Gizmorama

February 3, 2010
------------------------------------------------------------
Have Fun and Get Creative With... Library Play Dough
Now Get 15 Mini Jars for only: $4.99
http://pd.gophercentral.com/u/1442/c/186/a/474
------------------------------------------------------------

Good Morning,

Scientists are looking for a cause to the recent decline in
the population of Atlantic blue crab. One possible answer
is human generated bacteria and viruses. Check out all the
details in the first article.

Until Next Time,
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
------------------------------------------------------------

Cause of blue crab decline is sought

CHARLESTON, S.C. - U.S. scientists say they're seeking the
cause of a recent decline in the Atlantic blue crab popu-
lation. Researchers from the National Institute of Standards
and Technology and the College of Charleston, S.C., said the
blue crab population has been declining in recent years under
the assault of viruses, bacteria and man-made contaminants.
But the signs of the attacks often are subtle, so the re-
searchers now are trying to find clues that will identify
the specific, yet elusive, cause. The NIST/CofC research team
says it's using a technology similar to magnetic resonance
imaging to identify and quantify metabolites -- small chem-
ical compounds created during metabolism -- that increase
under conditions that are stressful to blue crabs. The
scientists said such metabolites could be used as biomarkers
to identify the specific source of the stress. The research,
supported in part by the National Science Foundation, appears
in the Jan. 20 online edition of the journal Metabolomics.

------------------------------------------------------------
The Cozy-Cuddler: Blanket With The Sleeves
Like The Snuggie But Less
Than 1/2 The Price...

Normal Price: $19.99
OUR PRICE: $9.99
Get two for $15.98

Nap, watch TV or read under the cozy warmth of TheCozy-Cuddler.
This ingeniously designed blanket with oversized sleeves keeps
you warm and comfortable. Large sleeves let your hands move
free while keeping your arms warm.

Made of a thick and warm fleece that feels very soft on the
skin. The Cozy-Cuddler is great on a couch, a chair, in a hammock,
on your bed or anywhere else you care to take it. Perfect for
camping, a ball game and more

FEATURES:
- Ultra-soft fleece
- Non-pilling
- Machine washable
- Extra-Large Blanket Covers Entire Body From Head-to-Toe
- Large sleeves let your hands move free while keeping your arms
warm
- One size fits all
- Machine washable for easy cleaning
- Large built-in storage pocket

Turn down your thermostat and still relax in warmth and comfort
with The Cozy-Cuddler. Grab one for $9.99... or save an additional =

$4.00 and get two for $15.98.
http://pd.gophercentral.com/u/2449/c/186/a/474
------------------------------------------------------------

Microbe produces biofuel from biomass

BERKELEY, Calif. - U.S. scientists say they have developed
a microbe that can produce an advanced biofuel directly from
biomass. Scientists led by Jay Keasling from the U.S.
Department of Energy's Joint BioEnergy Institute said using
synthetic biology they engineered a strain of Escherichia
coli bacteria to produce biodiesel fuel and other chemicals
derived from fatty acids. "The fact that our microbes can
produce a diesel fuel directly from biomass with no addit-
ional chemical modifications is exciting and important,"
Keasling said. "Given that the costs of recovering biodiesel
are nowhere near the costs required to distill ethanol, we
believe our results can significantly contribute to the ulti-
mate goal of producing scalable and cost effective advanced
biofuels and renewable chemicals." The scientists said they
are now working on maximizing the efficiency and the speed by
which their engineered strain of E. coli can directly convert
biomass into biodiesel. They said they are also looking into
ways of maximizing the total amount of biodiesel that can be
produced from a single fermentation. The study is reported
in the journal Nature.


Viruses lure insects to infected plants

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - U.S. entomologists say they've discov-
ered a common plant virus lures aphids to infected plants
and then uses the aphids as transportation to other plants.
The Pennsylvania State University researchers said they de-
termined the viruses make the infected plants more attrac-
tive, but when the insects taste the plant they quickly
leave for tastier, healthier ones. That allows the virus
to rapidly transmit the disease. "The virus improves the
cues that insects use to identify food by elevating some
aspect of a trait that is already in the plant," said
Assistant Professor Mark Mescher. "In this case they appear
to elevate the odor cue, without changing it." Mescher said
the finding has implications beyond agriculture. If pathogens
can alter hosts to make transmission more efficient, they
might also be doing it in such insect-transmitted human dis-
eases as malaria or dengue fever. The research that included
graduate student Kerry Mauck is reported in the early online
edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sci-
ences.

------------------------------------------------------------
MEMORY FOAM INSOLES
It's like walking on air...

Retail Price: $9.99
DEAL PRICE: $4.99

You'll feel like walking on air with these specially designed
insoles. These Memory Foam Insole have a top layer made of
pressure-relieving, memory foam that conforms perfectly to
your foot's shape for the most comfortable fit and support
possible. Easy-to-use... simply cut for a perfect fit... anyone
can use them... that is up to a size 11 Men's foot.

Benefits:
- Molds to your feet for unbelievable comfort
- Excellent for people with foot conditions seeking added comfort
- Molds to your foot
- Relives pressure on the ball of your foot, bunions and joints
- Prevents heel shock by cushioning your every step
- Supports your arch
- Increases stability by cradling your foot & preventing foot roll
- Gives you custom comfort from your heel to your toes
- Provides much needed rest for your tired, achy feet
http://pd.gophercentral.com/u/4006/c/120/a/474
------------------------------------------------------------

Hubble spots possible asteroid collision

WASHINGTON - NASA says its Hubble Space Telescope has ob-
served a mysterious X-shaped debris pattern and trailing
streamers of dust suggesting a collision of two asteroids.
Although astronomers have long thought the asteroid belt is
being reduced through collisions, such a smashup has never
been seen before. Asteroid collisions are energetic, NASA
astronomers said, with an average impact speed of more than
11,000 miles per hour -- five times faster than a rifle
bullet. The comet-like object imaged by Hubble, called
P/2010 A2, was first discovered by the Lincoln Near-Earth
Asteroid Research sky survey Jan. 6. Space agency officials
said new Hubble images taken Jan. 25 and 29 show a complex
X-pattern of filamentary structures near the nucleus, which
is estimated to be 460 feet in diameter. "This is quite
different from the smooth dust envelopes of normal comets,"
said principal investigator David Jewitt of the University
of California-Los Angeles. "The filaments are made of dust
and gravel, presumably recently thrown out of the nucleus.
Some are swept back by radiation pressure from sunlight to
create straight dust streaks. Embedded in the filaments are
co-moving blobs of dust that likely originated from tiny
unseen parent bodies." At the time of the Hubble obser-
vations, the object was approximately 180 million miles from
the sun and 90 million miles from Earth, NASA said.

------------------------------------------------------------
Check out Viral Videos on the Net at EVTV1.com
http://www.evtv1.com/
EVTV1.com