Gizmorama
November 3, 2009
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Good Morning,
We have all heard of the theories of what caused the extinc-
tion of the dinosaurs; a giant meteor or a massive volcano
explosion... Imagine if it were algae that killed all dino-
saurs. Read all about how this would be possible and how
delicate algae can be in the first article.
Until Tomorrow,
Erin
Questions? Comments? Email me at: mailto:gizmo@gophercentral.com
Email your comments=
P.S. You can discuss this issue or any other topic in the new
Gizmorama forum. Check it out here...
http://gizmorama.gophercentral.com
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Algae: A key player in mass extinctions?
CLEMSON, S.C. - U.S. scientists say although supervolcanoes
and meteors are usually blamed for mass extinctions, algae
may be behind the world's great species annihilations. Clem-
son University research James Castle and Professor John
Robers said anywhere there is water, there can be toxic
algae in small concentrations. But a sudden warming in the
water or an injection of dust or sediment from land can
trigger a bloom that kills thousands of fish, poisons shell-
fish or even humans. The researchers say they believe the
same thing happened during the five largest mass extinctions
in Earth's history. Each time a large die off occurred, they
found a spike in the number of fossil algae mats called stro-
matolites strewn around the planet. Castle said nutrient-rich
fallout from a volcano eruption or meteor impact lands in
the water and becomes food for algae. The algae explode in
population, releasing chemicals that can act as anything
from skin irritants to potent neurotoxins, he said. Plants
on land then can pick up the compounds in their roots, and
pass them on to herbivorous animals. Castle and Rodgers said
if their theory is correct, it answers a lot of questions
about how species became extinct in the ancient world. It
also raises concerns for how today's algae might damage the
ecosystem in a warmer world. The research was presented this
week in Portland, Ore., during the annual meeting of the
Geological Society of America.
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ESA solves Earth-Mars communication hitch
PARIS - Direct Earth-Mars communication can be disturbed and
even blocked by the sun for weeks at a time, but the European
Space Agency says it may have a solution. The problem that
might affect future human missions to Mars is how to ensure
reliable radio communication even when Mars and Earth line
up at opposite sides of the sun, which then blocks any signal
between mission controllers on Earth and astronauts on Mars.
The ESA, working with U.K. engineers, said the answer might
rest with using a new type of satellite orbit combined with
continuous-thrust ion propulsion. The proposal would include
placing a pair of communication relay satellites into a very
special type of orbit near Mars. However, to counter the
effects of gravity and remain in place, they would have to be
equipped with electric ion propulsion thrusters that would
hold the satellites in full view of both Mars and Earth. The
satellites could then relay radio signals throughout the
Mars-Earth conjunction season, ensuring astronauts were never
out of touch with Earth. Francois Bosquillon de Frescheville,
based at ESA's European Space Operations Center, is co-author
of the research with five engineers at the Universities of
Strathclyde and Glasgow, Scotland. The research was presented
last week in Daejeon, South Korea, during the 60th Internat-
ional Astronautical Congress.
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Time-keeping brain neurons identified
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - U.S.-led researchers say they have, for
the first time, identified groups of neurons in the primate
brain that keep time with extreme precision. The researchers
from Penn State University, the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and Japan's Riken Brain Science Institute said
their finding is an important step toward discovering how
brain cells keep track of timing actions, such as speaking,
driving a car or throwing a ball. "This research is the
first time that precise time-keeping activities have been
identified in recordings of neuron activity," Penn State
Assistant Professor Dezhe Jin said, noting the time-keeping
neurons are located in two interconnected brain regions --
the prefrontal cortex and the striatum -- both of which are
known to play critical roles in learning, movement and
thought control. "The key finding is that neurons in the
prefrontal cortex and the striatum encode the time informa-
tion associated with sensory cues," Jin said. "Visual cues,
for example, elicit a variety of responses in a particular
population of neurons. We found that the brain is able to
tell the passage of time from the visual cues because dif-
ferent neurons are active at different times. "Most remark-
ably, we found that there are neurons that are active at
precise times after a particular visual cue, and these neur-
ons act like clocks that mark time," he added. The study is
reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sci-
ences.
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