This week in science: One step forward, one step back

The fresh crater Debussy, about 50 miles wide. Click image for more info at Bad Astronomy. Image courtesy NASA/JPL

Research into human aging has found many potential causes. One of the most exciting is in the field of stem cells. It looks like as adult stem cell populations age and become depleted, the traditional signs of aging  accelerate. There's a lot of promise there: learning how to manipulate all kinds of stem cells could even potentially result in the first scientific version of the fountain of youth for adult stem cells and by proxy, us adults:

Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and Georgia Institute of Technology demonstrated how the aging process for human adult stem cells can be reversed. This breakthrough will open many new avenues for innovative therapies that could impact a wide range of disease, including anything requiring the repair of damaged tissues.

That would be one giant leap for mankind. Of course there are people intent on taking one giant step backward for womenkind. Like this simmering wingnut obsession which could cripple stem cell research and comes with other horrifying consequences.

• For all you former radio control model builders and operators (I'm included!), TPM has posted two really cool videos of where the hobby has gone with modern electronics and old-fashioned craftsmanship.
• NASA's Messenger and Dawn Mission to Vesta & Beyond are competing with each other this week to return the most interesting images of Mercury's baked wastelands and Vesta's frozen surface.
• Will we ever conquer -- for lack of a better word -- the solar system? I took a shot at reviewing one proposed method in Train tracks in space.
• The video reportedly shows 29 year-old Sarah Churman hearing with the benefit of a newly installed implant for the very first time:
  

Source: http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/y90-TQslFYY/-This-week-in-science:-One-step-forward,-one-step-back

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Verizon sues over net neutrality

Verizon formally gets the ball rolling on the court battle over the controversial Internet rules.

Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/64851.html

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AP source: Obama to tap Locke for China ambassador

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will nominate Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, the son and grandson of Chinese immigrants, to be the next U.S. ambassador to China, a senior administration official said Monday. A formal announcement could come as early as Tuesday.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/07/AR2011030704163.html?wprss=rss_politics

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U.S. Incomes Fall for First Time in Nearly 2 Years

Americans earned less last month, the first decline in nearly two years. With less income, consumers could cut back on spending and weaken an already-fragile economy.

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/politics/~3/IoEioWmdFNI/

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Moral Panic: Fat And Fiscal Policy

Jon Chait has a nice piece about the bizarre idea that Chris Christie’s weight should disqualify him from the presidency, correctly noting that this is a case study in obesity panic as a moral panic rather than legitimate health concern. Clearly all else being equal it’s better to exercise more rather than less, and better [...]

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/09/30/333491/moral-panic-fat-and-fiscal-policy/

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America Hungering for a Real Leader

Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal
At a symposium in Colorado at which thoughtful people from many professions spoke, and later in conversation with people who care about books in California, two things we all know to be true became more vivid to me.The first is that nobody is optimistic about the world economy. No one sees the Western nations righting themselves any time soon, no one sees lower unemployment coming down the pike, or fewer foreclosures. No one was burly: "Everything will be fine, snap out of it!" Everyone admitted tough times lie ahead.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/09/30/america_hungering_for_a_real_leader_264518.html

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Drone strike ends long hunt for U.S.-born Awlaki

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The killing of Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen on Friday by a U.S. drone strike is the culmination of two years of extensive U.S. efforts to track down the American-born member of al Qaeda and put him out of action.

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/qq96BST4xLw/us-yemen-awlaki-usa-idUSTRE78T3YQ20110930

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