Saturday, July 16, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Scientists: Stinky Sock Smell Helps Fight Malaria
Dutch scientist Dr. Bart Knols first discovered mosquitoes were attracted to foot odor by standing in a dark room naked and examining where he was bitten, said Okumu. But over the following 15 years, researchers struggled to put the knowledge to use...
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The First Advertising Campaign Made for Monkeys
Advertising execs and scientists are experimenting with ads designed specifically to target capuchin monkeys like these.
(Fox News) A team of scientists and advertising executives unveiled the first ever advertising campaign tailor-made for monkeys at this year’s Cannes Lions Festival.The two New York ad execs, Keith Olwell and Elizabeth Kiehner, were inspired by a TED talk by Laurie Santos, a Yale University primatologist who uses monkeys to study the human mind. Through Santos, Olwell and Kiehner learned that captive monkeys understand money and even behave like humans when placed in economic situations.
The next step was obvious: monkey advertising.
Owell and Kiehner quickly teamed up with Santos -- a collaboration with Yale University and Proton Studio -- with the ultimate goal of seeing whether they could influence monkey behavior with advertising, specifically providing the monkeys with two foods, one ad supported and the other not.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, advertising for monkeys isn’t all that different than ads for us: it involved a billboard campaign.
The team placed ads outside the monkey enclosures for a period of time, at which point the monkeys will be offered a choice of two foods. “The foods will be novel to them and are equally delicious,’ Olwell told New Scientist.
The experiment will also be used as an opportunity to test one of marketing’s oldest maxims -- sex sells.
And since the monkeys have limited (if any) language and culture and an extremely short attention span, sex was the obvious high impact option, one that easily spoke across species.
According to New Scientist, one of the billboards displayed a graphic shot of a female monkey with exposed genitals. Another -- part of the same campaign -- displayed an alpha male.
Olwell already has a hypothesis on which campaign will be more successful.
“Monkeys have shown in previous studies to really love photographs of alpha males and shots of genitals, and we think this will drive their purchasing habits," he said.
The team hopes to begin the experimental campaign in the coming weeks.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Surveillance video released of monkey chase in Fremont
FREMONT, OH (WTVG) -- New details have been released in the bizarre story of the monkey that was on the run in Fremont. Friday, police released surveillance video of the monkey chase that took place earlier this month.
Surveillance video of the monkey on the loose shows it running through the Fremont Police Station parking lot. Sgt. Anthony Emrich says, "Just when you think you've seen everything in the city. In Fremont, I've seen some weird and unusual things, but I've never seen wayward monkeys jumping out of trees and attacking people."
Two weeks ago, a monkey escaped from its Fremont home and ran all over the community for about two hours. "A group of men approached me and said, 'You might want to take your kids and get in the house. There's a monkey on the loose.' I'm like, 'What? A monkey?'" says Melissa Tucker.
Ten-year-old Alaysia Liggins says, "I was running this way to try to go in the garage and then I turned around and looked and I tripped. Then the monkey was on my head and it jumped on her leg. It was kind of holding onto her and scratched her leg."
Cecilia Pinkston is the owner of the monkey. She lives on the 1200 block of Hickory Street. We spoke with her over the phone. Pinkston says her monkey named Ronnie has never before caused any trouble at all. He rarely even goes outside. But she does say she is pretty upset that a police officer fired two shots at her monkey."
Sgt. Emrich says, "At this particular stage, this monkey had attacked three people. We realized that this was a danger to the community. We have a right and we have an obligation to protect these people in Fremont, so we took drastic measures."
The officer missed the monkey. Ronnie ended up making his way back home. Many residents, even the mother of one of the kids who was attacked, say they don't mind the monkey in their community.
"I don't see anything wrong with it. They take care of it. It just happened to get out. It'd be if the dog got out and ran through the neighborhood scaring kids," says Vicki Mankin.
Pinkston will pay the maximum $150 fine, plus court costs after she was convicted of a charge of "Animals Running at Large." Pinkston told a judge she plans to sell the animal to someone outside the area soon. Until that happens, the judge has ordered her to secure the animal.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Frog Secretions May Treat Diabetes, Cancer
(Fox News) Scientists in Ireland accidentally discovered that frog secretions could potentially treat up to 70 diseases including cancer and diabetes, The Daily Mail reported.The scientists, from Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland, were doing research on the waxy monkey frog, which hails from South America, when they found proteins in its skin secretions hold properties that can control the growth of blood vessels. This is known as angiogenesis.
“By switching off angiogenesis and inhibiting blood vessel growth, a protein from the waxy monkey frog has the potential to kill cancer tumors,” said Professor Chris Shaw of Queen’s University. “Most cancer tumors can only grow to a certain size before they need blood vessels to grow into the tumor to supply it with vital oxygen and nutrients. Stopping the blood vessels from growing will make the tumor less likely to spread and may eventually kill it.”
Shaw said the researchers found that secretions from the giant firebellied toad – which is native to China and Viet Nam – actually stimulates blood vessel growth, and this could treat conditions like diabetic ulcers, strokes and repair wounds.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
When watermelons attack: Chinese farmers caught off guard by exploding crop
May 17, 2011 – 1:46 PM ET | Last Updated: May 17, 2011 4:46 PM ET
(National Post) It was supposed to be a typical watermelon crop, or at least that’s what 20 Chinese farmers were expecting. Instead, they watched in horror as their fields of fruit began exploding like “landmines,” according to The Guardian. This is why it is important to read the instructions while working with plant biotechnology.
The group of farmers decided to use a chemical spray known as forchlorfenuron, a plant growth accelerator that is normally used on grapes and kiwi fruit in the United States. To put it simply — the plant compound stimulates lateral growth within the fruit, and can also make it firmer and last longer.
However, the Chinese farmers sprayed their watermelon too late in the growing season and during wet conditions — two big no-nos when it comes to using the popular growth regulator. While they were hoping to see a 20% increase in growth to their crop, the overuse of chemicals caused the watermelons to explode instead. It didn’t help that the farmers, who had never used the drug before, were using thin-rind melons — which are known for splitting as they ripen. Forchlorfenuron is also not really meant for watermelons, but for smaller fruit.
According to China’s central broadcaster, CCTV, one farmer estimated at least three acres of his crop had exploded. In total, it is believed 115 acres of watermelon were blown apart.
While the watermelon crisis is seems almost trivial compared to the messy regulation of farming practices in China, scientists in the area say that the fruit is not dangerous — besides a bit of stomach irritation if ingested.
“In general we don’t suggest chemicals with plant hormones be used on watermelons, as they are very sensitive. They might end up looking very strange and people will not want to buy them,” Cui Jian, director of the vegetable research institute at Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Science told The Guardian. “The taste won’t be as good and storage is more difficult, but it should not harm anyone’s health.”
Where are the “landmines” now? The farmers fed the aftermath to pigs.
The group of farmers decided to use a chemical spray known as forchlorfenuron, a plant growth accelerator that is normally used on grapes and kiwi fruit in the United States. To put it simply — the plant compound stimulates lateral growth within the fruit, and can also make it firmer and last longer.
However, the Chinese farmers sprayed their watermelon too late in the growing season and during wet conditions — two big no-nos when it comes to using the popular growth regulator. While they were hoping to see a 20% increase in growth to their crop, the overuse of chemicals caused the watermelons to explode instead. It didn’t help that the farmers, who had never used the drug before, were using thin-rind melons — which are known for splitting as they ripen. Forchlorfenuron is also not really meant for watermelons, but for smaller fruit.
According to China’s central broadcaster, CCTV, one farmer estimated at least three acres of his crop had exploded. In total, it is believed 115 acres of watermelon were blown apart.
While the watermelon crisis is seems almost trivial compared to the messy regulation of farming practices in China, scientists in the area say that the fruit is not dangerous — besides a bit of stomach irritation if ingested.
“In general we don’t suggest chemicals with plant hormones be used on watermelons, as they are very sensitive. They might end up looking very strange and people will not want to buy them,” Cui Jian, director of the vegetable research institute at Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Science told The Guardian. “The taste won’t be as good and storage is more difficult, but it should not harm anyone’s health.”
Where are the “landmines” now? The farmers fed the aftermath to pigs.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Woman tries to trade salad for drugs, gets arrested
By Molly Farmer, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake City woman has been charged with a third degree felony for allegedly asking an undercover police officer to give her drugs in exchange for an Olive Garden salad in a to-go box.
The 33-year-old woman approached the undercover officer who was working on the corner of 200 South and 300 West in Salt Lake, according to charging documents. The woman was carrying a white food container and asked the undercover officer for $10 worth of cocaine, according to the charges. She "stated that she wanted some cocaine, but she only had $2 and a salad," the charges state.
She told the officer she would return later with more money or some Olive Garden gift cards, according to police.
When another officer searched the woman prior to her arrest, the officer found a glass pipe inside a cigarette pack in her pocket, according to the charges.
The woman was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with one count of attempted possession or use of a controlled substance, a third degree felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor.
SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake City woman has been charged with a third degree felony for allegedly asking an undercover police officer to give her drugs in exchange for an Olive Garden salad in a to-go box.
The 33-year-old woman approached the undercover officer who was working on the corner of 200 South and 300 West in Salt Lake, according to charging documents. The woman was carrying a white food container and asked the undercover officer for $10 worth of cocaine, according to the charges. She "stated that she wanted some cocaine, but she only had $2 and a salad," the charges state.
She told the officer she would return later with more money or some Olive Garden gift cards, according to police.
When another officer searched the woman prior to her arrest, the officer found a glass pipe inside a cigarette pack in her pocket, according to the charges.
The woman was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with one count of attempted possession or use of a controlled substance, a third degree felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor.
Monkeys cool down with ice cream at corpn zoo
(Times of India) COIMBATORE: A dollop of ice cream on a scorching day can be a soothing treat for monkeys too. The parched monkeys at the corporation zoo in VOC Park on Avinashi Road in the city can now indulge in a few scoops of ice cream to beat the summer heat.
The zoo authorities have rustled up a summer diet for the animals, especially the Bonnet Macaques since the heat drains the monkeys more than it does the other animals. Ice creams were offered to the 25 monkeys on Wednesday morning in an attempt to help the primates cool down...
The zoo authorities have rustled up a summer diet for the animals, especially the Bonnet Macaques since the heat drains the monkeys more than it does the other animals. Ice creams were offered to the 25 monkeys on Wednesday morning in an attempt to help the primates cool down...
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Researchers in Ohio are studying the power of pee
By Stephanie Liebergen
(NBC Action News) ATHENS, Ohio - Researchers at Ohio University are studying a new energy source you can produce yourself. They’re studying the power of pee.
It’s something everyone does, every day. Even though urine is nearly 99 percent water, there is a lot of hydrogen in the remaining one percent from an organic compound called urea.
To break it down, if you could collect the urine from all 24,000 students at Ohio University, you could power 60 buildings every day.
Researchers say there is still a lot of work to be done, but there are some applications of this new technology that could start paying off for businesses very soon.
Until then, our “number one” power source will just keep going down the drain.
(NBC Action News) ATHENS, Ohio - Researchers at Ohio University are studying a new energy source you can produce yourself. They’re studying the power of pee.
It’s something everyone does, every day. Even though urine is nearly 99 percent water, there is a lot of hydrogen in the remaining one percent from an organic compound called urea.
To break it down, if you could collect the urine from all 24,000 students at Ohio University, you could power 60 buildings every day.
Researchers say there is still a lot of work to be done, but there are some applications of this new technology that could start paying off for businesses very soon.
Until then, our “number one” power source will just keep going down the drain.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Just hanging around: Abandoned monkey who's the cutest baby in the zoo
By Daily Mail Reporter
With her huge doe eyes and fluffy hair, it's hard to believe that this baby spider monkey was abandoned by her mother at birth.
Little Estela and her mother Sunshine failed to bond after she was born in January forcing primate keepers at Melbourne Zoo to step in and care for her around the clock to ensure her survival.
Primate supervisor Jess McKelson and her team have had to feed the tiny newborn a formula mixture by hand to build up her strength.
But the playful youngster is growing bigger by the day and is now being introduced to solid food.
Luckily, grandmother Sonya is on hand to keep a watchful eye on the mischievous toddler who thinks nothing of playfully teasing and prodding her surrogate family.
Spider monkeys are often found in the tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil.
They have disproportionately long limbs and a long prehensile tail makes them one of the largest New World monkeys and gives rise to their common name.
Spider monkeys usually live in the upper layers of the rainforest and forage in the high canopy, from 25 to 30metres (82 to 98ft).
They primarily eat fruit, but will also occasionally consume leaves, flowers, and insects.
Due to their large size, spider monkeys require large tracts of moist evergreen forests and prefer undisturbed primary rainforest.
They are social animals and live in bands of up to 35, but will split up to forage during the day.
With her huge doe eyes and fluffy hair, it's hard to believe that this baby spider monkey was abandoned by her mother at birth.
Little Estela and her mother Sunshine failed to bond after she was born in January forcing primate keepers at Melbourne Zoo to step in and care for her around the clock to ensure her survival.
Primate supervisor Jess McKelson and her team have had to feed the tiny newborn a formula mixture by hand to build up her strength.
Hanging tough: The baby Spider Monkey which is native to Central America, is currently receiving six feeds of formula a day and is now slowly being introduced to solid foods
What a cutie! It seems hard to believe that this adorable baby spider monkey was abandoned by its mother, but at least grandmother Sonya is on hand at Melbourne Zoo to ensure little Estela is behaving herself
But the playful youngster is growing bigger by the day and is now being introduced to solid food.
Luckily, grandmother Sonya is on hand to keep a watchful eye on the mischievous toddler who thinks nothing of playfully teasing and prodding her surrogate family.
Spider monkeys are often found in the tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil.
They have disproportionately long limbs and a long prehensile tail makes them one of the largest New World monkeys and gives rise to their common name.
Cheeky monkey: Primate supervisor Jess McKelson and her team have been looking after Estela around the clock since she was abandoned. The playful youngster seems perfectly at home teasing her new carers with a poke in the eye though
Playtime: It looks like Estela's grandmother Sonya is in for a rough ride as the tiny spider monkey playfully pulls her ear
They primarily eat fruit, but will also occasionally consume leaves, flowers, and insects.
Due to their large size, spider monkeys require large tracts of moist evergreen forests and prefer undisturbed primary rainforest.
They are social animals and live in bands of up to 35, but will split up to forage during the day.
Here's looking at you, kid! Impossibly cut, little Estela is a firm favourite with primate supervisor Jess McKelson (pictured here) at Melbourne Zoo who is helping the baby spider monkey adapt after she was abandoned by her mother, Sunshine
Friday, April 29, 2011
Royal Wedding Commentary by Cathy
Seriously, where is the drama and why bother? The bride and groom already done the deed, you dig?
William, oh, dear, is this guy even 30 yet? Talk about, uh, prematurely thin on the stovepipe! But, who noticed anyway? Once again, proof that the wedding is all about the bride as he could've showed up naked and riding a donkey and no one would've noticed.
Is Kate freaking out yet and wondering if she end up like Di?
In any case, gotta love the employment provided by the wedding. I think every gay man in Britain was put to work!
William, oh, dear, is this guy even 30 yet? Talk about, uh, prematurely thin on the stovepipe! But, who noticed anyway? Once again, proof that the wedding is all about the bride as he could've showed up naked and riding a donkey and no one would've noticed.
Is Kate freaking out yet and wondering if she end up like Di?
In any case, gotta love the employment provided by the wedding. I think every gay man in Britain was put to work!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
It's the law
From the great State of Wisconsin:
97.18(4)
(4) The serving of colored oleomargarine or margarine at a public eating place as a substitute for table butter is prohibited unless it is ordered by the customer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Full text of the LawSection 8.40.010 Established.
A. No nuclear weapons, delivery systems for such weapons, or components expressly intended to contribute to the operation, guidance or delivery of a nuclear weapon shall be produced within the city.
B. No waste from the production of nuclear weapons, their components, or commercial nuclear power shall be stored within the city.
C. The city shall request the United States Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Division of Emergency Government to provide the mayor with advance notification of any high-level radioactive waste shipments through the city limits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Section 8.44.050 Public nuisances affecting peace and safety (which includes SNOW).
The following acts, omissions, places, conditions and things are declared to be public nuisances affecting peace and safety, but such enumeration shall not be construed to exclude other nuisances affecting public peace or safety coming within the definition of Section 8.44.020.
A. Signs, Billboards, etc. All signs and billboards, awnings and other similar structures over or near streets, sidewalks, public grounds or places frequented by the public, so situated or constructed as to endanger the public safety.
B. Illegal Buildings. All buildings erected, repaired or altered in violation of the provisions of the ordinances of the city relating to materials and manner of construction of buildings and structures within the city.
C. Unauthorized Traffic Signs. All unauthorized signs, signals, markings or devices placed or maintained upon or in view of any public highway or railway crossing which purport to be or may be mistaken as an official traffic control device, railroad sign or signal or which because of its color, location, brilliance or manner of operation interferes with the effectiveness of any such device, sign or signal.
D. Obstruction of Intersections. All trees, hedges, billboards or other obstructions which prevent persons driving vehicles on public streets, alleys or highways from obtaining a clear view of traffic when approaching an intersection or pedestrian crosswalk.
E. Tree Limbs. All limbs of trees which project over a public sidewalk less than ten (10) feet above the surface thereof and all limbs which project over a public street less than fourteen (14) feet above the surface thereof.
F. Dangerous Trees. All trees which are a menace to public safety or are the cause of substantial annoyance to the general public.
G. Fireworks. All use or display of fireworks except as provided by the laws of the state of Wisconsin and ordinances of the city.
H. Dilapidated Buildings. All buildings or structures so old, dilapidated or out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human use.
I. Wires Over Streets. All wires over streets, alleys, or public grounds which are strung less than fifteen (15) feet above the surface thereof.
J. Noisy Animals or Fowl. The keeping or harboring of any animal or fowl which by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking, crowing or making of other noises shall greatly annoy or disturb a neighborhood or any considerable number of persons within the city.
K. Obstructions of Streets--Excavations. All obstructions of streets, alleys, sidewalks or crosswalks and all excavations in or under the same, except as permitted by the ordinances of the city or which, although made in accordance with such ordinances, are kept or maintained for an unreasonable or illegal length of time after the purpose thereof has been accomplished, or do not conform to the permit.
L. Open Excavations. All open and unguarded pits, wells, excavations or unused basements accessible from any public street, alley or sidewalk.
M. Abandoned Refrigerators. All abandoned refrigerators or iceboxes from which the doors and other covers have not been removed or which are not equipped with a device for opening from the inside.
N. Flammable Liquids. Repeated or continuous violations of the ordinances of the city or laws of the state relating to the storage of flammable liquids.
O. Unremoved Snow. All snow and ice not removed or sprinkled with ashes, sawdust, sand or other chemical removers, as provided in this code.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9.08.090 Tattooing prohibited.
No person shall conduct any establishment where tattooing is practiced nor engage in the practice of tattooing; provided, however, that tattooing may be performed for medical purposes by a person licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in the state. The word "tattooing" as used herein means the marking of the skin of a person by insertion of permanent colors through puncture of the skin.
97.18(4)
(4) The serving of colored oleomargarine or margarine at a public eating place as a substitute for table butter is prohibited unless it is ordered by the customer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Full text of the LawSection 8.40.010 Established.
A. No nuclear weapons, delivery systems for such weapons, or components expressly intended to contribute to the operation, guidance or delivery of a nuclear weapon shall be produced within the city.
B. No waste from the production of nuclear weapons, their components, or commercial nuclear power shall be stored within the city.
C. The city shall request the United States Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Division of Emergency Government to provide the mayor with advance notification of any high-level radioactive waste shipments through the city limits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Section 8.44.050 Public nuisances affecting peace and safety (which includes SNOW).
The following acts, omissions, places, conditions and things are declared to be public nuisances affecting peace and safety, but such enumeration shall not be construed to exclude other nuisances affecting public peace or safety coming within the definition of Section 8.44.020.
A. Signs, Billboards, etc. All signs and billboards, awnings and other similar structures over or near streets, sidewalks, public grounds or places frequented by the public, so situated or constructed as to endanger the public safety.
B. Illegal Buildings. All buildings erected, repaired or altered in violation of the provisions of the ordinances of the city relating to materials and manner of construction of buildings and structures within the city.
C. Unauthorized Traffic Signs. All unauthorized signs, signals, markings or devices placed or maintained upon or in view of any public highway or railway crossing which purport to be or may be mistaken as an official traffic control device, railroad sign or signal or which because of its color, location, brilliance or manner of operation interferes with the effectiveness of any such device, sign or signal.
D. Obstruction of Intersections. All trees, hedges, billboards or other obstructions which prevent persons driving vehicles on public streets, alleys or highways from obtaining a clear view of traffic when approaching an intersection or pedestrian crosswalk.
E. Tree Limbs. All limbs of trees which project over a public sidewalk less than ten (10) feet above the surface thereof and all limbs which project over a public street less than fourteen (14) feet above the surface thereof.
F. Dangerous Trees. All trees which are a menace to public safety or are the cause of substantial annoyance to the general public.
G. Fireworks. All use or display of fireworks except as provided by the laws of the state of Wisconsin and ordinances of the city.
H. Dilapidated Buildings. All buildings or structures so old, dilapidated or out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human use.
I. Wires Over Streets. All wires over streets, alleys, or public grounds which are strung less than fifteen (15) feet above the surface thereof.
J. Noisy Animals or Fowl. The keeping or harboring of any animal or fowl which by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking, crowing or making of other noises shall greatly annoy or disturb a neighborhood or any considerable number of persons within the city.
K. Obstructions of Streets--Excavations. All obstructions of streets, alleys, sidewalks or crosswalks and all excavations in or under the same, except as permitted by the ordinances of the city or which, although made in accordance with such ordinances, are kept or maintained for an unreasonable or illegal length of time after the purpose thereof has been accomplished, or do not conform to the permit.
L. Open Excavations. All open and unguarded pits, wells, excavations or unused basements accessible from any public street, alley or sidewalk.
M. Abandoned Refrigerators. All abandoned refrigerators or iceboxes from which the doors and other covers have not been removed or which are not equipped with a device for opening from the inside.
N. Flammable Liquids. Repeated or continuous violations of the ordinances of the city or laws of the state relating to the storage of flammable liquids.
O. Unremoved Snow. All snow and ice not removed or sprinkled with ashes, sawdust, sand or other chemical removers, as provided in this code.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9.08.090 Tattooing prohibited.
No person shall conduct any establishment where tattooing is practiced nor engage in the practice of tattooing; provided, however, that tattooing may be performed for medical purposes by a person licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in the state. The word "tattooing" as used herein means the marking of the skin of a person by insertion of permanent colors through puncture of the skin.
Friday, April 15, 2011
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