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New batfish species found under Gulf oil spill
Researchers have discovered two previously unknown species of bottom-dwelling fish in the Gulf of Mexico, living right in the area affected by the BP oil spill.
Researchers identified new species of pancake batfishes, a flat fish rarely seen because of the dark depths they favor. They are named for the clumsy way they “walk” along the sea bottom, like a bat crawling.
…Writing in the Journal of Fish Biology, Sparks and his colleagues named the species as Halieutichthys intermedius and H. bispinosus. A third already known species called H. aculeatus also only lives in waters affected by the spill, they said.
Pancake batfishes have round, flat bodies with giant heads and mouths they can thrust forward. They use arm-like fins to drag themselves along the bottom and a modified dorsal fin excretes fluid to lure prey.
Halieutichthys intermedius by Ho, Chakrabarty & Sparks (2010)
It was previously thought there was only one species of batfish, but scientists found some distinctive differences on examining the two new finds.
Solar-powered plane lands safely after 26-hour flight
The four-engine aircraft was steered by Andre Borschberg, a former fighter jet pilot from Switzerland.
The plane has 12,000 solar cells arranged on its wingspan which collected enough energy to power the plane for the flight.
‘Perpetual flight’Previous flights of Solar Impulse have included a brief “flea hop” and a longer airborne test earlier this year. But this week’s attempt was described as a “milestone” by the team.
The designers, the Solar Impulse team led by Mr Borschberg and fellow aviator Bertrand Piccard, say that this proves that a plane can be kept in the air around the clock.
Maybe some day a cheaper alternative than communication satellites if they can deliver on sustained flight.
Scientists Discover Most Powerful HIV Antibody Yet
Published in the journal Science on Thursday, researchers revealed the latest achievement in HIV prevention. By finding three new, strong antibodies for the disease they are one giant step closer to creating a vaccine.
The most powerful of the three antibodies neutralizes 91 percent of HIV strains. Previously, the most broadly disabling antibody only neutralized 40 percent of strains. The results of this study, plus another study looking into the antibody-making capabilities in animals will lead researchers closer to a successful HIV vaccine than ever before.
A tremendous break through that would save both lives and money.
The FreedomCAR (Cooperative Automotive Research) and Fuel Partnership—a research collaboration among the US Department of Energy, the US Council for Automotive Research, five major energy companies, and two electric utility companies—should continue to include fuel cells and other hydrogen technologies in its research and development portfolio, according to a new report by the National Research Council (NRC).
The Fuel Partnership’s goals include reducing emissions and transportation systems that use sustainable energy resources. Hydrogen remains a big huddle due to the costs and difficulty of producing large enough amounts to meet the needs of personal transport.
tangledwing 
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