See this at: nytimes.com| Added on 07/04/09

The work of an illiterate Cherokee may be the only known instance of an individual single-handedly creating an entirely new system of writing.

The work of an illiterate Cherokee may be the only known instance of an individual single-handedly creating an entirely new system of writing. See less

See this at: nytimes.com| Added on 06/29/09

IF the 20th century ushered in the Age of Anxiety, its exit is witnessing the dawn of the Age of Melancholy. The first international study of major depression reveals a steady rise in the disorder worldwide. In nations as diverse as Taiwan, Lebanon... See more

IF the 20th century ushered in the Age of Anxiety, its exit is witnessing the dawn of the Age of Melancholy. The first international study of major depression reveals a steady rise in the disorder worldwide. In nations as diverse as Taiwan, Lebanon and New Zealand each successive generation is growing more vulnerable to the malady. Although rates of depression rise with age, the study found increases among young people. In some countries the likelihood that people born after 1955 will suffer a major depression -- not just sadness, but a paralyzing listlessness, dejection and self-deprecation, as well as an overwhelming sense of hopelessness -- at some point in life is more than three times greater than for their grandparents' generation. The experts acknowledge that some of the increase may be due to greater willingness to discuss mental illness or more efficient reporting methods. But they say these factors do not come close to explaining the entire increase. They can only speculate... See less

See this at: wired.com| Added on 06/26/09

As the annual International Whaling Commission meeting stumbles to a close,...

See this at: dailymail.co.uk| Added on 06/25/09

Framed by a circle of clouds, this is a stunning illustration of Nature's powerful force. A plume of smoke, ash and steam soars five miles into the sky from an erupting volcano. The extraordinary image was captured by the crew of the International... See more

Framed by a circle of clouds, this is a stunning illustration of Nature's powerful force. A plume of smoke, ash and steam soars five miles into the sky from an erupting volcano. The extraordinary image was captured by the crew of the International Space Station 220 miles above a remote Russian island in the North Pacific. See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 05/07/09

Stocks of northern shrimp, the essential ingredient in the ubiquitous prawn cocktail, could be badly affected if ocean temperatures rise. Researchers report, in the journal Science, that shrimp eggs hatch within days of each spring phytoplankton... See more

Stocks of northern shrimp, the essential ingredient in the ubiquitous prawn cocktail, could be badly affected if ocean temperatures rise. Researchers report, in the journal Science, that shrimp eggs hatch within days of each spring phytoplankton bloom - the main food source for the larvae. They conclude that shrimp are adapted to local temperature, which determines how long eggs take to develop. If seas warm, as predicted, shrimp stocks could decline, the team says. The international team of scientists found that, throughout the north Atlantic - from Cape Cod in the US to to Svalbard in Norway - northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis ) eggs hatched, on average, in time with the bloom. This is the period when food is abundant, so the larvae have a far better chance of survival. But to get the timing right, the shrimp must mate during exactly the right period during the previous year. "They don't do this on a year by year basis - deciding to mate a week later because the algal bloom will be... See less

See this at: style.com| Added on 04/01/09

Whether or not you consider yourself an expert in Egyptology, you are likely familiar with the bust of Nefertiti. Discovered in 1912 during the excavation of the studio of Thutmose (the royal sculptor to the pharaoh Akhenaten), the 20-inch carving’s... See more

Whether or not you consider yourself an expert in Egyptology, you are likely familiar with the bust of Nefertiti. Discovered in 1912 during the excavation of the studio of Thutmose (the royal sculptor to the pharaoh Akhenaten), the 20-inch carving’s symmetry and fine features put it on par with the Mona Lisa as one of the world’s most famous renderings of female beauty. But recent analysis of the limestone core at the center of the external layers of stucco reveal that the ancient Egyptian Queen may not’ve been such a looker. Using advanced CT technology, German scientists have been able to analyze the deepest layers of the art piece, only to discover that Thutmose’s original facial structure had less prominent cheekbones, a slight bump on the ridge of the nose, creases around the corner of the mouth and cheeks, and less depth at the corners of the eyelids. The discovery has prompted experts to suggest that the Pharaoh likely instructed the artist to re-create his wife’s image as he... See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 03/29/09

People in the Australian state of Queensland have taken part in a mass capture of poisonous cane toads as part of a collective effort at pest control. The celebratory cull is known as Toad Day Out and was advocated by a Queensland politician, Shane... See more

People in the Australian state of Queensland have taken part in a mass capture of poisonous cane toads as part of a collective effort at pest control. The celebratory cull is known as Toad Day Out and was advocated by a Queensland politician, Shane Knuth. The toads have to be captured alive and unharmed, examined by experts, and then killed humanely under the event rules. Cane toads were introduced to Australia from South America in 1935 to eat beetles, but became a pest themselves. "This is an example of how the war against cane toads can be won," said Mr Knuth, who hopes to take Toad Day Out nationwide. Critics of the toads blame them for the deaths of crocodiles that may have feasted on them, inadvertently poisoning themselves. Children also took part in collecting the creatures. "I've got no clue how many we've got but they're all fat!" said one boy involved in the hunt for the toads. The majority of toads will be turned into fertiliser or donated to the science department of James... See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 03/27/09

Hermit crabs have no shell of their own so inhabit other structures. As part of the research, wires were attached to shells to deliver small shocks to the abdomen of some of the crabs. The study revealed the only crabs to get out of their shells were... See more

Hermit crabs have no shell of their own so inhabit other structures. As part of the research, wires were attached to shells to deliver small shocks to the abdomen of some of the crabs. The study revealed the only crabs to get out of their shells were those which had received shocks, indicating that the experience was unpleasant for them. Hermit crabs are known to prefer some species of shells to others and it was found that they were more likely to come out of the shells they least preferred. The main aim of the experiment was to deliver a shock just under the threshold that causes crabs to move out of the shell, to see what happened when a new shell was then offered. Those responsible for the study said crabs that had been shocked but remained in their shell appeared to remember the experience of the shock. They said these crabs quickly moved towards the new shell, investigated it briefly and were more likely to change to the new shell compared to those that had not been shocked.... See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 03/27/09

Chinese officials say that potentially deadly radioactive material lost in north-western Shaanxi province may have been found at a steel mill. Officials told the BBC that they had detected what may be the missing Caesium-137, adding that it may have... See more

Chinese officials say that potentially deadly radioactive material lost in north-western Shaanxi province may have been found at a steel mill. Officials told the BBC that they had detected what may be the missing Caesium-137, adding that it may have been melted down. The Caesium-137, encased in lead, was lost this week when workers at a cement plant demolished an old factory. The material was part of a measuring instrument and is extremely dangerous. Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope, formed mainly through nuclear fission. The smallest amount can cause infertility, cancer and even death. Eight trucks worth of scrap gathered at the disused factory in Tongchuan city were sold to a local steel mill, according to official news agency Xinhua. Local environmental officials told the BBC they were mounting a clean-up operation at the mill in Fuping county. The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says China has an appalling record on industrial safety - there are around 30 cases of... See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 03/25/09

Japan has certified a man aged 93 as the only known survivor of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both hit by atomic bombs towards the end of World War II. Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on 6 August 1945 when a US plane dropped the first... See more

Japan has certified a man aged 93 as the only known survivor of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both hit by atomic bombs towards the end of World War II. Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on 6 August 1945 when a US plane dropped the first atomic bomb. He suffered serious burns and spent a night there before returning to his home city of Nagasaki just before it was bombed on 9 August. He said he hoped his experience held a lesson of peace for future generations. It was already recorded that Mr Yamaguchi had survived the Nagasaki bomb but on Tuesday officials recognised that he had been in Hiroshima as well. Certification as a hibakusha or radiation survivor qualifies Japanese citizens for government compensation, including medical check-ups, and funeral costs. His double dose of atomic bombs, however, does not mean Mr Yamaguchi's compensation will increase, a Nagasaki city official said. "My double radiation exposure is now an official government record," Mr Yamaguchi told... See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 03/20/09

A pink baby elephant has been caught on camera in Botswana. A wildlife cameraman took pictures of the calf when he spotted it among a herd of about 80 elephants in the Okavango Delta. Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely... See more

A pink baby elephant has been caught on camera in Botswana. A wildlife cameraman took pictures of the calf when he spotted it among a herd of about 80 elephants in the Okavango Delta. Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in African elephants. They are unsure of its chances of long-term survival - the blazing African sunlight may cause blindness and skin problems for the calf. Mike Holding, who spotted the baby while filming for a BBC wildlife programme, said: "We only saw it for a couple of minutes as the herd crossed the river. "This was a really exciting moment for everyone in camp. We knew it was a rare sighting - no-one could believe their eyes." See less

See this at: nytimes.com| Added on 03/19/09

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga (AP) -- Scientists sailed Thursday to inspect an undersea volcano that has been erupting for days near Tonga -- shooting smoke, steam and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the South Pacific ocean.

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga (AP) -- Scientists sailed Thursday to inspect an undersea volcano that has been erupting for days near Tonga -- shooting smoke, steam and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the South Pacific ocean. See less

Highlights: * Prostate Test Found to Save Few Lives * Whoopie! Cookie, Pie or Cake, It's Having Its Moment * Natasha Richardson, Stage and Film Star, Is Dead at 45 * Maureen Dowd: No Boiled Carrots * Thomas L. Friedman: Obama’s Real Test * Nicholas D. Kristof: The Daily Me * Virginia City Journal:...

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 03/08/09

Scientists say they have identified an enzyme that helps cancer spread around the body. Cancer metastasis, where the cancer spreads from its original location, is known to be responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. Institute of Cancer Research... See more

Scientists say they have identified an enzyme that helps cancer spread around the body. Cancer metastasis, where the cancer spreads from its original location, is known to be responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. Institute of Cancer Research scientists have found that an enzyme called LOX is crucial in promoting metastasis, Cancer Cell journal reports. Drugs to block this enzyme's action could keep cancer at bay, they hope. The researchers studied breast cancer in mice, but are confident that their findings will apply to humans with other cancer types too. LOX (lysyl oxidase) works by sending out signals to prepare a new area of the body for the cancer to set up a camp. Without this preparation process the new environment would be too hostile for the cancer to grow. Lead researcher Dr Janine Erler described the discovery as "the crucial missing piece in the jigsaw that scientists have been searching for." She said it was the first time one key enzyme has been identified as... See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 02/10/09

Remarkable footage of elusive narwhal has been captured. A BBC team used aerial cameras to film the creatures during their epic summer migration, as they navigated through cracks in the melting Arctic sea ice. They believe the footage, which forms... See more

Remarkable footage of elusive narwhal has been captured. A BBC team used aerial cameras to film the creatures during their epic summer migration, as they navigated through cracks in the melting Arctic sea ice. They believe the footage, which forms part of the BBC Natural History Unit's new series Nature's Great Events, is the first of its kind. Narwhal are sometimes called "Arctic unicorns" because of the long, spiral tusk that protrudes from their jaws. The appendages can reach more than 2m (7ft) in length; scientists believe males use them to attract potential mates. The BBC crew headed to the Arctic in June 2008, to film the tusked animals' summer migration. At this time of year, temperatures begin to rise above freezing and the thick sea ice starts to melt, creating a complex network of cracks that cover the white expanse. Every year, thousands of narwhal use these narrow fissures to travel thousands of kilometres, from the south of Baffin Bay to the high Arctic fjords. But... See less

See this at: nytimes.com| Added on 01/29/09

When my young sons were exploring the streets of Brooklyn, I couldn’t help but wonder how good crushed rock or dried dog droppings could taste when delicious mashed potatoes were routinely rejected. Since all instinctive behaviors have an... See more

When my young sons were exploring the streets of Brooklyn, I couldn’t help but wonder how good crushed rock or dried dog droppings could taste when delicious mashed potatoes were routinely rejected. Since all instinctive behaviors have an evolutionary advantage or they would not have been retained for millions of years, chances are that this one too has helped us survive as a species. And, indeed, accumulating evidence strongly suggests that eating dirt is good for you. In studies of what is called the hygiene hypothesis, researchers are concluding that organisms like the millions of bacteria, viruses and especially worms that enter the body along with “dirt” spur the development of a healthy immune system. Several continuing studies suggest that worms may help to redirect an immune system that has gone awry and resulted in autoimmune disorders, allergies and asthma. These studies, along with epidemiological observations, seem to explain why immune system disorders like multiple... See less

See this at: boston.com| Added on 01/14/09

Text by Johan Lehrer, graphics by Javier Zarracina DO YOU EVER want to change the way you see the world? Wouldn't it be fun to hallucinate on your lunch break? Although we typically associate such phenomena with powerful drugs like LSD or mescaline,... See more

Text by Johan Lehrer, graphics by Javier Zarracina DO YOU EVER want to change the way you see the world? Wouldn't it be fun to hallucinate on your lunch break? Although we typically associate such phenomena with powerful drugs like LSD or mescaline, it's easy to fling open the doors of perception without them: All it takes is a basic understanding of how the mind works. The first thing to know is that the mind isn't a mirror, or even a passive observer of reality. Much of what we think of as being out there actually comes from in here, and is a byproduct of how the brain processes sensation. In recent years scientists have come up with a number of simple tricks that expose the artifice of our senses, so that we end up perceiving what we know isn't real - tweaking the cortex to produce something uncannily like hallucinations. Perhaps we hear the voice of someone who is no longer alive, or feel as if our nose is suddenly 3 feet long. Target Free Thursday Nights at ICA Donate to a local... See less

See this at: abcnews.go.com| Added on 12/27/08

Can your cat make you crazy? Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, president of the Stanley Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, Md., has been studying whether a parasite found in cat droppings called Toxoplasma gondii can trigger an onset of schizophrenia later... See more

Can your cat make you crazy? Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, president of the Stanley Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, Md., has been studying whether a parasite found in cat droppings called Toxoplasma gondii can trigger an onset of schizophrenia later in life. "Most people have not thought of schizophrenia as being caused by a virus or bacteria or a parasite," Torrey said. "This is a relatively new idea." It's long been established that the parasites found in cat droppings are a health risk to pregnant women and young children, but whether the cat can be directly linked to schizophrenia remains to be seen. Torrey's study found a 53 percent increase in risk for schizophrenia if you owned a cat during childhood, but he also found a 51 percent increase in risk if you were breastfed. Statisticians believe the increase in risk has to be above 200 percent for there to be an actual association between something like owning a cat and schizophrenia. "We haven't proven anything," Torrey said.... See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 09/10/08

The most powerful physics experiment ever built, the Large Hadron Collider will re-create the conditions just after the Big Bang in an attempt to answer fundamental questions of science and the universe itself. Find out more about the LHC with this... See more

The most powerful physics experiment ever built, the Large Hadron Collider will re-create the conditions just after the Big Bang in an attempt to answer fundamental questions of science and the universe itself. Find out more about the LHC with this BBC News guide, starting at the top of the page with an introduction from Science Correspondent David Shukman. You can then explore key elements of the experiment using the links above. See less

See this at: ngm.nationalgeograph...| Added on 08/13/08

If carbon dioxide continues to rise unchecked, computer models show that acidification will deplete carbonate ions in much of the ocean by 2100, turning the waters corrosive for many shell-building animals.

If carbon dioxide continues to rise unchecked, computer models show that acidification will deplete carbonate ions in much of the ocean by 2100, turning the waters corrosive for many shell-building animals. See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 08/04/08

The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic, whale-eating ancestor. A new study of the extinct creature's skull shows it had an almighty bite, making the prehistoric fish one of the... See more

The great white shark may have awesome jaws but they are nothing compared with those of megalodon, its gigantic, whale-eating ancestor. A new study of the extinct creature's skull shows it had an almighty bite, making the prehistoric fish one of the most fearsome predators of all time. All the more remarkable, scientists say, because the crushing force came from jaws made of cartilage, not bone. The researchers report their skull work in the Journal of Zoology. The megalodon super-shark swam in the oceans more than a million-and-a-half years ago. It grew up to 16m (52ft) in length and weighed in at 100 tonnes - 30 times heavier than the largest great white - and must have been one of the most formidable carnivores to have existed. "Pound for pound, your common house cat can bite down harder, " explained Dr Stephen Wroe of the University of New South Wales, Australia. "But the sheer size of the animal means that in absolute terms, it tops the scales." See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 08/01/08

German doctors have carried out a complete double arm transplant. The patient was a 54-year-old farmer who lost his limbs in an accident six years ago. The donor is believed to be a teenager who had died shortly before the surgery. Neither man's name... See more

German doctors have carried out a complete double arm transplant. The patient was a 54-year-old farmer who lost his limbs in an accident six years ago. The donor is believed to be a teenager who had died shortly before the surgery. Neither man's name has been released by the Munich clinic. The 15-hour operation took place last week, and the patient is recovering well, though it could be two years before he can move his new hands. Arm transplants have been carried out before - the first occurred in Austria in 2003 when a man received transplanted forearms and hands. In this procedure, limbs were reattached just below the shoulder. Reiner Gradinger, medical director at the Munich University Clinic where the operation involving 40 doctors, nurses and assistants took place over 15 hours last week, said: "The reattachment appears up to now to have proceeded optimally." Surgeon Edgar Biemer said the greatest challenge was establishing blood flow between the farmer's body and muscles in the... See less

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 07/28/08

They say that Alzheimer's begins with forgetting your keys and ends with you forgetting what your keys are for, but it is a whole lot worse than that. Before long Flossie's sense of balance and co-ordination will be compromised. In the final stages... See more

They say that Alzheimer's begins with forgetting your keys and ends with you forgetting what your keys are for, but it is a whole lot worse than that. Before long Flossie's sense of balance and co-ordination will be compromised. In the final stages of the disease so too will her ability to breathe. Until then all Dianne and Mike can do is undertake a heartbreaking weekly pilgrimage to a nursing home in eastern Missouri and watch her fade away before their eyes. "It was two years ago - at Thanksgiving," said Dianne, recalling the last time her mother recognised her. "Ten or 12 seconds and then it was gone. "She was like: 'Well hi! How are you?' and I'm like: 'Well, we sure do miss you,' and she was like: 'You do?. Then all of a sudden the fog just went over - and that was it." It is difficult to imagine a slower, more agonising death. Alzheimer's leaves the patient a prisoner in their own body whilst systematically eroding everything about them that makes them human. What should be the... See less

See this at: newoldage.blogs.nyti...| Added on 07/02/08

Jim’s mother-in-law has fallen again. For the fourth time this year. He and his wife meet the ambulance at the emergency room, then try to keep the frightened, old woman distracted through the long wait. They check her into the hospital with several... See more

Jim’s mother-in-law has fallen again. For the fourth time this year. He and his wife meet the ambulance at the emergency room, then try to keep the frightened, old woman distracted through the long wait. They check her into the hospital with several broken bones and an unsteady heartbeat. They spend days at her side, jolly her through the rigors of rehab and finally take her back to her apartment, as they have so many times before. Along the way, the 60-something couple, friends of mine in Los Angeles, learn which pain medications make an 87-year-old woman delirious and which leave her in a stupor. They learn that Medicare covers orthopedic surgery but not long-term care at home. They learn about stage-three bedsores. They learn that out-of-town siblings can be summoned for a few days respite but don’t fully grasp the relentlessness of the caregiving task. Nobody wants the old woman to die, but her misery is a heavy blanket muffling many lives. Each mad dash to the ER, each... See less

See this at: nytimes.com| Added on 06/04/08

There was nothing very interesting in Katherine P. Rankin’s study of sarcasm — at least, nothing worth your important time. All she did was use an M.R.I. to find the place in the brain where the ability to detect sarcasm resides. But then, you... See more

There was nothing very interesting in Katherine P. Rankin’s study of sarcasm — at least, nothing worth your important time. All she did was use an M.R.I. to find the place in the brain where the ability to detect sarcasm resides. But then, you probably already knew it was in the right parahippocampal gyrus. See less

See this at: en.wikipedia.org| Added on 06/03/08

In the 1983 release Synchronicity by The Police (A&M Records), bassist Sting is reading a copy of Jung's Synchronicity on the front cover along with a negative/superimposed image of the actual text of the synchronicity hypothesis. A photo on the back... See more

In the 1983 release Synchronicity by The Police (A&M Records), bassist Sting is reading a copy of Jung's Synchronicity on the front cover along with a negative/superimposed image of the actual text of the synchronicity hypothesis. A photo on the back cover also shows a close-up but mirrored and upside-down image of the book. There are two songs, titled "Synchronicity I" and "Synchronicity II" included in the album. The Dirk Gently series of books by Douglas Adams often plays on the synchronicity concept. The main character carries a "pocket I Ching" that also functions as a calculator, up to a point. In Philip K. Dick's The Game-Players of Titan, several characters possessing pre-cognitive abilities cite the acausal principle of synchronicity as an element which hampers their ability to accurately predict certain possible futures. John Constantine, the main character in the Vertigo Comics series Hellblazer, is sometimes seen "riding the synchronicity highway," to meet certain goals or... See less

See this at: nytimes.com| Added on 06/03/08

Before we get to Ray Kurzweil’s plan for upgrading the “suboptimal software” in your brain, let me pass on some of the cheery news he brought to the World Science Festival last week in New York.

Before we get to Ray Kurzweil’s plan for upgrading the “suboptimal software” in your brain, let me pass on some of the cheery news he brought to the World Science Festival last week in New York. See less

Highlights: * Op-Ed Contributor: Put a Little Science in Your Life * It’s Not So Easy Being Less Rich * Your Money: Negotiating for a House? Start With ‘Dear Seller’ * In Spain, Water Is a New Battleground * Well: Experts Revive Debate Over Cellphones and Cancer * A $10 Mosquito Net Is Making Charity...

See this at: news.bbc.co.uk| Added on 05/20/08

Some remarkable footage of a flying fish has been captured by a TV crew filming off the southern tip of Japan. It is claimed to be one of the longest recorded flights of this acrobatic animal. The fish was completely airborne for 45 seconds. This... See more

Some remarkable footage of a flying fish has been captured by a TV crew filming off the southern tip of Japan. It is claimed to be one of the longest recorded flights of this acrobatic animal. The fish was completely airborne for 45 seconds. This beats one previous, impressive report from an American researcher in the 1920s of 42 seconds. The animal is seen travelling parallel to a ferry, which itself is motoring at about 30km/hour (20mph). The fish was able to continue flying by occasionally beating the surface of the water with its tail fin. The footage was shot by an NHK crew as it travelled to Yakushima Island. According to Junji Yonezawa, at the Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Outlying Islands, the animal's flight-time of 45 seconds must be close to its physical limit, as brachial respiration is impossible while moving through the air. There are some 40 species of "flying fish" in the family known as Exocoetidae. The animals are found worldwide in warmer waters.... See less

See this at: gawker.com| Added on 05/19/08

This week, Joan Acocella tackles hangovers in the New Yorker! We wonder: does the New Yorker's core audience even truly know about hangovers—other than the red wine-hangover, which is a completely different species from the, say, Long Island Iced Tea... See more

This week, Joan Acocella tackles hangovers in the New Yorker! We wonder: does the New Yorker's core audience even truly know about hangovers—other than the red wine-hangover, which is a completely different species from the, say, Long Island Iced Tea hangover, or the PBR-plus-gin variety? Anywho. Like many a New Yorker article, it painstakingly explains the mechanics and history of the subject of hand for way too long. However, it answers all the questions we need to know: does the hair of the dog cure really work? And what's up with Red Bull? Application of the hair of the dog may sound like nothing more than a way of getting yourself drunk enough so that you don't notice you have a hangover, but, according to Wayne Jones, of the Swedish National Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, the biochemistry is probably more complicated than that. Jones's theory is that the liver, in processing alcohol, first addresses itself to ethanol, which is the alcohol proper, and then moves on to methanol,... See less

See this at: nytimes.com| Added on 05/16/08

CHENGDU, China — The birds suddenly disappeared from the sky. Something also was wrong with the pandas. They were strangely skittish. And then, within minutes, the isolated, verdant mountains above China’s most famous panda reserve exploded as if hit... See more

CHENGDU, China — The birds suddenly disappeared from the sky. Something also was wrong with the pandas. They were strangely skittish. And then, within minutes, the isolated, verdant mountains above China’s most famous panda reserve exploded as if hit by a megaton bomb. See less

See this at: enews.earthlink.net| Added on 05/14/08

WASHINGTON - The Interior Department declared the polar bear a threatened species Wednesday, saying it must be protected because of the decline in Arctic sea ice from global warming. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne cited dramatic declines in sea... See more

WASHINGTON - The Interior Department declared the polar bear a threatened species Wednesday, saying it must be protected because of the decline in Arctic sea ice from global warming. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne cited dramatic declines in sea ice over the last three decades and projections of continued losses. These declines, he told a news conference, mean the polar bear is a species likely to be in danger of extinction in the near future. Kempthorne also said, though, that it would be "inappropriate" to use the protection of the bear to reduce greenhouse gases, or to broadly address climate change. Reflecting views recently expressed by President Bush, Kempthorne said the Endangered Species Act was "never meant to regulate global climate change." He said the decision to list the bear includes administrative actions aimed at limiting the impact of the decision on energy development and other climate related activities. "This listing will not stop global climate change or prevent... See less