Sea creatures can’t develop in warming ocean
February 17, 2011
Cosmos Online
Image credit: Wikimedia
SYDNEY: Sea urchins and marine abalone – large sea snails – will not develop skeletons if the ocean continues to warm and acidify as predicted, new research has shown.
The results of a new study show that abalone and sea urchins born into ocean conditions 100 years from now will be unable to calcify their shells or grow their spines – suggesting that key sources of protein will be lost due to climate change in the future.
“We wondered about the impact of climate change on shelled marine animals since ocean acidification reduces the amount of Read more
Undead microbes may influence biodiversity
February 17, 2011
Cosmos Online
Image credit: NASA
EAST LANSING: New research sheds light on how microorganisms are able to ‘hibernate’ for long periods of time. This unique ability affects entire ecosystems on Earth, and could have implications for the transport of organisms between planets.
It’s commonly known, at least among microbiologists, that microbes have an additional option to living or dying – dormancy. What isn’t known, however, is how large numbers of dormant microorganisms affect the natural environments when they act as microbial seed banks.
“Only a tiny fraction is Read more
Fast-growing plants linked to poor pest resistance
February 17, 2011
Benjamin Kolb
The idea that breeding plants for faster growth and higher yield will lead to a generation of crops vulnerable to pests and disease has been supported by new research.
By using ‘knockout’ mutations, researchers have disabled one gene at a time and found that genes for high yield and fast growth are closely linked to defence against pests. Plants are able to put more resources into growth by shutting down some defence genes.
For decades farmers have selectively bred crops for their yield, but Tobias Züst, lead Read more
Samsung to unveil Ch@t 322
February 4, 2011
Samsung Electronics is going to release its new mobile phone set Samsung Ch@t 322 any time this week in the local market, says a press release.
The Ch@t 322 gives facility to use Dual SIM cards on standby mode and has QWERTY keypad that works with intuitive optical trackpad. It has a dedicated key to switch between the SIM cards Read more
Top 10 Supernatural Films
February 3, 2011
To celebrate the DVD release of supernatural thriller Mirrors 2 we have compiled a list of our top 10 supernatural films.
1. The Omen (1976) – 1 of 2 demonic children films within our list The Omen tells the tale of an American Ambassador and the revelations that his son is actually the antichrist. As an ambassador that totally can’t be good for your kudos right Read more
Naomi Campbell opens up about her addiction problem
February 2, 2011
NAOMI Campbell says “drink and drugs are an allergy” for her.
The supermodel has admitted she experimented with cocaine when she was in her 20s and had made it in the fashion industry, and has admitted the illegal drug had a negative impact on her life.
“It rips you world apart,” Naomi told Britain’s GQ magazine while discussing her problems with substance Read more