2008: May 25th Good News (Beached Dolphin Rescued by American Innkeepers, Archaeologist Claims Discovery of Cleopatra's Tomb, more...)

Good Morning all,

Today was a splendid and long day. We got to visit 4 museums, and a folk village, and we attempted to catch a Cheju Do sunset. Although the sun fell behind a cloud before setting, we did capture a lively crab on film at the beach we'd planned to catch our sunset.

Anyway, in honor of memorial weekend, two of the stories today are about veterans. The first is about PFC Ross McGinness who has been posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for shielding his buddies from a grenade thrown into a HMMWV in Iraq. The second is about a Civil War soldier who for years was buried in an unmarked grave. After researching the unmarked grave, Allan McKenny decided to research who was in that grave. Eventually he discovered that the grave belonged to a union soldier. A headstone with enscription was set on the grave, and a proper ceremony is scheduled for the soldier.

There are several other good articles today as well. Most notibly, I would like to point out the article about the Canadian teenager who figured out which microbes biodegrade plastic. Because of his reasearch it is now thought that plastic bags can be decomposed in as little as 3 months!

Anyway hope you enjoy the news! See you tomorrow!



Today's Top 5:
1. Photodynamic Therapy Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment (Science Daily)
2. Beached Dolphin Rescued by American Innkeepers on Mexico Island (Press Release Newswire)
3. Long-forgotten Civil War Veteran Gets His Due (Idaho Statesman)
4. Hundreds Flock to Boat of Learning (Fiji Times)
5. Archaeologist Claims Discovery of Cleopatra’s Tomb (Archaeology News)


Honorable Mentions:
1. 76 Year-old Man Oldest to Scale Mount Everest (San Francisco Chronicles)
2. Licorice Extract Provides New Treatment Option for Canker Sores (Eurekalert)
3. PFC Ross McGinnis Posthumously Awarded Medal of Honor (North Shore Journal)
4. WCI Student Isolates Microbe that Lunches on Plastic Bags (The Record News)
5. Wired How to Wiki: Tips for Green Lawn Care (Wired.com)



Today's Top 5:


1. Photodynamic Therapy Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080523100553.htm
ScienceDaily
May 25, 2008

Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in Cornwall, UK, have modified a photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment that combines a topically applied cream with visible light to destroy cancer cells while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed.

The cream is applied directly to skin cancers and pre-cancers, which then naturally produces a photosensitive drug. A special red light is then shone on the tumour a few hours later, to activate this light sensitive compound. This results in cellular damage and the destruction of the tumour.

This technique results in reduced scarring and little or no damage to the surrounding healthy cells.

By adding the iron chelator CP94 to the cream, the research team have found that the effects of PDT are greatly improved and achieve greater reductions in tumour depth in tumours currently too thick to be treated easily by the non-enhanced form of this treatment.

This is the first time in the world that PDT trials of this modified PDT treatment have been carried out involving humans. Trials involving patients have taken place at clinics at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust in Truro.

PDT is achieving success in the treatment of actinic keratoses (lesions that can develop after years of exposure to UV light); Bowen's disease (the growth of abnormal calls that can turn into skin cancer, and that is partly due to long-term exposure to the sun); and basal cell carcinoma (the most common form of skin cancer).

Dr. Alison Curnow from the Peninsula Medical School in Cornwall, commented: "PDT is very effective non-surgical treatment for certain types of dermatological cancers and precancers. It normally destroys the tumour without scarring or damage to surrounding healthy cells."

She added: "Through years of research we have been able to develop a modified PDT treatment enabling for the first time for thicker nodular basal cell carcinomas to be treated effectively with a single PDT treatment. This is important, as this is a very common form of skin cancer."

The work of Dr. Curnow and her team are part of a developing research theme for the Peninsula Medical School, which is Environment and Human Health. Operated mainly from the Peninsula Medical School in Cornwall, but with collaboration from colleagues within the institution across the South West of England, this research theme seeks to identify and study the links between our health and well-being and the environment.

Care Study

Graham O'Neill, 54, is technical marketing director at Imerys Minerals in Cornwall and lives near Mevagissey.

Graham was raised in the West Indies, and although his mother was very careful about protecting him from the sun, his exposure to the sun's rays at an early age led to the discovery of melanomas on his skin in 1983.

"Back then the treatments were quite severe," said Graham. "It involved liquid nitrogen, scraping out the melanoma and cauterizing it. Not only was this very painful, but it also left scarring."

He now receives treatment with PDT, which is much better for him. He said: "The treatment is extremely good. From a personal point of view it is much less unpleasant and seems to be more effective. It also treats quite a big area in one go, which means fewer treatments in the long run. The other issue with melanomas is that they keep coming back. With PDT I have found that they do not return as frequently and, when they do, they are far less severe."

On balance Graham is delighted with the treatments, which he has been receiving at Treliske Hospital, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust in Truro. He said: "Compared with the old way of doing things, PDT is a fantastic therapy and one which I would recommend to other patients. It is very exciting that the Peninsula Medical School is taking such a worldwide lead in research in this area."

The work of the Peninsula Medical School in this area of research is funded in part by the Duchy Health Charity in Cornwall.

Adapted from materials provided by The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.




2. Beached Dolphin Rescued by American Innkeepers on Mexican Island
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/05/prweb971194.htm
Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo MX (PRWEB)
May 25, 2008

A large male dolphin stranded himself Sunday morning May 18, 2008, on the coral on the beach just beside Villa La Bella, an American owned bed and breakfast, on Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Their quick actions resulted in a successful rescue and release.

One of the workers Luis Alberto Romero Trujillo at Villa La Bella spotted the distressed dolphin around 8:45 AM Sunday morning when he went to hang the hammocks in the yard overlooking the beach. He quickly notified Curtis and Ashley Blogin, American owners of the bed and breakfast, and the two raced to see what they could do to help.

He seemed to know all along that we were trying to help
The dolphin was quite large, and the two could not move him at all. Curtis kept water on the dolphin while Ashley raced back to the house, gave directions to the location to the police, and phoned Pepe, the island vet. Curtis yelled for help from a small crowd that was gathering on the cliff above, and a couple of men climbed down the rocks to help Curtis get the dolphin back into the water.

Unfortunately the dolphin was so exhausted and disoriented that it was swimming sideways and kept running into the large rocks just off the shore. Ashley and Curtis got in the water and acted as human bumpers between the dolphin and the rocks; however, the dolphin finally found a sandy path to the beach and stranded itself again.

The dolphin had bite marks on his nose and tail as well as injuries from the coral on his side. While waiting for the Navy and other rescue boats to arrive, the island vet Pepe arrived and jumped right in the water, cowboy boots and all. Ashley, Curtis and Pepe kept the dolphin as comfortable as possible until two civil protection representatives arrived, and the group of five were able to get the dolphin back into the water and let it rest in their arms.

A Navy boat was first to arrive followed closely by the park patrol and a Profepa (government environmental impact) boat, and two divers with a harness headed for the dolphin. The harness was successfully attached, and although the water had gotten rougher, the dolphin never resisted.

"He seemed to know all along that we were trying to help," said Curtis.

With the harness safely attached the boat slowly led the dolphin to deeper water beyond the reef where they could remove the harness and lead the dolphin back to the south end of the island where a deep-water channel is located. By the time they got the dolphin to the Puenta Sur, the dolphin had time to rest, regain his strength, and swam away on his own.

While it is only speculation, the male dolphin appeared to be a 20- 25 year old male weighing more than 350 pounds. Based on the dolphin's injuries, he had been in a fight with another dolphin and sustained damage to his body and sonar, which is located in the nose. Between being exhausted from the fight and having his ability to navigate damaged, he beached himself accidentally.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, contact Ashley M. Blogin or visit http://www.villalabella.com.

Villa La Bella is a boutique, oceanfront bed and breakfast located on Isla Mujeres just 8 miles off the coast of Cancun.

Contact:
Ashley M. Blogin,
Villa La Bella
011-52-998-888-0342
http://www.villalabella.com






3. Long-forgotten Civil War Veteran Gets His Due
Determined Boisean wins Memorial Day recognition and a headstone for Union Pvt. James Kern
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/390960.html
25 May 2008

At Boise's Morris Hill Cemetery, Civil War veterans lie in a section known as Silent Camp. The Women's Relief Corps placed a statue of a Union soldier there in the 1920s. Not far from the statue is a small patch of grass - a grave that was unmarked, forgotten for 80 years.

It might have stayed that way had Allan McKenney not decided a near century of anonymity was unacceptable.

Union Army Pvt. James Kern was a bugler with the 1st Kentucky Cavalry during the Civil War.

Later, he became a house painter and moved to Condon, Ore., a town whose population still doesn't break 1,000.

He spent his last days at the U.S. Veterans Hospital in Boise and died in 1928, three days after his 84th birthday.

He left behind a brief death notice in the paper and no known relatives.

Now, thanks to McKenney, the soldier is getting a long overdue headstone from the Veterans Administration and a Memorial Day service with burial rituals straight from the 1890 guidelines of the

Grand Army of the Republic.

Kern's new grave marker is made of dark granite. It will stand out among the white marble markers in the Silent Camp, which only seems fair, after all this time.

As for McKenney, he has given credence to the idea that nothing worthwhile is ever accomplished without a bit of obsession.

GIVING EACH MAN HIS DUE

McKenney, 63, works part time for an auto auction company. He has closer ties to the Civil War than most, especially in this part of the country.

He is one of only five Idaho members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War - a group for direct descendants of veterans.

McKenney's great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather served in the Union Army. They're buried in the East.

When McKenney learned the Sons of Union Veterans, or SUV, had no listings in its national registry for any of the Civil War dead buried in Idaho, he decided to document as many graves as he could, Union and Confederate alike, and submit them.

He started last year at Morris Hill, where there are close to 200 Civil War graves.

"He walked up and down the rows for weeks and weeks, writing down all the information on every one of the stones," said Sheila Coleman, a Morris Hill staffer who watched McKenney work.

CALLING ROLL FOR 'THE FELLAS'

McKenney admits that the project overtook him. His first thought in the mornings was getting to the cemetery and taking notes.

He refers to the soldiers buried at Morris Hill as "the fellas," as though he's come to know them personally.

"I'll tell you something corny," he said. "I would go down the rows, write down the information, then say each man's name out loud. Just so they were remembered. Call it a roll call."

McKenney's "roll call" brought him to an odd, empty space in one of the rows, which by logic and layout also should have been a grave.

So he asked Coleman to check the burial maps in the cemetery office.

He was right. It was a grave - Kern's.

"I felt sorry for the guy. It got 'my sentimental' going," McKenney said.

Not content to leave Kern and continue his research, McKenney learned through the SUV that no matter where or when a veteran dies, the Veterans Administration will pay for a stone if someone can provide documentation.

McKenney collected the scant records of Kern's life at the state historical library, filled out the paperwork and sent it to Washington.

Earlier this month, a truck delivered a cardboard box to Morris Hill Cemetery. Inside was a 200-pound stone etched with Kern's name.

ONE STEP TOWARD HIS GOALS

McKenney is actively recruiting Idahoans to join the Sons of Union Veterans, and he dreams of the day when Idaho membership increases to at least 10, so Idaho can have its own local unit or "camp" with elected officers. He also continues to document Civil War graves.

Steve Barrett, with the Idaho Historical Society, estimates that between 2,500 and 3,000 Union and Confederate soldiers lived or died in Idaho. Finding exact numbers is difficult because it involves several types of records, from obituaries to death certificates, many with duplicate or missing information.

McKenney has gone through thousands of these records, and so far he's found 25 Idaho Civil War veterans whose papers are complete enough to be accepted to the SUV national registry. Their rules, he said, "are very picky."

Kern will get his listing.

"But I'm sure some poor guy is still out there," McKenney said. "Look at all the people who died along the Oregon Trail. Hundreds died and there are no markers at all. But at least Kern will have his day."

Barrett plans to take his young daughter to the Memorial Day ceremony at Morris Hill.

One of the Barretts' ancestors served in the Union Army - in the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, the same unit as Pvt. Kern.

Anna Webb: 377-6431






4. Hundreds Flock to Boat of Learning
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=90198
Sunday, May 25, 2008

HUNDREDS of people flocked to the book boat, MV Doulos, which has called into Suva for the second time in 19 years.

With a second day at the Suva wharf yesterday, media liaison officer Marli Tireli said they expected greater crowds during the weekend.

She said on Friday not many people turned up but they expected more yesterday and today.

The ship has 6000 books that cover education, cookery, Christian literature, sports, business and many more topics.

Alex Chung, of Kinoya, Nasinu, said this was the first time he had visited a book boat.

He said books sold on the boat were affordably priced.

Arati Prasad, of Vatuwaqa, Suva, said the boat was good for kids as there were many books for school children.

"There are a lot of religious books which are sold at affordable price," she said.

About 350 volunteers are on the board. The ship attracted 46,000 visitors on its first visit in 1989.

The MV Doulos was built in 1914, two years after the Titanic.

It has visited 100 countries and welcomed 20 million visitors on board in 30 years of service.

It is based in Germany and travels the globe with one mission taking knowledge, help and hope.

The ship will be in Suva for two weeks and is open to the public. Admission is $1 but free for children.

It will be open to the public today from 10am to 9pm.








5. Archaeologist Claims Discovery of Cleopatra’s Tomb
http://www.archaeologynews.org/story.asp?ID=290938&Title=Archaeologist%20claims%20discovery%20of%20Cleopatra’s%20tomb
May 25th, 2008 - 5:03 pm ICT

London, May 25 (ANI): A flamboyant archeologist claims to have identified the final resting place of Cleopatra, the Hellenistic ruler of Egypt, who originally shared power with her father Ptolemy XII and eventually gained sole rule of Egypt.

Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypts Supreme Council of Antiquities along with a team of 12 archaeologists and 70 excavators, has started searching for the entrance to her tomb.

And after a breakthrough two weeks ago, he suspects Cleopatra is buried with her Roman lover Mark Antony at a temple 30km from Alexandra called Tabusiris Magna.

Hawass has found a 400ft tunnel beneath the temple containing clues that the supposedly beautiful queen may lie beneath.

Weve found tunnels with statues of Cleopatra and many coins bearing her face, things you wouldnt expect in a typical temple, Times Online quoted him, as saying.

A fortnight ago the team unearthed a bust of Mark Antony, the Roman general who became Cleopatras lover and had three children with her before their ambitions for an Egyptian empire brought them into conflict with Rome.

They committed suicide after being defeated by Octavian in the battle of Actium in 31BC.

Our theory is that both Cleopatra and Mark Antony are buried here, said Hawass.

The 60-year-old archeologist believes that the temples location would have made it a perfect place for Cleopatra to hide from Octavians army.

Work on the site has been suspended until the summer heat abates and is due to resume in November, when Hawass will use radar to search for hidden chambers.

If Hawass thinking is true, he could make the greatest archaeological discovery in Egypt since British archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered Tutankhamuns tomb in 1922. (ANI)






Honorable Mentions:


1. 76-year-old Man Oldest to Scale Mount Everest
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/05/25/international/i001722D09.DTL&tsp=1
By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA, Associated Press Writer
Sunday, May 25, 2008
KATMANDU, Nepal (AP)

A 76-year-old Nepalese man reached the summit of Mount Everest on Sunday and became the oldest person to climb the world's highest mountain, a tourism official said.

Min Bahadur Sherchan reached the 29,035-foot summit early in the morning with his climbing guides, said a Nepal Tourism Ministry official, Ramesh Chetri.

Sherchan was just 25 days away from his 77th birthday, Chetri said.

He beat the record set last year by Japanese climber Katsusuke Yanagisawa, who scaled the peak at age 71. Sherchan was in good health and was descending from the summit, Chetri said.

The former soldier climbed smaller mountains before Everest and has been an active sportsman, Chetri said.

He said about a dozen climbers scaled Everest on Sunday following one of the busiest weeks in the mountain's climbing season.

A veteran Sherpa guide scaled Everest on Thursday for a record 18th time. Appa, who like most Sherpas goes by only one name, reached the summit along with several colleagues. He was among more than 80 climbers to reach the summit that day — the largest number ever in a single day from the Nepalese side of the peak.

Mountaineers were able to resume Everest climbs on May 9 after the Nepalese government lifted a temporary ban ordered to prevent protests against China's rule in Tibet during an ascent by Chinese climbers carrying the Olympic torch.

The Chinese torch team scaled the summit on May 8 — from the northern Tibetan side of Everest — and Nepal lifted the ban a day later.

On the Net:
News about Everest: www.mounteverest.net






2. Licorice Extract Provides New Treatment Option for Canker Sores
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/aogd-lep052208.php
CHICAGO
May 22, 2008

What common oral condition appears as shallow ulcers of different sizes, affects one in five Americans, can be caused by food allergies and hormonal changes, and also can cause severe mouth pain? Commonly referred to as “canker sores,” recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU) now can be treated by an extract in licorice root herbal extract, according to a study published in the March/April 2008 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

The authors examined the effects of an over-the-counter medicated adhesive patch (with extract from the licorice root) for treatment of RAU versus no treatment. After seven days of treatment, ulcer size in the group who received the adhesive patch with licorice extract was significantly lower, while ulcer size in the no-treatment group had increased 13 percent.

Licorice root extract was used as a prescribed treatment for gastric ulcers until the 1970s, according to the study. In its original form, licorice root extract has a very strong taste. However, when combined with a self-adhering, time-release, dissolving oral patch, the taste is mild and pleasant.

Among the causes of canker sores, a genetic predisposition might be the biggest cause, says Michael Martin, DMD, PhD, lead author of the study. “When both parents have a history of canker sores, the likelihood of their children developing them can be as high as 90 percent,” he says.

The most serious side effect of canker sores is sharp pain in the mouth, which can interfere with an individual’s quality of life and affect their eating, drinking or speech. Dr. Martin revealed that “in addition to speeding healing of the canker sores, the adhesive patch helped to reduce pain after just three days of treatment.”

Those who experience canker sores on a regular basis can visit their dentist for treatment techniques. “Dentists can give patients the proper medication and treatment options to seal the lesions, which will prevent further infection,” says Eric Shapira, DDS, MAGD, AGD spokesperson and expert on alternative medicine. “Also, increasing vitamins and other herbs, such as Vitamin C and zinc, can help treat canker sores because they help to regenerate tissue cells,” Dr. Shapira adds.

Common causes of canker sores:
Local trauma and stress
Diet and food allergies
Hormonal changes
Use of certain medications

Common treatments of canker sores:
Antimicrobial mouthwashes
Local painkillers
Over-the-counter remedies (oral adhesive patches, liquids and gels)

The AGD is a professional association of more than 35,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing education. Founded in 1952, the AGD has grown to become the world’s second largest dental association, which is the only association that exclusively represents the needs and interests of general dentists.

More than 786,000 persons are employed directly in the field of general dentistry. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patients’ oral health needs.







3. PFC Ross McGinnis Posthumously Awarded Medal of Honor
http://northshorejournal.org/index.php/2008/05/ross-mcginnis-and-the-medal-of-honor
May 23, 2008
Redemption, Courage, Sacrifice
Somewhere near here, Valhalla or Fiddler’s Green, a band of brothers is welcoming a new friend. Standing at attention are men like Alvin York, Audie Murphy and Douglas MacArthur. A new hero has come home.

It wasn’t a very long road for Ross McGinnis. He was just 19 when he became a legend. It had not been a long road but it had some twists and turns.

Ross McGinnis was not always hero material. He grew up in a small town in western Pennsylvania, the only boy in a family with two gifted girls. His father suggests Bart Simpson as a good image of this underachiever.

At fourteen he made several mistakes, bought some marijuana and talked about it at school. When school administrators looked further, they found a couple of knives in his locker.

Suspension and court followed.

Given time to think, Ross thought. At some point he talked with an Army recruiter. In his junior year he enlisted in the United States Army under the delayed enlistment program. Those who knew him saw the change. Despite academic struggles, he graduated from high school and joined the Army.

After basic and advanced infantry training, Ross came home on leave. He was a changed man. He was a soldier.

In Germany, training for deployment to Iraq, Ross made his mark with his fellow soldiers. He was the platoon funny man, able to make men laugh even after a long day. He was also recognized as a born leader, and excelled at the skills a combat soldier needs.

His unit was assigned to northeastern Baghdad, and violence was a daily happening. In late November his unit fought off a five hour attack in which dozens of the enemy were killed. McGinnis’s photo was on the cover of the Middle East edition of Stars & Stripes for November 30 as they covered that battle.

December 4, 2006 was like most days. The unit geared up for a patrol and the delivery of a generator. Six vehicles pulled out of Combat Outpost Apache. McGinnis was the .50 cal gunner on the rear vehicle, a position he was expert at.

The vehicles ahead heard an explosion and when they looked, found McGinnis’s vehicle severely damaged with all four of its doors blown off. Medics found four wounded soldiers and McGinnis. McGinnis was dead.

It all happened in a matter of seconds.

McGinnis saw an insurgent throw a grenade from a nearby rooftop. He tried to deflect it but it dropped through the hatch behind him. Training told him to holler “Grenade” and then jump clear. That is not what this hero did.

He saw the grenade lodged in some equipment below him. The doors were locked and the four soldiers in the truck had no chance to escape. McGinnis dropped down into the Humvee and pressed his back against the radio where the grenade had come to rest, covering the blast with his body.

Ross McGinnis, a little over six feet tall and a lanky 130 some pounds, took the force of the explosion. One of the other soldiers was seriously wounded, and the other three received less serious injuries. All of them lived because of Ross McGinnis.

On June 2, 2008 the President of the United States will present the Medal of Honor to the family of Ross McGinnis. He will speak about courage and sacrifice. His fellow heroes in Valhalla and Fiddler’s Green know all about that.

It may be the the President of the United States will also talk about redemption. Ross McGinnis was once a troubled youth on a clear path to nowhere. Then, he chose to become a soldier in the United States Army. He chose to become a warrior.

This young man, this ordinary young man, found a place that gave him a path, people who became comrades and friends, and he found a time that for all eternity became his time.

God bless you, Ross McGinnis.






4. WCI Student Isolates Microbe that Lunches on Plastic Bags
http://news.therecord.com/article/354044
Karen Kawawada
22 May 2008

Getting ordinary plastic bags to rot away like banana peels would be an environmental dream come true. After all, we produce 500 billion a year worldwide and they take up to 1,000 years to decompose. They take up space in landfills, litter our streets and parks, pollute the oceans and kill the animals that eat them.

Now a Waterloo teenager has found a way to make plastic bags degrade faster -- in three months, he figures.

Daniel Burd's project won the top prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Ottawa. He came back with a long list of awards, including a $10,000 prize, a $20,000 scholarship, and recognition that he has found a practical way to help the environment.

Daniel, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, got the idea for his project from everyday life.

"Almost every week I have to do chores and when I open the closet door, I have this avalanche of plastic bags falling on top of me," he said. "One day, I got tired of it and I wanted to know what other people are doing with these plastic bags."

The answer: not much. So he decided to do something himself.

He knew plastic does eventually degrade, and figured microorganisms must be behind it. His goal was to isolate the microorganisms that can break down plastic -- not an easy task because they don't exist in high numbers in nature.

First, he ground plastic bags into a powder. Next, he used ordinary household chemicals, yeast and tap water to create a solution that would encourage microbe growth. To that, he added the plastic powder and dirt. Then the solution sat in a shaker at 30 degrees.

After three months of upping the concentration of plastic-eating microbes, Burd filtered out the remaining plastic powder and put his bacterial culture into three flasks with strips of plastic cut from grocery bags. As a control, he also added plastic to flasks containing boiled and therefore dead bacterial culture.

Six weeks later, he weighed the strips of plastic. The control strips were the same. But the ones that had been in the live bacterial culture weighed an average of 17 per cent less.

That wasn't good enough for Burd. To identify the bacteria in his culture, he let them grow on agar plates and found he had four types of microbes. He tested those on more plastic strips and found only the second was capable of significant plastic degradation.

Next, Burd tried mixing his most effective strain with the others. He found strains one and two together produced a 32 per cent weight loss in his plastic strips. His theory is strain one helps strain two reproduce.

Tests to identify the strains found strain two was Sphingomonas bacteria and the helper was Pseudomonas.

A researcher in Ireland has found Pseudomonas is capable of degrading polystyrene, but as far as Burd and his teacher Mark Menhennet know -- and they've looked -- Burd's research on polyethelene plastic bags is a first.

Next, Burd tested his strains' effectiveness at different temperatures, concentrations and with the addition of sodium acetate as a ready source of carbon to help bacteria grow.

At 37 degrees and optimal bacterial concentration, with a bit of sodium acetate thrown in, Burd achieved 43 per cent degradation within six weeks.

The plastic he fished out then was visibly clearer and more brittle, and Burd guesses after six more weeks, it would be gone. He hasn't tried that yet.

To see if his process would work on a larger scale, he tried it with five or six whole bags in a bucket with the bacterial culture. That worked too.

Industrial application should be easy, said Burd. "All you need is a fermenter . . . your growth medium, your microbes and your plastic bags."

The inputs are cheap, maintaining the required temperature takes little energy because microbes produce heat as they work, and the only outputs are water and tiny levels of carbon dioxide -- each microbe produces only 0.01 per cent of its own infinitesimal weight in carbon dioxide, said Burd.

"This is a huge, huge step forward . . . We're using nature to solve a man-made problem."

Burd would like to take his project further and see it be used. He plans to study science at university, but in the meantime he's busy with things such as student council, sports and music.

"Dan is definitely a talented student all around and is poised to be a leading scientist in our community," said Menhennet, who led the school's science fair team but says he only helped Burd with paperwork.

Other local students also did well at the national science fair.

Devin Howard of St. John's Kilmarnock School won a gold medal in life science and several scholarships.

Mackenzie Carter of St. John's Kilmarnock won bronze medals in the automotive and engineering categories.

Engineers Without Borders awarded Jeff Graansma of Forest Heights Collegiate a free trip to their national conference in January.

Zach Elgood of Courtland Avenue Public School got honourable mention in earth and environmental science.

kkawawada@therecord.com







5. Wired How to Wiki: Tips for Green Lawn Care
http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Tips_for_Green_Lawn_Care
From Wired How-To Wiki
23 May 2008

A lush, well-manicured lawn is one of those features that helps define suburbia. Large swaths of neatly-cut grass aren't typically a dominant characteristic of the big city landscape, but lawns sure seem important in the 'burbs. And the greener the better.

The problem is, green isn't particularly Green, at least using traditional equipment and methods. Excessive lawn watering, pesticides and millions of gas-powered lawn mowers have all helped put the boots to the environment. Fortunately, there are ways to make that suburban green space a little more green.

The Environmental Protection Agency has long recognized that gas lawn mowers pose a threat to the environment. They are significant sources of air pollution and contribute to escalating urban smog issues, with some researchers claiming that fully 5% of all air pollution in the US is directly caused by gas lawn mowers. Emissions include carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. In 1996, the EPA announced a program to enforce new emission standards for gas mowers, claiming that a single machine would put out as much air pollution in an hour as eleven cars. You may have noticed that was twelve years ago; the deadline for that program has been repeatedly delayed but has most recently been proposed for an effective date of 2011.

Regardless of whether you believe the studies or not, there's no disputing the fact that firing up your gas burner is noisy and the fuel is becoming increasingly expensive. Here are some common sense tips for minimizing your environmental impact should you opt to stick with or purchase a new gas lawn mower:

Unless you have mobility issues or live on the suburban equivalent of a plantation, you probably don't need a riding mower. It takes a big engine and a lot of energy to lug you around -- you could be getting some exercise by pushing.
Ditto for self-propelled mowers, although obviously on a smaller scale.
If you must use a riding mower, surely you have better things to do than race it, despite what Hank Hill might have to say on the matter.
Make sure you right size the engine. If you have a 500 square foot lawn that you cut weekly, chances are a 6.75 HP behemoth is overkill for your situation. Consider a mower with a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine

The EPA has a series of tips for making the best of your gasoline-guzzling beast including these:
- Avoid spilling gasoline when filling the tank (apparently, someone did the math and calculated that gas spills while filling lawn mowers add up to in excess of 12 million gallons per season)
- Maintain your mower, including regular oil and air filter changes and tune-ups
- Keep the blade sharp
- The EPA's full list of tips is available as a PDF download

Electric and Battery Powered Mowers
There are two options when it comes to electric mowers: plug-in models and battery-powered versions. Both save you from having to buy and store gasoline and both put an end to the smelly, noxious emissions of the gas engines. They are also considerably quieter than gas mowers. A typical yard is estimated to require approximately ten cents worth of electricity to cut, whether it's via plug in or charging a battery); of course your actual mileage will vary depending on local utility rates and the size of your yard.

Plug-in Mowers
These can be a nuisance, since you're effectively tethered to an electrical outlet and you have to avoid running over the power cord. However, there are advantages: no battery means an extremely light push and no worries about recharging or running out of power mid-cut.

Battery-Powered Mowers
Still lighter than most gas-powered counterparts and you get all the bonuses of electric power. Depending on the mower and the size of your yard, you may have to buy a second battery to get through the whole job, but keeping power available when you need it is mostly a matter of organization.

The Wired Test
Wired tested a series of electric lawn mowers in the summer of 2007, and there are even more choices now. I bought a Neuton battery-powered model this spring, and while it hasn't seen a lot of use yet, I have been impressed so far by its lack of noise, maneuverability, charge duration and quality of cut. My wife appreciates how light it is and likes the funky color and little lizards molded onto the wheels. I would have been happier with charging grizzly bear wheels or even a growling jaguar, but hey, we're all doing our part to be Green, right?

The Cost of Switching
Does it use more energy and generate more pollution to build and ship a new mower than you'll remove from the equation by making the switch? And where is that gas mower going- to a landfill? What about the fuel used to power the plant that generates the electricity used by your mower? It could be coal. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all.

As with so many initiatives around replacing older, polluting technology with more efficient models, arguments can be made either way. According to The Clean Air Foundation, a standard gas-powered lawn mower will generate as much pollution in an hour of operation as a typical new car would if it were driven 340 miles (http://www.cleanairfoundation.org/mowdownpollution/index.asp). Canadian figures estimate that gas powered lawn mowers in that country consume 40 million gallons of gasoline per year and release nearly 90,000 tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Ultimately, getting rid of the old gas mowers and replacing them with cleaner technology will cut down on noise pollution, reduce localized air pollution (and smog), reduce oil use and should save the average consumer some money over the lifetime of their mower. Just make certain to dispose of the old gas mower at a recycling facility instead of simply throwing it in the landfill.

Ultimate Green: People Power

If you want to mow your grass in a way that has the least direct impact on the environment, it's tough to beat pushing around an old-fashioned push-reel mower. The kind your grandparents (or maybe their parents) used before gas mowers took over the yard. They still feature zero emissions, no fuel spillage risk and minimal noise pollution. Reel mowers are even less expensive to purchase than most gas mowers and they take up a lot less storage space. Also, most professionals agree that reel mowers offer a superior cut to a rotary blade (many golf courses use reel mowers).

Using them is beneficial for you, since you get exercise. Plus, you can cut the grass at 8am on a Sunday without worry of noise complaints from your neighbors.

So what's the catch? Well, people power has a few issues:

Sharpening the blades of a reel mower has become a lost art. Many manufacturers sell do-it-yourself sharpening kits, but there's no getting around the fact that it's a yearly pain.
Cutting your lawn will give you a workout -- for a large yard, this becomes more of an issue.
Tall, thick grass can become an extreme workout and grasses or weeds with tough stems can require multiple passes to cut. I spent last summer re-living my youth with a high quality reel mower, but turned it in this year for the electric model solely because my less-than-golf course-perfect lawn required me to spend an hour attacking it with a weed-whacker after multiple mowing passes, because of those tough weed stems that the reel mower simply couldn't handle.

If you live in a rural area you might want to consider sheep. The emissions aren't exactly pleasant, but they are biodegradable and the fuel cost is pretty much zilch.

Going back to the sheep model, manufacturers have brought a more high tech version of the semi-random, unmanned lawn care to the table: the robotic lawnmower. Most (if not all) models employ rechargeable batteries to do the grunt work while you're away working to pay for them, and some are available with solar recharging docking stations.

Don't worry, if our Robot Overlords take command of your robo-mower and turn it against you, you'd have to be pretty slow to fall victim to it; and wearing steel-toed boots would make you pretty much invincible, should it somehow sneak up on you. Wired has a news feature on robotic mowers, from consumer to industrial grades.

If you find the idea of a robotic lawn mower a tad threatening, how about softening the machine's image with a Ladybug Personality Sticker Kit?

Go Solar
For a slightly less cool, but still extremely green option, there are battery-powered hand mowers like a model from Solaris available with solar charging stations. That's right, you can take your lawn mowing completely off the grid.

Extreme Options: Lose The Grass Altogether

Photo: "something like this song" by nickd via Flickr
It may be subject to local bylaws, but some people have given up on the lawn altogether and opted for natural vegetation or even simply piled rocks where their lawns once were. Done right, this can look pretty good (the photo shows a nice urban front yard). The grass-free look certainly cuts down on maintenance, although if you have kids or play a lot of touch football in your yard, it may not be the option for you.

For a slightly less extreme variation, reduce the amount of grass and plant more gardens and shrubs instead. If you concentrate on native plant species, you can have an attractive garden that needs less watering and maintenance than grass, while saving you some mowing time.

Tips & Tricks for "Green" Lawn Maintenance
There's simply no excuse to be spraying pesticide on your lawn. Even if it's still legal in your city, pass on the poisons and pull out the weeds instead of spraying. Hire a kid to do it if that's not your thing.

Got grubs? Consider nematodes instead of chemical treatment options. The idea of a bunch of microscopic parasites hunting down and killing the grubs beneath your lawn has a certain macabre charm, doesn't it?

Mulch and leave the grass clippings on your lawn as natural fertilizer.
Cut the grass higher (try in the 3" to 3.5" range) to encourage deeper roots, retain moisture and discourage weeds.

If you must water your lawn, do it early in the morning to reduce evaporation; don't water at night as this could make the grass susceptible to disease.

A heavy watering (1" to 2" of water) once or twice a week promotes deeper root growth and is better for the lawn than frequent, light watering.