Scientists Find Fountain of Youth ... in Mice

Although it is a very small step in age reversal, scientists have found they can rejuvenate organs in older mice back to their younger state, says AOL News. The experiment was held at Harvard University's Medical School.

The enzyme telomerase was used during this experiment. It is an enzyme that makes small units of DNA that seal the tips of chromosomes. They act like the plastic caps at the ends of a shoelace, preventing chromosomes from fraying and genes from unraveling. When scientists increased levels of telomerase in the mice, their organs began to rejuvenate. Harvard stated that shriveled testes grew back to normal and allowed the mice to be fertile again along with other organs that recuperated from their degenerated state.

In humans, however, this experiment could hold extremely different results. The main problem is the fact that the enzyme telomerase stops generating in humans so that cells do not over replicate themselves causing cancer; the risk of cancer would dramatically increase.

I found this article extremely interesting. It is amazing how far along scientists are coming on a day to day basis. Imagine what this experiment, once made accurate for humans, could do for our society today? It sort of reminds of stem cell research except this experiment is a lot less controversial. Obviously this is just a small step in this research, but at least it's something!

Cockroach Brains May Be a Source of Antibiotics

New research has shown that cockroaches may be a new source of antibiotics. That these insects have a defense mechanism that may be capable of fighting against drug resistant bacterias. Scientist have found that tissues from their brains and nervous systems can kill 90% of E. Coli and MRSA. Simon Lee a researcher that led the study explains how insects develop ways to protect themselves from germs, because they live in unsanitary conditions. 9 molecules capable of killing bacteria have been found in the tissue and they are currently testing to see if they can fight against Acinetobacter.

I think this is great progress in science. Finding ways to fight these drug resistant bacteria can help people that already have low immune systems protect themselves from these infections that cause them to get sicker than they already are.

Real Life Avatars?

In an article posted be the New York Times, reacher's are coming out with new technology called Cybertherapy. This new form of therapy, is designed to help people who have gone through difficult experiences or are in need of a professional to talk to, with out actually having to sit down and talk to them. This is being tested a on veterans who suffer from PTSD, for most, it is hard to sit down with a stranger and talk about their feelings and what bothers them about the traumatic experiences they went through over seas. So by using Cybertherapy it allows them to rein act the experiences they have been though, by putting them back in the "war" mentality as well as simulating a "war" environment. Then they talk to a cyber therapist on the screen about what they just saw and went through on the simulation. Experts say this is proven to be very effective and that it is easier for people to talk to the cyber therapist then it is for people to talk to a "real life" therapist mostly because they don't feel like they are being judged and the cyber therapist can look how ever the person controlling it wants it to look. For example if they are dealing with a veteran the cybertherapist can be dressed in army fatigues and be the color or race of the person they are dealing with, or if your dealing with a young girl with an eating disorder the cybertherspist can look like a young girl with the same color or race. This allows the individual to feel more comfortable and be able to open up easier. Cybertherarpy is also being used to help cure people of there fears and phobias by simulating what bothers them and having them confront those fears in a controlled situation to hopefully allow them to be able to overcome their particular fear.

I think this was a very interesting article, and great tool to help people who are in need of therapy, i think it will allow more people to be open and honest without feeling uncomfortable.

Scared to Death

According to The Press of Atlantic City you can actually be scared to death. It turns out that a good-enough scare can cause your demise, but probably not if you're of normal health.

Brian J. Hurlbut who teaches psychology at Southern Connecticut State University states "If it were to happen it would be someone with a precondition, a weak heart or an aneurysm in the brain." He continues by saying, "When you're scared a part of the nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system, prepares your body for violent activity." This is commonly known as the fight-or-flight reflex.

There have been cases in which criminals have been charged with murder or manslaughter because their victims have died from heart attacks.

When there is a sudden threat of danger, your system "dumps adrenaline into your bloodstream," so that it goes to your muscles. At the same time, blood vessels in the skin and digestive system constrict so blood will also be directed to your muscles. That's partly why people lose their appetite when they are nervous or scared.

This article caught my eye because I am easily scared of things. Now I have an excuse as to why I can't go to haunted houses or ride roller coasters!

Blueberries, a Very Healthy Fruit

In an article in WebMD (the magazine), it is said that Native Americans used blueberries to treat coughs. Blueberries have the highest amount of antioxidants, and "one cup delivers 14% of the recommended daily dose of fiber." They are also very low in calories. Blueberries are high in anthocyanin which gives them their blue hue. North America produces 90% of the world's supply of blueberries. This fruit is so popular that it's celebrated throughout the month of July, "National Blueberry Month." The reason behind this is because blueberries are at the peak of their harvest in July.
I knew that blueberries were healthy and good for you, obviously because any fruit is. I wasn't aware of all the antioxidants and fiber they have. It's interesting that Native Americans used them to treat coughs. If more people knew this, then maybe there wouldn't be such a high need for cough drops and medicines. I also think it's kind of interesting that there is a whole month dedicated to blueberries.

New Blood Test Can Determine Age

According to Comic Log at msnbc.com, crime investigators that have no more than a drop of blood can use it to find out the age of the person the blood is from. The blood does not have to be moist. It will even work on dry blood stains as well as those revealed by a heat-vision camera. "The molecules used are residues of the immune system known as sjTREC molecules. These special DNA molecules are released in blood cells as a result of the adaptations that have to be made by newly formed specific immune cells -- T cells -- to recognize bacteria, viruses, parasites or possibly cancer cells. Their number decreases with age," as reported by TG Daily Reports. This test will be very helpful on the search for criminals or missing people. I am suprised everyday to see what our scientists are able to do. They just keep finding more and more way to help,and this will hopefully help find lots of criminals.

Studies About HIV Antibodies

An article from Biology News Net has brought to the attention of the public why there are antibodies in the body which fail to protect against the HIV infection. Researchers have been confused for years about why people who are infected with the AIDS virus produce antibodies in response to the infection, if those antibodies are ineffective in blocking the infection. Now, they think they may have found their answer.
Some of the earliest and most abundant antibodies that are available to try and fight the infection cannot actually “see” the virus until it has already invaded, and is too late. These scientists have done a series of biochemical and crystallography experiments which showed them what specific molecular structures different types of antibodies need in order for them to hold an effective defense. Now that it is known what kind of structure is needed, researchers have a better understanding of what an immune system needs to have an effective defense against HIV.
The subject of preventing and treating HIV/AIDS is one that is very important and urgent. These studies are a big milestone in the process of figuring out this disease. I think it is great that scientists are getting farther towards a way to help people who have been infected with this dangerous illness.

Help for High Cholesterol

The Press of Atlantic City reports that there's help for high cholesterol. An experimental drug called anacetrapib boosted good cholesterol so high and dropped bad cholesterol so low in a study that doctors were stunned and voiced renewed hopes for an entirely new way of preventing heart attack and stroke.

Dr. Christopher Cannon of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston led the study of the novel drug for Merck & Company, saying "This could be the next big thing." Anacetrapib will not be on the market anytime soon. It needs more testing to see whether its effects on cholesterol will translate into fewer heart attacks, strokes, and deaths. Merck says to answer that question could take several years.

Anacetrapib would be the first drug of its kind. It helps keep fat particles attached to HDL (good cholesterol) which carries them in the bloodstream to the liver to be disposed of. It is too soon to estimate the cost of the medicine, but the maker stands to make billions.

The new drug looks more potent, without the serious side effects that led to the failure of other drugs. The large changes seen during the study have never been seen before. The improvements persisted for at least another year as the study continued.

This is great news to those who suffer from high cholesterol. Hopefully the medicine will be available sooner than later to prevent any more people from having a heart attack or stroke.

Mining the Seafloor for Rare-Earth Minerals

In the New York Times article "Mining the Seafloor for rare-earth minerals", it states that for decades people have been trying to become rich by gathering up rocks which carpet the sea floor. These rocks, about the size of potatoes, are plentiful in nickel, copper, and cobalt. They also contain manganese and other elements, but lie down in the inky darkness. Using vacuum machines to collect these stones is not considered economical, therefore other methods are being considered.

They are now finding that these specimens may contain so-called rare-earth minerals (elements that have wide commercial and military application). China, which controls some 95 percent of the world’s supply, had blocked shipments, sounding political alarms around the globe and a rush for alternatives.

“People are quite intrigued,” said James R. Hein, a geologist with the United State Geological Survey who specializes in seabed minerals. Depending on China’s behavior and the global reaction, he said, “rare earths may be the driving force in the near future.”

The value of these stones is increasing as people realize there worth. Scientists plan to evaluate some 5,000 stones to assert there worth. The elements known as rare earths number 17 in all and range from cerium and dysprosium to thulium and yttrium. This element can be used in many technologies, such as magnets, lasers, fiber optics, computer disk drives, fluorescent lamps, rechargeable batteries, catalytic converters, computer memory chips, X-rays tubes, high-temperature superconductors and the liquid-crystal displays of televisions and computer monitors.

Due to strict mining laws established through environmental protection makes it difficult to mine these stones. China is the biggest area for mining to to there less strict laws. Scientist such as Dr. Hein of geological surveys said dwindling supplies of terrestrial copper — a key ingredient of industrialization used in everything from wires and switches to pipes and roofs — have forced miners on land to go after increasingly low grades of ore and have raised interest in seabed resources.

These finding have caused a global interest in these stones and finding new ways to harvest them.

May Beer Have Helped Lead to the Rise of Civilization?

“Beer is sacred stuff in most traditional societies,” described Bryan Hayden, archeologists at Simon Fraser University in Canada. According to LiveScience.com, beer could have possibly led to the rise of civilization. Research has shown that Stone Age peoples would domestic cereal grains, not to fill their stomachs, but to lighten their heads.

This whole idea came about due to the fact that there was a good amount of work that had to be done to make the grains edible enough to eat and this would be done usually for a feast of some sort. The feasts were important community gatherings and having beer sparked interest to the other people.

"It's not that drinking and brewing by itself helped start cultivation, it's this context of feasts that links beer and the emergence of complex societies," Hayden said.

Beer was usually made to impress guests, make them happy, and alter their attitudes favorably towards the host. The idea was that the people who held the feast would get reciprocated for their work. For example, they would be invited to someone's feast and get the same hospitality.

Although there is significant amount of evidence pointing to the correctness of this theory, there still needs to be more exploration.

I'm not going to lie, the first thing that caught my attention to this article was the word “beer.” I thought to myself, 'How does beer relate to science?' After reading the article I was quite stunned to realize that this could really be true. It's funny to relate Stone Age people to our society today. Clearly, nothing has changed.

Reducing Greenhouse Emissions

President Obama announced plans in October to put solar panels on the White House in order to set an example for the world, according to an article in Newsweek Magazine. Because the U.S. Senate didn't pass a climate bill which required manufacturers, utilities, oil refiners, and others who emitted carbon dioxide to pay taxes or buy permits for their emissions, many businesses and even the government are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Being energy efficient can save a company up to $4.4 million a year. Matt Arnold, head of the sustainability practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers says, "No company wants to wind up on a list of 'top-10 worst polluters," and, "reducing your footprint helps with some investors and with recruiting." CEO of the Carbon War Room, Jigar Shah says that things could get worse, but that "solar is inevitable not because of carbon but because it is the most effective way to reach the un-electrified poor." Reducing greenhouse emissions will not be "climate changing" as long as these new ideas are being expanded. 90 percent cuts of today's levels are expected to be cut by 2050, according to Daniel Kammen of the World Bank. He says, "Without a price on carbon, we're fighting with only one hand, but at least we're fighting."

I think it's a great thing that different sources of energy are being discovered and used. Although the ideas aren't expanding quick enough to cut down greenhouse emissions tremendously, at least predictions of 90 percent have been made for 2050. I also think that in this day and age, people are more interested in companies or businesses that are "green". Many people have made changes in their own homes to reduce their carbon footprint.

Researchers Aim to Harvest Solar Energy

According to an article published in Science Daily, researchers from the University of Rhoad Island are looking at methods to harvest solar energy. They feel that solar energy can be used to do many things including powering streetlights, melting ice, heating buildings and for other important purposes. Their aim is to save on fossil fuels and reduce global warming. The team has found four potential methods and are currently producing research projects to make it possible. Some of these methods are simple while othes are more complex and costly. The first method could be implemented today because the technology needed currently exists. It involves wrapping flexible photovotic cells around the tops of Jersey barriers. This electricity can be used to power streetlights. They are currently running a pilot program using this method to light lamps on their campus. Another method is to put water filled pipes underneath the asphault letting the sun heat the water. This heated water can melt the snow reducing the need for road salt. Some of the other methods mentioned in the article are considered more futuristic and would require changing the road ways, which could also be very costly.

I think that this research is a great way to help us reduce global warming and save on our fossil fuel use. If these methods can be used in the future it will use better methods to do the same things that are already being done but helping the enviornment.

Smoking chimp rescued in Lebanon, sent to Brazil

The Associated Press, reported that in Lebanon several animal rights workers came across a zoo that has trained animals smoke to entertain guests. An animal that they were particually interested in was a chimpanzee. He goes by the name of Omega, and he is 12 years old and weighs 132 pounds.

When Omega was younger he was kept at a resteraunt to entertain people by smoking, as well as serving them water pipes, but for the past ten years he has been stuck in a cage. Omega was able to continue his habit because people that would visit the Lebanon Zoo would throw cigarettes into his cage and he would continue to smoke. Lebanon is one of the few countries that do not have animal protection laws. There have also been several other animals that were found at the Lebanon Zoo including baboons, hyenas, as well as different species of birds. Omega is being sent to Sao Paolo, Brazil and they are planning on finding the other animals a different place to live. The zoo has been shut down considering what the workers were allowing to happen.

Personally, I find this crazy. I don't see as to why anyone would want to have any type of animal smoke just for entertainment, or at all. If I were to go to a resteraunt I would be completely shocked if I saw an animal smoking. I believe that Lebanon should have laws to protect animals from such a thing.

Spots or Strips?

What makes these wild cats have strips and what makes them have spots and is one better then the other? Well according to Science Daily there are several factors that contribute to whether or not a wild cat have strips or spots. They found that cats living in dense habitats, in the trees, and active at low light levels, are the most likely to be patterned, or spot like. They think its because over time the coats of the cats evolved for camouflage to help them adapt better in there environment, as well as provide protection. Analysis of the evolutionary history of the patterns have made it quite clear that there is a definite link between environment and patterning, how ever for tigers this doesn't hold true, and we don't have a definite reason why. Only tigers always have vertically elongated patterns and these patterns were not associated with a grassland habitat, as might be expected. However, tigers seem to be very well camouflaged so this raises the question why vertical stripes are not more common in cats and other mammals (University of Bristol)? So you decide are spots better then strips?

Help for Lung Cancer Patients

The Press of Atlantic City reported some promising news for lung cancer patients. A study shows that a CT scan is more effective than X-ray screening for detection of cancer. Screening heavy smokers with a special type of CT scan modestly reduces lung cancer deaths, the National Cancer Institute announced, the first clear evidence that a screening test may help fight the nations top cancer killer.

At issue are controversial spiral CT scans, where a rotating scanner views lungs at various angles to spot growths when they're about half the size that a standard chest X-ray can detect. X-ray screening hasn't proved powerful enough to reduce lung cancer deaths. Previous studies suggested that CT scans might go that next step, even as other research questioned whether they'd do more harm than good by spotting too many benign growths.

The National Lung Screening Trial enrolled 53,000 current or former heavy smokers with no initial symptoms of cancer to try and settle the debate. It found 20 percent fewer deaths from lung cancer among those screened with CT's than among those given X-rays. The difference was so significant the study was ended early.

I found this to be very interesting. It's amazing what modern technology can do to help people. For those getting tested for lung cancer they should feel relieved that a CT scan is available to help increase their chance of survival.

Reducing the Risk of Peanut Allergies

On Biology News Net, there is an article that claims that researchers have made some connections that show if pregnant women eat a lot of peanuts during their term, it is more likely that their infant will have a peanut allergy. All of the scientists’ research on this subject is recorded in the November 1 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
There were researchers in five United States study sites who evaluated 503 infants between the ages of three to fifteen months, who had likely milk or egg allergies, which are factors that are associated with an increased risk of peanut allergy. The infants whose mothers ate peanuts during the pregnancy had blood tests that showed a stronger sensitivity to the peanuts compared to the infants whose mothers did not eat peanuts. The researchers acknowledge that the test results only show that there is a potential risk factor, and once they further the studies, maybe they could develop a risk reduction.
Peanut, milk, and egg allergies are very dangerous, so I think that any kind of research that could maybe prevent them or reduce the risk of developing them is very beneficial. The article said that these allergies are potentially fatal and they are becoming more prevalent. These studies may have seemed like a small step, but I think it was an important step towards reducing the impact of these allergies.