Category Archives: Science

Mullet Over #549

Veterans of snow shoveling generally agree that spraying one’s shovel scoop with cooking oil will facilitate snow shedding and significantly decrease the effort required for clearing sidewalks, etc.

A special few bread-baking mavens are perceived as skilled artisans. Subsequent to overseeing dough preparations, the experts closely regulate ambient moisture content, oven temperatures, oven air flow and baking times. Particular hamburger vendors often pay handsomely to acquire tasty buns “perfectly” prepared.

Sometimes Hollywood really is larger than life. When filmmakers made the motion picture Mutiny on the Bounty (starring Marlon Brando), the movie model of the 18th century ship was constructed on a 1.3:1 (180 feet vs. 138 feet) scale to provide extra space for filming crews.

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Bill to end ban on organ donations between HIV-positive patients

U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) Thursday introduced the HOPE Act (HIV Organ Policy Equity Act), legislation that would end the federal ban on federal research into organ donations from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients. The bipartisan measure – which is also sponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Rand Paul (R-KY) – would open a pathway to the eventual transplantation of these organs, offering hope to thousands of HIV-positive patients who are currently on waiting lists for life-saving organs.

Currently, even researching the feasibility of such transplants is banned under federal law. The Boxer-Coburn bill would establish a regular review process in which the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary would evaluate the progress of medical research into these procedures. If the research demonstrates that transplants from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients can be safely and successfully completed, the HHS Secretary would have the authority to direct the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to establish safe procedures to begin such transplantations.

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Where evil lurks: Neurologist discovers ‘dark patch’ inside evil brains

The Daily Mail is reporting what German scientist Dr Gerhard Roth says is an ‘evil patch’ that lies in the brain’s central lobe and shows up as a dark mass on X-rays.  He discovered it when investigating violent convicted offenders over the years for German government studies and he believes these criminals have a ‘genetic predisposition’ to violence.

‘We showed these people short films and measured their brain waves,’ he said.

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Mars had lakes

A NASA spacecraft is providing new evidence of a wet underground environment on Mars that adds to an increasingly complex picture of the Red Planet’s early evolution.

The new information comes from researchers analyzing spectrometer data from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which looked down on the floor of McLaughlin Crater. The Martian crater is 57 miles (92 kilometers) in diameter and 1.4 miles (2.2 kilometers) deep. McLaughlin’s depth apparently once allowed underground water, which otherwise would have stayed hidden, to flow into the crater’s interior.

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Study: Eco-Friendly bulbs may risk health

Every time you turn on the lights, you may be putting yourself at risk, according to a disturbing new study.

Energy efficient bulbs are eco-friendly and can save you big bucks, but experts say that some could also have a dark side.

“When there is something in your house, you don’t perceive any danger, you wouldn’t get that close to an x-ray in a doctor’s office,” explained Miriam Rafailovich, Professor of Materials Science at Stony Brook University in New York.

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