A new study has shown that some dinosaurs did molt like birds today. The Similicaudipteryx dinosaur molted from one type of feather to another. The younger dinosaur had smaller duller feathers and the older dinosaur had bright strong feathers. This is an important discovery for scientists,which gives them a greater understanding about prehistoric life.
Now people can learn even more about dinosaurs and the past. Learning about how dinosaurs lived and their challenges for their adaption to in life during those times helps us to understand our earth better. Associating molting dinosaurs with our birds today is interesting. This could help many theories about earth in that time period. This will also help scientists learn about other dinosaurs in that area.
Link: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58693/title/Dinos_molted_for_a_new_look
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Infection traps
A new type of material that is used to heal wounds like burns, has a type of 'booby trap' for the bacteria. This new product causes the bacteria to kill itself, the bacteria that is in the product looks like the harmful bacteria but it attacks the harmful bacteria. The product will not hurt normal or good bacteria. Most disinfectants kill all bacteria including the good kind. This new product will help burn patients and people with other injuries heal faster.
I think that it is great that medical science is getting better every day, this new product might help save lives. Many people with burns or other injuries like that take several months or years to heal. This product will kill the bad bacteria and keep the good kind. It also helps them heal faster with is always good. I think that this will also be used for other purposes. Killing bacteria is always a good thing.
Link: http://sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58697/title/Infection%2C_kill_thyself
I think that it is great that medical science is getting better every day, this new product might help save lives. Many people with burns or other injuries like that take several months or years to heal. This product will kill the bad bacteria and keep the good kind. It also helps them heal faster with is always good. I think that this will also be used for other purposes. Killing bacteria is always a good thing.
Link: http://sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58697/title/Infection%2C_kill_thyself
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Mammoth Hemoglobin Offers More Clues to Its Arctic Evolution
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/science/04mammoth.html
The woolly mammoth was originally a tropical creature, but because of its special hemoglobin it could adapt to much colder regions. The hemoglobin was reconstructed by Kevin L. Campbell of the University of Manitoba, this was a mammoth-sized task. They gathered DNA from the mammoth and looked at its closest living relative's DNA, the Asian elephant. They were merged together, and then two strands of globin from each were injected into living bacteria. This irritated the bacteria and formed iron, which is a "key ingredient" in red blood cells. Currently Campbell and his team are doing more tests to the mammoth bones.
This is extremely neat, science has come so far. First we are cloning sheep, and now we are recreating (from scratch) blood for a woolly mammoth. Just imagine if they actually succeed in recreating a mammoth. The giant beasts of the tropics and ice would roam the Earth once again. It may not be in our lifetime, but for the future generations wouldn't that be neat? But if they don't succeed in making one, they have come far enough to make it's blood, which is still very cool.
The woolly mammoth was originally a tropical creature, but because of its special hemoglobin it could adapt to much colder regions. The hemoglobin was reconstructed by Kevin L. Campbell of the University of Manitoba, this was a mammoth-sized task. They gathered DNA from the mammoth and looked at its closest living relative's DNA, the Asian elephant. They were merged together, and then two strands of globin from each were injected into living bacteria. This irritated the bacteria and formed iron, which is a "key ingredient" in red blood cells. Currently Campbell and his team are doing more tests to the mammoth bones.
This is extremely neat, science has come so far. First we are cloning sheep, and now we are recreating (from scratch) blood for a woolly mammoth. Just imagine if they actually succeed in recreating a mammoth. The giant beasts of the tropics and ice would roam the Earth once again. It may not be in our lifetime, but for the future generations wouldn't that be neat? But if they don't succeed in making one, they have come far enough to make it's blood, which is still very cool.
Largest Ever Tornado Study Begins
www.livescience.com/environment/tornado-study-vortex2-100430.html
The largest ever study of tornadoes started the first weekend in May and will continue till June 15th. Over 100 researchers will be involved. The researches hope to surround tornados with mobile radars and other tools to examine in detail how tornadoes form and the patterns of damage they cause. Tornadoes are among the most destructive weather events on Earth and the researches hope to learn more about how they develop so that better warning systems can be implemented. Researchers are going to be using enhanced mobile radars and other new weather-sensing tools to gather data from the zone within supercells where tornadoes develop. They will be looking for fast changes in wind and temperature in this zone. The changes are what can cause a tornado to form within minutes. This happens in only a small number of supercell storms, so they may have to study several storms before they actually get tornado to study.
I have always been fascinated by tornados and hope that this project provides scientist with useful information. Tornados are so dangerous it would be good if better early warning systems could be developed. The article says that not all superscells produce tornados. Hopefully, after the project is complete they will be able to determine which supercells will produce tornados and which will not. Once they are able to make this determination this information could be used to warn people if a dangerous storm in headed there way. Earlier warning would allow people to take cover and secure property resulting in lower loss of life and damage.
The largest ever study of tornadoes started the first weekend in May and will continue till June 15th. Over 100 researchers will be involved. The researches hope to surround tornados with mobile radars and other tools to examine in detail how tornadoes form and the patterns of damage they cause. Tornadoes are among the most destructive weather events on Earth and the researches hope to learn more about how they develop so that better warning systems can be implemented. Researchers are going to be using enhanced mobile radars and other new weather-sensing tools to gather data from the zone within supercells where tornadoes develop. They will be looking for fast changes in wind and temperature in this zone. The changes are what can cause a tornado to form within minutes. This happens in only a small number of supercell storms, so they may have to study several storms before they actually get tornado to study.
I have always been fascinated by tornados and hope that this project provides scientist with useful information. Tornados are so dangerous it would be good if better early warning systems could be developed. The article says that not all superscells produce tornados. Hopefully, after the project is complete they will be able to determine which supercells will produce tornados and which will not. Once they are able to make this determination this information could be used to warn people if a dangerous storm in headed there way. Earlier warning would allow people to take cover and secure property resulting in lower loss of life and damage.
New Killer Whales?
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58838/description/One_ocean%2C_four_%28or_more%29_killer_whale_species
Through the years, scientist have been trying to determine if Killer Whales are really part of the whale family, or should be a different group on there own. Recently they've found through DNA tests that there are atleast four different species of Killer Whales. They've noticed this before with different eating habits and behavior among watching these creatures. There has also been a notice among the whales about different eye patches. When put together, they also don't breed with each other. There is believed to be several more different species, but until then, there is currently four that are out there.
First off, I always figured that Killer Whales were grouped in with Dolphins. Guess I was wrong? Any way, if this is not cool, it's extremely confusing. Good thing I'm not an campanologist. There is one thing that comes to mind with this though. All those accidents in Sea World. If it was a different Orca, would there had been no deaths? I have to wonder if there is a huge difference in temperaments. Could things be more safe?
Through the years, scientist have been trying to determine if Killer Whales are really part of the whale family, or should be a different group on there own. Recently they've found through DNA tests that there are atleast four different species of Killer Whales. They've noticed this before with different eating habits and behavior among watching these creatures. There has also been a notice among the whales about different eye patches. When put together, they also don't breed with each other. There is believed to be several more different species, but until then, there is currently four that are out there.
First off, I always figured that Killer Whales were grouped in with Dolphins. Guess I was wrong? Any way, if this is not cool, it's extremely confusing. Good thing I'm not an campanologist. There is one thing that comes to mind with this though. All those accidents in Sea World. If it was a different Orca, would there had been no deaths? I have to wonder if there is a huge difference in temperaments. Could things be more safe?
Monday, May 3, 2010
Many endangered turtles dying on Texas Gulf Coast
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100430/ap_on_sc/us_turtle_die_off
More than 30 dead turtles have been found on the Texas gulf coast this month. The high number has puzzled researchers, because most of the turtles are so decomposed that it is hard to tell how they died. The number of dead is double what scientists usually see during the say time frame. What is causing particular concern is that most of the dead turtles are Kemp’s ridleys which are an endangered species. There are usually more turtle deaths this time of year because they are coming on shore to lay eggs. Many of the turtle’s have propeller wounds from boats or have gotten caught in fishing lines. Others where killed by parasites. Researchers are also concerned about the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana and the effects it might have on the endangered turtles. If the oil were move toward Texas many Kemp's ridleys swimming in to nest would be right in its path.
I think that it is awful that all these turtles are being killed or dying. It looks like these turtles are most at risk when they come into the sallow water on their way to the beaches to lay eggs. Perhaps there needs to be more regulations on boating in the shallow water during this time to help keep the turtles safe. It may be an inconvenience but if it would save the endangered turtles it would be worth it. I really hope the oil spill does not cause more issues with the turtles. I am really concerned about the environmental issues the oil spill is going to cause. Even if the turtles are not affected other marine life will be.
More than 30 dead turtles have been found on the Texas gulf coast this month. The high number has puzzled researchers, because most of the turtles are so decomposed that it is hard to tell how they died. The number of dead is double what scientists usually see during the say time frame. What is causing particular concern is that most of the dead turtles are Kemp’s ridleys which are an endangered species. There are usually more turtle deaths this time of year because they are coming on shore to lay eggs. Many of the turtle’s have propeller wounds from boats or have gotten caught in fishing lines. Others where killed by parasites. Researchers are also concerned about the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana and the effects it might have on the endangered turtles. If the oil were move toward Texas many Kemp's ridleys swimming in to nest would be right in its path.
I think that it is awful that all these turtles are being killed or dying. It looks like these turtles are most at risk when they come into the sallow water on their way to the beaches to lay eggs. Perhaps there needs to be more regulations on boating in the shallow water during this time to help keep the turtles safe. It may be an inconvenience but if it would save the endangered turtles it would be worth it. I really hope the oil spill does not cause more issues with the turtles. I am really concerned about the environmental issues the oil spill is going to cause. Even if the turtles are not affected other marine life will be.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Bacteris Suicide
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58697/title/Infection%2C_kill_thyself
Scientist are coming up with a dressing that can trick harmful bacteria into killing themselves. The dressing has tiny capsules in it that look like a perfect infecting zone to the bacteria. When the bacteria attacks it, it releases antibacterial agent, thus killing the bacteria. it was tested on Staphylococcus and a member of the Pseudomonas group, along with a harmless type of e-coli. The harmless E-coli did fine, but the two harmful bacteria basically killed themselves. Even though the test was a success, it's still too early to see it it will make any difference.
I think making bacteria kill itself is a cool idea. It causes so much harm to us, now it's time to retaliate. The problem here though is that they still don't know if this is safe for human contact. This new dressing may just cause as much a problem as the old. Though, considering that the old kind was made with silver, the new might not be as expensive. We won't know until they're ready to try, though.
Scientist are coming up with a dressing that can trick harmful bacteria into killing themselves. The dressing has tiny capsules in it that look like a perfect infecting zone to the bacteria. When the bacteria attacks it, it releases antibacterial agent, thus killing the bacteria. it was tested on Staphylococcus and a member of the Pseudomonas group, along with a harmless type of e-coli. The harmless E-coli did fine, but the two harmful bacteria basically killed themselves. Even though the test was a success, it's still too early to see it it will make any difference.
I think making bacteria kill itself is a cool idea. It causes so much harm to us, now it's time to retaliate. The problem here though is that they still don't know if this is safe for human contact. This new dressing may just cause as much a problem as the old. Though, considering that the old kind was made with silver, the new might not be as expensive. We won't know until they're ready to try, though.
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