Tip: Clean but not "so clean" because Microbial Ecosystems populating our guts, mouths, nose, etc play crucial roles in keeping us healthy

Moreover, researchers are becoming more convinced that modern trends — diet, antibiotics, obsession with cleanliness, Caesarean delivery of babies — are disrupting this delicate balance, contributing to some of the most perplexing ailments, including asthma, allergies, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, cancer and perhaps even autism.

“In terms of potential for human health, I would place it with stem cells as one of the two most promising areas of research at the moment,” said Rob Knight of the University of Colorado. “We’re seeing an unprecedented rate of discovery. Everywhere we look, microbes seem to be involved.”

Equipped with super-fast new DNA decoders, scientists are accelerating the exploration of this realm at a molecular level, yielding provocative insights into how these microbial stowaways may wield far greater powers than previously appreciated in, paradoxically, making us human."
Microbes may play crucial role in human health, researchers discovering - The Washington Post: "
'via Blog this'

Ways to Mitigate Climate Change: Alternative Energy: Consider 'Portable Balloon Inflation System" to lift gas requirements in remote areas

How does it work? Alternative energy company that generates hydrogen gas and steam/heat through the chemical reaction of aluminum, water, and proprietary additives. This technology is ideally suited for multiple applications requiring on-site, on-demand fuel sources, serving National Security and commercial customers. API's hydrogen feeds fuel cells for portable and back-up power; fills inflatable devices such as weather balloons; can replace costly, hard-to-handle and high pressure K-Cylinders; and provides fuel for flameless heater applications. Its hydrogen/heat output is also being designed and developed to drive fuel cell-based and turbine-based undersea propulsion systems and auxiliary power systems. API has significant differentiators in performance, adaptability, safety and cost-effectiveness in its target market applications, with no external power required and no toxic chemicals or by-products."

Early production stage hydrogen generation company AlumiFuel Power, Inc. ("API"), the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based wholly owned operating subsidiary of AlumiFuel Power Corporation AFPW +140.74% (the "Company"), revealed today why the PBIS-2000 system can become a global standard following the award of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) contract announced yesterday. Military and meteorological users from the US, NATO, and around the world have been following API's Portable Balloon Inflation System product development with keen interest, and have indicated that the technology embedded in the PBIS-2000 could offer a superior solution to lift gas requirements in remote and inaccessible locations."
AlumiFuel Power, Inc. Provides Rationale for Why the PBIS-2000 Portable Balloon Inflation System Technology Can Become the Worldwide Lift Gas Standard - MarketWatch:
'via Blog this'

Climate Change Update: EUROPEANS believe -dangers of climate change represent a more serious problem facing the world, after poverty

Connie Hedegaard, European climate commissioner, said: “This is encouraging news. The survey shows that the citizens of Europe can see that economic challenges are not the only ones we face. A clear majority of Europeans expect their politicians and business leaders to address the serious climate challenge now.” She said it was “striking” that the public were even more concerned about climate change than in the run-up to the landmark Copenhagen summit on climate change in late 2009.

The number of people rating climate change as a very serious problem has risen slightly, from 64 per cent when the poll was last conducted in 2009, to 68 per cent this year. When asked to rank the seriousness of the problem, people put it at 7.4 out of 10, compared with a score of 7.1 out of 10 two years ago. People also said there were economic benefits to tackling climate change, with eight out of 10 people saying that dealing with the problem would provide an economic boost and create jobs. "
Fearing climate change | Opinion | DAWN.COM: "
'via Blog this'