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Science Stack Friday
Author: BobR
Date: 06/10/2011 12:16:56
If you've seen the news the past couple days, you'd think all the worlds problems had been solved, and the only thing of interest is Rep. Anthony Weiner's weiner. The coverage is non-stop. This makes it a little difficult to find other topics to discuss, so I am just going to make this a Science Friday, and cleanse our palates.
To ease into the geeky stuff, we start with some good news on the "power to the people" action front. A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that two environmental groups could sue Exxon for violating EPA regulations:
I was not aware this was an option. Perhaps if more grassroots groups knew about this, they would do this more often.
Another story which has political implications comes from the UK where they've determined that the heart can actually repair itself with the help of stem cells:
This is amazing news and shows a real potential for helping heart patients - provided the government doesn't hinder the research because it uses stem cells.
In other fascinating news, MA researchers have created a liquid battery that could revolutionize electric cars:
Imagine: "Crude" stations that pump out the depleted battery and pump in a fresh charge, then recharge the crude in tanks (or however it's done) for a later customer. This removes the "takes too long to recharge" hurdle from the equation for electric cars. I have previously blogged about using a Capacitor for a quick charging car battery, but there has been no news lately about that, which is disappointing. This new liquid battery technology is fascinating and shows real promise.
Finally, in the "Weird Science" file, we have a cow cloning story. Why is that weird? Scientists have cloned sheep. It's weird because this is - as previous President Bush warned - a "human/animal hybrid"... a cow with human genes so it produces human milk:
I suppose that may also help with infants that are allergic to cow milk or have a lactose intolerance. This story still has a certain B-movie foreboding quality to it: "Killer Kows from Buenos Aries". Just drive a steak through its heart!
Sorry...
To ease into the geeky stuff, we start with some good news on the "power to the people" action front. A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that two environmental groups could sue Exxon for violating EPA regulations:
The Sierra Club and Environment Texas brought the lawsuit in December under a provision of the Clean Air Act that allows private individuals to seek enforcement of federal pollution standards when the federal agency fails to do so.
"Congress specifically allowed for citizen enforcement suits because sometimes government agencies fall down on the job, and this case is a perfect example of that," said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas.
Citing notices filed by Exxon with state and federal regulators, the groups said the Baytown refinery and adjoining chemical plant have released more than 8 million pounds (3.6million kilograms) of pollutants in the last five years beyond the levels permitted under the Clean Air Act.
I was not aware this was an option. Perhaps if more grassroots groups knew about this, they would do this more often.
Another story which has political implications comes from the UK where they've determined that the heart can actually repair itself with the help of stem cells:
British scientists have managed to transform a type of stem-like cell in adult mouse hearts into functioning heart muscle in research proving that the heart has dormant repair cells that can be reactivated.
Although the research has yet to be translated into humans and is in its very early stages, the results suggest that in the future, a drug could be developed to prompt and prime hearts damaged by cardiac arrest into repairing themselves.
[..]
Riley's team, whose study was published in the journal Nature Wednesday, targeted particular cells found in the outer layer of the heart, called the epicardium.
These cells, referred to as epicardium-derived progenitor cells (EPDCs), are known to be able to transform into a number of specialist cells, including heart muscle, in developing embryos.
Scientists had previously thought EPDCs' ability to transform was lost in adulthood, but in this study Riley's team found that by treating the healthy hearts of adult mice with a molecule called thymosin beta 4, they were able to "prime" the heart to repair itself after damage.
This is amazing news and shows a real potential for helping heart patients - provided the government doesn't hinder the research because it uses stem cells.
In other fascinating news, MA researchers have created a liquid battery that could revolutionize electric cars:
The MIT News Office reported that the new architecture suspends the active electrical components of a battery, such as positive and negative electrodes, as particles in a liquid. This black electric sludge, which resembles petroleum, has been dubbed "Cambridge crude" by its inventors.
The new design, called a "semi-solid flow cell," could allow electric vehicles to refuel by pumping the used electric sludge out and replacing it with fully charged electric sludge. Researchers say the new battery design should also make it possible to reduce the size and the cost of a complete battery system, making electric cars more competitive with contemporary gas-powered cars.
Imagine: "Crude" stations that pump out the depleted battery and pump in a fresh charge, then recharge the crude in tanks (or however it's done) for a later customer. This removes the "takes too long to recharge" hurdle from the equation for electric cars. I have previously blogged about using a Capacitor for a quick charging car battery, but there has been no news lately about that, which is disappointing. This new liquid battery technology is fascinating and shows real promise.
Finally, in the "Weird Science" file, we have a cow cloning story. Why is that weird? Scientists have cloned sheep. It's weird because this is - as previous President Bush warned - a "human/animal hybrid"... a cow with human genes so it produces human milk:
An Argentine laboratory announced that it had created the world's first transgenic cow, using human genes that will allow the animal to produce the equivalent of mothers' milk.
"The cloned cow, named Rosita ISA, is the first bovine born in the world that incorporates human genes that contain the proteins present in human milk," Argentina's National Institute of Agrobusiness Technology said in a statement on Thursday.
[..]
"Our goal was to raise the nutritional value of cows' milk by adding two human genes, the protein lactoferrin, which provides infants with anti-bacterial and anti-viral protection, and lysozyme, which is also an anti-bacterial agent," said researcher Adrian Mutto at a press conference.
I suppose that may also help with infants that are allergic to cow milk or have a lactose intolerance. This story still has a certain B-movie foreboding quality to it: "Killer Kows from Buenos Aries". Just drive a steak through its heart!
Sorry...
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Raine on 06/10/2011 12:30:13
Raine on 06/10/2011 12:30:13
What happen if the Cloned cow has a self reparing heart? 
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 12:31:32
good morning!
Raine on 06/10/2011 12:31:32
good morning!
Comment by 
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 12:38:13
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 12:38:13
Morning 
Comment by 
TriSec on 06/10/2011 12:41:42
TriSec on 06/10/2011 12:41:42
Morning, comrades! Giving serious consideration to listening to Momma today. (BBC has been a bit uninspiring this week.)
Speaking of the BBC, you missed the cool science note today...I believe they broke the new set of NASA photos and video showing the Endeavor attached to the ISS on-orbit. At any rate, I never saw the pix in the US media.
Speaking of the BBC, you missed the cool science note today...I believe they broke the new set of NASA photos and video showing the Endeavor attached to the ISS on-orbit. At any rate, I never saw the pix in the US media.
Comment by 
Scoopster on 06/10/2011 13:01:39
Scoopster on 06/10/2011 13:01:39
Mornin' all & Happy Fridee! 
Gettin' so psyched up for this weekend.. The pool's almost ready for the first swim of the year, my BFF's comin' up to visit, and we've finally got some awesome warm weather!
Gettin' so psyched up for this weekend.. The pool's almost ready for the first swim of the year, my BFF's comin' up to visit, and we've finally got some awesome warm weather!
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 13:10:25
Sounds like you are goign to have a few awesome weekends Scoop! BTW, bring your swimsuit in case you want to take a swim at the pool here.
Raine on 06/10/2011 13:10:25
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all & Happy Fridee!
Gettin' so psyched up for this weekend.. The pool's almost ready for the first swim of the year, my BFF's comin' up to visit, and we've finally got some awesome warm weather!
Sounds like you are goign to have a few awesome weekends Scoop! BTW, bring your swimsuit in case you want to take a swim at the pool here.
Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2011 13:10:27
TriSec on 06/10/2011 13:10:27
Momma diverted 200 miles to Richmond???
Erm, couldn't they have put down in Hartford, or Providence? (I know they were under the same T-storm threat.) Going the other way, there's always Philadelphia...
Erm, couldn't they have put down in Hartford, or Providence? (I know they were under the same T-storm threat.) Going the other way, there's always Philadelphia...
Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2011 13:12:58
I suppose it depends on what time they were coming through - we had lightening and thunder from about 6:30 till I went to bed and it finally rained around 11:30 - the lightening show around 11:30 was amazing
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 13:12:58
Quote by TriSec:
Momma diverted 200 miles to Richmond???
Erm, couldn't they have put down in Hartford, or Providence? (I know they were under the same T-storm threat.) Going the other way, there's always Philadelphia...
I suppose it depends on what time they were coming through - we had lightening and thunder from about 6:30 till I went to bed and it finally rained around 11:30 - the lightening show around 11:30 was amazing
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 13:18:52
Raine on 06/10/2011 13:18:52
Comment by Scoopster on 06/10/2011 13:22:30
Oooooh just might do that.. Oh yeah should I bring some "pine cones" or do you have your own?
Scoopster on 06/10/2011 13:22:30
Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all & Happy Fridee!
Gettin' so psyched up for this weekend.. The pool's almost ready for the first swim of the year, my BFF's comin' up to visit, and we've finally got some awesome warm weather!
Sounds like you are goign to have a few awesome weekends Scoop! BTW, bring your swimsuit in case you want to take a swim at the pool here.
Oooooh just might do that.. Oh yeah should I bring some "pine cones" or do you have your own?
Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2011 13:22:36
TriSec on 06/10/2011 13:22:36
Here's a newsgeek story that might be gaining some traction (everywhere except the US media, of course.)
Perhaps you've heard that China is proceeding with building their first "full-deck" aircraft carrier? I don't think that's unintentional. Go and Google the Spratly Islands sometime. I've been following this through Al-Jazeera and some sources out of Manila for about 3 weeks now.
Perhaps you've heard that China is proceeding with building their first "full-deck" aircraft carrier? I don't think that's unintentional. Go and Google the Spratly Islands sometime. I've been following this through Al-Jazeera and some sources out of Manila for about 3 weeks now.
Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2011 13:24:01
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 13:24:01
Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2011 13:28:16
TriSec on 06/10/2011 13:28:16
Say now, the Sox played ball in the Bronx last night...
And I once saw the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra play an outdoor pops concert in a thunderstorm. Never heard an orchestra go out of tune so fast, either.
And I once saw the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra play an outdoor pops concert in a thunderstorm. Never heard an orchestra go out of tune so fast, either.
Comment by 
BobR on 06/10/2011 13:28:17
I think we just have some pine cone dust
BobR on 06/10/2011 13:28:17
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all & Happy Fridee!
Gettin' so psyched up for this weekend.. The pool's almost ready for the first swim of the year, my BFF's comin' up to visit, and we've finally got some awesome warm weather!
Sounds like you are goign to have a few awesome weekends Scoop! BTW, bring your swimsuit in case you want to take a swim at the pool here.
Oooooh just might do that.. Oh yeah should I bring some "pine cones" or do you have your own?
I think we just have some pine cone dust
Comment by BobR on 06/10/2011 13:30:21
you could just go straight to the source: NASA
BobR on 06/10/2011 13:30:21
Quote by TriSec:
Morning, comrades! Giving serious consideration to listening to Momma today. (BBC has been a bit uninspiring this week.)
Speaking of the BBC, you missed the cool science note today...I believe they broke the new set of NASA photos and video showing the Endeavor attached to the ISS on-orbit. At any rate, I never saw the pix in the US media.
you could just go straight to the source: NASA
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 13:53:53
Raine on 06/10/2011 13:53:53
DAMN YOU! Now I 'm gonna have that GaGa song in my head all day!
Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2011 13:56:24
you could have Baby Monkey stilll in your head
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 13:56:24
Quote by Raine:
DAMN YOU! Now I 'm gonna have that GaGa song in my head all day!
you could have Baby Monkey stilll in your head
Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2011 13:56:57
TriSec on 06/10/2011 13:56:57
Oh, is that what that horrendous noise was?
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 14:00:23
thanks Mala. 
Raine on 06/10/2011 14:00:23
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
DAMN YOU! Now I 'm gonna have that GaGa song in my head all day!
you could have Baby Monkey stilll in your head
Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2011 14:01:07
Your Welcome
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 14:01:07
Quote by Raine:thanks Mala.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
DAMN YOU! Now I 'm gonna have that GaGa song in my head all day!
you could have Baby Monkey stilll in your head
Your Welcome
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 14:05:09
Raine on 06/10/2011 14:05:09
Now it's a mash up of GaGa and baby monkey. OY!
Comment by BobR on 06/10/2011 14:08:18
La, La, la-la-laaa...
Baby monkey on a pig...
BobR on 06/10/2011 14:08:18
Quote by Raine:
Now it's a mash up of GaGa and baby monkey. OY!
La, La, la-la-laaa...
Baby monkey on a pig...
Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2011 14:10:51
Dance remix!
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 14:10:51
Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:
Now it's a mash up of GaGa and baby monkey. OY!
La, La, la-la-laaa...
Baby monkey on a pig...
Dance remix!
Comment by Scoopster on 06/10/2011 14:21:24
Scoopster on 06/10/2011 14:21:24
Okay kids that's enough.. time for a new earworm check this out:
LES GO BRUINS - the Nanabula from Quincy remix!
LES GO BRUINS - the Nanabula from Quincy remix!
Comment by 
clintster on 06/10/2011 14:32:27
clintster on 06/10/2011 14:32:27
FYI, if anyone's interested/capable, the fam and I are going to be in Philadelphia for a few days.
Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2011 14:33:11
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 14:33:11
out to run office errand hopefully back before the end of show 
Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2011 14:37:16
Let's go with baby pig on a grill....
TriSec on 06/10/2011 14:37:16
Quote by BobR:
La, La, la-la-laaa...
Baby monkey on a pig...
Let's go with baby pig on a grill....
Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2011 14:58:03
TriSec on 06/10/2011 14:58:03
Grilled animal flesh kilt the blog?
OK. Alright. Fine.
OK. Alright. Fine.
Comment by BobR on 06/10/2011 15:08:57
or work - either one...
BobR on 06/10/2011 15:08:57
Quote by TriSec:
Grilled animal flesh kilt the blog?
OK. Alright. Fine.
or work - either one...
Comment by clintster on 06/10/2011 15:20:26
Naaah, it was me. I'll go down to the basement and fix it.
(rackin frackin santorumackin...)
clintster on 06/10/2011 15:20:26
Quote by BobR:Quote by TriSec:
Grilled animal flesh kilt the blog?
OK. Alright. Fine.
or work - either one...
Naaah, it was me. I'll go down to the basement and fix it.
(rackin frackin santorumackin...)
Comment by BobR on 06/10/2011 15:57:04
When? Depending on the timing, we might be able to drive up.
BobR on 06/10/2011 15:57:04
Quote by clintster:
FYI, if anyone's interested/capable, the fam and I are going to be in Philadelphia for a few days.
When? Depending on the timing, we might be able to drive up.
Comment by clintster on 06/10/2011 16:01:06
We're leaving on Amtrak tonight around 8. Should be arriving in Philly around noon Saturday. We'll be leaving Wednesday afternoon. BTW, we haven't told Ian he's going on a train. This should be a cool surprise for him when we get to the station.
clintster on 06/10/2011 16:01:06
Quote by BobR:Quote by clintster:
FYI, if anyone's interested/capable, the fam and I are going to be in Philadelphia for a few days.
When? Depending on the timing, we might be able to drive up.
We're leaving on Amtrak tonight around 8. Should be arriving in Philly around noon Saturday. We'll be leaving Wednesday afternoon. BTW, we haven't told Ian he's going on a train. This should be a cool surprise for him when we get to the station.
Comment by 
livingonli on 06/10/2011 16:04:24
livingonli on 06/10/2011 16:04:24
Good day folks. I don't know whether my body has just acclimated to the late night schedule or what but it would be nice to be asleep before the sun comes up again.
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 16:28:57
OooOOooO that is a REALLY cool surprise!
Raine on 06/10/2011 16:28:57
Quote by clintster:Quote by BobR:Quote by clintster:
FYI, if anyone's interested/capable, the fam and I are going to be in Philadelphia for a few days.
When? Depending on the timing, we might be able to drive up.
We're leaving on Amtrak tonight around 8. Should be arriving in Philly around noon Saturday. We'll be leaving Wednesday afternoon. BTW, we haven't told Ian he's going on a train. This should be a cool surprise for him when we get to the station.
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 16:52:19
Raine on 06/10/2011 16:52:19
They don't have power in Tom's studio?
Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2011 16:54:38
sounds like the wonders of Pepco
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 16:54:38
Quote by Raine:
They don't have power in Tom's studio?
sounds like the wonders of Pepco
Comment by TriSec on 06/10/2011 16:59:14
TriSec on 06/10/2011 16:59:14
Ominous looking clouds outdoors...but nothing on the radar.
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 17:41:09
H Street just got power back about 15 minutes ago.
Raine on 06/10/2011 17:41:09
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
They don't have power in Tom's studio?
sounds like the wonders of Pepco
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 18:04:07
Raine on 06/10/2011 18:04:07
YOu know what makes me sad? Wiener is a lifelong servant to the public.
He doesn't come from a business, or a corporation. He has literally served the public since he graduated from College. HE is a civil Servant.
He doesn't come from a business, or a corporation. He has literally served the public since he graduated from College. HE is a civil Servant.
Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2011 18:52:20
The Washington Post has a twitter feed for people who want to go thru palin's emails and help them find stories, if anyone is interested
PalinEmails
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 18:52:20
The Washington Post has a twitter feed for people who want to go thru palin's emails and help them find stories, if anyone is interested
PalinEmails
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 19:10:35
I am more interested in the ones she redacted -- but so far they seem rather interesting.
Raine on 06/10/2011 19:10:35
Quote by wickedpam:
The Washington Post has a twitter feed for people who want to go thru palin's emails and help them find stories, if anyone is interested
PalinEmails
Comment by wickedpam on 06/10/2011 19:35:17
anything good coming out?
wickedpam on 06/10/2011 19:35:17
Quote by Raine:I am more interested in the ones she redacted -- but so far they seem rather interesting.Quote by wickedpam:
The Washington Post has a twitter feed for people who want to go thru palin's emails and help them find stories, if anyone is interested
PalinEmails
anything good coming out?
Comment by Scoopster on 06/10/2011 20:05:03
Scoopster on 06/10/2011 20:05:03
Scott Walker does the bidding of piss beer kings MillerCoors - forces new heavy-handed regulations on WI craft beer companies
Let's put the whole "oh look Republican hypocrites pushing for regulation" thing aside for a moment. NO ONE FUCKS WITH BEER.
Let's put the whole "oh look Republican hypocrites pushing for regulation" thing aside for a moment. NO ONE FUCKS WITH BEER.
Comment by BobR on 06/10/2011 20:18:50
SAVE THE
BobR on 06/10/2011 20:18:50
Quote by Scoopster:
Scott Walker does the bidding of piss beer kings MillerCoors - forces new heavy-handed regulations on WI craft beer companies
Let's put the whole "oh look Republican hypocrites pushing for regulation" thing aside for a moment. NO ONE FUCKS WITH BEER.
SAVE THE
Comment by clintster on 06/10/2011 20:20:30
If y'all can, please give me or the Mrs. a call this evening. If we can make this meet-up work it would be so awesome!
clintster on 06/10/2011 20:20:30
Quote by Raine:OooOOooO that is a REALLY cool surprise!Quote by clintster:Quote by BobR:Quote by clintster:
FYI, if anyone's interested/capable, the fam and I are going to be in Philadelphia for a few days.
When? Depending on the timing, we might be able to drive up.
We're leaving on Amtrak tonight around 8. Should be arriving in Philly around noon Saturday. We'll be leaving Wednesday afternoon. BTW, we haven't told Ian he's going on a train. This should be a cool surprise for him when we get to the station.
If y'all can, please give me or the Mrs. a call this evening. If we can make this meet-up work it would be so awesome!
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 20:50:48
Some interesting things. So far I agree with @MaddowBlog -- this is most interesting.
Raine on 06/10/2011 20:50:48
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:I am more interested in the ones she redacted -- but so far they seem rather interesting.Quote by wickedpam:
The Washington Post has a twitter feed for people who want to go thru palin's emails and help them find stories, if anyone is interested
PalinEmails
anything good coming out?
Comment by Raine on 06/10/2011 21:45:30
Raine on 06/10/2011 21:45:30
Randi is giving Brotha David the 'love ya go to it' moment! 
Comment by TriSec on 06/11/2011 00:58:30
TriSec on 06/11/2011 00:58:30
Well, I had a blog idea for tomorrow earlier in the week. It has since left my petite brain.
