Great Blue Marble

Bats: A good immune system ensures success in reproduction

elegant — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:54:54 +0000

Anyone who is healthy has more enthusiasm for reproduction. The same is true even for bats. Male bats with a good immune system are more successful in being selected by females during mate choice and reproduction than their ailing counterparts.

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Bats: A good immune system ensures success in reproduction

NASA survey counts potentially hazardous asteroids

creative — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:06:06 +0000

Observations from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) have led to the best assessment yet of our solar system’s population of potentially hazardous asteroids. The results reveal new information about their total numbers, origins and the possible dangers they may pose.

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NASA survey counts potentially hazardous asteroids

Listening to chickens could improve poultry production

elegant — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:22:22 +0000

Listening to squawks and other chicken “vocalizations” using digital signal processing techniques may help farmers better manage growing conditions, contributing to both healthier birds and more productive poultry operations.

NASA lends Galaxy Evolution Explorer to Caltech

publisher — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:30:30 +0000

NASA is lending the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, where the spacecraft will continue its exploration of the cosmos. In a first-of-a-kind move for NASA, a Space Act Agreement was signed May 14 so the university soon can resume spacecraft operations and data management for the mission using private funds.

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NASA lends Galaxy Evolution Explorer to Caltech

Colorful butterflies increase their odds of survival by sharing traits

elegant — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:00:00 +0000

Bright black-and-red butterflies that flit across the sunlit edges of Amazonian rain forests are natural hedonists, and it does them good, according to new genetic data.

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Colorful butterflies increase their odds of survival by sharing traits

Genome research reveals key behind one butterfly’s ability to mimic another

publisher — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:55:55 +0000

Scientists have discovered promiscuous sharing of large regions of DNA code among species by sequencing the genome of a South American butterfly.

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Genome research reveals key behind one butterfly’s ability to mimic another

Baby galaxies grew up quickly

publisher — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:02:02 +0000

Baby galaxies from the young universe more than 12 billion years ago evolved faster than previously thought, shows new research. This means that already in the early history of the universe, there was potential for planet formation and life.

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Baby galaxies grew up quickly

Deeper Look at Centaurus A

elegant — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:32:32 +0000

The strange galaxy Centaurus A is pictured in a new image from the European Southern Observatory. With a total exposure time of more than 50 hours this is probably the deepest view of this peculiar and spectacular object every created.

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Deeper Look at Centaurus A

European Airlines provide early data on carbon emissions, show slight reduction

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Airlines operating in and out of European airports have complied with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and handed over data despite the refusal of carriers from China and India. The airlines have provided emission information ahead of the introduction of mandatory reporting. And according to the latest information provided by Member State registries released today, emissions of greenhouse gases from all installations participating in the ETS decreased by more than 2% last year.

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European Airlines provide early data on carbon emissions, show slight reduction

Radiation and DNA

creative — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:34:00 +0000

Radiation exposure is not too good for one’s health and well being. But how much is enough and how much is deadly? A new study from MIT scientists suggests that the guidelines governments use to determine when to evacuate people following a nuclear accident may be too conservative. The study, led by Bevin Engelward and Jacquelyn Yanch and published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, found that when mice were exposed to radiation doses about 400 times greater than background levels for five weeks, no DNA damage could be detected.

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Radiation and DNA