Extraterrestrial molecules and the plausibility of life on earth

Latest scientific news with a spectroscopic angle Extraterrestrial molecules – An astronomical infrared study reveals one of the most complex organic molecules yet found in the interstellar medium – anthracene – offering possible new clues to the way the building blocks of life might have emerged. Wrinkles improve spectra – Polydimethylsiloxane can be used to produce wrinkles on a glass surface to pattern lines of gold which are twice as effective as conventional SERS substrates, according to German and Spanish researchers. Chemical communications – A new system for non-electronic communication that can transmit alphanumeric information encoded as pulses of light, over intervals of hours, without needing electricity and so remaining operational even without batteries in remote, hazardous or poor locations.

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Extraterrestrial molecules and the plausibility of life on earth

 Molecules, materials and British science

This is my first batch of delicious science links for this week: Dendrimersome library – A library of supramolecular materials that can form hollow vesicles with potential in therapeutic drug and gene delivery, imaging diagnostics, as well as the cosmetics industry has been developed by researchers in Finland and the USA. Telescopic eye implant – The US FDA has approve a telescopic eye implant for late-stage macular degeneration David Willetts – Science, Innovation and the Economy – What does the British government think of science? Great news for Gulf of Mexico oil companies – US appeals court opens door to new drilling in Gulf of Mexico Sex in the desert – University of Arizona research suggests that sex is nothing more than a very pleasurable way to fix DNA The little flaw in the longevity-gene study – As ever, genetics studies are not as simple as you'd think

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Molecules, materials and British science

 Meatless Monday: The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook by Dr. Neal Barnard and Robyn Webb

Going vegan – it can sound like a scary choice, even to those who have already chosen to follow a vegetarian diet. However, the short and long-term health benefits can be worth giving up old favorites such as scrambled eggs

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Meatless Monday: The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook by Dr. Neal Barnard and Robyn Webb

 Switching off the Intute Spotlight

These are the last physical sciences news headlines I’ll publish for the Intute (previously PSIgate) site. I’ve written for the organisation on a pretty much monthly basis for the last decade, first as PSIgate Spotlight, then as Hot Topics on Intute.

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Switching off the Intute Spotlight

 Daily Roundup: June 17, 2010

Small Talk: Testifying before Congress, BP chief Tony Hayward apologized for the oil spill and, even after relentless questioning, offered no explanation as to why the rig exploded or who was responsible for the failure. New York Times Jungle Fever: Amazonian deforestation increases the number of malaria cases by 50%, says a new study

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Daily Roundup: June 17, 2010

 Harsh Words for Oil Spill

The internet's brightest stars gathered at the 14th annual Webby Awards on Monday to enjoy the event's signature five-word speeches and applaud the year's best websites, online videos, and ads. Recipients' super-short acceptance speeches exposed the important issues and hip topics of the day.

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Harsh Words for Oil Spill

 The push and pull of third world drugs

Diseases can be classified as Type I (those that are incident in both rich and poor countries); Type II (those that are incident in both rich and poor countries but with a substantial proportion in poor countries, for example tuberculosis [and malaria]) and Type III (those that are overwhelmingly or exclusively incident in poor countries, for example, African trypanosomiasis [and leishmaniasis and Chagas' diseases]). Type II diseases are often termed as neglected diseases and Type III as very neglected diseases. -– Public Health Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights, Report of the Commission on Intellectual property Rights, Innovation and Public Health, World Health Organization, Geneva

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The push and pull of third world drugs

 Book Roundup Wednesday: Guides for Greener Homes

Every Wednesday, we review a selection of new and upcoming books addressing a specific aspect of environmentalism. This week we’re recommending books about renovations to make homes more energy-efficient. Toward a Zero Energy Home: A Complete Guide to Energy Self-Sufficiency at Home (by David Johnston and Scott Gibson, $25, Taunton Press, Apr.

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Book Roundup Wednesday: Guides for Greener Homes

 Wine Talk: A World of Rosés

There are few non-sparkling wines as pleasurable to drink as rosé. (Add bubbles to rosé and you’ve got heaven in a glass.) Most rosé is made by leaving the skins of red wine grapes in contact with the clear juice long enough to impart a pink hue.

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Wine Talk: A World of Rosés

 Enzymes, chemicals, and metal vapours

Latest science news from yours truly on SpectroscopyNOW.com Don’t get your kinases in a twist – New drugs that block kinase enzymes irreversibly could be used in cancer therapy as well as in studying how this class of enzymes functions. An informatics analysied has allowed molecular editing to produce novel leads. X-rays spot left and right handed chemicals – US scientists have made a catalyst that triggers the creation of chemical structures exhibiting a difficult-to-make form of chirality, or handedness, known as atropisomerism, they report in the journal Science

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Enzymes, chemicals, and metal vapours

 Canvas Art is Ideal Gift

Our modern society have invented a great number of nice and pretty advanced technological imagery gadgets, like that of photo cameras, CD/ DVD players etc, we can use all of them and to create some cute digital photos. Nowadays you can print the most exciting moments of your life having captured then on digital memory. With just a simple push of the button, you have excelled by taking a qualitative photo nearly every time

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Canvas Art is Ideal Gift

 Eating My Way Through Iceland

Just when you thought you’d heard enough about Iceland this year, I’m here to tell you another tale. Fortunately this one does not involve volcanoes or cancelled flights. This past December, I traveled to the North Atlantic nation for four days of exploration.  Before leaving for my trip I spent time reading all about the country- the diverse geology, the culture, the places to visit, Icelandic curse words, but nothing was as interesting as the food.

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Eating My Way Through Iceland

 Self Inflating Pool Float

Save your breath–and your energy–with the Self-Inflating Pool Float. All you need to do for pool time is unfold, open the valve, watch the polyurethane foam expand, and only use your lungs to reach preferred firmness.

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Self Inflating Pool Float

 His & Hers Chromosome Towels

The bathroom is a common arena for fights between the sexes: “Why is he using my towel?” “Why can’t she find her own towel?” And even though there’s nothing more beautiful than geek love, they are not immune to these arguments either. Settle the score with these matching his and hers–excuse me–XY and XX towels

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His & Hers Chromosome Towels

 Hamilton Beach Snowman Ice Shaver

Cubed ice is nice–if a little common. Chipped ice make a good little alternative. But with the Hamilton Beach Snowman Ice Shaver the possibilities are endless: snow cones, chilled drinks, and frozen juice treats all in one safe, compact package.

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Hamilton Beach Snowman Ice Shaver

 Materials, nanotechnology, iPhone app

Science news links for June 3rd through June 8th, including my latest contributions to Materials Today magazine: Nanotechnology fights cancer – Functionalised single-walled carbon nanotubes, rather than being a health risk, cause T cell antigens to cluster in the blood and stimulate the body's natural immune response. Flat-packed carbon – Synthesising and isolating new forms of pure carbon allotropes, has been the focus of much research during the last two to three decades not least because of the discovery of the fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and more recently graphene. It is the possibility of synthesizing thin films akin to graphene, but with novel connectivity that piqued the interest of researchers in China who have now produced a novel allotrope called graphdiyne

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Materials, nanotechnology, iPhone app

 Colorful Custom Camera Straps

Add a bit of flair to your camera with one of High Key’s colorful camera straps. There are currently over 20 different designs available to choose from and even the option to design your own camera strap

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Colorful Custom Camera Straps

 Testing tests

Teaching is meant to help students learn, usually about a specific subject, but more broadly about social interactions, working in a team, under duress, about life in general. They say that your schooldays are the best days of your lives, but perish the thought I’ve never been one for clichés and that one smacks of sentimental notions about the good-ole-days, as far as I’m concerned. One aspect of institutional learning, the kind to which the vast majority of us have succumbed at some point in our lives is assessment, tests, exams, SATs, O-levels, highers, GCSEs, CSEs, K12 , degrees, vivas etc

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Testing tests

 White Chocolate Banana Nut Bread

I’ve been baking for years. Years and years. Since I was old enough to hold a whisk, I’ve been whipping up pies, pastries, and petit fours like a girl after Martha Stewart’s heart.

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White Chocolate Banana Nut Bread

 Timbuk2 Design Your Own Bag

Give a friend the option to create their own messenger bag design with this $125 Timbuk2 “Design Your Own Bag” gift card. Timbuk2’s design service gives you the freedom to create the perfect bag for your taste and needs

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Timbuk2 Design Your Own Bag