Scientists Identify Gene Linked to Aging in Humans

Scientists believe that they have identified the gene process that is linked to aging and the results are very interesting.  For example, people age at different rates as programmed by DNA.

A structure called a telomeres, inside the gene seems to be the candlestick that is burnt by time.  As cells divide and are continually replaced, the wick of the telomere will continue to shorten.  Inheritance dictates how long the telomere is to begin life and the rate of shortening also seems to be influenced by inheritance.

Professor Tim Spector from King's College London and director of the TwinsUK study, who co-led this project, added: "Genetically susceptible people may age even faster when exposed to proven 'bad' environments for telomeres like smoking, obesity or lack of exercise - and end up several years biologically older or succumbing to more age-related diseases."

 

http://www.physorg.com/news184769662.html

Half Human and Half Virus; A New View

I have been sitting on this, trying to make sense of it.  Basically, we are the result of a DNA virus.  Have a great weekend!

Seriously, some interesting facts about what you are:

1. Scientists expected 100,000 genes in the human DNA, we found 20,000
2. 34% of those 20,000 genes are considered "junk" because they copy themselves but serve no function.
3. Half of the human genome can be traced to a virus.
4. The virus genes have shown to be vital to the formation of specific organs in the human body.

In short, it is interesting to note that retroviruses that have symbiosis with our DNA may have helped to shape our evolution and development.

I, virus: Why you're only half human - life - 29 January 2010 - New Scientist

Doctors able to 'print' new organs for transplant patients

This interesting new device is a 3D bio-printer that is capable of creating arteries and veins on a cellular level.  Future iterations of the device can allow scientist to recreate organs that layers cellular building blocks to create usable organs.

Doctors to be able to 'print' new organs for transplant patients | Mail Online

Scientists Tap Volcano Power

Scientists have discovered how to tap the geothermal energy of the Earth.  With 17,000 islands ranging from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of active volcanoes represent close to 40 percent of the world's geothermal energy potential.


One geothermal plant already exists in Kamojang, Java.  Built in 1982 can convert volcanic heat into electricity at much lower costs and with less pollution than coal plants.


A significant ($12 Billion) amount is required to further the technology, but tapping geothermal energy is a viable option to fossil fuels.




Indonesia aims to tap volcano power

Image Photographer:	Clearly Ambiguous

Physicists Investigate Possibility of an 'Unhiggs'

This figure represents a five-dimensional diagram relevant to how the Unhiggs affects certain parameters in particle physics models. Physicists are calculating the properties of the Unhiggs so that it will be recognized at the LHC, if it exists. Image credit: Falkowski and Pérez-Victoria.


The Unhiggs is the possibility that the Higgs-Boson doesn't exist.  It is the alternate theory which is really a "supermass" of a collection of particles that are in superposition.  So, measuring the mass of something involves defining the space in which that thing encompasses.  If measuring the mass of an orange, you wouldn't measure anything outside of the orange.  


However, in the quantum world, that orange can change to a watermelon, apple, peach or pumpkin during the time of the measurement.  Therefore, the measurement you get is a combination of all those fruit affecting the measurement for the instant that they were there.  This is similar to the Unhiggs theory which says that mass is formed as a combination of these superposition events.  


Physicists Investigate Possibility of an 'Unhiggs'

New Milestone in Optic Technology Allows Better Data Transmissions

Scientists in Germany have discovered a technique to  produce a pulse of light so short that it contains just a single oscillation of a light wave. Using optical-fibre-optic cables, Alfred Leitenstorfer's group at the University of Konstanz in Germany has found a way to boost data transmission significantly.  By reducing the amount of light needed to represent a 1 or 0, binary transmissions can be sent with higher efficiency.  This is a fascinating article that discusses a milestone in optical technology that will help in applications like advanced imaging, sensing and signal processing. 

Single light wave flashes out from fibre laser - physics-math - 21 December 2009 - New Scientist


(Image: Kim Steele/Getty)

New Hypothesis says Moon may have formed in a nuclear explosion

According to a new hypothesis, the moon's composition may have been caused by a nuclear explosion.  The hypothesis states that the centrifugal forces during the Earth's creation could have had concentrated heavy elements such as thorium and uranium at the Earth core-mantle boundary. If the concentrations of these radioactive elements were high enough, this could have led to a nuclear chain reaction that ejected the material that later formed the Earth and the Moon as separate entities.

The Moon may have formed in a nuclear explosion


Photo by NASA

Seven Questions Unanswered by Modern Physics

These are the seven questions that are unanswered by modern physics.  The discussion was part of "Quantum to Cosmos", a 10-day physics extravaganza, which took place in Canada.


Seven questions that keep physicists up at night - space - 23 October 2009 - New Scientist


Photo Credit: http://www.odec.ca/projects/2007/joch7c2/Controversy.html

Nuclear Fusion Test Expected in 2010

Two technologies have come together in order for an extraordinary test expected to take place at the end of 2010.  The test will take place in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, located in Northern California.  Testing is slightly delayed by the installation of concrete walls to fortify the laboratory and the addition of new instruments to collect data from the experiment.

The first of two technological advancements is called a hohlraum, which is a metal cylinder containing a fusion fuel pellet.  The pellet is designed to compress it's core to the density required to produce nuclear fusion by using two isotopes of hydrogen known as deuterium and tritium. Under the intense pressure from the second advancement, the isotopes merge and emit energy that is significantly higher than the energy put into the system.

The second advancement is the most powerful laser ever created and heats the hohlraum to 3.3 million °C.  At such a high temperature, the core begins to emit x-rays that cause the core to burst.

Giant laser reaches key milestone for fusion - physics-math - 28 January 2010 - New Scientist

(Illustration: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/Department of Energy)

Proof of Dark Matter?

Monumental Scientific Discovery: It appears that proof for dark matter is building momentum. It occurs to me that many don't know the significance of such a discovery.  Amongst other things, evidence of dark matter implies that the universe will end in a big chill where it essentially decays after vast oceans of time.  In this scenario, stars run out of fuel, black holes emit all their energy as radiation and even protons begin to deteriorate, until all heat and energy fades away.