Wise Young
02-25-2007, 02:21 AM
The American Association for Advancement of Science (http://www.aaas.org/) is the world's largest general scientific society. Over 10,000 people, including 1000 journalists attend their annual meeting, which just finished in San Francisco (Feb 17-19, 2007). Some people say that it was the most "political" of all its meetings to date, ranging from its positions on global climate changes and policies to stem cells (Source (http://cyborgdemocracy.net/2007/02/scientists-flex-political-muscles.html)).
Here are some of the presentations .
• Plant bioterrorism and agricultural biosecurity? Instead of killing people, why not spread a plant pathogen that could kill off the food supply of a nation (Source (http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/agrar_forstwissenschaften/bericht-79191.html)).
• Molecular approach to environment. Iowa biochemist Viki Grassian pointed out the importance of understanding molecular environment effects, how, for example, the discovery that chlorofluorocarbons eroded ozone in the Antarctica led to effective strategies that stabilized the "ozone hole".
• Eminent scientists warned of impending climate change. The AAAS Board of Directors issued the following warning "Delaying action to address climate change will increase the environmental and society consequences, as well as the costs. The longer we wait to tackle climate changes, the harder and more expensive the task will be." (Source (http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2007/2007-02-19-03.asp)).
• Environment chemicals contribute to obesity? University of Missouri scientist Frederick vom Saal reported that fetuses may be exposed to chemicals that alter their genes to make them more prone to obesity and disease. Specifically, he cound that endocrine disrupting chemicals causes mice to be born with low birthweight, to have what is called a "thrifty" phenotype programmed for starvation, and to gain abnormal amount of weight in the week after birth (Source (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=63374)).
• Cocoa contains flavonol good for brain health? A link between flavanols and cardiovascular health has been established previously. Now, two presentations at the AAAS meeting suggest that flavanol-rich coca is good for the brain. Ian McDonald of Nottingham University reprots that chocolate increases blood flwo to the brain for several hours. Norman Hollenberg from Harvard University and Brigham & Women's Hospital reports that Kuna Indians who eat a great deal of chocolates have much lower heart disease risk than mainland Panamanians, as well as much lower cancer risks (Source (http://www.confectionerynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=74294-mars-flavanols-cocoa-alzheimer-s)).
• The Great American Crime Decline. Franklin Zimring pointed out that NYC hits its violence peak in 1990 but the crime rate dropped 75% in 1991-2004, almost twice as much as the the average drop in crime around the nation. Zimring suggests that part of the change was due to relatively most improvements in policing, including a 35% increase in police, more aggressive policing that is independent of arrest, establishing a misdemeanor arrest program. But more than half of the improvement may have come from unprecedented economic gains, favorable demographics, a decline in the high-crime risk population of 18-29 year olds, and increase in incarceration (Source (http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2007/02/16_AAAS.shtml)).
There is much more..
Wise.
Here are some of the presentations .
• Plant bioterrorism and agricultural biosecurity? Instead of killing people, why not spread a plant pathogen that could kill off the food supply of a nation (Source (http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/agrar_forstwissenschaften/bericht-79191.html)).
• Molecular approach to environment. Iowa biochemist Viki Grassian pointed out the importance of understanding molecular environment effects, how, for example, the discovery that chlorofluorocarbons eroded ozone in the Antarctica led to effective strategies that stabilized the "ozone hole".
• Eminent scientists warned of impending climate change. The AAAS Board of Directors issued the following warning "Delaying action to address climate change will increase the environmental and society consequences, as well as the costs. The longer we wait to tackle climate changes, the harder and more expensive the task will be." (Source (http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2007/2007-02-19-03.asp)).
• Environment chemicals contribute to obesity? University of Missouri scientist Frederick vom Saal reported that fetuses may be exposed to chemicals that alter their genes to make them more prone to obesity and disease. Specifically, he cound that endocrine disrupting chemicals causes mice to be born with low birthweight, to have what is called a "thrifty" phenotype programmed for starvation, and to gain abnormal amount of weight in the week after birth (Source (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=63374)).
• Cocoa contains flavonol good for brain health? A link between flavanols and cardiovascular health has been established previously. Now, two presentations at the AAAS meeting suggest that flavanol-rich coca is good for the brain. Ian McDonald of Nottingham University reprots that chocolate increases blood flwo to the brain for several hours. Norman Hollenberg from Harvard University and Brigham & Women's Hospital reports that Kuna Indians who eat a great deal of chocolates have much lower heart disease risk than mainland Panamanians, as well as much lower cancer risks (Source (http://www.confectionerynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=74294-mars-flavanols-cocoa-alzheimer-s)).
• The Great American Crime Decline. Franklin Zimring pointed out that NYC hits its violence peak in 1990 but the crime rate dropped 75% in 1991-2004, almost twice as much as the the average drop in crime around the nation. Zimring suggests that part of the change was due to relatively most improvements in policing, including a 35% increase in police, more aggressive policing that is independent of arrest, establishing a misdemeanor arrest program. But more than half of the improvement may have come from unprecedented economic gains, favorable demographics, a decline in the high-crime risk population of 18-29 year olds, and increase in incarceration (Source (http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2007/02/16_AAAS.shtml)).
There is much more..
Wise.