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New whaling industry for Iceland?
Iceland has changed it plans to harvest hundreds of
whales over a two-year period in a move hailed by
international conservation groups, which want to
see it promote the mammals as a tourist attraction.
In a surprising move, Iceland said it would only harvest
25 of the remaining 166 minke whales allowed this year as
part of a scientific study.
Last year Iceland claimed they needed 100 sei whales, 200
fin whales, and 200 minke whales over two years as part of
scientific research, prompting protests from Britain and more
than 20 other nations.
Now Iceland says it will extend the period over which their
harvest of minkes will be caught and that it will not catch
whales of the other species.
"Leaving out the two larger species, fin and sei whales,
at the same time as the number of minke whales taken each
year is decreased shows Iceland's willingness to be constructive
and compromise when it comes to whaling issues," the
UK’s Ministry of Fisheries said in a recent statement.
Conservation groups, which say many whale species are endangered,
welcomed the decision.
"This is probably as close to a victory as we could
have hope for," said Frode Pleym at Greenpeace.
Greenpeace says Iceland could earn much more from promoting
whales as a tourist attraction than by hunting them.
It’s a virtual reality for some
stroke patients
Researchers from the University of Ulster and the
Royal Hospitals have developed revolutionary
techniques to help people with stroke regain
use of their upper limbs, with the help of virtual
reality.
The School of Rehabilitation Sciences, in conjunction with
the School of Computing and Information Engineering and staff
from the Stroke Unit at the Royal Hospitals, has launched
a pilot study employing a low cost, virtual reality system,
which allows people with stroke to be immersed in a virtual
world.
Patients can practice upper limb movements in a virtual world,
which can provide a more stimulating environment to relieve
the boredom of repetitive tasks. The study is unique in the
UK and Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association
have funded the research project.
“Stroke is the most common cause of disability in adults
and can lead to permanent changes in a person’s life
style,” explains Jacqueline Crosbie, from the University
of Ulster, who is leading the new research study. “This
virtual reality system focuses specifically on helping stroke
patients regain more use of arm and hand movement, hopefully
making everyday tasks such as eating, drinking and driving
possible.”
The new technology will involve the patient wearing a head-mounted
display, which provides a sense of immersion into a virtual
world. The world could be a representation of an environment
with which the patient is familiar, such as a kitchen, living
room or supermarket, enabling the practice of movements needed
to carry out daily chores such as making a cup of tea.
“Different virtual worlds provide rich environments
to relieve the boredom of practising what can often be repetitive
and frustrating tasks. The system can also be configured to
exaggerate small movements, increasing the feeling of achievement
and improving patient motivation ”, adds Crosbie.
Rap goes string [theory]
Astronomer Dr. John Gribbin’s life work has
been the study of the stars, but now he might become
one himself – as a featured artist on a hip
hop album lauded by heavy hitters in the music
industry.
Dr. Gribbin a well-known scientist, broadcaster
and award-winning author of bestselling science
books, is now rapping his academic writings on
a track titled Scientifical featured on ‘Keep
the World Guessin’, the debut album of new
Brighton hip hop outfit Digitek.
Reviews of the album, to be released on June 28
on the Zebra Traffic label, have so far included
praise from luminaries such as Daddy G of Massive
Attack and Paul G of Glastonbury headliners Morcheeba.
The album has already featured on Steve Lamacq’s
Evening Session on BBC Radio 1 and on BBC Radio
1Xtra.
Dr Gribbin, whose work includes research into the
age of the universe, supernovas and the search
for life in space, was asked to contribute to the
track by a band member who is a friend of Dr Gribbin’s
son, Jonathan, and a fan of the science writer’s
books.
On the track, Dr Gribbin gets to grips with an
extract from his book, The Search For Superstrings,
and claims: “This is possibly the only current
rap record to feature string theory.” String
theory is a complex scientific idea related to
the origins of the universe more popularly associated
with the likes of Stephen Hawking than with streetwise
hip hop, ragga and chart-topping R&B.
Perhaps Dr Gribbin has hit on a novel way to promote
science, by appealing to a new generation through
their favourite medium. It seems however, that
his ambitions are a little less lofty. “If
the music makes one or two other young people take
up science, all to the good! It also helps break
down this still too prevalent idea that scientists
aren't like ‘ordinary’ people. But
I didn't do it to promote science, I did it because
they promised I can go on Top of the Pops if the
song is a hit.”
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