Hubble Constant for Speed of Universe Expansion Defined by Australian Student
Australia has determined how fast the Universe is expanding. A student planning to study a PhD, Florian Beutler, has measured the Hubble constant. This is a special number that enables measurement of the age and size of the Universe.
The Universe continues to expand with galaxies moving apart. Direction and speed that galaxies move are easy to measure, but distance of separation is more difficult. In the past, brightness of galaxies has been used to define this distance. Florian Beutler used data from a survey carried out with the UK's Schmidt Telescope to make calculations using a new method.
Galaxies are in clusters throughout the Universe. The 6dF survey provided information about these clusters which enabled distant to be defined with an error of less than 5 per cent. The speed of expansion is very close to the figure determined by other methods. The Hubble constant is 67.0 +/- 3.2 km s-1 Mpc-1.
The Universe continues to expand with galaxies moving apart. Direction and speed that galaxies move are easy to measure, but distance of separation is more difficult. In the past, brightness of galaxies has been used to define this distance. Florian Beutler used data from a survey carried out with the UK's Schmidt Telescope to make calculations using a new method.
Galaxies are in clusters throughout the Universe. The 6dF survey provided information about these clusters which enabled distant to be defined with an error of less than 5 per cent. The speed of expansion is very close to the figure determined by other methods. The Hubble constant is 67.0 +/- 3.2 km s-1 Mpc-1.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Science
Dangers of Gene Manipulation
The war over genetic manipulation of crops and the human body has not yet been won be either side. Recently Greenpeace destroyed a crop of modified wheat that had been genetically altered to raise fiber content which was intended to reduce bowel cancer. Cross contamination of non-modified crops on farms adjacent to land where GM food is grown was given as the reason for the attack.
There are many dangers with gene replacement technology:
- Possible birth defects
- Anti-biotic resistance
- Control of patented GM seeds
- Vertical control of food chain
- Changes to soil balance
- Horizontal gene change to related crops
Both sides of Australian politics support gene manipulation. Just why this is the case is a big question. Many Australians are troubled by GM use, though not so much by gene treatment in medicine. Like the nuclear power disaster in Japan, one gene related "accident" may end the optimism.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Agriculture
New Drug Sterilizes Dogs and Other Animals
In just about any country you visit, there are unwanted dogs. Roaming packs of semi-wild dogs are the most dangerous especially for children. They even attack domesticated dogs on leash.
A breakthrough in dog sterilization has been found to slow dog breeding. The drug developed by Dr. Loretta Mayer when given to female dogs sterilizes them. Tests are being carried out in India where dogs are infected with rabies.
Though years of testing has to be done to get it passed by the US Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Mayer is talking to Arizona state legislature to introduce the drug for use in animal shelters as soon as possible. The drug will also work on other animals. Of great interest is the potential to eliminate rats.
A breakthrough in dog sterilization has been found to slow dog breeding. The drug developed by Dr. Loretta Mayer when given to female dogs sterilizes them. Tests are being carried out in India where dogs are infected with rabies.
Though years of testing has to be done to get it passed by the US Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Mayer is talking to Arizona state legislature to introduce the drug for use in animal shelters as soon as possible. The drug will also work on other animals. Of great interest is the potential to eliminate rats.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Society
Top Predators Are Crucial in Keeping Ecosystems in Balance
Mankind's actions is affecting the balance of animal life on the planet. Herbivores and their predators are declining in all regions. When a top predator ceases to exist the animal environment is no longer in balance.
Focusing on individual animals is faulty research. It is important to examine The way an animal fits into the whole system. The study of top predators such as lions, wolves, and sharks is difficult. How do you test how an ecosystem would function without them? Research to date shows that losing top animals causes damaging effects from the top down. For example too many herbivores creates deforestation because they eat the shoots of young trees sprouting from the ground.
Leopards declined in Africa then baboons increased in number moved into town and spread intestinal parasites to humans. Reducing the number of great wales has released carbon into the atmosphere: their feces stored carbon which fell to the ocean floor.
In the past animal parks have been created which intentionally left out top predators. This was clearly a mistake. There was no way the system could be in balance without them.
Focusing on individual animals is faulty research. It is important to examine The way an animal fits into the whole system. The study of top predators such as lions, wolves, and sharks is difficult. How do you test how an ecosystem would function without them? Research to date shows that losing top animals causes damaging effects from the top down. For example too many herbivores creates deforestation because they eat the shoots of young trees sprouting from the ground.
Leopards declined in Africa then baboons increased in number moved into town and spread intestinal parasites to humans. Reducing the number of great wales has released carbon into the atmosphere: their feces stored carbon which fell to the ocean floor.
In the past animal parks have been created which intentionally left out top predators. This was clearly a mistake. There was no way the system could be in balance without them.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Science
More People Are Turning to Wood for Heating
Price is already changing consumer behavior in regard to carbon. However, price signals can make people do the wrong thing. Because electricity has risen sharply in Australia over the last two years some people are going back to old wood burning appliances for heating and cooking.
Burning wood pushes more carbon into the atmosphere. It is just swapping wood for coal. Demand for fuel timber has risen 30 per cent this winter. It isn't cheap either. A tonne delivered to your door costs $350 and lasts about six weeks. More new fireplaces are being purchased, so there is a trend.
Sitting over a fireplace is bad for your health. Pollutants are drawn into the lungs. It is like smoking cigarettes. Over a year a wood heater produces more dangerous particles than five diesel trucks. Already 6 per cent of people in Sydney use wood burners and this number is rising.
Burning wood pushes more carbon into the atmosphere. It is just swapping wood for coal. Demand for fuel timber has risen 30 per cent this winter. It isn't cheap either. A tonne delivered to your door costs $350 and lasts about six weeks. More new fireplaces are being purchased, so there is a trend.
Sitting over a fireplace is bad for your health. Pollutants are drawn into the lungs. It is like smoking cigarettes. Over a year a wood heater produces more dangerous particles than five diesel trucks. Already 6 per cent of people in Sydney use wood burners and this number is rising.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Society
The Young Will Soon Lease Electric Vehicles
Private ownership of motor vehicles may not not be popular in the future. The majority of people may chose to Lease electric cars. Being able to lease these vehicles will be a big draw particularly if brand new cars are on offer. Obviously secondhand versions will also be available.
There are plans to "build" payment plans into mobile phones. This will include a usage agreement with recharging credits and battery swaps. It will be aimed at young Gen Y users who won't go anywhere without their mobile. Many members of this group support a green way of life.
The love of older big engined cars is now largely an older generation thing. The young are turned off by these "monsters". It will be sad to see the demise of combustion powered cars but eventually it will happen. The Gen Y group don't care about the kind of car they are in as long it gets them from A to B. Ownership is not important.
There are plans to "build" payment plans into mobile phones. This will include a usage agreement with recharging credits and battery swaps. It will be aimed at young Gen Y users who won't go anywhere without their mobile. Many members of this group support a green way of life.
The love of older big engined cars is now largely an older generation thing. The young are turned off by these "monsters". It will be sad to see the demise of combustion powered cars but eventually it will happen. The Gen Y group don't care about the kind of car they are in as long it gets them from A to B. Ownership is not important.
No doubt older people will initially ridicule the tiny little "bugs", But as their number soars they will stop laughing. Car makers are already planning for the future and electric cars are at the center of it. Just where all this extra electricity will come from will be the problem.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Society
Molasses a "Cure" for Obesity
It would be ideal if obesity could be treated by taking something, instead of drastic dieting. A possible solution has been found in molasses. This sweet substance is rich in polyphenols, antioxidants that seem to change the consequences of a high-fat diet.
For 12 weeks mice were given a high-fat diet supplemented with up to 4 per cent molasses extract. The mice lost weight. This was believed to be caused by the molasses reducing caloric absorption. Fat cells make the hormone leptin. This hormone was reduced in the blood.
Next year work will be done on humans to see if results are the same. Molasses are inexpensive and capsules could easily be produced. It would be a great leap forward if a simple "cure" like this is effective.
For 12 weeks mice were given a high-fat diet supplemented with up to 4 per cent molasses extract. The mice lost weight. This was believed to be caused by the molasses reducing caloric absorption. Fat cells make the hormone leptin. This hormone was reduced in the blood.
Next year work will be done on humans to see if results are the same. Molasses are inexpensive and capsules could easily be produced. It would be a great leap forward if a simple "cure" like this is effective.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Health
Subscribe to:
Comments
(
Atom
)
