| A Bear Hug? Nissan Ad Raises Eyebrows An ad for the Leaf is derided as heavyhanded by some online critics. feeds.nytimes.com |
Soyuz capsule lands in Kazakh steppe with 3 aboard By PETER LEONARD 2010-09-25T19:26:25ZALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) -- A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying three astronauts who lived six months on the International Space Station touched down safely, but one day late, Saturday morning in the cloudy, central steppes of Kazakhstan.... hosted.ap.org |
Mystery Bird: Osprey, Pandion haliaetus | GrrlScientist A daily mystery bird demystified and answers provided to questions about its amazing feet!Osprey, Pandion haliaetus, sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, photographed at Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary, Brazoria County, Texas, USA.Image: Joseph Kennedy, 29 September 2010 [Would you like a look through a 'scope?]Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece1/640s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400. Questions: This daily mystery bird has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, being found on every continent except Antarctica. Its feet are especially distinct, being specialised for its particular lifestyle. In addition to identifying this mystery bird, can you tell me what aspect of this species lifestyle has had such a profound effect upon the evolution of its feet, and (more challenging) can you tell me what is so special about its feet?Response: The osprey, Pandion haliaetus, whose diet is limited to fish, can be found anywhere in the world where there is a reasonably large body of water, except Antarctica. Interestingly, fossils have even been found on the island of Tonga, where it was probably exterminated by arriving humans. This discovery has fuelled speculation that the osprey's range included many (most? all?) of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. Osprey feet are particularly interesting. Unlike other raptors, all of its toes are the same length, its legs (tarsi) are reticulate (scaly), and its talons are round instead of having a groove running along their length. Osprey feet are also special because the outer toe is reversible (the same is true for owls), so they have three toes pointing forward, one back, when perching, but when grabbing a slippery fish, they will hold it with two toes pointing forward, two back. They also have scales on their feet that point "backwards", providing a non-slip surface that prevents struggling fish from slipping from their grasp. If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and appreciate audience, feel free to email them to me for consideration.GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Science community relieved as it dodges axe Settlement freezes science research spending at £4.6bn – equating to a 10% cut after inflationScientists expressed cautious relief today as fears of severe cuts to the science budget failed to materialise in the government's spending review.The £4.6bn spent each year on scientific research by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Bis) will be ringfenced in a "flat cash" agreement that corresponds to a 10% cut, after allowing for inflation.Universities will be urged to make up the shortfall through efficiency savings drawn up by Sir Bill Wakeham, the former vice-chancellor of Southampton University, in a report earlier this year."The flat cash settlement for science is much better news than was feared and suggests that the arguments for the fundamental economic importance of scientific research have been heard and at least partly understood," said Professor Simon Gaskell, principal of Queen Mary, University of London.The settlement is a victory for the business secretary, Vince Cable, and the science minister, David Willetts, who argued that science and innovation were critical to Britain's future economic recovery. In his budget speech, George Osborne said: "Britain is a world leader in scientific research, and that is vital to our economic success."Fears of severe cuts prompted leading scientists to demonstrate outside the Treasury and warn of a brain drain of key researchers to other countries, such as the US, Germany, France and Singapore, which are investing in science to spur their financial growth."The flat cash settlement for the core science budget is welcome news in the context of this very tough spending review," said Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society. "The support of science is crucial not only to the strength of our education system, but to economic recovery and the solution of global problems."The deal guarantees £2.75bn for the UK's seven research councils, £1.6bn for university research through the Higher Education Funding Council for England, £150,000 for the Higher Education Innovation Fund and £100,000 for national acadamies.Sir Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, said the settlement should allay fears of a brain drain, but called on scientists to make good on their promises. "This should help to head off concerns of a brain drain, but it is up to scientists now to sell the subject to young people," Walport said. "Scientists have argued that research is good for health, wealth and society and the government has trusted them on that. Now they have to deliver."Dr Evan Harris, the former Liberal Democrat science spokesman, said: "Hopefully this will convince any scientists thinking of leaving the country that all is not lost. Morale will be boosted by this because, on the face of it, it is a good settlement."Others were less impressed with the deal and warned that Britain would struggle to be competitive. "Even at about 10% down, we'll be playing catch-up in an international field which could see UK science left behind," said Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation.Question marks remain over the £1.4bn capital expenditure budget for science, which is used for major facilities and administration. The allocation for science has yet to be decided, but the total capital budget at Bis has been cut by 44%.More than £2bn is spent on scientific research by other departments, with the majority going to support health and defence projects. Medical research will be maintained across government in real terms, but defence research faced a "moderate cut", Willetts said.The science research budget will be allocated to funding councils in the coming weeks and months.Science funding crisisSpending review 2010Tax and spendingScience policyIan Sampleguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
India seeks to resolve climate disputes in Cancun NEW DELHI (AP) -- India is making two proposals for the U.N. climate summit in Cancun in hopes of redefining its global image as a constructive negotiator by helping to resolve disputes that have stymied agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.... hosted.ap.org |