Current Science News and Events
The following is a collection of the latest news available on the world wide web. These links will lead you to sites outside of Visionlearning.
Current feeds as of 6/19/13 09:00pm EST include the following.
BBC Science
Government leads new GM crops push
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is set to reopen the debate about genetic modification by calling for the reform of crop licensing at EU level.
Birds 'show value of conservation'
The plights of the world's threatened birds show the value of investing in conservation, according to an international report.
Early Mars atmosphere 'oxygen-rich'
Mars' atmosphere could have been rich in oxygen four billion years ago - well before Earth's air became augmented with the gas.
Naked mole-rat gives cancer clues
A rodent that never gets cancer could hold the key to preventing or treating malignant tumours, say scientists.
Saturn probe to acquire Earth image
The Cassini probe in orbit around Saturn is going to picture the ringed planet in a special photo that also includes a distant Earth.
Applause is a 'social contagion'
The quality of a performance does not drive the amount of applause an audience gives, a study suggests.
Science Daily News
New details about H7N9 influenza infections that suddenly appeared in China
Researchers have revealed new information about the latest strain of type A influenza, known as H7N9.
Scientists date prehistoric bacterial invasion still present in today's plant and animal cells
How long ago did bacteria invade the one-celled ancestors of plants and animals to become energy-producing mitochondria and photosynthesizing chloroplasts? Researchers developed a statistical way to analyze the variation in genes common to mitochondria, chloroplasts and the eukaryotic nucleus to more precisely date these events. They found that the cyanobacterial invasion of plants took place millions of years more recently than thought.
Metamorphosis of moon's water ice explained
Using data gathered by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, scientists believe they have solved a mystery from one of the solar system's coldest regions -- a permanently shadowed crater on the moon. They have explained how energetic particles penetrating lunar soil can create molecular hydrogen from water ice. The finding provides insight into how radiation can change the chemistry of water ice throughout the solar system.
A shot in the arm for old antibiotics
Slipping bacteria some silver could give old antibiotics new life, scientists report. This could pave the way for new therapies for drug-resistant and recurrent infections.
Less is more: Novel cellulose structure requires fewer enzymes to process biomass to fuel
Improved methods for breaking down cellulose nanofibers are central to cost-effective biofuel production and the subject of new research. Scientists are investigating the unique properties of crystalline cellulose nanofibers to develop novel chemical pretreatments and designer enzymes for biofuel production from cellulosic -- or non-food -- plant-derived biomass.
Science Magazine News Summaries
The Max Planck Society selected a new president, chemist Martin Stratmann. And Science interviews David Altshuler of the Broad Institute, who is leading the planning to create a global alliance of research, health care, and patient advocacy organizations to help researchers securely share genome sequences and clinical information.
[News of the Week] Random Sample
A student filmmaker won an award from the Sloan Foundation for his science-based screenplay about fatal insomnia.
[News & Analysis] Computer Science: Network Science at Center of Surveillance Dispute
Last week's disclosures that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting cell phone records and Internet data came as no surprise to experts in network analysis, who say that the type of data crunching NSA is engaged in—identifying social groups from connections among people—is business as usual at several private companies.
Author: Adrian Cho
[News & Analysis] Social Science: Bold Plan, Uncertain Future for Gun Violence Research
A National Academies report has recommended more than a dozen topics for analysis in gun violence research, but U.S. funding remains in doubt.
Author: John Bohannon
[News & Analysis] U.S. Stem Education: Educators, Lawmakers Question Proposed Reorganization
President Barack Obama's plan to reorganize U.S. STEM education is drawing congressional opposition.
Author: Jeffrey Mervis
Science Magazine This Week in Science
The human brain, although overall bilaterally symmetric, shows asymmetry in certain functions such as speech. Bishop (p. 1302) reviews what is known about lateralization of the brain and acquisition of … [Read more]
Optical lattices loaded with cold atoms have been used successfully as quantum simulators of condensed matter systems; however, in the case of fermionic quantum magnetism, achieving low enough temperatures has … [Read more]
Plate tectonics drive the continuous exchange of material between Earth's crust and mantle. Subduction adds crustal materials to the mantle, which influence the composition of erupted lavas at mid-ocean ridges. … [Read more]
The formation of cirrus clouds begins with the production of ice nuclei, on which water vapor then condenses. Cziczo et al. (p. 1320, published online 9 May) determined the kinds … [Read more]
The Moon has been traditionally considered bone-dry, but in recent years a number of studies have shown that during mantle melting, the lunar mantle had as much water as Earth's … [Read more]
