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Your doctor and dentist are careful not to give you too many X-rays, but a new report says that Homeland Security has bought 500 mobile X-ray vans that can scan cars, trucks and homes without the drivers or residents even knowing it’s been done. The vans contain Z Backscatter X-ray devices, which aim a powerful X-ray beam that can of penetrate 14 inches of steel, and mobile X-ray machines, that can be hidden in a pocket or purse, will soon be ubiquitous among law-enforcement personnel.
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There are all kinds of evolution. How did we become human when we share 98% of our genes with chimps? Part of this has to do with superior brain power–we have at least 300,000 brain cells for each neuron in a fruit fly brain and supercomputers have more brain power than we do, which is why IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer was able to defeat chess champion Garry Kasparov.read more

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Widely used fragranced products in cleaning agents and laundry detergents–including those that claim to be "green"–give off many chemicals that are not listed on the label, including some that are classified as toxic. Researcher Anne Steinemann says, "We analyzed best-selling products, and about half of them made some claim about being green, organic or natural. Surprisingly, the green products’ emissions of hazardous chemicals were not significantly different from the other products." Art credit: Dreamstime.comread more

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NASA researchers are analyzing the light reflected by Earth–and other planets–to try to figure out which ones have conditions that might harbor life. The Earth shines with a blue light and stands out clearly among the other planets, "like a blue jay in a flock of seagulls." In PhysOrg.com, Daniel Pendick quotes researcher Carolyn Crow as saying, "The method we developed separates the planets out. It makes Earth look unique." Pendick quotes NASA astronomer Lucy McFadden as saying, "Eventually, as telescopes get bigger, there will be the light-gathering power to look at the colors of planets around other stars.read more