reuters Science Massive NIH mouse genome knock-out project announced. ScienceNOW Brain activity seen in unresponsive brain-damaged patients. NYT, AP, BBC, Reuters, WP, LAT, Guardian, Nature Cancer Scientists link approximately 200 genes to breast and colorectal cancers. AP, Nature Health Average life expectancy may increase to unimaginable levels. Reuters Technology Amazon starts selling downloadable films. NYT, LAT, Reuters, BBC Categories: Science news, Science, News  HIV/AIDS AIDS experts are criticizing South Africa's health minister (because she does not know anything about AIDS). BBC, AP, CBC Drugs The DEA changes rules on prescription painkillers. WP, AP Cancer The rate of breast cancer in the US may have stopped increasing. WP Deaths from cancer have fallen. Reuters, LAT Space Mars rover reaches crater. BBC Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy The US Army wants green energy in Iraq. CSM Stem Cells Gene discovered that connects lifespan, cancer, and stem cells. NYT, ScienceNOW Scientists who produced stem cell lines from single embryonic cells taken to task by Senators for how the work was presented. WP Miscellaneous The FDA is looking into the safety of mercury dental fillings. AP, Reuters Categories: Science news, Science, News  Health FDA approves implantable artificial heart. WP, AP, NYT, Reuters, LAT Governor Schwarzenegger will veto a California universal health care bill. AP Most 9/11 first responders have lung problems. AP, NYT, CBC, Reuters Head of Medicare to resign. NYT, WP Scientists discover protein that tells the brain you are full when you eat protein. BBC, CBC, Nature Environment Hermaphroditic fish found in the Potomac River, pollution to blame. WP Animals Iceland to sell whale meat. BBC Drugs Using methamphetamine while pregnant can cause reduced birth weight. BBC HIV/AIDS Extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis is compounding South Africa's HIV crisis. NYT, BBC, ScienceNOW Space Shuttle launch delayed. AP, Reuters, BBC Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy British scientist says that the Earth's temperature will rise 10 degrees in the next 20 years. WP "Point of no return" coming on climate change. Guardian, Guardian Technology Intel will but 10,500 more jobs. Bloomberg, NYT, LAT, BBC Google to launch new feature: searchable news archive of the last 200 years. BBC Note to ESPN: Just show the damn game! LAT Categories: Science news, Science, News  Cancer People are having difficulty finding the cervical cancer vaccine. AP HIV/AIDS Libya wants the death penalty for foreign medical workers accused of infecting children with HIV. AP Space The space shuttle Atlantis is back on the launch pad. BBC Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy Japan launches initiative for greener vehicles. Reuters Billion dollar greenhouse gas deal announced. Reuters Accelerated melting of glaciers may threaten water supplies. Guardian Global warming releases methane, methane accelerates global warming. We’re %$@^%@. NG, ScienceNOW Technology Free books to be available for download on Google. AP Ad supported, legal, free music download site is coming. NYT, Reuters, BBC Evolution The Pope may embrace Intelligent design. Guardian Bird Flu Bird flu in Alaska? AP Miscellaneous Preference for male children is a disaster waiting to happen. CBC, Reuters Categories: Science news, Science, News I just wanted to let people know that Chris Mooney's book "The Republican War on Science" has just been updated and released in paperback:
Seeing as this year's elections are right around the corner, this book has plenty of good examples of what the majority party has done while in office. (Spoiler alert: It hasn't been good for science.) Plus, it's cheaper than the hardcover. Tags: Chris Mooney, Science, Politics, Books, Republicans, Democrats, Elections, 2006, Congress  Space Shuttle launch delayed due to Hurricane/tropical storm Ernesto. WP, AP, NYT, LAT, Reuters, BBC Weather Hurricane/tropical storm Ernesto may be on its way to Florida. Reuters Science Memory restored in mice with Alzheimer’s. BBC Drugs Anti-HIV drug used as cervical cancer treatment. Reuters Cancer Synthetic molecule shown to induce tumor cell death. BBC Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy The Bush administration proposes more fuel efficient transformers. CSM Bird Flu Chinese bird flu vaccine shown to be safe. AP Categories: Science news, Science, News Stem Cells
Scientists have grown stem cell populations from a single cell removed from an embryo without destroying it. WP, NYT, BBC, CBC, Reuters, LiveScience.com, ScienceNOW, NG Space Eight is enough: Pluto is officially no longer a planet. Reuters, BBC Dark matter proven? WP, BBC, ScienceNOW Geysers discovered on Mars. BBC, NG Photo Drugs Over the counter “Plan B” is approved. WP, Reuters Science Scientists take up offer to test “free energy” claim. Guardian HIV/AIDS Researchers find protein that depresses the immune system in HIV patients, targeting it may boost the patient’s immune function. CBC Members of India’s Parliament are woefully ill-informed about HIV. Reuters Evolution More debate over the “Hobbit” people of Indonesia. NYT, LiveScience.com, ScienceNOW, NG, Reuters Prebiotic chemistry discovered in interstellar clouds. (Read this, it is really cool.) CSM Animals Great headline: “Psycho Killer Raccoons Terrorize Olympia”. AP Drugs Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center are working on a methamphetamine vaccine. AP Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy Hybrid cars may pay for themselves. Reuters Technology Next big horror movie: “Cellphones on a Plane”. Reuters Categories: Science news, Science, News Stem Cells Scientists have grown stem cell populations from single cells removed from an embryo without destroying it. WP, NYT, BBC, CBC, Reuters, LiveScience.com, ScienceNOW, NG Drugs Over the counter "Plan B" is getting closer. WP, Reuters HIV/AIDS Researchers find protein that depresses the immune system in HIV patients, targeting it may boost the patient’s immune function. CBC Members of India's Parliament are woefully ill-informed about HIV. Reuters Space Eight is enough: Pluto is officially no longer a planet. Reuters, BBC Technology Apple settles patent lawsuit for $100M. WP, AP, Reuters, BBC Education/Evolution This is bull$#!#: Evolution has been removed as a major qualifying for federal education grants for low-income students. NYT Prebiotic chemistry discovered in interstellar clouds. (Read this, it is really cool.) CSM Weather Debby will probably become a hurricane. NYT Categories: Science news, Science, News |
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