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Tomatoes may combat the damaging effects of radiation

Health

A team of researchers from have discovered that lycopene – the red pigment in tomatoes – is extremely successful at guarding against the harmful effects of radiation.

Dr Ruth Edge from The University of Manchester, together with her colleagues Professor George Truscott from Keele University and Professors Fritz Boehm & Christian Witt from Berlin, undertook a study of lycopene (one of the carotenoids – plant pigments found in many fruits and vegetables) and its effectiveness at protecting against radiation at the University of Manchester’s Dalton Cumbrian Facility, part of the Dalton Nuclear Institute.

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In a tumultuous election year, how data is revolutionizing politics

Politics, Technology

2016 has been a tumultuous year for American politics. The highly-involved electorate have raised concerns about everything from superdelegates to contested conventions. And the voters aren’t the only ones looking to make sense out of this year’s lengthy and complicated election process. As technological requirements grow on both sides of the political spectrum, companies like Microsoft are stepping in to meet the need. (more…)

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What a moth’s nose knows

Nature

Moths sniff out others of their own species using specific pheromone blends. So if you transplant an antenna – the nose, essentially – from one species to another, which blend of pheromones does the moth respond to? The donor species’, or the recipients’? The answer is neither. (more…)

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Bacteria Take “RNA Mug Shots” of Threatening Viruses

Science

AUSTIN, Texas — Scientists from The University of Texas at Austin, the Stanford University School of Medicine and two other institutions have discovered that bacteria have a system that can recognize and disrupt dangerous viruses using a newly identified mechanism involving ribonucleic acid (RNA). It is similar to the CRISPR/Cas system that captures foreign DNA. The discovery might lead to better ways to thwart viruses that kill agricultural crops and interfere with the production of dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. (more…)

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Wolf „MT6“ ist tot

Nature

Gemeinsame Stellungnahme der Umweltverbände IFAW, NABU und WWF.

Der Wolf MT6 ist getötet worden, wie das niedersächsische Umweltministerium mitgeteilt hat. In einer gemeinsamen Stellungnahme äußerten die Naturschutzverbände IFAW, NABU und WWF Bedauern über den Tod des Tieres und zugleich Verständnis für die Entscheidung. Auch wenn das Schicksal des Einzeltieres tragisch sei, habe MT6 durch sein auffälliges Verhalten ein nicht mehr zu kalkulierendes Risiko für Menschen dargestellt. Zuvor hatte das niedersächsische Umweltministerium entschieden, den Wolf wenn möglich einzufangen und in ein Gehege zu bringen. MT6 hatte sich wiederholt Menschen mit Hunden genähert und generell ein unberechenbares Verhalten an den Tag gelegt. Vergrämungsaktionen hatten in den vergangenen Monaten keine Erfolge gezeigt. Experten waren sich einig, dass erneute oder weitere Vergrämungsversuche bei dem Wolf MT6 nicht dazu führen würden, dass er sein Verhalten ändert. Aufgrund dieser fachlichen Einschätzung ist die Entnahme des Tieres für die Verbände nachvollziehbar.
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Zuckerberg or Buffett — Is Youth or Experience More Valuable in the Boardroom?

Economy, Technology

Business scholar’s analysis of mandatory retirement policies shows institutional knowledge, experience and age are all factors that shareholders should consider in corporate governance

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Approximately half of the companies listed with Standard & Poor have adopted policies mandating retirement based on age. A new study from the University of Missouri has found that although these mandatory retirement polices represent an effective way to address underperforming CEOs, accumulated job experience improves performance and counters age-related declines. (more…)

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