So, is popping your joints actually harmful? This will set the myth straight. #popping #joints #harmful - http://clapway.com/2015/09/30/popping-your-joints-harmful123/

This question has been on the minds of many, whether it’s a person who pops their joints for enjoyment or someone who’s set on avoiding the habit altogether because it’s believed to be harmful. For the type of person who enjoys it for the relief or sensational experience it provide, the question of whether it’s harmful or not is an important one. They should be thinking, “Will this action that I purposely do to my body cause me problems in the future?”

Let’s Get A Few Facts Straight

The synovial joint is where the typical popping phenomenon occurs, usually in places like the neck, wrists, fingers, hip, near the ankles, and others. The main attribute that distinguishes synovial joints from other types of joints in the human body, such as fibrous and cartilaginous joints, is a gelatinous substance called synovial fluid, which is encapsulated between bones and connective tissue, creating the joint.

The fluid acts in a very similar fashion to motor oil. Just as motor oil acts as a lubricant between moving parts in a combustion engine, the synovial fluid is a coating between bones that reduces wear and tear between moving parts of the body. Synovial fluid is also home to phagocytes which clean up the trash in this same area. Now, inside this gelatinous substance, there are gas molecules scattered throughout the capsule. When a person “pops” their joint, he or she is actually stretching the bones of the joint further away, which causes these gas molecules to come together forming a bubble with a pop sound. However, the existence of this bubble doesn’t stay long. The pressure of the synovial fluid eventually causes the bubble to burst. The process of the gas molecules becoming scattered throughout the fluid takes a little bit of time, which is why you have to wait again to “pop” your joint.

Is popping your joints actually harmful or is it just a myth?

None of the current evidence shows that the act or process of joint cracking causes any harmful affect. The only assertion that seems to have any grounding is one that suggests that the action increases inflammation, which may cause someone to have a weaker grip over a long period of time. As far as it having a direct influence on the development of conditions, such as Arthritis, scientific investigation has failed to find any supporting evidence.

In fact, a medical doctor, Dr. Donald Unger, implemented his own experiment over the course of 50 years, which involved him popping his left hand knuckles a minimum of twice a day. Using basic arithmetic, this adds up to 36,500 times. Yet, he found no substantial difference in either hand. Dr. Donald Unger even received an Ig Nobel Prize in 2009 for his findings.

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Snap, Crackle, Pop: Is Popping Your Joints Harmful?

Testing for a virus can be quite difficult; often, doctors are not positive about what they are looking for. A new virus test is about to change all that. #virus #virustest #virocap - http://clapway.com/2015/09/30/virocap-virus-testing123/

Testing for a virus can be extremely difficult and doctors are not always certain about what it is they are looking for. But this might soon change, thanks to a team of scientists at Washington University, who have been developing an all-encompassing viral test. The medical breakthrough, currently in its earliest stages of development, has been announced by Dr. Gregory Storch, a pediatrics professor at Washington University in St. Louis, and his team.

Virocap, the Virus Tester

In order to create the test, dubbed “Virocap,” researchers have based their work on a technology used at the McDonnell Genome Institute. Virocap, which has been shown to be effective in lab tests, utilizes genome sequencing to detect viruses in the body and can be used on both humans and animals.

To test its effectiveness, researchers first took samples from sick patients at a hospital and then used Virocap to successfully identify four previously undetected viruses – all of which had gone unnoticed with the current viral testing method implemented at the hospital. However, while Virocap seems successful in its early stages, it still has to undergo many clinical trials before it is made public. Once the test is approved, researchers hope to make it available everywhere in the world, so that any patient can have access to it.

The future of Virocap

Virocap could truly innovate the medical field; for Storch and his researchers, this could translate itself into a Nobel Prize. For people suffering from Ebola, the breakthrough could also eliminate the $1,000 test needed to diagnosed the disease; rather, Virocap can be used to determine what patients are exactly suffering from, and whether or not they are misdiagnosed.

Moreover, the virus test could also act as a preventative measure against various diseases. Consider all the people that contract Influenza every year. Virocap could be used to pinpoint the correct subtype of the disease and aid in the creation of an effective course of treatment. People have also suggested that Virocap can be altered to detect bacteria and other pathogens.

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Virocap: The World"s New Hope For Virus Testing

Every year, over 1 million wildebeests, 200,000 zebras and 500,000 gazelle make their mass migration though East Africa in pursuit of greener pastures. Now, you can watch it unfold without having to travel to Africa. #wildbeest #massmigration #livebroadcast - http://clapway.com/2015/09/30/wildebeest-mass-migration-live-broadcast123/

Every year, over 1 million wildebeests, 200,000 zebras and 500,000 gazelle make their mass migration though East Africa in pursuit of greener pastures. Largely considered one of the great wonders of the natural world, this event unfolds annually, sometime between July and October, starting from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The journey, which runs in a clockwise circle spanning 1,800 miles, has attracted people from all around the world. Now, for the first time in history, the mass migration will also be broadcasted live for our enjoyment.

THE WILDEBEEST MASS MIGRATION STRAIGHT TO YOUR LIVING ROOM

Make It Kenya and HerdTracker have teamed up to provide live feeds of the event twice a day through Periscope and YouTube. The broadcasts, each 10 to 20-minutes in length, will be available until October 5^th.

To partake in the virtual event, users must register their e-mail address with HerdTracker, which will send notifications to remind viewers to tune in. According to Carel Verhoef, the cofounder of HerdTracker, the broadcasts help “those who may not be able to witness themselves the spectacular events that unfold in the Masai Mara, and to showcase to the world the specular event that happens each year in Kenya.”

The live feed will also feature commentary by experts, during which viewers will be able to ask questions that will be answered in real-time: “It’s that Lion King moment brought to life,” stated Herdtracker’s Andre Van Kets.

YEP…THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

Although there are some general movement patterns of the animals, the precise timing of the mass migration cannot exactly be predicted and varies every year. For this reason, HerdTracker, with the assistance of pilots, safari guides and rangers, has also created an app to track the location of the wildebeest migration in real time. As a safari guide himself, Verhoef has often seen people miss the entire mass migration altogether due to unfortunate timing and a bit of bad luck. “We just keep a tab on these things every day and it makes it a lot easier to find them the next day,” states Verhoef.

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First Live Broadcast Of Wildebeest Mass Migration

Nine out of 10 children still don’t eat enough vegetables, despite parents’ valiant efforts. Here"s how to trick them into eating their greens. #kids #vegetables #veggies - http://clapway.com/2015/09/30/kids-vegetables123/

Here’s to parents around the world struggling to get their kids to eat their veggies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nine out of 10 children still don’t eat enough vegetables, despite parents’ valiant efforts to hide broccoli underneath cheese sauce. Luckily, there’s a solution to this problem and no, it doesn’t require a heavy reliance on cheese sauce.

PARENTING 101: HOW TO GET YOUR KIDS TO EAT THEIR VEGETABLES

Researchers at Texas A&M University have uncovered an interesting trend after analyzing plate waste data from 8,500 students. Turns out the main factor that dictates whether or not children will eat their veggies is what else is on their plate.

It’s really simple actually. When a vegetable is paired with a not-so-delicious food item, it is more likely to be eaten. By contrast, when broccoli is paired with chicken nuggets or burgers, the most popular food items among schoolchildren, it is much more likely to be pushed to the side of the plate.

HOW CAN THIS STRATEGY BE IMPLEMENTED IN REAL LIFE?

“Pairings of entrées and vegetables are an important consideration when assessing plate waste among elementary school children,” the researchers state. In fact, applying the pairing technique can help to reduce food waste in school cafeterias. However, for the strategy to work, foods need to be effectively paired together. Some vegetables are easier to market: French fries and tater tots – though arguably considered vegetables – can be served with burgers and pizza. Other veggies, such as spinach and broccoli, might be little more difficult to pair.

In this scenario, Traci Mann, who teaches psychology at the University of Minnesota, advises picky eaters to “get alone with a vegetable.” Without other food items to compare the veggies to, adults and children are more willingly to consume their greens. In fact, using this strategy helped to nearly quadruple the amount of vegetables eaten by kids in school cafeterias. The findings of this study are now published in “Investigating the Relationship between Food Pairings and Plate Waste from Elementary School Lunches.”

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A Simple Way To Get Kids To Eat Their Vegetables

Earth-like planets orbiting close to small stars may possess magnetic fields that can protect their surfaces from stellar radiation. #earthlikeplanets #exoplanet #magneticfield - http://clapway.com/2015/09/30/earthlike-planets-magnetic-fields123/

According to astronomers at the University of Washington, Earth-like planets orbiting close to small stars may possess magnetic fields that can protect their surfaces from stellar radiation. Scientists believe that these magnetic fields, or forces created by electric currents, could be similar to that of our own Earth, which may be conducive to life. The findings are now published in Astrobiology.

EARTH-LIKE PLANETS SHOW SIGNS OF MAGNETIC FIELDS

Researchers were able to come to this conclusion after using computer simulations to model Earth-mass planets in close orbit around low-mass M dwarf stars. Such a star, among the most common in the galaxy, is small and dim, which means its habitable zone – or the region around the star within which planetary-mass objects can maintain liquid water on their surfaces – is relatively close in.

Thus, a planet that orbits very closely to its star may become tidally locked due to the star’s strong gravitational pull. The same phenomenon can be observed in the Moon, which has its near side forever facing the Earth. According to Peter Driscoll, a geophysicist at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C. and the lead author of the paper, this kind of tidal-locking could ultimately heat the interior of earth-like planets.

Would this cause the planets to be “roasted by gravitational tides?” What is the effect of tidal heating on magnetic fields across long periods of time? These were some of the questions that scientists wanted to answer.

WHAT THE DATA REVEALS

Up until this discovery, it was generally assumed by astronomers that tidally locked planets were unlikely to hold protective magnetic fields. Rory Barnes, an assistant professor of astronomy, expected that the tidal heating would actually suppress the planet’s own core heat flow – which is the most important driver of magnetic fields.

Much to the surprise of the scientists, however, the opposite seemed to be true. Based on the collected data, which combined models of orbital interactions and heating with thermal evolution planetary interiors, such magnetic fields could actually be sustained for billions of years – at earth-like levels too; in fact, the more tidal heating a planet experiences, the better its mantle is able to dissipate the heat, which in turn, cools the core and helps to form a strong magnetic field.

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Planets Have Magnetic Fields Conducive To Life

Whether or not you’re health conscious, it’s safe to assume that you already know the dangers of consuming too many sugary drinks. #sugar #soda #heartdisease - http://clapway.com/2015/09/30/sugary-drinks-fructose-heart-disease123/

Whether or not you’re health conscious, it’s safe to assume that you already know the dangers of consuming too much sugar. Sugar laden foods have been associated with a variety of diseases or conditions, such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease. Yet, most of us continue to consume these products, without much after-thought. Now, a new review of study literature is spelling out exactly why we all should permanently ban soda.

THE BREAKDOWN OF SODA AND SUGARY DRINKS

According to the study, now published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, consuming one or two servings of a sugary drink per day raises an individual’s risk of heart disease by 35 percent, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 25 percent and the risk of a stroke by 15 percent.

Although added sugar, usually found in the from of high fructose corn syrup and sucrose, is found in a variety of food products, the major source of it comes from sugar-sweetened beverages, according to Frank Hu of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: “Our findings underscore the urgent need for public health strategies that reduce the consumption of these drinks,” he states.

Today, half of the U.S. population consumes these types of sugary drinks every day; one in four get 200 of their daily allotment of calories from the source and 5 percent get over 500 calories. The problem is that liquid calories aren’t filling and resultantly, people begin to gain weight over time.

Moreover fructose does not behave the same way as other sugars when inside the body. It heads straight to the liver, where it is then converted into blood fats known as triglycerides. Overtime, this can lead to insulin resistance, which is a leading cause of diabetes and heart disease.

The easiest and most obvious way to combat these issues is to gradually wean off of the sugary drinks – whether they are artificially sweetened or not: “If you’re drinking a 20-ounce bottle of soda a day, try a 12-ounce bottle instead. If you’re drinking two sodas a day, try one,” stated Hu.

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FINALLY GIVE UP SUGARY DRINKS WITH THE PAVLOK SHOCK BRACELET:

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Why We All Need To Give Up Sugary Drinks Now

Scientists have discovered a snail so small that ten of them could fit in the eye of a needle. #smallestsnail #china #microsnail - http://clapway.com/2015/09/30/smallest-snail-china123/

The smallest land snail in the world was recently discovered in the Guangxi Province of China by scientists taking soil samples in the area. The “microsnail,” which could easily be mistaken for a tiny pebble, measures a mere .03 inches and is small enough in size that 10 of them can fit in the eye of a needle.

Barna Páll-Gergely, a scientist from Shinshu University in Japan and the co-author of a study that sheds light on the snail, specializes in the research about microgastropods (snails less than .2 inches (5mm) in size). He notes that this is an extremely large and diverse group, and there are still more species left to be identify. In this instance alone, scientists not only discovered the smallest land snail, but also six other different species of microgastropods in the Guangxi Province.

Microsnail discoveries

The smallest microsnail, Angustopila dominikae, is named after the wife of Pall-Gergely. It is gray in color, has a swirling shell structure and can be found clinging onto cliffs of limestone. Researchers believe it is not possible for snails to be much smaller in size, otherwise the organism would not be able to hold its internal organs. Furthermore, a minimum number of cells is needed to survive.

The six other species of snail that were discovered include Angustopila fabella, which measures between .03 and .04 inches. This snail receives the name fabella (latin for bean) because of its bean-like opening. Angustopila subelevata, the next largest in size, measures about .036 inches and is followed by Angustopila szekeresi, which comes in at .04 inches. Hypselostoma lacrima and Hypselostoma socialis are both .05 inches and Krobylos sinensis is around .09 to 0.1 inches.

Are they found anywhere else in the world?

Researchers believe this species of snail, as well as the others, is endemic to the region. This means they can probably be found only in this particular area. It’s not clear why the snails did not evolve to become bigger in size, as this is normally beneficial to the species. Researchers still have a lot to study and learn about microsnails, particularly with a focus on the biodiversity seen in this province of China.

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Smallest Snail In The World Found In China

If you didn’t get to enjoy the lunar eclipse, dread not. Here’s what you missed and can still look forward to. #lunareclipse #supermoon #harvestmoon - http://clapway.com/2015/09/29/sunday-lunar-eclipse123/

If you didn’t get to enjoy the lunar eclipse, dread not. Here’s what you missed and can still look forward to. For those of you who had a chance to take a moment and connect yourself with nature, here are some facts that can reinvigorate you to continue your gazing at the cosmos.

The Lunar Eclipse: An Extraordinary Event

Yes, the sight of the moon was an extraordinary event on the evening of Sunday, September 27^th for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere and here is the main reason why. Our moon was a supermoon and a harvest moon during the actual event of a lunar eclipse. This event last occurred in 1982 and won’t occur again until 2033, the year when high school seniors today will be in their mid-thirties. Keep in mind this fact only regards the combination of a supermoon and lunar eclipse event.

A supermoon is simply the moon appearing bigger to us because it’s actually closer. This occurs when it’s at a point in its orbit around Earth called the perigee, where the moon is closest to our planet, as opposed to the apogee, or the point in its orbit where the moon is furthest from Earth and is smaller.

The basis of this phenomenon is the fact that orbits in space are elliptical or egg-shaped, whether the celestial objects are planets circling stars or moons orbiting planets. Some orbits happen to be more egg-shaped than others. We can thank 17^th century mathematician and astronomer, Johannes Kepler, for this discovery. Otherwise, we’d still be thinking all orbits are uniform and perfectly circle like we did in Aristotelian times. This particular moon last Sunday night happened to be at its perigee while the lunar eclipse unfolded before our eyes. If you missed this, don’t worry. We still have our harvest moon to enjoy tonight and tomorrow.

Take This Chance To Acknowledge The Harvest Moon

The harvest moon phenomenon is sometimes misunderstood as a one-time event. However, this isn’t the case. Wednesday, September 23^rd was this year’s fall equinox and the harvest moon event happens slightly before or after we enter the season for several nights. The time it takes the full moon to rise into the nightly sky becomes shorter and shorter after sunset. The exact opposite happens in spring when the full moon takes longer to rise into the dark sky.

The harvest moon gave our ancestors a couple of gifts for agricultural and survival purposes. For one, it provided extra light in the dark after sunset to continue obtaining the last of their crops to store for the winter to come. And secondly, it served as a warning that winter was coming soon! The harvest moon warning, however, won’t occur for our friends in the southern hemisphere until our spring in 2016.

We invite you to look up and enjoy the rest of the harvest moon this year. Let it inspire you to start bringing out fall decorations such as your cornucopia and autumn wreath. As we move forward, the moon will continue to be cherished and admired as we venture onto our newest discoveries and exciting adventures in space.

Featured Image Courtesy of the Huffington Post

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Did You Get To Enjoy Sunday’s Lunar Eclipse?

A 20-million-year-old flea, preserved in amber, is potentially holding an ancestral strain of the Black Death, one of the world’s deadliest pandemics. #flea #theplague #theblackdeath - http://clapway.com/2015/09/29/bacteria-flea-the-plague123/

A 20-million-year-old flea, preserved in amber, is potentially holding an ancestral strain of the Black Death, one of the world’s deadliest pandemics in human history. The infamous plague claimed the lives of 75-200 million people before peaking in Europe during the mid-14^th century.

ANCIENT FLEA LINKED TO THE BLACK DEATH

According to researchers in a new study, now published in the Journal of Medical Entomology, the bacteria is believed to be an ancient strain of Yersinia pestis, a bacillus that was once carried by fleas on rats. The bacteria were discovered on the proboscis of the flea, as well as inside its rectum.

“Aside from physical characteristics of the fossil bacteria that are similar to plague bacteria, their location in the rectum of the flea is known to occur in modern plague bacteria,” stated George Poinar, Jr., the study author and an entomology researcher. Moreover, “the presence of the bacteria on the proboscis is “consistent with the method of transmission of plague bacteria by modern fleas.”

The amber was found in amber mines in the Dominican Republic, between Puerto Plata and Santiago – once the site of a tropical forest. Although scientists are not 100 percent certain of the relationship between the bacteria and Yersinia pestis, a close examination of the find suggests that they are indeed related. The bacteria on the flea has features that match the modern forms of the bubonic plague bacteria, which can be characterized by their unique shape.

The discovery is causing scientists to rethink the evolutionary history of fleas, which are thought to have become disease vectors around 20,000 years ago. Today, there is evidence that suggests that past outbreaks of the Black Death were actually caused by different strains.

Fossilized flea-like creatures have also been discovered dating back to the Dino Era, which could mean the plague might have been an ancient disease that was “infecting and possibly causing some extinction of animals long before any humans existed.” Who knows…maybe comets are not to blame for the demise of the dinosaurs after all. “Plague may have played a larger role in the past than we imagined,” stated Poinar.

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Bacteria On Ancient Flea Linked To The Plague

The day has finally arrived: Twitter is saying goodbye to its 140-character limit - a company trademark users seem to have a love-hate relationship with. #140characters #characterlimit #twitter - http://clapway.com/2015/09/29/twitter-140-character-limit123/

The day has finally arrived: Twitter is reportedly saying goodbye to its 140-character limit – a company trademark all users seem to have a love-hate relationship with. According to a Re/code report, the social media site is looking to launch a product that will allow users to share content that exceeds the character limit.

IS TWITTER FINALLY BOOTING ITS 140 CHARACTER LIMIT?

Although the details of the project are still fuzzy, it is unlikely that the outcome will be too removed from its main, legacy platform. The move could potentially help Twitter gain a slight edge, after its user growth has remained flat for several quarters. According to Fortune, the website still continues to struggle to explain what it is to new users. The character limit could potentially bring a host of new people to the site, the stocks of which have fallen nearly 30 percent this year alone, as reported by Reuters.

In the past, Twitter has relied heavily on SMS, or short message service (aka text messaging), which is limited to 160 characters. Thus, the character limit was put into place in order to ensure that the Tweet would not be cut off. Although Twitter’s SMS activity is still significant in certain developing countries, most people today rely on apps to access the website. As such, the push to forgo the 140 character limit has been instigated by Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s interim CEO who is currently looking to become Twitter’s permanent CEO.

TWITTER’S STRUGGLE TO STAY ON TOP

In the past, Twitter has also implemented other strategies to maximize the amount of available characters for each tweet – mainly due to popular demand. Back in April, the website added the “Retweet with comment” functionality, which gave users the full 140 characters to work with whenever they “retweeted” or reposted a status. The company also dropped the limit for direct messages back in June.

Moreover, Twitter is reportedly re-evaluating how the 140-character limit should be counted. Excluding user handles and links from the total count have been suggested as possible options, according to Re/code.

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Twitter Says Goodbye To Its 140-Character Limit?

Oh no! #KingCrabs are slowly creeping up on the #antarcticshelf, resulting in a possible change of the ecosystem. All of this is due to #climatechange. - http://clapway.com/2015/09/29/king-crabs-invade-antarctic-shelf123/

Soft-bodied organisms are sitting on the antarctic continental shelf, untouched by other creatures. They have thrived for millions of years due to the frigid temperatures there, which make it impossible for predators to survive. Because of this, the organisms do not have a need for a hard shell, or any other defense mechanism of the sort. Thus, any predator that can survive those conditions would be a threat to the existence of soft-bodied organisms. This is precisely why scientists are so worried about the King Crab.

Changing conditions ideal for King Crabs

While extremely cold temperatures have created a defense barrier for these creatures, the water is currently warming up on and by the shelf. Today, it is about about 1.5 degrees warmer than it was 50 years ago, and King Crabs are starting to taking notice.

Scientists from Florida Institute of Technology have been studying the continental slope, off of the western Antarctic Peninsula, where Professor Richard Aronson and the rest of his team have noticed something out of the norm: king crabs have begun flourishing in this area of the sea floor due to the changing conditions of the water. After testing the water’s pressure, temperature, and salinity, the researchers have concluded that this shallow water has the ideal conditions for the crabs to thrive in. The problem is that their migration would essentially annihilate all of the soft-bodied organisms there.

Paralomis Bersteini, the King Crab

This particular species of crustacean is known as Paralomis bersteini. Unlike the monstrous king crabs that are commonly pictured, Paralomis bersteini only grows to be a few inches long. Although they are known to feed on soft-bodied organisms, they are also able to crack open the outer protective layer of hard-bodied ones. Normally, they can be found in deeper waters in the Antarctic region, where warmer temperatures are prevalent. It is said that they are usually able to live in water about 33 degrees Fahrenheit.

The future for the crabs and the soft-bodied organisms

Going forth, researchers plan on recreating sea conditions in a lab to see how the crabs will be able to handle them. By doing so, researchers believe that they will have a better understanding about the ecosystem of the Antarctic and how it may end up changing as a result of climate change.

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King Crabs Are Invading The Antarctic Shelf

Researchers at Virginia Tech and University of Bristol have found a way to figure out the colors of animals that lived millions of years ago through the examination of fossils. #fossil #melanosomes #VirginiaTech - http://clapway.com/2015/09/29/fossils-colors-extinct-animals124/

Researchers at Virginia Tech and the University of Bristol have discovered melanin in fossil melanosomes. The discovery confirms the theory that melanosomes attached to remains can reveal the original colors of ancient animals. Caitlin Colleary, the lead researcher and current PhD candidate, worked with her team alongside the University of Bristol to conduct the study, the findings of which are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Melanosomes discovered in ancient fossils

The study was initiated in order to help scientists determine the colors of ancient animals and dinosaurs without having to make educated guesses. In 2008, researchers found what they believed to be melanosomes, or organelles that create the pigment melanin, in a fossilized feather. Upon the discovery, researchers thought that they would be able to decipher the original color of the animal by first identifying the shape of the melanosomes. This is due to the fact that melanosomes take on certain shapes depending on what pigment it is producing.

Many, however, were skeptical about this assertion, stating that there simply was not enough evidence to prove that the structures were actually melanosomes, rather than fossilized bacteria.

the study: Fossils and what they can reveal

The study, conducted at Virginia Tech University, eventually proved the initial hypothesis. To carry out the procedure, researchers utilized two different fossilized and extinct 50 million-year-old-bats for their study. Melanin found in the remains allowed scientists to determine the color of the organisms to be a reddish brown shade.

The finding is significant because the color of an animal can provide insight about what behaviors certain organisms had and what kind of environment they once lived in. With the successful results of this study, it is likely that the same procedure will be utilized for future research in order to better understand the world as it existed millions of years ago.

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Fossils Reveal The Colors Of Extinct Animals

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, NASA’s “hub” for assessing the potential of quantum computers, will receive a new addition...#nasa #google #quantumcomputer - http://clapway.com/2015/09/29/nasa-and-google-quantum-computer123/

The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, NASA’s “hub” for assessing the potential of quantum computers, will receive a new addition to its already powerful assortment of hardware. The project, a joint collaboration between Google, NASA and the Universities Space Research Association, will be the end product of a multiyear agreement that will install the D-Wave 2X quantum processor.

INTRODUCING THE D-WAVE 2X QUANTUM PROCESSOR

The state-of-the-art technology is the most powerful computer of its kind, with over 1,000 qubits, according to The Verge. Due to the nature of its processor, the machine is only capable of operating at extremely cold temperatures – usually around 15 millikelvin. For comparison’s sake, that’s colder than space.

D-Wave Systems Inc. is the world’s first quantum computing company, based in British Columbia, Canada. The new upgrade will tackle optimization problems that are encountered in developing artificial intelligence and aeronautics technologies. According to Vern Brownell, the CEO of D-Wave, the machine will be “the largest order in D-Wave’s history, and indicative of the importance of quantum computing in its evolution toward solving problems that are difficult for even the largest supercomputers.”

The previous generation of the D-Wave 2 system was installed at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. Since 2013, the 500-qubit computer has been used by scientists at Google, NASA and USRA. The new technology, however, will nearly double its predecessor’s capability.

QUANTUM COMPUTING AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

According to NASA QuAIL, quantum computing could potentially solve a problem in a few days, whereas traditional computers might take millions of years to handle the same task. Its computational system relies on quantum bits or qubits, which can represent a zero, a one or both values simultaneously. Classical computers, on the other hand, utilize bits that must have a value of zero or one.

Quantum computing could drastically impact the future of web search, air-traffic management and space travel, among other domains. However, D-Wave’s approach to quantum computing thus far has not yielded significant evidence of an “exponential increase in computing power,” known as “quantum speedup.” Regardless, the new machine will undergo some testing.

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NASA And Google Develop New Quantum Computer

Researchers have found that the "Angelina Jolie effect" has real-world consequences. A new study from Austria suggests that celebrities" health problems may help increase awareness when they make headlines. #breastcancer #AngelinaJolie #mastectomy - http://clapway.com/2015/09/29/angelina-jolie-effect-cancer-prevention123/

Researchers have found that the ‘Angelina Jolie effect’ has real-world consequences. A new study from Austria suggests that celebrities’ health problems may help increase awareness when they make headlines.

Oscar-winning film star, Angelina Jolie, announced her breast removal surgery to prevent cancer in May 2013. The actress’ double mastectomy and reconstruction has raised awareness of cancer treatment, researchers said.

The Angelina Jolie effect

Women reported that they had a better understanding of breast removal and reconstruction options after Jolie’s experiences were conveyed to the public. Researchers said that the current study is the first of its kind conducted among the general public to “measure a quantifiable media-related effect on public awareness.”

“The key finding was that Mrs. Jolie’s announcement did indeed affect the public opinion going beyond gene-positivity [and] actually improving the awareness that breast reconstruction can be achieved with the use of one’s own tissue and that it can be done during the breast-removal operation,” said Dr. David Benjamin Lumenta, of Medical University of Graz.

Pre and Post Angelina Jolie’s announcement

For the study, the researchers used data collected from 1,000 women recruited online before and after Jolie’s announcement. Following Jolie’s statement, researchers noticed an increase in the percentage of women who were aware that breast reconstruction is possible and that it could be done using a woman’s own tissue. A larger jump — from about 41 percent to about 60 percent — was noticed in consideration to the number of women who knew that breast removal and reconstruction could be done during the same surgery.

Breast cancer and Angelina Jolie

In light of the results of the study, researchers have begun to beg the question: Can stars encourage people living with different conditions to talk about it and bring it out of the shadows? One in five of the women taking the poll indicated that the media’s coverage of Jolie’s announcement made them ‘deal more intensively with the topic of breast cancer’.

“The general public … have obtained most of their information about health and disease even before consulting a specialist, in most cases without specific background knowledge,” Lumenta said. “The medical profession deals more than ever with this growing amount of information and it is in our hands to assist patients in making the right choice for their particular situation.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the United States in 2015. At this time there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

What do you think of the ‘Angeline Jolie effect’? Share your views in the comments section below.

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The Angelina Jolie Effect On Cancer Prevention

The Veil Nebula formed about 8,000 years ago after the death of a star 20 times the size of the Sun in a supernova explosion. #NASA #HubbleTelescope #VeilNebula - http://clapway.com/2015/09/28/hubble-telescope-light-show-veil-nebula123/

The Veil Nebula formed about 8,000 years ago after the death of a star 20 times the size of the Sun in a supernova explosion. Now, a new set of Hubble Telescope videos reveal clear images of its violent beauty. The explosion, lightning fast, plowed into a wall of cool, dense interstellar gas, emitting light. The Nebula is along the edge of a large bubble of low-density gas that was blown into space by the dying star before it exploded.

The remnants of the destroyed star are multicolored and stunning, showing a colorful cloud of material that is 110 light years wide and about 2,100 light years from Earth. It’s located in the constellation called Cygnus, or The Swan Nebula.

Where Does the Color Come From?

According to the European Space Agency, in a statement about the new footage, astronomers suspect that before the Veil Nebula’s source star exploded, it expelled a strong stellar wind, which blew a large gravity into the surrounding interstellar gas. As the shock wave from the supernova expands outwardly, it runs into the walls of this chamber, and forms the nebula’s distinctive features. Bright filaments are produced as the shock wave interacts with a relatively dense cavity wall, and fainter structures are generated by regions that are almost devoid of material.

The Veil Nebula’s colorful features are made up of variations in temperature and density of the chemical elements in its cloud. The blues in the images contain hotter gas and ionized oxygen, while the glowing greens come from ionized sulfur and reds indicate glowing ionized hydrogen, according to researchers.

The Images And The Video of the Veil Nebula

This image shows a small section of the Veil Nebula, as it was observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This section of the outer shell of the famous supernova remnant is in a region known as NGC 6960 or — more colloquially — the Witch’s Broom Nebula.

The new footage comes from six combined Hubble images, although it shows only two years of the massive cloud. The Hubble Telescope photographed the Veil Nebula in 1997, taken by Hubble’s Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, while the newer images were taken by the Wide Field Camera 3, initially installed in 2009. The new images show an expansion to the Nebula in the past 18 years, and NASA asserts it will continue to expand as more time passes.

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WHO ISN’T CRAZY ABOUT SPACE?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdcU4nKKV2E

Hubble Telescope Captures Veil Nebula Light Show

In certain perplexing circumstances, smokers seem to remain healthy, despite their continued use of cigarettes and tobacco products. Why is this so? #lungcancer #smokers #tobacco - http://clapway.com/2015/09/28/long-term-smokers-tobacco123/

Long-term exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with the vast majority (80%-90%) of lung cancer cases. Yet, in certain perplexing circumstances, smokers’ lungs seem to remain healthy, despite their continued use of cigarettes and tobacco products. Now, British scientists at the Medical Research Council in the United Kingdom might have an explanation as to why this is. The study findings were presented at the annual European Respiratory Society meeting and are now published in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

GENETICS AND SMOKERS: THE LINK

According to Martin Tobin, a study author and professor of genetic epidemiology, “Smoking is the biggest lifestyle risk factor for [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease]”, which makes it progressively harder for an individual to breath. Genetics, however, also play a big role in whether or not the disease is acquired. According to the results of the study, certain people are considered at less of a risk of COPD due to genes which largely affect how the lungs might recover from an injury. Non-smokers, by contrast, can also be predisposed to the condition.

HOW THE SMOKING STUDY WAS CARRIED OUT:

The findings could potentially aid researchers in the search for better treatments for COPD and other diseases similar to it. The scientists were able to come to this conclusion by analyzing lung health data from 500,000 patients enrolled in the UK biobank, which currently examines the contribution of genetics and the environment to the development of disease. Of the 500,000 participants, 50,000 people, including smokers and non-smokers between the ages of 40 and 69, were specifically chosen for their lung health status.

Scientists then compared the data with 28 million genetic variants found in each person to find six associations related to a person’s ability to force air out of the lungs. The genetic variants are also associated with COPD, even in individuals with no history of smoking. Moreover, scientists discovered parts of the genome that were not previously associated with lung health. The results will help researchers develop adequate treatments with less side effects for lung diseases, and may also help smokers quit in the future.

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KICK ALL YOUR BAD HABITS WITH THE PAVLOK SHOCK BRACELET:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEp9yODNjy4

Why Long Term Smokers Are Unaffected By Tobacco

Computer-aided detection (CAD), a technology used in almost all mammograms, does not seem to improve diagnostic accuracy during breast cancer screenings, according to a new study. #breastcancer #CAD #mammogram - http://clapway.com/2015/09/28/breast-cancer-cad123/

Computer-aided detection (CAD), a technology used in 90% of all mammograms today, does not seem to improve diagnostic accuracy during breast cancer screenings, according to a new study led by Dr. Constance Lehman of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Despite its approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 1998, it has been difficult to ascertain how much of a difference CAD actually makes with regard to cancer treatment.

CAD (Computer-aided detection): what are the benefits?

Today, CAD is used by doctors to interpret medical images and highlight areas of concern that radiologists might miss otherwise. Its adoption into common medical practice has been wrought with controversy as prior studies of the technology were conducted during the very early phases of utilization.

For this particular study, Dr. Lehman, along with her team, considered mammograms that had been reviewed by radiologists who had been working with CAD for a minimum of a year, according to Reuters. Between 2003—2009, roughly 324,000 women in the study had nearly 626,000 digital screen mammography exams. Of this number, 495,818 were interpreted with CAD and 3,159 were later diagnosed with breast cancer a year after the screening. Radiologists, however, were able to accurately detect breast cancer around 85 percent of the time whether or not the technology was implemented; in some cases, the detection rates were even lower with CAD.

The finding is concerning as CAD now costs more than $400 million annually and in many cases, women are paying for the examination out of their own pockets. “We should certainly stop charging for it. We want to use our health-care dollars on technology that will improve the health of our patients,” states Lehman.

Study authors state that radiologists should be mindful when using CAD, as an area could be problematic, even if it isn’t marked. The results, now published in JAMA Internal Medicine, have also been backed up by two previous studies. However, both of those studies were criticized because they involved either older versions of the technology or older women as study participants. The present study is considered to be one of the largest concerning the topic.

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CAD May Not Detect Breast Cancer In Patients

According to researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, some pairs of rabbitfish appear to “watch each other’s back.” #cooperation #rabbitfish #socialskills - http://clapway.com/2015/09/28/rabbitfish-friends-humans123/

Although some species of fish like to swim together in large, seemingly social schools, marine biologists have generally assumed that fish did not have the mental capacity to co-operate; in fact, the ability to do so was believed to an “advanced” social skill that required a certain level of cognitive development. Scientists, however, have found new evidence that seems to suggest otherwise. The findings are now published in the Nature Scientific Reports journal.

FISH HAVE FRIENDS: THEY CAN COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER

According to researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies in Queensland, Australia, some pairs of rabbitfish appear to “watch each other’s back,” particularly while foraging for food. Dr. Simon Brandl, one of the researchers, states that this behavior is “so far unique among fishes and appears to be based on reciprocal co-operation between pair members.”

In this form of cooperation, one fish will act as a “look out” by assuming a stationary position in the water while the partner feeds. Solo hunters, in comparison, behave rather differently. Rabbitfish with a foraging partner will take more “consecutive bites and penetrate deeper into crevices,” which provides obvious benefits for the species.

COOPERATIVE RABBITFISH SHIFT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FISH SPECIES

The discovery has come as a big surprise to researchers who have regularly debated about whether or not social cooperation – commonly found in primates – is practiced amongst species that do not possess a high level of cognitive development. Although birds and other mammals are known to assist each other, there has not been strong enough evidence to prove that fish are also capable of this ability.

“By showing that fishes, which are commonly considered to be cold, unsocial, and unintelligent, are capable of negotiating reciprocal co-operative systems, we provide evidence that co-operation may not be as exclusive as previously assumed,” Dr Brandl stated. In fact, rabbitfish appear to coordinate their activity rather strictly. Interestingly enough, this discovery might eventually influence or change the way scientists research and “ethically deal” with fishes.

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Rabbitfish Make Friends Just Like Humans Do

The teenager bought the camellia sinensis green tea in an attempt to a shed a few pounds. The patient stated that she was, "drinking about 3 cups a day, [until I] started having horrible pains in my joints, and felt very dizzy and sick." #greentea #weightloss #supplements - http://clapway.com/2015/09/28/online-supplements-green-tea132/

We’ve all heard the grim news about weight loss products and similar supplements that can be purchased from the Internet: apparently they can kill you. Just recently, Chinese green tea bought online caused acute hepatitis in one 16-year-old girl. The case report was published on September 23rd, 2015 in the British Medical Journal Case Reports.

THE DANGERS OF ONLINE SUPPLEMENTS

The teenager bought the camellia sinensis green tea in an attempt to a shed a few pounds. The patient stated that she was, “drinking about 3 cups a day, [until I] started having horrible pains in my joints, and felt very dizzy and sick.”

Upon admission to the hospital and physical examination, she was diagnosed with a 37.6°C temperature, a 124/78mm HG blood pressure and a heart rate of 98 bpm. She was visibly jaundiced and was diagnosed with severe acute hepatitis. The good thing about acute hepatic conditions is that they are easily reversed within a relatively short period of time with the right treatment. Hence, after cessation of green tea consumption, admission to the hepatology portion of the hospital, and introduction of intravenous fluids, her acute condition was resolved.

After such a near-death experience (could have caused liver failure if tea was continuously consumed), this young lady realized that she, ” will never buy any online tea again or any weight loss pills. People should be more aware of what they are buying and the side effects.” In addition, scientists advise consumers to compile comprehensive research on online substances or supplements before consuming the product, especially if it is purchased online.

Despite what a supplement promises to do, everyone should know to be very wary of anything that is purchased online; now you can add green tea to that list. The complete article can be read full text on the BMJ website.

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Online Green Tea And Supplements Can Kill You

Divers off of the coast of a Greek island on the edge of the Aegean Sea have recently uncovered a treasure trove of artifacts in the Antikythera shipwreck. #AncientGreece #Artifacts #AntikytheraShipwreck - http://clapway.com/2015/09/28/antikythera-shipwreck-greek123/

Divers off of the coast of Antikythera, a tiny Greek island lying on the edge of the Aegean Sea, have recently uncovered a treasure trove of artifacts. The relics come from an ancient Greek shipwreck that the famous Antikythera mechanism was once recovered from.

Now scientists from Greece, Australia and the United States are working together to unravel another piece of Greek history. Thus far, marine archaeologists have recovered more than 50 items, including the remains of a bone flute, glassware and ceramics, a bronze armrest, a pawn from a board game, and part of what scientists believe to be a throne.

According to Dr. Brendan Foley, the co-Director of the project, “This shipwreck is far from exhausted. Every single dive on it delivers fabulous finds, and reveals how the ‘1 percent’ lived in the time of Caesar.”

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ANTIKYTHERA SHIPWRECK

The famous ship, circa 65 B.C., was first discovered by sponge divers in 1990. During that time, the fishermen were able to retrieve dozens of luxury items, fragments of sculptures and statues, as well as the remains of the ship’s passengers and crew members. Perhaps the most famous artifact, however, is the Antikythera Mechanism, which is considered by many to be the first computer in the world. It is designed to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendrical and astrological purposes.

Foley and his team are part of a long-term research program and on-going scientific excavation of the wreck, first launched in 2014. To aid in the excavation process, scientists utilized an autonomous robotic mapping technique that created 3D virtual reconstructions of the artifacts. By utilizing the same technology, scientists expect to continue to uncover ancient artifacts and relics that are currently buried in the seafloor. In the meantime, scientific analyses are being carried out on the existing artifacts, which may assist researchers in recreating the history of the ship and in turn, the history of Ancient Greece.

“We were very lucky this year, as we excavated many finds within their context, which gave us the opportunity to take full advantage of all the archaeological information they could provide,” states Dr. Theotokis Theodoulou, a diving archaeologist.

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Antikythera Shipwreck Yields More Greek Relics

Medical students have been donning simulation suits, with the hope that the technology will teach them how to become more empathic. #simulationsuits #medicine #empathy - http://clapway.com/2015/09/28/students-empathy-simulation-suits123/

Medical students are constantly under pressure when it comes to learning about the physical components of a body and understanding how it works. The stress that comes along with the need to absorb this information tends to create a more calculated approach to patient care. This is effective to a point, but can often lead to a lack of communication between patients and doctors.

This is why researchers at the University of Lublin in Poland want to ensure that doctors are also aware of the emotional factors that come into play. To accomplish this, medical students have been donning simulation suits, with the hope that the technology will teach them how to become more empathic. This will help them understand what patients are going through, which will, in turn, allow the students to know how to better care for and communicate with their patients.

Going through the simulated motions

No matter how many textbooks doctors manage to read about certain conditions or illnesses, suffering through a medical issue is a completely different experience for a patient. As such, the technology is anticipated to become a useful tool for doctors in training. Students, for instance, can participate in various simulations, which will help them understand the experiences of an elderly person.

The simulation suits were developed in Japan by Koken, a company that also creates a variety of other innovative medical simulations products. The suit, in particular, can brace the knees, wrists, and elbows, making it extremely difficult for the user to walk. It can also strain the muscles, thereby recreating the pain of the aging process. Moreover, the suit includes goggles that simulate vision impairments, such as glaucoma, as well as ear buds that block higher frequency sounds that the elderly cannot hear due to hearing loss.

Simulation Suits: Applications to the real world

Aside from using these simulation suits, medical students must also complete an entire simulation involving mannequin patients. During this process, doctors-in-training will go through the motions of an actual hospital, without ever touching a real patient. This is to ensure that students are fully prepared to take care of their patients.

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Students Learn Empathy With Simulation Suits

The United States is proud of its agricultural heritage, but what if you were told that the industry’s pollution killed over 16,221 people in just one year? #airpollution #animalagriculture #cowspiracy - http://clapway.com/2015/09/28/cowspiracy-air-pollution123/

Air pollution is killing 3.3 million people a year worldwide, according to a new study, but there’s an exterminator that is often overlooked by mainstream media: farming.

When farming kills

Scientists in Germany, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia and Harvard University have calculated the most detailed estimates to date of the toll of air pollution, looking in particular at the causes behind it.

In Northeastern U.S., all of Europe, Russia, Japan and South Korea, agriculture is the No. 1 cause of soot and smog deaths, according to the study. Worldwide, it’s No. 2.

Yet, in spite of the huge amounts of animal waste that factory farms produce, they have largely escaped pollution regulations; loopholes in the law and weak enforcement share in the blame, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Air pollution and agricultural emission

Lead author of the study, Jos Lelieveld of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Germany, reinforced this point, stating that agricultural emissions are becoming increasingly important, but are very little regulated at the national and global level. Giant livestock farms, which can house an army of pigs, chickens, or cows, produce vast amounts of manure, often generating the waste equivalent of a small city, according to NRDC.

The United States is proud of its agricultural heritage, but what if you were told that the industry’s pollution killed over 16,221 people in just one year?

Cowspiracy: The Sustainable Secret

A recent documentary, Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, now available on Netflix, asks why most leading environmental organizations are ignoring one of the leading causes of environmental damage.

Growing food organically, making homes more water efficient, driving electric cars and installing LED lights will not make a difference unless we also confront the nightmares of animal agriculture.

According to the movie, animal agriculture uses 55 percent of the water in the U.S. and is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, while all forms of land, air and ocean transportation total only 13 percent.

Everyday, 144 million animals are killed for food worldwide. U.S. farm animals produce 7 million pounds of excrement every minute and the average American consumes 209 pounds of meat each year. This means that ammonia from fertilizers and animal waste is becoming a leading killer of ecosystems, wildlife and humans, while too many environmental groups are keeping their mouths shut.

Going Vegan

Ranchers reacted to the documentary stating that the industry needs to “beef” up on their production facts “to help balance out the conversation about sustainability and animal agriculture”.

But this hasn’t stopped the film from triggering major behavioral change among young adults. The Cowspiracy Facebook page has almost 94,000 likes and a good number of people have declared an instant conversion to veganism after watching the documentary.

What do you think of Cowspiracy and the air pollution generated by animal agriculture? Share your views in the comments section below.

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Cowspiracy: Air Pollution We Don"t Talk About

Big news from the NASA Mars team today. There is now strong evidence of at least occasional surface water on Mars! Let that sink in for a minute. #extraterrestriallife #Mars #NASA - http://clapway.com/2015/09/28/nasa-confirms-salt-water-on-mars123/

Big news from the NASA Mars team today. There is now strong evidence of at least occasional surface water on Mars! This is especially exciting in light of recent reinterpretation of old evidence that has lead scientists to believe that Mars contains organic molecules.

Let that sink in for a minute. We now know that Mars has both water and organic molecules!

Image taken by Hubble Telescope (NASA)

For a detailed analysis of the new information, see The Visionlearning Blog, where staff writer David Warmflash landed an inside scoop and broke the story this morning. The new data are revealed in a paper by Lujendra Ojha and colleagues published today in the journal Nature Geoscience.

The idea of water on the surface of Mars is an old one. Astronomers in the 1800s saw black lines on the Martian surface and thought they could be rivers or even canals constructed by intelligent life forms. However, it has been known for many decades that Mars has an extremely thin atmosphere and so there is negligible atmospheric pressure on the surface. This means that water evaporates far more quickly than it does on Earth. No pressure; no water. By the 1970s, photographs from space probes confirmed that the black lines do not contain running water.

Image taken by Viking 1, 1980 (NASA)

However, new data has confirmed something has been speculated previously: the Martian surface has a great abundance of an ion called perchlorate.

So what, you ask? The presence of perchlorate changes the story because if water ever emerged on the surface of Mars, say from an underground reservoir, it would have a high concentration of dissolved perchlorate and be extremely salty. Very salty water has different properties. For starters, it does not vaporize nearly as easily, even at low atmospheric pressure. In other words, the presence of perchlorate means that water would persist on the surface much longer than previously thought.

If water did persist for extended periods of time on the Martian surface, it would collect into steams and flow down hills and mountains, just like bodies of water on Earth. Over time, flowing creeks and rivers would cut lines into the surface of Mars, which would remain visible even after the river ran dry. Those black streaks on Mars may be the scars left by dried up rivers. If they are, we would expect an even higher concentration of perchlorate within the black lines, as salt left behind from the evaporating rivers.

Image taken by Mars Global Surveyor (NASA)

That is exactly what Ojha and colleagues found! The high concentration of perchlorate within the black streaks on Mars is strong evidence that water has flowed on Mars in the recent past. This argues that there must be sub-surface sources of liquid water. While the surface water would be far too salty to support life as we currently understand it, the hidden sources of water could be very different. There could be small lakes or even vast oceans of liquid water under the surface. Protected from the temperature extremes and harsh solar radiation on the surface, who knows what interesting things are lurking?!

Image taken by Mars Global Surveyor (NASA)

The other big implication of the confirmation of abundant perchlorate on Mars is that it may tell us that there are organic molecules on Mars after all. The only organic molecules found by the Viking missions in the 1970s and 80s were trace amounts of chloromethane and dichloromethane. Since these are both common compounds in industrial cleaners, scientists assumed these were contaminants brought by the Viking landers themselves.

However, once again, the presence of perchlorate on the surface of Mars changes this interpretation also. When organic compounds are treated with perchlorate, among the most common products are chloromethane and dichloromethane. This means that the organic compounds that the Viking landers detected all those years ago may have been Martian in origin after all!

The issue of water and organics on Mars will be explored and debated by the scientific for years to come, but there is no denying that the search for life on Mars just got a huge boost.

Nathan H. Lents (@nathanlents)

BREAKING NEWS: NASA Confirms Salt Water on Mars

What Is Inside Your Leather Objects? #disturbinginsides #fleshylookingobjects #harmedanimals - http://clapway.com/2015/09/27/what-is-inside-your-leather-objects/

Chinese artist, Cao Hui, uses resin and fiber to produce life-like sculptures that look like real flesh. In his artist’s statement, he writes, “Increasingly uneasy and dissatisfied with merely describing surface appearances, artists now attempt to plumb the inner reaches of things; an agenda that apparently moves into science or other fields.”

More info: linlingallery.com (h/t: designboom)

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What Is Inside Your Leather Objects?

Who doesn"t love Lego bricks? With EverBlock, you can create crazy, life-sized objects. The only limitation is your imagination. #bricks #giantlego #furniture - http://clapway.com/2015/09/27/build-your-own-furniture-with-these-lego-bricks/

Who doesn’t love Lego bricks? With EverBlock, you can create crazy, life-sized objects. The only limitation is your imagination. Express yourself in any way you choose!

More info: everblocksystems.com

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Build Your Own Furniture With These Lego Bricks

Dane Lane, a Kansas photographer, spent months photographing the Milky Way over Yellowstone Park. #milkyway #nightsky #yellowstone - http://clapway.com/2015/09/27/this-milky-way-will-take-your-breath-away/

Dane Lane, a Kansas photographer, spent months photographing the Milky Way over Yellowstone Park. The process was often exhaustive and very technical. Sometimes, Lane had to combine up to 16 shots in order to get the image he was seeking.

His advice? He writes, “Get away from the light drive out 20-30 miles out of town and look up on a clear dark night and you may see something that will forever change your life. This is what a galaxy looks like from the inside.”

More info: davidlaneastrophotography.com | Facebook | 500px (h/t: demilked)

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This Milky Way Will Take Your Breath Away

The following photos were taken in Papua New Guinea and feature the biggest tribal gathering in the world. #musicanddance #papuanewguinea #tribalgathering - http://clapway.com/2015/09/27/photos-of-the-biggest-tribal-gathering/

The following photos were taken in Papua New Guinea and feature the biggest tribal gathering in the world. According to photographer, Fabien Astre, the event happens every year in the highlands of the country in a town called Goroka. The festival last for 3 days. During that time, thousands of people come from all over the country to share the traditional way of life from the different tribes.

 

More info: Facebook | fabienastre.com

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Photos Of The Biggest Tribal Gathering

This "back-to-nature" mobile office (caravan) was designed so that a person can do work while simultaneously staying outside in the wilderness. #convertcaravan #wilderness #officespace - http://clapway.com/2015/09/26/how-to-convert-a-caravan-into-an-office-space/

This “back-to-nature” mobile office (caravan) was designed so that a person can do work while simultaneously staying outside in the wilderness. It runs on solar energy and has enough electricity to charge essentials such as a laptop and phone. It even has a comfortable couch and an espresso machine!

More info: kantoorkaravaan.nl

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How To Convert A Caravan Into An Office Space

Tim Dodd is a wedding photographer from Iowa, who bought an old Russian astronaut’s space suit in an auction. #theeverydayastronaut #spacesuit #timdodd - http://clapway.com/2015/09/26/how-to-use-an-old-russian-space-suit/

Tim Dodd is a wedding photographer from Iowa, who bought an old Russian astronaut’s space suit in an auction. Following his purchase, he decided to take pictures of himself wearing it (since he cannot use it for its original purpose). Check out his Facebook page, The Everyday Astronaut.

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How To Use An Old Russian Space Suit

David is an illustrator from Lithuania, who created "traveling illustrations" using a digital watercolor technique. #postcardtype #travelingillustrations #watercolor - http://clapway.com/2015/09/26/watercolor-around-the-world/

David is an illustrator from Lithuania, who created “traveling illustrations” using a digital watercolor technique. They are “fairly simple postcard-type images,” however, they depict some great moments of life experienced through travel.

More info: davidbou.com

1. Paris, France

2. Vilnius, Lithuania

3. Baja California, Mexico

4. Fields Of Ireland

5. Nevada, USA

6. Jasper, Canada

7. Rotterdam, Netherlands

8. Island Of Tuvalu

9. Rainy Evening In Lithuania

Watercolor Around The World