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The Future of Things - Your source for future science and technology
Contents:
Are There Nuclear Reactors at Earth's Core?
| Nuclear reactors could be burning deep beneath the ground, two scientists have claimed. They say that uranium could become sufficiently concentrated at the base of Earth's mantle to ignite self-sustained nuclear fission, as in a human-made reactor. This is not the first time that natural ?georeactors' deep inside Earth have been proposed, and the idea has previously been greeted with scepticism by geoscientists. |
Why Quantum Mechanics Might Be Wrong
| The question of whether quantum mechanics is correct could soon be settled by observing the sky - and there are already tantalizing hints that the theory could be wrong. Antony Valentini, a physicist at Imperial College, London, wanted to devise a test that could separate quantum mechanics from one of its closest rivals - a theory called bohmian mechanics. Despite being one of the most successful theories of physics, quantum mechanics creates several paradoxes. |
Did Magellan Encounter El Nino?
| A new paper by North Carolina State University archaeologist Dr. Scott Fitzpatrick shows that Ferdinand Magellan's historic circumnavigation of the globe was likely influenced in large part by unusual weather conditions - including what we now know as El Nino - which eased his passage across the Pacific Ocean, but ultimately led him over a thousand miles from his intended destination. |
Molecular 'Clock' Predicts Breast Cancer?
| A chemical reaction in genes that control breast cancer provides a molecular clock that could one day help researchers more accurately determine a woman's risk for developing breast cancer and provide a new approach for treatment, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found. In a study published in the May 14 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, scientists from UT Southwestern show that the chemical process called methylation, is strongly correlated with breast-cancer. |
Heart Cells Generated from Skin Cells
 | Researchers at UCLA have successfully derived mice skin cells into a variety of heart tissue and blood cells. All the cells composing the heart were created out of stem cells originally generated from the mice's skin. This research could contribute to the development of new therapeutic pathways for rebuilding heart tissue. |
Humanity Was Divided for 100,000 Years
| The human race was divided into two separate groups within Africa for as much as half of its existence, says a Tel Aviv University mathematician. Climate change, reduction in populations and harsh conditions may have caused and maintained the separation. Dr. Saharon Rosset, from the School of Mathematical Sciences at Tel Aviv University, worked with team leader Doron Behar from the Rambam Medical Center to analyze African DNA. |
Deep Water Offshore Wind Turbine
 | Offshore wind-farm developers know that the performance of wind-farms improves greatly in deep waters, where winds are stronger and steadier. However, it is extremely expensive to build the foundations necessary to support wind turbines in waters deeper than 20 meters. The new technology developed by Blue H Technologies enables building floating turbines, eliminating the high costs of building the foundations. The idea upon which the technology is based was borrowed from oil and gas offshore platforms technology. |
Darwin Day Celebration
 | Darwin Day is an international celebration of science and humanity, usually held on February 12th, Charles Darwin's birthday. In addition to information on Darwin's life and legacy,, on the Darwin Day website one can find short statements and essays that provide the scientific rationale for celebrating Darwin, science, and humanity. Since Abraham Lincoln was also born on February 12th, 1809 (the same day and year as Darwin), the site also has a section devoted to essays and articles specifically addressing the legacies of both men. |
Global Biodiversity Slumps 27% in 35 Years
| The latest data on the global biodiversity of vertebrates shows that it has fallen by almost one-third in the last 35 years. But experts say it may still underestimate the effect humans have had on global species counts. The Living Planet Index (LPI) follows trends in nearly 4,000 populations of 1,477 vertebrate species and is said to reflect the impact humans have on the planet. |
Treating Animals Like Molecules Aids Census
| Even the shyest, most reclusive animals should now yield their secrets to a new census method that uses automatic cameras to snap photos of passing animals. Until now, such animals could only be counted through much more painstaking, expensive methods. Conservation biologists already use such automatic cameras routinely in their field work. Triggered by infrared sensors, these "camera traps" can record the presence of stealthy animals such as tigers or deer. |
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