Monthly Archives: April 2013

Hop aboard the space station in Houston — at NASA exhibit

Posted: April 18, 2013 at 1:45 am

Robert Z. Pearlman / collectSPACE.com

The new International Space Station exhibition at Space Center Houston introduces visitors to the past, present and future of the outpost using artifacts, videos and a live show.

By Robert Z. Pearlman Space.com

NASA has a new "stage" to expose and educate the public about the work behind and on board the International Space Station.

More than a year in the making, NASA and Space Center Houston, the visitor center for the agency's Johnson Space Center in Texas, put the final touches on a new interactive exhibit and special effects live stage show that highlights how the orbiting outpost came to be, what life is like on board and how it is being used to conduct science.

The 3,000-square-foot (280 square meters) display was inspired by NASA's traveling exhibit "Destination Station" (hosted currently at Atlanta's Fernbank Science Center until May 18). But instead of simply re-creating the mobile exhibition, NASA's International Space Station Program worked with the external relations office at Johnson and Space Center Houston to enhance and expand the display into a brand-new experience for guests. [Building the International Space Station (Photos)]

"This (new) exhibition highlights, through the use of a live performance, static graphic elements, hardware, astronaut personal effects, video content and interactive software programs, the international partnership which assembled this orbiting laboratory, its human presence which works and lives on board, and the complex research and science that is taking place which benefits all humankind," NASA wrote about the exhibit.

Destination Station 2.0Space Center Houston began building the exhibit about a year ago by reconfiguring the International Space Station or rather a large detailed model of the orbiting complex.

Suspended from the ceiling, the scale model was updated to reflect the final assembly of the space station, including removing a once-docked replica of the now-retired space shuttle. The model was then re-hung in front of a mural of the Earth, placing it into the context of the new display.

Underneath the not-so-miniature station is a new mockup of a Mission Control console. Nearby, one of the canisters used to transport the orbiting laboratory's power-providing solar arrays is also on display with a sample strip of the cells used to generate electricity for the station.

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Hop aboard the space station in Houston -- at NASA exhibit

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Space Station Lands in Houston in State-of-the-Art NASA Exhibit

Posted: at 1:45 am

NASA has a new "stage" to expose and educate the public about the work behind and on board the International Space Station.

More than a year in the making, NASA and Space Center Houston, the visitor center for the agency's Johnson Space Center in Texas, put the final touches on a new interactive exhibit and special effects live stage show that highlights how the orbiting outpost came to be, what life is like on board and how it is being used to conduct science.

The 3000-square-foot (280 square meters) display was inspired by NASA's traveling exhibit "Destination Station" (hosted currently at Atlanta's Fernbank Science Center until May 18). But instead of simply recreating the mobile exhibition, NASA's International Space Station Program worked with the external relations office at Johnson and Space Center Houston to enhance and expand the display into a brand-new experience for guests. [Building the International Space Station (Photos)]

"This [new] exhibition highlights, through the use of a live performance, static graphic elements, hardware, astronaut personal effects, video content and interactive software programs, the international partnership which assembled this orbiting laboratory, its human presence which works and lives on board, and the complex research and science that is taking place which benefits all humankind," NASA wrote about the exhibit.

Destination Station 2.0

Space Center Houston began building the exhibit about a year ago by reconfiguring the International Space Station or rather a large detailed model of the orbiting complex.

Suspended from the ceiling, the scale model was updated to reflect the final assembly of the space station, including removing a once-docked replica of the now-retired space shuttle. The model was then re-hung in front of a mural of the Earth, placing it into the context of the new display.

Underneath the not-so-miniature station is a new mockup of a Mission Control console. Nearby, one of the canisters used to transport the orbiting laboratory's power-providing solar arrays is also on display with a sample strip of the cells used to generate electricity for the station.

The Mission Control monitors display the "Space Station Live!" website, which provides access to live data from the real space station as received through the real Mission Control, located nearby at the Johnson Space Center. Not only can visitors use the replica console to learn what the astronauts and cosmonauts on board the station are doing in space in real time, but they can find when the orbiting complex can be seen flying over their homes.

Venturing further into the exhibit, guests can see a training mockup of the space station's multi-window Cupola, a full-size model of the outpost's robotic resident Robonaut 2, and look inside both a crew member's living quarters and the onboard waste containment system, or toilet.

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Space Station Lands in Houston in State-of-the-Art NASA Exhibit

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Food For Thought – A Few Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering

Posted: at 1:44 am

April 16, 2013

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

While there are many advantages to the ability to modify genes, there are also a number of genetic engineering disadvantages. However, unlike the pros such as super-sized strawberries, drought-proof corn or fungus-resistant soybeans the cons of genetically engineered foods are sometimes a little harder to spot.

For starters, according to Washington Post columnist Dr. Peter Lind, genetically modified organisms (GMO) have proven inferior to their naturally occurring counterparts in terms of overall quality.

In every case of genetic engineered organisms, the product has been less naturally healthy overall than the original host organisms, he wrote in a March editorial. There may be a single trait that is superior, but the overall health of the organism is less than found in nature. From animals like the sheep Dolly, to the Flavr Savr tomato, to the products you are eating today and dont even know it, there are inherent problems consuming altered DNA.

Another of the principle genetic engineering disadvantages that Lind points out derives from the fact that DNA does not always fully break down during human digestion. This means that there is a chance that the bacteria in our intestines could incorporate parts of the genetically modified plants DNA such as the gene for super-resistance into their own, leading to new strains of super-bacteria.

Columnist Mark Bittman from the New York Times breaks down another unintended effect of genetic engineering in his recent column criticizing President Barack Obamas recent signing of the Monsanto Protection Act.

Monsanto has long been cited as being one of the biggest problems with genetic engineering. The agricultural company not only created a highly effective weed killer in RoundUp it also inadvertently engineered plants that are resistant to it. While RoundUp and the plants resistance to it have been a big financial hit for the company, they have also resulted in the emergence of several super weeds that are resistant to the herbicide.

Bittman argues that genetic engineering is a disadvantage in this case because after all the effort that went into developing the products and the extensive use of RoundUp which could have potentially leaked the stuff into the groundwater Monsanto and farmers have ended up right back where they started: fighting weeds.

According to the Times columnist, unnecessary waste is one of the biggest problems with genetic engineering, and the Monsanto Protection Act, which prevents the Department of Agriculture from stopping the production of GMOs once they are in the ground, only exacerbates the problem.

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Food For Thought – A Few Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering

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impact on DNA – Video

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impact on DNA
This excerpt from Lesson 9 talks about applying the Flying Rainbow Lasagne shape to one #39;s toroidal energy field, morphing one #39;s DNA into new possible combina...

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impact on DNA - Video

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Extent of the Jam w/ Revolt at DNA Lounge for 8bitSF (April 11, 2013) – Video

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Extent of the Jam w/ Revolt at DNA Lounge for 8bitSF (April 11, 2013)
Extent of the Jam (Louis Gorenfeld) lays down the sick solos. Then Revolt joins him for the Sonic the Hedgehog Rap. Visuals by Matthew Joseph Payne. http://w...

By: SFEMM ElMuMa

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Extent of the Jam w/ Revolt at DNA Lounge for 8bitSF (April 11, 2013) - Video

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DNA Letter Sells for $6 Million – Video

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DNA Letter Sells for $6 Million
A DNA letter sells for $6 million. A letter from Francis Crick to his son that describes the discovery of DNA #39;s double helix (1,1,1) design has been sold at ...

By: GeoBeatsNews

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TENNIS BAFRA – DNA – Video

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TENNIS BAFRA - DNA
TENNIS BAFRA - DNA Video By: Nanna Dalunde With: Jessica Diviani Thank you: Manasi Makeup Mns Nyman Jean-Louis Huhta NoMethod Records.

By: nancipirat

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TENNIS BAFRA - DNA - Video

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DNA Gay Ski Week organisers 'delighted' with marriage vote

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Local organisers of DNA Gay Ski Week Queenstown are delighted with the news that same sex marriage in New Zealand is now legal.

Queenstown wife and wife team Sally and Mandy Whitewoods said they were over the moon the law was passed in Government last night and are looking forward to celebrating with friends and visitors at this years event from August 31 and September 7.

"This is such an amazing achievement for same sex couples in New Zealand and across the globe," said Sally Whitewoods.

"Were already fielding Facebook posts, emails and calls from friends whore thinking about heading over to New Zealand to get married."

"Queenstowns just the perfect wedding destination, so were fully anticipating there will be a number of same sex couples choosing to get married here during Gay Ski Week."

"Wed love to hear from them so we can help out with their plans and make sure their celebrations tie in perfectly with the range of activities and fun times weve already got on offer. It could be a blast!"

Known as the Southern Hemispheres largest Winter Pride event, hundreds of gay men and women converge on Queenstown for a week-long celebration of skiing, socialising and evenings full of fun.

Firmly established as a must do on the national and international Gay and Lesbian calendar this years event is billed as being bigger and better than ever.

Sally Whitewoods said tickets were already going well for this years events, but urged potential attendees to book well in advance so they didnt miss out.

"Some events always sell out, but if we do have any tickets left on the night for door sales, people will end up paying more."

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Experts Speak to Advances in DNA Forensics at 2013 International Symposium on Human Identification

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MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Forensic professionals interested in learning about developing forensic DNA technologies and exploring the potential impact are invited to join scientists, law enforcement professionals and forensic experts at the 24th International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI), October 7-10 in Atlanta, Georgia.

24th International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI). The symposium will explore current issues in forensic DNA analysis, including advances in DNA sequencing, cell typing, mixture interpretation, expert witness testimony and more.

-- Kevin Davies, Ph.D.: Author of Cracking the Genome and The $1000 Genome, Davies is currently the editor-in-chief of Bio-IT World, a monthly magazine covering technology in the life sciences. He is the founding editor of Nature Genetics and has also worked at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Cell Press. Davies is this years keynote speaker.

-- John Butler, Ph.D.: NIST fellow and group leader, Butler has worked with the FBIs Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) since 2000. Butler will chair a workshop on understanding and incorporating newly available autosomal and Y STR markers.

WHERE:

Visit http://www.ishinews.com for a conference agenda and presenter updates.

This symposium for forensic experts and suppliers is offered through Promega Corporation, a leader in providing innovative solutions and technical support to the life sciences industry. The companys 2,000 products enable scientists worldwide to advance their knowledge in genomics, proteomics, cellular analysis, molecular diagnostics and human identification. Founded in 1978, the company is headquartered in Madison, WI, USA with branches in 15 countries and over 50 global distributors. For more information about Promega, visit http://www.promega.com.

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Fish DNA Makes Limbs Sprout in Mice

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The genome of a primitive fish that was once thought to have died when the dinosaurs did has now been sequenced by scientists and when put into mice, some of the fish DNA caused mice to sprout limbs.

The new analysis, described today (April 17) in the journal Nature, could help to reveal how primitive fish swapped their fins for limbs when they moved from land to sea.

The fish, called a coelacanth, seems to carry snippets of DNA that can turn on genes that code for forelimbs and hind limbs in mice. The new discovery could shed light on how four-legged creatures, called tetrapods, evolved. [Image Gallery: The Freakiest Fish]

"It really is a cornerstone from which we can view tetrapod evolution," said study co-author Chris Amemiya, a geneticist at the Benaroya Research Institute in Seattle, Wash.

Living fossil

The coelacanth was once thought to have gone extinct about 70 million years ago, roughly around the time dinosaurs vanished. But in 1938, a fish trawler brought a bluish-purple, 3.3-foot-long (1 meter) fish with fleshy fins to the South African naturalist Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer. It turned out to be an African coelacanth.

Over the next several decades, scientists unearthed a few hundred of the elusive creatures living around the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean, as well as off parts of Indonesia.

The coelacanth intrigued scientists because it was a kind of "living fossil": It had changed so little over the last 400 million years that it might reveal how fish first grew limbs and walked on land.

Deepening the mystery, other research showed that fish, mice and other animals carry many of the same genes. But in fish, those genes code for fins, whereas in land-based animals, they create limbs.

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Fish DNA Makes Limbs Sprout in Mice

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