2012 August

Calibration Helps Ensure the “Just Right” Application of Amendments

Anytime you’re adding an amendment or treatment to an agricultural field, you want to be sure you apply enough, but not too much. The Goldilocks treatment—the “just right” application of fertilizer, herbicide, or pesticide—is important not only for economic reasons, but for environmental reasons as well. The first part is calculating how much you need. Read More

Richard Gaughan August 31st, 2012

The Face of Desperate Need: Empty Shelves in the Blood Bank

This video provides a disconcertingly stark picture of the lack of blood in the blood bank refrigerator in Wichita, Kansas. One quick example: there were only three units of O-negative blood in the refrigerator at the time the video was produced. This is particularly troubling, as O-negative is the universal donor type, able to be Read More

Richard Gaughan August 31st, 2012

Small Lab Refrigerator has 1.6 ft3 Capacity, On-Door Storage

New for 2012 this 1.6 cubic foot auto-defrost medical refrigerator is the smallest in the Nor-Lake line. Read More

Rachel Kohn August 31st, 2012

Good Information for Jellyfish Prey to Have

Here’s another paper that sent me scurrying for the dictionary. The title of this particular one is “Mechanics of prey selection by ephyrae of the scyphomedusa Aurelia aurita.” And it discusses rotifers, copepod nauplii, along with the scyphozoan predators. Well, it turns out it’s a paper on the feeding habits of young jellyfish. Even more Read More

Richard Gaughan August 31st, 2012

Big Equipment to Move the Smallest Particles

It’s somewhat ironic that the search for knowledge about the smallest particles in the universe requires some of the largest facilities in the world. Electrons, that weigh less than one-billionth of a billionth of a billionth of a kilogram, are whirled around by apparatus composed of pieces that weigh thousands of kilograms. Those giant pieces Read More

Richard Gaughan August 30th, 2012

Taking Leaps to Assist Toad Species Survival

We all know that many human activities that are pushing species to the brink of extinction and beyond. Habitat encroachment, direct contamination of the environment, and indirect climate effects of industrial and commercial activities are all contributing to the death of species across the planet. What are not so visible are the efforts to conserve Read More

Richard Gaughan August 30th, 2012

Ultrasonic Cleaning Reduces Dental Restorative Material Staining

With all the hype nowadays about various teeth bleaching solutions, you’d be forgiven for believing that if your teeth show any signs of use you might be socially ostracized. They’re supposed to look like brilliant pearls, with sparkling bright reflections. Well, if that’s the concern for your natural teeth, it probably won’t surprise you that Read More

Richard Gaughan August 30th, 2012

If You’re Going to Make Natto, Might as Well Use the Right Bacteria

Louis Pasteur made his start trying to iron out problems with wine production. Those problems turned out to be linked to the presence or absence of the proper bacteria. Now it’s known that many other foods are produced with the help of bacteria, and production can be optimized by tailoring conditions to those needed for Read More

Richard Gaughan August 29th, 2012

The Potential Consequences of a 15-Year-Low Blood Supply

“We can’t wait until we’re too low, we have to keep that level up.” That’s a real problem when you’re talking about the number of units stored in blood bank refrigerators. According to this video news report, the Red Cross’s nationwide blood supply is at a 15-year low. The video highlights the situation in the Read More