|
All
Shook Up
|
|
Unexpected
Earthquake Threat to L.A.
Prehistoric earthquake evidence recently unearthed
near Pasadena, California, is likely to shake up emergency
preparedness and building code officials throughout
southern California, according to Charles Rubin, a
geologist at Central Washington University whose research
is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)
through its Southern California Earthquake Center.
According to Rubin and his colleagues, the Sierra
Madre fault, which runs along the southern flank of
the San Gabriel Mountains -- and passes less than
a dozen miles from downtown Los Angeles -- has produced
earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 7.2 to 7.6 on
the Richter scale at least twice in the past 15,000
years.
More...
|
|
Scientists Identify New Gene that Controls Sleep/Wake
Cycle
A newly discovered
gene called double-time regulates the molecular cycles
underlying circadian rhythms, report scientists working
through the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Center
for Biological Timing and affiliated with The Rockefeller
University in New York. The researchers have also
identified the molecular mechanism that allows this
gene to work. "We've identified a gene in the fruit
fly Drosophila that times the pairing of two
proteins essential for circadian rhythms," explains
Michael Young, head of the Laboratory of Genetics
at Rockefeller. Earlier studies indicated that the
genes and proteins governing circadian rhythms in
Drosophila play a similar role in humans.
More...
|
|
Balance Between Work and Home Concerns Women Scientists
and Engineers Most
A nationwide survey
of women who last year received grants from the NSF
Professional Opportunities for Women in Research and
Education (POWRE) finds that their biggest concern,
by far, is how to balance what they consider exciting
career responsibilities against those of family. The
survey was conducted by the University of Florida's
Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research. Sixty-eight
women scientists and engineers who received grants
under POWRE responded to the survey. POWRE is a program
designed to provide additional support to women at
critical stages in their careers, especially after
a career interruption due to family responsibilities.
More...
|
|
"Virtual Human" Can Teach Sign Language
Mona, the Signing
AvatarTM, expresses herself through articulated
arm and hand movements complemented by life-like facial
expressions. The 3D virtual human, developed by Seamless
Solutions, Inc. (SSI) of Orlando, Florida, uses all
the visual cues necessary to communicate in sign language.
Research for the Signing AvatarTM facial
animation was begun through the NSF's Small Business
Innovation Research Program.
More...
|
|
|