Science & Technology

Earthquake faults retain a 'sense of memory'

Tim Sandle
Digital Journal
Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:44 UTC

© Creative Commons
This 20 story building in Concepción, Chile, collapsed and fell on its back as a result of the 8.8. Richter earthquake that struck Chile on Feb. 27, 2010.

Why do earthquakes sometimes occur in clusters? This question has baffled geologists for years, but now there is an answer following a new computer model.

The computer model has been devised by researchers from Northwestern University. The model has shown that earthquake faults retain, geologically speaking, a 'sense of memory.'

According to seismologist Professor Seth Stein, in communication with Digital Journal: "if it's been a long time since a large earthquake, then, even after another quake happens, the fault's 'memory' sometimes isn't wiped out, so there's still a good chance of having another."

In these circumstances an earthquake cluster is more likely to occur and thus "earthquake clusters imply that faults have a long-term memory." This 'memory' arises as a result of an earthquake resulting in a significant strain on a fault. This means that some strain remains after a big earthquake has occurred and this can cause another earthquake to follow.

Waking microbes up is key to killing them says new research

Tim Handle
Digital Journal
Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:37 UTC

Many pathogenic bacteria are hard to kill because they are resistant to antibiotics. Other bacteria are resistant because they enter into a state of dormancy. Waking microbes up is key to killing them, researchers argue.

On this basis a group of microbiologists have been working on a means to prevent bacteria from entering a state of dormancy. This involves devising a compound that will disrupt the cellular mechanisms that allow dormancy to begin.

The compound is based on a oxygen-sensitive toxin antitoxin system. Once an organism is active it is easier to kill; specifically most antibiotics work on bacteria that are growing and dividing.

According to Professor Thomas K. Wood, of Penn State University several "environmental stress factors often turn on a bacterial mechanism that creates a toxin that makes the cell dormant and therefore antibiotic resistant."

Bacteria that are contained within biofilms (a community of organisms protected by a 'slime like' film) are the hardest to kill and many are in a dormant state. Biofilms can form in the human gut and by cycling through dormant and non-dormant states pathogens can resist being killed by natural bodily mechanisms like bile, as well as from antibiotics. The focus on biofilms is important given their involvement in many types of infections in people.

New study says moderate cold kills more people than extreme heat

Kip Hansen
Watts Up with That
Tue, 20 Dec 2016 17:56 UTC

Science is a wonderful thing. As time moves on, in a single direction, Science, as an endeavor, discovers new things and improves our lives.

With a "hat tip" to the inestimable Jane Brody, health journalist at the NY Times who covers the story here, we are reminded of the study [free .pdf] from Antonio Gasparrini et al. which was published in The Lancet, July 25, 2015, with the [way too long] title:

"Mortality risk attributable to high and low ambient temperature: a multicountry observational study".

The bottom-line finding, the take home message, might surprise even readers here at WUWT, quoted in the side-bar of the journal article:

Interpretation:

We report that non-optimum ambient temperature is responsible for substantial excess in mortality, with important differences between countries. Although most previous research has focused on heat-related effects, most of the attributable deaths were caused by cold temperatures.

Despite the attention given to extreme weather events, most of the effect happened on moderately hot and moderately cold days, especially moderately cold days. This evidence is important for improvements to public health policies aimed at prevention of temperature-related health consequences, and provides a platform to extend predictions on future effects in climate-change scenarios. [extra emphasis mine - kh]

Scientists may have identified mysterious, metallic sound coming from the Mariana Trench

Megan Gannon
Live Science
Fri, 16 Dec 2016 07:38 UTC

Deep-sea rover exploring the Mariana Trench

An otherworldly noise that was recorded near the Mariana Trench could be a never-before-heard whale call.

Dubbed the "Western Pacific Biotwang," this newly discovered call might be from a minke whale — a type of baleen whale — according to the researchers who documented the vocalization.

Regardless of what species it is, this whale has range: The call includes sounds that span frequencies that reach as low as 38 hertz and as high as 8,000 hertz. Humans can hear sounds between 20 and 20,000 Hz. [Listen to the New Whale Call from the Mariana Trench]

"It's very distinct, with all these crazy parts," Sharon Nieukirk, senior faculty research assistant in marine bioacoustics at Oregon State University, said in a statement. "The low-frequency moaning part is typical of baleen whales, and it's that kind of twangy sound that makes it really unique. We don't find many new baleen whale calls."

Comment: Deep-sea audio recordings reveal Pacific Ocean's noisy Mariana Trench, surprising scientists

Rainbow snake, tiny frog among new Mekong species

AFP
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 19:54 UTC

A rainbow-headed snake, a tiny frog and a lizard with dragon-like horns are among more than 150 new species confirmed by scientists last year in the ecologically diverse but threatened Mekong region, researchers said on Monday.

Winding its way from the Tibetan plateau through the mountains and jungles of Southeast Asia, the Mekong river helps sustain one of the most diverse regions on the planet.

Each year scientists announce new species, after an often lengthy identification process, highlighting how much more there is to learn about the region.

But there are fears many species may die out before even being discovered in an area of the world that is rapidly developing, where rule of law is notoriously shaky and wildlife smuggling rampant.

"The Greater Mekong region is a magnet for the world's conservation scientists because of the incredible diversity of species that continue to be discovered here," Jimmy Borah, from WWF's Greater Mekong team said.

"They are racing against time to ensure that these newly discovered species are protected."

As above, so below: Scientists discover molten 'jet stream' inside Earth

Phys.org
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 17:51 UTC

A jet stream within the Earth's molten iron core has been discovered by scientists using the latest satellite data that helps create an 'x-ray' view of the planet.

Lead researcher Dr Phil Livermore, from the University of Leeds, said: "The European Space Agency's Swarm satellites are providing our sharpest x-ray image yet of the core. We've not only seen this jet stream clearly for the first time, but we understand why it's there."

"We can explain it as an accelerating band of molten iron circling the North Pole, like the jet stream in the atmosphere," said Dr Livermore, from the School of Earth and Environment at Leeds.

Because of the core's remote location under 3,000 kilometres of rock, for many years scientists have studied the Earth's core by measuring the planet's magnetic field - one of the few options available.

Previous research had found that changes in the magnetic field indicated that iron in the outer core was moving faster in the northern hemisphere, mostly under Alaska and Siberia.

Giant manned robot can walk and move hands

RT
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 16:57 UTC

Video of a walking manned robot, undergoing work-in-progress motion tests in South Korea, has emerged online. The machine can be seen tested to move hands and take steps, repeating operator's actions.

The Seoul-based Korea Future Technology company has conducted walking tests for the 4 meter tall, 1.5 ton robot. The machine, resembling those appearing in the Avatar movie, is controlled by a pilot, sitting inside, and repeats his actions.

Comment: More on Kuratas here: Weaponry to Control the Populace? Japan Unveils Armed Super-Robot

Eye of Africa: ISS astronaut snaps bizarre Sahara desert formation

RT
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 13:57 UTC

A stunning image showing off the wondrous spirals of the 'Eye of Africa', also known as the Richat structure, has been captured by French ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The incredible structure, located in the Sahara desert in Mauritania, has a diameter of 50km (31 miles) and was originally thought to be a meteorite-impact crater. Scientists now believe, however, it was formed through erosion.

The phenomenal circular feature has long been a favorite among space photographers.

New photos reveal Russian advanced Sukhoi T-50 fighter plane test-flying

RT
Sun, 18 Dec 2016 21:36 UTC

New pictures of the Russian cutting-edge T-50 prototype fifth-generation fighter jet have been published on the planemaker's official website.

The images were unveiled by the producing Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant and apparently show a first flight of a prototype model of the T-50 (T-50-8). The plane is being developed by one of Russia's leading aviation companies, the Sukhoi, to replace its Sukhoi Su-27 fighter currently in service.

The respective test prototype accomplished its first flight on November 17, the BMPD blog, focusing on the defense industry, reported, though the information was not officially confirmed.

New dwarf galaxy detected orbiting the Milky Way

Tim Sandle
Digital Journal
Sat, 17 Dec 2016 18:13 UTC

The Milky Way (Earth's galaxy) is not alone in the vastness of intergalactic space. Several nearby objects exert gravitational forces upon it, and there may be up to 50 of these objects out there.

A new object has been detected by astrophysicists from Tohoku University (Japan). This object is orbiting the Milky Way. The object has been detected using the advanced Subaru Telescope. At present, the best description of the object is a miniature (or dwarf) galaxy. A dwarf galaxy is a small galaxy composed of anything from 100 million up to several billion stars; while this seems big it is a far smaller number than the Milky Way's 200 - 400 billion stars.

The outside object is too small to be classed as a 'real galaxy' and scientists are debating whether 'dwarf galaxy' is a better descriptor. In terms of size, the Milky Way, according to latest estimates is some 100,000 light years in diameter. In contrast, the orbiting dwarf galaxy is probably only around 124 light years in diameter. It is located over 280,000 light years away from Earth. There is no other information about Virgo's origins.

The detection via the Subaru Telescope is very faint (absolute magnitude of -0.8 in the optical waveband), even accounting for the telescope's power. The Subaru Telescope is a 8.2-metre flagship telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. It is located at the Mauna Kea Observatory on Hawaii. The telescope structure includes an instrument called the Hyper Suprime-Cam, and it was this device that detected the ultra-faint dwarf galaxy.

How to beat a dead horse. Next up, Gay Bond? Gay Star Trek? Gay President? Oh right, we already had that sequel.

bbrebozo

Wonder what the implications are from this for both Southwest and the other airlines doing business in Texas: [Link] BK

Buffalo_Ken

Uummm, dude, maybe you need a better news feed: There is still no “hundred-employee” vaccine mandate Jon Rappoport Oct 13, 2018 [Link]

Good Optics

Fewtile of many. Time cannot be killed. It is fixed. It moves on on its own. It just is. It is time. tick-tock....time. So I reckon in the...

Buffalo_Ken

For one, there is no.... time .....like the present.....so stop killing it ;)

Fewtile

Science & Technology

Earthquake faults retain a 'sense of memory'

Waking microbes up is key to killing them says new research

New study says moderate cold kills more people than extreme heat

Scientists may have identified mysterious, metallic sound coming from the Mariana Trench

Rainbow snake, tiny frog among new Mekong species

As above, so below: Scientists discover molten 'jet stream' inside Earth

Giant manned robot can walk and move hands

Eye of Africa: ISS astronaut snaps bizarre Sahara desert formation

New photos reveal Russian advanced Sukhoi T-50 fighter plane test-flying

New dwarf galaxy detected orbiting the Milky Way

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