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Bonobos share like Humans

February 25, 2010 in Environmental | 1 comment

Bonobo monkeys are similar to Chimps.  The major difference is their social behavior.  Chimp communities are run by males, prone to fighting, group battles and infanticide.  Bonobo communities are run by the females.  They spend a large part of their day grooming each other, having sex with multiple partners and playing in groups.  Bonobos show a great deal of compassion for each other and even for other animals. Their motto could

Bonobos having sex missionary style, a favorite sex position of the Bonobos

easily be “make love, not war”.  Because the females have sex with all the males in the group, non of the males will kill the baby bonobos because there is no way of knowing whose baby is whose.

Recent studies have concluded that Bonobos also share like humans.  Socially, the Bonobo monkey is the closest cousin to humans.  Bonobos are strikingly human like.  Learn more about Bonobos on Nova’s documentary video “Ape Genius”

Strong Religious Communities correlate with Immoral Behaviors

February 23, 2010 in Atheism And Religion, Science | 2 comments

Dawkins has covered this in his book The God Delusion, but this 10 year study has concurred that the more religious a region is, the higher its social ills and immoral behaviors will be.

Map of Atheism. Where are you?

February 22, 2010 in GIS | 1 comment

This interactive map shows a map of each country/continent on a scale of atheism.

Hundreds of Toxic Chemicals Found in Babies umbilical chords

February 12, 2010 in Health | No comments

EWG performed a study on chemicals found in newborn’s umbilical chords.  Among the compounds found in the tissues samples were BPA, Teflon, flame retardant found in couches and bedding, the total number of toxic chemicals was 232.  Many of the chemicals found in the babies umbilical chords were components of make up and personal products that women continue to use throughout pregnancy.

The EWG put out a list of ways to avoid the most harmful toxins during pregnancy (as always).

From MNN:

“A two-year study, commissioned by eco-nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Rachel’s Network, studied the umbilical cord blood of 10 American babies of African-American, Asian, and Hispanic heritage born between 2007 and 2008 — to find 232 toxic chemicals. According to Alex Formuzis, EWG’s director of communications:
Among the substances newly discovered, in addition to BPA, included a toxic flame retardant chemical (tetrabromobisphenol A) designed for computer circuit boards, chemicals used in synthetic fragrances (galaxolide and tonalide) for common cosmetics and detergents, and a member of the notorious Teflon chemical family (perfluorobutanoic acid) that helps make non-stick, and grease, stain and water-resistant coatings for a number of everyday consumer products.”

Prenatal cosmetic use may determine if a child has behavior issues

February 10, 2010 in Health | No comments

When a women is pregnant, the makeup she wears, the deoderant she uses and the lotions she uses may effect her baby’s behavior later down the road.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that high levels of phthalates found in a women’s blood during pregnancy directly correlate with behavioral issues in their child at ages 4-9 years.

Phthalates are non-organic chemicals used in lotions, makeup products, soaps, nail polish, perfumes and shampoos.  “Phthalates are part of a group of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, that interfere with the body’s endocrine, or hormone system.”1 Phthalates is also known as BPA when used in plastics.

Children whose mothers tested with a high level of Phthalates in their blood during pregnancy consistently reported behavioral issues in their 4-9 year olds associated with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder and ADHD.

To avoid phthalates in personal care products, buy only all natural products and read the ingredients.  If you can’t pronounce an ingredient or have never heard of it, look it up on the EWG website before buying.  Most Phthalates in personal products are called one of the following:

BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate)

DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEP (diethyl phthalate)

“fragrance” is another ingredient to avoid.  If a chemical blend is a trade secret, manufactures are not legally required to disclose the contents on the lable.  They simply denote this as “fragrance”, which likely contains parabens or phthalates.

The best paraben free products to replace your most common personal care products are:

Deoderant: Crystal Salt

Toothpaste: PerioBrite

Shampoo and Conditioner: Hugo Naturals

Lipgloss, cosmetics: Honeybee gardens

Lotion: Hugo Naturals

Hand and Body soap:Dr. Bronners or find home made soaps from your local farmer’s market.

Nail polish: just don’t use it!  Nail polish is basically paint that you absorb through your skin.

Learn more: The Do-Nothing Method to Healthier Skin ::   BPA powder on your receipts?!

References:

1. Science Daily

Digital Scans of the Mountains Under Ice Sheet.

February 9, 2010 in GIS | 1 comment

Antarctica’s mountain ranges have been digitally scanned! If the ice were to melt away, they would look very similar to the Cascade Range in the USA, home of Mnt. Rainer.

See all the photos here.

Having troube getting pregnant? Your bed may be to blame.

February 8, 2010 in Health | 1 comment

Recent studies have linked high levels of PBDEs in women’s blood to a difficult time getting pregnant.  PBDEs are a type of flame retardant found in fabrics, furniture and mattresses.  They are most prevalent in foams.

PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, are a class of organobromine compounds that became commonplace after the 1970s when new fire safety standards were implemented in the United States. The flame retardants are used in foam furniture, electronics, fabrics, carpets, plastics and other common items in the home. - Science Daily

It is not clear how PBDEs interfer with fertility, but reserach has suggested they effect hormone levels.  Household dust from foam, couches, curtains, sheets, and mattresses is the main culprit for human absorbtion of PBDEs.  Tempurpedic beds do not contain PBDEs

Read more: Non-stick pans wreak havok on your Thyroid

How GIS is Helping Haiti

February 5, 2010 in GIS | No comments

News from the ESRI:

Redlands, California—January 20, 2010—ESRI is working closely with the geographic information system (GIS) community and agencies responding to the Haiti earthquake by providing software, technical support, GIS data, and personnel. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake—characterized as one of the worst natural disasters ever in the Western Hemisphere—GIS- is assisting in identifying areas of extreme damage, impacts to critical infrastructure, areas suitable for food and water distribution, and more. It gives officials critical information used for making all types of decisions.

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