Submission + - Thomas Kurtz, co-creator of BASIC, dead at age 96 (nytimes.com)
damn_registrars writes: 20 goto 10. Thomas E Kurtz, one of the co-creators of the language many of us learned early on, has passed away at the age of 96.
Submission Summary: 0 pending, 45 declined, 11 accepted (56 total, 19.64% accepted)
Submission + - Gateway Computer Co-Founder Mike Hammond Dead at 53 (siouxlandnews.com)
damn_registrars writes: One of the three men who co-founded Gateway Computer (sometimes called "Gateway 2000") died over the weekend.
Submission + - Nearly 700 genetic factors influence human adult height (nature.com)
damn_registrars writes: A consortium of scientists from many different countries reviewed genome-wide association study (GWAS) data sets of over 250,000 individuals in a search for genetic factors that influence adult height. Looking at Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) the researchers found that they can explain some 36 percent of the heritability of human adult height. Previous studies had found around 180 such markers, but the larger sample set increased the ability to detect these changes, both within genes and in non-coding regions. Genes found in this set included ones from pathways not previously connected to skeletal growth.
This study is also significant for the sample size, which allows it to address whether the data from such large sets has a tendency to converge or diverge on genetic pathways; this study particularly favors the latter which is of great utility towards studying other polygenetic conditions in the future.
The original paper is likely paywalled, however the abstract is available for free and some of the collaborators behind it have other bits available for free in the meantime.
This study is also significant for the sample size, which allows it to address whether the data from such large sets has a tendency to converge or diverge on genetic pathways; this study particularly favors the latter which is of great utility towards studying other polygenetic conditions in the future.
The original paper is likely paywalled, however the abstract is available for free and some of the collaborators behind it have other bits available for free in the meantime.
Submission + - Earliest Known Pterosaur Described (nationalgeographic.com)
damn_registrars writes: A fossil of the earliest known Pterosaur flying reptile was found recently in China. Named Kryptodrakon progenitor, it was described in a paper published yesterday in the journal current biology (http://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822%2814%2900322-4) (paywalled by Elsevier). A less restrictive summary of the findings is in National Geographic (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140424-pterodactyl-pterosaur-china-oldest-science-animals/).
Submission + - Sun Not A Signficant Driver In Climate Change (ed.ac.uk) 1
damn_registrars writes: Scientists from Edinburgh, Scotland have recently published a study based on data from 1,000 years of climate data. They have compared the effects of differing factors including volcanic activity, solar activity, and greenhouse gases to find which has the most profound effect on climate. They have concluded that the driving factor since 1900 has been greenhouse gases. Their work has been published today in Nature Geoscience: http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo2040.html
Submission + - Coelocanth Genome Sequenced (nature.com)
damn_registrars writes: The lobe-finned fish described as a "living fossil" due to its apparent lack of change for hundreds of millions of years (as well as the fact it was thought extinct until the 1930s) has been sequenced by an international team including scientists from Sweden, Harvard, and MIT. The 3 billion base pair genome of the Coelocanth was described yesterday in the journal Nature. This paper is published in an open (non-paywalled) manner on Nature, making the full text available to all.
Submission + - Nintendo To Cancel Weather, News, And Other Wii Built-In Apps in June (theverge.com) 1
damn_registrars writes: Nintendo of Japan has announced that at the end of June it will be canceling the services of several of the channels that are built in to the original Wii, including the Weather, News, Everybody Votes, and Mii Contest. This will also effect the WiiConnect24 services, though should not effect the Wii shopping channel.
Submission + - Caltech Scientists Measure Dinosaur Body Temp (rdmag.com)
damn_registrars writes: "Using rare isotope ratios, a geology team at CalTech has determined body temperatures of sauropod dinosaurs. Their work finds temperatures that are roughly in line with modern mammals for body temperature. However, as the authors point out, this does not on its own confirm dinosaurs to be entirely warm-blooded, as they may have kept these temperatures by sheer mass.
The peer-reviewed paper is available online in PNAS, as they are NIH-supported, you can also get the article free through pubmed."
The peer-reviewed paper is available online in PNAS, as they are NIH-supported, you can also get the article free through pubmed."
Submission + - Obama: Broadband, Computers Part of Stimulus (pcworld.com)
damn_registrars writes: President-elect Barack Obama announced in his radio address that his administration's economic stimulus package will include investing in computers and broadband for education.
"To help our children compete in a 21st century economy, we need to send them to 21st century schools"
He also said it is "unacceptable" that the US ranks 15th in broadband adoption.
"To help our children compete in a 21st century economy, we need to send them to 21st century schools"
He also said it is "unacceptable" that the US ranks 15th in broadband adoption.
Submission + - Facebook wins $873 million lawsuit against spammer (google.com)
damn_registrars writes: A US District judge has awarded $873 million dollars to facebook in a default judgement against a spammer who sent messages to facebook users about drugs and sex. This is the highest award so far in a civil suit under the CAN-SPAM Act.
Submission + - Half of American Doctors Often Prescribe Placebos (nytimes.com)
damn_registrars writes:
Half of all American doctors responding to a nationwide survey say they regularly prescribe placebos to patients. The results trouble medical ethicists, who say more research is needed to determine whether doctors must deceive patients in order for placebos to work.
The study goes on to say that the drugs most often used as placebo are headache pills, vitamins, and antibiotics. Studies on doctors in Europe and New Zealand have found similar results.
Submission + - Dinosaur fossil found with preserved soft tissue (washingtonpost.com)
damn_registrars writes: A fossilized hadrosaur has been uncovered in South Dakota that has preserved soft tissue. This is described as a "mummified" dinosaur, and allows for a look at the skin and musculature of some parts of this animal. The find was reported by a 24 year old Yale graduate student of paleontology.
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