Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Shark Steroids Can Prevent Human Viruses
The steroid squalamine, found in dogfish sharks, has been found to fight viruses that are difficult or impossible to treat once transmitted to humans. Squalamine is a potential cure-all remedy than may even have the potential to cure cancers and protozoan infections. Discover summarizes the find as such:Researchers bathed lab-grown human endothelial cells—the type that line blood vessels—in varying concentrations of squalamine before introducing dengue virus. At the highest concentration of the chemical, none of the human cells became infected, nor suffered any visible ill effects from the squalamine.
Researchers also tested squalamine’s ability to prevent replication of the hepatitis B and D viruses in cultured human liver cells. In cells treated with squalamine, viral replication was reduced 10-fold.
Squalamine has antibiotic, fungicidal, and anti-protozoan properties. It kills a wide variety of pathogens and one study found it could be used to treat multidrug-resistant bacteria. Researchers are also investigating its ability to treat cancer and fight macular degeneration.
The early bird doesn't always get the worm
Asteroid 'killed off early birds'
Many early bird species suffered from the same catastrophic extinction as the dinosaurs, new research has shown. Paleontology News
Spiky Newborn Dinosaur Found in D.C. Beltway
The baby dinosaur, measuring a mere five inches, likely drowned in a stream.
Animal News
The Bizarre Jaws of the Angel Fish
The colorful choral reef dwellers have adapted a complicated jaw structure to take advantage of their tricky surroundings.
18-Foot Anaconda Captured Alive
The snake wranglers made sure the anaconda couldn't escape with its mouth taped, which would have been a death sentence for an animal with no appendages. Dozen New Frogs, Plus Three 'Extinct' Ones, Found
The find in the forests of Western Ghats, India, includes one that meows like a cat.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:
On the road of life, there's always a perfect time for you to pull over to the side of the road, turn off your engine and get out and walk for a while.
Right now you should keep moving forward, but you need to do it slowly.
It's time for you to feel like you're a bigger part of the journey.
If you go too fast, you'll whisk right by some beautiful, enriching people and places.
Plus, going slowly will enable you to feel more content with where you're going.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Yogykarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Newbury, England, United Kingdom
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Basauri, Pais Vasco, Spain
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Selayang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Guetersloh, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Morini, Morini, Comoros
Berne, Bern, Switzerland
Munich, Bayern, Germany
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Albury, New South Wales, Australia
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Port Louis, Port Louis, Mauritius
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Metz, Lorraine, France
Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Yogykarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Newbury, England, United Kingdom
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Basauri, Pais Vasco, Spain
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Selayang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Guetersloh, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Morini, Morini, Comoros
Berne, Bern, Switzerland
Munich, Bayern, Germany
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Albury, New South Wales, Australia
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Port Louis, Port Louis, Mauritius
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Metz, Lorraine, France
Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
as well as Slovakia, Malta, Bulgaria, Israel, Finland, Austria, Norway, Georgia, Mexico, Peru, Kuwait, Serbia, Bangladesh, Latvia, Greece, Scotland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Wales, Iran, Singapore, Poland, Taiwan, Sweden, Afghanistan, Belgium, Tibet, Croatia, Pakistan, Romania, Paraguay, Sudan, Vietnam, Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Maldives, Qatar, Brazil, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Slovenia, China, Iraq, Ecuador, Nigeria, Colombia, Chile, Honduras, Paupa New Guinea, Moldova, Venezuela, Germany, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Norway, Finland
and in cities across the United States such as Sedalia, Kailua, Caledonia, Atlanta and more.
and in cities across the United States such as Sedalia, Kailua, Caledonia, Atlanta and more.
Today is:
Today is Tuesday, September 20, the 263rd day of 2011.
There are 102 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
There isn't one.
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
Novices solve AIDS mystery
Online gamers succeed in unraveling a puzzle that has stumped scientists for a decade.
Also: And this is surprising ... how?
From the "Tell us something we didn't know" Department:
The U.S. has he 25th slowest internet speeds in the world.
Top 10 U.S. cities to live in
These enticing locations offer a mix of low crime, good schools, and plenty of fun.
Also: Bioclimatic No Walls House In Northern Colombia Is Caribbean Paradise
Photos: Sergio Gomez.
World renewed for their work in Medellin, especially with the Orchid House at the Botanical Garden, Colombian firm Plan B Architects is busy and keeps coming up with great projects.One of their latest is this wall-less house in Rio Cedro, a city located by the Caribbean Sea, 200 miles north from Medellin.
Article continues: Bioclimatic No Walls House In Northern Colombia Is Caribbean Paradise
Most beautiful ferry rides
These voyages offer unobstructed views of natural and man-made wonders.
Also: Patagonia Converts Sheep Factory to Luxury Adventure Hotel
After nearly a century, the landmarked post-Victorian circa 1915 Bories Cold Storage Plant will breathe new life with the December debut of The Singular Patagonia , the Chilean region's newest luxury retreat, the result of a meticulous 10-year restoration and renovation.
Ancient Swedish Fishers Put Human Heads On Stakes
Swedish archaeologists have pulled a trove of 8,000-year-old human skulls from a peat bog that was formerly a lake near Motala, Sweden.The rituals at Kanaljorden were conducted on a massive stone pavement constructed on the bottom of a shallow lake (currently a peat fen). Some crania were fairly intact while others were found as isolated fragments. The more intact ones represent eleven individuals, both men and women, ranging in age between infants and middle age. Two of the skulls have had wooden stakes inserted all the way from the base to the top. In another case a woman’s temple bone was found inside the skull of another woman. Besides human skulls, the finds also include a small number of post-cranial human bones and bones from animals, as well as artefacts of stone, wood, bone and antler.Read more at Aadvarchaeology.
The skull depositions at Kanaljorden are clearly ritual in character. The next step is to find out if the human bones are relics of dearly departed that were handled in a complex secondary burial ritual, or trophies of defeated enemies. The archaeologists hope that the ongoing laboratory analysis [stable isotopes] will give clues as to whether the bones are the remains of locals or people with a distant geographic origin, and if they represent a family group or persons unrelated to each other.
Two outcomes in air crashes
Experts are perplexed by the lack of explosion or fire in the Reno plane accident.
Also: Volcanoes seen from space
Astronauts and satellites capture images of some of the world's most violent eruptions.
Also: Cold War space secrets
Newly declassified centerpieces of a clandestine satellite spy network go on display for a day.
Also: Eerie pic sparks Cage buzz
One person's claims about a mysterious image prompt outrageous questions about Nicolas Cage.
Also: People Really Hate Banks Right Now
Tapping into popular sentiment, Alex Schaefer’s painting of a Chase bank on fire just sold on eBay for $25,200. Part of what drove up the price was online buzz after police questioned him while he was painting it, asking him if he planned to do what the painting depicted.While I wouldn’t pay that much for one of these paintings, I certainly support the sentiment Mr. Schaefer is expressing.
Trouble for American dream
The former president says the iconic notion has been "under assault" for the last 30 years.
Also: 
The repugican mis-led states change voting rules ahead of 2012
After years of expanding when and how people can vote, state legislatures now under new repugican juntas are moving to trim early voting days, beef up identification requirements and put new restrictions on how voters are notified about absentee ballots.
Democrats assert that repugicans are using midterm election wins to enforce changes ...
Typical repugicans - the more people that vote ... the less chance they can steal elections - so they try and limit voters (they do it every time they think they have a shot at it, this time it will fail just as miserably as it always has before).
Democrats assert that repugicans are using midterm election wins to enforce changes ...
Companies that look shaky
Employees may be losing hope at troubled companies such as Best Buy and Kodak.
Also: 
Worst things to hear at work
If any of these phrases are said to you, odds are you'll be in for some trouble.
Also: Amazon under fire
The heat inside a company warehouse reached 102 degrees, and 15 workers collapsed, an exposé reveals.
Also: Layoff pain strikes twice
Machinist Terrance Myricks struggles with losing his job for the second time in three years.
Also: 
Natural heartburn tips
The speed at which you eat can have a big effect on whether that burning feeling follows.
Also: Culinary DeLites
Seafood fans will love this savory crab cake sandwich that comes together in a flash.
Also: 
Customs Tries to Take Aussie Diplomat's Vegemite
Australia's foreign minister said American authorities tried to confiscate his supply of Vegemite as he entered the U.S. Men at Work sang about it, and it's Australia's favorite sandwich spread, but U.S. Customs agents had no idea what Vegemite was when a Down Under diplomat had a jar in his carry on bag.
How To Make American Cheese
By making your own American cheese, not only will you know exactly what went into it, but also you can add in flavorings such as black pepper, roasted red peppers... you name it.
Here's how to make American cheese.
Food-labeling red flags
You may be unpleasantly surprised to find out where some "natural" flavorings come from.
Also: 
Dinosaur Used Sharp Claw in Combat
A fossil of the feathered raptor reveals it damaged its clawed foot -- most likely during a fight.
Real-life Moby Dick spotted
Migaloo, an extremely rare albino humpback whale, has his own Twitter feed.
Also: 
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