EARTH PORTATION curated News December 23rd

ANIMALS - Holiday magic? Reindeer eyes change from gold to blue at Christmas

Rudolph the fictional reindeer was famous for his oddly colored nose, but his true-life cousins have eyes that change color depending on the season .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-holiday-magic-reindeer-eyes-gol

ART - TIL an early version of Picasso's The Weeping Woman was stolen from the National Gallery of Victoria with the ransom demand being an increase in funding to the arts. The painting was later found undamaged in a locker at a Melbourne train station and the theft remains unsolved today.

http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1tizeu/til_an

BOOKS - Book Excerpt: The Right Questions

Advice on having a vision map for your life .. ...
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/excerpts.php?id

BOOKS - Stunning Images of the Most Beautiful Libraries Across the Centuries

We won't all get to visit the most beautiful libraries, but thanks to photographer Will Pryce and architectural historian James Campbell we can all get a taste of what they look like.

http://io9.com/stunning-images-of-the-most-beautiful-librari

CLIMATE - Night-Shining Clouds Come Early Over South Pole

The rare types of wispy, blue-white clouds form when water molecules freeze around 'meteor smoke' close to the edge of space .. ...
http://news.discovery.com/earth/night-shining-clouds-come-ea

CLIMATE - Why it snows so much in the frozen North

(Phys.org) —When it doesn't show signs of stopping, most of us just mumble a few choice words and get out the snow shovel. Scientists, however, wonder where all that snow is coming from, particularly in pristine places like the Arctic. Raymond Shaw and his colleagues may have found an answer .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-frozen-north.htm

EARTH - Enormous aquifer discovered under Greenland ice sheet

Buried underneath compacted snow and ice in Greenland lies a large liquid water reservoir that has now been mapped by researchers using data from NASA's Operation IceBridge airborne campaign .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-enormous-aquifer-greenland-ice-

EARTH - NASA releases new Earthrise simulation video

NASA has issued a new visualization of the events leading to one of the iconic photographs of the 20th Century – Earth rising over the moon captured by the crew of the Apollo 8 mission .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-nasa-earthrise-simulation-video

EARTH - New research sheds light on history of polar current

Research conducted by a team that included scientists from British Antarctic Survey reveals the ocean current moving around the South Pole flowed at much the same speed in the last ice age as it has done in much more recent times. The study suggests there was unlikely to have been very strong changes in the wind speed either. The findings will help scientists model past climates with greater accuracy .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-history-polar-current.htm

EDUCATION - Education experts give tips on apps for your kids

Kids these days have a penchant for high-tech and would rather play with smartphones and tablets than board games and building blocks .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-experts-apps-kids.htm

EDUCATION - The 13 Most Compelling Infographics of 2013

Fast Co. Exist has compiled the top 13 infographics of 2013. There should be a textbook for school that is solely for infographics. They're simple, effective and visually stunning. Check out their list of the year. What's your favorite .. ...
http://www.good.is/posts/the-13-most-compelling-infographics

ENERGY - Is the Secret to Cheap Energy Storage Hiding in Harlem? [Slide Show]

Ensconced in a former warehouse in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood, an energy start-up has equipment not typically associated with battery manufacture--restaurant-grade mixers, pasta-makers and even rolling pins. This kitchen equipment makes ingredients that the company hopes will turn the familiar alkaline battery into a cheap way to store the electricity from massive wind farms.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=alkaline-ba

ENVIRONMENT - Pollution alarm as Greeks switch to firewood for heat

Greek authorities on Monday offered free electricity to low-income families on certain days, after smog rose sharply as hard-hit residents increasingly shun fuel for cheaper firewood to heat their homes .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-pollution-alarm-greeks-firewood

FASHION - Helpsy brings an edge to sustainable fashion

This fashion boutique beautifully blends high style with ethical and eco-friendly practices .. ...

http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-fashion/helpsy-brings-

HOMES - Studio APXE Designed the First Plus Energy House in Bulgaria

The first Plus Energy House in Bulgaria recently popped up near Sofia. Designed by Studio APXE, the passive house will generate more energy than it consumes due to the implementation of a photovoltaic system on its roof. Large scale timber structures and local natural materials form the architectural backbone of the house, harmonizing with the surrounding green mountain slopes.

http://inhabitat.com/first-plus-energy-house-by-studio-apxe

HOMES - Why are Japanese houses so weird?

http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/why-are-japanes

MOVIES - Feature Film Review: Lone Survivor

Story of super-soldiers in Afghanistan, a failed mission, and two surprising act of mercy in the midst of all the bloodshed .. ...
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=25

MOVIES - Feature Film Review: One Chance

True story of a talented singer who yearns to sing opera and is encouraged in his dreams by a caring, creative, and enthusiastic wife .. ...
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=25

MUSIC - VIDEO: Carlos Santana Reunites With Homeless Ex-bandmate

Marcus "Magnificent" Malone was a percussionist in Santana's band before it hit big in 1969. Since then, he's spent time in prison and time on the streets. By chance, he was part of a local TV news report. Then Santana and the news station tracked Malone down. Now he may play with the band again.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/12/23/256587550/vid

MUSIC - DNews: Studying Music Doesn't Make You Smarter

http://news.discovery.com/human/videos/studying-music-doesnt

MUSIC - Music and the Young Brain

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/music-and-the-young

PEOPLE - Can Men and Women Be Just Friends? (preview)

Kate and Dan met on the job in Boston, when they were in their early 20s. He thought she was attractive; she thought he was an arrogant jerk. At a work party, it came out that both had lost a parent in recent years, and a mutual feeling of “you must really get me” washed over them. A few years later, when they both found themselves in New York and single, the friendship ramped way up, into multiple-phone-calls-per-day, soul-baring, belly-laughing ...
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=can-men-and

PEOPLE - Neanderthals Could Talk Like Humans, Bone Reveals

The throat bone, which supports the root of the tongue and is needed for speech, was present in Neanderthals too .. ...
http://news.discovery.com/human/evolution/neanderthals-could

PEOPLE - Roman 'Christmases' were similar to ours

When opening your presents or enjoying a night out this Christmas spare a quick thought for the Romans. We owe much of our festive fun to them .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-roman-christmases-similar.htm

PLANTS - Wheat hybrid holds potential for drenched, saline conditions

Wheat tolerance to salinity and waterlogging has been improved through genetic cross-breeding, according to a study by UWA scientists .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-wheat-hybrid-potential-drenched

SCIENCE - Boiling Water in only a Trillionth of a second

Scientists could heat a small amount of water by as much as 600 degrees Celsius, in just half a picosecond or a trillionth of a second. Their technique is the fastest water-heating method on earth ..
http://myscienceacademy.org/2013/12/23/boiling-water-in-only

SCIENCE - Change in geometry improves aerodynamics

Kids and dogs understand the force of air, when they stick their hands and heads out of moving cars only to feel them pushed back. It may be invisible, but air is like a see-through net dragging a vehicle back as it strains to move forward .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-geometry-aerodynamics.htm

SCIENCE - How Science Goes Viral

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-science

SCIENCE - Resistance makes waves

Even physics can give pointers for energy saving. An international team is now in a position to provide materials scientists with tips for the development of high-temperature superconductors, in a bid to make them earn their name. The term is currently used to describe materials including ceramic cuprates, which lose their electrical resistance at significantly higher temperatures than conventional superconductors,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131223100707.ht

SCIENCE - Scientists Create Terminator-Style Muscle At 1,000 Times Human Strength

Screenshot from YouTube user Berkeley Lab American scientists have developed a robotic muscle 1,000 times more powerful than a human’s – using a revolutionary material that fluidly changes its properties. The invention gives vanadium dioxide amazing, superhero-style powers. Its most striking property is to change shape and structure whenever differing amounts of heat are applied
http://myscienceacademy.org/2013/12/23/scientists-create-ter

SCIENCE - Solitons in a crystal: New light source could serve in geo-navigation, search for Earth-like planets

By creating an optical soliton in a microresonator, scientists have found a new light source that could serve in geo-navigation, telecommunications, spectroscopy and the hunt for new Earth-like planets ..
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131223100741.ht

SCIENCE - The Best of io9's Science and History Stories in 2013

This year, io9 brought you in-depth explainer stories on topics ranging from physics and history, to cognitive science and the politics of teaching evolution in schools. Here are 23 of the most exciting ones which you may have missed.

http://io9.com/the-best-of-io9s-science-and-history-stories-

SCIENCE - Do We Live in a 10-Dimensional Hologram?

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/201

SCIENCE - Golden trap: Highly sensitive system to detect individual molecules

http://phys.org/news/2013-12-golden-highly-sensitive-individ

SCIENCE - Green innovator: Turning chicken feathers and plant fiber into eco-leather, bio-based circuit boards

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131216094656.ht

SPACE - 'Smaller Than Earth'-Sized Exomoon Discovered?

For the first time, an exomoon orbiting a free-floating exoplanet may have been discovered in a microlensing survey .. ...
http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/has-a-sub-earth-si

SPACE - A Wish List of Future Space Missions

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-wish-list

SPACE - Laser demonstration reveals bright future for space communication

(Phys.org) —The completion of the 30-day Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration or LLCD mission has revealed that the possibility of expanding broadband capabilities in space using laser communications is as bright as expected .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-laser-reveals-bright-future-spa

SPACE - Mars may act as a giant planetary pump

(Phys.org) —The surface of Mars is full of activity, with dust storms, dust devils, and drifting dunes in constant motion. Scientists suspect that similarly rich activity may exist underneath the surface, even though it has never been seen. Now in a new study, scientists have found that Mars' low-pressure atmosphere and porous soil provide the perfect conditions for the planet's entire surface to act as a giant gas pump, quickly cycling gas
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-mars-giant-planetary.htm

SPACE - Will Mars Have a White Christmas?

It snows quite a bit on Mars -- but there's nothing cheery about it .. ...
http://news.discovery.com/space/will-mars-have-a-white-chris

SUSTAINABILITY - San Diego Food Banks' New Year’s Resolution

San Diego food banks are beginning to stress healthier food, particularly in "food desert" communities
http://www.good.is/posts/san-diego-food-banks-new-year-s-res

TREES - Slippery bark protects trees from pine beetle attack, study finds

Trees with smoother bark are better at repelling attacks by mountain pine beetles, which have difficulty gripping the slippery surface, according to a new study by the University of Colorado Boulder .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-slippery-bark-trees-beetle.htm

URBAN - Ateliers O-S Architectes Unveils Glowing, Daylit Sports Hall in Paris

The south facade of the sports hall was left open to naturally illuminate the interior and to providing views of the nearby practice fields and the River Seine. At ground level, fritted glass panels allow pedestrians to glance into the large exercise rooms, providing a bit of visual encouragement for the less ambitious passers-by on the street.The architects explain that interfacing the building with the street was a priority for the design:

http://inhabitat.com/ateliers-o-s-architectes-unveils-glowin

URBAN - Crazy ‘Step Into the Void’ Glass Cube Lets Visitors “Float” Over the French Alps

This crazy ‘Step into the Void’ installation is not for the faint of heart. Built on the uppermost terrace of Europe’s highest mountain peak, Aiguille du Midi, a glass cube offers the most amazing and thrilling view of the French Alps. Visitors can step onto the cube’s transparent floor and admire the magnificent mountain range from the height of 3,395 feet (1,035 meters).

http://inhabitat.com/crazy-stepinto-the-void-glass-cube-lets

URBAN - The Intersection of Architecture and Gingerbread

Here's what happens when architects play with gingerbread. Holiday magic by design .. ...
http://www.good.is/posts/the-intersection-of-architecture-an

WIND - United Wind Bets Leasing Will Transform The 'Small Wind' Market

In September, I wrote about how certain wind technology and fuel-cell technology companies are borrowing a page from the success of companies like SolarCity that pioneered the solar leasing model responsible for an explosion of residential installations over the past year .. ...
http://www.forbes.com/sites/heatherclancy/2013/12/23/united-

WORK - Student research: Job status, income factors in drug court success

People who work even part time are more likely than the unemployed to graduate from Vigo County's Drug and Alcohol Court. Those with annual incomes above $30,000 are more successful in the program than lower wage earners and women succeed at a higher rate than men .. ...
http://phys.org/news/2013-12-student-job-status-income-facto