NASA’s Curiosity Rover Finds Building Blocks of Life on Mars

NASA scientists reckon rock samples from Mars have shown that the dusty red planet would once have been capable of supporting life. Analysis of Mars rocks by the Curiosity Rover uncovered the building blocks of life – hydrogen, carbon and oxygen – and evidence the planet could once have supported organisms, NASA said.

“A fundamental question for this mission is whether Mars could have supported a habitable environment,” Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA’s Mars Exploration Program said. “From what we know now, the answer is yes.”

At a televised press conference, the NASA team said this was the first definitive proof a life-supporting environment had existed beyond Earth. Curiosity, a six-wheeled robot with 10 scientific instruments on board, is the most sophisticated vehicle ever sent to another planet.

The sample was drilled from sedimentary bedrock in an area which previous research had shown to be an ancient river system or lake bed. It was found to contain clay minerals, sulfate minerals and other chemicals :: Read the full article »»»»

Antibiotic Resistance More Dangerous Than Terrorism

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the United Kingdom’s chief medical officer, says antimicrobial resistance poses a catastrophic threat, and routine operations could become deadly in just 20 years unless new antibiotic drugs are discovered.

An Australian expert agrees with the UK’s top medico statement that resistance to antibiotics is as great a risk to public safety as terrorism. Infectious Disease expert, Professor Peter Collignon from the Australian National University agreed with Dame Davies statement, saying the threat posed by antibiotics resistance is very real.

“It is just as important as terrorism and I actually think more important,” Professor Collignon said. ”The reality is common things we take for granted – like bowel surgery, like treating people with leukaemia – if we don’t have antibiotics that work we can no longer do those.”

Dame Sally says new drugs are needed to stop the “ticking time bomb”, as bacterial infections increasingly evolve into “superbugs” resistant to existing drugs :: Read the full article »»»»

Antarctic Ice Sheets Melting Faster Than Previously Thought

A study of temperature records over more than half a century shows the west Antarctic ice sheet is warming nearly twice as quickly as previously thought.

A re-analysis of temperature records from 1958 to 2010 revealed an increase of 2.4 degrees Celsius over the period, three times the average global rise.

The increase means west Antarctica is one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth, according to paper co-author David Bromwich of the Byrd Polar Research Centre.

“Records suggests that continued summer warming in west Antarctica could upset the surface balance of the ice sheet, so that the region could make an even bigger contribution to sea-level rise than it already does.” David Bromwich said :: Read the full article »»»»

Australian Government Joins US Energy Department in $83m Solar Research Project

The Australian Federal Government has announced an $83 million solar research program in partnership with the United States. The eight-year project will bring together six Australian universities, the CSIRO and the US department of energy.

Its aim is to create new technology that will reduce the cost of solar power. Australia’s Energy Minister Martin Ferguson says it is the biggest solar energy research investment in Australia’s history :: Read the full article »»»»

China Plans on Expanding Market Gardens, Mars and the Moon!?

Our most favourite behemoth – China – and the worlds second largest economy, are planning on expanding rural production much farther than their earthly borders. The worlds most populous nation is preparing to grow fresh vegetables on Mars and the Moon after researchers completed a preliminary test in Beijing.

Chinese state media has reported that researchers are currently testing their wild theory here on earth, four kinds of vegetables were grown in an Ecological Life Support System, a 300 cubic metre cabin which will allow astronauts to develop their own stocks of air, water and food while on space missions.

The system, which relies on plants and algae, is “expected to be used in extra-terrestrial bases on the Moon or Mars”, Xinhua news agency. Participants in the experiment could “harvest fresh vegetables for meals”, Xinhua quoted Deng Yibing, a researcher at Beijing’s Chinese Astronaut Research and Training Centre, as saying :: Read the full article »»»»

Australian Age of Dinosaurs Unearths Massive Bone Cache

A dinosaur dig in western Queensland has unearthed 20 fossils, including a bone weighing more than 100 kilograms. Organisers of the dig say the discovery confirms the region as one of Australia’s richest fossil sites.

Volunteers from across Australia and scientists from Sweden and the Queensland Museum have been working with the Australian Age of Dinosaurs at Winton on a three-week dig.

David Elliott from the Australian Age of Dinosaurs says they found one “bone pit” west of Winton :: Read the full article »»»»

Australian Boys To Get HPV Vaccine Gardasil

In a world first, an anti-cancer vaccine usually given to high school girls will be extended to some Australian boys from next year.

Four out of five people are believed to have been exposed to human papilloma virus – HPV – which can cause genital warts and cervical cancer. Two vaccines are available to prevent infection by some HPV, Gardasil, marketed by Merck, and Cervarix, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline.

Both protect against initial infection with HPV types 16 and 18 - causing around 70% cervical cancer. However, Gardasil also protects against HPV types 6 and 11 - which cause 90% of genital warts. Most importantly, the Gardasil vaccine is the only vaccine that also protects men against genital warts, throat and anal cancers :: Read the full article »»»»