The science of champagne fizz: How many bubbles are in your bubbly?

The importance of fizz, more technically known as effervescence, in sparkling wines and champagnes is not to be underestimated — it contributes to the complete sensory experience of a glass, or flute, of fine bubbly. A scientist has now closely examined the factors that affect these bubbles, and he has come up with an estimate of just how many are in each glass. The report appears in ACS’ The Journal of Physical Chemistry B.

In lab tests, the antimicrobial ingredient triclosan spurs growth of breast cancer cells

Some manufacturers are turning away from using triclosan as an antimicrobial ingredient in soaps, toothpastes and other products over health concerns. And now scientists are reporting new evidence that appears to support these worries. Their study, published in the ACS journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, found that triclosan, as well as another commercial substance called octylphenol, promoted the growth of human breast cancer cells in lab dishes and breast cancer tumors in mice.

How to avoid water wars between ‘fracking’ industry and residents

The shale gas boom has transformed the energy landscape in the U.S., but in some drier locations, it could cause conflict among the energy industry, residents and agricultural interests over already-scarce water resources, say researchers. They add that degraded water quality is a potential risk unless there are adequate safeguards. The feature article appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Toward unraveling the Alzheimer’s mystery

Getting to the bottom of Alzheimer’s disease has been a rapidly evolving pursuit with many twists, turns and controversies. In the latest crook in the research road, scientists have found a new insight into the interaction between proteins associated with the disease. The report, which appears in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience, could have important implications for developing novel treatments.

CTF busts myths at tax-time with Tax Me I’m Canadian! book

CALGARY/OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is hoping Canadians pick up a copy of a newly released book along with their tax forms this tax season.

Catch some Zzz's to control cancer

Dr. Fahed Hakim laughs while admitting that he is remiss at taking his own advice about getting a good night’s sleep. As is the case with so many of us, his grueling work schedule, coupled with a full family life, takes its toll on his ability to get sufficient shut-eye.

“Smarts” in action

Louisiana State Senator Elbert Guillory suggested what I’ve known for years: school teachers have NO control over what happens in their classrooms. Guillory is advocating legislation in Louisiana, through Senate Bill 652. It would give teachers who feel threatened or who feel they're about to witness a fight a direct line to outside help.

Israel's Electoral Threshold: Implications for Israeli-Arab Political Representation

On March 18, 2014, the Knesset passed the Governance Law, raising the electoral threshold from 2 to 3.25 percent.

Britain Pushing G7 For Shale Gas And Nuclear To Loosen Russia’s Energy Grip

The British government is going to use the G7 meeting in May to urge ministers to focus on diversifying domestic energy networks, such as through shale gas and nuclear power, to pry away Russia’s grip on supplies. UK energy Secretary Ed Davey said that Whitehall will tell G7 ministers that Russia’s consistent use of energy as a geo-political tool holds too many countries to ransom and by ploughing time and money into domestic resources, this will loosen the superpower’s stranglehold over supplies. --Lianna Brinded, International Business Times, 22 April 2014

Bill Clinton Is Concerned and You Should Be, Too

What do Bill Clinton, The Washington Post, and The Heritage Foundation have in common, Concerns include human rights, freedom of speech, online commerce—all the valuable functions of the Internet

Weather Vs Climate

The weather at any spot is usually defined by max/min temperatures, humidity, precipitation and wind strength/direction. Weather varies hourly, daily, season-to-season and place-to-place. These weather measurements at any place can be averaged over various time periods.

Is Vladimir Putin the New Reagan?

Pravda, the Russian political newspaper, ran a story with the headline, “The leader of the free world: Obama or Putin?” Patrick J. Buchanan, a veteran conservative commentator who once worked for President Ronald Reagan, has made his choice.

The Myth of the Moderate Muslim Majority

How many times have we heard the same old tired line, that only an infinitesimally small, almost imperceptible number of Muslims are radicalized? You know the story: a couple of young men cut the head off of a soldier in middle of a busy street yelling “Allahu Akbar” is followed by a litany of Islamic apologists on the airwaves claiming that the majority of Muslims are quite moderate and would never, ever condone such actions. Sounds great, but is it true? Short answer: Not even close.

How Dingy Harry’s prophecy will become reality

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s cryptic crystal ball reading that “something is going to happen” to get Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy to stop letting his cattle graze on federal land is nothing more than a carefully planted, government-sanctioned taunt.

Christian Nursery Worker in London sacked for expressing a Biblical opinion

Sarah Mbuyi had worked at Newpark Childcare in London since April last year. A lesbian woman began work at the four-facility Centre in September and the two women formed a working friendship with Mbuyi claiming the other was intensely interested in her Christian beliefs.

Palestine - Abbas Unilaterally Resurrects Palestinian Authority

Easter 2014 will be remembered as the time when PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas tried to resurrect the Palestinian Authority (PA) that he himself had declared dead and buried on 3 January 2013.

Michigan and the Backlash Against Race Preferences

In a 6-2 ruling reached yesterday, the United States Supreme Court upheld Michigan's ban on the use of race as a factor for determining college admissions.

Keynesianism's Ugly Secret

It is now five years since the crash of 2008. Today's media and much of our academic crowd, of course, believe that the crisis has been handled, and that we can settle back to "business as usual."

‘Save the Environment--from the EPA’

Earth Day 2014 arrives today with some environmentalists calling out the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its giant global footprint.

Government Truth Commissions Make Politics Dirtier

In 2010, the website PolitiFact called Republican claims that ObamaCare is a "government takeover" of healthcare the "Lie of the Year." Last year, PolitiFact gave the title to President Obama's claim that under ObamaCare "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it." Obviously, PolitiFact's authority over what constitutes a "lie" is questionable given the contradiction between these two awards, and the website is subject to the same scrutiny we give everyone who speaks out about politics. But what if government gets to decide what constitutes "false" speech in politics and punish the "liars"?