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December 31, 2012

Birdsong study pecks at theory that music is uniquely human
Atlanta GA (SPX) Dec 31, 2012
A bird listening to birdsong may experience some of the same emotions as a human listening to music, suggests a new study on white-throated sparrows, published in Frontiers of Evolutionary Neuroscience. "We found that the same neural reward system is activated in female birds in the breeding state that are listening to male birdsong, and in people listening to music that they like," says Sarah Earp, who led the research as an undergraduate at Emory University. For male birds listening to ano ... read more

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Saber-toothed cats in California were not driven to extinction by lack of food When prey is scarce, large carnivores may gnaw prey to the bone, wearing their teeth down in the process. A new analysis of the teeth of saber-toothed cats and American lions reveals that they did n ... more		Piranha kin wielded dental weaponry even T. rex would have admired Taking into consideration its size, an ancient relative of piranhas weighing about 20 pounds delivered a bite with a force more fierce than prehistoric whale-eating sharks, the four-ton ocean-dwelli ... more		Even in same vineyard, different microbes may create variations in wine grapes Choosing the perfect wine may soon involve more than just knowing the perfect vintage and chateau. Differences in the microbes present on grapes even in different parts of the same vineyard may cont ... more
				What's in a name? Everything for Farmers Have you ever sat down for a delicious dish of grilled Patagonian toothfish at your local seafood restaurant? You almost certainly have; you just didn't know it. Which brings us to the point of this article - it's all about the name. ... more		Scuffles erupt at Hong Kong pro-government march Scuffles broke out Sunday as thousands marched in support of Hong Kong's scandal-plagued leader Leung Chun-ying, ahead of a mass pro-democracy rally planned for New Year's day. ... more

CubeSats, SmallSats and MicroSats

Thousands flee floods as cyclone batters Solomon Islands Thousands of people were forced to flee rapidly rising rivers in the Solomon Islands, officials said Sunday as Cyclone Freda intensified into a "destructive" force storm and headed towards New Caledonia. ... more		From UFOs to 'tsunami bomb': N.Z. archive secrets revealed A new book has revealed rare historical gems buried in New Zealand's national archives, including a bizarre WWII plan to create a "tsunami bomb" and military files detailing supposed UFO sightings. ... more		Charging forward: The impact of electrifying heavy-duty vehicles on the grid Explained: Generative AI's environmental impact From lab to field: CABBI pipeline delivers oil-rich sorghum		Hope for polluted lagoon near Rio Olympic village? Near Rio's future 2016 Olympic village the Marapendi lagoon emits a foul stench from waters that have been turned into a cesspool by unfiltered sewage from surrounding upscale condominiums. ... more
				Philippine storm death toll rises to 20 The death toll from a tropical storm that hit the central Philippines on Christmas Day has risen to 20, with more than 20,000 others left homeless, the government said Sunday. ... more		U.N. changes hottest-day-on-record date The U.N. climate agency has changed the world's hottest day on record from Sept. 13, 1922, in Libya, to July 10, 1913, in California's Death Valley. ... more

Solar systems for home and business

CubeSats, SmallSats and MicroSats

Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison & Memory Foam Mattress Review

Swine flu kills nine Palestinians Nine Palestinians have died in an outbreak of the H1N1 influenza strain known as swine flu, the office of Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad said on Saturday. ... more		5.5-magnitude quake strikes off Japan: USGS A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan on Saturday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported. ... more		Iran Guards unveil underground naval base Israel intercepts missiles fired from Yemen Russian attacks kill six across Ukraine, Kyiv says		Fukushima 'unprecedented challenge': new Japan PM The clean-up at Fukushima after its tsunami-sparked nuclear meltdowns is unlike anything humanity has ever undertaken, Japan's prime minister said Saturday during a tour of the plant. ... more
				Australia legal challenge to Japan whaling moves closer Australia Saturday condemned Japan's annual whaling expedition as its hunting fleet steamed to the Southern Ocean, and said a challenge through the International Court of Justice should be heard in 2013. ... more		China law says family members should visit elderly relatives China has passed a new law stipulating that family members should pay regular visits to their elderly relatives, according to the government's official website. ... more

Fukushima 'unprecedented challenge': new Japan PM

N.Z. quake city puts faith in cardboard cathedral

Burst shark aquarium hurts 15 in Shanghai shopping centre

Liquid crystal research, future applications advance

All Systems Go for Highest Altitude Supercomputer

UKube-1 Signs up for Launch and Completes Thermal Vacuum Testing

Smaller Colorado River projected for coming decades

Hope for polluted lagoon near Rio Olympic village?

China's boom savages coral reefs: study

CryoSat hits land

Study shows rapid warming on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet

Antarctic science drill project called off

	26 injured in Macau-Hong Kong ferry collision Twenty-six people were injured on Saturday in a collision between a Hong Kong-bound passenger ferry and a buoy in Macau, authorities said. ... more		Burst shark aquarium hurts 15 in Shanghai shopping centre Dramatic video footage has captured the moment a 33-ton shark tank exploded in a Shanghai shopping centre, engulfing onlookers in a torrent of water and glass and injuring 15 people. ... more		Japan whaling fleet leaves port for Antarctica Japanese whaling vessels left port Friday bound for the Southern Ocean on their annual pursuit of the huge marine mammals, and on a collision course with militant environmentalists vowing to halt the hunt. ... more		US Navy sailors sue Japan's TEPCO over radiation Eight US Navy sailors are suing Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) for hundreds of millions of dollars over allegations the Japanese firm lied to them about radiation dangers after a tsunami-triggered meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. ... more

FAA grounds SpaceX Starship launches after breakup

China deploys three spacecraft with Long March 2D rocket

ISRO demonstrates restart of Vikas engine

China sets date for 12th National People's Congress		Wood-burning sets off pollution alarm bells in Athens		Montreal hit by record snow dump		Philippine storm death toll rises to 11		Fresh cyclone brews in Pacific
Travel chaos as deadly storm hits northeast US		Decision to give a group effort in the brain		Bumblebees do best where there is less pavement and more floral diversity		Why some grasses evolved a more efficient photosynthesis and others didn't		New data challenge old views about evolution of early life

Russia identifies main environmental risks

Fukushima operator boosts compensation estimate

Two dead as Malaysian floods subside

World's smelliest and largest flower blooms in Brazil

China's boom savages coral reefs: study

Massive beached whale dies in New York City

N.Z. quake city puts faith in cardboard cathedral

1,500 Nicaraguan farmers stay put despite volcano warning

Amazon deforestation brings loss of microbial communities

Deforestation in the Amazon equals net losses of diversity for microbial communities

Smaller Colorado River projected for coming decades

Olympics: Putin orders Sochi check after quake

Bangladesh slaughters 150,000 birds over avian flu

Dominion To Develop Largest Fuel Cell Power Project In North America

Foam's Future Seen in Space and Industry

Don't Fall for the Shale Boom Hype - Chris Martenson Interview

Mortenson Renewable Energy Groups Wraps Up Record-Breaking Year

Taiwan's Chinatrust in talks to buy Tokyo bank: report

Largest Kansas wind farm set to go online

Active fault may close Japan nuclear plant

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