Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Alzheimer Treatment? Scientists discover way to reverse loss of memory
From The Independent:
Scientists performing experimental brain surgery on a man aged 50 have stumbled across a mechanism that could unlock how memory works.
The accidental breakthrough came during an experiment originally intended to suppress the obese man's appetite, using the increasingly successful technique of deep-brain stimulation. Electrodes were pushed into the man's brain and stimulated with an electric current. Instead of losing appetite, the patient instead had an intense experience of déjà vu. He recalled, in intricate detail, a scene from 30 years earlier. More tests showed his ability to learn was dramatically improved when the current was switched on and his brain stimulated.
Scientists are now applying the technique in the first trial of the treatment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. If successful, it could offer hope to sufferers from the degenerative condition, which affects 450,000 people in Britain alone, by providing a "pacemaker" for the brain.
Three patients have been treated and initial results are promising, according to Andres Lozano, a professor of neurosurgery at the Toronto Western Hospital, Ontario, who is leading the research.
Professor Lozano said: "This is the first time that anyone has had electrodes implanted in the brain which have been shown to improve memory. We are driving the activity of the brain by increasing its sensitivity – turning up the volume of the memory circuits. Any event that involves the memory circuits is more likely to be stored and retained."
You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-discover-way-to-reverse-loss-of-memory-775586.html
Photo from Gaetan Lee
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Not Very Secret Secret Societies
Mental Floss reported about 6 not so secret societies:
The Illuminati
Over the centuries, lots of groups have called themselves the Illuminati (“Enlightened Ones”), but the one we’re talking about here began as the Bavarian Illuminati. A radical product of the Enlightenment and offshoot of the religion-based Freemasons, the Illuminati espoused secular freethinking and intellectualism and proved a threat to Europe’s old order. Although they were officially banned by the Bavarian government in 1784, some claim that they live on to this day in other guises. So, what’s the Illuminati’s goal? To establish a new world order of capitalism and authoritarianism, of course! They’ve been accused of manipulating currencies, world stock markets, elections, assassinations, and even of being aliens. One common myth is that the eye-and-pyramid image on the dollar bill is a symbol of the Illuminati watching over us. Nope. It’s a symbol of strength and durability (though unfinished, symbolizing growth and change), and the all-seeing eye represents the divine guidance of the American cause. Or so the government says.
They report about the Freemasons, the Illuminati, Opus Dei, Skull and Bones, The Bohemian Club, The Trilateral Commission
Follow this link to read the whole article: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/11539
New ‘Hubdub’ Site Let’s Users Wager on News Stories
After signing up, you'll receive 1,000 "Hubdub dollars," play money that works only on the site.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Invasion of 150 Million Christmas Crabs on Christmas Island
Christmas Island is located north of Australia and every year 150,000,000 crabs migrate from the forest to the ocean so each female can lay 100,000 eggs.
Complaints choir can't complain - in Singapore
A choir of foreigners living in Singapore wasn't allowed to perform after the city banned them from singing. Their song lists complaints about life in Singapore.
Some of the complaints that would have been sung included, "when a pregnant lady gets on the train, everyone pretends to sleep" and "when I'm hungry at the food court, I see people (reserve) seats with tissue paper."
Singapore, which faces a low birth rate and a graying population, has turned increasingly to immigrants to boost its work force. It aims to add another 2 million people to the island's 4.7 million people over the next 40 to 50 years.
The city-state is frequently criticized by human rights groups for its restrictions on expression and the media.
Follow this link to read the whole article: http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2845470320080128?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=22&sp=true
The histories of 6 tiny nations
Cracked.com wrote an article about the histories of six of the tiniest nations in the world:
Freetown Christiana
Christiania was founded in 1971 when five people took over an abandoned military installation as a form of protest against the Danish government, which was blamed for the lack of affordable housing at the time. While we were not there, we can calculate that at least four of them thought of using the phrase "Killing two birds with one stone," while discussing the idea (or as they say in Denmark, "Killing two birds with one stone." Only they in Danish).
Since then, more people have moved in and the place has been going by its own rules under the principles of anarchy, communism and the hippie movement--except for the time when Denmark decided to use their rules on them.
They also report about Sealand (near Suffolk, England), Kingdom of Redonda (near Antigua), Freetown Christiania (in Copenhagen, Denmark), Sark (in English Channel), The Aerican Empire, The Republic of Molossia (around Dayton, Nevada)
http://www.cracked.com/article_15821_fun-size-countries-insane-histories-worlds-6-tiniest-nations.html
Beautiful X-Ray Pictures of Plants
Youdidnotknow.com posted several beautiful "x-ray" pictures of plants. If you want to see more head over to their website: http://www.youdidnotknow.com/2008/01/beautiful-x-ray-pictures-of-plants.html
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Coca Cola Story
From Whatheck.net:
John Stith Pemberton (1831.) was a graduated pharmacist and druggist, chemicals, herbal medicines, cosmetic products and even a perfume seller in the early stage of his life (Sweet Southern Bouquet was Pemberton's most famous perfume). As a herbal expert and morphine addict, he began working on a headache relieving beverage called coca and cola, based on Kola nut and Coca plant. The kola nut has a bitter flavor and contains caffeine and Coca is a plant best known for the stimulant drug cocaine, that is chemically extracted from its new fresh leaf tips. On May 8th 1886. Pemberton finished his experiment. He chilled the beverage, drank it and surprised himself with a pleasant taste of a drink. Mixed it with carbonated water, tried it again - whoa, bingo! The taste of a drink was surprisingly good. Unfortunately he failed in his mission, but who cares, he succeeded in making a highly addictive drink! So he decided to sell it as a fountain drink, as an alternative for root beer and ginger ale. Sadly, Mr Pemberton had to sell the business in 1891. to Asa G. Candler for only $2,300.
Read the full story here: The Evolution of Coca Cola
The beauty of Mother Nature
Have a look at this wonderful movie about the beauty of nature:
Mother Of Nature - The best bloopers are here
