- February 2005 in science
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February 2005 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December - →February 27 2005 *GIMPS proves that 225964951-1 is a
Mersenne prime . At 7816230 digits this will be the largest proven prime until January 2006. [http://mersenne.org/25964951.htm (Mersenne.org)]February 24 2005 *A
fossil ized foot of the carnivorousdinosaur "Neuquenraptor argentinus", has been uncovered inArgentina . This species belongs to theDromaeosauridae along with theVelociraptor , this grouping of raptors was previously thought to have only been present in theNorthern hemisphere . [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4292523.stm (BBC)]February 23 2005 *Astronomers of a team led by
Cardiff University , UK, have discovered an objectVIRGOHI21 that appears to be an invisible galaxy made almost entirely ofdark matter . Thisstar-less galaxy is the first such object to be detected, using radio telescopes inEngland andPuerto Rico . It lies 50 million light-years away. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4288633.stm Astronomers find star-less galaxy (BBC News)]
*The Finnishsecurity companyF-Secure raises an alarm after Cabir, the firstcell phone virus is spotted on two cell phones in a Santa Monica store. [http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/1725.html (EarthTimes)] [http://www.kntimes.com/035/insider035-more-mobile+phone+troubles-knc-9-kni-851.html (Khalsa)]
*A bacterium called "Carnobacterium pleistocenium " has been recovered frompermafrost inAlaska . Believed to have been frozen since thePleistocene , they came back to life when once they had been thawed, however they were shown to divide slowly and producecarbon dioxide andmethane while frozen. This raises hopes of finding bacteria in the recently discovered frozen seas onMars . [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/02/23/bacterium.defrost.reut/ (CNN)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4287579.stm (BBC)]
*Living bacteria from 400 metres below theseafloor in 16 million year old sediment have been discovered. The researchers propose that 70% of the world's microorganisms could live in ocean sediment and could produce significant amounts ofmethane by their anaerobic metabolism. [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050221/full/050221-11.html (Nature)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4291571.stm (BBC)]
*TheEuropean Space Agency announces theMarch 4 Earth flyby of the Rosetta spacecraft to the public. It is expected to be visible with binoculars or other amateur instruments. Sky watchers everywhere are invited to submit their photos of Rosetta passing Earth to ESA. [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/rosetta_earthflyby_050225.html (space.com)] [http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMMTBYEM4E_Expanding_0.html (ESA)]February 22 2005 *Researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases have cultured the
hepatitis C virus for the first time. The ability to replicate the virus in culture will allow for a more complete study of the virus life cycle, testing ofantiviral compounds and may led to new treatment forliver disease caused by the virus. [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-02/niod-srh022205.php (EurekAlert!)]February 21 2005 *Photos taken by the
European Space Agency 'sMars Express have revealed the presence of a huge, frozen sea laying just below the surface ofMars . [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4285119.stm (BBC)] [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/22/tech/main675559.shtml (CBS)] [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050222.wmarz0222/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/ (Globe and Mail)]
*Researchers at the Los Alamos lab have developed a fast nuclear materials detector. [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-02-21-fast-rad-reader_x.htm (USA Today)]
*AUnited Nations legal committee approves a ban on allhuman cloning , the non-binding measure will go to a vote in the General Assembly. [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050221/full/050221-3.html (Nature)]February 20 2005 *
Microsoft issues a replacement offer for 14 millionXbox power cables, which were recalled after minor burns were reported by users. [http://www.physorg.com/weblog/news1154.html (PhysOrg)] [http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=83054 (Financial Express)] [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1108680612774&call_pageid=970599119419 (Toronto Star)] [http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rup18.4feb18,1,4427532.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=2&cset=true (LA Times)]
*Researchers inAustralia have used a naturally occurring humanvirus Echovirus type 1 (EV1) to killovarian cancer cells in mice. They hope to start human trials within 18 months. [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12324488-2,00.html (NEWS.com.au)]February 19 2005 *
NASA announces that it will resumespace shuttle missions in May, launching the "Discovery". This will be the first space shuttle flight since the fleet was grounded after the "Columbia" disintegrated in the atmosphere in February2003 . [http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-19-voa21.cfm (VOA)] [http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/02/18/space.shuttle/ (CNN)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7677755 (Reuters)]February 18 2005 *In an unusual press release,
NASA disputes earlier news reports fromFebruary 16 ( [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_life_050216.html space.com] ) that researchers at theAmes Research Center have found "strong evidence that life may exist on Mars." [http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16186 (SpaceRef.com)]
*A research group has mappedsingle nucleotide polymorphism s from 71 individuals across the entirehuman genome . Patterns of genetic variation could help tailor drug therapy to particular patients. [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050214/full/050214-17.html (Nature)]February 17 2005 *The Cassini spacecraft passes by Titan imaging a larger crater using its
RADAR , and has the first close flyby of the moon Enceladus. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4267895.stm (BBC)]
*Researchers from theUniversity of Michigan ,Cornell University ,Massachusetts Institute of Technology andDelft University of Technology and unveiledrobot s that walk like people at theAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science 's annual meeting . These robots walk by falling forward in a controlled manner, making movement very efficient compared to a robot like theHonda ASIMO ; however, these new robots cannot climb stairs as ASIMO can. [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-02/cuns-rww021105.php (EurekAlert!)] [http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2005/218/5 (Science)]February 16 2005 *Two scientists from
NASA 's Ames Research Center claim to have found strong evidence that life may exist today on Mars. [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_life_050216.html (space.com)]
*Two human skulls called Omo I and Omo II, first discovered inEthiopia in1967 by anthropologistRichard Leakey , have been shown to be at least 195 000 years old. First estimated to be 130 000 years old, the reappraisal makes these the oldest human skulls discovered, and brings thefossil record in line with the genetic estimates of "Homo sapiens" emerging 200 000 years ago. [http://www.nature.com/nature/links/050217/050217-7.html (Nature)] [http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=505193 (ABC News)]
*Researchers atIntel have developed asilicon laser that can produce a continuous beam of laser light. Such a laser is an important step on the path to creating computers that use light rather than electrical currents. [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050214/full/050214-9.html (Nature)] [http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1667473951;fp;2;fpid;1 (PC World)]
*The Huygens probe has detected a ratio ofcarbon isotope s in Titans atmosphere that suggests that the planet is geologically active. [http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7043 (New Scientist)]February 15 2005 *Doctors have separated fetal
DNA from its mother's blood and were able to accurately identify single-genemutation s causing beta-thalassemia. The doctors hope that the technique could be applied to a range of othergenetic disorders , overcoming the need for the more invasive procedure calledamniocentesis . [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050214/full/050214-6.html (Nature)]
*The classification offossil "Megarachne servinei" discovered in the 1980s and long thought to be the world's largest spider has been disproved.Arachnid expert Dr Paul Selden has identified the metre-long fossil as asea scorpion . [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/4268363.stm (BBC)]February 14 2005 *Researchers at the
University of California , Los Angeles, create a modified form ofHIV which targetsP-glycoprotein s oncancer cells. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4257783.stm (BBC)]
*Scientists from theUniversity of Michigan have restored hearing to deafguinea pig s usinggene therapy to regenerate thehair cell s of the innerear . [http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2005/214/3 (Science)]February 12 2005 *
Europe 's most powerfulrocket , an upgradedAriane 5 , is successfully launched for the first time. The rocket carries a Spanish military telecommunications satellite, the microsatellite SloshSat, and a dummy payload into orbit. [http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/050212_ariane5.html (Space.com)]February 10 2005 *
Australia n plantbiotechnology research institute theCentre for the Application of Molecular Biology to International Agriculture (CAMBIA) has found that three bacterial species outside the genus "Agrobacterium " can transfergene s to plants. The Center plans to make the bacteria freely available to researchers, "Agrobacterium"-mediated transformation ispatent ed by a number of biotechnology companies. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1300347.htm (ABC)]
*Taxonomist s meeting at the International Conference for the Barcoding of Life have proposed that allspecies of plants and animals be identified using unique genetic sequences. Such a system would make identifying new species more simple and settle debate about the identity of known species. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4251309.stm (BBC)] [http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2005/210/3 (Science)]
*A jawbone from the World's oldestmonotreme "Teinolophos trusleri " found in Inverloch Victoria, shows thatmammals evolved the bone structure of themiddle ear at least twice. Jawbone structure was thought to be a shared derived characteristics of modern mammals, this discovery hints that thecommon ancestor to the monotremes,marsupials andplacental mammals lacked the three-bone ear structure. [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050207/full/050207-16.html (Nature)] [http://www.technewsworld.com/story/news/40537.html (TechNewsWorld.com)]February 8 2005 *Astronomers at the
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics announce the discovery of astar moving out from the centre of theMilky Way at over 1.5 million mph: twice the galacticescape velocity . The gravitational pull of a supermassiveblack hole at the galaxy's centre may be the cause of the star's exodus. [http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6990 (New Scientist)] [http://www.wired.com/news/space/0,2697,66542,00.html?tw=wn_1techhead (Wired)] [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/press/pr0505.html (CfA Press Release)]
*In China, the Ministry of Agriculture announces that it has developed avaccine against bird flu spreading to humans [http://www.newratings.com/new2/beta/article_682782.html (New Ratings)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4242299.stm (BBC)]
*ProfessorIan Wilmut andKing's College London scientists, have been given approval to clone early stage humanembryo s to studymotor neurone disease (MND). This is the second time that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority of theUnited Kingdom has issued atherapeutic cloning licence. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4245267.stm (BBC)]February 7 2005 *The
2006 budget ofNASA shows that the agency plans to cancel or scale back some high-profile projects. TheJupiter Icy Moons Orbiter mission has been cancelled. Funding forProject Constellation to build a Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) to replace thespace shuttle for travel to theMoon has been reduced, although NASA still expects that the CEV will be operational in2014 . No funding has been requested to service theHubble Space Telescope , however funds have been requested for a deorbit mission to safely guide Hubble into theocean once it is no longer capable of doing science. [http://www.space.com/news/nasa_budget_050207.html (Space.com)]
*Scientists working at Penn State announce the discovery of the smallestextrasolar planet , yet. It is member of a set of planets circling apulsar . [http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16094 (Spaceref.com)]
*The National Academy of Sciences electedRalph Cicerone as its president. [http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2005/207/2 (Science)]
*Shoes containingInsolia , Dr. Howard Dananberg's newly released component for high-heeled shoes, exceed sales of 1million . Research suggests that thetechnology , whose purpose is to adjustweight distribution through the shoe's redesign to minimize the pain associated with wearing high-heeled shoes, will ameliorate the serious long-term medical repercussions of wearing high-heels. [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=NWCNFAS.story&STORY=/www/story/02-07-2005/0002983798&EDATE=MON+Feb+07+2005,+10:21+AM (PR Newswire)] [http://alum.mit.edu/ne/noteworthy/insolia.html (MIT)]February 4 2005 *The United States
National Institutes of Health releases its plan to promote and encourageopen access of most NIH-sponsored research findings as part of an effort to allow easier and freer access to recent scientific findings. [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050131/full/050131-20.html (NPG)]
* New observations from theArecibo radio telescope confirm thatasteroid 2004 MN4 (later named99942 Apophis in July 2005), once briefly considered an impact risk, will passEarth onApril 13 2029 at a distance of 36,350 km (22,600 mi) and will reach magnitude 3.3, easily visible to thenaked eye fromEurope ,Africa and westernAsia . [http://www.space.com/spacewatch/050204_2004_mn4.html (Space.com)]February 3 2005 *Japanese scientists have discovered single-cell organisms living in the
Pacific Ocean 's deepest trench, theChallenger Deep . 432 types of hard and soft walledforaminifera were found at depths where life was assumed to be scarce. [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/02/0203_050203_deepest.html (National Geographic.com)] [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050131/full/050131-13.html (Nature)]February 2 2005 *
NASA astronomers at theKeck Observatory inHawaii have used infrared imaging to demonstrate that Saturn has a warm "polar vortex " at itssouth pole . Saturn is the only planet known to have a warm polar vortex. [http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/saturn-020305.html (NASA)]
*Researchers atHewlett-Packard have developed and successfully tested the 'crossbar latch ', a nanoscaletransistor . They propose that the crossbar latch may replace the transistor, important for the development of nano-computing. [http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3467491 (Internetnews.com)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4226305.stm (BBC)]February 1 2005 *
Neurotransmitter kisspeptin has been shown to triggerpuberty in monkeys, by eliciting the release ofgonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Kisspeptin may have a similar role in humans. [http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2005/201/2 (Science)]
*By tracking the rate ofcell division inBacterium "Escherichia coli " scientists have been able to show that bacteria age, countering the common belief that bacteria are immortal. [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050131/full/050131-6.html (Nature)]
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