Are We Having Fun Yet? Argentina is home to two amusement parks and one zoo where having fun means completely ignoring the voice in your head that says, “This is not normal.” I know this because I recently visited all three and returned home physically and mentally battered. Does a weekend spent ambling around a Christian “experience,” watching children pretend to run a government, and petting adult lions sound enticing to you? If so, Argentina is your wonderland—specifically the area in and around Buenos Aires, where these attractions can be found within an hour’s drive from one another. Entering Tierra Santa inspires the thought, “What would Jesus do if he paid $8 to enter a theme park that depicted the CliffsNotes version of his life via kitschy revues and fiberglass statues?” Before arriving at a suitable answer to this question, I was distracted by a line of women in flowing kaftans. I joined the eager throngs and witnessed what amounted to a Showbiz Pizza version of the Second Coming.
MammaPrint Test The MammaPrint test, made by Agendia, is a genomic test that analyzes the activity of certain genes in early-stage breast cancer. Research suggests the MammaPrint test may eventually be widely used to help make treatment decisions based on the cancer's risk of coming back (recurrence) within 10 years after diagnosis. Knowing if a woman has a high or low risk of early-stage breast cancer coming back might help women and their doctors decide if chemotherapy or other treatments to reduce risk after surgery are needed. While the research done so far has been promising, the MammaPrint test isn’t frequently used to make treatment decisions. Who's eligible for the MammaPrint test? MammaPrint can only be used to analyze early-stage breast cancers. stage I or stage II invasive smaller than 5 centimeters estrogen-receptor-positive or -negative Internationally, MammaPrint can be used on cancers that are: stage I or stage II invasive smaller than 5 centimeters in three or fewer lymph nodes
10 Awesome Online Classes You Can Take For Free Cool, but you need iTunes for nearly everything, and that gets an 'F.' Are there really no other places to get these lessons? I was sure there are some on Academic Earth. Flagged 1. 7 of them are available via YouTube. 2. iTunes is free. 1. 2. Don't worry, we're looking out for you! While I have no personal beef with iTunes, I know that many people share your sentiments — so I actually made a concerted effort to include relevant youtube links when possible.
Scientist creates lifelike cells out of metal Scientists trying to create artificial life generally work under the assumption that life must be carbon-based, but what if a living thing could be made from another element? One British researcher may have proven that theory, potentially rewriting the book of life. Lee Cronin of the University of Glasgow has created lifelike cells from metal — a feat few believed feasible. Even more remarkable, Cronin has hinted that the metal-based cells may be replicating themselves and evolving. "I am 100 percent positive that we can get evolution to work outside organic biology," he said. The high-functioning "cells" that Cronin has built are constructed from large polyoxometalates derived from a range of metal atoms, like tungsten. The metallic bubbles are certainly cell-like, but are they actually alive? Cronin's team has also created bubbles inside of bubbles, which opens the door to the possibility of developing specialized "organelles." The early results have been encouraging.
printer Who came up with the idea that we are supposed to drink orange juice at breakfast? And why, if oatmeal is so good for us, do we eat that only in the morning as well? Apologies to the Palinites, but nutritionists are starting to realize that you and I like our oatmeal and OJ before we start the day because we evolved to like it that way—because enjoying the two together is healthier than eating each of them alone. Epidemiologist David R. What's more fascinating, however, is that the evolution between eater and eaten might answer the long-held question about why humans live longer, healthier lives on traditional diets. Tomatoes & Avocadoes Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a pigment-rich antioxidant known as a carotenoid, which reduces cancer risk and cardiovascular disease. "This also has a Mediterranean cultural tie-in," says registered dietitian Susan Bowerman of California Polytechnic State University. And when it comes to salads, don't choose low-fat dressings. Oatmeal & Orange Juice
Sea Creature Self-Portrait 150 Million Years in the Making Dr. Phil Wilby and his team were thrilled to find the famed Victorian dig site in Wiltshire that had been lost for nearly 170 years. But when they dug in and examined an ordinary-looking rock, they found something they never expected: a perfectly preserved, 150 million-year-old ink sac. (image via: GNN) The entire site was a treasure trove of the remarkably intact sea creatures. Normally only the hard parts of animals are fossilized, like bones and shells.
DNA wrap: Packaging matters What causes the physical appearance and health status of identical twins to diverge with age? In this lesson, students learn that the environment can alter the way our genes are expressed, making even identical twins different. After watching a PBS video, A Tale of Two Mice, and reviewing data presented in the Environmental Health Perspectives article, “Maternal Genistein Alters Coat Color and Protects Avy Mouse Offspring from Obesity by Modifying the Fetal Epigenome,” students learn about epigenetics and its role in regulating gene expression. Learning outcomes The learner will: define the make-up of chromatin. define the term “epigenetics.” Teacher planning Time required 45-60 minutes Depending on student proficiency level, this lesson can be completed as a homework assignment to encourage independent student work and/or to save class time. Materials needed Student worksheet, one copy per student Technology resources Computer with Internet access and audio (sound) capabilities LCD Projector
SPACE Gallery Half a world away from Cairo’s Tahrir Square, an ageing American intellectual shuffles around his cluttered terrace house in a working-class Boston neighbourhood. His name is Gene Sharp and for the world’s dictators his ideas can be the catalyst for the end of their regime. Few people outside the world of academia have ever heard his name, but his writings on nonviolent revolution (most notably ‘From Dictatorship to Democracy’, a 93-page, 198-step guide to toppling dictators, available free for download in 40 languages) have inspired a new generation of protesters living under authoritarian regimes who yearn for democratic freedom. His ideas have taken root in places as far apart as Burma, Thailand, Bosnia, Estonia, Iran, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Venezuela and now in Syria, Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East as old orders crumble amidst the protests of their disgruntled citizens. This new film HOW TO START A REVOLUTION reveals how Gene’s ideas work in action. Followed by discussion.