So last December the Danish had something on the order of 150 heads of state in Copenhagen for the failed climate talks. I wonder how much the security bill for that was.
Archive for Science
When worlds collide
Scidev.net has an interesting collection of articles about traditional vs western medicines in the developing world :
“Bringing together traditional and modern medicine faces numerous challenges that stem from differences in how each is practiced, evaluated and managed. What are researchers doing to bridge the gap?”
Genomics Law Report – Mozilla Firefox
Pigs Fly: Federal Court Invalidates Myriad’s Patent Claims
via Genomics Law Report – Mozilla Firefox.
Boo. Also, Yah.
1. The Plaintiffs Win. The ruling appears to be a nearly complete victory for the plaintiffs and their supporters, including the ACLU. With respect to Myriad’s issued patents on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, Judge Sweet’s ruling invalidates both Myriad’s composition of matter claims (its patents on isolated DNA sequences to all or a portion of the breast cancer genes) and its method claims (those patent claims that relate to analyzing or comparing isolated DNA sequences in order to detect mutations in a patient’s BRCA1/2 genes that might cause breast cancer).
The overall tone of the Court’s ruling is best captured by this passage (from page 135):
The identification of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene sequences is unquestionably a valuable scientific achievement for which Myriad deserves recognition, but that is not the same as concluding that it is something for which they are entitled to a patent.
EETimes.com – Silicon compound superconducts at room temperature
EETimes.com – Silicon compound superconducts at room temperature
Instead of super-cooling the material, as is necessary for conventional superconductors, the new material is instead super-compressed. The researchers claim that the new material could sidestep the cooling requirement, thereby enabling superconducting wires that work at room temperature.
Nice. Continually cited as the holy grail in superconductor research. We’ll see what happens but is good to see continuous improvement in basic materials science.
Seed: Redefining Genes
Seed: Redefining Genes
Will new revelations about RNA force us to rethink how our past affects future evolution?
LS9 promises ‘renewable petroleum’ | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist
LS9 promises ‘renewable petroleum’ | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist
Picture a liquid fuel that is derived from the same feedstocks as cellulosic ethanol (switchgrass, sugar cane, corn stover) but contains 50% more energetic content and is made via a process that uses 65% less energy.
If these guys can do half of what they say they can, then I say invest. Now. Their proclamations put them way ahead of the curve as far as industrial microbial production is concerned. Their claim to tunable products based on manufactured organisms is, frankly, very hard to believe.
Guardian Unlimited | Comment is free | Ethical shopping is just another way of showing how rich you are
George Monbiot – author of much good work on GCC – has penned a little article worth reading. The take home message is that we need to emphasize the first word in the holy trinity: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
He flicked through it for a moment, and then summed up the problem in seven words: “This is for people who don’t work.”
Giant microwave turns plastic back to oil – earth – 26 June 2007 – New Scientist Environment
Giant microwave turns plastic back to oil – earth – 26 June 2007 – New Scientist Environment
Key to GRC’s process is a machine that uses 1200 different frequencies within the microwave range, which act on specific hydrocarbon materials. As the material is zapped at the appropriate wavelength, part of the hydrocarbons that make up the plastic and rubber in the material are broken down into diesel oil and combustible gas.
This is important for both recycling reasons and for the profound dependency we have on plastics.
Cheap, green, food-friendly biofuel produced in India – SciDev.Net
Cheap, green, food-friendly biofuel produced in India – SciDev.Net
Ethanol is produced from the sweet juice in the stalk of the sweet sorghum. The researchers responsible for the hybrid say by using sorghum, resource-poor farmers will still be able to use the sorghum grain and protect food security, while earning an additional income from selling the stalks.
This is the kind of stuff we won’t see in the US until Big Corn stops wielding its influence like a mighty cob.
Science vs Religion
7.April.2011 at 21:58 UTC · Filed under Personal Commentary, Philosophy, Religion, Science
Religion requires faith. Science requires trust. Trust is earned and subject to revision, faith is not.
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