Go Figure: What bananas tell us about radiation 13 October 2011Last updated at 12:30 By Michael Blastland GO FIGURE - Seeing stats in a different way There's been concern about radiation after damage to Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant in March and now a hot spot has been detected in Tokyo. Freaky, isn't it, radiation? How much easier if our exposure to the hazards of radiation could all be reduced to bananas. Bananas are a natural source of radioactive isotopes. The standard measure of the biological effect of radiation is the sievert. So we can use one banana as our basic unit and convert other radiation exposures to so many bananas. But why bother converting this to bananas? But I reckon the BED is useful for several reasons. Checks are done for radiation levels in Japan Second, we know eating one banana won't kill us. Third, think about eating 20 million bananas, equal to a dose causing severe, sometimes fatal, radiation poisoning. By talking bananas, Go Figure doesn't mean to trivialize the health risk of radiation.
My favourite toxic chemicals #toxiccarnival « Endless Possibilities v3.0 Sciencegeist has set the challenge for a bloggy carnival for us chemists, aimed in part to combat ‘chemophobia’. You know, the ‘oh noes teh chemicalz iz teh badz’ attitude that’s pretty pervasive. I personally would just give up on the anti-chemical thing and move on, but that’s another blog post. The brief seems largely to be to pick a chemical that might be notable for its toxicity and point out all the really great stuff it does, chemistry that we couldn’t really live without. What to pick? One such chemical would be hydrogen fluoride, or hydrofluoric acid in aqueous solution. If you’re anything like me, you probably read the label on household cleaning products and view the ‘wear gloves’ indications with a degree of scepticism. So why is it in household products? I’ve worked in labs where HF has been in use for a number of reactions. Hydrogen fluoride gas is a severe poison that may immediately and permanently damage lungs and the corneas of the eyes.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia | Beautiful Places to Visit - StumbleUpon The stunning Plitvice Lakes National Park lies in the Lika region of Croatia. The park is surrounded by the mountains Plješevica, Mala Kapela, and Medveđak, which are part of the Dinaric Alps. The 16 blue-green Plitvice Lakes, which are separated by natural dams of travertine, are situated on the Plitvice plateau. Waterfalls connect the lakes, and the tallest waterfall is Veliki Slap at 70 meters (230 feet) tall.
New human species identified from Kenya fossils 8 August 2012Last updated at 13:06 ET By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News A new species of human: One of several co-existing in Africa two million years ago Researchers studying fossils from northern Kenya have identified a new species of human that lived two million years ago. The discoveries suggests that at least three distinct species of humans co-existed in Africa. The research adds to a growing body of evidence that runs counter to the popular perception that there was a linear evolution from early primates to modern humans. The research has been published in the journal Nature. Anthropologists have discovered three human fossils that are between 1.78 and 1.95 million years old. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote Nature was developing different human prototypes only one of which, our species, was ultimately successful” End QuoteProfessor Chris StringerNatural History Museum, London The March of Progress had many dead ends
Supersonic Stereo BBC Nature - Largest whale's acrobatic ambush 28 November 2012Last updated at 05:01 By Ella Davies Reporter, BBC Nature Blue whales are surprisingly mobile despite their small tail flukes Blue whales perform underwater acrobatics to attack their prey from below, scientists have found. The massive mammals are known for lunge-feeding; gulping up to 100 tonnes of krill-filled water in less than 10 seconds. Using suction cup tags, US researchers have recorded the surprising manoeuvrability of the giants. They found that the whales roll 360 degrees in order to orientate themselves for a surprise attack. The results are published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters by Dr Jeremy Goldbogen and colleagues for the Cascadia Research Collective based in Washington, US. "Despite being the largest animals to have ever lived, blue whales still show an impressive capacity to perform complex manoeuvres that are required to efficiently exploit patches of krill," said Dr Goldbogen. Tubular turns
Vitamins may reduce cancer risk in men, study finds 17 October 2012Last updated at 21:08 ET Are vitamins a new frontier in fighting cancer? Taking a daily multivitamin pill may lower the risk of developing cancer in men, US researchers have claimed. Their study followed nearly 15,000 men, aged over 50, for more than a decade. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reported a small reduction in cancer cases in men taking vitamin pills. But experts warned that other studies had found the opposite effect and that eating a diet packed with fruit and vegetables was a safer bet. Vitamin supplements are recommended for some groups of people, such as vitamin D in the over 65s. However, the benefits of multivitamins on general health have been mixed. Doctors at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School analysed data from men who were given either a multivitamin or a sugar pill every day. Diet emphasis The researchers do not know if a similar effect would be seen in women or in younger men.
8 Ways to Make Flowers Last Longer If you're looking for a way to make those Valentine's Day roses, graduation bouquet, or anniversary arrangement bloom vibrantly and stay fresh for a few more days, try one of these tips that use household ingredients to make your flowers last longer. < <Also published in Reader's Digest Magazine < Loading Soda Don't throw away those last drops of soda! Pour about 1/4 cup into the water in a vase full of cut flowers. More clever uses for soda » Don't throw away those last drops of soda! Hair Spray Just as it preserves your hairstyle, a spritz of hair spray can help your cut flowers look fresh longer. More clever uses for hair spray » Just as it preserves your hairstyle, a spritz of hair spray can help your cut flowers look fresh longer. iStock/Thinkstock Apple Cider Vinegar Everyone likes to keep cut flowers around as long as possible, and there are several good methods. More clever uses for apple cider vinegar » Vodka More clever uses for vodka » Aspirin More clever uses for aspirin » Bleach Coins
Health | Vitamins 'may shorten your life' Research has suggested certain vitamin supplements do not extend life and could even lead to a premature death. A review of 67 studies found "no convincing evidence" that antioxidant supplements cut the risk of dying. Scientists at Copenhagen University said vitamins A and E could interfere with the body's natural defences. "Even more, beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E seem to increase mortality," according to the review by the respected Cochrane Collaboration. The research involved selecting various studies from 817 on beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium which the team felt were the most likely to fairly reflect the impact of the supplements on reducing mortality. It has been thought that these supplements may be able to prevent damage to the body's tissues called "oxidative stress" by eliminating the molecules called "free radicals" which are said to cause it. This damage has been implicated in several major diseases including cancer and heart disease.
Science & Environment - Sundarbans: Nature's bioshield The Sundarbans – meaning “beautiful forest” in the local Bengali dialect - is the largest mangrove forest in the world. Stretching along the coastline of India and Bangladesh, this complex maze of mangrove trees and waterways mark the area where land meets the sea and freshwater meets seawater. Wildllife thrive in this unique and delicately balanced ecosystem and it is home to large numbers of mammals, birds and fish. It is also one of the largest haunts of the endangered Royal Bengal tiger. But the Sundarbans value extends beyond just providing a habitat for these magnificent animals; it also protects the densely populated Bay of Bengal from cyclones and the worst extremes of nature. Yet, it is now threatened by man’s activities, including land reclamation, logging and shrimp farming.