NASA's Sunjammer Mission Canceled

Citing a lack of confidence in its contractor’s ability to deliver, NASA has abandoned plans to fly a solar-sail mission in 2015 after investing four years and more than $21 million on the project.

The Sunjammer mission, including the spacecraft and a deployable 1,200-square-meter solar sail, was being developed by L’Garde Inc. of Tustin, California, under a contract awarded in September 2011. The contract is slated to expire this coming December, and NASA has no plans to continue the work, according to an internal memo circulated at NASA headquarters here the week of Oct. 7.

“NASA is working with L’Garde to de-scope the existing contract to close out the documentation and deliver completed work to the Agency by the end of 2014,” the memo reads.

NASA spokesman David Steitz said problems with the program surfaced a year ago. “During the annual review last October NASA identified key integration issues that increased the schedule risk,” he said via email Oct. 7.

Nathan Barnes, president of L’Garde, said in an Oct. 17 phone interview that the company’s final delivery to NASA will be a design for a spacecraft module and solar sail that in theory could propel a small spacecraft by harnessing the energy of photon strikes. L’Garde will turn over its design in a Critical Design Audit scheduled for Nov. 7, he said.

After that, L’Garde will lay off about 16 employees, all of them in Tustin, cutting the company’s head count roughly in half. L’Garde employed some 35 people when the Sunjammer project was in full swing.

The mission had been manifested as a secondary payload aboard a Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Falcon 9 rocket scheduled to launch the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Deep Space Climate Observatory in 2015.

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Reality Can be Weirder Than Fiction: Ebola Toys Selling Like Hot Cakes

It may be the only time you will find these words in the same sentence: "Ebola" and "Add to Wishlist."

Giantmicrobes Inc., which makes a line of plush toys based on viruses and other microscopic organisms, has sold out its entire Ebola stock, including the small Ebola doll for $9.95, a Gigantic Ebola doll for $29.95 and an Ebola Petri Dish toy for $14.95, according to the company's website.

"Since its discovery in 1976, Ebola has become the T. Rex of microbes," says the Stamford, Connecticut-based maker of the "uniquely contagious toy" on its website, which promotes them as gag gifts that also have educational value.

With the latest Ebola outbreak, which already killed more than 4,500 people, mostly in West Africa, customers have snapped up the toy, which looks like half a pretzel.

"You do not want to get Ebola," warns the website. "A short incubation period of 2 to 21 days presages symptoms which include fever, aches, sore throat, and weakness, followed by diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and both internal and external bleeding. And then, for between 50-90 percent of victims, death."

Giantmicrobes lists the World Health Organization as one of its largest customers, along with pharmaceutical companies and the American Red Cross.

Anyone disappointed by the current shortage of the Ebola toys can click on "Add to Wishlist" and wait for more stock to arrive. Or make a different selection from the company's array of other plush toys, including Anthrax, Botulism, Cholera and Dengue Fever.

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X-37B Returns From Orbit After 675

The U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane has returned to Earth after spending nearly two years on a hush-hush orbital mission.

The X-37B space plane touched down at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on Friday (Oct. 17) at 9:24 a.m. local Pacific time (12:24 p.m. EDT; 1624 GMT), ending a mission that kicked off in December 2012 and saw the unmanned vehicle circle Earth for an unprecedented 675 days.

"I'm extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third safe and successful landing," said Col. Keith Balts, commander of the 30th Space Wing, which is headquartered at Vandenberg, in a statement. "Everyone from our on-console space operators to our airfield managers and civil engineers take pride in this unique mission and exemplify excellence during its execution."

Just what the space plane was doing up there for so long remains unclear; details about X-37B missions — including the payloads carried to orbit — are officially classified.

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2nd Foreign Buyer for V-22 Tilt Rotor to be Announced in Next Six Months

A second foreign country is expected to announce plans within six months to buy the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor plane built by Boeing Co (BA.N) and Textron Inc's (TXT.N) Bell Helicopter unit, the top general in the U.S. Marine Corps said.

Marine Corps Commandant General James Amos declined to name the country that would join Israel in buying the large aircraft, but said this week that the deal should be announced during the next half year.

Sources familiar with the program said Japan would likely be that second buyer, noting that Japan's defense budget released in August requested funds for tilt-rotor aircraft. Over the longer-term, Japan is interested in 20 to 40 V-22s, according to the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly.

U.S. officials have also provided briefings on the V-22 to the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, Singapore, and Australia.

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Did the Carbon Cycle Drive the Pleistocene Quaternary Glacial-Interglacial Periods?

The Carbon Cycle as the Main Determinant of Glacial-Interglacial Periods

Authors:

Jiménez de la Cuesta et al

Abstract:

An intriguing problem in climate science is the existence of Earth's glacial cycle. We show that it is possible to generate these periodic changes in climate by means of the Earth's carbon cycle as the main source factor. The carbon exchange between the Ocean, the Continent and the Atmosphere is modeled by means of a Lotka-Volterra three species system and the resulting atmospheric carbon cycle is used as the unique radiative forcing mechanism. It is shown that the carbon dioxide and temperature paths that are thus obtained have the same qualitative structure as the 100 kyr glacial-interglacial cycles depicted by the Vostok ice core data, reproducing the asymmetries of rapid heating--slow cooling, and short interglacial--long glacial ages.

Understanding Mars' LARLE Craters

Origin of the outer layer of Martian low-aspect ratio layered ejecta craters

Authors:

Boyce et al

Abstract:

Low-aspect ratio layered ejecta (LARLE) craters are one of the most enigmatic types of Martian layered ejecta craters. We propose that the extensive outer layer of these craters is produced through the same base surge mechanism as that which produced the base surge deposits generated by near-surface, buried nuclear and high-explosion detonations. However, the LARLE layers have higher aspect ratios compared with base surge deposits from explosion craters, a result of differences in thicknesses of these layers. This is probably caused by the addition of large amounts of small particles of dust and ice derived from climate-related mantles of snow, ice and dust in the areas where LARLE craters form. These deposits are likely to be quickly stabilized (order of a few days to a few years) from eolian erosion by formation of duricrust produced by diffusion of water vapor out of the deposits.

Evolution of Cultural Traits Occurs at Similar Relative Rates?

Evolution of cultural traits occurs at similar relative rates in different world regions

Authors:

Currie et al

Abstract:

A fundamental issue in understanding human diversity is whether or not there are regular patterns and processes involved in cultural change. Theoretical and mathematical models of cultural evolution have been developed and are increasingly being used and assessed in empirical analyses. Here, we test the hypothesis that the rates of change of features of human socio-cultural organization are governed by general rules. One prediction of this hypothesis is that different cultural traits will tend to evolve at similar relative rates in different world regions, despite the unique historical backgrounds of groups inhabiting these regions. We used phylogenetic comparative methods and systematic cross-cultural data to assess how different socio-cultural traits changed in (i) island southeast Asia and the Pacific, and (ii) sub-Saharan Africa. The relative rates of change in these two regions are significantly correlated. Furthermore, cultural traits that are more directly related to external environmental conditions evolve more slowly than traits related to social structures. This is consistent with the idea that a form of purifying selection is acting with greater strength on these more environmentally linked traits. These results suggest that despite contingent historical events and the role of humans as active agents in the historical process, culture does indeed evolve in ways that can be predicted from general principles

Psychohistory?  Is that you?

Eocene Paleogene Anthracobunids are Stem Perissodactyls

Anthracobunids from the Middle Eocene of India and Pakistan Are Stem Perissodactyls

Authors:

Cooper et al

Abstract:

Anthracobunidae is an Eocene family of large mammals from south Asia that is commonly considered to be part of the radiation that gave rise to elephants (proboscideans) and sea cows (sirenians). We describe a new collection of anthracobunid fossils from Middle Eocene rocks of Indo-Pakistan that more than doubles the number of known anthracobunid fossils and challenges their putative relationships, instead implying that they are stem perissodactyls. Cranial, dental, and postcranial elements allow a revision of species and the recognition of a new anthracobunid genus. Analyses of stable isotopes and long bone geometry together suggest that most anthracobunids fed on land, but spent a considerable amount of time near water. This new evidence expands our understanding of stem perissodactyl diversity and sheds new light on perissodactyl origins.

Pennsylvanian Carboniferous Synapsid Ianthodon schultzei Revisited

New information on the cranial and postcranial anatomy of the early synapsid Ianthodon schultzei (Sphenacomorpha: Sphenacodontia), and its evolutionary significance

Authors:

Spindler et al

Abstract:

Newly identified material belonging to the holotype specimen of Ianthodon schultzei substantially increases our knowledge of this poorly known basal sphenacodont synapsid from the fossil site in Garnett, Kansas (Missourian, Late Pennsylvanian). The original description, based on a partial dermal skull roof, is augmented with information on the palate and braincase, together with data on the mandible and a few postcranial elements. The known skeletal morphology resembles that of Haptodus garnettensis, another synapsid taxon known from this locality, but with fewer marginal, distinctly recurved teeth and smaller teeth on the transverse flange of the pterygoid. Although recognizing that the holotype and only known specimen represents a juvenile individual, Ianthodon appears to reflect a more basal sphenacodontian condition than H. garnettensis. A restricted phylogenetic analysis based on previous work and newly scored characters for Ianthodon, Cutleria and Pantelosaurus supports this hypothesis. The Garnett locality appears to preserve an assemblage of synapsids (Haptodus, Ianthasaurus, Ianthodon) that are close to the base of the large clade that includes Edaphosauridae and Sphenacodontia, suggesting that an initial diversification of this clade occurred well within the Carboniferous Period.

The Alxa Geological Block and North China Cration Were Connected in the NeoProterozoic

LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of the Langshan Group in the Northeast margin of the Alxa block, with tectonic implications

Authors:

Hu et al

Abstract:

The relationship between the Alxa block and the North China Craton (NCC) is one of the controversial tectonic issues in China. The age spectra of detrital zircons from sedimentary rocks may help resolve the tectonic affinity of the Alxa block. The Langshan terrane is located in the northeast margin of the Alxa block which is connected to the northwest margin of the NCC. Detailed U-Pb dating of zircon from the meta-volcanic rocks and meta-sedimentary rocks of the Precambrian Langshan group shows that the Langshan Group formed in the Neoproterozoic. The evidences include the zircon age of 804.1 ± 3.5 Ma for the meta-volcanic rocks and the youngest detrital zircon age peak at 810-1187 Ma for the meta-sedimentary rocks. The detrital zircon age patterns of the Langshan group and Precambrian strata of the Alxa block and the NCC are similar. The older and younger detrital zircon age peaks of the Langshan group are comparable to those of the NCC and the Alxa block, respectively. The 1.5-1.7 Ga detrital zircons in the Langshan Group, which might be derived from the “Zhaertai-Bayan Obo-Huade” Mesoproterozoic rift system in the northern margin of the NCC, are not found in the Precambrian strata of the Alxa block. The detrital zircon age peaks of the Langshan group are well correlated to the known Precambrian tectono-thermal events that affected both the Alxa block and the NCC. The development of the Langshan Neoproterozoic rift system is shown by the contemporaneous magmatism in the Alxa block and the adjacent NCC. The results from this study indicate that the Alxa block and the NCC were together in the Neoproterozoic.

Elevated Carbon dioxide Changes the Plant Ecology

Long-term exposure to elevated CO2 enhances plant community stability by suppressing dominant plant species in a mixed-grass prairie

Authors:

Zelikova et al

Abstract:

Climate controls vegetation distribution across the globe, and some vegetation types are more vulnerable to climate change, whereas others are more resistant. Because resistance and resilience can influence ecosystem stability and determine how communities and ecosystems respond to climate change, we need to evaluate the potential for resistance as we predict future ecosystem function. In a mixed-grass prairie in the northern Great Plains, we used a large field experiment to test the effects of elevated CO2, warming, and summer irrigation on plant community structure and productivity, linking changes in both to stability in plant community composition and biomass production. We show that the independent effects of CO2 and warming on community composition and productivity depend on interannual variation in precipitation and that the effects of elevated CO2 are not limited to water saving because they differ from those of irrigation. We also show that production in this mixed-grass prairie ecosystem is not only relatively resistant to interannual variation in precipitation, but also rendered more stable under elevated CO2 conditions. This increase in production stability is the result of altered community dominance patterns: Community evenness increases as dominant species decrease in biomass under elevated CO2. In many grasslands that serve as rangelands, the economic value of the ecosystem is largely dependent on plant community composition and the relative abundance of key forage species. Thus, our results have implications for how we manage native grasslands in the face of changing climate.

Russian Air Force Moving MiG-31s to Arctic

Starting from 2017, the Russian Air Force will base MiG-31 interceptor jets and tactical aircraft at a Russian Arctic airfield in the urban settlement of Tiksi in northernmost Sakha Republic, Commander Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Wednesday.

"Reconstruction of the Tiksi airfield will certainly begin next year. A formation of tactical aircraft and MiG-31 interceptors will be based at the airfield in 2017. MiG-31 will be also based at an airfield in Anadyr [the capital of Chukotka Autonomous Area]," Bondarev said during an inspection visit to Air Force facilities under construction.

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Did the Japanese Consumption Tax Hurt the Economy?

WAS the decision to raise a key tax this year a big mistake? For years, the political consensus has been that Japan’s consumption (ie, value-added) tax needs to go up in order to control a ballooning public debt. In April the government of Shinzo Abe carried out a decision made by the previous government and lifted the tax from 5% to 8%. That is still low by developed-country standards, but it seems to have inflicted more pain than most predicted. Reports from Tokyo’s brothel districts to the country’s rural regions suggest the move has hurt an already limp recovery.

The last time politicians dared raise the consumption tax was back in 1997. It helped push a recovering economy back into recession. Then, however, the move coincided with a financial storm in Asia and a bad-loans crisis at home. This time, politicians seemed surer that people would soon head back to the shops. Yet the fall in household demand has proven even sharper than in 1997 (see chart), and a recession is again on the cards. The economy shrank by an annualised 7.1% in the second quarter of the year. Economists are growing nervous about Japan’s third-quarter GDP, to be published on November 17th.

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Lockheed Fusion Announcement is Being met With Strong Skepticism by Fusion Community

Experts were skeptical of Lockheed Martin Corp.‘s claims this week that it plans to build a fusion reactor small enough to fit on the back of a truck over the next decade.

The Bethesda, Maryland-based company — the world’s largest defense contractor, known for its stealth fighter jets and guided missiles — on Wednesday announced that it would test a compact fusion reactor in less than a year, build a prototype in five years and deploy the system in 10 years.

[...]

“I’m surprised that a company like this would release something that doesn’t have much context,” said Steven Cowley, a professor in plasma physics at the Imperial College London, director of the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, and a leading expert in magnetic fusion energy.

“Normally, if someone says they’re doing well in fusion, they would quote some data, ‘We got a temperature of x and a confinement of y,’” he said, referring to how long a reactor can hold the heat of a reaction before it escapes. “There’s no such information.”

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Robopocalypse! Tesla Adding Self Driving Capabilities to Model S

Tesla is also adding semi-automomous driving features to its cars that will allow owners to leave some of the driving to the car's on-board computers. The features will come standard, and the automaker has been building them into cars on the assembly line for the past two weeks.

These systems use sensors and cameras to help keep the car in its lane on highways while maintaining a safe following distance behind cars ahead.

The car will be able to automatically change lanes while avoiding other vehicles when the driver uses the turn signal. It will also change the car's speed automatically to adjust to different speed limits as determined by cameras that read speed limit signs.

While using these "autopilot" features, drivers will not be required to keep their hands on the steering wheel.

The car will be able to park itself and, when on private property, an owner will be able to summon the car. The car will also be able to connect with the owner's calendar so that it can be ready when needed.

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Is Karem Aircraft Working on a Secret Tilt Rotor VTOL for the US Military?

The owner of Karem Aircraft, which was passed over by the US Army for a spot in the joint multi-role technology demonstration (JMR-TD) programme, says the company could still contribute to the future of US military rotorcraft.

“When things are not in the public domain, I don’t go first. I let the government go first,” Abe Karem tells Flightglobal about future US government business opportunities beyond JMR. “I’m not confirming, denying or saying anything. I put $25 million after tax – that’s $50 billion in Sikorsky speak. So yes, we are fully committed to that. This is not something that will be brushed aside. I can say that for me. I am not saying anything for the government.”

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ATK to Finish XM-25 Development, Expected to Begin Production in 2016

The US Army is further developing its 25 mm XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) system as the service considers possible procurement in 2016.

Prime contractor ATK was awarded a USD33.4 million contract in September to complete the weapon's engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase within the next two years, company spokesman Jarrod Krull told IHS Jane's on 14 October at the Association of the United States Army's (AUSA's) annual conference.

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Sea Level Rose as Much as *5* Meters per Century During Pleistocene Interglacials

Land-ice decay at the end of the last five ice-ages caused global sea-levels to rise at rates of up to 5.5 metres per century, according to a new study.

An international team of researchers developed a 500,000-year record of sea-level variability, to provide the first account of how quickly sea-level changed during the last five ice-age cycles.

The results, published in the latest issue of Nature Communications, also found that more than 100 smaller events of sea-level rise took place in between the five major events.

Dr Katharine Grant, from the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, who led the study, says: "The really fast rates of sea-level rise typically seem to have happened at the end of periods with exceptionally large ice sheets, when there was two or more times more ice on the Earth than today.

"Time periods with less than twice the modern global ice volume show almost no indications of sea-level rise faster than about 2 metres per century. Those with close to the modern amount of ice on Earth, show rates of up to 1 to 1.5 metres per century."

Co-author Professor Eelco Rohling, of both the University of Southampton and ANU, explains that the study also sheds light on the timescales of change. He says: "For the first time, we have data from a sufficiently large set of events to systematically study the timescale over which ice-sheet responses developed from initial change to maximum retreat."

"This happened within 400 years for 68 per cent of all 120 cases considered, and within 1100 years for 95 per cent. In other words, once triggered, ice-sheet reduction (and therefore sea-level rise) kept accelerating relentlessly over periods of many centuries."

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Searching for Hydrogen peroxide in the Martian Atmosphere

Search for hydrogen peroxide in the Martian atmosphere by the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer onboard Mars Express

Authors:

Aoki et al

Abstract:

We searched for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the Martian atmosphere using data measured by the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS) onboard Mars Express during five Martian years (MY27–31). It is well known that H2O2 plays a key role in the oxidizing capacity of the Martian atmosphere. However, only a few studies based on ground-based observations can be found in the literature. Here, we performed the first analysis of H2O2 using long-term measurements by a spacecraft-borne instrument. We used the ν4 band of H2O2 in the spectral range between 359 cm-1 and 382 cm-1 where strong features of H2O2 are present around 362 cm-1 and 379 cm-1. Since the features were expected to be very weak even at the strong band, sensitive data calibrations were performed and a large number of spectra were selected and averaged. We made three averaged spectra for different seasons over relatively low latitudes (50°S–50°N). We found features of H2O2 at 379 cm-1, whereas no clear features were detected at 362 cm-1 due to large amounts of uncertainty in the data. The derived mixing ratios of H2O2 were close to the detection limits: 16 ± 19 ppb at Ls = 0–120°, 35 ± 32 ppb at Ls = 120–240°, and 41 ± 28 ppb at Ls = 240–360°. The retrieved value showed the detection of H2O2 only for the third seasonal period, and the values in the other periods provided the upper limits. These long-term averaged abundances derived by the PFS generally agreed with the ones reported by ground-based observations. From our derived mixing ratio of H2O2, the lifetime of CH4 in the Martian atmosphere is estimated to be several decades in the shortest case. Our results and sporadic detections of CH4 suggest the presence of strong CH4 sinks not subject to atmospheric oxidation.

tRNA Look-alike Encoding Permeates Human Genome: More tRNA? Pseudogenes? or Something Completely new?

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are ancient workhorse molecules and part of the cellular process that creates the proteins, critical building blocks of life that keep a cell running smoothly. A new discovery suggests that the number of human genomic loci that might be coding for tRNAs is nearly double what is currently known. Most of the newly identified loci resemble the sequences of mitochondrial tRNAs suggesting unexpected new links between the human nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, links that are not currently understood.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) represent an integral component of the translation of a messenger RNA (mRNA) into an amino acid sequence. TRNAs are non-coding RNA molecules and can be found in all three kingdoms of life i.e., in archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes.

At the DNA level, a triplet of consecutive nucleotides known as the "codon" is used to encode an amino acid. Frequently, a given amino acid can be encoded by more than one codon: in fact, there are 61 distinct codons encoding the 20 standard human amino acids. During translation, each of the codons contained in the coding region of the mRNA at hand is recognized by its matching tRNA and the corresponding amino acid added to the nascent amino acid sequence. It has been known for many years that each of these 61 tRNAs has multiple copies spread throughout the genome that is found in the human nucleus. The presence of multiple genomic loci from which the same molecule can be made is a fairly standard trick of genomic organization: processing these loci in parallel can ensure that adequate amounts of each tRNA can be generated quickly enough to meet the high demand that the amino acid translation process imposes on the cell. In addition to the 61 tRNAs that are found in the human nuclear genome, 22 more tRNAs are encoded in the genome of the cellular organelle known as the mitochondrion: the mitochondrion, originally a bacterium itself, uses these 22 tRNAs to make proteins out of the just-over-a-dozen mRNAs that are encoded in its genome.

Recent research efforts have shown that tRNAs can have other roles, which go beyond their involvement in protein synthesis. For example, tRNAs can affect the physiology of a cell, they can modulate the abundance of important molecules, etc. These and other unexpected findings have revived interest in looking at tRNAs, this time under a different prism. But, how many tRNAs are actually encoded by the human genome and could be potentially involved in amino acid translation and other processes?

A team led by Isidore Rigoutsos, Director of the Computational Medicine Center at Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), set out to tackle this question and they have reported their findings in a study that was just published in the journal Frontiers in Genetics. "What we found, frankly, surprised us," said Rigoutsos.

The team searched the 3 billion base pairs of the human genome for DNA sequences that resembled the 530 known nuclear and mitochondrial tRNAs. Even though they used very stringent criteria in their searches, they found 454 "lookalike" loci, i.e., sequences that look like tRNA, but haven't yet been experimentally confirmed as such. The researchers found nearly as many as the known ones with which they started: 81% of these tRNA-lookalikes had not been reported previously. Rather unexpectedly, the team found that most of these new loci resembled some of the 22 mitochondrial tRNAs.

Interestingly, the discovered tRNA lookalikes are not spread uniformly across the 24 chromosomes. Instead, they have penetrated preferentially some chromosomes and have avoided others. For example, chromosomes 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 claim the lion's share of the discovered tRNA-lookalikes. On the other hand, chromosome 18 contains no lookalikes. Also, some of the codons are particularly over-represented among the lookalikes whereas other codons are absent.

The surprises did not stop there. The team also discovered that in the chromosomes where the tRNA-lookalikes are found their locations are not accidental either. Instead, the lookalikes are positioned in close proximity to known nuclear tRNAs. This of course begs the question whether the tRNA-lookalikes are transcribed, just like the known tRNAs. By examining public repositories, the team found evidence of transcription for more than 20% of the discovered tRNA-lookalikes: the transcriptional profiles appear to depend on cell type, which suggests that more of the look-alikes will be found to be transcribed as data from more cell types become available. On several occasions, the public data revealed evidence for molecules whose endpoints matched exactly the endpoints of the tRNA-lookalikes discovered by the team. "This is certainly exciting, but it is currently unclear whether these molecules participate in translation as tRNAs, or have entirely different roles," said Rigoutsos.

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Did Giant Short Faced Kangaroos Walk Like Theropods?

Locomotion in Extinct Giant Kangaroos: Were Sthenurines Hop-Less Monsters?

Authors:

Janis et al

Abstract:

Sthenurine kangaroos (Marsupialia, Diprotodontia, Macropodoidea) were an extinct subfamily within the family Macropodidae (kangaroos and rat-kangaroos). These “short-faced browsers” first appeared in the middle Miocene, and radiated in the Plio-Pleistocene into a diversity of mostly large-bodied forms, more robust than extant forms in their build. The largest (Procoptodon goliah) had an estimated body mass of 240 kg, almost three times the size of the largest living kangaroos, and there is speculation whether a kangaroo of this size would be biomechanically capable of hopping locomotion. Previously described aspects of sthenurine anatomy (specialized forelimbs, rigid lumbar spine) would limit their ability to perform the characteristic kangaroo pentapedal walking (using the tail as a fifth limb), an essential gait at slower speeds as slow hopping is energetically unfeasible. Analysis of limb bone measurements of sthenurines in comparison with extant macropodoids shows a number of anatomical differences, especially in the large species. The scaling of long bone robusticity indicates that sthenurines are following the “normal” allometric trend for macropodoids, while the large extant kangaroos are relatively gracile. Other morphological differences are indicative of adaptations for a novel type of locomotor behavior in sthenurines: they lacked many specialized features for rapid hopping, and they also had anatomy indicative of supporting their body with an upright trunk (e.g., dorsally tipped ischiae), and of supporting their weight on one leg at a time (e.g., larger hips and knees, stabilized ankle joint). We propose that sthenurines adopted a bipedal striding gait (a gait occasionally observed in extant tree-kangaroos): in the smaller and earlier forms, this gait may have been employed as an alternative to pentapedal locomotion at slower speeds, while in the larger Pleistocene forms this gait may have enabled them to evolve to body sizes where hopping was no longer a feasible form of more rapid locomotion.

How Rails Radiated in the Eocene Paleogene

Eocene Diversification of Crown Group Rails (Aves: Gruiformes: Rallidae)

Authors:

Garcia et al

Abstract:

Central to our understanding of the timing of bird evolution is debate about an apparent conflict between fossil and molecular data. A deep age for higher level taxa within Neoaves is evident from molecular analyses but much remains to be learned about the age of diversification in modern bird families and their evolutionary ecology. In order to better understand the timing and pattern of diversification within the family Rallidae we used a relaxed molecular clock, fossil calibrations, and complete mitochondrial genomes from a range of rallid species analysed in a Bayesian framework. The estimated time of origin of Rallidae is Eocene, about 40.5 Mya, with evidence of intrafamiliar diversification from the Late Eocene to the Miocene. This timing is older than previously suggested for crown group Rallidae, but fossil calibrations, extent of taxon sampling and substantial sequence data give it credence. We note that fossils of Eocene age tentatively assigned to Rallidae are consistent with our findings. Compared to available studies of other bird lineages, the rail clade is old and supports an inference of deep ancestry of ground-dwelling habits among Neoaves.

Was Norian Triassic Sauropodomorph Unaysaurus tolentinoi Quadrapedal or Bipdeal?

Functional and biomechanic aspects of the scapular girdle and forelimbs of Unaysaurus tolentinoi Leal et al., 2004 (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha)

Authors:

Vargas-Peixoto et al

Abstract:

This study presents evidence about the biomechanics and forelimbs functionality of the basal sauropodomorph Unaysaurus tolentinoi (upper portion of the SM2 sequence, Santa Maria Supersequence, Upper Triassic from southern Brazil). Maximum and minimum motion angles were inferred in the joints, disregarding the presence and/or thickness of cartilage. Furthermore, processes and external structures of the bones were analyzed in attributing the functionality of forelimbs. Unaysaurus tolentinoi had well-developed grapple ability. However, the preserved elements and their osteological features are not conclusive about strictly bipedalism or quadrupedalism in U. tolentinoi.

Cambrian Reefs and Their Implications

Formative mechanisms, depositional processes, and geological implications of Furongian (late Cambrian) reefs in the North China Platform

Authors:

Chen et al

Abstract:

The Cambrian Series 3–Furongian successions of the North China Platform contain various microbial–metazoan and microbial reefs. This study focuses on Furongian reefs of the platform in order to understand formative processes and the evolution of the reefs during Cambrian Epoch 3 and the Furongian. Three types of Furongian reefs were differentiated in the Shandong region, China: maceriate reefs, columnar stromatolitic reefs, and small-scale microbial reefs. Maceriate reefs show dm- to m-scale domal or flat-bedded geometry, and consist of cm-scale maze-like maceria structures made of siliceous sponges and microbial components (microstromatolites, Girvanella, and Tarthinia). Columnar stromatolitic reefs are characterized by stromatolite columns of 10–100 cm in height and 5–50 cm in diameter. They consist dominantly of Girvanella, with less conspicuous, poorly preserved sponge spicule networks. Small-scale microbial reefs commonly show cm- to dm-scale, domal macrostructures, and were constructed mainly by calcimicrobes, Girvanella and Renalcis. These three types of Furongian reefs were deposited in various shallow-marine settings in response to relative sea-level changes.

The Furongian reefs are markedly different, in terms of macro- and micro-fabrics, from the Cambrian Series 3 reefs that are dominated by thrombolites and dendrolites and were constructed mainly by Epiphyton in the Shandong region. This difference is also recognized in the Beijing region, ca. 500 km away. The abrupt transition from the Cambrian Series 3-type to Furongian-type reefs, coincidently with a decrease in calcified microbe diversity, was most likely due to global euxinic oceanic conditions and a possible eustatic sea-level drop, rather than the highly diachronous, platform-wide drowning event (i.e., drowning of the Cambrian Series 3 carbonate platform). The abundant occurrence of sponge spicule networks in the Furongian reefs suggests that metazoan reef builders (i.e., sponges) resurged and became actively involved in the reefal systems prior to the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event. This study may provide an important basis for further investigation into the evolution of reefal systems during the middle to late Cambrian when metazoan reef-builders were known to be scarce.

US Military's Plan for Adapting to Climate Change

link.

What is China Doing in South Sudan's Civil War?

South Sudan relapsed into war on December 15, 2013, primarily due to the power struggle between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. China once again found one of its sizable foreign investments—particularly in the oil sector—embroiled in local political turbulence. This serves as a painful reminder to Beijing that independence not only endowed South Sudan with 70 percent of unified Sudan’s total oil output, but also daunting political and security risks.

Beijing’s conflict resolution efforts in South Sudan were widely applauded by the international community until the delivery of the first consignment of a $38 million order of arms from China North Industries Group (NORINCO) to Juba, South Sudan’s capital, in June, which called into question China’s neutrality in the peace process. The reported statement by the Chinese embassy in Juba on September 20 that NORINCO would halt the remainder of its arms contract, in addition to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s announcement of the deployment of a full infantry battalion to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), signals a renewed—and hopefully more consistent—commitment to the uneasy peace process. An independent South Sudan, just as the unified Sudan before, is likely to remain a testing ground for China on how to balance its policy of non-interference and the urgent need to protect fast-growing overseas interests.

link.

More on Lockheed's Fusion Reactor From Aviation Week

Hidden away in the secret depths of the Skunk Works, a Lockheed Martin research team has been working quietly on a nuclear energy concept they believe has the potential to meet, if not eventually decrease, the world’s insatiable demand for power.

Dubbed the compact fusion reactor (CFR), the device is conceptually safer, cleaner and more powerful than much larger, current nuclear systems that rely on fission, the process of splitting atoms to release energy. Crucially, by being “compact,” Lockheed believes its scalable concept will also be small and practical enough for applications ranging from interplanetary spacecraft and commercial ships to city power stations. It may even revive the concept of large, nuclear-powered aircraft that virtually never require refueling—ideas of which were largely abandoned more than 50 years ago because of the dangers and complexities involved with nuclear fission reactors.

Yet the idea of nuclear fusion, in which atoms combine into more stable forms and release excess energy in the process, is not new. Ever since the 1920s, when it was postulated that fusion powers the stars, scientists have struggled to develop a truly practical means of harnessing this form of energy. Other research institutions, laboratories and companies around the world are also pursuing ideas for fusion power, but none have gone beyond the experimental stage. With just such a “Holy Grail” breakthrough seemingly within its grasp, and to help achieve a potentially paradigm-shifting development in global energy, Lockheed has made public its project with the aim of attracting partners, resources and additional researchers.

link.

Lockheed Skunkworks Claims Fusion Power Breakthrough

Lockheed Martin Corp said on Wednesday it had made a technological breakthrough in developing a power source based on nuclear fusion, and the first reactors, small enough to fit on the back of a truck, could be ready in a decade.

Tom McGuire, who heads the project, said he and a small team had been working on fusion energy at Lockheed's secretive Skunk Works for about four years, but were now going public to find potential partners in industry and government for their work.

Initial work demonstrated the feasibility of building a 100-megawatt reactor measuring seven feet by 10 feet, which could fit on the back of a large truck, and is about 10 times smaller than current reactors, McGuire said.

link.

Related video from a year and a half ago.

Interesting if True: Machine Learning Used on Quantum Computer

Experimental Realization of Quantum Artificial Intelligence

Authors:

Li et al

Abstract:

Machines are possible to have some artificial intelligence like human beings owing to particular algorithms or software. Such machines could learn knowledge from what people taught them and do works according to the knowledge. In practical learning cases, the data is often extremely complicated and large, thus classical learning machines often need huge computational resources. Quantum machine learning algorithm, on the other hand, could be exponentially faster than classical machines using quantum parallelism. Here, we demonstrate a quantum machine learning algorithm on a four-qubit NMR test bench to solve an optical character recognition problem, also known as the handwriting recognition. The quantum machine learns standard character fonts and then recognize handwritten characters from a set with two candidates. To our best knowledge, this is the first artificial intelligence realized on a quantum processor. Due to the widespreading importance of artificial intelligence and its tremendous consuming of computational resources, quantum speedup would be extremely attractive against the challenges from the Big Data.

pop sci write up.

BAe Shows off its Prototype Ground Combat Vehicle at AUSA

link.

Bell Helicopter Unveils V-280 Valor at AUSA

Bell Helicopter is beginning to manufacture parts for its new V-280 Valor tilt-rotor aircraft, a next-generation helicopter being developed as part of the Army’s Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator, or JMR TD program.

The program is an Army-led joint program designed to replace the Army’s current fleet of helicopters.

Bell unveiled a full-scale mock-up of the V-280 Valor on the floor at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., in order to showcase the configuration and design of its new high-speed platform.

Slated to fly by 2017, the V-280 is engineered to reach speed of 280 knots, achieve a combat range up to 800 nautical miles and perform in what’s called “high-hot” conditions — described as 95-degrees Fahrenheit and 6,000-feet.

Bell plans to leverage the technological gains made by its construction of the V-22 Osprey, a tilt-rotor aircraft now in service which was first produced in the late 1980s.

link.

More info here.

Evidence of Seasonal Change in Eocene Paleogene Paleoclimate

Stable isotope patterns found in early Eocene equid tooth rows of North America: Implications for reproductive behavior and paleoclimate

Authors:

D'Ambrosia et al

Abstract:

Reproductive behaviors of early Eocene equids were likely different from their modern-day counterparts as a result of their small body size and warmer global temperatures. To better understand the paleoenvironment and ecology of these early horses, teeth of Protorohippus montanum jaws from a single stratigraphic locality in early Eocene sedimentary deposits of Wyoming were sampled for oxygen and carbon isotope analysis. These enamel data along with an inferred body mass of ~ 7.5 kg suggests that adult teeth formed over a matter of months, with the final tooth erupting at ~ 1.3 years of age. Thus, average isotopic values from each tooth likely represent environmental conditions from a single season. Results indicate two isotopic patterns. In the case of isotopic “pattern A,” the second forming molars (m/2s) have significantly lower isotopic ratios compared to other teeth within the jaw. This suggests the first forming molars (m/1s) formed during a cooling fall season, followed by formation of the m/2s during the cooler winter. In the case of isotopic “pattern B,” results suggest that m/1s formed during a warming spring season, while the m/2s formed during the following warmer summer season. Isotopic ratios of m/1s may represent an individual's birth season (or in utero season, depending on timing of initial formation), implying that early equids experienced at least two birth seasons per year. These results suggest that temperatures and reduced seasonality of the early Eocene played a strong role in early equid birth cycles. Lastly, the mean and variance in carbon and oxygen isotope ratios was not significantly different across tooth positions of all jaws when all individuals were grouped together, regardless of their pattern assignment. Such results indicate that isotopic data from fourth premolars, first molars, second molars, and third molars can be combined for purposes of temporal reconstructions of paleoclimate, thus increasing the potential sample sizes for these types of studies.

The Martian Ionosphere near the Terminator

Topside of the Martian Ionosphere near the Terminator: Variations with Season and Solar Zenith Angle and Implications for the Origin of the Transient Layers

Authors:

Zhang et al

Abstract:

In this paper, the morphological variations of the M2 layer of the Martian ionosphere with the Martian seasons and solar zenith angle (SZA) at the terminator are investigated. The data used are the MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding) measurements (approximately 5,000 ionograms) that were acquired from 2005 to 2012, which have a SZA ⩾ 85° and detect the topside transient layers. A simple, effective data inversion method is developed for the situation in which the upper portion of the height profile is non-monotonic and the observed data are insufficient for adequate reduction. The inverted parameters are subsequently explored using a statistical approach. The results reveal that the main body of the M2 layer (approximately 10 km below the first topside layer) can be well-characterized as a Chapman layer near the terminator (SZA = 85° – 98°), notwithstanding the high SZA and the presence of the topside layers. The height of the first topside layer tends to be concentrated approximately 60 km (with a standard deviation of ∼20 km) above the main density peak. The peak density and height of the first topside layer are positively correlated to the density and height of the main peak, respectively. The density and height of the first topside layer appear to be independent of the SZA, but possess seasonal variations that are similar to those of the main layer. The height of the topside layer is greater (by ∼10 km on average) in the southern spring and summer than in the southern autumn and winter, coinciding with the observation that, in the southern spring and summer, the underlying atmosphere is warmer due to dust heating [e.g., Smith, 2004. Interannual variability in TES atmospheric observations of Mars during 1999–2003. Icarus 167, 148–165]). The statistical regularities of the parameters suggest a possibility that the formation of the topside layers are closely related to the processes of photoionization and diffusion that occur on the topside of the M2 layer. We propose that development of beam-plasma instabilities in the transitional region (between the lower Chapman region and the upper transport-dominating region) is possibly a mechanism that is responsible for the occurrences of the topside layers.

Genetic Variants IDed for Heavy Coffee Drinkers

In a new study, scientists identified eight genetic variants that could partly explain why some people drink coffee by the pot, while others avoid the stimulating beverage altogether. By outlining the genetic foundation for coffee consumption, scientists believe they can find firmer evidence to support the positive — and negative — health effects of the popular beverage.

Java Genes

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital investigated the genomes of 120,000 European and African American coffee drinkers along with data on how many cups a day they consumed, using findings from dozens of previous studies. Their statistical analysis revealed six new gene variants that governed coffee consumption, and reaffirmed the presence of two others previously discovered by the same group of researchers.

The team identified variants in or near genes that play roles in learning, caffeine metabolism, blood pressure regulation and addiction. Two newly discovered variants, near the genes BDNF and SLC6A4, reinforce the positive effects of coffee’s molecular properties. For example, BDNF is involved in the release of pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

link.

Earliest Eocene Paleogene Bird Tracks Found in China

First Record of Bird Tracks from Paleogene of China (Guangdong Province)

Authors:

Xing et al

Abstract:

The record of Paleogene bird traces is quite scarce, especially when compared with the Mesozoic. Avian tracks have been reported mainly from western North America and the Middle East, with some sites also present in Europe and Sumatra. Here the first record of Eocene bird tracks from East Asia is reported. The track bearing level is recorded at the upper part of the Huayong Formation (lower Eocene), one of the continental units of the Sanshui Basin.

More than 350 footprints were documented from three collected slabs. Many footprints were found in trackways, five morphotypes were identified and assigned to four ichnotaxon: Gruipeda sp., Aviadactyla sp., Avipeda sp., and Fuscinapeda sp. The ichnotaxonomical identifications are supported by canonical variate analysis (CVA) based on the better preserved traces. These surfaces show a varied ichnofaunal assemblage composed of small and medium shorebirds, large “game” birds, crane-like birds and heron-like birds, providing a more complete picture than was previously known of Early Eocene avian faunal assemblages in Asia

Gorgonopsia Revision Begun With Reexamination of Arctognathus curvimola

Cranial osteology of Arctognathus curvimola, a short-snouted gorgonopsian from the Late Permian of South Africa

Author:

Kammerer

Abstract:

Gorgonopsia is one of the major clades of nonmammalian therapsids and includes the dominant vertebrate predators of the Late Permian. Unfortunately, gorgonopsian taxonomy is extremely problematic, due in large part to the lack of thorough descriptions and clear differential diagnoses for most nominal species. Here, the South African gorgonopsian species Arctognathus curvimola is redescribed based on a well-preserved skull. Autapomorphies identified for A. curvimola include a characteristic curvature to the alveolar margin of the snout, extremely reduced lacrimal, lengthy upper postcanine tooth row and a unique vomerine morphology. The nominal gorgonopsian species Arctognathoides breviceps and Lycaenodontoides bathyrhinus are considered junior synonyms of A. curvimola. Other referred species of Arctognathus (A. whaitsi, A.? cookei and A.? nasuta) share no unique characters with A. curvimola and are removed from the genus; their generic placement is uncertain at present. Previous reports of Arctognathus from Tanzania and the Middle Permian of South Africa are not referable to this taxon. At present, definitive specimens of A. curvimola are restricted to the Upper Permian Cistecephalus and Dicynodon assemblage zones of South Africa.

Cambrian Radiation Linked to an Iapetus-Pacific Oceanic Connection?

Cambrian transgression and radiation linked to an Iapetus-Pacific oceanic connection?

Author:

Dalziel

Abstract:

The geologically abrupt appearance in the fossil record of almost all animal phyla is referred to as the Cambrian radiation or "explosion" of life on Earth. Also known as "Darwin's dilemma," because it seemingly posed a major problem for his theory of gradual evolution, it coincided with the initiation of the first of the two principal global marine transgressions of the Phanerozoic. Although now seen as more protracted, it is still one of the most striking and critical events in the history of the biosphere. Almost all paleogeographic reconstructions for the early Cambrian feature a previously isolated Laurentia, the core of ancestral North America. Yet geological evidence from five continents, integrated here for the first time, indicates that the present-day "southern cone" of Laurentia was still attached to the newly amalgamated supercontinent of Gondwanaland into Cambrian times. Laurentia was then isolated by the development of a major deep oceanic connection between the opening Iapetus Ocean basin and the already well-developed paleo-Pacific. As the marine transgression advanced, major changes in ocean chemistry occurred, upwelling generated phosphorite deposits, and the number of fossilized metazoan phyla "exploded" with morphologic disparity between Laurentia and Gondwanaland already established. The development of this deep oceanic gateway, and of an ocean floor–consuming and arc-generating subduction zone along virtually the entire margin of Gondwanaland shortly thereafter, need to be taken into account in consideration of the global environmental and biotic changes associated with the Neoproterozoic-Phanerozoic transition.

Are Amphibians Especially Vulnerable to Climate Change?

Evolution of climatic niche specialization: a phylogenetic analysis in amphibians

Authors:

Bonetti et al

Abstract:

The evolution of climatic niche specialization has important implications for many topics in ecology, evolution and conservation. The climatic niche reflects the set of temperature and precipitation conditions where a species can occur. Thus, specialization to a limited set of climatic conditions can be important for understanding patterns of biogeography, species richness, community structure, allopatric speciation, spread of invasive species and responses to climate change. Nevertheless, the factors that determine climatic niche width (level of specialization) remain poorly explored. Here, we test whether species that occur in more extreme climates are more highly specialized for those conditions, and whether there are trade-offs between niche widths on different climatic niche axes (e.g. do species that tolerate a broad range of temperatures tolerate only a limited range of precipitation regimes?). We test these hypotheses in amphibians, using phylogenetic comparative methods and global-scale datasets, including 2712 species with both climatic and phylogenetic data. Our results do not support either hypothesis. Rather than finding narrower niches in more extreme environments, niches tend to be narrower on one end of a climatic gradient but wider on the other. We also find that temperature and precipitation niche breadths are positively related, rather than showing trade-offs. Finally, our results suggest that most amphibian species occur in relatively warm and dry environments and have relatively narrow climatic niche widths on both of these axes. Thus, they may be especially imperilled by anthropogenic climate change.

Anglo French Future Combat Air System Timeline and Missions

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is a joint development program between the U.K. and France that aims to field an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) by 2030.

Both London and Paris face the same pressing need for a new combat aircraft in the 2030 timeframe, with the U.K. planning to retire its Typhoons and France removing early-model Rafales and upgraded Mirage 2000s from its inventory. Cooperation to develop a joint UCAV began with the 2010 Lancaster House Accords between the two governments. Since then, both nations have made separate advances in their own stealthy
UCAV programs. The six-nation, French-led, UCAS demonstrator nEUROn achieved first flight in December 2012. Led by Dassault Aviation and the French arms procurement agency DGA, the €405-million stealthy UCAS demonstrator is now nearing the end of its two-year trial. BAE Systems’ £185 million ($300 million) Taranis program conducted its first flight in August 2013. The first trials were partly used to verify a conformal flight data system developed for the aircraft. Low-observable trials followed in Australia during late 2013 and early 2014.

Five missions are seen as a top priority for the eventual system: suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD/DEAD), airfield attack, strategic target strike and air interdiction in a contested environment. The U.K. has added the ability to carry out an armed reconnaissance mission. Other missions given a lower priority are anti-ship, close air support and defensive counter-air.

link (warning, pdf).

British Government Lays out Path Forward for Scottish Devolution

The British government on Monday formally outlined a timetable to grant more autonomy to Scotland, following accusations that it would not deliver on promises made in the run-up to last month's independence referendum.

In a report, ministers promised "the publication of draft clauses in January 2015" for new legislation that would grant the devolved parliament in Edinburgh far greater powers on taxation and social welfare.

The powers were offered in the final days of the referendum campaign to persuade Scots to vote against independence, after opinion polls indicated the nationalists might win. Scottish voters ultimately opted to stay in Great Britain.

"The government is meeting the first step in the further devolution process," Scotland minister Alistair Carmichael told the British parliament, where he presented the report.

link.

Will She or Won't She? France's Russian Mistral Contract Delivery

Despite strong language from the French President François Hollande, Russia has not received formal notification from France suspending or cancelling the $1.53 billion deal for two Mistral-class amphibious warship deal, Russian officials said on Tuesday.

“We have not received any official refusals,” Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, reported Russian wire service ITAR-TASS.
“The contract schedule has not changed.”

Under the original terms, France was to handover the first ship — Vladivostok — at the end of October.

In September Hollande’s office issued a statement saying, absent a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, “the conditions under which France could authorize the delivery of the first helicopter carrier are not in place.”

France’s final decision on the Mistral isn’t clear as of Tuesday.

link.

Major Battery Breakthrough at Nanyang Technology University?

Scientists at Nanyang Technology University (NTU) have developed ultra-fast charging batteries that can be recharged up to 70 per cent in only two minutes.

The new generation batteries also have a long lifespan of over 20 years, more than 10 times compared to existing lithium-ion batteries.

This breakthrough has a wide-ranging impact on all industries, especially for electric vehicles, where consumers are put off by the long recharge times and its limited battery life.

With this new technology by NTU, drivers of electric vehicles could save tens of thousands on battery replacement costs and can recharge their cars in just a matter of minutes.

Commonly used in mobile phones, tablets, and in electric vehicles, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries usually last about 500 recharge cycles. This is equivalent to two to three years of typical use, with each cycle taking about two hours for the battery to be fully charged.

In the new NTU-developed battery, the traditional graphite used for the anode (negative pole) in lithium-ion batteries is replaced with a new gel material made from titanium dioxide.

Titanium dioxide is an abundant, cheap and safe material found in soil. It is commonly used as a food additive or in sunscreen lotions to absorb harmful ultraviolet rays.

Naturally found in spherical shape, the NTU team has found a way to transform the titanium dioxide into tiny nanotubes, which is a thousand times thinner than the diameter of a human hair. This speeds up the chemical reactions taking place in the new battery, allowing for superfast charging.

Invented by Associate Professor Chen Xiaodong from NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, the science behind the formation of the new titanium dioxide gel was published in the latest issue of Advanced Materials, a leading international scientific journal in materials science.

Prof Chen and his team will be applying for a Proof-of-Concept grant to build a large-scale battery prototype. With the help of NTUitive, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTU set up to support NTU start-ups, the patented technology has already attracted interest from the industry.

The technology is currently being licensed by a company for eventual production. Prof Chen expects that the new generation of fast-charging batteries will hit the market in the next two years. It also has the potential to be a key solution in overcoming longstanding power issues related to electro-mobility.

“Electric cars will be able to increase their range dramatically, with just five minutes of charging, which is on par with the time needed to pump petrol for current cars,” added Prof Chen.

“Equally important, we can now drastically cut down the toxic waste generated by disposed batteries, since our batteries last ten times longer than the current generation of lithium-ion batteries.”

The 10,000-cycle life of the new battery also mean that drivers of electric vehicles would save on the cost of battery replacements, which could cost over US$5,000 each.

link.

Dorian Nakamoto Suing NewsWeek for Claiming he Invented Bitcoin

The man Newsweek called the "inventor" of Bitcoin wants the magazine to pay up.

Dorian Nakamoto, the subject of a March Newsweek cover story entitled "The Face Behind Bitcoin," is soliciting donations online to fund a lawsuit against the publication. He claims he had nothing to do with the creation of the digital currency, and says Newsweek "must be held accountable for its reckless reporting."

link.

Robopocalypse for Soccer Players! (ahem, Football for all you in the barbarian lands)

Anti Drone Weapons Tech is Coming

Taking the classic dance of measure and countermeasure, strike and counterstrike, the Army and other services have been quietly working on weapons to shoot drones down or disable them.

One of the more interesting efforts is led by SRC, a not-for-profit company formerly affiliated with Syracuse University. SRC has written software tying together their AN/TPQ-50 counter-fire radar, the CREW Duke counter-IED system (an electronic warfare system, really) — both carried on Humvees — and a very small armed drone called Switchblade, built by Aerovironment. I spotted a poster they had at their AUSA booth depicting the Counter-UAS effort and was intrigued.

The system, begun three years ago, underwent testing this August at Black Dart, the military’s little known exercises for counter-drone systems held at the Navy’s Mugu Point, near China Lake. The premise behind SRC’s system is pretty simple. Growlers, F-35s and other aircraft provide the first ring of defense against drones. But if any penetrate through that first ring or if an enemy deploys smaller tactical drones as our military does, then troops need defense against that threat.

link.

DARPA's Strike & ISR MALE UAV Moving Forward

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is one step closer to demonstrating the launch and recovery of a medium-sized unmanned air vehicle (UAV) from a small vessel, following a $19 million preliminary design contract award to AeroVironment.

Under phase II of DARPA’s tactically exploited reconnaissance node (Tern) programme, the company will conduct “subscale flight demonstrations” over the next 12 months that will subsequently lead on to a sole-source phase III at-sea demonstration contract award.

DARPA launched the TERN effort in 2013, but joined with the US Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) in May 2014 to continue the programme, which was retitled “Tern”.

The agency considers assets that provide worldwide airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) as having weaknesses – specifically helicopters being limited by range and flight time, and manned and unmanned fixed-wing aircraft being restricted by large base and runway requirements.

“Tern envisions using smaller ships as mobile launch and recovery sites for medium-altitude long-endurance [MALE] unmanned aircraft,” DARPA says. “Ideally, Tern would enable on-demand, ship-based unmanned aircraft system operations without extensive, time-consuming and irreversible ship modifications.”

link.

Evidence of Transient Drying During Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum in Wyoming, North America

MANGANESE-BEARING RHIZOCRETIONS IN THE WILLWOOD FORMATION, WYOMING, U.S.A.: IMPLICATIONS FOR PALEOCLIMATE DURING THE PALEOCENE–EOCENE THERMAL MAXIMUM

Authors:

Woody et al

Abstract:

Changes in the stratigraphic distribution of manganese (Mn)-bearing columnar structures interpreted as rhizocretions indicate a shift in paleohydrological conditions in the Bighorn Basin during the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). While most studies agree that significant warming occurred during the PETM, interpretations differ as to the effects of warming on the paleohydrologic regime. The columns consist of sand and silt cemented by calcite that also contains black, Mn-bearing nodules. The rhizocretions are typically vertically oriented and range from a few cm to over 50 cm in diameter and up to 75 cm tall. They are interpreted to have formed in the rhizospheres of relatively large root systems. The rhizocretions are restricted to intervals, showing only weak paleopedogenic development, that are interpreted as crevasse-splay or avulsion deposits. While such deposits are present throughout the study section at Polecat Bench in the northern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, the Mn-bearing rhizocretions are found only below and above the PETM interval and within the initial carbon isotope excursion (CIE) marking the onset of the PETM. The abundance of black, Mn-rich nodules (less than 1 cm in diameter) in the rhizocretions and presence of other pedogenic features indicate that the soils in which the plants were growing underwent seasonal flooding and repeated redox alternations. Their distribution in similar host deposits throughout the study interval, except for the main body of the PETM, supports climate as the driving factor in preservation of the Mn-bearing rhizocretions. The Mn-bearing rhizocretions support recent studies that suggest transient drying in northern Wyoming during the PETM.

Variability of the Hydrogen in the Martian Upper Atmosphere

Variability of the hydrogen in the martian upper atmosphere as simulated by a 3D atmosphere-exosphere coupling

Authors:

Chaufray et al

Abstract:

We present the temporal variability of the atomic and molecular hydrogen density derived from a 3D General Circulation Model describing the Martian atmosphere from the surface to the exobase. A kinetic exospheric model is used to compute the hydrogen density above the exobase. We use these models to study the diurnal and seasonal variations of the hydrogen density and the Jeans escape rate as well as their variations with solar activity, assuming a classic dust scenario. We find that the diurnal variations of the hydrogen density are important with a peak in the dawn region during equinoxes and a peak on the nightside during solstices. These features result from the dynamics of the Martian upper atmosphere. The variations of the atomic hydrogen Jeans escape with seasons and solar activity are in the range 1.3x1025 s-1 – 4.4x1026 s-1. A factor ∼8 is due to the seasonal variations with a maximum during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and a minimum during the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere that we attribute to the variation of the Mars-Sun distance. A factor ∼5 is due to the solar cycle with a maximum escape rate at high solar activity. The variations of the molecular hydrogen Jeans escape with seasons and solar activity are in the range 3x1022 s-1 – 6x1024 s-1. A factor ∼10 is due to the seasonal variations with a maximum during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and a minimum during the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. A factor ∼20 is due to the solar cycle with a maximum escape rate at high solar activity. If Jeans escape is the major escape channel for hydrogen, the hydrogen escape is never limited by diffusion. The hydrogen density above 10,000 km presents seasonal and solar cycle variations similar to the Jeans escape rate at all latitudes and local times. This 3D temporal model of the hydrogen thermosphere/exosphere will be useful to interpret future MAVEN observations and the consequences of the hydrogen corona variability on the Martian plasma environment.

Is Educational Success Inheritable?

The high heritability of educational achievement reflects many genetically influenced traits, not just intelligence

Authors:

Krapohi et al

Abstract:

Because educational achievement at the end of compulsory schooling represents a major tipping point in life, understanding its causes and correlates is important for individual children, their families, and society. Here we identify the general ingredients of educational achievement using a multivariate design that goes beyond intelligence to consider a wide range of predictors, such as self-efficacy, personality, and behavior problems, to assess their independent and joint contributions to educational achievement. We use a genetically sensitive design to address the question of why educational achievement is so highly heritable. We focus on the results of a United Kingdom-wide examination, the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), which is administered at the end of compulsory education at age 16. GCSE scores were obtained for 13,306 twins at age 16, whom we also assessed contemporaneously on 83 scales that were condensed to nine broad psychological domains, including intelligence, self-efficacy, personality, well-being, and behavior problems. The mean of GCSE core subjects (English, mathematics, science) is more heritable (62%) than the nine predictor domains (35–58%). Each of the domains correlates significantly with GCSE results, and these correlations are largely mediated genetically. The main finding is that, although intelligence accounts for more of the heritability of GCSE than any other single domain, the other domains collectively account for about as much GCSE heritability as intelligence. Together with intelligence, these domains account for 75% of the heritability of GCSE. We conclude that the high heritability of educational achievement reflects many genetically influenced traits, not just intelligence.

Palaeotis: A Flightless Bird From Eocene Paleogene Europe may NOT be a Ratite

The middle Eocene European “ratite” Palaeotis (Aves, Palaeognathae) restudied once more

Author:

Mayr

Abstract:

Palaeotis weigelti is a flightless, “ratite”-like palaeognathous bird, which occurs in the Middle Eocene of the German fossil sites Messel and the Geisel Valley. The species is known from several specimens, most of which are, however, very fragmentary or poorly preserved. Its phylogenetic affinities are controversial, with earlier authors especially considering close affinities to Struthionidae and Rheidae, and some skeletal features were only briefly described. Moreover, recent molecular analyses congruently indicate that a “ratite” morphology evolved multiple times within palaeognathous birds. The skeletal morphology and phylogenetic affinities of Palaeotis are therefore reanalyzed, and the taxon is subjected to a phylogenetic analysis based on one of the most comprehensive published data sets for palaeognathous birds. In addition to the primary analysis, further analyses were run that were constrained to a backbone topology reflecting the results of sequence-based studies. In none of these analyses was a well-supported placement of Palaeotis obtained, and it is concluded that current data do not convincingly resolve the affinities of this taxon. Palatal morphology of Palaeotis most closely resembles that of lithornithids, another group of palaeognathous birds from the Eocene of the Northern Hemisphere, and there remains a possibility that the “ratite” features of Palaeotis evolved independently from those of the extant taxa.

A Large Cymatosaurian Eusauropterygian From Olenekian/Anisian (?) Triassic Netherlands

Skeletal material from larger Eusauropterygia (Reptilia: Eosauropterygia) with nothosaurian and cymatosaurian affinities from the Lower Muschelkalk of Winterswijk, The Netherlands

Authors:

Voeten et al

Abstract:

Eusauropterygian elements from the Lower Muschelkalk (Vossenveld Formation) of Winterswijk, The Netherlands, comprising three mandibles and a selection of postcranial material, are described. The new mandibles correspond to crania larger than eusauropterygian cranial material previously known from this locality. The postcranial material represents a selection of isolated and associated material of comparably large size. Two of the mandibles conform to the morphology commonly recognized in Nothosaurus from the Lower Muschelkalk, but the third mandible accommodates five fangs per ramus in the symphyseal domain and exhibits a symphyseal ratio of 1.04, a condition not yet described for Eusauropterygia from the Vossenveld Formation. Body length for the animals represented by the finds was estimated through dimensional comparison with MB.R.27, a nearly complete skeleton from the lower Middle Muschelkalk locality of Rüdersdorf (Germany) assigned to Nothosaurus marchicus. Body length estimates for the individuals represented by the largest mandible and by a selection of associated postcranial material exceed 1,500 mm; approximately 50 % larger than the eusauropterygian taxa from Winterswijk described so far. Furthermore, certain morphological characters identified in one mandible and in the postcranial elements suggest a cymatosaurian affinity over a nothosaurian affinity. The present study indicates eusauropterygian diversity during the Lower Muschelkalk was greater than traditionally believed. This challenges the concept of a slow paced, gradual biotic response to the origination and expansion of the Muschelkalk Sea, which commenced only 5 million years after the Permian–Triassic mass extinction event.

Cambrian Trilobites From Argentina

Early middle Cambrian trilobites from La Laja Formation, Cerro El Molle, Precordillera of western Argentina

Authors:

Pratt et al

Abstract:

A tectonically undeformed portion of the lower part of La Laja Formation is exposed at Cerro El Molle near San Juan, Precordillera of western Argentina. It consists of shallow-water, variably argillaceous lime mudstone and sporadically interbedded bioclastic grainstone deposited in an inner shelf setting. The El Estero Member and the basal 0.2 m of the Soldano Member contain a trilobite fauna of olenelloids and ‘simple' ptychoparioids indicative of the early Cambrian (series 2, stage 4; Dyeran stage of Laurentia). The succeeding 50 m of the lower Soldano Member yield trilobites characteristic of the early middle Cambrian (series 3, stage 5; Delamaran stage of Laurentia). In ascending order of occurrence, Amecephalus arrojosensis, Kochiella maxeyi and Eokochaspis nodosa, along with several other taxa, including Ptychobaba n. gen. (type species Ptychoparella buttsi), belong to the traditional lower Plagiura–Poliella Biozone. However, while this fauna is similar to that of the Great Basin, the nominative species of the Eokochaspsis nodosa and overlying Amecephalus arrojosensis biozones recognized in southern Nevada occur in reverse order in the Soldano Member. This suggests that the ranges of these species overlap, thereby reducing the temporal resolution in the Precordillera into a combined Amecephalus arrojosensis–Eokochaspis nodosa Biozone. Argillaceous lime mudstones at the top yield Mexicella mexicana, indicative of the Mexicella mexicana Biozone recognized in the Great Basin, which is equivalent to the traditional Albertella Biozone of Laurentia. Because corynexochids are almost absent, the low-diversity ‘kochaspid'-dominated biofacies appears to typify the platform interior. The fauna is entirely Laurentian in composition, reinforcing notions of a close proximity of Cuyania to Laurentia during the Cambrian that enabled faunal migration and interchange. The absence of a late early Cambrian to early middle Cambrian hiatus correlative with the Hawke Bay Event, however, suggests no close affinity to the Iapetus-facing margin of eastern Laurentia.

Increased Arctic Planet Growth Increases High Latitude Warming

Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is known to boost vegetation cover at high latitudes — and this could accelerate Arctic warming year-round.

Grasses and shrubs have a warming effect because plant-covered areas reflect less sunlight than barren surfaces do. Baek-Min Kim at the Korea Polar Research Institute in Incheon, South Korea, Sang-Yoon Jun at the Korea Institute of Atmospheric Prediction Systems in Seoul and their colleagues used a climate model to study the impact of doubled CO2 concentrations and increased high-latitude plant growth on Arctic temperatures.

They found that increased vegetation in summer warms the surface and this heat moves to the Arctic, where it causes additional ocean warming and sea-ice melting in winter and spring. The exposed ocean then releases more heat, leading to a further boost in Arctic warming and promoting even more plant growth the following season, the team says.

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Australia Accepts HMAS Canberra, First in Class Jeep Carrier

The Australian government has accepted the first of its two Canberra-class landing helicopter docks (LHDs) from BAE Systems, the vessel's prime contractor said in a statement on 8 October.

The ship will remain at BAE Systems' Williamstown shipyard in Melbourne before its commissioning at Sydney later in 2014, the statement added. It is due for delivery to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 28 November.

Canberra , which is based on Navantia's Juan Carlos I aircraft carrier design, completed its final contractor sea trials in late August.

Work is progressing on second ship Adelaide , which arrived in Australia for outfitting in February after being transported from Navantia's Ferrol yard in Spain. Adelaide is scheduled to begin sea trials in the second quarter of 2015, with delivery expected in 2016.

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