World largest stable synthetic molecule revealed

Dieter Schlüter at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (my home university) announced that his team successfully created the world's largest stable synthetic molecule ever made to date. PG5 has a diameter of 10 nanometres and a mass equal to 200 million hydrogen atoms (Previously, polystyrene was the largest stable synthetic molecule, at 40 million hydrogen masses). PG5 could find applications in delivering drugs, which could either dock to their surface via the different branches, or nestle in the spaces produced by the molecule folding in on itself.

Read more here: Tree-like giant is largest molecule ever made - physics-math - 07 January 2011 - New Scientist

Map of North American English Dialects

Rick Aschmann created a interesting map of North American dialects. Click on the map to see details.

American English Dialects

A Simulation of Everything

The Living Earth Simulator (LES) aims to collect data from billions of datasources to create a simulation of everything that happens on earth. The ambitious (to say the least) project was introduced by Dr. Helbing, of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (my home university), Chair of the FuturICT. FuturICT is a response to the European Flagship call. It intends to unify hundreds of the best scientists in Europe in a 10 year 1 billion EUR program to explore social life on earth and everything it relates to.

An international team of scientists will build the LES that can simulate everything that happens on Earth - from global weather patterns and the spread of diseases to international financial transactions or traffic jams.

At it's heart, the LES is about working towards better methods to measure the state of society, he says, which would account for health, education and environmental issues. "And last but not least, happiness."

Read full article here: BBC News - Earth project aims to 'simulate everything'

The Joy of Statistics by Hans Rosling

The Joy of Stats is a documentary by Hans Rosling that will take you through the wonderful world of statistics.

Upgrade your body at the Bionic Body Shop

A look into the future: What would an online store look like where you can buy body upgrades? Have a look at: The Bionic Body Shop - IEEE Spectrum

Did modern humans originate from Israel instead of Africa?

It has long been believed that modern humans emerged from East Africa 200,000 years ago. Now Tel Aviv University archaeologists have uncovered evidence (for example human teeth (see picture above) that Homo sapiens roamed the land now called Israel as early as 400,000 years ago -- the earliest evidence for the existence of modern humans anywhere in the world. Read full article here: Was Israel the birthplace of modern humans?

Bumble Bees populations declined 96% in U.S.

[Edited from Huffington Post article: Bumble Bees In U.S. Suffer Sharp Decline, Joining Countless Other Species Disappearing Worldwide]

The Guardian reportsthat four common species of U.S. bumble bees have declined 96 percent in recent decades. Honey bees have long been known to be in decline, suffering from the enigmatic colony collapse disorder, and the latest research on U.S. bumble bees only exacerbates concerns over future food production, as bees are responsible for pollinating 90 percent of the world's commercial plants, from fruits and vegetables to coffee and cotton.


-Read blog entry on bee color perception.
-Read blog entry on 21 things you did not know about honey bees.

Unfortunately, insects aren't the only creatures suffering drastic losses to their populations. Tigers could be extinct in 12 years if efforts to protect their habitats and prevent poaching aren't increased. A recent study across three continents showed snakes to be in rapid decline due to climate change. Overfishing and changing weather patterns have left 12 of the world's 17 species of penguins experiencing steep losses in numbers. A recent World Wildlife Fund report found that all animals in the tropics have declined by 60 percent since 1970, with everything from gorillas to fish thinning out.


-Read blog entry on Tigers could be extinct within next 12 years.