Aliens : NASA’s Curiosity rover discovers water in soil suggesting life began on Mars (Sep 28, 2013) – Video

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Aliens : NASA #39;s Curiosity rover discovers water in soil suggesting life began on Mars (Sep 28, 2013)
SOURCE: http://www.foxnews.com News Articles: Nasa #39;s Curiosity rover finds water in Martian soil http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/sep/26/nasa-curiosit...

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Aliens : NASA's Curiosity rover discovers water in soil suggesting life began on Mars (Sep 28, 2013) - Video

Massive Solar Eruption – September 29, 2013 – Courtesy NASA, SDO/AIA, Helioviewer – Video

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Massive Solar Eruption - September 29, 2013 - Courtesy NASA, SDO/AIA, Helioviewer
How to Watch the Sun: Spaceweather 101 - http://youtu.be/ld5ecZuHECA Watch the Sun: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/ http://www.helioviewer.org Website: http:/...

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Massive Solar Eruption - September 29, 2013 - Courtesy NASA, SDO/AIA, Helioviewer - Video

Nasa Maps Ghostly Clouds On Distant Kepler 7B Exo-Planet (PICTURES)

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Nasa have maps the clouds on a distant, mysterious planet outside our solar system.

Using data from the Kepler and Spitzer space telescopes, the agency managed to map the Jupiter-like world of Kepler-7b located about 1,000 and 1,400 light-years away from our sun.

Three years of observations were needed to map the 'very low resolution' image of the clouds, below:

The space telescope Kepler was used to first make a rough map of the planet, which showed a bright spot on its western hemisphere. But without further data it was unknown whether this spot was caused by heat or reflected light. Scientists then used the Spitzer telescope to measure the temperature of the planet (a relatively cool 1,500-1,800 degrees Fahrenheit), and determine that the spot was more more likely to be light bouncing off clouds than a heat spot.

"We wouldn't expect to see oceans or continents on this type of world, but we detected a clear, reflective signature that we interpreted as clouds."

Kepler-7b is a pretty strange world by the standards of our solar system. It orbits its star in a tight orbit (5.6 million miles, or closer than Mercury). And although it is much larger than Jupiter - about half as big again as that world, or 16 times larger than Earth - it is much less dense. In fact, if you placed the planet in a giant swimming pool it would actually float.

More than 150 confirmed exo-planets have been discovered so far by Kepler, with 900 known about in all. Recently a mechanical issue with its reaction wheels mean it is unable to collect new data for the search, but astronomers still have four years of findings to scour through for more insights.

Nasa has more details about how the picture was made, and how it continues to search for exo-planets.

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Nasa Maps Ghostly Clouds On Distant Kepler 7B Exo-Planet (PICTURES)

NASA's Cassini finds plastic ingredient on Saturn's moon

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NASA's Cassini spacecraft has detected propylene, a key ingredient in plastics, on Saturn's moon Titan.

This is the first time the chemical has been definitively found on any moon or planet, other than Earth. The discovery fills in what NASA called a "mysterious gap" in scientists' knowledge of the makeup of Titan's atmosphere and gives them confidence that there are more chemicals there still to discover.

Propylene is an ingredient in many consumer plastic products like car bumpers and food storage containers.

The interest lies in the small amount of propylene that was discovered in Titan's lower atmosphere by one of Cassini's scientific instruments called the the composite infrared spectrometer (CIRS), which measures the infrared light, or heat radiation, emitted from Saturn and its moons.

The instrument can detect a particular gas, like propylene, by its thermal markers, which are unique like a human fingerprint.

Scientists have a high level of confidence in their discovery, according to NASA.

"This chemical is all around us in everyday life, strung together in long chains to form a plastic called polypropylene," said Conor Nixon, a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "That plastic container at the grocery store with the recycling code 5 on the bottom -- that's polypropylene."

The discovery gives NASA scientists the missing piece of the puzzle for determining the chemical makeup of Titan's atmosphere.

In 1980, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, which has flown past Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, did a fly-by of Titan.

According to the space agency, Voyager identified many of the gases in Titan's hazy brownish atmosphere as hydrocarbons, the chemicals that primarily make up petroleum and other fossil fuels on Earth.

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NASA's Cassini finds plastic ingredient on Saturn's moon

NASA's fluorescent plane glows with the research flow

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Can fluorescent oil help researchers improve better aeronautic designs? NASA hopes so.

Build a tiny plane, cover it in fluorescent oil, and use the results to improve the design of future air-based transport.

That's what researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., hope to achieve with a toy-size model of a hybrid plane. The image above shows a 5.8 percent scale model of a futuristic hybrid wing body, coated in fluorescent oil before being blasted with air.

The team sent the hybrid plane through a 14x22-foot subsonic wind tunnel to "see" and document the patterns of air flowing over and around the model.

While a vast amount of data can be recorded by viewing the movement of a plane with the naked eye, using oil helps researchers view minute details and tweak designs with more precision. By documenting lift and drag in this manner, NASA hopes to improve the aerodynamics of future planes.

The space agency has been pushing research to improve flight efficiency in recent years. As an example, NASA and aircraft carrier Boeing have formed a partnership to improve the flight of craft in space and more efficiently transport crew to and from the International Space Station.

This story originally appeared on SmartPlanet.

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NASA's fluorescent plane glows with the research flow

NASA to send 3-D printer to space station to churn out parts

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NASA is planning to send a 3-D printer into space and use it as a mini factory to churn out tools and instruments, sparing astronauts the hassle of lugging spare parts on each mission, according to a report.

The printer is slated to go into space in the fall of 2014 on a supply mission, Associated Press said.

NASA engineers envision a time when 3-D printers can print virtually any part that is needed and avert potential catastrophes in outer space.

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"Any time we realize we can 3-D print something in space, it's like Christmas," Andrew Filo, a consultant with NASA on the printing project, told AP. "You can get rid of concepts like rationing, scarce or irreplaceable."

Certain industries, such as auto manufacturing, have used 3-D printers for some time, and the devices are creeping into the consumer market as well. They "print" three-dimensional objects by melting plastic, metal or other materials and depositing the liquid, layer by tiny layer, according to a three-dimensional, computer-generated design of a necklace, say, or a fork.

In tests, NASA engineers have used 3-D printers to create satellites that can transmit information to Earth and also parts that can survive the harsh environment of outer space, the report said.

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Theoretically, such printers can help prevent situations such as the Apollo 13 incident in 1970, when astronauts had to make their own carbon dioxide filter with ingenuity and duct tape.

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NASA to send 3-D printer to space station to churn out parts

NASA will launch 3-D printer into space

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Tools and parts made by a 3-D printer are displayed at Made in Space on Sept. 16 in Mountain View, Calif.

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. NASA is preparing to launch a 3-D printer into space next year, a toaster-sized game changer that greatly reduces the need for astronauts to load up with every tool, spare part or supply they might ever need.

The printers would serve as a flying factory of infinite designs, creating objects by extruding layer upon layer of plastic from long strands coiled around large spools. Doctors use them to make replacement joints and artists use them to build exquisite jewelry.

In NASA labs, engineers are 3-D printing small satellites that could shoot out of the Space Station and transmit data to Earth, as well as replacement parts and rocket pieces that can survive extreme temperatures.

"Any time we

Project manager Matthew Napoli, left, and director of research and development Michael Snyder test a 3-D printer, which eventually will be used in space. (Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press photos)

The spools of plastic eventually could replace racks of extra instruments and hardware, although the upcoming mission is just a demonstration printing job.

For the first test of a 3-D printer in space, slated for fall 2014, NASA had more than a dozen machines to choose from, ranging from $300 desktop models to $500,000 warehouse builders. All, however, were built for use on Earth, and space travel presented challenges, from the loads and vibrations of launch to the stresses of working in orbit, including microgravity, differing air pressures, limited power and variable temperatures. As a result, NASA hired Silicon Valley startup Made In Space to build something new.

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NASA will launch 3-D printer into space

Strata Rx 2013: August Calhoun, "Healthcare Analytics in the Age of Personalized Medicine" – Video

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Strata Rx 2013: August Calhoun, "Healthcare Analytics in the Age of Personalized Medicine"
For more information, visit: http://strataconf.com/rx Strata Rx 2013: August Calhoun, "Healthcare Analytics in the Age of Personalized Medicine"

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Advanced Practice Strategies Begins Testing GNOSIS(TM) for Emergency Medicine

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BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - October 01, 2013) - Advanced Practice Strategies (APS) today announced it has begun alpha testing its latest product, GNOSIS for Emergency Medicine (EM). This marks the second clinical area for GNOSIS, currently deployed nationwide in the area of obstetrics (GNOSIS for Obstetrics) by leading hospitals, health systems, and medical liability insurers. Emergency medicine was selected because it is a high risk area -- one hundred thirty million Americans visit the Emergency Department (ED) each year1 and four of every 100,000 visits results in a medical malpractice allegation.2

GNOSIS is a mobile, cloud-based platform that assesses clinician proficiency and rapidly improves performance. It is a data-driven virtual coach that identifies areas for knowledge and judgment improvement, weights them by error risk, maps out personalized content delivered in 2-5 minute segments, and delivers an administrative dashboard with analytics on performance that were never before possible at the clinician, institution, and system-wide levels. GNOSIS for EM also identifies and addresses clinical bias, such as anchoring or diagnosis momentum.

"Diagnostic errors are the most common reason for malpractice claims in the ED," said APS Chief Medical Officer Robert Ashton, MD. "Nearly half of all ED malpractice cases allege a failure to diagnose. While the greatest costs are human life and suffering, financial costs for individuals and institutions are staggering. GNOSIS aims to identify clinical risk before error occurs and accelerates high reliability in healthcare delivery."

GNOSIS for EM covers three practice areas: Effective Communication in the ED, Diagnosis of Chest Pain, and Diagnosis of Abdominal and Pelvic Pain. Abdominal and chest pain are the top two reasons for ED visits3 and gaps in communication are widely acknowledged as a driver of clinical risk, particularly in the chaotic ED environment. In fact, one in three ED malpractice cases includes breakdowns in communication.

Each practice area in GNOSIS for EM will take the user through a short proficiency assessment measuring knowledge and judgment, including bias, and then provide personalized content across five critical learning objectives. Content includes core concepts, case examples, expert commentary, and learning tools so users can connect what they learn back to the actual clinical environment.

About Advanced Practice Strategies:Advanced Practice Strategies (APS) is eliminating risk and reducing healthcare costs by fundamentally restructuring lifelong clinical education. Using a data-driven approach, APS is objectively assessing clinician knowledge and judgment, quantifying resulting risk, and reducing that risk through personalized education. The company's newest innovation, GNOSIS, is a groundbreaking mobile, cloud-based tool that saves clinician learning time, rapidly improves performance, reduces medical malpractice risk, and increases patient safety, all while ensuring administrators are equipped with a transparent performance dashboard at the clinician, organization, and system-wide levels. GNOSIS redefines continuing clinical education while addressing healthcare quality, costs, and satisfaction in today's accountable medical world. Grounded in the rich experience of its Demonstrative Evidence Group, that uses visual strategy to educate juries in complex medical malpractice cases, APS has amassed a wealth of knowledge on risk in medicine and has become the leader in improving lifelong clinician learning. For more information, please visit http://www.aps-web.com.

1 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2010 Emergency Department Summary 2 Annual Benchmarking Report: Malpractice Risks in Emergency Medicine, CRICO Strategies, 2011 3 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2010 Emergency Department Summary

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Advanced Practice Strategies Begins Testing GNOSIS(TM) for Emergency Medicine

5 Ways Medicine Is Getting Personal

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Genomics is the study of the human genome, genetic mapping and DNA sequencing. Sounds like the stuff of science fiction, or maybe a really boring party conversation, but either way, genomics is something you should care about. It's a science that's rapidly revolutionizing medical care.

Here are five ways genomics is changing the future of medicine and why it should be important to you.

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The human genome is stunning for its sheer complexity. Each of us has 23 chromosomes for a total of about 3 billion DNA base pairs. You inherit a chromosome from each of your parents, so double that to 6 billion.

Between 3 million and 5 million of your base pairs differ from those of the person sitting next to you, said Dr. Eric Green, the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute. These genetic variations represent only a small corner of the human genome but reveal a lot of information about your health, both now and in the future, he said.

Technology has made genetic sequencing a relatively cheap and speedy process. The Human Genome Project, which was the first successful attempt to sequence the full human genome, cost more than a billion dollars and took more than a decade to complete. Now for less than $5,000, a full gene sequence can be decoded in five days or less, Green said. By the end of the year, he expects advances in technology will allow scientists to sequence an entire gene in less than 24 hours.

Genomics is already used in clinical settings to help diagnose and treat diseases from cradle to grave. In children, it helps diagnose developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and birth defects, to name a few. Early and accurate diagnosis allows physicians to target medical care and provide families with important information about genetic risks for siblings.

In adults, genomics help fight cancer. Angelina Jolie highlighted this fact when she tested positive for a BRCA gene mutation that is strongly associated with a risk of developing breast cancer. After factoring this information in with a strong family history of breast cancer, the actress chose to undergo a pre-emptive double mastectomy.

For those who already have cancer, Green said that it was now possible to sequence the genome of a tumor, identify the genetic variants that are the likely cause of the disease and personalize treatment.

We all respond differently to medications. Sometimes they work well, sometimes they don't work at all and sometimes they make one sicker. Green said that how a person metabolizes a drug is determined by genetic factors. Physicians can use this information to design highly individual drug regimens.

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5 Ways Medicine Is Getting Personal

National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month Kicks Off

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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

One in 20 teens abuses over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine to get high, and this month the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) are teaming up to spread awareness about this abuse among parents and communities in recognition of the annual National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month.

Every October, the organizations encourage communities to take part in helping to raise awareness about abuse of prescription medicine as well as OTC medicine containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan (DXM), which teens abuse in excessive amounts in pursuit of a high. CADCA is a partner of CHPAs Stop Medicine Abuse campaign, which works to inform parents of the behavior and encourages them to talk to their teens, safeguard their medicines, and spread the word in their communities.

As the nations leading substance abuse prevention organization, CADCA is deeply concerned about the misuse and abuse of medicines whether prescription or over-the-counter, said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA Chairman and CEO. Too many young people are seeking out these substances as a means to get high without realizing the devastating impact medicine abuse can have on their lives. National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month will help educate families across America about the dangers of abusing medicines and spur communities into action.

In preparation of the month, CADCA urges its membership to plan and promote an educational event such as a town hall meeting for parents, youth, and community advocates to educate them on the potential dangers associated with medicine abuse and to discuss prevention, intervention strategies, and treatment. Additional suggestions for how coalitions can take part are found on CADCAs website. During this month, the associations are also focused on increasing support for the passage of the Preventing Abuse of Cough Treatments (PACT) Act (S. 644) introduced by U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

We are grateful to CADCA coalitions for being the boots on the ground and fighting this abuse on the community level, where a difference can be made one teen at a time, CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville said. Thanks to the dedication of CADCA coalitions, communities across the country are reaching parents about OTC cough medicine abuse - a dangerous behavior that often flies under parents radar screens.

About CHPAs StopMedicineAbuse.org Campaign

CHPA is the 132-year-old trade association representing U.S. manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.

CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) is the national membership organization representing over 5,000 coalitions and affiliates working to make Americas communities safe, healthy and drug-free. CADCA's mission is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally.

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National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month Kicks Off