Northerners have bigger eyes and brains

Northerners have bigger eyes and brains, study finds

July 28, 2011


People from northern parts of the world have larger brains and eyeballs to help them deal with long, dark winters, scientists find.

Copyright (c) CBC 2011

Scientists Announce Discovery of 3.6 Million-Year-Old Relative of 'Lucy'

21 Jun 2010 20:00 Africa/Lagos

Scientists Announce Discovery of 3.6 Million-Year-Old Relative of 'Lucy'
Early Hominid Skeleton Confirms Human-Like Walking is Ancient


CLEVELAND, June 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Meet "Lucy's" great-grandfather. Scientists from The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Kent State University, Case Western Reserve University, Addis Ababa University and Berkeley Geochronology Center were part of an international team that discovered and analyzed a 3.6 million-year-old partial skeleton found in Ethiopia. The early hominid is 400,000 years older than the famous "Lucy" skeleton. Research on this new specimen indicates that advanced human-like, upright walking occurred much earlier than previously thought.

The discovery and results from this initial analysis will be published this week in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The partial skeleton belongs to "Lucy's" species, Australopithecus afarensis. It was found in the Woranso-Mille area of Ethiopia's Afar region by a team led by first author Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Curator and Head of physical anthropology at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The partial skeleton was excavated over five years after the discovery of a fragment of the lower arm bone in 2005. The excavation recovered the most complete clavicle and one of the most complete shoulder blades ever found in the human fossil record.

The specimen was nicknamed "Kadanuumuu" (kah-dah-nuu-muu) by the authors. "Kadanuumuu" means "big man" in the Afar language and reflects its large size. The male hominid stood between 5 to 5 1/2 feet tall, while "Lucy" stood at about 3 1/2 feet.

"This individual was fully bipedal and had the ability to walk almost like modern humans," said Haile-Selassie. "As a result of this discovery, we can now confidently say that 'Lucy' and her relatives were almost as proficient as we are walking on two legs, and that the elongation of our legs came earlier in our evolution than previously thought."


Co-author Dr. C. Owen Lovejoy, Kent State University professor of anthropology, explained, "The new specimen tells us much more about the pelvis, thorax, and limb proportions than 'Lucy' was able to alone."

Authors of the research include Dr. Bruce Latimer, director of the Center for Human Origins at Case Western Reserve University; and Dr. Beverly Saylor, associate professor of geological sciences at Case Western Reserve University.
View the press backgrounder and images at www.cmnh.org/site/Kadanuumuu.aspx.

Source: Cleveland Museum of Natural History

CONTACT: Glenda Bogar, +1-216-231-2071, gbogar@cmnh.org, or Marie Graf,
+1-216-231-2070, both of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Web Site: http://www.cmnh.org/

Scientists Give the Go-Ahead for Private Storage of Stem Cells From Umbilical Cord Blood

4 Jun 2010 10:09 Africa/Lagos


Scientists Give the Go-Ahead for Private Storage of Stem Cells From Umbilical Cord Blood

ZUTPHEN, Netherlands, June 4, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- Four world-renowned stem cell experts have recently given their full support to private cordblood banking. The four scientists supported the "Family Cord Blood Bank" which has just been established in the US by CORD:USE.


Cryo-Save (Euronext/AIM: CRYO), the largest stem cell bank in Europe, is very pleased with this positive development. "We expect that the merit of private storage of stem cells will also increase in Europe and that the sometimes unreasonable arguments, which prevent people from storing stem cells in a number of countries, will disappear", according to CEO Arnoud van Tulder, "combined storage seems to be the way of the future".


What is the merit of umbilical cord blood?


Umbilical cord blood contains very valuable cells; stem cells which can multiply and grow into cells which can cure serious and sometimes deadly diseases. They are used to combat more than 70 different diseases and research into new applications is continuously increasing; at present, more than 3,000 clinical studies are in progress. The blood and the stem cells are analyzed and processed using advanced technology and subsequently stored in the gas phase of liquid nitrogen. When needed, the cells can be used immediately.


Private versus public storage?


As a parent, you can have the umbilical cord blood with the stem cells of your child stored in the private or family blood bank. The stem cells are then available for later use and guarantee an exact match for the child concerned, and 25% chance that they are also an exact match for a brother or sister. Worldwide, hundreds of thousands of parents already decided to store the stem cells from the umbilical cord blood of their children in a private bank.


When the choice is public storage, the parents decide to make the stem cells available to others. The cells can then be utilized to save the life of another, unknown person, who shows a match with the donor blood. However, the donor parents do not have any guarantee that the stem cells remain available for their own child as well. In addition, it turns out that only 30 to 50% of all donations are indeed stored. The rest is destroyed. You will only get the guarantee that the stem cells are available if your child needs them by storing in a private or family bank.


Cryo-Save goes for combined storage


With more than 130,000 samples stored and activities in more than 38 countries, Cryo-Save is the largest stem cell bank in Europe.


The stem cells are taken from the umbilical cord and umbilical tissue. In Italy, Cryo-Save offers combined storage for both private as well as public use. This offers the guarantee that the blood is available for one's own child if it is ever needed, but is also available to help others. Pending approval of the authorities, Cryo-Save plans to introduce this "best-of-both worlds" combined-storage service in other countries as well.


For more information: Cryo-Save Group +31(0)575-548-998, Arnoud van Tulder, CEO, Marc Waeterschoot, Executive Director


For more information about this press release, surf to http://www.cryo-savegroup.com/investor_news.html and http://www.cryo-savegroup.com/company_news.html


Source: Cryo-Save Group

For more information: Cryo-Save Group +31(0)575-548-998, Arnoud van Tulder, CEO, Marc Waeterschoot, Executive Director

Good News From Nigeria!

I am 100% determined to spread the good news of this book Scientists Discover Hell: As Astronauts Find Heaven from my country Nigeria, because I am happy that such a great revelation is coming out where the rest of the world only expects 419 Yahoo-Yahoo Internet Scammers and shamelessly corrupt politicians,

I bought four copies of this book at $25 each and sent the four copies to the following people.

1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Prof. Francis Collins
3. Ariana Huffington and
4. Pastor Sunday Adelaja.

I have also succeeded in getting the publisher/distributor to reduce the price of the paperback from $25 to $16 only. But the new price is only available on their own website until next week when it will be effective on Amazon.com.
I am going to buy and send 20 more copies to other people.

The book chronicles the true life testimonies of people who were brought back to life by Jesus Christ in present Day Nigeria, a Russian woman who actually saw hell, an American pastor's experience of heaven and the scientific reports of scientists and astronauts who discovered the existence of hell, heaven and angels.

About the author:
The Guild Of Researchers International is an intelligentsia of scholars committed to theology and public enlightenment through both spiritual and scientific research.

Scientists Discover Hell: As Astronauts Find Heaven
Edited By Olisaemeka A.G.

About the Book:

This and other publications are in fulfillment of a mandate and in satisfaction of the curiosity to conduct, as much as possible, comprehensive and incisive research works on various topical issues that are of global consequences to the entire human race. The facts are presented the way they are and the researchers have no bias or religious inclination in their presentation as the researchers have different background and the facts adduced hereto are as verifiable as they are purely scientific, historical, contemporary and testimonial in their extent, intent content and impact. Proper citations and sufficient acknowledgments are made of the various sources of facts referred to in this work as required in any academic research.

Publication Date: Sep 27 2008
ISBN/EAN13: 1440429995 / 9781440429996
Page Count: 400
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Trim Size: 8" x 10"
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Related Categories: Religion / Religion & Science

List Price: $16.00
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS GREAT BOOK NOW!

Science Makes Room for Enwonwu, Other Artists, in Outer Space

Science makes room for Enwonwu, other artists, in outer space
~ ADELEKE ADEYEMI


Ben Enwonwu (1921-1994)

‘Life is short; Art is long’. Science, it seems, has set itself the task of bearing empirical witness to the truth of the saying of the Romans of long ago. A new list of world artists after whom craters on Mercury are to be known has been released by the International Astronomical Union. The IAU has handled planetary and satellite nomenclature since its inception in 1919. The craters are named after famous deceased artists, musicians, or authors.

A crater is a natural depression that results from the high velocity impact of a projectile as it collides with a larger body. The term is widely used for the approximately circular depression in the surface of a planet, moon or other solid body in the Solar System. Impact craters provide the dominant landforms here.
Among those accorded the celestial honour is “sculptor and painter Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu [1921-1994], the most renowned Nigerian artist of the 20th century,” according to a statement released by Messenger Science Team, the unit of IAU responsible for making recommendations.


Top are the newly designated Mercury craters. Enwonwu is left, middle

(Photo by NASA)

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) ratified the proposal from the MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) Science Team to name 15 craters on Mercury. All of the newly named craters were imaged during the mission's first flyby of the solar system's most tucked-in planet back in January 2008.

"We're pleased that the IAU has again acted promptly to approve this new set of names for prominent craters on Mercury," says MESSENGER Principal Investigator Sean Solomon of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. "These latest names honour a diverse suite of some of the most accomplished contributors to mankind's higher aspirations. They also make it much easier for planetary scientists to refer to major features on Mercury in talks and publications."

The newly named craters (in alphabetical order) are: Amaral, after Tarsila do Amaral (1886-1973) of Brazil, considered one of the leading Latin American modernist artists; Beckett, after Clarice Beckett (1887-1935), recognized as one of Australia's most important modernist artists; Dali, after Salvador Dali (1904-1989), a Spanish painter and leader of the Surrealist Movement; Enwonwu; Glinka, after Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857), a Russian composer considered to be the "father" of genuinely Russian music; Hovnatanian, after Hakop Hovnatanian (1806-1881), an Armenian painter known for his portraits; Moody, after Ronald Moody(1900-1984), a self-taught, Jamaica-born sculptor and painter who found success in mid-20th-century London and Paris; Munch, after Edvard Munch (1863-1944), a Norwegian Symbolist painter, printmaker, and draftsman, perhaps most well-known for his painting “The Scream”; Navoi, after Alisher Navoi (1441-1501), a 15th century Uzbek poet, considered by many to be the founder of early Turkic literature; Nawahi, after Joseph Nawahi (1842-1896), a self-taught artist, lawyer, educator, publisher, member of the Hawaiian legislature for many years, and principal adviser to famous Hawaiian Queen Lili'uokalani; Oskison, after John Milton Oskison (1874-1947), a Cherokee author who served as editor and editorial writer for the New York Evening Post; Poe, after Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), American poet, critic, editor, and author, best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre; Qi Baishi, after Qi Baishi (1864-1957), a renowned Chinese painter known for his whimsical water colours; Raden Saleh, after Raden Saleh (1807-1880), a 19th century Javanese naturalist painter considered to be the first modern artist from what is now Indonesia, and Sher-Gil, after Amrita Sher-Gil (1913-1941), an eminent Indian painter, today considered an important female painter of 20th-century India.

"It was quite enjoyable to consider candidate names from among the world's most accomplished people in the arts and humanities," says MESSENGER Participating Scientist Dave Blewett, of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, in Laurel, Madison, USA. "Having names for many of the prominent craters will help us to remember and discuss specific locations in this previously 'undiscovered country,'" Blewett adds. The addition of these craters, along with the 12 features named in April, brings the total to 27 newly named surface features for Mercury in 2008.

MESSENGER is a NASA-sponsored scientific investigation of the planet Mercury and the first space mission designed to orbit the planet that snuggles closet to the Sun. The MESSENGER spacecraft launched on August 3, 2004, after flybys of Earth, Venus, and Mercury, will start a yearlong study of its target planet in March 2011.