In the beautiful valley of Savoie, France, Simon Beck creates patterned snow art to decorate the large expanse of frozen lakes and delight the local skiers — until the next snowfall.
With each layer of fresh snow, Beck walks the lakes with mathematical precision to design and redesign his incredibly intricate snow flakes and three dimensional star bursts and spirographs.
Art researchers and scientists said on Monday that a high-tech project using tiny video probes has uncovered evidence that a fresco by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci lost for five centuries may still exist behind a wall of Florence’s city hall.
“The research team has unlocked a mystery that has been with us for more than 500 years,” said Terry Garcia, an executive vice-president of the U.S. National Geographic Society, which sponsored the research.
Art researchers and scientists said on Monday that a high-tech project using tiny video probes has uncovered evidence that a fresco by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci lost for five centuries may still exist behind a wall of Florence’s city hall.
“The research team has unlocked a mystery that has been with us for more than 500 years,” said Terry Garcia, an executive vice-president of the U.S. National Geographic Society, which sponsored the research.
A 17 year-old Michigan teen won the top award and $100,000 in the Intel Science Talent Search for his research on breast cancer, which could lead to more direct, targeted, and less toxic treatments.
Nithin Tumma from Fort Gratiot analyzed the molecular mechanisms in cancer cells and found that by inhibiting certain proteins, we may be able to slow the growth of cancer cells and decrease their malignancy.
Before beating out 1,800 other science stars for the prize, the Port Huron Northern High School student had already been accepted to MIT, Cal Tech and Stanford.
Tumma says he will use his winnings toward a college education.
The finalists join the ranks of other notable Science Talent Search alumni who over the past 70 years have gone on to win seven Nobel Prizes, four National Medals of Science, and 11 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships.
Third place honors and $50,000 went to Mimi Yen, 17, of Brooklyn, N.Y., for her study of evolution and genetics, which focuses on microscopic worms, specifically looking at their sex habits and hermaphrodite tendencies. The Honduras-born teen believes that through research such as hers, we may better understand the genes that contribute to behavioral variations in humans.
(Read more about other finalists at Intel’s website)
In the UK, the world’s second oldest animal welfare organization said it was shocked by the scale of organized badger persecution it has uncovered in Northern Ireland.
But now, operatives working for the USPCA are using an aerial drone with a camera onboard to film gangs, and chase them away, as they prepare to attack badgers.
(READ the story from BBC– or WATCH the video here)
After thousands of Canadian residents banded together to preserve a forest of 300 year-old red pines threatened by expanded mining, the government scrapped its plans to rescind the “reserve” status bestowed on 840 acres (340 hectares) of pristine forest.
In 1999, the government of Ontario promised to protect Wolf Lake’s ancient pines, located near the Temagami canoeing area northeast of Sudbury.
After thousands of Canadian residents banded together to preserve a forest of 300 year-old red pines threatened by expanded mining, the government scrapped its plans to rescind the “reserve” status bestowed on 840 acres (340 hectares) of pristine forest.
In 1999, the government of Ontario promised to protect Wolf Lake’s ancient pines, located near the Temagami canoeing area northeast of Sudbury.
Dallas Seavey won his first Iditarod Championship as thousands of fans lined the street in Nome, Alaska to greet the youngest person to ever win the grueling thousand-mile sled dog contest.
When Dallas set off from Anchorage he was 24 years old. Nine days and four hours later when he finished the race he was 25. Previously, the youngest musher to win the Iditarod was Rick Swenson who won at age 26 in 1977.
Dallas Seavey comes from a long line of Iditarod finishers and, in fact, competed this week against both his father, Mitch, who won in 2004 and 74-year-old grandfather, Dan, who was the only 2012 competitor to have run in the first Iditarod Championship in 1973.
A Florida woman named Angela was leaving a playground with her toddler in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot and threatened her at knife point.
Suddenly, a Pit Bull who had been wandering the area charged the man, growling and barking until the attacker fled in surrender.
An animal control officer believed the exceptional part of the story was the fact that the dog had never met the woman or child before, yet instinctively defended them.
A Florida woman named Angela was leaving a playground with her toddler in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot and threatened her at knife point.
Suddenly, a Pit Bull who had been wandering the area charged the man, growling and barking until the attacker fled in surrender.
An animal control officer believed the exceptional part of the story was the fact that the dog had never met the woman or child before, yet instinctively defended them.
The Dow Jones industrial average is at its highest level since 2007, and the Nasdaq tech index closed above 3,000 for the first time since 2000, after a day of encouraging signs for the U.S. economy.
Retail sales were strong, the Federal Reserve was optimistic about jobs and growth and 15 of the nation’s biggest banks passed a stress test to determine whether they could withstand another financial crisis.
“He just showed up at my house,” said Makua Rothman, a Hawaiian surfer who frequently rides the local pipeline.
When Makua learned that Derek Rabelo, who was visiting from Brazil, could surf even though he was totally blind, the Hawaaiian was so blown away that he gave his new friend a brand new surf board.
For more than a century, scientists have been attempting to harness the immune system to fight cancer — trying to get the antibodies and cells that protect us from viruses and bacteria to kill diseased cells. Every once in a while, a tantalizing success occurred but could not be duplicated.
This time, the success was repeated in multiple advanced melanoma patients.
Researchers believe the same approach could work for kidney, lung and other cancers.
For more than a century, scientists have been attempting to harness the immune system to fight cancer — trying to get the antibodies and cells that protect us from viruses and bacteria to kill diseased cells. Every once in a while, a tantalizing success occurred but could not be duplicated.
This time, the success was repeated in multiple advanced melanoma patients.
Researchers believe the same approach could work for kidney, lung and other cancers.
It is quite courageous for any woman to shave her head, but especially so for one who happens to be a beauty pageant winner.
A young Alaskan beauty queen set a goal of raising $2,500 for childhood cancer research. She said when her goal was reached, she would shave her head.
That day came this week.
Her mom committed to taking the plunge alongside her. On stage at a local pub their locks came tumbling down.
A new research study of people in the U.S. and UK shows that once we reach middle age, we start growing happier.
The study, led by medical researchers at the University of Warwick, analyzed the lifestyle and health of more than 10,000 people and found respondents reported better mental quality of life as they aged.
Despite decline in their physical bodies, people from cross-cultural backgrounds living under differing health care systems similarly reported becoming happier once they moved beyond their 40’s.
A new research study of people in the U.S. and UK shows that once we reach middle age, we start growing happier.
The study, led by medical researchers at the University of Warwick, analyzed the lifestyle and health of more than 10,000 people and found respondents reported better mental quality of life as they aged.
Despite decline in their physical bodies, people from cross-cultural backgrounds living under differing health care systems similarly reported becoming happier once they moved beyond their 40’s.
Imprisoned felons in Louisiana and California are being given an extraordinary opportunity to show care and compassion for fellow inmates. As the numbers of convicts developing dementia grows, overburdened prisons are turning to inmates to assist the afflicted with their most intimate tasks: showering, shaving, applying deodorant, even changing adult diapers.
Lesson plans in public schools across the country now include sustainability and environmental awareness but many teachers in overcrowded classrooms are having to teach green topics while in energy-draining and unhealthy portable trailers.
An innovative project called The Green Schoolhouse Series is on a mission to change that. With the help of volunteers, school officials, community members, building partners, and corporations, the project aims to build LEED platinum-designed, green schoolhouses on existing, low-income, public school campuses across the country.
Lesson plans in public schools across the country now include sustainability and environmental awareness but many teachers in overcrowded classrooms are having to teach green topics while in energy-draining and unhealthy portable trailers.
An innovative project called The Green Schoolhouse Series is on a mission to change that. With the help of volunteers, school officials, community members, building partners, and corporations, the project aims to build LEED platinum-designed, green schoolhouses on existing, low-income, public school campuses across the country.
