The Cobra Event (want to lose some sleep tonight?); Book Review

By Lance Winslow
The Cobra Event by Richard Preston is a worthwhile book to read indeed, but it will scare the be-Jesus out of you also. This is quite a heavy book to read and if you are an intellectual type of person, then it should frighten you.

Having also read the book; Germs and many other similar books and having kept up to date on recent scientific findings, I realize how serious and realistic this book is. Biological human distributed pathogens are real and we must indeed make sure we keep these biological scientists who consider using these things on mass population bases at bay and prevent them from ruining life on Earth as we know it. The United States of America may indeed have a missile defense system, but unless we have a way to detect and protect the American people from such dastardly deeds such as is described in Cobra Event we will be sorry. It is time for all of America to wake up and realize, how important it is to pay attention to where all these scientists who practice this line of work are and exactly what they are doing now, for whom and why.

Additionally we need to consider all the nations, which are experimenting and trying to perfect such bio weapons. Indeed, this book is intense, it is realistic and it scared the . . . out of me. Perhaps some reading it may not be scared, but if you have half a brain you will have to really stop and think about how serious these issues are. Read the book and see for your self and consider all this in 2006.

READ MORE - The Cobra Event (want to lose some sleep tonight?); Book Review

Beyond Difference: A Biologists Perspective by Anne Fausto-Sterling

By Elle Housman
In her 1997 Journal of Social Issues article, Beyond Difference: A Biologists Perspective, evolutionary biologist Anne Fausto-Sterling argues against the controversial issue of whether or not evolutionary psychology explains human sex differences.

Fausto-Sterling's orientation to social change is dichotomous. While she is a "defender" of the current scientific paradigm, which heavily relies on the scientific method, she also seeks to "reform" the ideological stance taken by many evolutionary psychologists, and to do so at the level of the scientific community. In Fausto-Sterling's article, she strives to foster communication and collaboration with her peers in the emerging field of evolutionary psychology, attempting to share the wisdom she has gleaned from her much more established field of evolutionary biology.

The "popular media's publicity blitz" was Fausto-Sterling's occasion to advocate for good science in response to several mainstream articles that had attempted to smear the credible reputation of biologists by presenting evolutionary psychologists latest theories as facts.

Fausto-Sterling's core values are to uphold the current framework surrounding the concept of credible scientific research. Her beliefs, stated and restated, are that the entire scientific community should adhere to the existing scientific paradigm, including the scientific method, and "solid theory and detailed empirical information".

Fausto-Sterling believes that evolutionary psychologists need to create more specific hypotheses and need more data to back up those hypotheses. She believes that researchers of all sorts should conform to a standard measure of scientific hypothesis that can be answered empirically rather than merely assuming vague answers, as is being done by some in the arena of evolutionary psychology. To the social scientists studying gender inequity and skewing their incomplete theories to support their own cases, she warns them that a credible scientist cannot pick merely one level of analysis to answer a question; one needs to consider many different possibilities, including development, evolution, and environment.

She gives the example of answering the question: why do frogs jump? One can't just say that frogs jump because they are part of an environment and they are jumping to escape from a predator. Fausto-Sterling explains that one must deepen ones levels of analysis and consider different possibilities of why frogs jump, for instance because of twitching muscles, or an even deeper analysis, that frogs jump because nerve impulses cause proteins to contract.

Fausto-Sterling has very valid points that should be considered by all in the scientific community in order that they are on the same page on a worldwide level. These are the means by which science advances.

Fausto-Sterling offers sound advice and methodological suggestions as well as two research-based models that are available to assist this new breed of social scientist. She strongly believes in the value of collaboration amongst the scientific community and sees biologists as potential assets to social scientists. Because collaboration increases information Fausto-Sterling suggests that we, "engage in current discussions using the best available knowledge and the most highly detailed hypotheses available", and by these means, together, social scientists, evolutionists, and behavioral biologists could develop "scientifically sound theories about the evolution of human behavioral patterns and their relationship to contemporary behavior".

Fausto-Sterling also recommends that social scientists utilize the plethora of already existing data, for example archaeological and geographical records, or molecular evidence. She also suggests making sure they are able to generalize their correlations to humans when drawing inferences from animal studies, as "elegant" as they may be.

The research-based model that Fausto-Sterling identifies and suggests for use in making specific hypotheses regarding human evolution is called "Latour and Strum's Nine Questions" and is used to evaluate theory quality. She also cites four standard questions used by evolutionary biologists that "have been suggested as essential to the acceptance of conjectures about the evolution of human reproductive behaviors".

Fausto-Sterling's argument contributes much to the understanding of the problem at hand. She bends over backwards to make sure that her writing is clear and her points are understood. She creatively uses hypothetical examples, such as the jumping frogs and the mice to bats to demonstrate her points. She even criticizes her own hypotheses, along with those of some evolutionary psychologists, to show that while both of their theories are "plausible", they both also "lack essential information". She also offers a great deal of alternative hypotheses to Buss's hypothesis.

Fausto-Sterling is not just tearing the competition apart; rather she humbly portrays herself and her peers in the scientific community as having knowledge and wisdom to share with their uprising peers and this article seems to be an attempt to reach out to them. She sees the potential that these social scientists have to contribute, and attempts to persuade them to stop manipulating their knowledge of biology to fit their own ideological social beliefs, and misrepresenting other sciences in doing so, when we could all benefit from what they have to offer if they use science properly, "thick, complex, multivariate descriptions of human behavior".

READ MORE - Beyond Difference: A Biologists Perspective by Anne Fausto-Sterling

"The Genie in Your Genes" by Dawson Church: Book Review

By Paige Lovitt
The first thought that came to mind after reading "The Genie in Your Genes," was the word "Inspiring." It seems like so much that I read today says that our genes determine everything. If this were true, it can be seen as a guarantee for cancer for people who have cancer in their families. It is refreshing to learn that in spite of my genes, I can still play a role in determining the outcome of my health.

"The Genie in Your Genes," discusses a variety of ways in which we can use our special link between mind and body to maintain our health. It reminds us of the importance of maintaining our emotional health so that we can stay physically healthy. If stress and negative thoughts can have an effect on our health, then it makes sense that positive, "...tools of our consciousness-including our beliefs, prayers, thoughts, intentions, and faith - often correlate much more strongly with our health, longevity, and happiness then our genes do."

I really like this idea, because it puts me in the driver's seat of determining my health. By using the techniques recommended from energy medicine and Energy Psychology, certain chronic health conditions, autoimmune conditions, and psychological traumas can be reversed. It is important to note that the author was very clear about certain health crises needing immediate medical attention. He does not recommend that you try to positively think your way out of appendicitis!

Having a healthy lifestyle by doing things like exercising, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, abstaining from smoking and excess alcohol are also factors that can prolong our lives. Church discusses, to great length, the idea of healing coming from outside the control of the gene. This is referred to as epigenetics. He says that, "...invisible factors of consciousness and intention - such as our beliefs, feelings, prayers, and attitudes - play an important role in the epigenetic control of genes."

"The Genie in Your Genes," is not a fast read. It is a book that covers a complex subject, yet it is written in a way that makes the topic clear to understand. It is well researched, well referenced and at the end is an appendix that gives you further information on how to find a practitioner and some exercises that you can do on your own. Church does not leave you hanging with the feeling that while this is a great topic, you will have no idea how to proceed. He tells you.

I think that this book should be read by practitioners of medicine, alternative therapists, science students and people who have psychological stress or chronic health problems believed to be caused by genetic defaults. "The Genie in Your Genes" will open your eyes and give you hope that you can control your life.

READ MORE - "The Genie in Your Genes" by Dawson Church: Book Review

Interview With Dawson Church, Author of "The Genie in Your Genes"

By Tyler R. Tichelaar
Interview with Dawson Churchauthor of The Genie in Your Genes
Elite Books (2007)
ISBN 9781600700224
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (4/07)
Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is interviewing Dawson Church, author of "The Genie in Your Genes."

Dawson Church is the author and editor of many books. He has collaborated with such best-selling authors, as Robert Kiyosaki ("Rich Dad, Poor Dad"), Deepak Chopra, John Gray ("Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus"), and Wally "Famous" Amos. He is the founder of the Soul Medicine Institute (www.SoulMedicineInstitute.org) which researches and teaches emerging psychological and medical techniques that can yield fast and radical cures. His new book, "The Genie in Your Genes" pioneers the practical use of Epigenetics, (control of genes from outside the cell), explaining the remarkable self-healing mechanisms now emerging from this science. It has been hailed as a brilliant breakthrough by leading scientists, and hit several best-seller lists within days of its release.

Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Dawson. To begin, could you tell us a little about your background and how you became interested in the mind's ability to influence the body's health?

Dawson: My interest in the topic really began while I was freelancing as a book editor in New York in the mid-80s, when I became intrigued by what was then the emerging new paradigm of alternative medicine. I also had the good fortune to witness very rapid, almost miraculous cures with energy medicine in cases where conventional medicine had failed. I edited one of the first books on holistic healthcare, "The Heart of the Healer," and eventually got a doctorate in Integrative Healthcare at Holos University under the mentorship of distinguished neurosurgeon Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D., founder of the American Holistic Medical Association. We coauthored a book called "SoulMedicine" (www.SoulMedicine.net) which looks at the history of miraculous cures from prehistory onward, lays out the scientific basis for healing, and also charts a course for the future of healthcare.

Tyler: Would you explain to us a little more what you mean by energy medicine and an example of how it is used and how it differs from conventional medicine?

Dawson: Energy medicine and energy psychology work at the level of the body's energy systems, electrical, magnetic, and quantum, to affect your cells and organs. An example of an electrical energy device is a pacemaker, and of a magnetic one is an MRI, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. These are energy devices used in conventional medicine. However, it turns out that our cells are affected by very small electrical charges too, and these can be generated without technology, by techniques such as healing touch, massage, and the stimulation of acupressure points by tapping or rubbing them. While the amounts of energy involved are tiny, they can have big effects, since it turns out that emotional trauma is stored in our organs as an electrical charge, and that charge can be nudged in the direction of health by energy psychology techniques.

Tyler: Dawson, could you provide our readers with an easy to understand definition of epigenetics?

Dawson: Epi means "above," as in control above the level of the gene. Epigenetics looks at the various outside influences that affect the ways that our different genes turn on or off, also called expressing. The focus of epigenetic medicine is to move beyond the limited notion that DNA is the key to our experience of health or disease, and to look at the interventions that we can make epigenetically to affect our health.

Tyler: Would you share a success story with us of someone who has experienced healing through the use of energy healing?

Dawson: There is a man named Hank Hadley who is only too happy to have his story shared publicly. At the age of 10, Hank fell 25' down a hay chute onto a concrete pad, landing on his tailbone. Multiple accidents over the years added to the challenges and pain. He has been through 16 major operations, for his back, neck, and even cancer. He has so much metal in his body that he sets off radar detectors. In addition to suffering multiple major emotional traumas, several years ago Hank was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

As the result of all this, over the years, Hank has taken just about every prescription drug on the market for pain, (including morphine) and even became addicted to some. The addictions were severe enough that he was forced to enter treatment centers. On occasion he could walk from his home to the mailbox and back without crutches. He couldn't ride in a vehicle for more than 10 miles without excruciating pain and discomfort.

Today Hank is off all pain medication. All Multiple Sclerosis symptoms, arthritis and scar tissue pain have vanished, and pain is rarely an issue. When he began using Energy Psychology, specifically the technique called Emotional Freedom Techniques or EFT, his pain levels (on a 0-10 scale) were generally between 8 and 9 on a daily basis. He showed great dedication to EFT, and performed the EFT routine several times a day.

His pain is now minimal, and after a recent session he did jumping jacks for a video crew. After 24 years on disability, Hank now works full-time at physically demanding job. He continues to use EFT frequently, as new challenges arise in his life. For a full account and updates see: http://www.emofree.com/multiple-sclerosis/multiple-sclerosis-persistent-tapper.htm

Tyler: That's a wonderful example. Just what does the EFT routine include? I understand Hank "taps" frequently. Can you explain what tapping is?

Dawson: Acupressure and acupuncture make use of a system of tiny electrical and cellular channels inside our bodies. The electrical resistance at the center of an acupressure point has been measured at about 1/2000th of the resistance of the surrounding skin. When we tap on these points, rub them, or use any kind of friction, we generate a kind of electricity called piezoelectricity. It runs through these low-resistance points to the places in our bodies where trauma is stored, and people usually feel an immediate and visceral release of that tension. Used in a protocol like EFT which includes affirmations and a structured round of tapping, they are extremely powerful. Another simple but effective technique from energy psychology is TAT, or the Tapas Acupressure Technique. These techniques can reduce the levels of stress hormones like cortisol in our bloodstream, and boost the level of DHEA, one of the main cell repair and anti-aging hormones. So as you reduce your stress through TAT, EFT or similar techniques, you produce a cascade of positive genetic and biochemical changes in your body. There are links to all these therapies and others on the nonprofit Soul Medicine Institute web site (www.SoulMedicineInstitute.org).

Tyler: Dawson, recently, the film and book "The Secret" has received a lot of attention. Are you familiar with the book, and how do you feel "The Genie in Your Genes" is similar or differs from its philosophy?

Dawson: "The Genie in Your Genes" describes concrete physiological processes that are biologically and medically verifiable. "The Secret" took a more metaphysical and inspirational approach. "The Secret" states that our thoughts produce concrete manifestations, and while this is generally true, the biological specifics are a good deal more subtle. Some intentions have been shown to produce strong biological effects, while others have been shown experimentally to produce no biological effects at all.

Tyler: Would you encourage readers interested in "The Secret" to read "The Genie in Your Genes"? Could we say your book is a more advanced version of "The Secret" that brings out the nuts and bolts of healing ourselves through thought?

Dawson: "The Genie in Your Genes" is based on sound and credible science. It quotes some 300 studies, mostly from mainstream medical journals like the "Journal of the American Medical Association," the "American Heart Journal," and similar publications. "The Secret" is a series of metaphysical propositions, while "The Genie in Your Genes" deals in hard biological facts. However, it turns out that those metaphysical propositions can "land" powerfully in our bodies, producing measurable biological changes, especially in our stress response, which affects every cell and organ in our bodies.

Tyler: Obviously, it sounds like "The Genie in Your Genes" has a spiritual aspect to it, and I know you have had spiritual teachers such as the Dalai Lama and Deepak Chopra in your books. However, your background is very scientific. Do you believe the fields of science and spirituality are beginning to align themselves more closely?

Dawson: Spiritual teachings have for centuries affirmed the value of disciplined thinking and rigorous spiritual practice. Now, studies of longevity and immunity are showing that these practices produce measurable biological improvements. Science is now showing the precise mechanisms that come into play as a result of spiritual practice. The idea that the two were ever separate was an illusion that is being rectified as science advances.

Tyler: As science advances, where do you think a greater understanding of epigenetics and the teachings in "The Genie in Your Genes" will bring humanity and all life on earth?

Dawson: Better health. Greater longevity. Less daily stress. More joy. Fewer autoimmune diseases. Longer health span. Better relationships with parents, children and spouses, as we no longer act out our emotional traumas. In the big picture, it will bring fewer conflicts between tribes and nations, as people no longer project the emotional wounds of their shadow side out onto "the other." By healing ourselves, we become agents for healing our communities.

Tyler: Where can readers go to get more information about "The Genie in Your Genes" or to purchase the book?

READ MORE - Interview With Dawson Church, Author of "The Genie in Your Genes"

The Truth Behind Stem Cell Research - The Right To Recover

By Nick Oliva
Yvonne Perry is a fellow writer and friend and after having read her book I am forwarding this information to all that I know in the hopes that they read and understand that we here in the United States are being misled as to what researchers want to use for stem cells that are not human embryos as has been misstated over and over by groups that do not want to educate themselves.

I have diabetes, without this research I will die prematurely no matter what steps I can take now. My mother died at age 67, my brothers have it and millions of others in this country need a cure, NOW! Yvonne explains that the clump of cells called blastocysts are not living human entities. If you have family, friends, or loved ones that have life threatening diseases you need to read how close we are to curing these problems if our government would stop being pressured by special interest groups that have it all wrong. There is a forward by Rev. Dan Bloodworth a strong supporter of Yvonne's, with a Biblical Perspective on stem cell research.
Anything you can or are willing to do to help people understand the importance of federal funding for all types of stem cell research is much appreciated--especially by those who currently suffer with an illness or condition that might be helped by the derived technology and treatments.

I have read Yvonne's book "Right to Recover" and the following is my comment on this courageous work.

Yvonne Perry has taken a courageous stand by tackling and dissecting these issues without prejudicial preconceived emotion. The biggest obstacle to this research is the inclusion of religious aspects in the determination that a blastocyst or a pile of benign cells constitutes human life, a grave error of thought. After all, is there a ceremony or last rites given to these cells? They are not inside a woman's uterus, they have not been given DNA to substantiate they are human and can take the form of whatever host they are merged into. I am a diabetic. I will die along with millions of others prematurely. With one injection of stem cells, in the near future my pancreas could grow back and I would be able to stop shooting insulin and going into insulin shock wearing my organs down and live a normal life. All I need is the ability of these dedicated researchers to be allowed to use funding to further the research to make it all happen for millions of us. Read the book before you go off about the "point that life begins" and begin to understand how much damage is being done because of a lack of understanding of that very question.

Nick Oliva (O-lee-va’) has been a musician, composer, photographer, an audio engineer, an Entertainment Director and Technical Director for over twenty-five years and is a successful self-made money manager. Website: View my blog and buy my latest book at

READ MORE - The Truth Behind Stem Cell Research - The Right To Recover

Stiff - the Curious Life of Human Cadavers

By Nita Prihanto
Do you know why cadavers look swollen after they rot? That is thanks to all those little flesh eating creatures we call maggots and bacteria. They too have secretion system. The only different is, when we die, our muscle stops working (d'oh!) thus OUR secretion system fail to dispose any garbage within our body. Voila! We become their toilet.

Have you seen Wizard of Oz? One of the characters "melts" when she dies. That's what happens to cadavers too. They simply melt after awhile.

Human is supposedly still alive even after the bodies are separated from their heads, they will stay alert and aware of their surroundings, and most probably still able to feel pain.

There's and old tradition in China that daughter in laws should show their respect to their mother in laws, by providing some of their own meat and serve it as soup for the mother in laws when they fall ill.

THOSE are some of the stuffs you'll learn from Stiff, The Curious Life of Human Cadaver.

It's been around for quite sometimes, so I was late reading it.

The writer's style is totally cool and funny. If you think you'll be reading a boring texbook-like book, you're absolutely wrong. I giggle while reading it. And for that, I earn a name of "Girl with weird taste of books."

READ MORE - Stiff - the Curious Life of Human Cadavers

Biology Book Review - Human Anatomy and Physiology

By Lance Winslow
It's amazing that so few people understand the human body, especially considering that they live within it. It's perhaps the only thing you can truly say that you completely own. Many kids in school do not get an adequate education in biology, which is a travesty considering the full-importance of health care, longevity and living free from disease.

If you are one of the millions of Americans who have received less of an education on this subject than you think you need then may I please recommend an extremely valuable and easy to understand book for you?

"Human Anatomy and Physiology" by Kent M. Van de Graaff, R. Ward Rhees, Patricia Brady Wilhelm; 2001

This work boasts a crash course in biology, specifically human anatomy and physiology. The book is part of the Schaum's Easy Outline series and includes exercise questions, tips for mastering the physiology and human anatomy topic, and everything a student will need to pass a college course or final examine in the subject. The book is jam packed with information from the introduction forward.

Learn about the cell structure, tissue and cellular chemistry of the human body in the first few chapters and then the books goes on to explain the central nervous system and skeletal system, as well as the integration of the muscular components. The cardiovascular system and blood flow from the heart to the other organs. The respiratory system is completely described.

Learn how the body digests, gets rid of waste and metabolizes the food delivering the nutrients. Understand the body's use of water and electrolyte balance. Understand the miraculous reproductive system and how the life cycle continues.

READ MORE - Biology Book Review - Human Anatomy and Physiology

Understanding the Brain and Central Nervous System is Critical

By Lance Winslow
Perhaps you have considered the complexity of the human brain and how incredible this biological marvel really is. If you consider all the interwoven systems that allow the human body to work to supply the brain with what it needs to function and control the enter biosystem then you have to throw up your hands and say; Wow.

Even though we do not fully understand the brain, we do realize many of its abilities and the basics behind it. Well, some of us do, however, many folks do not comprehend how it all works, which is a huge travesty considering that their brain is one of the most important parts of their body and without it, they would not even be able to realize that fact.

Perhaps you are as fascinated with the human mind and brain as I am? If so, I'd sure like to help you learn more, in fact, I'd like to recommend a very easy to read book that can explain it all to you much better than I. The name of the book is:

"The Brain and Central Nervous System; Reader's Digest Series: Your Body and Your Health" Edited by Neil Werthheimer; Reader's Digest Association Publishers, Pleasantville, New York; 2002

This book explains neurons, structure, memory, spinal cord, central nervous system and how to keep your brain healthy. The foods you should eat, the poisons you should stay away from and the importance of exercise on the brain. There is also a chapter on brain scanning, the brains electrical component, as well as disorders, diseases, tumors, stroke, therapy and drugs.

This is a fantastic book for all ages and you need to own it in your family's library. Understanding the Brain and Central Nervous System is critical because without your brain you cease to have meaningful existence, so, please consider all this.

READ MORE - Understanding the Brain and Central Nervous System is Critical

The Ascent of Man

By Ilmas Futehally
What separates man from other primates, or indeed other animals? Jacob Bronowski, a mathematician trained in physics, examines the scientific and intellectual history of humankind in his book The Ascent of Man. Though the book is based on the television series aired on BBC in the 1970s, it is far from outdated. Over 30 years after it was first published; The Ascent of Man still invokes pride in our past and instills hope for our future in the reader.

Covering a wide canvas from the dawn of man until the modern times, Bronowski examines how man has been the shaper of his surroundings rather than being shaped by it. Every other species has been adapted to fit into a certain ecological niche; they have evolved for a particular environment. Man, despite his comparatively weak physical attributes has been able to shape the world with his unique set of gifts. Bronowski believes that it was not so much biological evolution, but cultural evolution that has made man what he is today.

Tracing the evolution of human from their hunter gather phase to the present one, he says that the change in diet from plant to animal based materials gave humans more time free to spend on building capabilities to get food from sources that could not be tackled by brute force. The most marked effect of this was to foster group action and communication. The next single largest step in the ascent of man was the change from a nomadic way of life to village agriculture, made possible by a set of natural and human events. Settled agriculture creates a technology from which all sciences take off.

Taking the reader on a journey through time, Bronowski delights in the inventions and scientific discoveries made over the last ten thousand years- from the domestication of wheat in 8000 BC to the double helix structure of the DNA in the 1950s. He describes the tools that extend the human hand as an instrument of vision- they reveal new structures and make it possible to put them together in imaginative combinations.

By delving deep into the lives and thoughts of an extraordinary range of people, Bronowski discusses a wider range of complex subjects from Anthropology to Astronomy and from Mathematics to the Life Sciences. He reveals the linkages that bring together cultures by introducing us to Pythagoras, who found a basic relation between musical harmony and mathematics, Euclid, Ptolemy and Arab scholars who delighted in calculation and geometry. The author demonstrates how the spread of ideas along the trade routes - the spread of the numeral system for notation of numbers from the Arab world and the decimal system from India - changed mathematics forever.

From mathematics to astronomy is a logical step. The Mayan civilization housed their astronomers in pyramid like structures and developed calendars to trace the journey of the stars, Copernicus placed the sun at the centre of the planetary system and Galileo gave his life to prove that this was so. The lives of these people have a profound impact on the modern way of life. While no account of the ascent of man can leave out Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, Bronowski describes more than their work. He shows us how they thought and how their characters defined their work.

The Industrial Revolution was the greatest discoverer of power- a time when new sources of energy were discovered and used. With this came many of the characteristics of the modern world that we abhor- the factory system with inhuman work hours, tyrannical bosses, pollution and the domination of men by machines. While bringing these to our notice, Bronowski does not leave out the other side of this age - the delight of discovery and the sense of fun in finding new ways of doing things. He believes that this revolution is as important as the Renaissance in the ascent of man- while one established the dignity of man; the other established the unity of nature.

Describing the theory of evolution by natural selection put forward by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace, Bronowski says that it was the most important single scientific innovation of the nineteenth century. It shows that the world is in movement and that creation is not static; it changes with time unlike the physical world. Another discovery that has shaped biology is one by contemporary scientists, which express the cycle of life in a chemical form that links them to nature as a whole.

Turing to the physical sciences, Bronowski says that the aim of the physical sciences has been to give an exact picture of the material world. One achievement of physics in the twentieth century has been to prove that aim is unattainable! Physicists have shown that there is no absolute knowledge; all information is imperfect and we have to treat it with humility.

In the last chapter in book, titled The Long Childhood, Bronowski goes back to what makes man human and what has made the ascent of man possible. He says, "We are all afraid - for our confidence, for the future, for the world. That is the nature of the human imagination. Yet every man, every civilization has gone forward because of its engagement with what it has set itself to do. The personal commitment of man to his skill, the intellectual commitment and the emotional commitment working together as one, has made the Ascent of Man."

READ MORE - The Ascent of Man

Anatomy 101 - The Human Body From a Kid's Point of View

By Adam Singleton
The human body is something you'd think would be a natural object of understanding for humans, but not a huge number of people can boast knowledge of everything concerning these temples within which we live. Explaining it to children can prove difficult too - so what sort of things can you do to help your descriptions when those inevitable questions come along?

Children can be a lot smarter than we sometimes imagine. Many kids go through childhood experiencing various 'obsessions', where they find an interest and research it thoroughly; learning all there is to know about the subject. Take dinosaurs for example, which are always a popular interest. Most of us can probably think of at least one child who's been through the phase of reading up all about the giant lizards, collecting toys, watching the TV programmes, etc - if it's not us ourselves. This natural enthusiasm for learning is something that should be kept in mind - children, and humans in general, are inquisitive beings that thirst for knowledge. So it's important to latch onto this early and ensure kids get the most out of that early enthusiasm.

There are plenty of ways to encourage learning, such as books, DVDs, computer software and even plain old conversation. Children ask 'why?' a lot when growing up - and so do adults, albeit most of us do it quietly these days - and parents and teachers should capitalise on this inclination by telling them why, or how, or even what. What's more is that you'll probably get to enjoy it too.

A lot of the ways that kids learn stuff are usually fun. The books they read, the films they watch and even educational cartoons are designed to be amusing as well as instructive. This can make a welcome change from the slightly more stoic way of learning that grown-ups are used to, revisiting the basics in a bright and colourful manner that can prove entertaining as well. Opening up a book to help you teach your child about the human body can be a fun experience since children's literature is more about getting information across in an entertaining fashion rather than what comes across as quite inaccessible and stuffy by comparison in later years.

On top of all this, you spend time with the child, helping them to develop better social abilities whilst strengthening your own bond.

So what is there on the topic of the human body in particular? Depending on how old the child is, you could teach with anything ranging from rousing renditions of "head, shoulders, knees and toes" and the "hokey cokey" to question-and-answer sessions or reading books, watching television programmes and DVDs or using interactive CD ROMs or the internet.

READ MORE - Anatomy 101 - The Human Body From a Kid's Point of View

Triplet Genetic Code - A Book Review Which Allows the Reader to Better Understand DNA Nutrition

By Chris Bielke
This book presents the basics of what the genetic code is, so that the reader can have a basis of understanding of molecular biology. The backbone of the book is the central dogma of molecular biology, which is the idea that information flows from DNA to RNA to protein. It not only defines and discusses what the genetic code is, but discusses the rules of the genetic code and the type of mutations that can occur in the system.

The basic building blocks of both DNA and mRNA are adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. These are defined as nitrogen bases and are usually labeled A, T, G, and C. These bases code for twenty specific amino acids. The twenty amino acids that can be created are as follows: alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartate, cysteine, glutamine, glutamate, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, praline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine. A nucleotide is defined as a linked bunch of molecules, composed of a phosphate group, nitrogenous bases, and a pentose sugar. The nucleotides code for these amino acids in groups of three, giving 64 possible combinations. The groups of threes are called codons. There are actually three codons that don't code for amino acids. These codons are called stop codons and they signal signal translation termination. These codons are UAA, UAG, and UGA.

The genetic code is said to be degenerate. This means that the code doesn't code to its capacity. Basically, the twenty known amino acids that can be created by the genetic code can be made by more than one type of nucleotide sequence. For instance, CUU, CUC, CUA, and CUG all code for the amino acid leucine. Another example is that CGU, CGC, CGA, and CGG all code for arginine.

According to the book, there are three main rules for the genetic code. The first rule is that the sequence of nitrogenous bases must follow the direction of translation. mRNA is translated in the 5' to 3' direction, so the codon sequences have to occur in the same orientation. This ensures that they will be properly translated. The first base of a codon must be located at the 5'-most end of the codon. For instance, the following three bases code for the amino acid cysteine: CGU. Two codons code for this amino acid, 5'-UGU-3' and 5'-UGC-3'. 5'-UGC-3' matches the codon CGU if you read it backwards.

The second rule is that one nucleotide can be used per reading frame. In other words, one nucleotide can only be part of one codon. For example, the code AATT could be read only as AAT or ATT, but not at the same time.

The last rule deals with start and stop codons. Basically, once you begin reading a codon from a specific nucleotide, one must continue reading it by threes until the end. The most common start codon is AUG. UAA, UAG, or UGA are the stop codons. So, the implication of this rule is that any sequence can be read in three different ways, depending on which nucleotide is put first. The three different ways of reading can yield three different amino acids.

Mutations are errors in codons caused by changes in nucleotide bases. Depending on the type of mutation, the error can cause no change or devastating change in protein created. These changes can result in positive phenotypic changes in the living organism, but usually are deleterious. The first type of mutation discussed is the base substitution. This is when one base is substituted for another. There are three main base substitutions: silent mutations, missense mutations, and nonsense mutations. Silent mutations do not change the amino acid created, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. For example, if UGU is changed to UGC, the corresponding amino acid will still be cysteine. A missense mutation results in a substitution that changes the actual amino acid that is created by the codon. A nonsense mutation is a substitution that actually transforms the codon into a stop codon. This is generally considered to be the worst sort of base substitution mutation because it can really mess up the formation of a protein.

The next category of mutations is the insertion and deletion mutations. The main mutation that correlates to the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide in a codon is the frameshift mutation. This mutation is very profound in its effects, due to it changing every codon in a genetic sequence. It messes up the three codon structure which constitutes code, thus altering the protein that is created by the code.

The last category of mutations are the suppressor mutations. Supressor mutations change the result of an entirely different mutation. There are two types of these: extragenic and intragenic mutations. Extragenic mutations occur outside the genetic code, but has an effect on the amino acid sequence that is translated from the genetic code. Basically, one mutation can negate another mutation, due to the affects of a tRNA mutation. An intragenic mutation comes from within the genetic code. An example of this would be if an insertion of a particular nucleotide was negated by a frameshift deletion of this nucleotide. This book does a thorough job of educating the reader in the basic of the genetic code. It not only defines what the genetic code is, what rules govern it, and what mutations can occur in it, but it discusses how the genetic code is an indicator of evolution. Since all life shares the same four nitrogenous bases, which make up the codons that code for the proteins that make all living bodies, evolution from common descent seems plausible.

READ MORE - Triplet Genetic Code - A Book Review Which Allows the Reader to Better Understand DNA Nutrition

Biotechnology and Colours

By Yaamini Lakshmi
Biotechnology and the world of colours have always been intertwined. Nature's hues and tints are captured in their natural or synthetic state in a variety of market products. The flower markets of natural blood-red roses and gene-designed blue roses recently released in Japan are apt examples.

To-date notwithstanding the awe-inspiring snip and tuck techniques of genetic engineering, the legendary 'Black Tulip' of French author Alexander Dumas still remains the 'Holy Grail of the Tulip world'. Several types from 'Tulip Queen of Night' (1944) to T.'Black Hero' (1984) constitute 'the category of the 'blackest of the officially 'purple' tulips'.

Nature's wealth of colours have inspired celebrity painters and poets ---French-born Hillarie Belloc describes in verse the morphology of The Microbe with its 'seven tufted tails with lots of pink and purple spots.'; and schoolchildren to explore the microbial world through the 'looking-glass' of Winogradsky's column with its purple and green bands ---consortia of the green and purple photosynthetic bacteria. Blue-green cyanobacteria contribute to the economy of Nature's important biogeochemical Cycles-the nitrogen cycle.

The Red Sea may derive its colour and name from the red-cyanobacterium -- Trichodesmium erythraeum, but the destruction of numerous fish is due to the Red Tide population of the plant-like red-brown dinoflagellates. Pigments help classify the brown, yellow, red and green algae; and protozoa and yeasts such as Euglena and Pichia. Nature's colour artistry occurs throughout the biospectrum incorporating interalia green and purple bacteria, antibiotic-producing species of Streptomyces and Nocardia, fungi that color cheeses, blue-green anoles, rainbow papaya and trout, and green fluorescent proteins responsible for the coloration of diverse corals and anemones. Green, yellow, orange-red and purple-blue chromoproteins are the raison d'etre of fabled reef colours varying in the spectrum of daylight conditions.

Verily, Nature's palette of pigments and paints underscores the need of bioresources centres to capture, classify and conserve the planet's biotreasury lest extinction result from benign neglect and commercial exploitation.
'Biomimicry...... is a new science that studies nature's best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problems. ......Organisms use two methods to create colour without paint: internal pigments and the structural colour that makes tropical butterflies, peacocks, and hummingbirds so gorgeous. A peacock is a completely brown bird. Its "colours" result from light scattering off regularly spaced melanin rods, and interference effects through thin layers of keratin (the same stuff as your fingernails).'

New military clothing uses fluorescent colours, biosensors and bioinformatics at the nano-level to mimic natural phenomena of biomimicry and chameleonic colours. Geofabrics coloured for appropriate use contribute to landscape and urban management --- conservation of golf courses and park-lawns, and safeguarding creative and aesthetic instinct of humankind is embedded in of soil embankments and floral gardens.

The clean and green technologies. The first biodegradable green credit card was issued in 1997. 'Coral proteins put on the red light' in marine waters, and coloured glow fish function as indicators of pollution in aquatic reservoirs. Colours used in biotextile grafts make attractive and acceptable use of bioceramic materials in dentistry, medicine orthopaedics, tissue engineering and veterinary science.

Genetic research has contributed to understanding human eye and skin colour. The genesis of coat colours of cats, dogs, rabbits, ponies, etc. has been deciphered. The head colour of birds too. Coat colour alleles are used to produce sublines of mice for studies concerning ageing, cancer, cardiovascular, neurobiological and reproductive biology. The Big Blue mouse is used to research cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Yellow mice help localize gene mutations on specific chromosomes.Custom-made mice --- the albino, cream, brown and black models are research keys studying tumour biology. Indeed, 'the ability to follow coat colours' requires 'no complicated tools such as molecular genotyping' in 'the breeding and maintenance of mutant strains.'

Colours inspire, motivate and uplift humankind. Clinics and psychological facilities use soothing colours to aid convalescents. Colours exist in sports too. Winners express a sense of national achievement and pride in draping themselves in their national flags. In EURO 2004 - soccer and biopsychology met. To enhance local psychobiological advantage and patriotism the coach of the home team requested fans 'to wear something red or green' their national colours 'toface the orange shirts' of their opponents' in a qualifying match.

Corporate biotech is engaged in 'chasing the rainbow.' Former Vice-President Al Gore envisioned the 'pot of gold at the end of the biotechnology rainbow.' Entrepreneurs, however, focus their quest 'somewhere over the genetic rainbow'. UN policy-makers use colour-codes in combating, and designing solutions to problems of hunger and poverty. The UN Economic Commission for Africa in 2002 described 'Realizing the Promise of Green Biotechnology for the Poor' and 'Tackling the Diseases of Poverty through Red Biotechnology' ---technologies that involve using genetically-engineered mosquitoes with the potential to eradicate malaria; and gene modified foods ---golden rice and orange bananas, enriched with vitamin A to counteract the onset of blindness.

'Ethical challenges of green biotechnology for developing countries' arise, and, 'whether transgenic plants should carry distinguishing markers, such as distinguishing colours, so that they can be identified and not intermixed with other plants of the same species' is under review for use in regulatory work. In space biology research, transgenic plants using blue and green colours are being developed as biosensors to indicate presence of certain kinds of stress.
Nutritionists talk of a rainbow diet rich in micronutrients and vitamins that make food naturally attractive and appetizing for a 'good feel'status. Traditional medicine recommends eating naturally coloured foods possessing natural phytonutrients in their skin ingredients. A judicious choice of red (meat), green (salads), yellow (cereals and fruits) and violet (vegetables) foods contributes to the sustenance of long-term good health in combating artificial diabetes and obesity. Blue cheese and black truffles are delicacies without added food colorants; and supermarkets may soon offer carrots in red and purple with the orange variety. 'Research into different coloured carrots is not about making a fashion statement but about potential health improvements'.

In agro-trade, traffic-colours of amber and green define policies that distort trade of certain commodities. Amber box policies signify 'caution' relating to 'price supports, marketing loans and subsidies, and livestock quantities'. Green box policies cover 'research, pest and disease control, and crop insurance and conservation programs'. Blue box policies --a temporary WTO category that accommodates transatlantic negotiations, are 'redefined amber box policies concerning production limiting programs'.

Biotechnologies described in colours spotlight salient aspects of research for economic development. The Cordia-EuropaBio Convention 2003 in Vienna in 'Blue Biotechnology - Exploitation of Marine Resources' focused on the 'Ocean of Opportunities' for sustaining development through rational use of marine bioresources. Europe's catalytic role in 'Green Biotechnology in Africa' resides in collaborative biotech education, research, development, and market ventures.
In January 2004, a European Commission meeting at the Biosciences 'Technology Facility', University of York, UK, recognized that any 'biotechnology platform, developing bio-based products would have to be a concerted marriage of the 'White' together with the 'Green' and 'Blue' biotechnology sectors'. Unlocking of bottlenecks could be achieved through programmes utilizing 'the synergies between green, white and blue biotechnologies.'

In 2005, the 12th European Biotechnology Congress will use 4 biotech motors: white (industrial); red (pharmaceutical), green (food and feed) and blue (environment) in 'Bringing Genomes to Life' in Denmark.

The use of colour codes is seemingly the lingua franca of science policy in Germany. Sixty percent of the 253 biotechnological firms with some 43,000 employees in a survey by Hessen's Ministry of Economy were specializing in red biotechnology (diagnosis and treatment of diseases); 4% were specializing in green biotechnology (agriculture, food production); and, 1% was in grey biotechnology (pure industrial processes with an environmental nuance). In Baden-Württemberg, over half of the biotech companies excel in red biotechnology with smaller numbers in the grey and green sectors. German market studies emphasize the white and red biotechnologies. Red biotechnology accounts for some 86% of all biotech companies. Green biotechnology with 27% is followed by grey biotechnology with 10%.

In the USA, a 5 colour-coded security system from green (low) through blue (guarded), yellow (elevated), and orange (high) to red (severe) has been decreed. Adoption of protective and self-defense responses involves all levels of vigilance and preparedness to combat and neutralize the threats of terrorism and those of bioterrorism that aim at destruction of that country's security and its peoples. Colour alert systems for air pollution (USA) and inclement weather (Mozambique) are indicators of time available for precautionary action by people susceptible to asthmatic and respiratory diseases as well as in offsetting loss of life and bioeconomic resources.

In satire, a 'five (colour) level Mad Cow alert' exists. The alert levels range from eating cow parts (green) through limited beef consumption (blue) and exercise of planned protective measures (yellow) to symptomatic mooing and chewing of the cud (orange) to a switch to fermented food - tofu (red).

Using colours to describe biotechnology constitutes a new mechanism in:

- attracting school children to the microbial world in different environments;
- teaching biotechnology in graduate and medical schools; and
- providing sound bytes for use by non-technical policy-makers promoting the biotech powerhouse for sustainable development.

Dr. R. Colwell, Director, US National Foundation at a US-EC Biotech meeting in 2003 said: "If we could weave a Flag of Biotechnology, some say, it would feature three colours: red for medical applications, green for agricultural and white for industrial. In fact this flag may accrue even more colours over time as environmental and marine biotech and other applications add their stripes'.

In that context, the colour index below may be a useful guide with further additions as biotechnology and colours intertwine over time in promoting public perception and understanding of biotech applications for the cause of science, development, and the current and post human future of humankind.

Color Type Area of Biotech Activities

Red - Health, Medical, Diagnostics
Yellow - Food Biotechnology, Nutrition Science
Blue - Aquaculture, Coastal and Marine Biotech
Green - Agricultural, Environmental Biotechnology - Biofuels, Biofertilizers, Bioremediation, Geomicrobiology
Brown - Arid Zone and Desert Biotechnology
Dark - Bioterrorism, Biowarfare, Biocrimes, Anticrop warfare
Purple - Patents, Publications, Inventions, IPRs
White - Gene-based Bioindustries
Gold - Bioinformatics, Nanobiotechnology
Grey - Classical Fermentation and Bioprocess Technology

READ MORE - Biotechnology and Colours

Camouflage Masters - Stick Insects

By Navodita Maurice
Look is that a stick walking? No it is not the stick that is walking it is an insect which is called as "Stick Insect" by the scientists. Stick insects are habitually termed as "Walking Sticks". They belong to the Phylum-Arthropoda, Class- Insecta, Order- Phasmatodea. The insects belonging to this order may range from minuscule to giant size. The stick insects resemble with the leaves or twigs and are green or brown in color. They tend to remain motionless for a long time and hang from the plants, shrubs or trees. Their camouflage is a powerful weapon for their protection from their foes. They are herbivorous and feed on leaves only preferably the broader leaves. Females are larger in size as compared to that of males and are incompetent for flight while the males can fly swiftly. Females have only capability for gliding.

There are two families of stick insects: Phylliidae and Phasmatidae, in Australia. Most of the stick insects belong to the family Phasmatidae and only one species is recognized in Phylliidae. Female stick insects are larger in size. The head is gifted with two large compound eyes and antennae measuring 20mm in length. The thorax is 30mm long with some black dots. Fore-wings 15mm long, hind-wings 30mm long that covers two and a half of the abdominal segments. The thoracic legs possess spiny extensions. Abdomen bears ten segments of which the last bears two cerci of 10mm. Females are brown to pale green in coloration with brown tegmina. Males are smaller in size with antenna 35mm and hind-wings 40mm long huge in comparison to that of females. Tegmina 10mm long, thorax 15mm abdomen with ten segments 60mm in length. Fore-legs are deficient of spines while the mid and the hind legs have well organized spines. Cerci same as that of females. Males may be green or brown in coloration.

The mating process of stick insects is fascinating. The mating pairs are seen joined by their anal ends. They restore their mating posture for many hours. After copulation the male stick insect dies two days later. The females lays about 150-200 eggs and then dies within a week after laying eggs. Eggs are 3mm long, dark brown to black in color. The stick insect drops the eggs to the ground during summer and hatch in august to September. Eggs have a tough hard shell bearing capitulum which is pushed by the baby while coming out. the eggs resemble the seeds. The hatched larvae are 13-15mm in length and are very active. They resemble their mothers except wings with very short antenna. They also resemble their mother in sitting position. They undergo various moulting stages before becoming adult. Stick insects are confronted with the phrase-"Camouflage Masters". Their this adaptive strategy is an efficient tool that guards them from their opponents.

Their body shape and dynamic color which resembles the parts of the plants. When they stay motionless they keep their front legs in front of their head making them look like the twigs or branch. they preferably feed at night while during the day time they remain motionless on the plants. They usually consume whole plant leaf without leaving even a single part. They are often blown by the wind. their eggs resemble seeds thus providing an effective means from protection from the enemies. The Goliath Stick Insect drops its scat at such a distance that it remains unnoticed by the Predator. When molested by the foes they sometimes drop to the ground and act as they are dead a phenomenon called "catalepsy". After each moult they eat their shedded skin as it is enriched with nutrients, and can also prevent them fro predators. Every insect is well adapted to its environment that helps it to be well protected from its enemies. Nature provides the insects an protective shield that is responsible for the presence of an insects in many typical habitats. The defensive strategies of insects provides them to be successful taxa.

READ MORE - Camouflage Masters - Stick Insects

Review of on Natural Selection by Charles Darwin

By Avil Beckford
I have been researching great thinkers and how they have shaped the world. I have also been trying to prove that the act of reading helps to generate or even stimulate great ideas. Great thinkers do not operate within a vacuum, they rely on the works of others, and often expand the original thought and take the world further. Charles Darwin and British biologist Alfred Russel Wallace independently arrived at similar theories of Natural Selection in the mid-1800s after reading Essay on the Principle of Population by British pastor Thomas Malthus.

Darwin defines natural selection as the "preservation of favourable variations and the rejection of injurious variation." So what does this all mean? Darwin further adds, "Variations neither useful nor injurious would not be affected by natural selection, and would be left a fluctuating element, as perhaps we see in the species called polymorphic... Natural selection can act only by taking advantage of slight variations; she can never take a leap, but must advance by the shortest steps."

This book wasn't the easiest to read, and I found it quite "dry". But, in my quest to find out where really good ideas come from, I made the sacrifice and slogged through it. I have selected fives ideas from On Natural Selection. For the five ideas below, how can you use them in different contexts to resolve/understand modern day problems?

Five Good Ideas

1. When a plant or animal is placed in a new country amongst new competitors, though the climate may be exactly the same as its former home, yet the conditions of its life will generally be changed in an essential manner. If we wished to increase its average numbers in its new home, we should have to modify it in a different way to what we should have done in its native country; for we should have to give it some advantage over a different set of competitors or enemies.
2. Individuals having any advantage, however slight, over others, would have the best chance of surviving and of procreating their kind
3. When a species, owing to highly favourable circumstances, increases inordinately in numbers in a small tract, epidemics often ensue
4. The more diversified the descendants from any one species become in structure, constitution, and habits, by so much will they be better enabled to seize on many and widely diversified places in the polity of nature, and so be enabled to increase in numbers
5. Natural selection is working behind the scenes all the time throughout the world whenever the opportunity arises. It works to improve each organic being in relation to its organic and inorganic conditions of life. You cannot see these slow changes taking place, until after a long period of time has elapsed, we see that the forms of life are now different from what they formerly were

We could take idea number two and look at it in the context of education. It's a reasonable assumption to make that people who are more educated have a better chance of succeeding than those who have less education. Or, for that same idea, we could say, someone who has an idea and knows how to take action, will be more successful than someone who has ideas but do nothing about them. Success in this context is not restricted to financial success. Why don't you take one of the above five ideas and see what new ideas you can generate?

I recommend On Natural Selection because I am sure that you will come up with your own five ideas. This is not a book that you would read for entertainment, but it will certainly stretch you.

READ MORE - Review of on Natural Selection by Charles Darwin

As the Future Abstract Science of Nanotech - The Best Book You'll Ever Read on the Topic

By Lance Winslow
As mankind unlocks all the secrets of our DNA, and learns how to use nanotechnology to genetically engineer humans the potential is unlimited. We will be able to enhance our muscles, brains, and participate in life extension technologies. Some of this may sound like science fiction, but that's exactly where nanotechnology in biotech is headed. Many futurists and scientists in these fields portray an interesting, exciting, and even scary future.

One of the best books I've ever read on this subject, and one which ranks up there with the top science fiction writers of past periods has allowed my mind to go beyond today, and into the future. The future of Nanotech and all the emerging sciences, which are now inter-related will fascinate you. If this topic interests you, I'd like to recommend a very good book, which you will enjoy and love. It's definitely a classic, although it is in a very esoteric niche. The name of the book is;

"Engines of Creation - What We Might Become," by Eric Drexler; Bantam books division Doubleday Dell, New York, NY, 1986, (298 pp.), ISBN: 0385199724.

This book is in my personal library, and it will stay there. Recently, I've been weeding out some of the old books that I no longer want, and I came across this book once again. As I was paging through it, I realized it was written in 1986, it occurred to me that many of the things that Drexler had predicted, have now come to be. Many of the Nanotech initiatives which are being funded and the research which is being done is making breakthroughs strides in neurology, biotech, pharmaceutical, medicine, material sciences, and so much more.

Sometimes, it pays to look back at the visionaries who helped put us on the path to our modern technology of today. I'm going to recommend that you buy this book, read it, and then go explore where this technology is going in the future, and how far it has already come. Please consider all this.

READ MORE - As the Future Abstract Science of Nanotech - The Best Book You'll Ever Read on the Topic

Aqua House - Architecture That Integrates Water Technically and Aesthetically

By Les Dykstra
Stephanie Madison of Habitus Living interviews the author about his book "Aqua House, Architecture that Integrates Water Technically and Aesthetically" Can you please elaborate on what inspired you to write Aqua Houses and the key ideas in the book?

Current concerns about global water usage and the increasing pollution of it's environments is what inspired me to write Aqua House. The book focuses on the relationship of water and architecture. It re-examines the place that it occupies in architecture in order to determine how current practices in architecture contribute to the pollution of water environments and to what is believed to be an unsustainable usage of it. The book then seeks to investigate how some of these practices in architecture could be modified in the future in order to mitigate the water problem.

The key idea in the book is how can the design of a house integrate the technical and aesthetic functions of water?

I have attempted to answer this by designing a building (Aqua House) that works with both the aesthetic and technical functions of aqua. In addition, the design integrates water and architecture in a way that could contribute to reducing contamination of the water environment. While Aqua House is a small project, focused on the problem of residential architecture it can perhaps help raise awareness of wider water issues. The lessons learned can perhaps be extrapolated to a re-examination of other types of buildings and urban environments, where a wider set of water issues could be examined.

In following the principles outlined in Aqua Houses, how can consumers integrate water-wise solutions into their homes that are both technically efficient and architecturally aesthetically appealing?

The principles outlined in Aqua House is that rain, which is collected, recycled and cleansed, is celebrated and organises the house. An example of how consumers could integrate water-wise solutions into their homes is to locate in the entry hall of their house a reflection pool that stores high quality water. It would celebrate the triumph of harvested water in the way that the sink in the foyer of Villa Savoye does, and invites cleansing of a guest's journey. Another example is to have a structure that consists of a series of aqua columns. The water columns replace the underground water cistern or solid water tanks used in other the sustainable houses allowing visual appreciation and awareness of quantity of the stored water, while also being used to supply the water needs.

What do you envision consumers wanting in terms of water-wise architectural spaces in the future, please describe? Why do you think consumers will be drawn to these spaces/design elements etc?

I envision consumers wanting water-wise architectural spaces to experience the various states and transformations, its distinctive tastes, sounds and smells. Water's beauty is in its fluidity, transparency and reflective-ness. For example water has symbolic meanings: to Chinese Feng Shui it represents good chi and in Christianity, it means cleansing. People are naturally drawn towards water for its aesthetic qualities and musicians frequently celebrate it in their work. Schubert's Water Songs, Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water, Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water, Lady in the Water, The Wild River, Water Lilies are some examples of music and movies inspired by water. Paintings by artists like Hockney, Dali, Picasso, Monet, Escher, English all depict the beauty of water.

I think consumers will be drawn to the integrated design solutions knowing that each year they are sending 0.0 litres of effluent and 0.0 litres of stormwater to the rivers and oceans, and manage in the process to celebrate it.

READ MORE - Aqua House - Architecture That Integrates Water Technically and Aesthetically

Top 10 Popular Science Books

By Casey Rentz
1. Annals of a Former World, by John McPhee
In patient, lyrical prose, McPhee takes the reader on a geologic journey through the United States. This volume was originally published as 4 books; each is centered on a road trip the author took with a geologist, observing the earth next to Eisenhower's great US highways for clues into its geologic past. Annals has this--no borders, idealistic, On the Road for geologists kind of feel (though a bit more grown-up.) I pick up Annals every once in a while when im in a relaxed mood, when im looking for a good example of literary science writing. Highly recommended as a companion for camping trips, if you can fit it into your pack.

2. Surely You're Joking, Mr, Feynman, by Richard Feynman

A string of excerpts from Feynman's life/career, Surely You're Joking is probably the popular science book I have read through the most times, not because it is short, but because it is at once compelling, understated, and full of indispensible scientific concepts. Richard Feynman has an uncanny ability to make physics easily digestible, his lectures are a testament to that and Surely You're Joking is no exception. Feynman's easy prose makes the reader feel like physics is understandable, as if he has laid out a diagram of the universe on his living room floor--no one is an outsider. It's delightful. Feynman's in my 'top 5 people I would give my right pinky finger to meet' category.

3. A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson

The second heavy volume on the list, A Short History is packed with nearly everything. It takes a look at the science behind a lot of things--beauty, cells, evolution, the universe. Bryson rejects the traditional notion of a 'textbook' with this book, making science seem relevant in our daily lives AND putting this knowledge in the context of the universe--in space and time. Capturing the detailed nooks where science is often concentrated AND eliciting the wonder of the wider perspective is an accomplishment--savor it wherever you can find it. Great in audio book format.

4. The Richness of Life, collection of essays by Stephen Jay Gould

The idiosyncratic Gould has written articles in Natural History and many other science magazines for decades and is one of the most widely read modern science writers. In this collection of articles, Gould's highly intellectual, witty, and pin-accurate prose explains evolutionary theory, racism or baseball with a scientist's eye, but in a way that engages the layman. Gould's dedication to science shows in every piece. Delightful.

5. In the Shadow of Man, by Jane Goodall

A classic book--easy read, no jargon. Goodall's observations of chimpanzee's in the wild first brought to light one of man's most recent ancestors--the chimpanzee. This book chronicles some of Goodall's groundbreaking research through her own observations about chimp behavior. Once immersed in the book, I couldn't help but think--we are all just apes, evolved from or related to one another. Puts things in perspective.

6. The Canon, by Natalie Angier

Someone at the New York Times science desk once told me--"Natalie Angier is the queen of metaphor." I have to agree. The Canon is the best example of her witty prose winding the reader through simple scientific questions with difficult answers. In this book, Angier tackles what she has deemed the basic scientific concepts everyone should know: thinking scientifically, probabilities, calibration, physics, evolutionary biology, chemistry, molecular biology, astronomy and geology. Phew. I have to say--this could have been very text-book, but because of her writing style, is masterful. I actually have had many non-scientist friend recommend this to me, which is always a good sign.

7. Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher, by Lewis Thomas

Another collection of essays worth picking up, Thomas' book is a joy. Each essay packs a good amount of philosophy into it's literary package as Thomas meanders through simple topics and concepts in biology and makes larger connections (cells are like mini organisms, social animals work together like parts of a cell, etc.) Thomas often uses themes repetitively in his essays, so this collection is good for sporadic reading.

8. Universe in a Teacup, by K.C. Cole

Where can you find a book that successfully intertwines the discipline of mathematics, with the concepts of truth and beauty? Universe is just such a book; K.C.'s most popular and in some ways seminal volume. Metaphors she uses pack a punch. Her prose style is somewhat poetic, and in Universe, she proves adept at explain things like chaos or phase transitions are illuminating--not just because you finally understand some science concept that always seem so obscure, but because Cole has also given the you a new way to think about mathematics and the world alongside your new understanding. (Full disclosure--Cole was my academic mentor)

9. Enduring Love, by Ian McEwin

Ok, so not everyone would categorize this as a popular science book, but Ill include it anyway. Enduring Love is a fiction book, partially written from the perspective of a former scientist, but more importantly, it is a suspenseful story that lets the author's attitudes towards life bleed through each and every page. Ian McEwan is a well-know rationalist who believes that science is just as much a part of culture as anything else--a position with which I very much empathize. This is a literary tale, sure, but McEwin manages to mention scientific ideas all over the place, integrating science and its ways of thinking into the lives of his complex characters and slowly revealing situations. It's a page-turner.

READ MORE - Top 10 Popular Science Books

Biology, Science and Nature Books

By Suleman Thadha
Cosmology is the name given to a range of natural sciences, including both physics and astronomy that intends to provide an explanation for how the universe works as an integrated entity. Over the centuries, since the Pythagoreans in Greece during the 6th century BC considered the possibility that Earth was spherical, cosmology has come a long way and has integrated a variety of different fields of science.

Cosmology evolved from the observation of these Greeks who interpreted the natural laws of the heavenly bodies from which, eventually, the Ptolemaic model developed during the second century AD. Centuries later, during the 16th century, the Copernican system further developed the theories surrounding astronomy and cosmology - followed, in the 20th century, by the theories of special relativity and Albert Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. Overall, however, the case for cosmology states that the laws of physics work the same everywhere and that there is homogeneity throughout the universe.

'The Holographic Universe', written by Michael Talbot, tells its story in two parts: the first part devotes 55 pages to discussing David Bohm's holographic model of the universe - simplified into everyday language by Talbot. The second part of the book delves into events of the paranormal while, at the same time, attempting to rationalise the holographic model. Talbot introduces the reader to Karl Pribram as well as the philosophies of David Bohm.

Chemistry

Chemistry and biochemistry often go hand-in-hand, existing in parallel with other scientific disciplines such as dietetics [the science of food]. McCance and Widdowson, who produce 'The Composition of Foods' summarises food composition tables and updates much in the way of nutrition as a science. The foreword to the 6th edition has been written by Sir John Krebs while the actual volume itself provides an invaluable source of reference to dieticians and nutritionists the world over.

Meanwhile,'Principles of Biochemistry' by Nelson D has been described as a 'modern approach to biochemistry'. Personally, one of the best biochemistry books I have ever encountered was that written by Patterson - now, sadly, long since out of print. I attribute my successful pass in the biochemistry exams to the presence of Patterson which, by the time I had finished with it, was particularly dog-eared! Nelson D's 'Principles of Biochemistry' really is the next best thing to Patterson and a worthy successor.

Earth Sciences and Geography

Earth sciences are a catch-all term covering a different range of natural sciences from those mentioned above. These relate to the study of the earth and how different parts of it are interlinked to produce that homogenous whole that is the classic feature of the scientific world. If you are interested in the world around you then you may be interested in a lovely book by Gavin Pretor-Pinney. This book 'The Cloud Collector's Handbook' is full of charming pictures, below which you will find a short description of each cloud and space for you to record your own sightings. It certainly gives a new connotation to having your head in the clouds!

Education

If you think about it, there is all the difference in the world between someone who loves school and somebody who loves to learn: it doesn't necessarily follow that, if you love to learn, then you must enjoy school. Education, however, is all about learning for the sheer pleasure of gaining new information. This learning may or may not be associated with school: it can even cover any subject. Evidence of this can be seen in Richard Dawkins' book 'The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution'.

Dawkins goes about educating his readers, explaining to them how fossils can be dated accurately, all about plate tectonics etc, before going into the details of how these may be linked with the global distribution of plants and animals and the effects changes in these physical elements can have on them. Dawkins, whilst making it clear that he is aware [and who could not be?] of the great debate on creation v evolution, doesn't get drawn into the minutiae surrounding this eternal dispute.

Engineering and Technology

One book that I simply have to recommend is a fantastic book written by Jo Marchant. You will find it in our Science and Nature section under the heading of Engineering and Technology. The first thing to say is that this is not some dry and boring technical tome. This book relates the story behind a particularly ancient Greek artefact and what it took to decode its hidden mysteries. The book is called 'Decoding the Heavens: Solving the Mystery of the World's First Computer'. I wish Jo Marchant had found a more intriguing title for her book because this title really doesn't do this book justice.

The book relates the story of the Antikythera Mechanism which has been shown to have amazing capabilities as an astronomical calculator: scientists believe its complexity was at least 1500 years before its time. The Antikythera Mechanism artifact is a good 2,000 years old and was found during a dive in 1901. Scientists have been attempting to unravel its secrets ever since. So, if it's a true-life mystery you are interested, or a book that's a bit different I would strongly recommend this well-written and interesting book of Jo Marchant's.

There are innumerable other sub-genres to be found within our Science and Nature section, covering quite an array of subjects. If you are a fan of the border collie, Barbara Sykes writes a delightful treatise on 'Understanding Border Collies'. This is an excellent book written by somebody who really does understand the intricacies that go to make up this breed of dog and is an absolute 'must have' for all the lovers of border collies out there. Changing from dogs to elephants, I would certainly recommend 'The Elephant Whisperer: Learning about Life, Loyalty and Freedom from a Remarkable Herd of Elephants' - it will really pull on your heartstrings then have you howling with laughter! Check out all the other options within this section - you will probably amaze yourself at the treasure trove of titles hidden within our web pages!

READ MORE - Biology, Science and Nature Books

Excitotoxins - The Taste That Kills - (A Review of Chapters 1 and 2)

By Walt Miller
Dr. Russell L. Blaylock M.D. has written a compelling book detailing the results of numerous studies of the effects of what he calls "excitotoxins" in the brain. "Excitotoxins," such as glutamate (Monosodium Glutamate, commonly called MSG) and Aspartate (such as the artificial sweetener, NutraSweet) are among the over seventy types of special amino acids present in the brain that are known to be largely present in most packaged processed foods available today.

Before precisely defining why they are named "excitotoxins," In Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, (Health Press, 1997) Dr. Blaylock leads the reader on a crash course of the brain in chapter 1. Most of this chapter can truthfully be skipped since the descriptions are very detailed and repeated again in subsequent chapters. However, with a brief overview of the parts of the brain (The Frontal Lobes, The Parietal Lobes, Occipital Lobes, Temporal Lobes, The brains interior paired nuclei, Brain Stem, Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus) and the neuron composition (Dendrite, Cell Body, Axon and Terminal Endings) we gain a great appreciation for the complexity and yet delicate operating balances within the human brain.

In chapter 1 Dr. Blaylock does inform us that the brain consumes 20% of the body's required oxygen and 25% of the body's required glucose for normal operations. Oddly enough, this is the one piece of information we need to remember for Chapter 3. The problem is that this tremendous need for oxygen and glucose circulating in the blood makes the brain vulnerable to ingested to toxins. In a section describing the "blood/brain barrier" we learn that this barrier the first line of defense the brain has against blood borne toxins and may actually leak under certain circumstances which presents another problem with ingesting these specific amino acids.

In chapter 2 we receive a review of Amino Acids. This is important since the "excitotoxins" are actually Amino Acids that are normally present in the brain. Dr. Blaylock gives a brief overview of amino acids and how they are the building blocks used to create proteins in a process called anabolism. Interestingly noted is collagen (the largest protein in the body) which contains 1500 amino acids.

Finally we are given a glimpse of what the potential problem is as Dr. Blaylock explains another function of amino acids. Apparently, in addition to being used to construct protein, some amino acids act as neurotransmitters. Glutamate, Aspartate and glycine are examples of these types of amino acids. Dr. Blaylock describes in detail the neurotransmitter firing process. He also points out that neuroscientists have discovered that glutamate is one of the most common neurotransmitters in the brain. Many areas of the brain contain extensive glutamate type neurons. Activation of cortical glutamate neurons in turn activate other neurons within the nuclei located deep within the brain.

These connections are important when examining the effects of excitatory amino acids (such as MSG) and the origins of neurological disease which are revealed in later chapters.

READ MORE - Excitotoxins - The Taste That Kills - (A Review of Chapters 1 and 2)

Excitotoxins - The Taste That Kills - (A Review of Chapter 3, How MSG Kills Brain Cells)

By Walt Miller
According to the author, Dr. Blaylock, "Excitotoxins" are special amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate (which are commonly found in MSG and Nutrasweet). These "Excitotoxins" are added to processed food to enhance the taste. Normally they act as neurotransmitters in the brain and spinal cord. However, when these common food additives are consumed (by eating certain processed foods) excessive amounts can develop which kill certain neurons in the brain by causing them to fire repeatedly (and needlessly) until they die.

How do they do this? Dr. Blaylock explains that there are two problems. First, we must understand that glutamate is normally in the brain and use to signal a neuron when it is time to fire. When it is done there is a cellular mechanism which transfers excess glutamate back into the surrounding glial cells. The glial cells encase the neurons in the brain and supply them with energy (in the form of ATP). The amount of energy required to do this is very high. This points to the first problem which is that in a hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) condition there is not enough ATP present to transfer the glutamate. In the constant presence of glutamate the neurons fire repeatedly until they die.

Specifically, as a part of the signal process, glutamate and aspartate act as a sort of key to unlock calcium channels into the neuron which chemically initiate the neurons to fire (their normal task). The cellular calcium pump turns on which remove the calcium. This is the second problem. The calcium pump requires a tremendous amount of energy also. In a hypoglycemic condition these calcium pumps fail to operate allowing the neurons to fire repeatedly until they die.

The solution may seem to be to eat more so that there is never a hypoglycemic state. This may seem possible, but the reality is that (as Dr. Blaylock points out) the FDA has allowed the food industry to include these "excitotoxins" in so many hidden forms that the consumer may not be aware that they are actually eating the same substances that they usually try to avoid (MSG.) This massive consumption of glutamates and aspartates may be impossible to overcome with normal brain processes. A diet rich in natural unprocessed foods is very important.

The only true solution is to avoid consuming "excitotoxins." Dr. Blaylock points out in Appendix 1 other common food additives which have hidden sources of MSG. These include: Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Plant Protein, Hydrolyzed Protein, Sodium Caseinate, Calcium Caseinate, Yeast Extract, Textured Protein, Autolyzed Yeast and Hydrolyzed Oat Flour. Some food additives may have MSG include: Malt Extract, Malt Flavoring, Bouillon, Broth, Stock, Flavoring, Natural Flavoring, Natural Beef or Chicken Flavorings and seasoning.

READ MORE - Excitotoxins - The Taste That Kills - (A Review of Chapter 3, How MSG Kills Brain Cells)