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First Hints That Stem Cells Can Help Patients Get Better

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Jan 24, 2012

ebryonic stem cells -PublicLibraryofScience-CClic — Embyonic stem cells by Nissim Benvenisty, CC license, Public Library of Science

Two women losing their sight to progressive forms of blindness may have regained some vision while participating in an experiment testing a treatment made from human embryonic stem cells, researchers reported today.

embryonic stem cells -PublicLibraryofScience-CC-license — Photo of embryonic stem cells – PublicLibraryofScience, Nissim Benvenisty, CC license

The report marks the first time that scientists have produced direct evidence that human embryonic stem cells may have helped a patient. The cells had only previously been tested in the laboratory or in animals.

“For these patients, the impact is enormous.”

(READ the story from NPR News) – Photo via Public Library of Science, CC license

Thanks to Joel Arellano for submitting the story to our Facebook page!

Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman Unveil ‘We Can Be Heroes’ Campaign for Horn of Africa

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Jan 23, 2012

Superheroes campaign for Africa

DC Entertainment, home of some of the greatest super heroes, today unleashed a giving campaign to help fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. A multi-million-dollar commitment over the next two years by partners Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner will feature DC Entertainment’s Justice League characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and The Flash, issuing a call to action, and matching 100 percent of the donations.

[Editor’s Note: The ‘Heroes’ video at the bottom of the page plays automatically, but has a pause button]

The “We Can Be Heroes” campaign was announced at a press conference today by company presidents in New York and will support the efforts of three humanitarian aid organizations working in Africa — Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps.

Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman Unveil ‘We Can Be Heroes’ Campaign for Horn of Africa

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Good News Network

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Jan 23, 2012

Superheroes campaign for Africa

DC Entertainment, home of some of the greatest super heroes, today unleashed a giving campaign to help fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. A multi-million-dollar commitment over the next two years by partners Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner will feature DC Entertainment’s Justice League characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and The Flash, issuing a call to action, and matching 100 percent of the donations.

[Editor’s Note: The ‘Heroes’ video at the bottom of the page plays automatically, but has a pause button]

The “We Can Be Heroes” campaign was announced at a press conference today by company presidents in New York and will support the efforts of three humanitarian aid organizations working in Africa — Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps.

As Smartphones Get Smarter, We Get Healthier and Health Care Gets Cheaper

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Jan 23, 2012

iPhone medical apps detailed from Fast Company

The use of mobile technology to distribute health care, especially in rural areas perfectly exploits the wonders of a device that’s fast becoming ubiquitous, with two in three people owning one worldwide.

Smartphones can already track calories burned and miles run, and measure sleep patterns. By 2013, they’ll be detecting erratic heartbeats and monitoring tremors from Parkinson’s disease.

A new generation of startups is building apps and add-ons that make your handheld phone work like high-end medical equipment, especially thanks to modern high-resolution screens.

British Woman Becomes First to Ski Across Antarctica Alone

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Jan 23, 2012

Felicity Aston first woman to ski Antarctica

British adventurer Felicity Aston became the first athlete ever to ski across Antarctica alone, using only her own muscle power.

She completed the crossing of the icy continent today, becoming the first woman to make the trek alone on skis. She accomplished her goal in 59 days, pulling two sleds with supplies for 1083 miles (1744 km) from her starting point on the Leverett Glacier on Nov. 25.

Egypt Army Pardons 1,959 Detainees, Prominent Activist

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Jan 23, 2012

egypt flag waving by Kodak-Agfa-flickr-CC

Egypt’s military ruler has pardoned 1,959 people convicted by military courts in the year since President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, including activist Michael Nabil whose hunger strike had brought him close to death.

The pardon comes just four days before the first anniversary of the Egyptian uprising which began on January 25 igniting the Arab Spring protests that swept the region.

Chinese New Year Offers Hope and Prosperity in Year of the Dragon

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Jan 22, 2012

Chinese dragon by-chamomile Morguefile

Chinese around the world will be wearing lots of red today, to celebrate the Lunar New Year marking the end of the disaster-filled “Year of the Rabbit” and to usher in a new year with more prosperity.

January 23 begins the Year of the Dragon, which should bring relief following 2011, which was foreseen by the Chinese calendar as a “very bad year.” (Remember the bevy of natural disasters (Japan’s tsunami, New Zealand’s earthquake, Joplin’s tornado and Mississippi’s flood, to name a few?)

“The dragon in Chinese culture is signified as very powerful. Very powerful and very strong,” says Peter Lung, a Chinese zodiac expert at World of Feng Shui. “America will be very strong this year.”

Most people stay up late on the eve of the lunar New Year, the most festive season for the Chinese, watching TV specials, eating dumplings and other snacks and cozying up with their families. At midnight they light fireworks, which continues for many days thereafter.

The fireworks and the red decorations in front of many homes and businesses were originally intended to ward off bad influences.

READ more in two articles: One in China’s People Daily, which tells you how to celebrate using the traditional customs of the Chinese; and, in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which forecasts the New Year ahead, including one for President Obama, who was born in the Year of the Ox.

Photo by Chamomile via Morguefile

Chinese New Year Offers Hope and Prosperity in Year of the Dragon

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Jan 22, 2012

Chinese dragon by-chamomile Morguefile

Chinese around the world will be wearing lots of red today, to celebrate the Lunar New Year marking the end of the disaster-filled “Year of the Rabbit” and to usher in a new year with more prosperity.

January 23 begins the Year of the Dragon, which should bring relief following 2011, which was foreseen by the Chinese calendar as a “very bad year.” (Remember the bevy of natural disasters (Japan’s tsunami, New Zealand’s earthquake, Joplin’s tornado and Mississippi’s flood, to name a few?)

“The dragon in Chinese culture is signified as very powerful. Very powerful and very strong,” says Peter Lung, a Chinese zodiac expert at World of Feng Shui. “America will be very strong this year.”

Recess Boosts Kids’ Grades

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Jan 22, 2012

kids playing, photo by Sun Star

Children who get more exercise also tend to do better in school, whether the exercise comes as recess, physical education classes or getting exercise on the way to school, according to an international study.

The findings, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, come as many U.S. schools are cutting recess and P.E. classes in favor of more academic test preparation.

US Home Sales at 11-month High

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Jan 22, 2012

sold sign

U.S. home sales hit an 11-month high in December and the number of properties on the market was the fewest in nearly seven years, pointing to a nascent recovery in the housing sector.

The National Association of Realtors said on Friday existing home sales increased 5 percent, marking the third straight monthly increase, with all four of the nation’s regions recording gains.

Google Joins With Angels to Bankroll Education Microloan Upstart Vittana

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Jan 22, 2012

Kushal-Chakrabarti-PopTech-cc

Vittana, the Seattle non-profit that’s facilitating micro-loans to students in developing countries, has received a $250,000 grant from Google.

Seattle tech CEOs are also backing the non-profit Vittana, whose founder Kushal Chakrabarti — a former Amazon.com employee — says that hundreds of students are getting Vittana loans every month across four continents.

When it comes to education in the developing world, student loans simply don’t exist. Although microfinancing usually raises funds for small businesses, the Seattle-based Vittana has been helping students around the world graduate from post-secondary schools by asking donors to pay for their tuition.

Fewer Pirate Attacks on World Seas in 2011

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Jan 21, 2012

With more international boats patrolling the high seas, piracy in 2011 dropped for the first time in five years. Pirate attacks in the South China Sea were cut by almost two thirds and Bangladesh incidents plunged by more than half. -Associated Press

Stunning Millenium Goal Progress on Educating Children

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Jan 21, 2012

Over the past 12 years, the world has made stunning progress toward the goal of increasing the number of children attending primary school — adding 37 million kids to school rolls, an increase of 35 percent. – NY Times

Biofuel Breakthrough: Seaweed Could Power Cars

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Jan 21, 2012

Kelp photo by Fastily - GNU license

Energy experts believe that seaweed holds enormous potential as a biofuel alternative to coal and oil, and US scientists say they have unlocked the secret of turning its complex sugar into energy.

Unlike other microbes before, the Berkeley, Cal., team engineered a form of E. coli bacteria that can digest all the seaweed’s sugars into ethanol, potentially making it a cost-competitive alternative to petroleum fuel, without the use of agricultural land, said the report yesterday in the journal Science.

UPDATE: Homeless Science Whiz Given $50K Scholarship on Ellen Show

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Jan 21, 2012

Homeless student Samantha Garvey science prize finalist

New York high school senior Samantha Garvey appeared Thursday as a guest on the “Ellen” talk show, where she received a $50,000 scholarship from AT&T to the college of her choice.

Last week, Garvey was named a semifinalist in the prestigious Intel science contest. The story of the aspiring marine biologist attracted national attention after it was reported that she and her family were forced to move to a homeless shelter on New Year’s Eve. (See original story on GNN.)

She hopes to attend either Brown or Yale universities.

(READ the AP story in Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Thanks to Julie Frerichs for submitting the link!

World Makes Stunning Progress in Education of Young Children

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Jan 21, 2012

Uganda school

Over the past 12 years, the world has made stunning progress toward the goal of having more children attend primary school.

In sub-Saharan Africa, enrollment in primary school is up 18 percent; and globally, we added 37 million kids to school rolls, an increase of 35 percent — a huge achievement.

Countries have made progress on this UN Millennium Goal by abolishing school fees, building schools in remote areas, switching the language of instruction to the one the children actually speak and giving families incentive to send children to school.

Billionaire Philanthropist to Give Millions to Help Fix Washington Monument

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Jan 20, 2012

Washington Monument by DAVID ILIFF License-CC-BY-SA-3.0

The billionaire philanthropist David M. Rubenstein will donate $7.5 million to help fix the shuttered, earthquake-damaged Washington Monument, government officials announced Thursday.

The gift once again confirmed Rubenstein’s status as a generous repeat benefactor for Washington’s endangered national icons.

It comes a month after he donated $4.5 million to the National Zoo’s cash-strapped giant panda program and seven months after a $13.5 million gift to the National Archives.

Math Prodigy Proud of His Autism

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Jan 20, 2012

Autism math prodigy -CBS video clip

Jake Barnett, an Indianapolis 13-year-old, has been acing college math and science courses since he was eight years old. At 13, he is a college sophomore taking honors classes in math and physics, while also doing scientific research and tutoring fellow students.

No one could have predicted that Jake would even make it to college. At age two, Jake began to regress – he stopped speaking and making eye contact. The diagnosis: autism.

Jake is proud of his autism. “That, I believe, is the reason why I am in college and I am so successful.”

(WATCH the 60 Minutes Video below, or READ the story at CBSNews)

Lost Gray Monkey Thought to be Extinct ‘Rediscovered’ in Indonesia

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Jan 20, 2012

Monkey Grizzled Langur rediscovered

Scientists working in the dense jungles of Indonesia have “rediscovered” a large, gray monkey so rare it was believed by many to be extinct.

They were all the more baffled to find the Miller’s Grizzled Langur — its black face framed by a fluffy, Dracula-esque white collar — in an area well outside its previously recorded home range.

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