Brachycereus nesioticusBotany Photo of the Day will have brief written entries on weekends, holidays and my vacations from April through September. – Danie
Thanks again to Krystyna Szulecka, for sharing today's photograph with us (original in this thread on the UBC BG Forums). See more of Krystyna's images by searching for “Krystyna” on the FLPA web site
Lava cactus is endemic to the volcanically-formed Galápagos Islands, where it is a........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 8/20/2007 9:24:12 PM)
converting poultry litter into bio-oilFoster Agblevor, associate professor of biological systems engineering, is leading the team of scientists in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (www.cals.vt.edu) at Virginia Tech (www.vt.edu) developing transportable pyrolysis units that will convert poultry litter into bio-oil, providing an economical disposal system while reducing environmental effects and biosecurity issues.
Agblevor will present the research during the 234th........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/20/2007 7:48:13 AM)
Marital violence among Asian-American couplesUC Davis research is shining new light on a neglected issue: marital violence in Asian Americans.
In a new analysis, the scientists observed that, as expected, violence is more common among Asian-American couples who report marital distress.
But UC Davis psychology professor Nolan Zane and graduate student Manveen Dhindsa observed that three other factors also stood out as significant risks for marital violence. Independent of marital........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/15/2007 8:38:44 PM)
A New Wrinkle in Thin Film ScienceA remarkably simple experiment devised by researchers yields important information about the mechanical properties of thin films--nanoscopically thin layers of material that are deposited onto a metal, ceramic or semiconductor base.
The research results, funded by the National Science Foundation and performed at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, appears in the August 3, 2007, issue........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 8/7/2007 10:40:33 PM)
Why do some teens get more out of youth activities?A University of Illinois study confirms what has long been thought about the benefits of organized youth activities: Its not enough to appear in the yearbooks Pep Club picture or show up for the really big games. To maximize the benefits of any youth activity, teens must invest time and energy in them, participate because they truly enjoy the activity, and take on a leadership role.
Quite naturally, the kids who go to all the games, become........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/6/2007 5:34:15 PM)
Sun Microsystems Eco-responsibility Takes It to Project BlackboxSun Microsystems has always been a forward-thinking company committed on eco-responsibility programs, and here carrying on the stride, the company is now out with Project Blackbox
Project Blackbox is a virtualized, mobile and an easily deployable datacenter that delivers multiple services ranging from energy, space and performance efficiencies to some hard to reach locations and areas of the planet. This data center can be deployed in........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/5/2007 2:21:07 PM)
Under Pressure to End Rospuda River Valley Highway WorkEnvironmental groups led by Greenpeace strongly came out against and appealed the Government of Poland to rethink on its proposed plan to build a road through the Rospuda River valley, the home of many rare plant and animal species. The proposed road, part of the Via Baltica highway connecting Poland with Finland, has the potential to disturb a rare peat bog, a rare mating point for birds, protected under the EU habitat laws
The right wing........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/4/2007 9:27:47 AM)
Milk-based Biofuel a New Alternative at Kiwi PumpsForget the organic stuff, the living organisms and their metabolic byproducts for milk will now produce biofuel to power your cars
Milk and biofuel sounds wierd, exactly but Gull Petroleum has become the first oil company in New Zealand to launch first commercial biofuel in the open market i.e. petrol blended with ethanol made from milk.
Small is no criteria for neglect being the smallest oil company in New Zealand, Gull boast of........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/4/2007 9:27:33 AM)
Sensors Help Africa Tackle Water ShortageZambian water authorities are integrating information based on satellite imagery to alleviate water shortages. With inadequate information causing many water-related problems, an ESA project has generated a variety of environmental maps to provide local policy makers with the necessary tools for effective water resource management.
As part of the IWAREMA (Integrated Water Resource management for Zambia) project, funded through ESA's Data........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 8/3/2007 10:28:00 PM)
Nano-layer of Ruthenium Stabilizes Magnetic SensorsA layer of ruthenium just a few atoms thick can be used to fine-tune the sensitivity and enhance the reliability of magnetic sensors, tests at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) show.* The nonmagnetic metal acts as a buffer between active layers of sensor materials, offering a simple means of customizing field instruments such as compasses, and stabilizing the magnetization in a given direction in devices such as computer........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 8/3/2007 10:04:26 PM)
Human Encroachment, Poaching Killing Indian LeopardsTo the dismay of green activists and wild life conservationists, the dwindling number of leopards in India is a cause of grave concern. There number has gone down almost 80 per cent in past 50 years, thanks to the extensive human settlement infringing the interior forest parts and the increasing number of poachers and smugglers involved in illegal wildlife trade.
In India, leopard was mostly found in the Tarai regions adjacent to Indo-Nepal........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/2/2007 11:21:25 PM)
The unexpected consensus among voting methodsHistorically, the theoretical social choice literature on voting procedures in economics and political science routinely highlights worst case scenarios, emphasizing the inexistence of a universally best voting method. Indeed, the Impossibility Theorem of Nobel Laureate Kenneth Arrow proved that no voting method can ever satisfy all of his requirements simultaneously.
But as the U.S. Presidential election of 2000 reminds us, voting methods........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/30/2007 8:11:23 PM)
Wider buffers are betterExcess nitrogen caused by fertilizers, animal waste, leaf litter, sewer lines, and highways is responsible for contaminating groundwater. It can also cause human health risks when found in drinking water and oxygen depleted water bodies endangering animals that drink from them. Establishing Riparian buffers is considered a best management practice (BMP) by State and Federal resource agencies for maintaining water quality, and they may be........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 7/30/2007 8:09:40 PM)
Blacks Who Kill Whites Are Most Likely To Be ExecutedBlacks convicted of killing whites are not only more likely than other killers to receive a death sentence - they are also more likely to actually be executed, a new study suggests.
But the findings showed that African Americans on death row for killing nonwhites are less likely to be executed than other condemned prisoners.
"Examining who survives on death row is important because less than 10 percent of those given the death sentence........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/30/2007 7:25:09 PM)
New Moon Landing Footage Digitally Re-MasteredVia City News - Quoted - That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Those words became some of the most memorable in history and defined an era. Thirty-eight years later, people around the world still look to the stars and imagine what it would be like to walk on the moon.And now, thanks to new technology, the original footage taken by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin in 1969 has been........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/24/2007 10:18:44 PM)
A Perfect Ambient Ad to Display Product BenefitThis is an exceptionally brilliant and intelligent ambient campaign launched in Canada to promote security glasses. In a unique and impressive advertisement campaign in Vancouver, 3M firm, deals in security glasses, wanted to create a solid image of their product. In order to pursue their objective, they decided to modify a bus stand and fitted their security glass at the sides of the shelter. They further filled the security glasses with real........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/24/2007 10:12:27 PM)
Its Good There is Alka SeltzerAlka Seltzer had rolled out this amusing print advertisement to promote its indigestion tablets. The campaign apparently aims at focusing the efficiency of the product and the extent to which it can fight indigestion. The advertisement campaign has taken a very light and entertaining approach to deliver its message. The advertisements are showing a pig, chicken and a cow in different dishes posing as if they are ready to fight, as these are........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/24/2007 10:12:15 PM)
Argemone munita subsp. rotundataArgemone munita, or prickly poppy, is divided into four subspecies. Assuming I'm correct in my identification to species (which I may not be), it was trivial to identify this to subspecies rotundata – it is the only subspecies which occurs in Nevada, where this photograph was taken........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 7/24/2007 10:08:58 PM)
Classic beauty and remarkable strengthWhile the shiny material of pearls and abalone shells has long been prized for its iridescence and aesthetic value in jewelry and decorations, scientists admire mother-of-pearl for other physical properties as well.
Also called nacre ("NAY-ker"), mother-of-pearl is 3,000 times more fracture-resistant than the mineral it is made of, aragonite, says Pupa Gilbert, a physicist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "You can go over it with a........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 7/19/2007 10:21:08 PM)
Friends Forever Until the Sales Separate ThemPlanet Girls kicked off an interesting print advertisement campaign to promote its sales targeting young girls. The campaign seems to be revolving around the desperate lust of women of buying clothes especially during sales. The campaign is apparently highlighting the instinctive attitude of women towards shopping and fashion. The advertisements are showing girls locked in furious and violent scuffle in order to grab their favorite clothes. The........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/18/2007 7:18:07 PM)
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STARMAKER Products Are a HUGE Hollywood Fave.Are you a person who wonders how the stars of Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Dirt, Ugly Betty and other celebrities look so fabulous all the time? It's not just great genes, it's great products! Now you can get the same products from Starmaker Products®, at your local CVS store.
Created by celebrity make-up artist JoAnna Connell who partnered with producer/director Anson Williams, the line was originally used on........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/20/2007 9:24:31 PM)
Humans mispredict their emotions after decision makingBehavioral research over the past 15 years has confirmed what anyone who has purchased a house or dumped a significant other could tell you: When people make decisions, they anticipate that they may regret their choices. It is important that we maintain this ability, because as the aforementioned house-buyers and spouse-dumpers know, regret can be a terrible feeling.
How accurate are people in their anticipations of regret and of other........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 8/16/2007 9:09:42 PM)
Hollywood movies hurt students' understanding of scienceMovies such as Spiderman 2 and Speed generate excitement among audiences with their cool special effects. But they also defy the laws of physics, contributing to students ignorance about science.
Two University of Central Florida professors show just how poorly Hollywood writers and directors understand science in an article reported in the German journal Praxis der Naturwissenschaften Physik. Common sense may indicate that people should........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/15/2007 9:08:17 PM)
Underdog."A motherless boy, a graceless dog and a witless script propel Underdog, a live-action resurrection of the 1960s television series about a canine superhero who speaks in rhyme while fighting crime. (Sorry, it's catching)," apologizes Jeannette Catsoulis in the New York Times. "Underdog may have been originally created to sell cereal for General Mills, but this latest incarnation couldn't sell Frisbees at a dog park.
"It's the celluloid........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/6/2007 7:08:01 PM)
Forecasts on 401(k) retirement saving behaviorsA Dartmouth economist, working with colleagues from Harvard and MIT, has developed projections of future levels of retirement wealth to address what some analysts have called a perfect storm of events that threatens the retirement security of future retirees.
Over the past 25 years, weve seen a fundamental shift in the way Americans save for retirement, says Steven Venti, professor of economics at Dartmouth. Traditional pension plans based........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/6/2007 5:15:23 PM)
Simply Vera on Wednesday!What's that you say, Budget Fashionista? Vera Wang's line for Kohl's is debuting this Wednesday? YAY!!!!!!This is a good week, my friends. Eclipse on Tuesday and Simply Vera on Wednesday. Not to mention there's a meteor shower every night. It's a sign!........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/5/2007 9:26:01 PM)
Lindsays Mom Sued for FraudLindsay Lohans mom, Dina Lohan will once more land in court as she has been sued for fraud of $400,000. Businessman Antonio Almeida lent this amount to Dina four years back as she wished to kick-off her daughters career with the money. She has been accused of not returning the money.
The money was used in recording Lindsay songs with Gloria Estefan’s husband, Emilio Estefan, who formed Miami Sound Machine. The same company released........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/5/2007 2:20:55 PM)
The 'Doubly Lucky' GoogleAccording to an analyst, Google is planning a "doubly lucky" version of search for mobile devices that will add location and time of day to predict what a user is seeking
Speaking before iBreakfast participants in New York held Thursday Stephen Arnold of ArnoldIT, a Harrod's Creek, Kentucky-based analyst, said that Google's interest in extending its search domination to mobile devices also could prompt it to shop a prototype handset around........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/4/2007 9:27:29 AM)
Animated beer smooth to pourCSIRO fluids researcher Dr Mahesh Prakash says the physics of bubble creation in carbonated drinks like beer is complex.
"As you pour beer into a glass, you see bubbles appearing on what are called nucleation sites, where the glass isn't quite smooth," Dr Prakash says.
"The bubbles expand to a certain size then rise up in streams to the surface, where they bump into each other and form a raft of foam that floats on the top".
Dr Prakash........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 8/3/2007 10:33:24 PM)
How Do You Get a Lovelife if You Work from Home?I've come across this funny and yet partly-true article about someone who work at home missing office romance - Work at Home: The Ugly Truth by Andy Borowitz, a comedian and NYTimes writer
Gone are the liquor-fueled holiday parties and the team-building retreats that have traditionally served as the tinderboxes for employee-on-employee passion. Gone, too, are the monthly budget meetings, where passed notes and stolen glances often lead to........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/2/2007 11:21:29 PM)
Fund of Endangered Children: Listen to TeddyFund of Endangered Children, a non-profit making organization had launched this thought provoking direct campaign in the Czech Republic with a view to raise funds. The campaign was launched with a view to address the largest companies in the country and persuade them to contribute generously for a noble cause. The second aim of the campaign was to engage the general public as well to initiate a general discussion about the issue of tortured........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 8/2/2007 11:12:17 PM)
Steve Jobs' Forgotten Child: Apple TVVia Apple 2.0 - Quoted - Almost lost in the euphoria of Apple's (AAPL) earnings report yesterday -- indeed, almost lost since the initial hoopla of its introduction -- is Steve Jobs' foray into the TV set-top market. Reader David Stahler, a senior at Touro College in Brooklyn, calls it "Apple's official forgotten child" and wondered in an e-mail how many Apple TVs have been sold. His guess: 235,000.........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/26/2007 7:56:55 PM)
Reigncom Dicple D5 Electronic DictionaryAVING writes: “Reigncom announced the launch of its ultra slim electronic dictionary ‘Dicple D5′ in Korea market, which supports video player function. Featuring 95.5 x 70 x 5mm dimensions and 130g weight, the D5 has the content of 39 different kinds of dictionary including English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean dictionaries.”........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/26/2007 7:17:41 PM)
Cruz's L'oreal Advert Under Fire.Cosmetics giant L'Oreal has been reprimanded by British advertising watchdogs for its "misleading" mascara advertisements fronted by sexy Spaniard Penelope Cruz.The TV and magazine adverts promoting L'Oreal's new Telescopic mascara claim the product boosts the length of women's eyelashes by up to 60 per cent.The Advertising Standards Authority (Asa) was forced to step in after it was discovered the acting beauty had been wearing additional........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/26/2007 7:17:36 PM)
A comprehensive media sharing experienceEspoo, Finland - Nokia and Twango today announced that Nokia has acquired substantially all assets of Twango (www.Twango.com). Twango provides a comprehensive media sharing solution for organizing and sharing photos, videos and other personal media. By acquiring Twango, Nokia will be able to offer people an easy way to share multimedia content through their desktop and mobile devices. In addition to key assets, through this transaction Nokia........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/24/2007 10:19:01 PM)
The new world's tallest buildingVia CNET News - Quoted - On July 21, construction reached 1,680 feet on the 141st floor of the Burj Dubai tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, making it the largest building in the world. The skyscraper is now 13 feet above the former record holder, Tapei 101 in Taiwan, which is 1,667 feet above the ground.........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/24/2007 10:12:32 PM)
Mortal AkapellaVia Youtube - Quoted - UC Berkeley's DeCadence sings to two guys "sparring" in Central Park, New York City. It isn't the best we've ever done with this song, but it was spur of the moment and fun. These guys didn't know what we were doing when we walked up. Thanks to "Via Youtube" for the upload........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/24/2007 10:12:18 PM)
Woman's struggle to recognize new facesThe woman's condition, known as prosopamnesia, is extremely rare and has only been found in a handful of people around the world, as per University of Queensland cognitive neuroscientist Professor Jason Mattingley.
For a number of years, researchers have been interested in how people learn to recognise new faces, and people who have difficulty with faces often have trouble interacting in social settings, he said.
The woman whose identity........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/23/2007 6:05:48 PM)
Staying out of jamsWhat do sand, coal, cereal, ice cubes, marbles, gravel, sugar, pills, and powders have in common" They are all granular materials, members of an unruly family of substances that refuse to completely conform to the laws of behavior for either solids or liquidsmuch to the consternation of theoretical physicists and manufacturers alike. Whether its a huge grain silo, a coal hopper or a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, being able to predict the........Go to the Science-blog (Added on 7/23/2007 5:36:53 PM)
Glyndebourne Operas Controversial Windmill ProjectWind power and Opera seems to go hand in hand just like spaghetti and meatballs. Recently, the Glyndebourne opera company has been trying to battle all the odds to establish itself as an eco friendly opera. For this, the windmill project has finally been cleared by the authorities. The latest 850Kw turbine is supposed to meet 100% of the energy needs of the opera house.
The project
The goal of the project is to build a 230 feet high........Go to the My-media-blog (Added on 7/18/2007 6:25:23 PM)
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