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Thursday, January 12, 2012

MakerBot goes big with Replicator 3D printer

MakerBot just took the wraps off the Replicator, a new 3D printer that solves one of the technology's biggest problems at the moment -- printing large. Of course, you still can't, say, print yourself up a car just yet, but the Replicator does, at the very least, take a baby step in that direction. It also offers up the company's Dualstrusion technology, making it possible to print in two colors. The Replicator can take either ABS (the plastic found in Lego) or biodegradable PLA plastic. The Replicator will run $1,999 for the dual extruder or $1,749 for a single.

Continue reading MakerBot goes big with Replicator 3D printer

MakerBot goes big with Replicator 3D printer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/makerbot-goes-big-with-replicator-3d-printer/

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A real-life 'Avatar'? Search begins for moons that could support life.

With scientists already looking for Earth-size planets orbiting in distant stars' habitable zones, a new project is using similar techniques to look for moons, too.?

How many planets discovered by NASA's Kepler mission might have moons?

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That's a question a team of astronomers is trying to answer, and if they find any, what tales those moons might tell.

Distant moons could yield insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems unlike our own. In addition, they could also host environments hospitable for life, even if the planets they orbit don't.

Finding so-called exomoons is a daunting task. But as Kepler searches for Earth-size planets orbiting at Earth-like distances around sun-like stars, the Hunt for Exomoons with Kepler (HEK) aims to use similar techniques to find a new trove of celestial objects.

Even within our solar system moons may offer the potential for life. Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus, for instance, have piqued interest because evidence indicates they have liquid water ? a key ingredient for life ? beneath their ice surfaces. Another Saturnian moon, Titan, does not appear habitable but is fascinating in its own right, with rain, lakes, and rivers of liquid hydrocarbons.?

Yet these moons fall far outside the sun's habitable zone ? the place where, if a planet has a sufficient atmosphere, the amount of starlight it gets is "just right" to allow water to exist as liquid, ice, and gas at or near the surface.

During its search for planets inside their stars? habitable zones, Kepler could also find evidence of moons worthy of further study.

The HEK team is looking for moons with more heft than any in our solar system ? at least 10 percent of Earth's mass. By contrast, the largest moon in the solar system, Jupiter's satellite Ganymede, has about 2.5 percent of Earth's mass.

The project, which began in earnest about four months ago, already has yielded objects the team wants to examine in more detail, according to David Kipping, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass.

These objects "were really easy to spot; they just stuck out like sore thumbs," Dr. Kipping says. "We have about four or five top, top candidates which we are looking at very closely."

But where planet-hunters have experience in identifying a planet's signature, he cautions, the same can't be said for moon hunters. It may be a year or so before the team will know whether or not it has found its first moon.

Kepler finds planets by staring at roughly 150,000 stars simultaneously for subtle changes in brightness when a planet eclipses its sun.

Kipping's team is hunting for moons in much the same way. In principle, a large moon can betray its presence as it eclipses part of the star, or even as it transits its planet as the planet crosses in front of the star.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/Tqyzpzn0zlQ/A-real-life-Avatar-Search-begins-for-moons-that-could-support-life.

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Arab League tells Syria again: halt violence

This image made from amateur video and released by Ugarit News purports to show Syrians chanting slogans during a rally in Homs, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via APTN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL. TV OUT

This image made from amateur video and released by Ugarit News purports to show Syrians waving their national flag in Hama, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via APTN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL. TV OUT

This image made from amateur video and released by Ugarit News purports to show Syrians attending a mass funeral in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via APTN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL. TV OUT

This image made from amateur video and released by Ugarit News, purports to show Syrians chanting slogans during a demonstration in Hama, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via APTN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL. TV OUT

BEIRUT (AP) ? The Arab League demanded Sunday that the Syrian government immediately stop all violence and allow more monitors in, as activists reported at least 10 more civilians, including two teenagers, were killed by regime forces.

Fierce clashes in the south between government troops and military defectors left 11 soldiers dead, activists said. The Arab League also called on other armed parties to halt all bloodshed, an apparent reference to the defectors.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabr Al Thani said the ministers did not agree to call for U.N. experts to join the observers' mission in Syria, but said U.N. experts will train the monitors in Cairo before they leave. Even had they called for the U.N. experts to go in, Syria's regime may well have blocked them.

The success of the mission, said Al Thani, who heads the committee, "depends on the government of Syria, and that means stopping the killings, withdrawing troops from the cities, and allowing journalists to work and enter Syria."

The ministerial committee called on "the Syrian government and various armed groups to immediately halt all forms of violence and to return to protesting peacefully for the success of the Arab League observers' mission in Syria."

At the meeting, the head of the observers issued his first report on the mission, sharing photos, maps and initial findings.

The five foreign ministers from the 22-member Arab League, who met in Cairo, said the 165 Arab League monitors now on the ground need greater independence from President Bashar Assad's regime.

The monitors are supposed to be ensuring Syrian compliance with a plan to end the government's crackdown on dissent. The Arab League plan calls on Syria to remove heavy weaponry, such as tanks, from all cities, free all political prisoners and allow in human rights organizations and foreign journalists. Syria agreed to the plan on Dec. 19.

Opposition activists say around 450 people have been killed by Assad's regime since observers began work in Syria nearly two weeks ago.

A Syrian activist in Cairo, Thaer Al-Nashef, told The Associated Press that the regime is misleading the observers and that the mission has done nothing to resolve the crisis. He said the issue should be dealt with at the U.N. Security Council.

"The monitors have not moved the situation forward or backward in Syria. At the same time the regime is killing the Syrian revolution," he said. "The Arab League should stop this staged performance, because the Syrian regime is not adhering to the agreement."

Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby said observers will continue their monthlong mission in Syria, despite claims by activists that the mission is giving cover to Assad's crackdown on protesters and delaying further action.

He also defended the choice for head of the mission, Sudanese Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Dabi, saying his military experience was useful on the ground. Al-Dabi has drawn criticism because he served in key security positions under Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Although the Arab League said it needs more monitors in Syria, ministers on Sunday did not name an exact number. Initially, the League had requested to send 500 monitors, but so far Syria has allowed in only 165.

The Qatari foreign minister told reporters after the meeting that the League is aware that the mission has not fulfilled its goal of stopping the bloodshed.

"Is what happened, ideal? We want to do more," he said. "We know that the Syrian people have made a decision, but what we want is to lessen the losses, human losses."

According to the U.N., more than 5,000 people have been killed since March when mostly peaceful anti-government protests began and drew a harsh military response from the government. Hundreds more have been killed since the U.N. issued that estimate last month.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 11 soldiers died in intense fighting in the town of Basr al-Harir in southern Daraa province. More than 20 troops were wounded.

In Homs, seven civilians were killed by troops raiding houses and pro-government snipers on rooftops. A 15-year-old boy was among seven civilians killed, the Observatory said.

The Local Coordination Committees activist network and other activists confirmed the killing of civilians. In the Damascus suburb of Zabadani, two people were killed during raids that followed clashes with defectors, and in the eastern Deir el-Zour province, a 19-year-old was also killed during raids in pursuit of activists, the activists said.

The reports could not be independently confirmed as Syria has barred most foreign journalists from the country and tightly restricts the local media.

While many of the anti-government protests sweeping the country since March remain peaceful, the Syrian uprising as a whole has become more violent in recent months as frustrated demonstrators take up arms to protect themselves from the steady military assault. An increasing number of army defectors also have launched attacks, killing soldiers and security forces.

The regime's crackdown has led to broad worldwide condemnation and sanctions, weakened the economy and left Assad an international pariah just as he was trying to open up his country and modernize the economy.

The government says that the turmoil in Syria is not an uprising but the work of terrorists and foreign-backed armed gangs.

____

Batrawy reported from Cairo.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-01-08-ML-Syria/id-fde11f602de6496db5582634bf77cfa9

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Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Spasticity gene finding provides clues to causes of nerve cell degeneration

Monday, January 9, 2012

The discovery of a gene that causes a form of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) may provide scientists with an important insight into what causes axons, the stems of our nerve cells, to degenerate in conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

In the Journal of Clinical Investigation today, an international team of scientists led by Dr Evan Reid at the University of Cambridge, and Dr Stephan Zuchner from the University of Miami, report that mutations in the gene known as 'reticulon 2' on chromosome 19 cause a form of HSP, a condition characterised by progressive stiffness and contraction (spasticity) of the legs, caused by selective and specific degeneration of axons

The team identified three mutations in the reticulon 2 gene as causing a type of HSP ? in one case, this mutation included an entire deletion of the gene. In addition, the researchers showed that reticulon 2 interacts with another gene, spastin. Mutations in this latter gene cause the most common form of hereditary spastic paraplegia.

Reticulon 2 provides the genetic code for a reticulon protein that is a member of a family of proteins recently shown to play a key role in shaping the endoplasmic reticulum. The endoplasmic reticulum is a network of interconnected sheets and tubules that extends throughout the cytoplasm in nearly all cells. It has a number of functions, including protein synthesis, calcium signalling and regulation of other components of the cell. Recent data suggest that the sheets are involved in protein synthesis, whereas the tubules are specialised to carry out the other functions.

This new study provides the most direct evidence to date that defects in how the endoplasmic reticulum is shaped and formed could underlie axon degeneration. When axons degenerate, signals are unable to pass through the nerve cells, leading to a breakdown of communication within the central nervous system. This is common in degenerative diseases of the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis.

"Our work highlights important new disease mechanisms, which may provide a platform for us to study how axons are damaged in devastating illnesses such as HSP, and perhaps even in multiple sclerosis, which in some cases is very similar to HSP," explains Dr Reid, a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow in Clinical Science. "But we must not forget how this work may immediately directly benefit families affected by hereditary spastic paraplegia, for whom the discovery now opens up the possibility of genetic counselling and testing."

###

Wellcome Trust: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk

Thanks to Wellcome Trust for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/116564/Spasticity_gene_finding_provides_clues_to_causes_of_nerve_cell_degeneration

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Disinfecting for Pets | Dr. Laundry

Q:? Our cat had a nasty virus. After it was resolved I went through and cleaned his litter box area with a Clorox? Regular-Bleach and water solution to get rid of the germs. Once this dries, is it safe for pets? Or should I make an effort to clean any residue before letting my pets in the area?

A:? A litter box that has been properly disinfected with Clorox? Regular-Bleach is definitely safe for pets; and here?s how to do it:

Remove the litter from the box
Wash the litter box with soap and water
Mix 3/4 cup Clorox? Regular-Bleach per gallon of water and fill the litter box with the bleach solution, let stand for 5 minutes
Thoroughly rinse the litter box and air dry

Since you mentioned residue, I?m wondering if you have adequately rinsed the litter box.? This is especially important if you used too strong of a bleach solution.

Is anyone else disinfecting your pets? items in ?celebration? for the New Year?

Source: http://www.clorox.com/blogs/dr-laundry/2012/01/09/disinfecting-pets/

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Monday, January 9, 2012

DJDarren: @jearle Like I've said to you before, AirPlay is the sole reason I use my Apple TV. It's such a wonderful tool.

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@jearle Like I've said to you before, AirPlay is the sole reason I use my Apple TV. It's such a wonderful tool. Il y a environ 1 heure via Echofon en r?ponse ? jearle

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Astrophile: Cool echoes from galaxy's biggest star

Astrophile is our weekly column covering curious cosmic objects, from within the solar system to the furthest reaches of the multiverse

Object: Massive star
Mass: 150 suns

Stars like Eta Carinae ? the most massive in our galaxy ? are so rare, it's sheer luck that we even know this behemoth exists. Kris Davidson of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis likens the chances of seeing something like Eta Carinae from Earth to the likelihood of walking out of your house in the morning and seeing an 8-foot-tall man walk by: "There are people 8 feet tall, but how often do you meet them?"

Now light echoes are effectively taking us back in time to watch a past outburst of this heavyweight. This might offer clues as to Eta Carinae's explosive future and the nature of such massive, ageing stars in general.

At about 150 times the sun's mass, Eta Carinae is the heaviest known star among the trillions in our galaxy. When it destroys itself in the not too distant future, it could blast thousands of planets with beams of gamma radiation, though Earth itself is fortunately not in the firing line.

Eta Carinae has already been seen nearly blowing itself apart once in recorded history, in the 1840s, when it became the second brightest star in the sky. That outburst was spectacular, but it wasn't until the 20th century that we really learned to appreciate Eta Carinae's awesomeness.

In the latter part of the century, astronomers discovered that it is 8000 light years away, compared with 8?light years for the brightest star in the sky, Sirius. That means it is intrinsically much brighter than any other known star in the galaxy, even when it is not erupting. It owes that brightness to its colossal mass.

Light echoes

Such heavy stars are short-lived, burning through their nuclear fuel quickly only to explode as supernovae. Eta Carinae appears to be nearing this stage: the 1840s eruption may have been a symptom of its advancing age.

If modern instruments had been available back then, the explosion might have provided some clues as to how much mass these massive stars shed towards the end of their lives, which governs whether their remains form a black hole or neutron star. Now, nature has provided the next best thing: echoes of the eruption are allowing us to watch the event all over again.

A team of researchers led by Armin Rest of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, found the echoes by observing the area around Eta Carinae with the 4-metre Victor M. Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.

Blue variables

The echoes are light that was emitted during the 1840s eruption, but not directly towards Earth. Instead, it bounced off interstellar dust clouds before heading our way, delaying its arrival here by more than 160 years.

The latecoming light has already revealed one surprise. Its spectra suggest the material involved in the eruption was relatively cool, at about 5000?K. That could change our understanding of what made Eta Carinae explode.

By contrast, material seen erupting from stars called luminous blue variables have reached 7000?K. These eruptions are thought to be caused by the stars' tremendous brightness: their outer layers cannot easily resist the pressure of so much light pushing out at them and sometimes get peeled off and thrown into space, producing the eruptions.

Previously, Eta Carinae was thought to have exploded like this. Now it looks as though some other trigger must have been at work.

Nuclear nudge

One alternative could have been a sudden acceleration of nuclear reactions in the star's core, with the extra energy released nudging the star to throw off its outer layers.

Davidson, who was not involved in the new study, says it would be premature to abandon the light-pressure explanation based on these new observations alone. However, he says further observation of the echoes could help us better understand what the future holds for Eta Carinae and other massive stars.

"We've learned more from Eta Carinae than we have from all the other massive stars combined," Davidson says. "Time and time again it's done something that no one predicted."

Reference: arxiv.org/abs/1112.2210

Read previous Astrophile columns: Stopped clocks deepen pulsar enigmas, Wounded galaxy is crux of cosmic whodunnit, Did comet killing spark Christmas light show?, Blinged-out stars were born rich, Supercritical water world does somersaults, Attack of the mystery green blobs, Undead stars rise again as supernovae, The sticky star cluster that's mostly black hole, The rebel star that broke the medieval sky, Star exploded? Just another day in Arp 220, Giant star comes with ancient tree rings, Frying pan forms map of dead star's past, The most surreal sunset in the universe.

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