Science Etcetera, Jupiterday 20090702

Posted in Science Etcetera on July 2nd, 2009

Vicky is hosting the 37th Edition of the Festival of Trees blog carnival, which has a slew of fantastic stories about survivor trees, magnificent trees that have recovered from cyclones, tornadoes, fires, having tunnels carved through them big enough to drive a car through, and the atomic bomb.

Chandelier Drive through Tree
Leggett California
Credit: The Wata

At the Dalai Lama’s prompting, Tibetan monks and nuns are getting educated in modern science through the Emory Tibet Science Initiative, resulting in many cultural shifts for the traditional Tibetan scholars. The Dalai Lama has said that when Buddhism and science conflict, Buddhists should go with science.

Chinese researchers observing the country’s “Grain-to-Green” program, which pays farmers to convert their fields to forests, found that social norms played an important part in people’s participation in the program. People are more likely to be environmentally-friendly, if the neighbors are environmentally-friendly too.

Getting old isn’t as bad as younger generations think it is, a survey comparing perceptions with the reality of getting old finds 79 percent of seniors having sex, 86 percent still driving, and 75 percent still with a sharp mind.

Photogallery to “Ohhh…” and “Ahhh…” at: Best Astrophotography of the Last 35 Years

A Ring of Light Around the Sun
Credit: Miloslav Druckmuller

Boo-Ya!!! The EPA has finally returned state’s rights to regulate carbon emissions, allowing California, 13 other states, and DC to adopt stricter regulations of vehicle emissions after the Bush administration blocked such regulations in 2008, which had been in court battles for eight years prior to that.

Cells at the end of a severed salamander’s limb dont’ have to revert to as immature a state as was previously thought, providing more insights into how to implement stem cell therapies without causing cancer.

With just two-hours a day of practice, in two-weeks you could be echolocating just like dolphins and bats! Plus, with your eyes closed, you won’t have to see all the weird looks people give you for clicking and squeaking your way around town!

Effects of High Blood Pressure on your Body