[Jawlist] Weekly Science Report 3-19-10

[Steve Detwiler]

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Below is this week's edition.  Enjoy!

Steve Detwiler





Weekly Science Report
March 19, 2010
 
"Sometimes only when its dark enough can you see the stars."
Martin Luther King Junior
 
News Articles
 
Paleontology, Evolution and Prehistoric Studies
 
When did the first 'modern' human beings appear in the Iberian Peninsula?
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/uadb-wdt031510.php

How Nature Inspired the Alphabet
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/how-nature-inspired-the-alphabet.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29
 
Jaws -- 4 million BC
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/w-j-4031610.php
 
Rare armor-plated creature discovered in Canada's capital
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/w-rap031610.php
 
Meat-Eating Amphibian Predated Dinos
http://news.discovery.com/dinosaurs/amphibian-dinosaurs-fedexia.html
 
Velociraptor's cousin discovered 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8575481.stm
 
"Hobbits" Had Million-Year History on Island?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100317-hobbits-flores-stone-tools-million/
 
Evidence indicates humans' early tree-dwelling ancestors were also bipedal
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/uoa-eih031710.php
 
Dogs Likely Descended From Middle Eastern Wolf
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124768140
 
Dinosaurs Did Not Gradually Die Out
http://news.discovery.com/dinosaurs/dinosaurs-did-not-gradually-die-out.html
 
Evolution of Fairness Driven by Culture, Not Genes
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/03/evolution-of-fairness/
 
 
 
 
 
Smithsonian's Natural History Museum opens its Hall of Human Origins
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 19, 2010; WE21 
 
Every fossil tells a story. 
 
That's a central premise of the National Museum of Natural History's newest permanent exhibition, a gallery devoted to telling the story of human evolution. Walking through the David H. Koch (pronounced "coke") Hall of Human Origins, a 15,000-square-foot exhibition space that opened this week on the museum's first floor, it's hard not to feel the sense of, well, drama. This is a story replete with mystery, wonder, bloody violence and, yes, even a little tenderness. (It contains evidence of the earliest human burials.) Like a movie, it even comes with its own soundtrack: a recording of eerie music composed by a contemporary musician for a reconstructed, 35,000-year-old flute. 
 
There's also a cast of characters to guide you through the tale. 
 
You'll meet them for the first time at the show's main entrance, a curving, futuristic archway known as the Time Tunnel, which is designed to pull you out of the modern world and put you through a kind of metaphorical regression. The faces of these characters stare out from the wall: Homo floresiensis, Homo neanderthalensis, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo erectus; Paranthropus boisei, Australopithecus africanus and Australopithecus afarensis. You may not recognize the names, but you're meant to look deep into their eyes and to feel a kind of personal connection. 
You'll see them throughout the hall. Not just in the bones and other artifacts on view -- nearly 300 objects in all, including more than 75 skulls -- but in a series of lifelike latex heads created for the museum by sculptor John Gurche, using state-of-the-art forensic reconstruction. Called "Meet Your Ancestors," it's meant to knock your socks off, and it probably will. 
 
"We thought a lot about the emotion of the story," says curator Rick Potts, who alternately compares the exhibition's story arc to a Shakespearean play and an episode of "C.S.I." Several displays concern what Potts calls the "survival challenges" that our ancestors faced and that we continue to face: a Homo habilis bone revealing a crocodile bite; a broken rib belonging to a Neanderthal, showing signs that it was injured by a man-made weapon. 
 
There are really two parallel narratives here, each of which Potts defines with a question. The first has to do with science: "What does it mean to be human?" Our complex brains, the acquisition of language, tool use and the ability to walk upright are just some of the evolutionary milestones -- those defining characteristics that make us who we are -- that the show discusses. 
 
The second is more philosophical: "Why does it matter?" For at the heart of this story is the reminder that we are, as Potts says, "the last remaining species of a once-diverse family tree." As you stand face to face with Gurche's heads -- which are mounted, in one of the hall's most shiver-y touches, at the height each species stood -- you might just feel like the last Man standing. 
And that's the whole point. We shouldn't just look backward, but forward. Yes, we are wondrous creatures. ("What a piece of work is a man," and all that, as Shakespeare wrote.) But if the exhibition reminds us of anything about ourselves, it's that life -- and our place on this earth -- is fragile. 












 
Ancient and General History
 
Lost Shakespeare Play: Found?
http://news.discovery.com/history/william-shakespeare-lost-play.html
 
Hypatia, Ancient Alexandria’s Great Female Scholar
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Hypatia-Ancient-Alexandrias-Great-Female-Scholar.html
 
Boston art heist rattles investigators 20 years on
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100316/ap_on_en_ot/us_art_heist_mystery
 
Book makes new claims about Anne Frank
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100317/ap_on_re_eu/eu_netherlands_anne_frank_s_fables
 
Greenland Vikings ‘had Celtic blood’ 
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/scitech/92-technology/48554-greenland-vikings-had-celtic-blood.html
 
A Host of Mummies, a Forest of Secrets
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/science/16archeo.html
 
Forensics May Uncover Watergate Secrets- Video
http://news.discovery.com/videos/history-forensic-techniques-may-uncover-watergate-scandal-secrets.html
 
Who Was St. Patrick?
http://news.discovery.com/history/who-was-st-patrick.html
 
The Mystery Of Cursed Bread & A CIA Agent's Death
http://www.physorg.com/news188198890.html
 
Ireland's Forgotten Sons Recovered Two Centuries Later
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Irelands-Forgotten-Sons-Recovered-Two-Centuries-Later.html
 
Teen victim of Australia's war massacre identified after almost 100 years
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/17/first-war-grave-body-identified
 
 
 
 
Anger over freeing man convicted in bishop murder
The Associated Press
Thursday, March 18, 2010; 11:45 PM 
 
GUATEMALA CITY -- Guatemalan human rights groups expressed outrage Thursday over a judge's decision to release a former army colonel convicted of killing a prominent Roman Catholic bishop more than a decade ago. 
 
The judge ordered retired Col. Byron Lima freed for good behavior after serving half his 20-year sentence for helping plot the murder of human rights crusader Bishop Juan Gerardi. 
"It's an embarrassment for Guatemala," said Mario Minera, director of the Center of Legal Action for Human Rights. 
 
Several other rights organizations also condemned Tuesday's ruling. 
 
Prison spokesman Rudy Esquivel said Lima has yet to be freed because the penitentiary has not received an official release order. Prosecutors can appeal, but so far they have been silent on the matter. 
 
The 75-year-old Gerardi was bludgeoned to death with a concrete block at his seminary on April 26, 1998 - two days after he presented a report blaming the military for the overwhelming majority of the 200,000 deaths in Guatemala's 1960-1996 civil war. 
 
Also convicted in the murder were Lima's son, an army captain; a former presidential guard; and a priest at the seminary. 









 
Archaeology
 
More evidence unearthed at ancient port of Muziris
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article244338.ece
 
Teotihuacan Mural Paintings Recover Splendor
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=36796
 
Contested gravesite at Ashkelon hospital may have belonged to pagans
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156309.html
 
Dig may find signs of Viking town in Thetford 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/norfolk/8566817.stm
 
Medieval Child's Brain Found Preserved
http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/medieval-child-brain-preserved.html
 
Ruins of 7th century Arab palace identified in Israel
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100316/sc_afp/israelarchaeologyislam_20100316160535
 
Petroglyphs here vandalized
http://www.azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/article_0f355a30-ff34-5db0-9ca0-5de8cf2d7bbf.html
 
Ancient Six-Mouth Well Discovered in Quanzhou
http://english.cri.cn/6909/2010/03/19/2321s557841.htm
 
Archaeologists: Maya Blue pigment recipe moved around
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2010/03/archaeologists-maya-blue-recipe-moved-around/1
 
Bulgaria: Archaeologists Finally Put Date on Ancient Starosel Tomb
http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/1821
 
Rich archaeological findings in Logas region
http://www.ana-mpa.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=8503107&maindocimg=8525719&service=144
 
Saxon artefact found in Kent dig vexes technology
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8572740.stm
 
Sofia Metro Construction Stumbles upon Invaluable Archaeology Site
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=114264
 
Earliest signature of Renaissance artist found
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35948244/ns/technology_and_science-science/
 
 
 





 
Egyptology
 
Huge monkey god statue found
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_502854.html
 
In Search of Key Blue Ingredient in Ancient Egyptian Pottery
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100317121354.htm






 
General Science
 
Cloak of invisibility takes a step forward
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100318/ap_on_sc/us_sci_cloak_of_invisibility
 
F-35 Performs Its First Fully Vertical Landing
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/f-35-completes-first-success-fully-vertical-landing
 
 
 
 





 
Physics, Earth and Space Sciences
 
How Jupiter changes its spots
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/03/16/2229613.aspx
 
NASA chief touts new space opportunities
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35902221/ns/technology_and_science-space/
 
Martian Air Blown Away by Solar Super Wave
http://news.discovery.com/space/mars-solar-wind-atmopshere.html
 
Researcher solves 37-year old space mystery
http://www.physorg.com/news187977897.html
 
Quantum Sensor Developed by LSU Researcher Breaks New Limits
http://www.physorg.com/news187982422.html
 
Borexino experiment detects geo-neutrinos
http://www.physorg.com/news187946006.html
 
Hurtling star on a path to clip solar system
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18655-hurtling-star-on-a-path-to-clip-solar-system.html
 
New exoplanet like 'one of ours' 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8572760.stm
 
The Oldest Trees on the Planet
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/03/old-tree-gallery/all/1?npu=1&mbid=yhp
 
NASA finds shrimp dinner on ice beneath Antarctica
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100315/ap_on_sc/us_sci_antarctica_sea_life
 
Large Hadron Collider smashes energy record again
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8576545.stm
 
Esa's Cryosat ice mission given launch date 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8568285.stm
 
Planck spies massive dust clouds 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8571418.stm
 
Temperate, Jupiter-Sized World Resembles the Planets of Our Solar System
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/17/temperate-jupiter-sized-world-resembles-the-planets-of-our-solar-system/
 
Weird and wonderful ISS image
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/03/19/weird-and-wonderful-iss-image/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BadAstronomyBlog+%28Bad+Astronomy%29
 
Most primitive supermassive black holes known 'discovered'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Most-primitive-supermassive-black-holes-known-discovered/articleshow/5701420.cms
 
Is There Water On The Moon? Bucketloads.
http://news.discovery.com/space/is-there-water-on-the-moon-bucketloads.html
 
For One Tiny Instant, Physicists May Have Broken a Law of Nature
http://www.physorg.com/news188211977.html
 
Origins of the Milky Way
http://www.physorg.com/news188223693.html
 
Ancient rivers buried under outback desert
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/3353/ancient-rivers-found-buried-under-simpson-desert
 
A Mariner's Tool Could Help Astronauts Navigate Alien Worlds
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/gps-tool-marstronauts
 







 
Environment, Climate Change and Alternative Energy Sources
 
Study: Climate Hacking Scheme Could Load the Ocean With Neurotoxins
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/16/study-climate-hacking-scheme-could-load-the-ocean-with-neurotoxins/
 
It's Gettin' Hot in Here: The Big Battle Over Climate Science
http://discovermagazine.com/2010/apr/10-it.s-gettin-hot-in-here-big-battle-over-climate-science/
 
Crystals + sound + water = clean hydrogen fuel
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18661-crystals--sound--water--clean-hydrogen-fuel.html
 
Scotland Aims to Be the “Saudi Arabia of Marine Energy” With Tide and Wave Power
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/17/scotland-aims-to-be-the-saudi-arabia-of-marine-energy-with-tide-and-wave-power/
 
Is Earth past the tipping point?
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=is-earth-past-the-tipping-point-2010-03-18
 
A Naked Engine For Cleaner Flights
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/naked-engine-cleaner-flights
 







 
Biological, Genetics and Medical Sciences
 
Humans 'could regrow body parts'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Humans-could-regrow-body-parts-/articleshow/5689171.cms
 
Protein that stops breast cancer spread found
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Protein-that-stops-breast-cancer-spread-found-/articleshow/5687687.cms
 
The world's only immortal animal
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/guest_bloggers/26/the-world-s-only-immortal-animal.html
 
Brain stimulation a 'promising therapy' for epilepsy
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8573127.stm
 
Surgeons perform revolutionary transplant operation
http://www.physorg.com/news188221569.html
 
Scientists Successfully Embed Silicon Chips Inside Human Cells
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/scientists-embed-silicon-chips-inside-human-cells
 
Using Green Algae as Drug Factory Could Cut Pharma Costs by 1,000 Times
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-03/producing-drugs-green-algae-could-cut-costs-1000-times-over
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
Ireland's New Museum for Leprechauns
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1971078,00.html
 
 
 

Additional Informational
 
Picturing the Holy Land
http://www.archaeology.org/galleries/israel/



      
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