Extra! Extra! The Latest Science News

Posted on Feb 22, 06 at 2:00 am. 
Extra! Extra! The Latest Science News art
Hot off the presses: Highlights from the world's biggest science conference

The annual American Association for the Advancement of Science conference covers arguably the greatest variety of subjects of any science conference in the world. This year's gathering, held in St. Louis, Missouri, hosted symposia on everything from astrobiology to veterinary ethics. And although it's impossible for one reporter to cover more than a small fraction of the 200-plus scientific sessions held over five days, here are a few highlights of the most exciting research happening now. You can find further information at the http://www.aaas.org target="_blank"> AAAS Web site

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Deep Thoughts

Scott Gallagher, a biologist with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, talked about the coming paradigm shift in experimental ocean science. Whereas before marine biologists had to make brief expeditions, taking a snapshot of a small part of the ocean, new semi-permanent sensor networks will continuously monitor the world's oceans for years at a time. Gallagher also mentioned that these networks will send real-time data and video to anyone who wishes to view it. One project can be found http://4dgeo.whoi.edu/vpr/ target="_blank">here

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Stem-Cell Politicking

During a press conference about the future potential of stem-cell research in the U.S., the strain on the field caused by the political debate surrounding the subject was clear. While most researchers spoke excitedly about the wide-reaching therapeutic potential of their work, William Hurlbut, a member of the http://www.bioethics.gov/ target="_blank">President´s Council on Bioethics

, cautioned that the social divisions created by the ethical debate over this research are unsustainable. Translation: Find a way to get your stem cells without destroying embryos, fellas.

Computer-Geek Speak

There are now three broad varieties of scientists, or so I learned at a symposium on the application of computer science to the rest of science: theorists, experimentalists and computationalists. The last group comprises the large and growing numbers of scientists who use computer power to help solve mysteries in a given scientific field (for example, the scientists who create computer models of supernovae to understand how they ignite). As http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~chazelle/ target="_blank">computer scientist Bernard Chazelle

of Princeton University put it, "In the 20th century, you had the science of the formula. Being a scientist was coming up with a formula and matching it with other formulas. In the 21st century, we will have the science of the algorithm."

Nobody Phone Home?

Astronomer Margaret Trumbull of the Carnegie Institute of Washington came up with two lists: one consisting of the nearby stars most likely to hold intelligent life, the other of the nearby stars most likely to harbor an Earth-like planet. She believes we should study the first with SETI radio telescopes, the second with next-generation space telescopes powerful enough to see those planets through the glare of their parent stars. Unfortunately, though, funding for the http://tpf.jpl.nasa.gov/ target="_blank">Terrestrial Planet Finder

, just such a telescope, was recently slashed. Indeed, the proposed NASA space science budget for 2007 is down 15 percent from 2005. The astrobiology budget is down by 50 percent in that same time frame. Wanna see E.T. before 2050? Write your representative.

Hot in Herre

The Day after Tomorrow's exaggerations aside, global warming could really cause a disruption in the North Atlantic current, the flow that brings heat up from the tropics-and that could have potentially disastrous consequences. This was the message from Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. If enough ice melts in Greenland, we could see a shutdown of the current in the next century. And although it wouldn't plunge us into an ice age, Atlantic sea levels could rise by up to a meter in its wake. Unfortunately, this might already be happening: A http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2006-023 target="_blank">NASA report

presented earlier at the conference found that Greenland ice loss has doubled in the past decade.

DiveFilm Episode11 – "Return of the Plankton"

Posted on Feb 18, 06 at 5:10 pm. 
DiveFilm Episode11 – "Return of the Plankton" art
In this episode, John Williams of Still Hope Productions. Inc., uses beautiful underwater video of amazing ocean creatures to tell the story of the seasonal changes underwater and the importance of plankton as the basis of the food web. Almost all of the underwater footage in this video is from Bainbridge Island, Washington, U.S.A. John F. Williams, founder and President of Still Hope Productions Inc., began in 2000 to create underwater videos that would portray the marine environment as a part of our own backyard. During eighteen years as a sea-going scientific technician and fifteen years of SCUBA diving, John developed a deep concern for the way in which momentous decisions were being made about our marine resources. He decided to improve the decision making process by promoting marine education via his underwater videos. You can learn more about the entire DVD, as well as other recent works, by visiting his website at www.StillHopeProductions.com.... ...divefilm.com
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PGO #4: Northern Elephant Seals of Año Nuevo

Posted on Feb 17, 06 at 2:50 am. 
PGO #4: Northern Elephant Seals of Año Nuevo art
Show Notes Album Art Segment: Elephant Seal Video Some background Info on this video: Wildlife Preserve: Less than 100 miles from more than 4 million people, the Año Nuevo State Reserve is a surprisingly quiet spot with some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. Located about 20 miles north of Santa Cruz along the Pacific Coast Highway 1, it draws people from all over the world and is a haven for not just your standard California raptors and ocean critters. It is also one of the few breeding spots of the Northern Elephant Seal. Hauling Out In late November and early December, the male elephant seals haul out onto the beaches. They begin to establish their turf - fighting for dominance and the right to mate with the females, who arrive at the turn of the year. Vocalizing Males vocalize by shoving their long noses down their throats and making the coolest sound ever. It's sortof like blowing through a long metal pipe. You can sometimes hear these low sounds from miles away. Harems A male that wins against all takers is called an Alpha male, or beachmaster. He sets up his harem, and as the females arrive, he courts them, and if he's lucky, they will join his harem for protection. Within 5 days of arriving, the female will birth a single pup. She nurses this pup for 28 days, at the end of which she mates with the alpha male and then heads back into the sea. Sleeping On land, elephant seals spend a lot of time sleeping. Movement on land is tiring, especially when one is awaked to have their harem challenged. Mating & Pups The pups are about 70lbs when they are born, but by the time they're a month old, they can be as much as 300lbs. Mating is a frantic activity, and the pops have to make sure to stay out of the alpha male's way. Sometimes pups get smushed when the big males battle over territory. A Conservation Success Story Early in the last century, there were less than 100 Northern Elephant Seals left in the world. They were hunted for their blubber. Some historians say ithe population was closer to 20 animals. But with conservational efforts like the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Northern Elephant Seal populations have bounced back to over 150,000. Learn More I am currently working on a significant photography project with the Northern Elephant Seals. For now, you can check out some of my other blog postings and such on this topic here: Photos: Año Nuevo State Reserve - Male Elephant Seals Photos: Año Nuevo State Reserve - Baby Elephant Seals Año Nuevo: A Wildlife Preserve Warming Weather Woes: Seal Pup Drownings Strandings & Distressed Marine Mammals in Santa Cruz County Isolated Ecosystems: The Farallons Are California’s Galapagos If you have any problems with this video, please email me at the address listed below in the housekeeping section. Housekeeping Stuffage Sorry that I wasn't able to narrate this video, but I was having trouble with free video editing software and mixing the elephant seal sounds in with my voice and music. You can tell I wasn't using a tripod, but I still thought it was some little glimpses into what I've been working on. Hope you enjoyed! Email Comments & Questions: led AT perlgurl DOT org... ...
www.perlgurl.org ...Full Story

DiveFilm Episode10 – Peter Benchley Interview

Posted on Feb 13, 06 at 12:44 pm. 
DiveFilm Episode10 – Peter Benchley Interview art
Peter and Wendy Benchley traveled to Isla Guadalupe in the Pacific Ocean off Baja Mexico, to dive with the Great White Sharks in November of 2004 aboard the Horizon. On the transit return to San Diego, California, Peter expressed concern for the future of our oceans, and encouraged young people to get involved in marine conservation efforts.... ...divefilm.com
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DiveFilm Episode9 – "Squid Run!" (Part 2)

Posted on Feb 12, 06 at 11:49 am. 
DiveFilm Episode9 – "Squid Run!" (Part 2) art
"Squid Run!" (Part 2) concludes our two-part series with Dr. John McGowan discussing the strange life cycle of this species, the ocean predators that take advantage of the mass squid spawning events, those red worms that appear in the squid egg beds, and amazing baby squid! Baby Squid footage includes Lance Milbrand's beautiful close-ups of squid larvae inside the eggs, baby squid hatching and swimming off. Also featured is incredible microscopic footage of squid larvae originally produced by Leslee Matsushige of the Birch Aquarium, John Moore of Divebums.com and Mary Lynn Price. Marty Snyderman's wonderful footage and images of Rays and Blue Shark that feast on all the squid, and Bob Bayer's footage of Lobster, Sheepcrab and Scorpionfish feeding on squid give a sense of all the ocean animals that take advantage of the mass spawning events. Bob Gladden's images of those strange red worms round out the scene of animals often seen among the egg cases. Mary Lynn Price's underwater footage opens and closes this episode, as she documents a 2001 Squid Run, featuring diver Stephie Vierkotter experiencing her first Squid Run.... ...divefilm.com
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