Month: August 2014

Ebola virus is rapidly mutating › News in Science ABC Science

Posted on by susanai

A study of some of the earliest Ebola cases in Sierra Leone reveals more than 300 genetic changes in the virus as it has leapt from person to person.These rapid changes could blunt the effectiveness of diagnostic tests and experimental treatments now in development, say researchers.”We found the virus is doing what viruses do. It’s mutating,” says study lead author Pardis Sabeti of Harvard University and the Broad Institute.

via Ebola virus is rapidly mutating › News in Science ABC Science.

ISEE-3 Post Lunar Flyby Status and Modification of Mission Goals

Posted on by susanai

denniswingo

Mission Status

Communication with the ISEE-3 satellite was successfully re-established with the goal of commanding the satellite to change its trajectory with the goal of putting it into a libration point orbit that would allow it to resume its original mission goals of collecting data for solar physics research. The trajectory change goal unfortunately could not be completed due to the failure of the onboard thrusters. This failure was apparently the result of the loss of nitrogen pressurant in the Hydrazine fuel system.

This inability to change the spacecraft’s orbit rules out the original reboot mission goals which would have provided long-term data collection from the satellite instrumentation package using modest antennas. After the orbit change attempt, the ISEE-3 Reboot Team powered on the instrumentation package and began data collection from the instruments to assess their current physical status and usefulness for any ongoing scientific mission.

We are now redefining…

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Long-term outlook tips dry start to spring for southern Australia – ABC Rural Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Posted on by susanai

The Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast for the next three months is tipping a dry start to spring in southern Australia.The weather bureau’s seasonal outlook is forecasting a drier than normal September for a large part of southern Australia, while the entire three months of spring, from September to November, are likely to be drier than normal in central Victoria and southern and central New South Wales.

via Long-term outlook tips dry start to spring for southern Australia – ABC Rural Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Canola genome paves the way for better crops › News in Science ABC Science

Posted on by susanai

The canola plant is set for an overhaul to boost its oil content, make it more disease-resistant, and help it adapt to climate change, thanks to the sequencing of its genome.An international team of scientists report the sequencing of the Brassica napus genome today in Science .Brassica napus — also known as canola or oilseed rape — is an essential food crop, providing canola oil for cooking and biofuel, and seed meal for animal fodder.

via Canola genome paves the way for better crops › News in Science ABC Science.

The World Today – Calls for Great Barrier Reef body to be overhauled 19/08/2014

Posted on by susanai

ELEANOR HALL: Conservationists are calling for an overhaul of the body that’s meant to protect the Great Barrier Reef.The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority approved a plan to dump dredge spoil inside the marine park in January.But a former director of the authority has told the ABC’s Four Corners program that the majority of the authority’s scientists opposed this, and conservationists are now calling for that approval to be revoked.Maria Hatzakis reports.

via The World Today – Calls for Great Barrier Reef body to be overhauled 19/08/2014.

David Ignatius’ Body of Lies

Posted on by susanai

Ronald Thomas West

Ron10

a Ronald Thomas West assessment

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CIA veteran Melvin Goodman on David Ignatius: “The mainstream media’s apologist for the Central Intelligence Agency”

Glenn Greenwald on David Ignatius: “The CIA’s spokesman at The Washington Post”

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Body of Lies

I’d been perusing titles at ‘Books in Berlin’ (an English language bookstore) somewhat absent-mindedly, but noticing quite a few titles dedicated to international intrigue. I suppose that should come as no surprise, there are many CIA and other English fluent ‘spooks’ in town, as well they must have quite a few local acquaintances and it is reasonable to assume they’d be interested in ‘shop-craft’ reading.

I had no particular interest in the fiction side of the game, it is difficult enough to sort through the propaganda and disinformation rife in non-fiction titles, but then a book I happened to glance inside the front cover caught my eye.

“Body of Lies is fiction…

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The Secret Bataclysm: White Nose Syndrome and Extinction | Science Blogs | WIRED

Posted on by susanai

In 2013, I got to participate in a bat census at the American Museum of Natural History’s Southwestern Research Station, a biological hotspot with more kinds of bats than anywhere else in the US.I discovered fruit bats smell like a slice of fresh pineapple, and have delightful upturned noses speckled with pollen. Insect-eating bats…. smell a bit like a cat litter-box. But they are still fluffy and cute, like flying leathery hamsters.Trying to convince people they should love bats and that bats aren’t rodents is not easy. When I recounted my amazing bat experience was to friends, inevitably they described their fear of bats and how best to kill said bats with blunt instruments. So, pretty much the same conversations I have with everyone about spiders.

via The Secret Bataclysm: White Nose Syndrome and Extinction | Science Blogs | WIRED.

Migrating butterflies decide to stay and breed in Norfolk: Country diary 50 years ago | Environment | theguardian.com

Posted on by susanai

NorfolkAt the end of May, red admiral butterflies arrived in Norfolk as migrants from the South. It seems that most of them stayed here to breed, because a great many gloriously fresh specimens are now appearing everywhere. In the last few days I have seen them in profusion on purple buddleias in gardens, on the rosy flowers of hemp agrimony in the marshes, and on sea rocket and sea lavender along the coast. They are more numerous than the peacocks and small tortoiseshells which are also enjoying an exceptionally good season with us.

via Migrating butterflies decide to stay and breed in Norfolk: Country diary 50 years ago | Environment | theguardian.com.