Great News, 29 Oct 2010

Another week has passed and here is some great news for anyone who is looking!

1. Sir Charles Branson has completed another step in our ever closer commercial flights to space! The three km runway has been completed in New Mexico: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11611630
2. Well - once again, it all comes down to math. Engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, has come up with a computer model to look at growing massive pumpkins (math rocks!): http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/big-pumpkin-physics/
3. A new baby gorilla was born at the London Zoo! Soo cute. New Scientist TV: Everyone's going bananas over baby gorilla

Have a spooky weekend!

Great News, 22 October 2010

Friday again!! And it is a big celebration weekend at our house - the Boy just turned one and we are having a houseful of guests to help celebrate. On that note, here is some great news from my corner of the world:

1. Rest easy fellow working moms! A new study shows that our guilt about being at work is unfounded: Working Moms' Kids Turn Out Fine, 50 Years of Research Says
2. A small study conducted in France shows that Glivec, a Novartis product used to treat Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is effective up to two years after treatment has been discontinued: Read the article from Reuters here. 
3. Finally, a team of chemists/dancers from Carleton University won the Science equivalent to "So You Think You Can Dance". HA HA. the video is definitely worth the time: CBC News - Arts - Carleton team wins Dance Their PhD contest

Have a great weekend everyone!

Great News, 15 October 2010

Another week has come and gone and I am thrilled about the way this week turned out.

1. I am not even going to put a link to this one, but the rescue of 33 miners in Chile will probably be the defining good news story of 2010.
2. I think now is a good time to remember some captivating rescues from the past (in no particular order):
1. Hudson River Landing of US Airways flight 1549 by Captain Sullenberger, 16 January 2009
2. Baby Jessica being rescued from an abandoned well after 59 hours, October 1987 
3. 13 April 1970, Apollo 13 crew fought to survive after an oxygen tank exploded. 
3. Share Happy is a vending machine for the digital age, so says the inventors. Smile into the camera and receive free ice cream. That's right, I said FREE ICE CREAM. I couldn't help but smile as I watched the video: http://www.sapient.com/en-us/sapientnitro/work.html#/?project=157.

Have an excellent weekend. 

Great News 08 October 2010

It has been a really great week for me, and here are just a few things that might make your week that much better:

1. A new language in the remote northern region of India was documented this week. The language is called Koro: CBC News - Technology & Science - Hidden language found in India
2. The Nobel Prizes have been awarded this week, which is always so amazing to me: http://nobelprize.org/index.html
3. I am currently reading a book called, "Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings", by Christopher Moore (a pretty entertaining novel, if you want to know), and so found this website endlessly entertaining. You can listen to the deep sea and hear 26 different whale and dolphin songs (be patient): http://listentothedeep.net/

Have a great (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend everyone!

Turkeys and Other Stuffing

Working in the sciences is a very fulfilling career, but the short term rewards tend to be small. If my bacteria grows well and is not contaminated I am content. There is no whooting or removing of the sterile gloves, washing hands and leaving the lab to high five my peers. I can not imagine how the researchers felt when they discovered not one but two new mammals. (not to mention the many other species) see link:

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/10/06/tech-papua-new-guinea-species.html

It’s a good thing I work in a lab and not in the rain forest canopy as I would have fallen out of my perch.

Great News, 01 October 2010

Well my friends it is Friday once again, and here is the good news as I see it...

1. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has seen an increase in wildlife after 10 years of increased monitoring and cracking down on poaching in the country: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11412091
2. Astronomers have found a planet that is 3 times the mass of earth that may have liquid water on it! Very cool (thanks Gord): Newly discovered planet may be first truly habitable exoplanet
3. On this day in history... Canada's first woman mayor took office in Ottawa in 1951. Her first official order of business was to welcome Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip: http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/10/01/

Have a great weekend.