ROBBLOG:
Science News & Opinion

Game Over, Man

2007-02-26T18:03:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to use this for soooo long.

This post may be somewhat unnecessary considering that I haven't posted anything here in two and a half months, but I want to say that I am formally shutting down ROBBLOG.

I cut my blogging teeth over here and ROBBLOG will always have a place in my heart. I'll leave it up for the archive and, who knows, maybe someday I'll come back here but, for now:

Happy trails, old friend...

Recent Human Evolution

2006-12-10T21:24:00.000-05:00

This is really cool:

"Throughout most of human history, the ability to digest lactose, the principal sugar of milk, has been switched off after weaning because there is no further need for the lactase enzyme that breaks the sugar apart. But when cattle were first domesticated 9,000 years ago and people later started to consume their milk as well as their meat, natural selection would have favored anyone with a mutation that kept the lactase gene switched on."

The change may have been as recent as 3,000 years ago. Once again, throw this on the pile of data that supports evolution. (In your face creationism and Intelligent Design!)

Figure it out people, ignoring scientific facts isn't going to help Americans compete.

Today in Science

2006-12-01T09:42:00.000-05:00

HIV/AIDS

Today is World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day, AIDSinfo

Risk of progression to AIDS increases without steady anti-retroviral drug treatment. CBC

Experts look to implement new strategies to prevent HIV transmission. WP

Bill Clinton is starting a foundation to provide AIDS drugs to children. BBC

Science

The EU plans to spend 54 billion Euros on science over the next several years. BBC, ScienceNOW

Scientists need to be involved in science debates to keep them from being dominated by minority views. BBC

A single asteroid killed the dinosaurs. Reuters, NG

Drugs

The White House does not want to release documents concerning the "Plan B" contraceptive. WP

Cancer

Blocking progesterone may keep breast cancer gene, BRCA1, at bay. WP, Reuters

Health

Bush Administration abstinence-only policy for combating underage pregnancy does not work, contraception does. BBC, Reuters

Space

Steven Hawking says humans need to get out of the solar system to survive. AP, Reuters, BBC

NASA says shuttle redesign can wait until 2008. AP

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

Monsoons in India have worsened with climate change. Reuters, Nature

LA auto show highlights green cars. CSM

Technology

Microsoft releases Vista OS for business. Reuters, BBC

Stem Cells

Stem cells may be used to fix back pain. BBC

Weather

Hurricane season ends without one hitting the US, thanks to el Nino. AP, Reuters, Nature, NG

Terrorism

Al-Qaeda is making noise about a cyber attack on businesses set for today. AP

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Today in Science

2006-11-30T09:12:00.000-05:00

HIV/AIDS

South Africa will use Friday's World AIDS Day to launch a new plan to fight HIV/AIDS and answer near universal criticism of their previous "strategy". Reuters

Male circumcision in Africa may hold promise for limiting the spread of the disease. WP

Universal AIDS test needed. Reuters

Science

Review says that scientific journal editors should scrutinize data more before accepting investigators submissions. WP, NYT

Drugs

Natural anti-inflammatory may be more potent than synthetic drugs, but without side effects. WP

Health

Arby's rules! They are taking the trans-fats out of their fries. WP

Keep drinkin' (red wine that is), you'll live longer (then you can drink more). WP, BBC

Space

NASA sets next shuttle launch for Dec. 7th. WP, Reuters

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

Personal wind turbines are catching on in Britain. CSM

The world is reacting to climate change even if the politicians are not. WP

Demand for plug-in hybrid cars grows. Reuters

GM is (finally) working on a plug-in hybrid. WP

The EU is fighting over strong CO2 emission cuts. Reuters, BBC

Heat stored in the North Atlantic may exacerbate climate change. Guardian

Technology

Price wars: Plasma TV prices keep going down. WP

Miscellaneous

Face transplant recipient can smile. BBC

Ancient computer examined. BBC, NYT, Reuters, LiveScience.com, Nature, NG

Categories: Science news, Science, News

You Can Do Something to Help Save Science in America!

2006-11-17T14:33:00.000-05:00

[Crossposted at Tokatakiya]

Resolution HR6164 (you can look up the text here) passed the House of Representatives on September 26th and has now been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee.

HR 6164 aims to continue the Republican War on Science by crippling the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The President of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) detailed many of the insidious provisions of HR6164 in an open letter (pdf) to the HELP committee's ranking member, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass).

"After careful review and modeling of future NIH budget scenarios, AASLD has concluded that the NIH Reform Act of 2006 will deal a sever and crushing blow to the future of biomedical research in this country. Damage to the research enterprise will result in the permanent loss of investigators and technical support staff from our academic centers with an inevitable negative impact on America's position as the world's leader in basic, translational and clinical research and as the creator of much-needed high paying, technology jobs in our country.

Several provisions of HR6164 will negatively impact our ability to develop the new diagnostics, treatments and, ultimately, cures:
For the first time ever, this legislation places a cap on the amount of funding Congress can appropriate to NIH by replacing the existing "such sums" language with hard limits. Had this bill been in effect from 1998 to 2003, the will of Congress to double the NIH budget would have been thwarted, and our current funding levels would never have been achieved.

The legislation creates a "Common Fund" by siphoning off money from the institutes and centers. Under provisions of the bill, 50 percent of any increase in NIH funding would go to the Common Fund; but 100 percent of any reduction would be borne by the institutes and centers - and thus by peer-reviewed research.

The budget of the Director's Office at NIH would be authorized at a level in excess of $1.0 billion (it is currently appropriated at $527 million). Again,this funding would come at the expense of the institutes and centers.

The authorization caps,when combined with the Common Fund and the Director's Office authorization level - and when controlled for biomedical research inflation - assures that NIH will not experience more than a 1 percent increase for the life of this bill, even if Congress appropriates the fully authorized amount - something it rarely does." [Emphasis mine.]

Make no mistake, crippling the NIH like this will have unimaginably damaging effects on the biomedical sciences for years, possible decades, to come.

This issue affects all Americans, every single one of us. The NIH provides the funding that fosters new treatments and cures, not to mention the many new biomedical start-ups that are built on discoveries made using NIH grant money. These start-ups create jobs. Not only is biomedical science THE growth industry of the 21st century but biomedical jobs will likely play a large part in replacing the manufacturing jobs that are being shipped overseas.

This bill is short sighted. It will reduce the quality and quantity of science performed in this country. It will reduce the number of new treatments, cures, and drugs discovered in this country. It will damage the short and long-term growth of biomedical industry in this country at a time when job growth is (and will be) sorely needed.

The good news is that this bill has not yet been passed.

Here is a list of the Senators who sit on the HELP committee and whose votes are crucial to killing this bill. If you live in a state represented by one of the Senators on the HELP committee, I urge you to use the link above to write them and request that they vote against HR6164. If you don't live in one of these states, please contact your Senator and request that they vote against HR6164 (and urge their colleagues to vote against it) if it makes it to a floor vote.

This isn't just legislation that will hurt scientists in their ivory towers, this will affect every man, woman, and child in the United States. (Very likely much of the rest of the world as well.) Please take this seriously and please take the time to write a note to your Senator to kill this bill.

It will be the most important thing you do today.

Today in Science

2006-11-13T10:55:00.000-05:00

Politics

Science issues like stem cells and climate change are going to be high priority in new Democratic Congress. CSM

Environment

Democratic Congress unlikely to allow expanded offshore drilling. NYT

Science

Humorous names for genes discovered in fruit flies do not translate well to the clinic. NYT

Animals

Panda porn: what an age we live in. Reuters

Cancer

Manipulating immune cells can help fight melanoma. BBC, Guardian

Firefighters have a higher risk of developing certain cancers. BBC

HIV/AIDS

Life expectancy with HIV has increased. NYT

Health

Doctors can use Google to help with diagnoses. BBC, CBC

Children may have hardening arteries. Reuters

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

Kyoto countries are looking to extend the pact. Reuters

Storm surge barriers may be needed to protect New York City. CSM

Stem Cells

Stem cells used to treat diabetes in mice. BBC

And to restore sight in mice. WP

Miscellaneous

Accurate scientific facts are finding their way into TV shows. LAT

Artificial stomach created. BBC

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Dolphins Found with Vestigial Legs

2006-11-05T14:29:00.000-05:00

In Japan.

Vestigial structures are parts of an animal that once had a function but are no longer used (think appendix).

They are one of the many proofs of evolution. They represent a "snapshot" of evolution in progress.

I always feel the need to say this, evolution is supported by as much data as any other concept in science.

This is one more item on that list.

Say Goodbye to Seafood

2006-11-02T17:59:00.000-05:00

A new study shows that, essentially, there won't be any fish left in 40 years.

No fish. 40 years.

Oh well, let's get back to talking about important things: Gay marriage and flag burning.

(Help.)

[WP, NYT, BBC]

Caloric Restriction in Primates

2006-10-30T23:22:00.000-05:00

The NYT has an article about research on "caloric restriction" in primates.

Caloric restriction has been shown to significantly extend lifespan in every organism in which it has been tested. Showing it works in primates means it will probably work in humans.

This is fascinating.

Unfortunately it would be a horrible way to live. Hopefully this research will uncover some lazier, undisciplined way to take advantage of this life extending mechanism.

Update: Oops. I had the wrong link, its fixed now.

Apologies

2006-10-03T23:30:00.000-04:00

I must apologize for my slacking the last two weeks. I was on vacation for a week and I've been busy with campaigning for Jim Webb. So, bear with me.

Thanks for your patience.

Today in Science

2006-09-20T09:20:00.000-04:00

Space

Panel endorses NASA plans for return to the moon. AP, Reuters, BBC, ScienceNOW

Atlantis landing postponed. AP, WP, Reuters, BBC

Cancer

Eating fatty fish may reduce kidney cancer chances. Reuters

Health

Penis transplant removed. (Yeah, you read it right.) Reuters, AP, Guardian

Sugar may help fight malaria. Reuters

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

Al Gore calls for immediate freeze in greenhouse gas emissions. NYT

Technology

Patent applied for on a single disk that will play on Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Reuters

3D TV? BBC

Microsoft will start a YouTube of its own. BBC

Evolution

New species of shark discovered that walks on its fins. NYT

Terrorism

Fish are being used as sentinels against a bio-attack. WP

Miscellaneous

200 year old seeds brought back to life. BBC

Categories: Science news, Science, News

This Week in Science

2006-09-16T15:27:00.000-04:00

Terrorism

"Bin Laden Trail 'Stone Cold'". WP

Congress panel blames the EPA and New York officials for not protecting workers at Ground Zero. AP, NYT

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

Another study links stronger hurricanes to global warming. NYT, Reuters, AP, BBC, ScienceNOW

NASA study says greenhouse gas emissions from humans are causing climate change, melting the Arctic. WP, NYT, Reuters, BBC, LiveScience.com

Climatologist: We have 10-years to avert climate change disaster. Reuters

Hybrid car marketability tied to high gas prices. Reuters

2006 hottest year on record. LiveScience.com

Evolution

Most recent Neanderthal fossils found. Guardian, LiveScience.com, ScienceNOW, Nature, NG

Cancer

Michigan may require 6th grade girls to receive the cervical cancer vaccine. (Good for them.) AP

Nature

Rare earthquake shakes the gulf coast. AP, NG

Health

Commercially bagged, fresh spinach may be harboring pathogenic E. coli. WP, AP, Reuters

The reduction in air travel post-9/11 delayed the flu season. WP, AP, ScienceNOW, NYT

McDonald's spend tiny, tiny amount of money to obesity research so they can say they are fighting it. (Less than $67 per McDonald’s restaurant in the world.) Reuters

Technology

Bionic arm. AP, WP

Weather

El Nino is back. ScienceNOW

Space

Space shuttle Atlantis (finally) launched on Saturday, no damage seen. WP, NYT, LAT, Reuters, BBC, CSM

Earthlike worlds may not be uncommon. ScienceNOW

Dwarf planet named. Reuters

Extra-solar, low-density planet discovered – largest ever. Reuters, ScienceNOW, NG

HIV/AIDS

South Africa cuts power of AIDS minister (who doesn’t know anything about AIDS. AP, BBC

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Today in Science

2006-09-15T09:21:00.000-04:00

Health

Commercially bagged, fresh spinach may be harboring pathogenic E. coli. WP, AP, Reuters

DDT may make a comeback to fight malaria. AP

Science

The first tree genome has been sequenced. Nature

Cancer

Vitamin D may reduce risk of pancreatic cancer. AP

Space

Dwarf planet named. Reuters

Extra-solar, low-density planet discovered – largest ever. Reuters, ScienceNOW, NG

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

2006 hottest year on record. LiveScience.com

The Bush administration to cut funds for 2 renewable energy sources. CSM

Tidal energy off of Oregon is promising. CSM

Technology

Electronic voting to get worse before it gets better. WP

MS iPod, Zune info. AP

Miscellaneous

Genetically engineered rice under scrutiny. Reuters

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Today in Science

2006-09-14T09:17:00.000-04:00

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

NASA study says greenhouse gas emissions from humans are causing climate change, melting the Arctic. WP, NYT, Reuters, BBC, LiveScience.com

Climatologist: We have 10-years to avert climate change disaster. Reuters

Hybrid car marketability tied to high gas prices. Reuters

Evolution

Most recent Neanderthal fossils found. Guardian, LiveScience.com, ScienceNOW, Nature, NG

Science

Federal grant submission site still doesn’t work with Macs. WP

Animals

Smuggled orangutans to head home. Reuters

Drugs

Marijuana may improve hepatitis C therapy. WP

Cancer

Michigan may require 6th grade girls to receive the cervical cancer vaccine. (Good for them.) AP

Health

Medicare premiums set to rise next year. WP, NYT

Heart transplant recipient doing fine 28 years later. AP

Senator Clinton wants $1.9 billion to help ground zero workers with health problems. AP

Polio outbreak in India. AP

McDonald’s spend tiny, tiny amount of money to obesity research so they can say they are fighting it. (Less than $67 per McDonald’s restaurant in the world.) Reuters

Space

Spacewalk goes well for Atlantis. WP, NYT, LAT

Technology

Bionic arm. AP, WP

ALL Segways to be recalled. AP

More crazy crap from iPod. NYT

New batteries aren’t coming soon. Reuters

Weather

El Nino is back. ScienceNOW

Miscellaneous

Former EPA head may be investigated for post-9/11 conduct. AP

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Today in Science

2006-09-12T09:35:00.000-04:00

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

Another study links stronger hurricanes to global warming. NYT, Reuters, AP, BBC, ScienceNOW

Asian and European countries say they will continue to cut emissions after the Kyoto protocols expire. AP

Warmer winters may be causing an insect boom in Alaska. AP

Climate change may be causing some glaciers to grow larger. NG

Nature

Rare earthquake shakes the gulf coast. AP, NG

Health

The reduction in air travel post-9/11 delayed the flu season. WP, AP, ScienceNOW, NYT

Life expectancy related to where a person lives. AP

Cigarette maker disputes finding that nicotine levels in cigarette have risen over the last 10 years. AP

Potential weight-loss supplement from seaweed investigated. BBC

Space

Spacewalk scheduled for today. WP

Russia and China to collaborate on plans for exploration of the moon. AP

Technology

Movies are coming to the iPod. WP

HD TiVo. Reuters

Miscellaneous

Japan puts another satellite into orbit to spy on North Korea. Reuters

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Today in Science

2006-09-11T08:53:00.000-04:00

Terrorism

"Bin Laden Trail 'Stone Cold'". WP

Congress panel blames the EPA and New York officials for not protecting workers at Ground Zero. AP, NYT

Space

Space shuttle Atlantis (finally) launched on Saturday, no damage seen. WP, NYT, LAT, Reuters, BBC, CSM

Earthlike worlds may not be uncommon. ScienceNOW

HIV/AIDS

South Africa cuts power of AIDS minister (who doesn’t know anything about AIDS. AP, BBC

Health

Researchers identify protein that "cuts" protein tangles that are hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. BBC

Bird Flu

Indonesia bird flu deaths: 48. AP

Immune response may be key to bird flu. Nature, BBC

Categories: Science news, Science, News

This Week in Science

2006-09-09T00:34:00.000-04:00

Cancer

The rate of breast cancer in the US may have stopped increasing. WP

Deaths from cancer have fallen. Reuter s, LAT

Health

FDA approves implantable artificial heart. WP, AP, NYT, Reuters, LAT

Most 9/11 first responders have lung problems. AP, NYT, CBC, Reuters

HIV/AIDS

Extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis is compounding South Africa's HIV crisis. NYT, BBC, ScienceNOW

Space

Shuttle launch delayed. AP, Reuters, BBC

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

British scientist says that the Earth's temperature will rise 10 degrees in the next 20 years. WP

"Point of no return" coming on climate change. Guardian, Guardian

Technology

Intel will but 10,500 more jobs. Bloomberg, NYT, LAT, BBC

Google to launch new feature: searchable news archive of the last 200 years. BBC

Science

Massive NIH mouse genome knock-out project announced. ScienceNOW

Brain activity seen in unresponsive brain-damaged patients. NYT, AP, BBC, Reuters, WP, LAT, Guardian, Nature

Stem Cells

Gene discovered that connects lifespan, cancer, and stem cells. NYT, ScienceNOW

Scientists who produced stem cell lines from single embryonic cells taken to task by Senators for how the work was presented. WP

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Today in Science

2006-09-08T08:53:00.000-04:00

Space

Another launch attempt for the space shuttle may come today. WP, NYT, LAT, Reuters

Science

Massive NIH mouse genome knock-out project announced. ScienceNOW

Brain activity seen in unresponsive brain-damaged patients. NYT, AP, BBC, Reuters, WP, LAT, Guardian, Nature

Cancer

Scientists link approximately 200 genes to breast and colorectal cancers. AP, Nature

Health

Average life expectancy may increase to unimaginable levels. Reuters

Technology

Amazon starts selling downloadable films. NYT, LAT, Reuters, BBC

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Today in Science

2006-09-07T09:40:00.000-04:00

HIV/AIDS

AIDS experts are criticizing South Africa's health minister (because she does not know anything about AIDS). BBC, AP, CBC

Drugs

The DEA changes rules on prescription painkillers. WP, AP

Cancer

The rate of breast cancer in the US may have stopped increasing. WP

Deaths from cancer have fallen. Reuter s, LAT

Space

Mars rover reaches crater. BBC

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

The US Army wants green energy in Iraq. CSM

Stem Cells

Gene discovered that connects lifespan, cancer, and stem cells. NYT, ScienceNOW

Scientists who produced stem cell lines from single embryonic cells taken to task by Senators for how the work was presented. WP

Miscellaneous

The FDA is looking into the safety of mercury dental fillings. AP, Reuters

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Today in Science

2006-09-06T09:46:00.000-04:00

Health

FDA approves implantable artificial heart. WP, AP, NYT, Reuters, LAT

Governor Schwarzenegger will veto a California universal health care bill. AP

Most 9/11 first responders have lung problems. AP, NYT, CBC, Reuters

Head of Medicare to resign. NYT, WP

Scientists discover protein that tells the brain you are full when you eat protein. BBC, CBC, Nature

Environment

Hermaphroditic fish found in the Potomac River, pollution to blame. WP

Animals

Iceland to sell whale meat. BBC

Drugs

Using methamphetamine while pregnant can cause reduced birth weight. BBC

HIV/AIDS

Extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis is compounding South Africa's HIV crisis. NYT, BBC, ScienceNOW

Space

Shuttle launch delayed. AP, Reuters, BBC

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

British scientist says that the Earth's temperature will rise 10 degrees in the next 20 years. WP

"Point of no return" coming on climate change. Guardian, Guardian

Technology

Intel will but 10,500 more jobs. Bloomberg, NYT, LAT, BBC

Google to launch new feature: searchable news archive of the last 200 years. BBC

Note to ESPN: Just show the damn game! LAT

Categories: Science news, Science, News

Today in Science

2006-08-30T08:52:00.000-04:00

Cancer

People are having difficulty finding the cervical cancer vaccine. AP

HIV/AIDS

Libya wants the death penalty for foreign medical workers accused of infecting children with HIV. AP

Space

The space shuttle Atlantis is back on the launch pad. BBC

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

Japan launches initiative for greener vehicles. Reuters

Billion dollar greenhouse gas deal announced. Reuters

Accelerated melting of glaciers may threaten water supplies. Guardian

Global warming releases methane, methane accelerates global warming. We’re %$@^%@. NG, ScienceNOW

Technology

Free books to be available for download on Google. AP

Ad supported, legal, free music download site is coming. NYT, Reuters, BBC

Evolution

The Pope may embrace Intelligent design. Guardian

Bird Flu

Bird flu in Alaska? AP

Miscellaneous

Preference for male children is a disaster waiting to happen. CBC, Reuters

Categories: Science news, Science, News

RWoS Now in Paperback

2006-08-29T16:48:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to let people know that Chris Mooney's book "The Republican War on Science" has just been updated and released in paperback:

Seeing as this year's elections are right around the corner, this book has plenty of good examples of what the majority party has done while in office. (Spoiler alert: It hasn't been good for science.)

Plus, it's cheaper than the hardcover.

Tags: Chris Mooney, Science, Politics, Books, Republicans, Democrats, Elections, 2006, Congress

Today in Science

2006-08-28T08:53:00.000-04:00

Space

Shuttle launch delayed due to Hurricane/tropical storm Ernesto. WP, AP, NYT, LAT, Reuters, BBC

Weather

Hurricane/tropical storm Ernesto may be on its way to Florida. Reuters

Science

Memory restored in mice with Alzheimer’s. BBC

Drugs

Anti-HIV drug used as cervical cancer treatment. Reuters

Cancer

Synthetic molecule shown to induce tumor cell death. BBC

Climate Change/Global Warming/Alternative Energy

The Bush administration proposes more fuel efficient transformers. CSM

Bird Flu

Chinese bird flu vaccine shown to be safe. AP

Categories: Science news, Science, News

ROBBLOG:Science News & Opinion

Game Over, Man

Recent Human Evolution

Today in Science

Today in Science

You Can Do Something to Help Save Science in America!

Today in Science

Dolphins Found with Vestigial Legs

Say Goodbye to Seafood

Caloric Restriction in Primates

Apologies

Today in Science

This Week in Science

Today in Science

Today in Science

Today in Science

Today in Science

This Week in Science

Today in Science

Today in Science

Today in Science

Today in Science

RWoS Now in Paperback

Today in Science

ROBBLOG:
Science News & Opinion