Knovel Workshops - 1/30 & 2/5

Knovel Workshops - 1/30 & 2/5
   Register here. Tuesday, January 30, 10:00-10:50, Geisel Library, Room 274 (LEC) or Monday, February 5, 2:00-2:50, Geisel Library, Room 274 (LEC) From engineering handbooks to chemical/physical property data, Knovel has it all. Everything in Knovel is full-text, with many of...

RefWorks Classes - Jan/Feb

RefWorks Classes - Jan/Feb
   The UCSD Libraries will offer hands-on workshops on using RefWorks during weeks 3, 5 & 6 of the quarter. Class size is limited, so please register at http://libraries.ucsd.edu/services/refworks.html. RefWorks is web-based software you can use to organize your references and...

New molecular pathway could reveal how cells stick together

New molecular pathway could reveal how cells stick together
   Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have found a new pathway by which cells change their adhesive properties. With a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, they plan to fill in the details behind how cells decide to stick to a surface, which could lead to a better understanding of the importance of this pathway to the physiology and development of organisms.

New group of algae discovered: Picobiliphytes

New group of algae discovered: Picobiliphytes
   An international group of researchers has succeeded in identifying a previously unknown group of algae. As currently reported in the scientific journal Science, the newly discovered algae are found among the smallest members of photosynthetic plankton -- the picoplankton. On account of the minute size of the organisms and the appearance of phycobili-proteins, researchers have termed the new group "Picobiliphyta."

Georgia Aquarium whale shark dies (AP)

Georgia Aquarium whale shark dies (AP)
   

AP - A prized whale shark at the world's largest aquarium died Thursday night, the second death of a popular animal at the center in 10 days.

Climate bill sets stage for debate (AP)

Climate bill sets stage for debate (AP)
   

AP - Potential presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama are joining with newly independent Sen. Joe Lieberman on a plan they say would reduce annual global-warming gases by two-thirds by mid-century.

Put off reading this until tax time (AP)

Put off reading this until tax time (AP)
   AP - Procrastination in society is getting worse and scientists are finally getting around to figuring out how and why. Too many tempting diversions are to blame, but more on that later.

Idaho governor calls for gray wolf kill (AP)

Idaho governor calls for gray wolf kill (AP)
   AP - Idaho's governor said Thursday he will support public hunts to kill all but 100 of the state's gray wolves after the federal government strips them of protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Democrats unveil energy package (AP)

Democrats unveil energy package (AP)
   AP - House Democrats next week will push to impose a conservation fee on oil and natural gas taken from the Gulf of Mexico if prices remain at current high levels.

Thousands march to protest New Orleans murders (Reuters)

Thousands march to protest New Orleans murders (Reuters)
   

Reuters - Several thousand people marched to New Orleans' city hall on Thursday to protest a wave of murders that has gripped the city and put in danger its halting recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

Memphis pandas get privacy to mate (AP)

Memphis pandas get privacy to mate (AP)
   AP - The Memphis Zoo is hoping a few days of privacy will include a magic moment between its giant pandas. The panda exhibit was closed for 72 hours beginning Thursday to give Ya Ya and Le Le some time to mate.

Mars orbiter spots 1997 lander site (AP)

Mars orbiter spots 1997 lander site (AP)
   AP - The newest spacecraft circling Mars has spotted the landing site of the 1997 Pathfinder probe, including what appears to be its discarded protective shell and parachute, and possibly its rover Sojourner.

Stem cell bill sails through House (AP)

Stem cell bill sails through House (AP)
   

AP - The House voted to expand government-financed embryonic stem cell research Thursday, but for the second time in two years lawmakers were unable to muster enough votes to overcome a promised presidential veto.

Expert Sees 'Profound' Oil Dependence Vulnerability (U.S. News & World Report)

Expert Sees 'Profound' Oil Dependence Vulnerability (U.S. News & World Report)
   U.S. News & World Report - With oil prices falling rapidly, a Wall Street executive was among those this morning warning lawmakers not to become complacent about the global energy picture.

Winter revives; storms come in (weather.com)

Winter revives; storms come in (weather.com)
   weather.com -

Polar explorer to return to the Arctic (AP)

Polar explorer to return to the Arctic (AP)
   

AP - Polar explorer Ann Bancroft is planning to head back to the Arctic. Bancroft and her expedition partner were forced to abandon a 1,200-mile hike over the North Pole in 2005, because of a business dispute between supply companies. "Both of us were devastated," Bancroft said.

Fossil skull, artifact, help date human migration (Reuters)

Fossil skull, artifact, help date human migration (Reuters)
   Reuters - An ancient skull from South Africa and carved tools and ornaments from Russia paint a rare picture of the time when modern humans migrated out of Africa to colonize Europe, researchers reported on Thursday.

Alaska stargazers excited about comet (AP)

Alaska stargazers excited about comet (AP)
   

AP - When amateur astronomer Martin Gutoski braved 40 degree below zero weather to get a look at the comet, he didn't expect to be thrilled. There hadn't been a lot of buzz about Comet McNaught. But, as the comet got closer to the sun it brightened and the word spread among stargazers. The Comet McNaught was special.

Winter revived (weather.com)

Winter revived (weather.com)
   weather.com -

Scientists map gene of STD parasite (AP)

Scientists map gene of STD parasite (AP)
   

AP - The tiny parasite undulates under the microscope like some creature from a sci-fi movie, but this one is all too real, latching onto the sexually unwary with tentacle-like probes. Now scientists have mapped the genes of the nasty little bug that causes one of the world's most common, and arguably least recognized, sexually transmitted infections, one with the tongue-twisting name of trichomoniasis.

Atlanta's panda cub set to debut (AP)

Atlanta's panda cub set to debut (AP)
   

AP - She must learn to walk with a certain grace. And she must be able to handle the crowds and all the attention.

Russian space legend would be 100 Friday (AP)

Russian space legend would be 100 Friday (AP)
   

AP - His work and even his name were once top Soviet secrets. It wasn't until after his death that Sergei Korolyov became known to the world as the man who led the team that put the world's first satellite into orbit and sent the first human into space. Russia marks the 100th anniversary Friday of the birth of Korolyov, who suffered years of torture, starvation and hard labor in Josef Stalin's gulag before becoming chief of the Soviet rocket program.

EU to ban imports of wild birds

EU to ban imports of wild birds
   Animal welfare campaigners welcome an EU decision to make a ban on importing wild birds permanent.

EU to ban imports of wild birds

EU to ban imports of wild birds
   Animal welfare campaigners welcome an EU decision to make a ban on importing wild birds permanent.

Family found for gigantic flowers

Family found for gigantic flowers
   The 200-year-old mystery of where the world's largest flower sits in the botanical family tree is finally solved.

Family found for gigantic flowers

Family found for gigantic flowers
   The 200-year-old mystery of where the world's largest flower sits in the botanical family tree is finally solved.

Faulty Software May Have Doomed Mars Orbiter (SPACE.com)

Faulty Software May Have Doomed Mars Orbiter (SPACE.com)
   SPACE.com - WASHINGTON -- NASA is forming an internal investigative board to look into why the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft stopped responding to commands in November, the agency announced Jan. 10.

Possible cause of fish kills found (AP)

Possible cause of fish kills found (AP)
   AP - After more than seven years of study scientists have isolated a toxin that they say may have killed millions of fish along the East Coast in the 1990s.

Supersonic gales rage on planets

Supersonic gales rage on planets
   Astronomers find giant planets outside our Solar System with winds blowing at thousands of kilometres per hour.

Supersonic gales rage on planets

Supersonic gales rage on planets
   Astronomers find giant planets outside our Solar System with winds blowing at thousands of kilometres per hour.

Russia resumes oil supplies to Europe (AFP)

Russia resumes oil supplies to Europe (AFP)
   

AFP - Oil flowed again through the main pipeline from Russia to Europe after Moscow and Belarus agreed to settle a dispute that has hurt Russia's reputation as an energy supplier.

Public debate on hybrid embryos

Public debate on hybrid embryos
   The public will be asked whether researchers should be allowed to create hybrid human-animal embryos.

Public debate on hybrid embryos

Public debate on hybrid embryos
   The public will be asked whether researchers should be allowed to create hybrid human-animal embryos.

Storm sinks Irish trawler, disrupts travel in northwest Europe (AFP)

Storm sinks Irish trawler, disrupts travel in northwest Europe (AFP)
   

AFP - A storm packing gale-force winds has sunk an Irish trawler leaving five crew members missing, while sea and air traffic were disupted in the Netherlands and Britain, which issued flood warnings.

Major changes on the way (weather.com)

Major changes on the way (weather.com)
   weather.com -

Restrictions on naval sonar OK'd (AP)

Restrictions on naval sonar OK'd (AP)
   AP - State coastal regulators voted Wednesday to impose restrictions on the U.S. Navy's use of sonar, which has been linked to harmful effects on whales and other marine mammals.

Japan, China may join hands to rescue crested ibis (Reuters)

Japan, China may join hands to rescue crested ibis (Reuters)
   Reuters - Diplomatic ties between Japan and China are often fraught but in a sign of a recent thaw, the Asian neighbours could cooperate to save an endangered species of bird.

A return to winter weather (weather.com)

A return to winter weather (weather.com)
   weather.com -

Big businesses' climate meeting

Big businesses' climate meeting
   Major UK companies such as BT, Tesco and BA meet to collaborate on tackling climate change.

'World first' rhino birth on web

'World first' rhino birth on web
   The birth of a rhino is to be captured on a BBC-run webcam in what zookeepers believe will be a world first.

Germany may rethink nuclear

Germany may rethink nuclear
   German government members call for a rethink of the country's pledge to phase out nuclear energy.

China fails environment targets

China fails environment targets
   China is failing to meet new targets on energy efficiency and pollution emissions, officials said.

Probe studies 'extreme physics'

Probe studies 'extreme physics'
   A spacecraft is set to launch on a mission to explore the most energetic phenomena in the Universe.

Probe studies 'extreme physics'

Probe studies 'extreme physics'
   A spacecraft is set to launch on a mission to explore the most energetic phenomena in the Universe.

Pet owners have poorer health than normal (Reuters)

Pet owners have poorer health than normal (Reuters)
   

Reuters - While research has suggested that pets can offer people health benefits, a new study from Finland finds that pet owners tend to be heavier, less active and in poorer health than those without a pet.

NASA scientist urges action on warming (AP)

NASA scientist urges action on warming (AP)
   

AP - The effects of global warming are being felt around the world and unless international efforts are launched within the next 10 years species will disappear and the earth will be a vastly less habitable planet by the end of the century, according to NASA scientist James E. Hansen.