One of the greatest mysteries facing humans is how life originated on Earth. Scientists have determined approximately when life began (roughly 3.8 billion years ago), but there is still intense debate about exactly how life began. One possibility has grown in popularity in the last two decades – that simple metabolic reactions emerged near ancient seafloor hot springs, enabling the leap from a non-living to a living world. (more…)
Scott Magelssen has had more lives than an accident-prone cat. He’s been a waiter in a logging camp. An anthrax victim. A Mexican migrant trying to cross into the U.S. A slave seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad. An observer during an attack on an Iraqi village.
It’s all in a day’s work for Magelssen, a UW associate professor of drama, who has participated in a variety of interactive simulations for his upcoming book, “Simming” to be published in June by University of Michigan Press. The book explores the impact of simulations and the potential of such immersive environments to promote social change. (more…)
Neue EU-Verordnung regelt Kontrolle und Bekämpfung der Neubürger
Das Europäische Parlament hat eine neue Verordnung zur besseren Kontrolle, Eindämmung und Bekämpfung invasiver Arten beschlossen: „Diese Verordnung ist angesichts der zunehmenden ökologischen, ökonomischen und gesundheitlichen Gefahren durch invasive Arten mehr als überfällig, und trotz der zwischen Parlament und Ministerrat ausgehandelten Kompromisse eine wichtige Grundlage für gemeinsames EU-weites Handeln“, sagt NABU-Präsident Olaf Tschimpke. (more…)
A new study into how the world’s highest flying bird, the bar-headed goose, is able to survive at extreme altitudes may have future implications for low oxygen medical conditions in humans. (more…)
Berkeley Lab scientists lead broadest survey yet of RNA activity in any animal
A consortium led by scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has conducted the largest survey yet of how information encoded in an animal genome is processed in different organs, stages of development, and environmental conditions. Their findings paint a new picture of how genes function in the nervous system and in response to environmental stress. (more…)
Deutsche Umwelthilfe berechnet: RWE und Vattenfall erwirtschaften 2013 mit Braunkohlestrom knapp zwei Milliarden Euro – Hohe Rentabilität von Braunkohlekraftwerken verhindert echtes Umdenken beim Klimaschutz
Das Geschäft mit der Braunkohle boomt: Im Jahr 2013 erzielten die Energieversorger RWE und Vattenfall mit Braunkohlestrom einen Gewinn von jeweils rund einer Milliarde Euro. Zu diesem Ergebnis kommt die Deutsche Umwelthilfe e. V. (DUH) in einer Berechnung auf Grundlage der aktuellen Geschäftsberichte der beiden Unternehmen. Grund für den Gewinn sind insbesondere der darniederliegende Emissionshandel sowie Vergünstigungen für die Braunkohle etwa bei der EEG-Umlage. Die DUH fordert deshalb von der Bundesregierung, sich endlich für einen wirksamen Emissionshandel auf europäischer Ebene einzusetzen, der eine CO2-ärmere Energieerzeugung attraktiver macht. (more…)
Study shows blue logos invoke feelings of reliability, red logos invoke expertise
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many studies have shown that a company’s logo is one of the most important aspects of marketing and advertising a brand, or features that distinctly identifies a company’s product or service from its competitors. Now, a researcher at the University of Missouri has found that the specific colors used in a company’s logo have a significant impact on how that logo, and the brand as a whole, is viewed by consumers.
Jessica Ridgway, a doctoral student in the MU Department of Textile and Apparel Management, surveyed 184 adults using generic logos of different colors for fake companies that she created. She then asked participants to describe the emotions they felt toward the fake companies upon seeing each logo. Ridgway was able to identify key characteristics that each logo invoked, based on which colors were used. (more…)
