Infinite Unknown

- Printable ‘bionic’ ear melds electronics and biology (PHYS.org, May 1, 2013):

Scientists at Princeton University used off-the-shelf printing tools to create a functional ear that can “hear” radio frequencies far beyond the range of normal human capability

The researchers’ primary purpose was to explore an efficient and versatile means to merge electronics with tissue. The scientists used 3D printing of cells and nanoparticles followed by cell culture to combine a small coil antenna with cartilage, creating what they term a bionic ear.

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Tags: Global News, Science, Technology

- Scientists build an insect-inspired camera system with ‘nearly infinite’ depth-of-field (May 1, 2013)

Tags: Global News, Science, Technology

- Groundbreaking study: Aronia, curcumin extracts effectively kill brain cancer cell line (Natural News, Oct 9, 2012):

Researchers from the Department of Natural Sciences at Middlesex University in the U.K. have made a fascinating discovery concerning two natural “superfood” compounds and their ability to kill cancer cells. It turns out that both chokeberry extract (Aronia melanocarpa) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) work together with one another to stop the spread of malignant cancer cells, as well as induce cancer cell death, a process more commonly known as apoptosis.

The study, which was published in the journal Oncology Reports, evaluated the effects of both Aronia and curcumin on a specific glioblastoma line of brain cancer cells known as U373. Because earlier studies have already established that both herbs possess unique anticancer properties, the researchers, who themselves have been studying the herbs’ therapeutic benefits for several years, decided to examine further how one of the most common and deadly forms of brain cancer might respond to these two anticancer superfoods.

It turns out that Aronia berry, which is rich in anthocyanin flavonoids and other antioxidants and nutrients, is necrotic to the U373 cancer cell line, which means it actually kills cancer cells. And turmeric, which is abundant in the anticancer polyphenol curcumin, effectively induces apoptosis in U373, meaning that it stops this deadly cell line from producing new cells and spreading. When used together, both Aronia and turmeric appear to elicit a one-two punch defense against brain cancer.

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Tags: Aronia, Brain cancer, Cancer, Curcuma, Food, Global News, Health, Science

- Scientists plan to resurrect a range of extinct animals using DNA and cloning (AFP, April 23, 2013)

Tags: Cloning, DNA, Global News, Science

Flashback:

- BP Oil Spill: NASA Report Confirms Toxic Dispersants DID Rain Down On Gulf Coast

- Gulf: 6 Dangerous Chemicals Found In Blood Tests By 3 Separate Labs (Video)

- Louisiana Senator Blasts President Obama About COREXIT Poisoning of the Gulf

- The Perfect Genetic Storm: Synthetic DNA and the Gulf Blue Plague (And A Shocking Gulf Update)

- Jesse Ventura Conspiracy Theory: ‘Gulf Coast Oil Spill’ (Full Length Video)

- A Deadly Paradox: Scientists Discover the Agent Used in Gulf Spill Cleanup Is Destroying Marine Life (Take Part, April 25, 2013):

Three years after the BP oil spill, new truths come to light—from deep down inside the ocean.

Three years ago, when BP’s Deepwater Horizon began leaking some 210 million gallons of Louisiana Crude into the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. government allowed the company to apply chemical “dispersants” to the blossoming oil slick to prevent toxic gunk from reaching the fragile bays, beaches, and mangroves of the coast, where so much marine life originates. But a number of recent studies show that BP and the feds may have made a huge mistake, for which everything from microscopic organisms to bottlenose dolphins are now paying the highest price.

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Tags: Barack Obama, BP, Corexit, Environment, Global News, Government, Gulf of Mexico, Health, Politics, Science, U.S.

In other news:

- H7N9 Spreads To Nanchang Jiangxi (Recombinomics, April 26, 2013)

- H7N9 Spreads To Fujian Province (Recombinomics, April 26, 2013)

- China’s H7N9 bird flu death toll likely to rise (LA Times, April 25, 2013)

- Outbreak: Frightening H7N9 Study: “Authorities Should Definitely Be Alarmed and Get Prepared for the Worst-Case Scenario” (SHFT Plan, April 25, 2013):

While U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Tom Frieden suggests there is no cause for panic over the H7N9 influenza strain and says that Americans, “go about their daily lives,” this unusually dangerous virus has concerned officials at the CDC to such an extent that they are rapidly working to develop an effective vaccine in the event it makes its way to North America.

According to the World Health Organization, the H7N9 bird flu virus is one the most lethal influenza strains ever identified. The first case appeared in China in late February and has since spread to scores of others, with at least 109 cases having been reported to WHO thus far, 22 of which have resulted in death. This amounts to a kill rate of 20%. These are laboratory confirmations, so in all likelihood there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others who may be infected with the virus that haven’t received medical attention. Continue reading »

Tags: bird flu, China, Global News, H7N9, Health, Science, Taiwan, Virus

- Scientist that discovered GMO health hazards immediately fired, team dismantled (Natural News, Oct 24, 2013):

Though it barely received any media attention at the time, a renowned British biochemist who back in 1998 exposed the shocking truth about how genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) cause organ damage, reproductive failure, digestive dysfunction, impaired immunity, and cancer, among many other conditions, was immediately fired from his job, and the team of researchers who assisted him dismissed from their post within 24 hours from the time when the findings went public.

Arpad Pusztai, who is considered to be one of the world’s most respected and well-learned biochemists, had for three years led a team of researchers from Scotland’s prestigious Rowett Research Institute (RRI) in studying the health effects of a novel GM potato with built-in Bt toxin. Much to the surprise of many, the team discovered that, contrary to industry rhetoric, Bt potato was responsible for causing severe health damage in test rats, a fact that was quickly relayed to the media out of concern for public health.

But rather than be praised for their honest assessment into this genetically-tampered potato, Pusztai and his colleagues were chastised by industry-backed government authorities, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose office was discovered to have secretly contacted RRI just hours after Pusztai and his team announced the results of their study on television. For speaking the truth, Pusztai was immediately fired from his position, and his team dismissed from their positions at the school.

Research out of Egypt finds similar results – GMOs cause severe, long-term health damage

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Tags: Arpad Pusztai, Genetically Modified Organisms, Global News, GMO, Health, Hussein Kaoud, Science

- Fraud Alert: FDA Allowed Drugs with Fraudulent Testing to Remain on the Market (Liberty Blitzkrieg, April 17, 2013):

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Essentially the entire U.S. economy is one gigantic fraud.  No one has honor anymore in this society, it is a totally forgotten and discarded virtue.  The ethos of the land is to take whatever you can however you can.  It doesn’t matter who you hurt or what sorts of immoral acts you need to do to get it.  One of the key dynamics that allows for such blatant theft is that the regulatory agencies that are supposed to protect us are in fact gatekeepers from the criminals in their respective industries.  In the financial area, this manifests with the SEC and CFTC revolving door to Wall Street.  In healthcare, it manifests with the FDA.  I’ve highlighted the FDA’s shadiness previously, most notably in my piece:  The FDA is Caught Spying on its Employees and Creating an “Enemies List.”  Now in this latest story, we find how little the FDA concerns itself with public health.

From Pro Publica:

On the morning of May 3, 2010, three agents of the Food and Drug Administration descended upon the Houston office of Cetero Research, a firm that conducted research for drug companies worldwide.

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Tags: Big Pharma, Cancer, Chemotherapy, Crime, FDA, Fraud, Global News, Health, Medicine, Mike Krieger, Pharmaceutical Industry, Science

- Boeing Subsidiary Spectrolab Sets World Record for Solar Cell Efficiency (Boeing, April 9, 2013):

• Highest ever energy conversion efficiency without solar concentration

• Increased efficiency for ground-based applications

SYLMAR, Calif., April 9, 2013 — A Spectrolab solar cell recently set a world record by converting more energy from the sun into electricity than any other ground-based solar cell without solar concentration.

The Boeing [NYSE: BA] subsidiary’s achievement in ground-based solar cell efficiency was verified by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.

The cell converted 37.8 percent of solar energy using a new class of high-efficiency multi-junction solar cell, created from two or more materials and leveraging Boeing technology that makes semiconductor materials more reliable. The record was set without concentration, the common practice of having lenses or mirrors focus solar rays on the cells.

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Tags: Boeing, Science, Solar Energy, Solar Power, Technology

- Laser scans objects in 3D from half a mile away, scientists just need reason to use it (engadget, April 9, 2013)

Tags: Laser, Science, Technology