Are We Getting #Dirtier?

After decades of being sold on an antibacterial, over sterilized environment, now sales of cleaning products are down and we seem to be accepting that a little bit of dirt wont harm us and may even help guard against allergies or asthma. In a recent survey though 80% valued a clean home, almost half admitted to cleaning not being high on their list of priorities. 

Read More at The Independent

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Stem Cells Could #Save #Endangered #Species

Scientists at San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research have managed to convert specialised skin cells into unspecialised stem cells. The next stage is to convert the stem cells into viable sperm and eggs which could then be used to boost genetic diversity in wild populations. The first two species targeted have been the northern white rhinoceros and a primate called a drill, but skin cells and tissue samples have been collected from more than 800 species, now stored in a 'Frozen Zoo' 

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Encyclopedia Of #Life Reaches A Milestone

The Encyclopedia of Life , a free online resource that set out in 2007 to bring together images, videos and scientific information on every species on the planet. Four years later it has now reached 750,000 entries, more than one third of the 1.9 million species on Earth.  However, since a recent estimate has put the total a lot higher at 8.7 million species (not including bacteria and viruses) the site still has a long way to go. 

Read More at The Guardian  

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