Monthly Archives: February 2008

Asian harlequin ladybird now dominant species – Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/2008/02/06/ealadyb106.xml



The Asian harlequin ladybird has become the dominant species in the south east of England in less than four years, scientists have said.

A nationwide survey shows that the insect, which originated in Japan, has gone from a handful of sightings in 2004 to virtually total coverage of the South East and is now found as far afield as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Thanks to nutmeg

Biofuels emissions may be worse than petrol – environment – 07 February 2008 – New Scientist

http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn13289-biofuels-emissions-may-be-worse-than-petrol.html

“Biofuels, once seen as a useful way of combating climate change, could actually increase greenhouse gas emissions, say two major new studies.

And it may take tens or hundreds of years to pay back the “carbon debt” accrued by growing biofuels in the first place, say researchers. The calculations join a growing list of studies questioning whether switching to biofuels really will help combat climate change.”

FUD?

Knee device makes phone charging a walk in the park – tech – 07 February 2008 – New Scientist

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/dn13287-knee-device-makes-phone-charging-a-walk-in-the-park.html

A knee-mounted brace that generates electricity from a person’s stepping action, and requires little extra effort, brings new meaning to the phrase “power walk”. The generator could be used to power cellphones, prosthetic limbs, or medical implants, researchers argue.

The new device harnesses the energy of a person’s leg as it swings forward during a step. The knee straightens towards the end of the leg-swing before the foot hits the ground. That spins gears inside the device, which drive an electric generator.

Inside the mind of cop who stopped you – CNN.com

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/02/06/cops.stop.cause/index.html

Most of us have been stopped by a police officer at some point, usually for a minor infraction like speeding or an expired registration. And of course, all of us have seen movie and TV depictions of the cop who is stoic but unfailingly polite as he hands out a $200 ticket.
art.trooper.jpg

But anyone who follows the news knows that such stops can sometimes be fraught with peril for the police officer or state trooper — because they never know when a seemingly routine traffic stop could lead to trouble, or even violence.

So we talked to one retired state trooper to get a better sense of what actually happens at a traffic stop from the cop’s point of view — “the anatomy of a traffic stop,” if you will.

| LiveScience

http://www.livescience.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?s=animalworld&c=&l=on&pic=080206-seethru-fish-02.jpg&cap=Researchers%20created%20a%20see-through%20zebrafish%20so%20they%20can%20study%20disease%20processes,%20including%20the%20spread





Researchers created a see-through zebrafish so they can study disease processes, including the spread of cancer. Credit: Richard White/Children’s Hospital Boston

Alien species named and shamed on European list – environment – 06 February 2008 – New Scientist

http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn13284-top-invasive-species-fingered-by-european-list.html

Deadly fish, exotic ladybirds and huge jellyfish are just some of the invasive species which threaten the environment and economy in Europe. So warn researchers who have compiled the first comprehensive database of Europe’s invaders and alien species