Sharing Knowledge

Australian scientists hope to bring extinct frog back to life

2013-03-18T06:47:00.002-07:00

In a process that sounds like Jurassic Park but is closer to the cloned sheep Dolly, Australian scientists are bringing an extinct amphibian back to life.

The gastric-brooding frog, which swallowed its eggs, grew its young in its stomach and gave birth through its mouth, became extinct about 30 years ago.

But scientists working on the “Lazarus project” have successfully reactivated its DNA and produced an embryo.

Prof Mike Archer of Sydney’s University of New South Wales said the gastric-brooding frog was an extraordinary creature.

“In the stomach these eggs went on to develop into tadpoles and the tadpoles then went on to develop into little frogs,” he told ABC radio.

“And like any pregnant mum, when you have little babies rattling away in your stomach saying, ‘let me out’, she would then open her mouth and out would pop little frogs.

“The first people that saw that were aghast. By the time anybody got excited about it, suddenly it was extinct.”

The team, which also includes researchers from the University of Newcastle north of Sydney, found some gastric-brooding frog carcasses stored in a deep freezer and were able to recover tissue.

Using a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer, they implanted the dead cell nucleus from the extinct species into an egg from another frog species. From this, the scientists created an embryo.

“There was one day in the laboratory that was so exciting when all of a sudden the egg from this living species that had had one of these extinct frogs’ nuclei inserted into it started to divide, and then divide again,” Prof Archer said. “We were holding our breath and then it just kept going . . . It went on to develop an embryo.”

Though the embryo has so far only survived 36 hours, the Lazarus project team is confident that producing a tadpole is the next step.

“We are in a research zone beyond where anyone else has been before and there’s no signpost,” Prof Archer said.

Larvae turn ladybugs into Zombies

2013-03-12T03:10:00.001-07:00

Scientists at the University of Montreal have discovered a type of larva that turns ladybird beetles into the living dead of sorts, using them for food and shelter in the process.

The larvae of the Dinocampus coccineilae parasitic wasp colonize and consume the ladybugs while they are still alive, the scientists observed. The larva is laid as an egg in the soft interior ofthe ladybug, where it can grow without beng disturbed by its natural predators. After some 20 days, the larva breaks out ofthe ladybug's body and spins a cocoonbetween the beet|e's legs.This nearly paralyzes the ladybug so that it can barely move and has no choice but to protect the pupa—stage wasp with its body.

The larva continues to feed on the ladybug, and it is able to survive the feeding. The larva beneﬁts from its host's life up to the very last minute:The living ladybug occasionally jerks, which is likely enough movement to keep the |arva’s enemies at bay. When the larva is ready to leave the pupa, it releases its host, which — to the scientists‘ surprise — sometimes has sufﬁcient energy to resume its pre-occupation life; this phenomenon was observed in 25 percent of cases.

Twin Earth Discovered, KOI 172.02, Most Earth-Like Planet Yet Found

2013-02-21T02:33:00.002-08:00

By Nathan

The most Earth-like planet yet found has just been discovered by the Kepler space probe. The newly discovered exoplanet is actually about 1.5 times bigger than Earth, so it’s known as a ‘super-Earth’. The planet, KOI (Kepler Object of Interest) 172.02, is following an orbit that is well within the habitable zone of a star that is rather similar to our Sun. This leaves open the possibility that the planet could feature liquid water and potentially oceans on its surface.

KOI 172.02 orbits at a distance of around 0.75 astronomical units from its star, meaning that it is about 3/4 the distance from its star that the Earth is from the sun. Specifically, this means that KOI-172.02 orbits around 70 million miles from its star rather than the 93 million miles that the Earth orbits from the Sun. And as a result completes an orbit around its star in 242 Earth days.

“Launched in 2009, the Kepler space telescope orbits the sun every 371 days. As it travels, Kepler keeps itself pointed at a single patch of sky. Sensors monitor the brightness of 150,000 stars simultaneously, looking for telltale drops in intensity that could indicate orbiting planets.”

“At the heart of the telescope is an array of 42 camera sensors specifically designed to detect planets passing in front of their stars”

“Kepler’s planet search is conducted in a narrow wedge-shaped volume of space that stretches out ahead of us as we orbit the galaxy. Stars in the search volume are therefore at about the same distance from the center of the galaxy as the Earth.”

Researchers from NASA note that the planet would be a prime candidate to explore in the search for extraterrestrial life. Though other, more strange seeming planets, such as the recently discovered rogue planet that is only 100 light years away, could also potentially host life.

An Earth analog, or Earth-like planet, is a theorezied type of exoplanet, or moon, that features conditions very similar to the Earth.

“The possibility is of particular interest to humans as it is easily inferred that the more similar a planet is to Earth, the more likely it is of sustaining Earth-like complex extraterrestrial life and, more importantly, civilization. As such it has long been speculated and the subject expressed in science, philosophy, science fiction and popular culture. Advocates of space colonization have long sought an Earth Analog as a ‘second home’ while advocates for space and survival would regard such a planet as a potential ‘new home’.”

“Before the scientific search for and study of extrasolar planets, the possibility was argued through philosophy and science fiction. The Mediocrity principle suggests that planets like the Earth should be common in an infinite universe, while the Rare Earth hypothesis suggests that they are extremely rare. Philosophers have pointed out that the size of the universe is such that a near identical planet must exist somewhere, such theories include the philosophy of Multiverse and the Twin Earth thought experiment.”

“Some scientific theories speculate that Earth analogs may have existed in our Solar System in the past. In the future, technology may be used by humans to artificially produce an Earth analog. In theory, terraforming, virtual reality or simulated reality could potentially create such a world. Multiverse theory suggests that an Earth analog could exist in another universe or even be another version of the Earth itself in a parallel universe.”

“Technological advances in extrasolar planet detection are rapidly refining the probabilities of a real discovery, not just in this universe, but in the present Milky Way galaxy, though distribution and attributes are still very much unknown. Different studies on the frequency of Earth-like planets in the Milky Way have resulted in estimation varying from one (ie the Earth) to hundreds of billions. Current calculations tend to indicate that they may be relatively common in the universe.”

“The more recent serious scientific findings have greatly influenced the scope of the fields of astrobiology, models of planetary habitability and Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. NASA and the SETI Institute have proposed categorising the increasing number of Earth-like planets found using a measure called the Earth Similarity Index based on mass, radius and temperature. According to this measure, the planet currently thought to be most similar to Earth is Gliese 667C c.”

Source: Space and Wikipedia

Image Credits: NASA

The brain circuit that makes it hard for obese people to lose weight

2013-02-15T00:26:00.001-08:00

Researchers in Australia explain why when obese people diet, they end up losing less weight.

Imagine you are driving a car, and the harder you press on the accelerator, the harder an invisible foot presses on the brake. That’s what happens when obese people diet – the less food they eat, the less energy they burn, and the less weight they lose.

While this is a known phenomenon, scientists at Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have pinpointed the exact brain circuitry behind it using various mouse models.

In the journal Cell Metabolism, Dr. Shu Lin, Dr. Yanchuan Shi, and Professor Herbert Herzog and his team show that the neurotransmitter Neuropeptide Y (NPY), known for stimulating appetite, also plays a major role in controlling whether the body burns or conserves energy.

“This study is the first to identify the neurotransmitters and neural pathways that carry signals generated by NPY in the brain to brown fat cells in the body. It is also the first to show a direct connection between Arc NPY, the sympathetic nervous system and the control of energy expenditure,” said Herzog.

The researchers found that NPY – produced in a particular region of the brain called the arcuate nucleus (Arc) of the hypothalamus – inhibits the activation of ‘brown fat,’ one of the primary tissues where the body generates heat.

While NPY also influences other aspects of the sympathetic nervous system such as heart rate and gut function, its control of heat generation through brown fat seems to be the most critical factor in the control of energy expenditure.

“When you don’t eat, or dramatically curtail your calorie intake, levels of NPY rise sharply. High levels of NPY signal to the body that it is in ‘starvation mode’ and should try to replenish and conserve as much energy as possible. As a result, the body reduces processes that are not absolutely necessary for survival,” he said.

Until the twentieth century, people did not have ready access to foods high in fat and sugar, said Herzog. So in evolutionary terms, the body had mechanisms in place only to prevent weight loss, he said.

“Obesity is a modern epidemic, and the challenge will be to find ways of tricking the body into losing weight – and that will mean somehow circumventing or manipulating this NPY circuit, probably with drugs,” he said.

Source : Garvan Institute of Medical Research

The killer Bees

2013-01-25T01:43:00.002-08:00

Africanized honey bees, known colloquially as "killer bees," are some hybrid varieties of the Western honey bee species, (Apis mellifera), produced originally by cross-breeding of the African honey bee, with various European honey bees such as the Italian bee and the Iberian. The hybrid bees are far more defensive than any of the various European subspecies. Small swarms of Africanized bees are capable of taking over European honey bee hives by invading the hive and establishing their own queen after killing the European queen.

In 1956, some colonies of African Honey Bees were imported into Brazil, with the idea of cross-breeding them with local populations of Honey Bees to increase honey production. In 1957, twenty-six African queens, along with swarms of European worker bees, escaped from an experimental apiary about l00 miles south of Sao Paulo. These African bee escapees have since formed hybrid populations with European Honey Bees, both feral and from commercial hives. They have gradually spread northward through South America, Central America, and eastern Mexico, progressing some 100 to 200 miles per year. In 1990, Killer Bees reached southern Texas, appeared in Arizona in 1993, and found their way to California in 1995. They are expected to form colonies in parts of the southern United States.

Why Killer Bees are dangerous?

The sting of the Africanized Honey Bee is no more potent than your garden variety honey bee and they look pretty much the same. What makes AHBs more dangerous is that they are more easily provoked, quick to swarm, attack in greater numbers, and pursue their victims for greater distances.

AHB colonies can be very large, and they are not particularly selective about the location of their hives. The Queen Africanized bee can lay up to 1,500 eggs a day.

the American Medical Association has said that seven bee stings per pound can be lethal. Don't forget, however, that people react to bee stings differently. There is one documented case of a man who survived over 2,000 bee stings. There are others who are very sensitive or allergic to bee stings and would certainly not fare that well. Pets are also vulnerable. So far, there have been less than 5 human deaths and a handful of animal deaths in Arizona attributed to Africanized Honey Bees.

Top 10 healthiest vegetables

2013-01-22T03:30:00.003-08:00

Must-Have Veggies

Veggies are an important part of everyone's diet. They contain dozens of important nutrients and have loads of dietary fiber. And just by getting your daily quota of five to nine servings, you help build your body's immunity to things like cancer, heart disease and diabetes. So what are the top veggies you should be eating to boost your disease-fighting potential? Read on to find out.

Tomatoes

Though technically a fruit, tomatoes are most often served like a vegetable. Full of lycopene, these beautiful red orbs (and all tomato-based products) are renowned for their cancer-fighting capabilities. Not only are they chock full of vitaminy goodness (from vitamins A to K), they also keep our blood pressure in check and help to reduce the number of free radicals in our bodies.

Broccoli

Few foods measure up to the disease-fighting potential of broccoli. This cruciferous veg is packed with antioxidants that help reduce the risk of stomach, lung and rectal cancers. And because broccoli is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C and folate, it is also good at boosting your immunity to colds and flus.

Brussels sprouts

These little green veggies are especially important for pregnant woman because they're packed with folic acid, a B-vitamin that prevents neural tube defects. Brussels sprouts are also packed with vitamins C and K as well as fiber, potassium and omega-3 fatty acids.

Carrots

These orange-wonders are loaded with eye, skin and hair-enriching nutrients. They're also the richest vegetable source of some important antioxidants, like vitamin A. And because they're rich in vitamin C, carrots protect your cardiovascular system from damage.

Squash

A good source of anti-inflammatory nutrients like vitamin C and beta-carotene, squash, especially summer squash, can help treat dozens of conditions including asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Squash is also rich in potassium, magnesium and fiber.

Sweet potato

This root vegetable has dozens of anti-cancer nutrients like vitamin A, C and manganese. They're also a good source of fiber and iron, so not only do they give you energy, they can also help regulate your digestive system.

Eggplant

High in heart healthy nutrients, eggplants are rich in antioxidants like nasunin (a unique compound that protects your brain cells from damage). And because eggplants are loaded with fiber and potassium, researchers believe they may reduce your risk of stroke and dementia.

Bell Peppers

Whether you prefer red, orange or yellow, bell peppers are packed with dozens of heart-healthy nutrients like lycopene and folic acid. And recent research suggests digging into a pepper every day may lower your risk of developing lung, colon, bladder and pancreatic cancers.

Spinach

This chlorophyll-packed type of produce is an excellent source of almost every vitamin and nutrient you need. Scientists believe a diet heavy in spinach may be able to prevent everything from heart disease to colon cancer, and arthritis to osteoporosis.

Onions

These pungent smelling veggies are particularly good for people suffering from (or at risk of developing) osteoporosis. That's because onions are loaded with a peptide called GPCS which scientists believe slows your body's loss of calcium. Onions may also be useful in the fight against heart disease and diabetes because they're loaded with vitamin C and folate.

Tiny cyborg beetles could recharge just by flying

2013-01-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

No need for new batteries as they fly over battlefields or into disaster zones

The miniature device placed on this beetle may make it the world's smallest cyborg. Electrodes implanted in the brain and wing muscles allow scientists to remotely control the insect's flight.

Cyborg beetles being developed for the U.S. military wouldn't need to carry extra batteries into the battlefield for their tiny spy sensors. The insects' own flying motions or even body heat could provide the power for the small microphones or cameras that humans equip them with, according to researchers.

The cyborg insect project has backing from the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which is investigating how some of nature's small creatures can be harnessed as intelligence-gatherers when the situation is dangerous for humans. Such cyborgs could provide a faster, cheaper solution than painstakingly engineered tiny scout robots. Still, they would need a power source for their equipment.
"Through energy scavenging, we could potentially power cameras, microphones and other sensors and communications equipment that an insect could carry aboard a tiny backpack," said Khalil Najafi, an electrical and computer engineer at the University of Michigan.
Najafi and doctoral student Erkan Aktakka have created a piezoelectric generator that converts pressure or material stress from the motion of an insect's wings into electricity. Such energy could extend the life of a battery carried by a cyborg beetle and might even give other researchers a hint about how to power tiny robots.

Previous cybernetic work with beetles showed how researchers could remotely control them to fly wherever the researchers wanted them to go.

Such small cyborgs could do more than scout for U.S. troops. In the aftermath of a disaster, they could help search ruined buildings or investigate hazardous zones such as the area of the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Najafi and Aktakka published their latest work on energy scavenging in the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. Funding came from DARPA's Hybrid Insect Micro Electromechanical Systems program.

Top 10 Facts About Asia’s Natural Disasters In 2012

2013-01-17T05:09:00.002-08:00

Here are the top ten facts about natural disasters in Asia in 2012, based on data released by the UNISDR and CRED on December 11.

between January and October, natural disasters in Asia still claimed more lives here than anywhere else in the world – and experts predict the trend will continue as populations and industries expand in a region that already houses the world’s largest number of urban residents.

“Cities are growing. There will be even more people and factories. If you think we have a problem now, we will have even more in the future,” said Jerry Velasquez, head of the Asia-Pacific office for the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). The agency estimates the number of people living in flood-prone urban areas in East Asia may reach 67 million by 2060.

Here are the top ten facts about natural disasters in Asia in 2012, based on the preliminary 2012 data on natural disasters in 28 Asian countries released by UNISDR and Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) on December 11.

——

1. Natural disasters caused US$15 billion in damage to Asian countries.

Countries in the region reported 83 disasters – mostly floods – in 2012. The disasters killed some 3,100 people, affected 64.5 million and left behind US$15 billion in damage.

2. The worldwide death toll was 5,400.

Worldwide, 231 disasters killed some 5,400 people, affected 87 million and caused US$44.6 billion in damage.

3. 78 million people were affected by natural disasters in Asia.

From 1950 to 2011, nine out of 10 people affected by disasters worldwide were in Asia.

4. One of the hardest hit countries in 2012 was the Philippines.

One of the region’s hardest-hit countries this year (and this past decade) was the Philippines. Since 2002, the country has had 182 recorded disasters, which killed almost 11,000 people. This figure does not include the storm that hit the country’s south on December 4; more than 600 were killed in that event, and some 800 are still reported missing.

5. China had three of the top five natural disasters this year.

Of the top five disasters that created the most damage this year, three were in China, and the other two were in Pakistan and Iran. Cumulatively, these events resulted in an estimated US$13.3 billion in damage.

6. China had 18 disasters in 2012.

China led the list of most disasters in 2012 (18), followed by Philippines (16), Indonesia (10), Afghanistan (9), and India (5).

7. Only China suffered from multiple types of natural disasters.

China was the only “multi-hazard”-prone country. In the others, including Pakistan, 85 percent of damage came from one event, calling into question efforts to cultivate “multi-hazard” resiliency, said CRED.

8. Countries tend to face specific types of hazards.

Two-hazard countries included Afghanistan (drought and flood); Bangladesh and Vietnam (flood and storm); and India, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka (flood and earthquake).

9. Preparedness for disasters varied between countries.

In the past decade, Indonesia and the Philippines have had many disasters but relatively few affected people, while Bangladesh and Thailand have had fewer disasters and more affected, while Pakistan and Vietnam fell in between the two categories. These numbers offer a sign of how prepared these respective countries were to face emergencies, researchers noted.

10. Floods in Pakistan and China led to economic loss in the region.

Pakistan suffered large-scale loss of life from floods for the third successive year; from August to October, 480 people died in floods. June-July floods in China affected over 17 million people and caused the most economic loss in the region – US$4.8 billion.

——

Healing Blind Mice

2013-01-17T04:30:00.001-08:00

AsianScientist (Jan. 14, 2013) – Blind mice can see again, after researchers transplanted developing cells into their eyes and found they could reform the entire light-sensitive layer of the retina.

Videos show the nocturnal mice, which once didn’t notice the difference between light and dark at all, now run from the light and prefer to be in the dark – just like mice with normal vision.

The researchers say the approach has relevance for treating patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition in which the light-sensing cells in the retina gradually die leading to progressive blindness.

Published in the journal PNAS, the study was led by Dr. Mandeep Singh, an eye surgeon from the National University Hospital of Singapore and a clinician-scientist with the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), while he was a Ph.D. student with Professor Robert MacLaren at the University of Oxford, U.K.

The researchers worked with mice that were blind due to complete loss of the light-sensing photoreceptor cells in their retinas. This is the most relevant mouse model for treating patients who are blind from retinitis pigmentosa.

In the study, immature cells transplanted into the eye re-formed a full light-detecting layer on the retina which restored near-normal vision to the mice. The cells used were mouse ‘precursor’ cells that were on an initial path towards developing into retinal cells.
A pupil constriction test showed that, of the 12 mice that received the cell transplant, 10 showed improved pupil constriction in response to light. This was evidence that the retinas of the mice were sensing the light once more, and the signal was being transmitted down the optic nerve to the brain.
Explaining the significance of the work, Dr. Singh said,
“The immature donor cells not only survived in blind mice recipients but also matured in that environment to become functioning retinal cells. By providing new replacement cells, we found that the retina could be reconstructed.”

“We found that if enough cells are transplanted together, they not only become light sensing but they also regenerate the connections required for meaningful vision.”
Prof. MacLaren believes that new treatments for blind patients will someday be derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). iPS cells are stem cells that have been generated from the patient’s own cells, such as skin or blood cells, which can then be directed to form precursors of the retina cells.
“All the steps are there for doing this in patients in the future. Our study shows what we could achieve with a cell-based approach,” said MacLaren.

The article can be found at: Singh M et al. (2013) Reversal of end-stage retinal degeneration and restoration of visual function by photoreceptor transplantation.
——
Source: Oxford University; Photo: Richard Winchell/Flickr/CC.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

The Potential Health Risks Of Spending Too Much Time Online

2013-01-17T04:14:00.002-08:00

Are you addicted to the Internet? According to the Infographic below, 5-10% of Internet users are. Now I don’t believe that being addicted to the Internet is necessarily a bad thing but there are other potential health risks. Take a look at the Infographic below brought to us by insurance.com and see if you may be suffering from spending too much time online.

Top 10 Amazing Facts About Dreams

2013-01-08T01:51:00.001-08:00

Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.

Here are the top 10 amazing facts about dreams.

10. Blind People Dream

People who become blind after birth can see images in their dreams. People who are born blind do not see any images, but have dreams equally vivid involving their other senses of sound, smell, touch and emotion. It is hard for a seeing person to imagine, but the body’s need for sleep is so strong that it is able to handle virtually all physical situations to make it happen.

9. You Forget 90% of your Dreams

Within 5 minutes of waking, half of your dream if forgotten. Within 10, 90% is gone. The famous poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, woke one morning having had a fantastic dream (likely opium induced) – he put pen to paper and began to describe his “vision in a dream” in what has become one of English’s most famous poems: Kubla Khan. Part way through (54 lines in fact) he was interrupted by a “Person from Porlock“. Coleridge returned to his poem but could not remember the rest of his dream. The poem was never completed.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
[...]

Curiously, Robert Louis Stevenson came up with the story of Doctor Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde whilst he was dreaming. Wikipedia has more on that here. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was also the brainchild of a dream.

8. Everybody Dreams

Every human being dreams (except in cases of extreme psychological disorder) but men and women have different dreams and different physical reactions. Men tend to dream more about other men, while women tend to dream equally about men and women. In addition, both men and women experience sexually related physical reactions to their dreams regardless of whether the dream is sexual in nature; males experience erections and females experience increased vaginal blood flow.

7. Dreams Prevent Psychosis

In a recent sleep study, students who were awakened at the beginning of each dream, but still allowed their 8 hours of sleep, all experienced difficulty in concentration, irritability, hallucinations, and signs of psychosis after only 3 days. When finally allowed their REM sleep the student’s brains made up for lost time by greatly increasing the percentage of sleep spent in the REM stage.

6. We Only Dream of What We Know

Our dreams are frequently full of strangers who play out certain parts – did you know that your mind is not inventing those faces – they are real faces of real people that you have seen during your life but may not know or remember? The evil killer in your latest dream may be the guy who pumped petrol in to your Dad’s car when you were just a little kid. We have all seen hundreds of thousands of faces through our lives, so we have an endless supply of characters for our brain to utilize during our dreams.

5. Not Everyone Dreams in Color

A full 12% of sighted people dream exclusively in black and white. The remaining number dream in full color. People also tend to have common themes in dreams, which are situations relating to school, being chased, running slowly/in place, sexual experiences, falling, arriving too late, a person now alive being dead, teeth falling out, flying, failing an examination, or a car accident. It is unknown whether the impact of a dream relating to violence or death is more emotionally charged for a person who dreams in color than one who dreams in black and white.

4. Dreams are not about what they are about

If you dream about some particular subject it is not often that the dream is about that. Dreams speak in a deeply symbolic language. The unconscious mind tries to compare your dream to something else, which is similar. Its like writing a poem and saying that a group of ants were like machines that never stop. But you would never compare something to itself, for example: “That beautiful sunset was like a beautiful sunset”. So whatever symbol your dream picks on it is most unlikely to be a symbol for itself.

3. Quitters have more vivid dreams

People who have smoked cigarettes for a long time who stop, have reported much more vivid dreams than they would normally experience. Additionally, according to the Journal of Abnormal Psychology: “Among 293 smokers abstinent for between 1 and 4 weeks, 33% reported having at least 1 dream about smoking. In most dreams, subjects caught themselves smoking and felt strong negative emotions, such as panic and guilt. Dreams about smoking were the result of tobacco withdrawal, as 97% of subjects did not have them while smoking and their occurrence was significantly related to the duration of abstinence. They were rated as more vivid than the usual dreams and were as common as most major tobacco withdrawal symptoms.”

2. External Stimuli Invade our Dreams

This is called Dream Incorporation and it is the experience that most of us have had where a sound from reality is heard in our dream and incorporated in some way. A similar (though less external) example would be when you are physically thirsty and your mind incorporates that feeling in to your dream. My own experience of this includes repeatedly drinking a large glass of water in the dream which satisfies me, only to find the thirst returning shortly after – this thirst… drink… thirst… loop often recurs until I wake up and have a real drink. The famous painting above (Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening) by Salvador Dali, depicts this concept.

1. You are paralyzed while you sleep

Believe it or not, your body is virtually paralyzed during your sleep – most likely to prevent your body from acting out aspects of your dreams. According to the Wikipedia article on dreaming, “Glands begin to secrete a hormone that helps induce sleep and neurons send signals to the spinal cord which cause the body to relax and later become essentially paralyzed.”

Bonus: Extra Facts

1. When you are snoring, you are not dreaming.

2. Toddlers do not dream about themselves until around the age of 3. From the same age, children typically have many more nightmares than adults do until age 7 or 8.

3. If you are awakened out of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, you are more likely to remember your dream in a more vivid way than you would if you woke from a full night sleep

The Fight over Egypt’s Future

2012-12-25T05:55:00.004-08:00

Secular opponents of Egypt’s Islamist President Mohammed Mursi warned this week that the country was returning to dictatorship, as Egyptians prepared to vote on a divisive, Islamist-drafted constitution. In Cairo, thousands of the president’s mostly secular opponents protested the proposed constitution outside the barricaded presidential palace, saying that the document paves the way for sharia law. “They’re not Muslims, they're extremists,” protester Nihal Amin said of Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood backers. Mursi responded by signing an order allowing the army to arrest protesters. Egypt has undergone weeks of unrest since Mursi issued a decree placing him self and the Islamist-dominated assemilaly drafting the new constitution above judicial oversight. The president withdrew those edicts last week, but only after the assembly finalized its drafts. The opposition urged Egyptians to vote “no” in the Dec. 15 referendum, but vowed to fight on if the charter is approved.

This constitution “lays the groundwork for an eminently unfree future,” said Frida Ghitis in CNN.com. Its « littered with tiny seeds that can germinate into religious oppression, » declaration that sharia will be the cornerstone of national law and its ban on “insulting prophets and messengers"- clause that could he used to silence opponents.

Obama administration has acted as Mursi’s enabler throughout this crisis said David Ignatius in The Washington Post. It failed to condemn him when he grabbed power through decree, and Obama has stayed silent on this deeply flawed constitution.“It’s crazy for Washington to appear to take sides

against those who want a liberal, tolerant Egypt and for those who favor sharia. But that’s where administration has ended up.

Actually, the constitution isn’t that bad, said Bloombergcom in an editorial. It protects against arbitrary arrest, enshrines freedom of association, and limits the president to two 4-year terms. That’s why the “no” campaign is expected to win 30 percent of the vote at best. The document can be amended by a parliament that will he elected once the constitution is approved. So if the opposition really wants to safeguard democracy, it needs to get its supporters off the street and into office.

An impasse over the ﬁscal cliff

2012-12-25T00:56:00.001-08:00

What happened

With less than three weeks left for lawmakers to avert a fiscal crisis, President Obama and House Speaker john Boehner traded dueling budget proposals this week, but came no closer to a compromise that would avert major tax hikes and spending cuts due totake effect Jan. 1. In direct negotiations with Boehner, Obama and aides slightly lowered their demand for new tax revenue to $1.4 trillion, and reportedly offered to consider an overhaul of the corporate tax code next year.

Republicans made a counter-offer virtually identical to the one they made last week of $800 billion in new revenue, with no increase in the tax rate for the top Z percent of wage earners. Boehner insisted that no progress was possible until the White House offered substantial cuts in Medicare and Social

Security. “Where are the president’s spending cuts?” said Boehner.

Obama said he remained “optimistic” that a comprehensive deal could still be negotiated before year’s end, but said Republicans must ﬁrst agree to a tax-rate increase on the wealthy. Boehner

warned Congress not to make any Christmas plans, and Republicans expressed pessimism that a deal was close. “It’s getting worse, not better,“ said House GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

What the editorials said

Obama is arrogantly demanding total Republican surrender, said The Wall Street journal. Some GOP lawmakers spooked by the president’s blackmail appear willing to “surrender on taxes first” in order to strike a deal on modest entitlement cuts. But Obama’s demand for both higher tax rates and limits on deductions is the “worst possible deal for the economy.” just because Mitt Romney lost the election doesn’t mean Republicans need to “repudiate their core economic principles.” They should stand up to this bully.

Republicans are right that Medicare’s “ballooning expenses” have to be addressed, said the Los Angeles Times. But Medicare’s problems “defy easy solutions,” and it would be wrong to force

across-the-board cuts into a last-minute budget deal. Most of the program’s costs are caused by the soaring cost of health care, and by the health-care system’s gross inefficiency. Almost 40 percent of all Medicare spending, for example, is consumed by just 5 percent of recipients—

mostly in the ﬁnal weeks of life. We need true reform, not just spending cuts.

What the columnists said

Democrats should accept one Republican demand on Medicare—to raise the eligibility age from 65 to 67, said Jonathan Chait in NYlVlag.c0m. Would it save a ton of money? No. But it would give the GOP base the appearance that they’d won a round of “serious belt-tightening” in Washington.

Since Democrats could extract higher tax rates and other key concessions in exchange for the reform, it seems like a “sensible bone to throw the Right.” Actually, that would be “a truly horrible policy,” said Duncan Black in USA Today. Many seniors would retire without insurance, forcing them to buy private insurance or go on Medicaid. Any money the government saved from moving back

the eligibility age would be “more than offset by increased costs to individuals, employers, and state governments.”

Obama is absolutely right to insist on a tax hike for the rich, said john B. Judis in TNR.com. Not only is an increase in the top tax rate supported by the public, it would heIp—not hurt—the economy. A Rutgers University economist recently explained why increases in the top tax rate, like the one that preceded the Clinton boom, stimulate the economy: When the wealthy take home more money, they mostly stash it away rather than spend it. But when wealth is redistributed downward, the middle class spends it “exactly what’s right for the economy. “

Despite all the doomsday rhetoric about the cliff, said Larry Kudlow in Nati0nalReuieu/.c0m, the stock market has actually risen over the past two weeks. Investors can see the obvious, which is that “Obama has the upper hand in this post-election battle.” lt’s inevitable that Republicans will have to make “a strategic retreat“ and accept an increase in the top rate—perhaps negotiating it down to 37 percent instead of 39.6 percent. “Republicans don’t want to be the party of rich people,” so it’s better to yield ground today in return for some spending cuts, and resume the battle over spending, taxes, and deﬁcits in 2013.

Source : the Week US- 21 December, 2012

Scientists Develop a Powerful New Adhesive Inspired by Gecko’s Feet

2012-10-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

For years, scientists have been amazed by gecko feet, which let these lizards produce an extremely powerful adhesive force. Now, Duncan Irschick, Biology, and Alfred Crosby, Polymer Science and Engineering, have discovered exactly how the gecko does it, leading them to invent "Geckskin," a device that can hold 700 pounds on a smooth wall.

Crosby, Irschick, doctoral candidate Michael Bartlett, and colleagues received international scientific and media attention over the past several weeks for their discovery reported in the journal Advanced Materials,of how gecko feet and skin produce an adhesive force roughly equivalent to the 5-ounce animal carrying nine pounds up a wall without slipping. This led them to invent "Geckskin," a device that can hold 700 pounds on a smooth wall. Irschick, a functional morphologist who has studied the gecko's climbing and clinging abilities for over 20 years, says the lizards are equally at home on vertical, slanted and even backward-tilting surfaces.

Geckos easily disengage their grip without leaving any residue on a surface, a highly sought-after quality that the polymer scientists on the team were able to retain in Geckskin. Guided by new understanding of interacting elements including tendons, bones and skin in the gecko foot, they made an integrated adhesive with a soft pad woven into a stiff fabric, Crosby explains, which allows the pad to "drape" over a surface, maximizing contact. Geckskin uses inexpensive materials such as polydimethylsiloxane woven into a synthetic tendon that maintains stiffness and rotational freedom.

Geckskin's combination of bearing heavy loads and being reusable/reversible in dry (not sticky) adhesion offers rich possibilities for new applications such in everyday life as well as in medicine and industry.

The key innovation was to create an integrated adhesive with a soft pad woven into a stiff fabric, which allows the pad to "drape" over a surface to maximize contact. Further, as in natural gecko feet, the skin is woven into a synthetic "tendon," yielding a design that plays a key role in maintaining stiffness and rotational freedom, the researchers explain.

Importantly, the Geckskin’s adhesive pad uses simple everyday materials such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which holds promise for developing an inexpensive, strong and durable dry adhesive.

The UMass Amherst researchers are continuing to improve their Geckskin design by drawing on lessons from the evolution of gecko feet, which show remarkable variation in anatomy. "Our design for Geckskin shows the true integrative power of evolution for inspiring synthetic design that can ultimately aid humans in many ways," says Irschick.

Don’t pay for postage

2012-09-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Save money when you’ r shopping online by avoiding unnecessary delivery charges. Robert Irvine reveals eight easy ways to send free packing.

1- Find free- delivery voucher codes:

http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk
as well as products discounts, many stores offer free delivery for limited period, but they don’t always mention the deal on their websites. To find out which retailers are currently waiving postages fees, check the Delivery pages at MyVoucherCodes anc VoucherCodes.co.uk

When we visited there were tree delivery codes for Debenhams (one day only), pet- suppliers store love pets ( Plus 10 per cent discount) and B&Q. Just enter the code when you reach the checkout to avoid paying for postage.

What’s the catch

You often need to spend a minimum amount to qualify for free delivery. Some stores never offer voucher codes so you’ll only dodge charges at those that do.

2- Buy online, collect in store

www.clickandcollect.org

Many retailers now let you reserves items online and then collect them from their high- street branches. This may sound odd-why not just go the shop in the first place? But it means you can buy products that are stocked in warhouses, but aren’t on the shelves. Also, you’ll often save money by paying online rather then at the till.

Popular services, as listed at Click and Collect, includes Agros Check & Reserve, PC world Collect Store (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/reserve-collect-856-theme.html). Several stores off) and and Homebase Reserve & collect. Several stores offer mobile app so you can reserve items on the move.

What ‘s the catch

Not all the items are available to collect in stores, and your nearest branch may not offer the service. Tesco recently started charging for click and collect and other stores will follow.

1- Tesco recently started charging for click and collect and other stores will follow.

3- Try Amazon Prime for free

www.amazon.co.uk/prime

Amazon’s free Super Saver Delivery option can be slow, with packages taking more than a week to arrive. To get your item the next day, you need to pay £ 5.99fir CDs, DVDs, Books and games, and £ 7,99 for other products. If you’re a frequent shopper, it’s worth signing up for Amazon Prime, which you can try free for 30 days.

Amazon Prime offers free one-day delivery as standard, which means you’re guaranteed to receive your item within 24 hours of dispatch (expect Saturday orders, which arrive on Monday). You can also share your account with up to four people in your house.

What’s the catch

You have enter your card details to sign up for free trial and, once it’s finished, you’ll be automatically charged the annual fee of £ 49 unless you click you click ’Do not upgarde’. Some products are ineligible for one-day Delivery and take up to five-days to arrive using the free First Class option.

4- Arrange deliveries at off-peak times

If you do your supermarket shopping online, you can often save money by booking a less busy delivery time. For example, Sainsbury’s ( www.sainsburys.co.uk ) cuts its charge from £ 5.75 to £ 2.75 for certain one-hour slots, Tesco deliveries are cheaper Monday to Wednesday, and Ocado (www.ocado.com) costs less in the evening (from 9pm onwards) and early in the morning (6am to 7am).

If you’re planning to do big shop, waitrose(www.waitrose.com) offers free delivery all week order over £50, as does Ocado if you spend more then and book a ‘quieter solt’:

What’s the catch ?

The cheaper delivery slots might not be convenient for you. And not every can afford to spend more than £ 50 on groceries per week just to qualify for free delivery.

5- Get free delivery on eBay

www.ebay.co.uk

Although eBay new sets limits on how much sellers can charge for postage and packaging, you can still end up paying over odds for delivery on certain items. To identify and avoid unreasonable fees, it’s worth reordering your search results to display the total cost of the product and postage. Click the ‘Sort by’ menu and choose ‘price + P&P: lowest first’ to list items with free cheap delivery first. This may uncover some bargains you would otherwise have missed.

What’s the catch

Products with free delivery may cost more than those that charge you. Also, sometimes paying for postage one ebay can mean a better-packaged and more swiftly delivered item.

6-Shop on Free Delivery Day

www.freedeliveryday.com

Yes, we know Christmas is still four months aways, but it’s worth knowing that you can save money by buying all your presents on free Delivery Day. The UK equivalent to Free shipping Day in the US ( www.freeshippingday.com ), Which began in 2008, involves hundreds of online stores suspending their postage costs for 24 hours.

The 212 date hasn’t confirmed yet, but last year Free Delivery Day was 9 December and participating merchants included Argos, Boots, Gap, John Lewis and Lego. Enter your email address to receive a reminder nearer the date.

What’s the catch?

Obviously, the main catch is that you only free delivery on one day a year. But it’s definitely worth remembering the date (when it’s announced).

it's summertime in Tunisia

2012-07-26T02:47:00.000-07:00

Summer festivals occupy a major place in the Tunisian cultural scene. For Tunisians, cultural festivals are important, especially for those who cannot leave their cities or travel abroad, since they offer the chance to see both local and internationally renowned artists. As for tourists and expats, these festivals help offer a glimpse into the cultural identity of Tunisian cities.

Whether you are a local, an expat or a tourist, you’re bound to find something of interest with our guide to some of the festivals in Tunisia this summer.

The International Festival of Symphonic Music: El Jem, June 30 – July 17

Music

Founded in 1985, the International Festival of Symphonic Music in El Jem attracts a large and distinctive audience who share a love for classical music. Not only does this festival offer its attendees a rather unique quality of music, it also presents them with the opportunity to experience the haunting beauty of the amphitheater, used centuries ago for gladiator shows and chariot races. The 27^th edition, which runs from June 30 to July 17, features orchestras, including the Rome Symphony Orchestra, and the Arab Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. For more information, click here.

La Fête de la Mer: Mahdia, July 5 – 15

Sport, Art, Culture

Celebrating its 18^th edition, the Festival of the Sea at Mahdia lasts from July 5 – 15. It offers locals and visitors a wide range of cultural and touristic activities, mainly sports tournaments and art galleries, and promotes the city of Mahdia as a summer destination. The Festival of the Sea in Mahdia is also an opportunity for visitors to discover this charming and historic city. The festival’s activities take place in different neighborhoods, including the Medina and the beach.

The International Festival of Carthage: Tunis, July 5 – August 15

Performing Arts

Held outdoors amidst the ruins of ancient Carthage, the International Festival of Carthage is one of the most anticipated cultural events in Tunisia. Starting from July 5, the 2012 festival features a wide range of local and international artists. This year’s highlights include Mika and Alpha Blondy as well as Dhafer Youssef and Trio Joubran. Details and tickets are available on the website.

The Sfax International Festival: July 6 – August 14

Performing Arts

The International Festival of Sfax starts July 6 and continues until August 14. It features Tunisian, Turkish, Syrian, Palestinian and Greek musicians like Badiaa Bouhrizi, and Kamilya Jubran. Some festival shows will be held in Burj Ennar, bringing music into the heart of the medina of Sfax. For more information on the festival (in Arabic) check out their Facebook page.

The International Festival of Bizerte: July 9 – August 28

Performing Arts

Running from July 9 to August 28, the international festival of Bizerte will feature several musicians like Saber Rebai and Bendirman, as well as renowned Tunisian plays, including Raja Farhat’s Bourguiba, la Dernière Prison (Bourguiba, the Last Prison). Not only will the festival offer a diverse selection of plays and concerts, it will also introduce newcomers to the coastal city of Bizerte, famous for its beaches, historic port and beautiful scenery.

The International Festival of Hammamet : July 9 – August 18

Performing and Visual Arts

Ever since its creation in 1964, the International Festival of Hammamet has offered a rich program that celebrates different forms of art, particularly music and theater. This year, the festival lasts from July 9 to August 18. One of the highlights promises to be the Lebanese band Mahsrou’ Leila. The full program will be released on Friday July 6. Stay tuned for updates.

Update: find the program here.

F.E.L.T. reloaded: Gabes, July 9-14

Performing and Visual Arts

Dealing with the themes of cultural decentralization and pollution, the F.E.L.T. festival targets young artists and promotes a culture of creativity, and citizenship. It features a wide range of music including reggae, blues, jazz and rock as well as and art, and runs from July 9 to 14. Check out their Facebook page for more information including a detailed program, which should be available soon.

The Boukornine festival: Hammam-Lif: July 12 – August 14

Performing Arts

Located in Tunis’ southern suburb of Hammam-Lif, the Boukornine festival offers a rich and diverse program starting from the July 12 to the August 14. The motto of the 33^rd edition is “so that the art of dreaming continues.” This year some highlights include Marcel Khalifa and Nassir Chamma. Here is a link to the event.

Summer Nights in Kairouane, July 13 – 4 August

Performing and Visual Arts

The Summer Nights festival focuses on the creativity of young artists and performers. According to Hammadi Baklouti, one of the festival organizers, the event “aims to branch out into all artistic disciplines and to promote a new vision for Tunisian culture.”

The National Festival of Theater, Bizerte: July 26-July 29

Theater

Organized by the Ministry of Culture, the 22^nd edition of the National Festival of Theater will entertain theater enthusiasts with a well-chosen collection of Tunisian plays, including the critically-acclaimed Tu vois ce que j’ai vu (You see what I’ve seen). The festival lasts 4 days starting from July 26. The festival was due to take place in June but has been postponed until July. At the moment there is no website but they should be posting information about other events soon.

The Festival of the Medina, Tunis: Ramadan (dates to be confirmed)

Performing and Visual Arts

The Festival of the Medina of Tunis is an annual music festival held during the month of Ramadan. The festival animates the forgotten and deserted spaces of the old city of Tunis with shows that strengthen the spiritual aspect of the month. Unfortunately, information about this year’s edition hasn’t been released yet, but we’ll let you know when it is. Even without a detailed guide, this festival is best experienced by wandering the streets of the Medina at night. The sights, smells, sounds and crowds of people will lead you to some wonderful and unexpected experiences.

FIFAK: Kelibia, August 25 – September 1

Cinema

The FIFAK is an international amateur film festival organized by the Tunisian Federation of Amateur Filmmakers in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage Preservation and the contribution of the Municipality of Kelibia. Running from August 25 to September 1, FIFAK promotes the work of amateur filmmakers allowing them to share their cinematic experiences with the audience and film critics. FIFAK is the summer destination of hundreds of movie goers, film enthusiasts and students of cinema from all parts of the country and the world. For more information click here.

Pop In Djerba, August 27 – September 2

Music

Down on the beautiful island of the lotus eaters, this festival promises to be one of the highlights of the summer with a terrific lineup of local and international acts across a range of alternative music genres. Tunisian new-folk singer Emel Methlouthi, Kiwis Connan Mockasin, French performers College, Gilb’r and Success as well as the ironically named Egyptian Hip Hop (they are from Britain and don’t play hip hop) are amongst those who have confirmed. Tickets for the three-day event are 80 dinars. Here is a link to their website.

A number of other festivals are likely to be put on throughout the country this summer. However, we’ve been unable at this stage to confirm information on many of them. Some of the ones that the Tourism office have told us about, or that usually happen in the summer include:

Festival of Sidi Bouzid 4-16 July

Fête de la Poisson (Fish Festival), La Goulette, Tunis, July

Hammamet en Fête, July

Summer Festival, Sidi Bouzid, end of July

Fête de la Poisson (Fish Festival), La Goulette, Tunis, July

Festival de la Poterie (Pottery Festival), Gallala, August

Festival de la Sculture sur le Bois (Festival of Wood Sculpture), Ain Draham, August

Festival de la Sirène (Mermaid Festival), Kerkenah Islands, August

Les Nuits de la Marsa, Tunis, usually in August

International Festival of Monastir

International Festival of Sousse

Festival Foussana, Kasserine, August

Tunisia Live

Daoud Rajha, Syria's Defense Minister, Killed In Suicide Blast, State TV Says

2012-07-26T02:44:00.000-07:00

Syria's state-run TV says President Bashar Assad's brother-in-law is among the dead in a suicide bombing in Damascus.

Gen. Assef Shawkat was the deputy defense minister in Syria. He was among the most feared figures in Assad's inner circle. He is married to Assad's elder sister, Bushra.

Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha also was killed in Wednesday's blast. The interior minister was wounded.

State-TV says the bomber struck the National Security building during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials.

Known Universe: Alien Contact

2012-07-26T02:43:00.001-07:00

Are we alone? It’s an age-old question that was relatively “taboo” in mainstream science until the mid-1990s, when astronomers found planets outside our solar system.
Now, Known Universe joins the hunt for alien life as scientists search for planets with similar characteristics to Earth’s.
We’ll take you on a journey to find planets that may support life and show you new space-based technologies that aid in the search for advanced alien civilizations.

Rocketdyne sold to GenCorp for $550 millio

2012-07-26T02:43:00.000-07:00

Rocketdyne's purchase price exceeds GenCorp's value, which puts more jobs are at risk, an aerospace analyst says. Most of Rocketdyne's 2,400 employees work in California.

Longtime Rocketdyne engineer Robert Biggs walks through the company’s Canoga Park facility last year, where machines that once made parts for spacecraft sit dormant. Much of the workforce has been moved to a larger facility nearby. (Al Seib, Los Angeles Times / April 21, 2011)

By W.J. Hennigan, Los Angeles Times

July 24, 2012

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, the pioneering rocket engine manufacturing business in the San Fernando Valley, has been sold by its parent company of seven years to Sacramento aerospace and technology firm GenCorp Inc. for $550 million.

The sale of Rocketdyne to GenCorp marks the combination of two iconic California rocket companies — and longtime competitors. GenCorp also owns Aerojet, the Sacramento aerospace firm founded in 1942.

The deal is the latest chapter of consolidation in the aerospace industry, which has unfolded over the last two decades and has cost tens of thousands of jobs throughout the Southland.

GenCorp's chief executive said the transaction almost doubles the size of his company.

"We see great strategic value in this transaction for the country, our customers, partner supply base and our shareholders," CEO Scott Seymour said in a statement. "The combined enterprise will be better positioned to compete in a dynamic, highly competitive marketplace and provide more affordable products for our customers."

Rocketdyne is no stranger to being sold. The company was formed by North American Aviation after World War II, spurred by the success of the German V-2 missile. North American later merged with Rockwell International, which became part of Boeing. In 2005,United Technologies Corp.bought Rocketdyne and merged it with its Pratt & Whitney unit.

Rocketdyne builds rocket engines for NASA, military rockets and missiles at a sprawling 47-acre facility in Canoga Park. The company is perhaps best known as the maker of the space shuttles' main rocket engines.

Rocketdyne said it had about $750 million in sales last year and has about 2,400 employees nationwide, mostly in California.

Since Rocketdyne's inception, the U.S. space program has been at the core of its business.

Rocketdyne engineers were at the forefront of developing engines in the days of slide rules and drafting tables, before advanced computers took a central role. The company supplied the major engines for the colossal Saturn rocket that put man on the moon.

By 1965, there were about 17,700 people in California working for the company.

At the time, most rocket engines were one-of-a-kind chemistry sets — good for one flight only. But that changed in the early 1970s, when NASA began the space shuttle program. The agency wanted reusable engines to propel the 2,250-ton shuttle assembly as high as 384 miles above Earth.

The company tested its engines in the Santa Susana Mountains, which is now a cleanup site because of health risks associated with soil contaminated by years of rocket and nuclear testing.

The sale of Rocketdyne comes a year after NASA ended its 30-year space shuttle program. Rocketdyne developed, built and refurbished 56 reusable engines for the program in Canoga Park.

The storied site — once swarming with engineers and technicians toiling on various programs — is nearly empty compared with the boom times. The scores of massive machines once humming and churning out parts for spacecraft now sit dormant. Much of the workforce has been moved to a larger facility a few miles away on DeSoto Avenue.

The Rocketdyne sale has been in the offing since March, when parent company United Technologies announced that it needed funds to help finance last year's $16.5-billion purchase of aerospace supplier Goodrich Corp.

GenCorp. said the Rocketdyne purchase price, which is subject to adjustment, is expected to be financed with a combination of cash on hand and issuance of debt. The acquisition still has to clear regulatory approvals before being finalized. The sale is slated to close in the first half of 2013.

Mike Blades, an aerospace analyst with the research firm Frost & Sullivan, said Rocketdyne's price seemed "light" to him. It was expected to fetch about $1 billion, he said.

He also noted that GenCorp is worth about $450 million based on its stock price.

"The company is worth less than what it's paying to acquire Rocketdyne — that's not very common," Blades said. "There would be jobs at risk anyway, but there are a lot more jobs at risk because of the way this thing is set up."

Rocketdyne and GenCorp would not comment beyond prepared statements, which made no mention of jobs.

In the early days of rocketry, a bitter rivalry played out among Aerojet, Pratt & Whitney and Rocketdyne for lucrative U.S. government work. Now the rocket engine makers will compete as one entity in a shifting space industry. NASA and telecommunications companies are increasingly looking to commercial space companies such asSpace Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, in Hawthorne.

On its own, SpaceX builds its Dragon capsule and the Falcon 9 rocket that lifted the Dragon into orbit. By contrast, the overall design of NASA's previous space-going vehicles and their missions were tightly controlled by the government and contracted to aerospace giants like Rocketdyne.

Rocketdyne received good news in September when NASA unveiled its plan to build a heavy launch vehicle capable of sending astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit by 2025. The engine manufacturer will supply both the first- and second-stage liquid hydrogen rockets. But NASA has not provided specific goals or timelines for such missions.

Rocketdyne also still builds engines for Air Force rockets that lift military satellites into orbit.

Brain research confirms dangers of boxing

2012-07-26T02:42:00.000-07:00

New research shows that boxers' brain fluids can change after a fight, indicating nerve cell damage that may not be immediately obvious. The findings give ammunition to those who believe that boxing needs to be better regulated, but for fighters like Swedish Olympic hopeful Salomo Ntuve, they're much less important than a gold medal. Sharon Reich has more.

World News

2012-07-26T02:27:00.002-07:00

Tunisia News

2012-07-26T02:23:00.004-07:00

2012-07-26T02:18:00.001-07:00

2012-07-25T07:49:00.001-07:00

12 Million School children singing happy birthday to Nelson Mandela

2012-07-18T03:24:00.001-07:00

Nearly 12 million school children across South Africa have kicked off celebrations marking the 94th birthday of Nelson Mandela, the country’s deeply loved anti-apartheid icon, with resounding choruses of Happy Birthday.

School assemblies began Wednesday with birthday wishes for Mandela who is expected to spend the day privately at his homestead in the southeastern province with his family.
Tributes to Mandela were pouring in: U.S. President Barack Obama said Mandela "has changed the arc of history, transforming his country, the continent and the world."

Communities in South Africa and around the world will dedicate 67 minutes of the day to charity work and projects for the needy to mark Mandela's 67 years in activism.
South African churchmen and politicians urged people across the country "to make every day a Mandela Day."

A quiet 94th birthday for Nelson Mandela par CNN_International