I got sick of hearing all the doom and gloom given to us as 'news' by the media so decided to look every day for some good news. Sometimes it's quite difficult to find. I post the good news for the day on Twitter and every week I plan on posting a summary here.
Found some good news? If I didn't spot it please feel free to add it.
Well here goes - the 6th week of 2012
5th February 2012 - Why is Sunday such a poor day for good news?.
A massive earthquake DIDN'T strike Southern Italy and Sicily today and 30,000 people were NOT killed as a result. That makes quite a change from what happened in 1783 when a series of earthquakes devastated the area.
Full story at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1783_Calabrian_earthquakes
6th February 2012 - 3D Printer used to create a new jawbone
We are all familiar with computer printers. There's probably one in your home if you are reading this. For the last few years though, 3D printers have started to appear. At the moment they are relatively expensive. Give it a few years though and you'll probably have one.
Today, the use of a 3D printer was in the news because it was used to create a new jawbone for an 83 year old woman.
Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16907104
Want a 3D printer? You can get a kit of parts to build one yourself for about $1,100 and could then use it to make the parts for another printer. It's perhaps not what you would need for a tungsten jawbone though http://store.makerbot.com/thing-o-matic-kit-mk7.html
7th February 2012 - Google 'attention grabbing'?.
Google has created a project designed to help solve huge problems by the application of breakthrough science and technology.
The remarkably cynical news article I found suggests they were 'attention grabbing'. I prefer to think that Google now has the money and means to solve major problems
Hey Google - How are you getting on with your space elevator project?
Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16925842
The image left is for a book on the space elevator produced by the Liftport group. get it from Amazon.com
Liftport - The Space Elevator: Opening Space to Everyone
8th February 2012 - Gene Therapy Restores Vision in Both Eyes
The University of Pennsylvania's Mahoney Institute of Neurological Sciences has managed to restore sight to patients with Leber's congenital amaurosis. This rare genetic disease leads to total blindness. Mutant forms of the RPE65 gene prevent the production of a crucial enzyme needed for sight.
The researchers used a virus to carry normal copies of the gene into the victim's eyes which began producing the enzyme needed.
9th February 2012 - New hope for Alzheimer's Disease.
A cancer drug given to mice eliminates brain-damaging proteins, leading to improved cognition within days. The drug is already approved for human use - it's used to treat skin cancer, but will it work in humans?
Many people are at risk of this debilitating disease so let's hope that there's something to this report in Scientific American
Full story: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=alzheimers-disease-sympto
10th February 2012 - Volunteers with spare time help plug holes in the climate record.
Between 1915 and 1942 HMS Foxglove, a British minesweeper, patrolled the South Pacific. Each day weather measurements were taken and recorded in the ship's log. They formed a unique record of the climate in an era not covered by ice cores and before modern records of climate.
Transcribing the hand written records would have taken years. A group of volunteers split the task up and completed it in six months.
You can help, if you have the time, just go to http://oldweather.org to find out more (NB the link shown in the Scientific American article is incorrect)
11th February 2012 - 61 couples fall for each other at the Love Hearts factory.
In New Mills, Derbyshire, England you'll find a candy manufacturer Swizzels Matlow. One of their products is a tube of slightly fizzy candy, each one with a raised romantic message in a heart shape. They are called 'Love Hearts'.
It seems the romance theme is catching because no fewer than 61 couples, working at the factory have tied the knot.
Full story: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/love-hearts-factory-where-61-couples-681158
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Take a touch of humour, add some genetic science and nanotechnology. Steep with conspiracy and stir in murder and despair. Season with romance between three people in a secret location. Garnish with morality.
The result is 'A Vested Interest', a novel series by John and Shelia Chapman
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New Mills, Derbyshire
When we were children we are told of a mystical, magical god that loves all and is just. We are told that governments exist to provide us with justice.
ReplyDeleteWe are told that the cure for despair is hope but having existed in this world for for over half a century I have come to learn a greater truth about god and government that is far from the mystical and magical lessons we are taught in childhood.
Unfortunately many of us would rather continue to drink from the pap than take up a knife and fork and fill ourselves with reality.
I hope and pray all will go well for those in despair.