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Invisible to the naked eye - Fascinating images of life under the microscope.

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:37:29 GMT

clipped by: einbar
clipper's remarks: They are all finalists in Nikon's Small World competition, which for 34 years has celebrated this technique known as photomicrography.

Clip Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

'Small World is regarded as the leading forum for showcasing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope,'

incredible images that use microscopes and digital imaging software to capture views of nature which are invisible to the naked eye.

It looks like a tiny, blue, bug-eyed alien - its miniature spine visible through translucent skin. But this fascinating image is actually a close-up of a chicken embryo and finalist in a 'small world' photography competition.

They are all finalists in Nikon's Small World competition, which for 34 years has celebrated this technique known as photomicrography.

Images are taken through microscopes, which magnify an image by at least 20 times using ordinary light, ultraviolet, infrared, electrons or X-rays.

Golden wonder: Using fibre optics, this image shows the wing scales of a sunset moth

Clip Source: www.nikonsmallworld.com

Can human consciousness survive without a brain?

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:19:31 GMT

clipped by: einbar
clipper's remarks: "Why do you think there is such resistance to studies like yours?

Because we're pushing through the boundaries of science, working against assumptions and perceptions that have been fixed. A lot of people hold this idea that, well, when you die, you die; that's it. Death is a moment — you know you're either dead or alive. All these things are not scientifically valid, but they're social perceptions.How is technology challenging the perception that death is a moment?"

Clip Source: www.time.com

Parnia and his colleagues at the Human Consciousness Project announced their first major undertaking: a 3-year exploration of the biology behind "out-of-body" experiences

When your heart stops beating, there is no blood getting to your brain. And so what happens is that within about 10 sec., brain activity ceases —as you would imagine. Yet paradoxically, 10% or 20% of people who are then brought back to life from that period, which may be a few minutes or over an hour, will report having consciousness. So the key thing here is, Are these real, or is it some sort of illusion?

if you look at the mind, consciousness, and the brain, the assumption that the mind and brain are the same thing is fine for most circumstances, because in 99% of circumstances we can't separate the mind and brain; they work at the exactly the same time. But then there are certain extreme examples, like when the brain shuts down, that we see that this assumption may no longer seem to hold true.

The Cultural Evolution Of Religion

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:15:46 GMT

clipped by: wildcat

Clip Source: www.scientificblogging.com

First off, let me clear the field of an obvious source of what I think is rather fruitless discussion. The authors begin by summarizing three models of the evolution of religion: the evolutionary group selection scenario (religion as an adaptation for group living), the cultural by-product scenario (religion derives from the necessity of a theory of others’ mind and sensitivity to one’s reputation), and the cultural group selection scenario (where competition among social groups favors the spread of costly practices to maintain in-group cohesion).

To begin with, they debunk the oft-repeated claim that religiosity increases charitability. It turns out studies that have made that link are entirely based on self-reporting, a notoriously unreliable source of behavioral evidence

A series of “Good Samaritan” studies found that people’s actual (as opposed to self-reported) charitable behavior shows no correspondence whatsoever with the degree of religious belief

Tags: culture, evolution, religion

Justice Dept Firings WERE Political. No, really?

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:12:02 GMT

clipped by: ellen_001
clipper's remarks: I know it may be shocking. But the news has been lost with the sky falling and all...

Clip Source: www.truthout.org

Justice Department Scandal Almost Buried by Financial Crisis

At any other time, what happened in the U.S. Justice Department last week would have been big news.

But what the Justice Department's exhaustive investigation and blistering report concluded about the enormous damage done to the department through improper politicization is far more troubling than even Sarah Palin in disjointed attack mode.

found that political pressure did indeed drive the dismissal action against at least three of the nine federal prosecutors abruptly fired. At the time, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales insisted the individuals were all dismissed for inadequate performance

But it appears the longtime pal and adviser to President Bush was lying through his teeth

Narcissistic People Most Likely To Emerge As Leaders

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:49:05 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: It is important not to confuse narcissism with high self-esteem, she said.

“A person with high self-esteem is confident and charming, but they also have a caring component and they want to develop intimacy with others,” Brunell explained. “Narcissists have an inflated view of their talents and abilities and are all about themselves. They don’t care as much about others.”

Clip Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Narcissistic People Most Likely To Emerge As Leaders

“Not only did narcissists rate themselves as leaders, which you would expect, but other group members also saw them as the people who really run the group,”

Narcissists, by definition, are self-centered and overconfident in their own abilities.

And while narcissists are more likely to become leaders, results of one of the studies suggests that, once in power, narcissists don’t perform any better than others in that leadership role.

“It’s not surprising, but the desire for power is what really drives narcissists to seek leadership positions,” she said.

Results showed that narcissists did no better than others on selecting the items that would best help them survive. In addition, groups that overall scored highest on narcissism did no better than other groups on the task.

Results showed that the MBA students rated highest in narcissism were most likely to be identified as emerging leaders by the expert observers.

Tags: society, leadership

World's first flying car, to ship late next year

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:29:29 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver

Clip Source: dvice.com

[Video]

Flying cars are all hat, no cattle. But wait. What's this? A flying car that will actually exist, roll on real streets and highways and then take off into the wild blue? You betcha. Pony up your $194,000, and by the end of next year you'll be cruising skyward in a 1300-pound Terrafugia Transition and then parking it in your garage when you're done. It's more like a drivable airplane, but we'd rather call it a flying car.

Let's do a walkaround. Out back is a push prop, and the front canard does double duty as a wing and bumper. Its gas engine will push it over a range of 460 miles through the air. Look at the cool way the wings fold up into a compact package, completing its metamorphosis from airworthy flying machine to street-legal road rocket.

The first flying prototype is scheduled to take off next month. Nice. Covert that prop to a jet engine and give it vertical takeoff capabilities, and we'll be living in the future.

Tags: transportation, gudgets

The Odd Lies Of Sarah Palin XIV: What Trade Missions To Russia?

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:35:02 GMT

clipped by: Jorjor
clipper's remarks: She's not a barracuda; she's an eel.

Clip Source: andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com

By now, the pattern is familiar. Palin responds to a question she fears reveals something she wants to conceal and lies:

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We -- we do -- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where -- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is -- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there.

There is no evidence of her conducting any trade missions with Russia:

I spent some time on the Governor's Web site seeking more details about her trade negotiations with Russia. There's a press release about Gov. Palin's meeting with a trade mission from the Yukon, but nothing about Russia anywhere in the archives.

Tags: politics, election, palin

1st time in US: 2 ethics violators on same ticket

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:12:28 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "The McCain/Palin ticket is the first in American history in which both candidates were found to have violated ethics standards before a national election."

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

The McCain/Palin ticket is the first in American history in which both candidates were found to have violated ethics standards before a national election.

Just moments ago at a townhall rally in Davenport, IA, John McCain delivered this statement:

As a Senator, I’ve seen the corrupt ways of Washington and wasteful spending and other abuses of power, and its corruption. We now have former members of Congress residing in federal prison. That’s how bad it’s gotten. As President, I’m going to end these abuses whatever it takes.

McCain’s statement is ironic, considering his running mate was cited just last night by an official state investigation for unethically and unlawfully abusing her power. Noting that McCain was previously admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee for his involvement in the Keating scandal

Tags: mccain, palin, ethics

Understanding The Cycle Of Violence

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:26:48 GMT

clipped by: einbar
clipper's remarks: "Unlocking the developmental link between growing up in an aggressive or violent household and becoming the perpetrator of such behavior could prove useful for stopping the cycle of violence".

Clip Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Understanding The Cycle Of Violence

Researchers have long known that children who grow up in an aggressive or violent household are more likely to become violent or aggressive in future relationships. What has not been so clear is the developmental link between witnessing aggressive behavior as a child and carrying it out as an adult. What changes occur in a child that affect whether he or she will choose to deal with conflict in aggressive or violent ways?

children who grow up in aggressive households may learn to process social information differently than their peers who grow up in non-aggressive environments.

Children with high-conflict parents are more likely to think that aggressive responses would be good ways to handle social conflicts,"

"This partly explains why they are more likely as young adults to have conflict in their own romantic relationships."

this research has implications for treatment and prevention.