Entombed microbes in salt crystal believed to be 30,000 years old

Researchers from the university of hawaii  studied  salt crystal taken from a sediment core taken from death valley in california.
The salt crystals contained small quanties of liquid and the researchers grew live colonies from the samples.
The liquid was dated at between 22-34 thousand years ago.

The structure of these salt crystal indicates they were formed in a hypersaline lake,
As they has not been a permanent lake in Death valley for at least 10,000 years,this means recrystallisation properbly hasn't taken place,suggesting that the microbes are as old as they appear.

the same crystals also containe  dead cells from a salt-lake algae called Dunaliella algae,which have high levels of glycerol.
It has been calculated that a single dunaliella cell contains enough glycerol to meet a microbe needs for 12 million years.

Sweetener may cause health problems

A study has proved that  fructose,a corn-derived sweetener,used in thousands of food and drink products  can damage human metabolism and cause obesity.

Fructose can cause dangerous growth of fat cells around the liver,heart and digestive organs.
Fructose arrives intact in the liver causing abnormal reactions,including disrupting the mechanisms that tell the body to store or burn fat.

The study involved 16 volunteers on a strictly controlled diet,with high levels of fructose,whereas another group of volunteers were on same diet,but with glucose instead,the later volunteers did not get same problems.

Rinderpest faces total wipeout

World health bodies believe that within the next 18 months,rinderpest will hopefully be a thing of the past,joining smallpox  which was declared extinct in 1977.

Hopefully they will able to declare it eradicated.

Mega-flood created mediterrean sea about 5.3 million years ago

About 5.6 million tears ago,the mediterean sea almost disappeared through evaporation,when it become disconnected to the atlantic,due to uplift of the straits of gibraltar and a drop in sea levels around that time.

Tectonic activity around 5.3 millions years ago lowered the  gibraltar strait.

Researchers have concluded that the flood started with a trickle of water  over a rock barrier over thousands of years,which deepened the channel until the rock barrier failed,filling the mediterrean basin in less than two years.

This water create a 200 kilometre long gorge which is 250 metres deep.

Internet use can slow dementia in the elderly

A study by researchers suggests that internet use by the elderly stimuates more areas of an elderly person's brain than reading.

Doing internet searches for even a short period of time changes brain activity pattern and enhances function.

The research suggests internet searching stimulates cells and pathways in the brain,making them more active

New ring discovered around saturn

A ring of space debris has been discovered using an infrared telescope called the spitzer space telescope,it found a glow indicating a ring of dust,2.4 million kilometres from end to end.

Asthma inhaler may not work for 10% of children

Researchers have found that children with a gene variant called arg16 were 30% more likely to have a asthma attack,a double copy of the gene had double the risk of having an asthma attack.

It is believed that it affects salbutamol/ventolin.

The advice is that those taking the products should contuine to take them.

4.4 million year old hominid skeleton found in Ethiopia

Called ardi, an ardipithecus ramidus,she was discovered in an ancient river system near Aramis,alongwith fragments from at least 35 specimens.

Parts of her skeleton,skull,pelvis,hands and feet.

The pelvis indicates she may have walked upright.

The area where she lived was woodland at the time.

Her teeth indicates a diet of fruit,leaves and small mammals.

both male and female ardipithecus had very small incisors and canines.

Woven clothes possibly worn 30,000 years ago

Researchers have found over 1,000 fibers of flax as well as wool in Dzudzuana cave in the republic of georgia,a small number of the fibers were black,gray,pink and turquoise,believed to have been dyed.
Fungi spores known to grow on clothes was also found.

New species discovered in papua new guinea

New species have been discovered on mount bosavi, a volcanic crater in middle png.

16 new species of frogs,including one with fangs,as well as the now named Bosavi Woolly Rat,a tree dwelling marsupial(Bosavi Silky Cucus),a few new fishs,stick insects as long as a human forearm,butterflies as big as paperback book and a hairy caterpillar.

Birds of paradise,unseen before, were also found.

Tripling of liver cancer cases in UK over last three decades

So says Cancer Research UK.
IN 1975 there were 865 cases of liver cancer,thereas in 2006,here were over 3,000 cases.

Drinking habits and obesity,as well as infection by the Hepatitis C virus are believed to be the cause.

They are calls for cheap alcohol to be ended.

Expanding waists may be related to shrinking brains and dementia

Brain regions associated with cognition are smaller in older people who are obese,compared with thinner people, the obese older people had brain that looked up to 16 years older than their true age.

Brain shrinkage has been linked to dementia.

Prior studies have suggested that being obese in middle age increases the risk of dementia in later life.

It has been suggested that fat clogges up the blood arteries,reducing blood and oxygen flow to the brain.

Popcorn and cereal rich in antioxidants

A study suggests that popcorn and cereals may contain large amounts of healthy antioxidants called polyphenols.

Polyphenols are one of the reasons why fruits,vegetables,cholocate,wine,coffee and tea are believed to lower the risk of heart disease,and cancer.

Parents warned about giving processed meat to children

The world cancer research fund has warned that parents should not put processed meat like ham or salami in children's packed lunches because eating habits acquired early in life can have serious consequences later in life.

The world cancer research fund suggests that parents should put poultry,low fat cheese or lean meat and a flask of soup instead.

Heavy drinking linked to increase in cancers in men in their 40s

Cancer Research has said that over-40 men are getting mouth,lip and tongue cancer because they drink too much alcohol.
Cases of oral cancer have increased by 28% among over-40 men since 1990.

It is reckoned that 41% of oral cancers in Britain could be prevented if noone drank alcohol.

Middle-age smokers more likely to get dementia

A study suggests smokers between the ages of 46 and 70 have a 70% greater chance of developing dementia,

The study also suggests those with diabetes have double the risk of dementia,while those with high blood pressure have a 60% higher risk of dementia.

Oil company to research possibility of making biofuel from algae

Exxonmobil last week announced a US$600 million project to develop biofuel from photosynthetic algae.

Exxon has teamed up with synthetic genomes of la jolla, california which will receive $300 million to develop high-yielding algal strains.

Ancient granaries found in Jordan near Dead Sea

Archaeologists have discovered at least 10 stone and mud-brick structures at a site called Dhra east of the Dead Sea that were possibly the site of both houses and granaries.

The granaries stored wild barley.

The site is about 11,300 years ago.

Antioxidants may slow sight loss in elderly

Age-related macular degeneration(AMD) is the biggest case of blindness in the elderly.

iN A StUDY, an antioxidants supplement containing vitamins C and E as well as zinc was given to volunteers.

The supplement slowed the degeneration in those affected by AMD.

A diet rich in fruit and vegetables can also help

Premature babies' posture possible IQ indicator

Researchers in Australia filmed 65 preterm babies 11 to 16 weeks after birth and counted how many normal posures they did in five minutes.

They found that babies that did one or less of the normal posures had IQs below the average of 100,while 60% of whose who did 2 or more normal postures had IQs above 100.

Forest where wine barrels came from possible to identifty by mass spectrometry

Researchers at the university of bourgogne in Dijon in france chose 9 forests whose oak trees have been used to make wine barrels, and identified wines which had aged in wood from those forests.

Mass spectrometry then identified the chemicals in an ionised sample of each wine and found that each forest left its chemical peculiarities in the wine's signature.

The technique could be used to authenticate wine origins

`Stone that shattered the time barrier' refound

A flint hand axe discovered in 1859 in a quarry at st acheul near amiens has been found in the stores of the Natural History Museum .

It was originally found in layers of gravel that also contained woolly mammoths, and is 400,00 years old.

Research into fingerprinting fossils

Researchers are looking for ways to `fingerprint' fossils to specific sites through analysis of rare earth elements(Rees),of which there are 15,the Rees ratio varies according to the chemical composition of groundwater in the area.

New primate fossil discovered

Called `Ida', it was discovered in the messel pit near darmstadt,northern germany,where lots of fossils have been discovered.

The 47 million year old fossil was unveiled at the American Museum of Natural History in new york behind a glass box.

Her skeleton is 95%, 53cm long in length, has individual hairs and she had remains of her last meal, a vegetarian snack.

Warning about drinking more than 1 litre of cola a day

A study suggests that those who drink more than 1 litre a day may end up with stomach cramp.

It is believed that large amounts of cola affects the level of potassium in the body.

30-40,000 year old `Venus' figurine found

It was found in the Aurignacian deposits(red-brown clayey silt) of the Hohle Fels cave in the Swabian Jura area of southwestern Germany.

Made of mammoth-ivory,the figurine is missing only its left arm and shoulder.

The cave has yielded worked bone and ivory,personal ornaments,tools as well as remains of horse, reindeer, bears, mammoth and ibex.

Negev Desert has lowest rate of erosion

Research suggests that the Negev Desert has the slowing rate of erosion in the world.

A research team calculated he speed of erosion by measuring the concentration of a radioactive isotype called berryllium-10 in chert stones collected from sites in the Negev,this isotype is formed when cosmic rays hit rock and soil,the concentrations of this isotype can indicate how long an object has been exposed to the sky.

Swine flu genetic code cracked

Scientists at the health Protection Agency in Britain have established the genetic code of H1N1 swine flu.

Scientists will work out which parts cause illness and makes it transmitable.

This will allow them to identify the parts to use in a vaccine

Morning sickness and children's IQ may be linked

A study of 120 women has found that children whose mothers vomited or had nausea during pregnancy were more likely to score more in IQ tests.

Morning sickness is thought to be a hormonal reaction.

Tonal languages key to perfect music pitch

If you want your child to develop perfect pitch, then reach them mandarin or vietnamese.

Mandarin speaking musical students often have perfect pitch,it being so common,it is not regarded as being unusual.

Very fluent speakers of tonal languages got 90% of musical notes right

Less than half a glass of wine a a day may help men live longer

Drinking less than half a glass of wine may cause men to live 5 years longer and have less chance of a heart atack.

Long-term consumpion of less than 20 grams every day appears to be more beneficial than being teetotal

Swine flu outbreak spreads worldwide

Cases of swine flu have spread from Mexico,which has has 149 deaths and over 1,300 cases of swine flu to the usa with 8 reported cases and reported or suspected cases in scotland, spain, israel and New Zealand,italy,france,germany,denmark and australia.

It is same strain that caused the 1918 pandemic.

Like the 1918 pandemic,this strain seems to affect healthy 20-40 year old.

Ideally in a pandemic,one should stock up on tinned food and lock yourself in.

hysterectomy bad for women's health

Women who have their ovaries durung a hysterectomy are at greater risk of ovarian and breast cancer.

The risk of heart disease and stroke for under-50s was almost double,because of a loss of protective hormones that protect the heart.

Warning about bonjela

MHRA has suggested bonjela shouldn't be given to under-16s

Bonjela contains salicylate salts,which has been linked to Reye's syndrome.

Obesity in rich countries causes 1billion tonnes more greenhouse gases

A study that assessed the extra food and fuel demands of the overweight.
A fatter population needs 19% more food energy for its energy needs,the study suggests.

The overweight also properbly use the car more.

The greenhouse gas emissions caused by above are estimated to be between 0.4 and 1bn extra tonnes a year.

3D breast cancer screening could save lives

A study suggests a new 3D x-ray breast cancer screening technology called 3D digital breast tomosynthesis, which is believed to provide clearer and more accurate images than methods such as analogue x-rays.

Negative views about old age can affect health when elderly

A study suggests that those those who have negative notions about old age were twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke,than those with positive views.

further studies are needed.

Soybeans could reduce older women's risk of bowel cancer

Women who drink/eat soya lattes,tofu sausages and soy may be reducing their risk of of bowel cancer, a study of almost 70,000 women in china suggests.

Ideally, a study is needed in the western world to see if same is true.

Origins of flowers

The origins of flowers may dated back further than 144 million years, which is when Archaefrictus is supposed to have existed.
THE molecular clock siggests angiosperms originated 215 million years.
Amborella(grows in new caledonia) is believe to be one of the oldest type of flowers around.

Study gives hope of longer life to ovarian cancer suffers

A drug,codenamed CNTO328, has been developed and clincally tested that could prolong the lives of women with ovarian cancer.

The study,which involved only 18 women,of whom 8 women had their tumours stabilized or shrink. a high proportion.

The drug is an antibody that targets a molecule called interleukin 6, made by cancer cells

New cervical cancer test could save lives

A study involving 130,000 women in India suggests that testing for HPV may be more effective than a smear test.

There is pressure on the NHS to provide this test.

It is estimated that HPV testing would halve the deaths in poor countries.

Women could be screened at the ages of 35 and 45-50, causing a reduction in cervical cancer cases by about 90%, so one expert says.

Plan to map seamounts

Scientists plan to survey seamounts by getting ships to use a GPS system, plus sonar, which while it only goes down to 1,000 metres, it should pick up some of the tall seamounts.

http://topex.ucsd.edu/marine_topo is a program that allows people to sent their queries in.

Health abstract;28 March 2009

Eating large amounts of red meat can shorten your life, a study at theUS national cancer institue suggests.

The study involved 545,000 volunteers aged 51 to 71,who were asked about their diet over the past year,researchers estimated their meat intake.

More than 71,000 of the study group died over the one year study.

After controlling for factors like age,weight and smoking, researchers found women who consumed 66 grams per 1000 calories were 36% more likely than women who eat 9.1 grams per 1000 calories.

Men who eat large amounts of red meat were 31% more likely to die.

Circumcision may reduce the chances of catching HIV by 50-60-%, herpes by 25%, HPV by 35%

New carnivorous Plant found in the Phllippines

Explorers found the plant after getting to the summit of Mount victoria on Palawan island.

Trumpet-shaped, it is filled with milky digestive fluids and water.

It has been called N.attenboroughii.

Airborne fungi poses risk to crops in developing world

Ug99, first discovered in Uganda in 1999,hence the name.
Its spores can be carried by the wind for hundred of miles, and can infect crops in only a few hours.

It has reached Iran.

It is estimated 80-90% of all wheat types grown in developing world are suspectible to this fungi.

resistant wheat varieties will hopefully be made avaible.

Medical device may help parkinson's suffers

The medical device works by electrical stimulation of the brain.

It has been tested on mice, and could be tested on humans next year.

300 milllion year old brain found

A well preserved brain has been found in a fossil fish in kansas.

Found inside an iniopterygian(Related to sharks) skull, it has been mineralized by phosphate-fixing microbes before decay could set in.

Researchers hope there may be other preserved organs in siniliar condition.

Children of older men

Children of older fathers appear to score lower results in cognitive tests.

Research reveals that fathers aged over 35 are more likely to have children with disorders like autism, childhood cancers, congenital heart defects, schizophrenia and dyslexia.

One possile explanion is that men's sperm has an increasing numbers of mutations as men age.

In contrast, children of older mothers have higher IQ results.

Health absracts;27 February 2009

40% of the most common cancers could be prevented if everyone followed a healthier liestyyle(myself included!).

67% of mouth,pharynx and larynx could be prevented.

Alcohol is implicated in 40% of mouth and throat cancers.

Gonorrhea is growing resistant to antibiotics.
They may be only one way,either use a condom or say no

Being obese at age of 18 and smoking at same time increases possibility of early death five-fold.

Mountains found under Antarctica ice

Scientists have found a mountain range as large as the Alps under Eastern Antarctica up to 2 miles under the ice, the range's peak are up to 3,000 feet above sea level.
First detected 50 years ago,there are named after grigoriy Gamburtsev.
Aircraft fitted with radar and sensors revealed the range to be about 500 miles long and 250 miles wide as well as valleys 1,000 feet below sea levels.

Origins of silk

Strand of silk, dating back to about 2000BC have been discovered in Harappa and Chanu-daru in Pakistan,this is only a hundred years younger than finds in china.

The harappan finds appeared to have been reeled.

Silk comes from moths.

New test for prostate cancer

A new test has been developed which detects a molecule sar????

Darwin's 200th anniversary

Today is 200 years since charles darwin was born.

He married emma (wedgewood?)
He wrote on the origin of species

He died in 1882.

cannabis raises risk of testicular cancer

Young men who smoke marijuana are more likely to develop nonseminoma, a fast growing form of testicular cancer.

The testes are one of a few organs that contain receptors for the main psychoactive substance in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)

Giant boid fossil found in Northeastern Colombia

Found in the Cerrejon formation, it was about 13 metres(42 feet) with average temperatures of 30-34+ C.

Ecology was similiar to that in which anacondas lived.

The Moon and science

A bit of the mineral zircon has been found in a rock sample bought back from the moon by Apollo 17 astronauts. it has been dated at. 4.42 billion years old

Darwin's home nominated for possible world heritage status

Down House where Darwin wrote ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES is to be nominated by the government as a world heritage site, celebrating the 200 year anniversary of Darwin's birth.

He used the fields and woodlands etc as a laboratory for his ideas.

New Zealand's palaeofauna,palaeoflora and palaeogeology etc

16 million years old rhynchocephalian reptile(related to the New Zealand tuatara) fossils have been found, suggesting that New Zealand was never fully underwater and that the ancestors of the tuatara have lived in New Zealand since the time of the dinosaurs.

Teaching science in schools

Software avaible; Study science Lab.

Chemistry sets.