In August, crew members of a yacht sailing through the Tonga Islands spotted a massive pumice raft covering several square kilometers of ocean. A pumice raft is a large quantity of pumice fragments floating on the ocean surface (pumice is a volcanic rock that contains so many gas vesicles that it floats).
A federal probe of NASA Inspector General Robert Cobb outlines allegations that he stifled investigations, mistreated department employees and maintained a close personal relationship with top officials of the agency he was supposed to independently monitor.
A team of scientists, including four at The Johns Hopkins University, has discovered two new subatomic particles, rare but important relatives of the familiar, commonplace proton and neutron. Named “Sigma-sub-b” particles, the two exotic and incredibly quick to decompose particles are like rare jewels…
Blind mice see again after retina cell transplants
British and American scientists have restored vision in blind mice by transplanting light-sensitive cells into their eyes in a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments of human eye diseases.
Civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has threatened the existence of wild bonobos, while new research on the hypersexual primates challenges their peace-loving reputation
Money is an incentive to work hard, but it also promotes selfish behavior. Those conclusions may not be surprising, but now researchers find that merely thinking of money makes people less likely to give help to others.
Models of average size are just as effective at selling products as ultra-thin models, a social psychologist’s research suggests.
Brilliant Minds Forecast the Next 50 Years
What will be the biggest breakthrough of the next 50 years? Over 70 of the world’s most brilliant scientists share their ideas.
You’re welcome, and thanks for yours. I noticed there wasn’t one of these buckets up today and I know that Knoxville Progressive is busy for a few days, so I thought I’d step into the breach. I have a bunch of links to all things scientific, and if I have the time I can stay pretty much up to date on things. What was really fun was looking through everything and deciding what to include. 🙂
You’re welcome. I knew about the 9 o’clock rule and that KP was gonna be busy, so I waited a while and went ahead and did it. Thank YOU and KP for doing it on a regular basis.
I read about the new island last week & went to the blog of the sailors who got caught up in the pumice raft. It took a lot of the coating of of the hull [Which this coating is supposed to do in certain situations}, before they realized they better get out of the area. Luckily, their engine didn`t get damaged although they had to clean all filters involving air & water contact.
I get ” LiveScience.com” daily, which has a wonderful update on recent findings, & new discoveries of all kinds. I recommend it for it`s ability to give a fresh start on the day, upgrade your knowledge of affairs that get your mind of of the “Fear TV” & give you a subject of conversation to engage others on neutral ground.
I wish you would start a diary as is suggested.
I think you`d like the site I mentioned.
Wow, thanks for filling in the last details on that story. It is interesting to know what the effects on boating and boats are. Just imagine, sailing along and you run into a floating island of rocks…
As a merchant marine, I was stuck in ice as far as the eye could see once.
I went out on deck, & the formations of ice, in close proximity, eventually blended in with the overcast sky. I lost the horizon & fell over. I realized within a few minutes that I was experiencing “vertigo”. I played around with this phenomenon for a while & even went & got a few others to try it but got no takers. A similar problem as the “rock sailors” had, was that my water cooling intake filters would clog with ice causing the engines to overheat. But I`d think I was having flashbacks if I awoke to find my boat was in the rocks rather than on the rocks.
“The captain of the EXON VALDEZ, ‘I said a rum & coke on the rocks’,
not,’Run the boat on the rocks'”.
The Pentagon wants to build a compound costing up to $125 million for upcoming war crimes trials at Guantánamo. The proposal has yet to be presented to Congress, which must OK funding.
“The United States upset the regional balance in the Mideast when it invaded Iraq. Restoring it requires bold initiatives, but “cutting and running” must precede them all. Only a withdrawal of all U.S. troops – within six months and with no preconditions – can break the paralysis that enfeebles our diplomacy.”
Nicaragua eliminates last exception for women’s health in their anti-abortion laws: NYT
Hopes among women’s groups in Nicaragua that President Enrique Bolaños would stop one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Latin America from taking effect have been dashed, as the president signed it into law late Friday.
Abortion has been illegal in Nicaragua for more than a century, and most women who decide to end unwanted pregnancies seek procedures at underground clinics. But the new law strikes out a clause that made it possible for a woman to obtain an abortion legally when three doctors certified that unless she did, her own life would be in danger.
For months, the proposed law has drawn fierce criticism from several local women’s groups, the country’s association of gynecologists, the United Nations, the World Health Organization and Human Rights Watch, among others.
“This is a throwback to the Middle Ages for women’s rights,” Juana Jiménez, the leader of the Women’s Autonomous Movement in Nicaragua, said after the law was passed.
The law was the fruit of the recent presidential election, as conservatives saw a chance to gain its passage in Parliament during the election season…
…Some opponents to the law had hoped Mr. Bolaños, a conservative, would not sign the bill because it did not include the stiffer sentences he had wanted for women who had had illegal abortions, or for those who had performed abortions. The six-year prison term remains unchanged under the law. The president had asked for a 30-year prison term.
McCain is seeing a very crowded field of candidates – 9 rivals so far – and is attempting to lockdown the base. More proof he’s unabashedly anti-abortion rights, to further his chances with the christianistas he’s hired on one of Falwell’s guys, Brett O’Donell.
Whoever thinks McCain has principles or a shred of integrity is well fooled.
New Volcanic Island and Pumice Raft in Tonga
In August, crew members of a yacht sailing through the Tonga Islands spotted a massive pumice raft covering several square kilometers of ocean. A pumice raft is a large quantity of pumice fragments floating on the ocean surface (pumice is a volcanic rock that contains so many gas vesicles that it floats).
Satellite pic at link above, surface pics here.
NASA’s auditor probed
A federal probe of NASA Inspector General Robert Cobb outlines allegations that he stifled investigations, mistreated department employees and maintained a close personal relationship with top officials of the agency he was supposed to independently monitor.
Team discovers exotic relatives of protons, neutrons
A team of scientists, including four at The Johns Hopkins University, has discovered two new subatomic particles, rare but important relatives of the familiar, commonplace proton and neutron. Named “Sigma-sub-b” particles, the two exotic and incredibly quick to decompose particles are like rare jewels…
Blind mice see again after retina cell transplants
British and American scientists have restored vision in blind mice by transplanting light-sensitive cells into their eyes in a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments of human eye diseases.
The Smart and Swinging Bonobo
Civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has threatened the existence of wild bonobos, while new research on the hypersexual primates challenges their peace-loving reputation
Keeping Money in Mind Makes People Less Helpful
Money is an incentive to work hard, but it also promotes selfish behavior. Those conclusions may not be surprising, but now researchers find that merely thinking of money makes people less likely to give help to others.
No point using skinny models in ads, psychologist finds
Models of average size are just as effective at selling products as ultra-thin models, a social psychologist’s research suggests.
Brilliant Minds Forecast the Next 50 Years
What will be the biggest breakthrough of the next 50 years? Over 70 of the world’s most brilliant scientists share their ideas.
that new volcanic island -sea of stone an incredible find!
Nice roundup.
Thanks for your efforts
You’re welcome, and thanks for yours. I noticed there wasn’t one of these buckets up today and I know that Knoxville Progressive is busy for a few days, so I thought I’d step into the breach. I have a bunch of links to all things scientific, and if I have the time I can stay pretty much up to date on things. What was really fun was looking through everything and deciding what to include. 🙂
And I got to post my favorite Einstein quote!
think the post should be listed under the diaries as well – the front page gets scrolled away and outta sight.
I don’t know how that happened, it just did. Maybe someone liked the Einstein quote.
Thanks for posting the bucket today. (If people recommend it, it can go back to the Rec list after it scrolls down the FP.)
You’re welcome. I knew about the 9 o’clock rule and that KP was gonna be busy, so I waited a while and went ahead and did it. Thank YOU and KP for doing it on a regular basis.
I read about the new island last week & went to the blog of the sailors who got caught up in the pumice raft. It took a lot of the coating of of the hull [Which this coating is supposed to do in certain situations}, before they realized they better get out of the area. Luckily, their engine didn`t get damaged although they had to clean all filters involving air & water contact.
I get ” LiveScience.com” daily, which has a wonderful update on recent findings, & new discoveries of all kinds. I recommend it for it`s ability to give a fresh start on the day, upgrade your knowledge of affairs that get your mind of of the “Fear TV” & give you a subject of conversation to engage others on neutral ground.
I wish you would start a diary as is suggested.
I think you`d like the site I mentioned.
Wow, thanks for filling in the last details on that story. It is interesting to know what the effects on boating and boats are. Just imagine, sailing along and you run into a floating island of rocks…
As a merchant marine, I was stuck in ice as far as the eye could see once.
I went out on deck, & the formations of ice, in close proximity, eventually blended in with the overcast sky. I lost the horizon & fell over. I realized within a few minutes that I was experiencing “vertigo”. I played around with this phenomenon for a while & even went & got a few others to try it but got no takers. A similar problem as the “rock sailors” had, was that my water cooling intake filters would clog with ice causing the engines to overheat. But I`d think I was having flashbacks if I awoke to find my boat was in the rocks rather than on the rocks.
“The captain of the EXON VALDEZ, ‘I said a rum & coke on the rocks’,
not,’Run the boat on the rocks'”.
Penal Colony: Pentagon wants to build mini-city for terror trials
The Pentagon wants to build a compound costing up to $125 million for upcoming war crimes trials at Guantánamo. The proposal has yet to be presented to Congress, which must OK funding.
AP Gets Shocking New Report on Gitmo
And from our old friends
Saudis give Blair Ultimatum, threatening to suspend diplomatic ties over bribery investigation.
Spanish FM: Peace plan withheld for fear of Israeli rejection
‘Islamic states see sympathy turning against Israel’
Nicaragua eliminates last exception for women’s health in their anti-abortion laws: NYT
And since I’m having a bad day, just go read Amanda’s piece on John McCain’s latest act of Christian-right fellatio. Now he wants Roe v Wade overturned too.
That’s truly scary about Nicaragua. And I love the pic at your link on McCain.
be well CG.
McCain is seeing a very crowded field of candidates – 9 rivals so far – and is attempting to lockdown the base. More proof he’s unabashedly anti-abortion rights, to further his chances with the christianistas he’s hired on one of Falwell’s guys, Brett O’Donell.
Whoever thinks McCain has principles or a shred of integrity is well fooled.
And of integrity and ethics, GOPers keeps on giving and receiving.
On the receiving end today in Ohio, GOP fundraiser Tom Noe given 18 yrs in state prison (h/t:Talkleft)