| Global Update: Tuberculosis: Automated Test for Drug-Resistant TB Gives Results in Hours, Not Weeks Research indicates the test is 98 percent accurate when compared with positive results from the old method — examination of sputum by a trained microscopist. feeds.nytimes.com |
Observatory: Spreading Their Wings to Longest on Record An intact skeleton of a bird, which lived 5 million to 10 million years ago, has a wingspan of at least 17 feet, the widest ever found, researchers report. feeds.nytimes.com |
Human waste used to heat UK homes Didcot householders become the first in the UK to use gas piped into the national grid which is derived from human waste. bbc.co.uk |
The TAM London 2010 live blog Welcome to the TAM London 2010 live blog! From Saturday morning I'll be bringing you regular updates, audio clips, photos and maybe even the odd video clip from The Amazing Meeting, a two day celebration of science and critical thinking. (NB: live-blogging will be a bit sporadic until the event gets underway on Saturday morning.) Friday: Build-up17:48: So after a long and sweaty trip I've arrived at the Hilton, a building which looks like God got pissed off with a Rubix Cube, and smashed it into Edgeware Road in a bit of a sulk. The beer is nearly a fiver, but it comes with a tray of bar snacks, so I can pretend I've had a bargain dinner. 15:37: Probably the most riveting story of the day has been science comedian Dean Burnett's coach trip from Cardiff to London. His latest update: "Still on the coach on the way to #TAMLondon. Nothing to report." It's edge-of-the-seat stuff. 14:47: After a tense hour or so in which almost two people were following the action on Twitter, Michael Marshall has apparently escaped the clutches of the Scientologists, describing them as "well-meaning but a bit vacuous."14:41 PLUG: Little Atoms, a radio show about science and skepticism at Resonance FM (and online) will have a TAM special featuring interviews with some of the stars at TAM London, and Josie Long and Neil Denny interviewing Alan Moore. It's this Friday evening at seven o'clock. And remember, you can plug your events/blogs or frankly pretty much anything here in exchange for beer and snacks delivered to the media table this weekend, because I have no shame. 12:41: Killing time before registration, Michael Marshall has wandered into Scientology center on Tottenham Court Road. He seems impressed: "This propaganda film is fucking amazing. L Ron as, essentially, Biggles meets Indiana Jones."Fiver says he joins. 10:41: Jon Treadway asks "Will you be writing about pigeons and their effect on penises?" Way ahead of you. Basically, your common-or-garden pigeon is fine, the spiritual ones less so. 09:02 ANNOUNCEMENT: "You can pick up your badge for #TAMLondon on Fri 2:30-8:30PM at the venue. Please go on Friday if you can to avoid queues on Saturday." Those in the know suggest this is quite a good idea as queues on the morning of the first day tend to be biblical in proportion. 08:55: From @goddessgeek comes a snap of James Randi arriving at the hotel yesterday, with what I think is quite a Terry Pratchett vibe about him - or is that just the awesome hat? 00:37: @rebeccawatson reports that the TAM London pub quiz was won by these Norwegians, who walk home £100 richer after successfully navigating a 'sperm round'. Me neither. 00:10: Welcome to TAM London 2010! I'm proud to host the official live blog from The Amazing Meeting: London, Britain's biggest and most entertainingest celebration of science and critical thinking here in the heart of London this weekend; featuring Richard Dawkins, James Randi, Stephen Fry, Robin Ince, Alan Moore, PZ Myers, Cory Doctorow, Tim Minchin, Richard Wiseman, Simon Singh, and a host of other witty, sparkling and rational-minded stars. Over the weekend I'll be bringing you almost 18 hours of live blogging, with textual commentary from me, audio clip updates from The Pod Delusion's James O'Malley, photos from Kelly Haddow and others, as well as keeping an eye on Twitter (the hashtag is #tamlondon, and I'm @mjrobbins). So if you're not at the conference this weekend, sit back and enjoy the coverage. And if you are, bear in mind that people who bring beer or snacks to the media table will get a mention here, and possibly a blog pimp. It's not corruption if we're all open about it.Martin Robbinsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
'Wings key' to size of pterosaurs New research on pterosaurs suggests their wing function may have been key to the creatures' large size. bbc.co.uk |