Science Etcetera, Moonday 20090112

Posted on 12th January 2009 by ideonexus in Science Etcetera

2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, celebrating 400 years of Galileo’s observations of Venus, Saturn and Jupiter, kicks off next week in Paris.

IYA09

Researchers synthesize RNA enzymes capable of replicating themselves without proteins or cellular components in a process that continues indefinitely.

New contender for the Top 10 Human Genes, the gene scrawny gives stem cells the ability to stay undifferentiated.

Robert Proctor discusses his investigations into the rhetoric of manufacturing uncertainty, as with the Tobbacco companies and cancer and denialists with climate change.

Interactive map has selections from 860 samples of sand from around the world.

Sands of the World

Obese people now outnumber overweight people in America.

Is Dr. Sanjay Gupta the right person for the role of Surgeon General?

Darwin missed a big pink iguana in his survey of the Galapagos.

Antennae Collision simulation (HT John)

Comments (1)

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1. My girlfriend got her Wii Fit for Christmas and I’m happy to say we are not obese!

   The Antennae collision is thought to be similar to what the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies will experience when they inevitably collide. (Based on estimated mass and respective tilt to each other)

   The tidal effects of gravity on a galactic scale are pretty amazing :)

   John

   Comment by John — January 12, 2009 @ 1:36 pm

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