Last Commented Science Blogs (319)

It seems that there was one mutation in the genetic material of the virus, which enabled the virus to infect humans.

This mutation coded for an alanine, instead of a threonine (different amino acids). This change made it more
difficult for certain sugars to bind to the attachment spike protein which enables better attachment with the human receptor. Apparently, those sugars got in the way of the attachment.

It is likely, that this mutation has occurred many times and until the virus infected a human, it may not have been a trait that was selected as favorable.
As we have witnessed with the emergence of new variants, it seems that the virus readily mutates.
Those mutations that are advantageous to the spread of the virus are selected for.

While it is possible, that the bat directly came in contact with the human, it is more likely, that the bat bit an animal (perhaps a pet, livestock, or other animal that comes in contact with humans) and it was passed onto humans by such an intermediate animal, perhaps from a sneeze or cough from that animal.


You can read about this new research from the following link;

Now, don't get too excited. It's probably microbiological life, not the gigantic monsterous beings popularized by sci-fi movies & books. Nonetheless, still, an interesting prediction, based on mathematical modeling of the cause of the formation of methane plumes, found on one of Saturn's relatively tiny moons, one that has a diameter of only about 314 miles. Yet, has lots of water and methane, as well as an atmosphere.

Yesterday from Space.com;



Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons;

... sure, some may have heard of them. But as in much of real science, they have their own interesting stories.
They've been noticed for a century, since the optics of light microscopes became much more able to resolve tiny cellular components. In many chromosomes, these would be the little distinguishable bulbs on both ends of these little pieces of compacted, histone wrapped, genetic bodies. A little of these get lost at each cell division, and when no longer present, the cell enters a final cycle, this one of programmed cell death. One of many functions of this system is to protect chromosomes during the beautiful process of Mitosis (meiosis), whereby microtubules attached to a sister bulb at the center of each chromosome, oddly named Centromeres, help to line the little buggers all up, and as cables, to tow them apart. First really peeked in on with scanning electron microscopes. Really, this is all so that a copy of each genetic plan can be sent to each daughter cell (why not son cell?) , after cell division is completed. In the absence of Telomeres, things between/among chromosomes seem to get a little too sticky in the process.
An enzyme system, known as the Telomerases, is main actor here. An integral part of a separate genetic system, with its own complemennt of Ribonucleic "acids", energy, etc., for control of the consumption of telomerase length. And, oh my CS homies, ---what shrinks can also grow. As gnomoid Runts like the Vierk should know. But I digress, TWICE?!?!.
Well, as in much of biology at these tiny levels, there's lots of redundancy, which isn't always a good thing. These now well known chromosomal parts can also be involved in LENGTHENING themselves, thereby contributing to LONGER cell life. As in the initial rapid multiplication of cancer cell lines, stems cells, and so on, where rapid division is important..
But here's the redundancy kicker. Seems that these Telomeric subsystems can also control nearby genes for other vital cellular functions. Introns and extrons. And who knows what else? So totally 'Efing slick, it brings the shakes to these shrimpy small man's little legs. Thrice?
Of course, thousands of hard working scientists gave humanity this information. But perhaps three were judged, fairly or not, as most central. Work done at the Karolinska Institutet, a cousin of the famous Vierk Institutet (for the study of political syndromes).
All hail: Carol Greider (while still a doctoral student!), Jack Szostak and lab leader, Eliz. Blackburn. Frice?
WTF? And twice as many women lab creatures as men get the prize? What's wrong with this Nobel Prize picture, I ask you?

We are taught it all started with stone tools.

Then fire was discovered.

The wheel.

metalurgy and then gunpowder.

Then machines.

We discovered if we mix fuel with the machine we have the engine.

Now we have machines fueled my electricity able to think and compute.

We have now incorporated all that for the robot.

Perhaps a self replicating robot is in the future.

Or are we there already, with the human?

With the discovery of dna

I wonder if our maker is concerned about how far we have come.

Many people witnessed it. Supposedly a UFO was seen near also.

What do you think it is?



I remember when people first started carrying cell phones with cameras...the nay-sayers of UFO's would say, there are so many cameras, why hasn't anything been caught on them. Well...maybe in due time.

She won't be comin round again til 2061, many of us gonna be ten toes up by then,

See @ 0:47 ...

See @ 0:55 ...

See @ 2:05

"Darwin's Doubt"


& "The Return Of The God Hypothesis"

Toilet-invading iguanas among invasive species now banned in Florida

Distraught pet owners can get permits for creatures including pythons and lizards but state wants trade and breeding to stop



Florida is known as a state with a fondness for the exotic, from its long history of accommodating religious cults to the Bubble Room restaurant where every day is Christmas Day. But now time is running out for one type of eccentric Floridian: those who own or breed exotic and invasive reptiles and other non-native animals.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has ruled that within the next few weeks the breeding and dealing of 16 of the most ecologically-damaging non-native species must be brought to a halt. The ban will apply to several types of python that have proliferated to crisis point in the Everglades, as well as all types of tegu lizards, anacondas, Nile monitor lizards and green iguanas.

When the commission debated the rules last month it was inundated with comments, many from exotic pet owners and breeders pleading for the ban not to go ahead. As the Washington Post reported, one woman burst into tears over the idea of losing her pet iguanas and pythons.

“If you take them away, I would be really messed up,” she wailed.

But the spread of invasive species through sensitive ecosystems such as the Everglades is happening at such speed that the state felt duty bound to act. The reptiles are also causing havoc in urban areas.

Green iguanas have multiplied in Florida to such a degree since they were first spotted there in 1960 that they are regarded as an environmental hazard. They puncture seawalls, tear up sidewalks and carry salmonella.

An animal once prized as an exotic curiosity is now widely decried as a pest. The iguanas hang out on roofs, dig under houses and to the horror of home owners can crawl into sewers only to emerge, thrashing around, in the toilet bowl.

The state conservation commission now encourages Floridians to humanely kill the lizards, which can grow up to 5ft and 17lbs, on their own property. No hunting licenses are required.

To soften the blow to besotted pet owners, a concession has been tucked into the new regulations. Anyone who cannot contemplate the thought of being parted from their iguana or tegu can apply for a free permit.

But the reprieve will last only for the life of the animal. Once the critter is gone, it cannot be replaced by a new pet from the list of banned species.