What Can Possibly be Wrong with a Naked Penguin?

Feather-loss disorder has also been observed in African penguins

  Photo credit: Nola Parsons

Unfortunately, a lot.  While the idea of a naked penguin, or any naked animal might seem a little humorous or possibly cute, it is not a good thing.  Baffled experts are trying to figure out what is causing the  "feather-loss disorder" in penguins in the South Atlantic.

This disorder first appeared in 2006, and the penguins afflicted are developmentally stunted and have a higher mortality rate.  The quick rise in this disorder among the penguins, may be attributed to many different causes; researchers have a lot of work to do to pinpoint the exact cause, however, it is a definite sign that the local ecosystem has taken a serious hit.

Many of these odd changes that have been occurring over the past few years, naked penguins, missing bees, sudden deaths of birds, may be coincidences, but it is also possible that the world is going through a massive change; change that we may have no control over and we likely won't enjoy the outcome. 

Is this change the fault of the humans?  Hard to say, it may just be nature, but we should do our best to act as though it is our fault and strive to heal the earth, if we can.

You can read more about this in the original EurekAlert! press release 'Naked' penguins baffle experts.

The People Leading our Government Truly Don't Care About our Country! Here's why

Congress is at it again.  I truly don't understand.  Watching these fools work, striving so hard to tear down every part of our country, while blocking innovation and education that will keep this country as a world power in the future, you got to wonder, are they simply idiotic or are has some nefarious people integrated themselves into congress for the sole purpose of destroying America?

Now why am I making this rant?  It's because congress, in their budget cuts, always cut very important and necessary components.  Education and the sciences, two aspects that America used to excel at, are often the first to be under attack, and now as our country trails behind in scientific discovery and innovation, our government is making more cuts.  If we truly love this country and want it to do well, then perhaps we should stop injuring ourselves and start striving to be the best, not simply mediocre.

I love this country, and I think we as people need to start fighting for it.

US House budget plans would jeopardize scientific research facilities

Heart Disease for Astronauts?

According to animal studies, radiation equivalent to the cosmic rays that astronauts will encounter on long space journeys toward toward the moon, mars, or beyond, can cause the development of atherosclerosis.

Astronauts with bad tickers?  We don't want that.

Deep-space travel could create heart woes for astronauts  

Prevent Breast Cancer?

Maybe not the initial diagnosis, but by maintaining a healthy weight, the chance of breast cancer reoccurrence may be reduced.

You can read about it in the examiner.com article: Eat Well, Stay Lean, Prevent Breast Cancer Reoccurrence

Non-traditional Learning Practices Need Better Definitions? I think they Missed the Point.

This title just made me laugh, Non-traditional learning environments need clearer definitions, MU researchers say.  I'm sure there is some reason for this, but in my mind, throwing a fit on how something is defined is kind of silly.  Throwing a fit about how something that is considered non-traditional or unorthodox kind of deafeats the purpose of something that is non-traditional or unorthodox.

Seriously if students have a hard time understanding these learning practices that are mentioned in the article, maybe they shouldn't be students.