Potential Shingles Vaccine

Shingles is a very painful disease that you can get after having the chicken pox. It is more common in adults over the age of sixty but there have been some cases in young adults also. The disease is caused because after you have chicken pox, you (normally) are immune from getting again, but some viruses can hide in your body, and they can cause Shingles. The virus travels down the nerve and breaks out on the skin. These break-outs can be very itchy or cause tingling, burning, or shooting pains. They then turn into fluid filled blisters that normally appear on one side of the body.

The Department of Veterans Affairs are now doing a five-year study of shingles vaccines. They are testing on generally healthy adults over the age of sixty and have recruited over 1,000 people so far. Half the people are being injected with something similar to the chicken pox vaccine for children, the other half are being injected with placebo. Researchers are hoping to find a prevention soon.

If you would like more information on this article, you can click on the link to the site here.

The Robotic Arm

Neurobiologists were able to connect a robotic arm to a monkeys brain. The monkey could use the arm as if it where its own. Scientists hope that such artificial arms, hands and legs may one day offer a broad range of improved mobility and function to handicapped and paralyzed individuals.
The monkey was able to use the artafical arm and still have full use of its other limbs. As first, the primates were shown how to use a joystick that moved a cursor onto a target on a TV screen. The cursor was linked to a video representation of the movement of the robotic arm, allowing the monkeys to see the effect the joystick had on the arm's manner and speed of movement.
This helped train the monkey to use the arm. It takes training to get use to the robotic arm. I think this new invension will be very help full to humans. People who thought they would never walk again could walk or they could replaced there damaged arm. I think this would be great for society. For more info click here.

Insecurity linked to suicide

A recent study of students proved that teend concerned with their weight are more likely to commit suicide. Nearly half of the students were believed they were either to fat or too skinny. About 65% of the students were at a normal weight range but only 54% of them believed they were normal. About 19% of the students confessed they had thought about suicide. About 9% of them admitted they have attempted it. The researchers came to the fact that media is one of the causes. In today's media you have to look and be a certain way. This can make young people feel insecure and start to hate their image which eventually can turn into hating themselves. Hating yourself puts you at more of a risk to commit suicide. Because nearly half of the students perceived themselves as too thin or too heavy, "these results suggest that a sizable proportion of students may be at increased risk" for suicide.In another editorial, Dr. Alain Joffe of Johns Hopkins University said widespread media images of perfect bodies might help shape adolescent perceptions of normal.
But he said it is also possible that adolescents who are already concerned with body image pay more attention to media images.
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Beetle's Explosive Defenses

The bombardier beetle of Africa has developed a very effective line of defense. A beetle, unable to effectively flee from a preditor will dispense a foul smelling, burning, well aimed substance at the attacker to keep itself from harm. These substances that are dispensed are developed withing the body of the beetle and are chemicals that, when mixed, will cause an intense reaction that cause extreen heat and deters preditors from an easy meal.

The beetle has been captured and found by many researchers to have impecable accuracy with this deterant. With a pair of foreceps researchers have poked specific points and have recieved a burst of boiling chemicals in the same spot of provocation. Ants are a common foe of these beeltes and they can attack easily from many directions, accuracy and effective bursts are essential for survuval. These beetles have definately been blessed with an amazing way of defence and use it well.

I found this beetle to be an amazing biological specimine, and i felt that this unique anthropod would entertain and keep the biological world aware of the many miracles on earth. The Bombardier beetle's explosive defenses have amazed many and will continue to do so in the future. Comment on this article if you want to add more information.

Killer German Ivy Attacks!!!

Over part of the California coast German Ivy is invading our land. In National forests, mountain areas and small cities is where it has become a problem. It covers trees and other plants not giving them sunlight.
This weed is not the only thing that is terrorizing ecosystems across our nation. There are 79 other species that are costing the U.S. billions of dollars. Getting rid of these things are not easy.
There have been commitees set up for getting rid of these weeds but it takes time this has been in affect for at least 5 years. We learned in Biology at the beginnging of the semester about the seaweed that was taking over the seafloor in Carlsbad. Well, this is like the same thing but on land and takes over, destroying the palnt life that was there first.
I found that arundo another invasive plant is even taking over a creek right in my city and destroying the natural habitat it once had. Im sure these problems will get taken care over time. But the only other problem is that when i looked into other articles i found these things grow very rapidly. Thats why its so hard to control, when these species enter into a new area their is no predator to get rid of it. To read into more click HERE
For pictures on the German Ivy click HERE

Mass whale stranding in Australia

The false killer whales, most between four and five meters (13 to 16 feet) long, beached themselves near the coastal town of Busselton, 200km (125 miles) south of the western city of Perth.

Many whales have beached themselves,and for some odd reason, no one knows.

Scientists do not know why these animals are doing this. They believe that the whales get lost and they did not know were to go. And they believe that the other whales eighther follow them or they try to help them. Click here for the article.

Endangered Florida Panthers Have Good News From The Nursery

Cougars are endangered in florida on account of the past over hunting and expanding towns and cities. In fact only about 80 to 100 cougars remain in florida. people are trying to save these creatures and celebrate everytime another cougar enters this world.

There are many things being done to help these animals. They have set up protected habitats and lowered speed limits around cougar habitat. They moniter all of the cougars in these areas and have found that there was a litter of three and four just born. This will help the cougars greatly.
For more click here.

Two separet teams of reseachers , in two differeent locations, discovered a new species of monkeys. the teams discovered this new species in southern Tanzania. they call this ew spiecies the "Highland Mangabey. Experts say that fewer than a thousand highland monkeys exist, and the should soon be put on the endangered species list.

Highland Magabeys are medium sized, with a long off-white colored tails. they also have off-white colored bellies, and are covered with thick brown fur. Their face, hands, feet, and eyelids are black. This species lives in temperatures that drop below freezing, in elevations up to 8,000 feet. Experts say that the Magabey is in danger of being exsticted. It is facing exstition, because their habitat is being elimenated by logers. they are also being hunted for their meat.
I think that the new species of monkey is a great discovery. We have a responseability to protect all of God's animals. We have to protect them so that our childeren can also enjoy them.
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shellfish

A toxic red tide in the new england region is poisoning dozens of shellfish beds. toxins in the algae began to collect in the shellfish.

In one night the toxin justmped ofur time the legal limit, officials closed the shellfish flats in Nantucket Harbor. Officials in the south tip of cape cod closed off all local waters, that is an area where fishermen harvest shellfish worth almost $4 million dollars a year.

algae blooms are natural exstince in costal areas of california and and new england. this is bamed for killings of fish or noxious fumes. fed by pollutants, red tides have become more common

to learn more click here

Animals Detecting Natural Distasters...

Aniamals already have natual senses to use in nature to locate prey or predators. But can they really sense natural distasters?

Research has shown that they can get out of the way of earthquakes by sensing the earths vibrations and moving to higher ground. That is one theory. The other is that they can detect changes in the air.

Some people don't like the idea of using animals as natural distaster detectors. They can change their behavior for many reasons, and they don't beleive that it would be worth while to just study the animals.

I usually know when there is a storm or an earthquake comming because my two dogs freak out. So it is proven, but not for everyone. In my opinion, sure, I would trust that my dogs are right.

If you would like to read more about it, HERE is the article.

dont eat the fish

In New York a Red Tide poisoning has klled many fish and made others very poisonous along the whole New England coast. They say plankton have caused it and there is alot more than there was befor, there is actually more than they think there ever has been. They have spred 30 miles and the diseese has gone farther than that.

This is very very bad news for everybody that lives there or close to there. The people who eat them get poisoned and the sellers cant sell them to anybody. The selling of the fish and other sea things is the " coastal community's commercial lifeblood. They say it may be months befor the fisherman can start fishing again.

The fisherman get over 4 million dollars worth of fish every year and this is there bigest times of the year. Some spots in the ocean are so bad they can kill a whole restrant. there have been more red tides than normal in the last few years. Thay are trying to get it all cleared out but it looks like it wont be all gone for a wile

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Gliding Ants

A scientist from the University of the Texas Medical Branch was on an expedition climbing some 100 feet up in the trees. While he was there, he fought off numerous ants that seemed to come right back after he shrugged them off. Once he did further experiments, he discovered that these ants glided back to the original trunk they came from.
I believe that it is important to know that every species of animal is important so that the next generation may have more knowledge about the world around them.
To find out more about these extraordinary creatures click here.

Puberty

Puberty is caused by hormones. I found it interesting that puberty starts for young girls as early as 8-13. That caught my attention.
It is amazing that a little sensor in the brain sends pulses throughout the rest of the body, sending the hormones to flow through the blood & eventually starting the development stages of adulthood. What made this interesting to me is that i am a teenager who is going through puberty & feeling the hormones just like the rest of the teenagers my age. To see how it is caused & what triggers it is amazing!
The way our body takes things into place is absolutley perfect! Our brain tells our body when to start a process or when to begin a stage. It is a blessing from God that our body has such power to take control & to do the amazing things it does by itself.
To learn more about puberty in more detail, click down below. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/articles/lifecycle/teenagers/sexual_changes.shtm

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Puberty

Puberty is caused by hormones. I found it interesting that puberty starts for young girls as early as 8-13. That caught my attention.
It is amazing that a little sensor in the brain sends pulses throughout the rest of the body, sending the hormones to flow through the blood & eventually starting the development stages of adulthood. What made this interesting to me is that i am a teenager who is going through puberty & feeling the hormones just like the rest of the teenagers my age. To see how it is caused & what triggers it is amazing!
The way our body takes things into place is absolutley perfect! It is a blessing from God that our body is able to do the things we do. It functions by itself. Our brain tells our body when to begin a process. How interesting it is!
T
o learn more about puberty in more detail, click down below. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/articles/lifecycle/teenagers/sexual_changes.shtm

Moley Moley Moley Moley

Possibly one of the UGLIEST faces ever seen could be the face of a star-nosed mole. It has 22 appendages around its nose. It lives in damp areas, like marshes. Moles are nearly blind, so this kind of mole uses its "star-nose" to feel its way around. The nose is used as a touch organ, unlike humans where it is used for smell.

This amazing mole is studied in a plexiglass tunnel and watched as it feeds on its prey. Using special high-speed equipment, scientists were able to find that the mole could consume its prey in 1/4 of a second. This makes Travis look like a sloth in comparison (meaning that Travis eats very slow, and this is true). This is an amazing animal that knows how to survive. Without these instincts and reflexes, this animal would literally be dead meat. If you want to learn more about this creature click on MOLEY MOLEY MOLEY

Seismic Surveys May Kill Giant Squid

One of the most unknown marine animal is the Giant Squid. this animal is a potential victim of man made noises. Spanish shorelines have encountered more of these dead creatures than normal. Scientists believe that high volume, low frequency sounds are killing of these magnificent animals. These noises are mostly coming from oil charters using sonar.

Giant Squid can grow to a length of 20 meters. Some of the victims were damaged extensively, such as their heart tearing apart and muscles being disintegrated. All of these squid were found to have very badly damaged ears as well.
read more here

Drugs from the Sea

Can new treatments for cancer and other infectious diseases be discovered by natural products found in the soft bodies of the ocean's inhabitants? The answer to this question is being researched by Tadeusz Molinski. Molinski stated that three-quarters of the earth is covered by oceans and we have only dipped below the surface. He sees an opportunity in marine organisms to create the next generations of drugs. He has been testing mostly sponges and tunicates, becasue they can neither swim nor bite.

Some of these organisms have biochemical activities that could be used to kill microbes, stop the growth of cancer cells, or affecting the flow of calcium in and out of cells. The organisms are put through a series of tests, if something is found that might be useful the scientists try to isolate and identify the molecule. One discovery made was phorboxazole, which they found in a sponge in the Indian Ocean. It is a potent toxin that can block cancer cells from dividing at an earlier stage than any other anticancer drug.

The ocean could be housing the cure to our deadliest diseases, and it requires our immediate attention.

If you want to learn more about drugs from the deep blue click here.