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There’s more to healthy living than Healthy Living recipes! Most important? Food safety. For example: Do you know what to clean your cutting boards with? (Good news: It’s a homemade solution.) Check out our top 10 food safety tips below to confirm what you know and discover what you don’t. We also have seasonal tips—from Easter egg safety to grilling smart. You also may want to check out our food safety FAQs, then take the food safety IQ quiz afterwards. Watch out for number 6—it’s tricky!

Top 10 food safety tips
Print out this tip sheet of basic food-safety tips, then post it on your refrigerator or kitchen cabinet so that it's always handy for quick reference. Make sure everyone in the family - even the babysitter - reads through it before handling food.

An engineer at American Marine Research Company works on a drone on Thursday, June 29, 2017. The company is designing robots to autonomously detect and collect lionfish.(Photo: Joseph Baucum/jbaucum@pnj.com)

PENSACOLA, Fla. - There's a potential game changer brewing in the struggle to eradicate lionfish from the Gulf of Mexico.

A quartet of engineers is developing drones to autonomously detect and collect lionfish at depths beyond the scope of human divers. The team, a startup called American Marine Research Co., arrived in the Florida Panhandle on June 9.

By the end of July, the company's goal is to be able to harvest enough of the sea creatures that the business turns a profit by supplying the fish to the restaurant industry.

"Yuan Wang, 23, co-founder of American Marine Research." Yuan Wang, 23, is co-founder of American Marine Research.

Wang said the aim is to design a robot so adept at neutralizing its target that out of 100 lionfish in a given area, it would pinpoint and corral 95, at the very least. He added that the company also hopes to program the drone to distinguish between other types of fish such as red snapper or grouper.

The company has labored on several prototypes. The priorities for the technology include ensuring the drones can move properly and descend to the appropriate depths, possibly deeper than 1,000 feet below sea level. The intent is to ultimately remove the need for a human user. The largest robot is about the size of a mini fridge and the tiniest is smaller than an office trash can.

Wang, who graduated from Princeton University in May, said the company conducted a successful test on Sunday. One model demonstrated it could pull a 200-pound human across a pool about as quickly as a human can swim. But Wang noted the company has also had two failed tests where the robot was damaged.

“We’ve been making our systems incrementally more powerful and more robust and ready to receive attachments,” he said. “We don’t know if we’ll succeed, but it won’t be for a lack of trying.”

Lionfish pose a threat to ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico because they largely lack predators in the region. The colorful fish, with feather-like fins and zebra-like stripes, originate from the Indo-Pacific region but have flourished off Florida since the 1980s when aquarium collectors released them into area waters. Each female lionfish spawns millions of eggs a year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website states that since lionfish “are carnivores that feed on small crustaceans and fish, including the young of important commercial fish species such as snapper and grouper.”

The NOAA has also “concluded that invasive lionfish populations will continue to grow and cannot be eliminated using conventional methods. Marine invaders are nearly impossible to eradicate once established.”

At the federal level, legislative efforts have been made to combat the lionfish. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a bill in May to expand upon a state program that has provided incentives for spear fishermen to collect the fish.

In addition to Wang, American Marine Research Company’s team includes engineers Ian Switzer, Taylor Njaka and Duncan Michael. The trio has attended Cornell University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Olin College of Engineering, respectively.

To ensure the company hits its target of profitability by the end of July, Wang said the team typically works as much as 15 hours a day, each day of the week. But with the prospect of sustaining ecosystems by solving the lionfish dilemma, he said the effort has been worthwhile.

“Every single minute, every drop of effort has to go into making these drones,” he said. (source)

Kasatka, a nearly 42-year-old killer whale that SeaWorld calls the matriarch of its orca family, died Tuesday night, marking the second orca death in a month at its marine parks and the third so far this year.

The whale’s passing followed a years-long treatment for lung disease. In recent days, Kasatka’s health and appetite had declined significantly despite specialized treatments, prompting veterinarians to make the decision to euthanize her to “prevent compromising her quality of life,” SeaWorld said Wednesday.

A mother of four, grandmother of six and great grandmother of two, Kasatka passed away at approximately 8:15 p.m. Tuesday surrounded by members of her pod, as well as the veterinarians and caretakers, park officials said.

One of the last killer whales to come to SeaWorld from the wild, Kasatka was captured near Iceland in 1978 and arrived at the San Diego park that same year.

“Today, I lost a member of my family. I have spent the past several years with Kasatka and was truly blessed to be part of her life,” said Kristi Burtis, orca behaviorist. “Although I am heartbroken, I am grateful for the special time we had together and for the difference she has made for wild orcas by all that we have learned from her. I adored Kasatka and loved sharing her with millions of people. I will miss her very much.”

Kasatka is believed to be the second oldest of all the whales in the SeaWorld marine parks. The oldest is Corky, who is believed to be 53.

Just last month, Kyara, a 3-month-old killer whale born at SeaWorld San Antonio, died after suffering from pneumonia. The exact cause of death has yet to be released by SeaWorld. The calf was the final orca born in captivity at a SeaWorld park. Orlando-based SeaWorld Entertainment announced early last year that it would immediately stop breeding orcas following years of animal rights protests and declining attendance.

Earlier this year, one of SeaWorld’s most widely known whales, Tilikum, estimated to be 36, died at the Orlando park. Responsible for the 2010 drowning death of Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau, Tilikum was also the centerpiece of the 2013 “Blackfish” documentary, which was critical of SeaWorld’s treatment of its killer whales.

The series of deaths come at an especially difficult time for SeaWorld Entertainment, which has been struggling to revive its brand following years of slumping revenues and faltering attendance.

Last week, the company posted its second quarter earnings, acknowledging in a call with analysts that “public perception issues” about the marine parks have resurfaced and contributed to an attendance decline in San Diego. CEO Joel Manby conceded it was a mistake to have pulled back on heavy marketing showcasing SeaWorld and said the company was re-starting its advertising campaign.

In its blog post announcing Kasatka’s death, SeaWorld said the type of bacterial respiratory condition that the whale was suffering from is considered the most common cause of mortality and illness in whales and dolphins, both in the wild and in zoological facilities.

Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist with the Animal Welfare Institute, quickly took issue with that claim, noting that scientists do not know what contributes specifically to orca deaths in the wild, nor does SeaWorld.

“We know that it is very common for orcas in captivity to die of respiratory infections, but in the wild, we don't know that pneumonia is a common cause of death, so for SeaWorld to say that it’s equally common in both habitats, it's a false statement,” Rose said.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which has been a longtime foe of SeaWorld’s and has called for the parks to release their captive orcas to seaside pens, unleashed more criticism on Wednesday.

“The dead bodies at SeaWorld are stacking up about as fast as its stock is falling, with Kasatka dead just a few weeks after the death of her 3-month-old granddaughter,” said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “SeaWorld talks of ‘love’ for her and her family, yet it made a business out of tearing her away from her family as well as ripping apart other bonded orcas and shipping them across the country, even separating Kasatka from her podmate in 1984.”

SeaWorld said Wednesday that its veterinary team will conduct a necropsy to examine the extent of Kasatka’s illness and what impact it had on her organ function.It will likely be several weeks before results are known.

Across SeaWorld’s U.S. parks, there are 21 killer whales, almost all born in captivity. SeaWorld San Diego now has 10 orcas. The Mission Bay park has phased out its theatrical Shamu show and debuted this summer Orca Encounter, designed as a more educational presentation against the backdrop of documentary-style video of orcas in the wild.

Similar presentations will eventually be developed for the Orlando and San Antonio parks. (source)

Daughters are carrying the freshly cut Christmas tree outdoors in winter. A light snow is falling. Kids are 15 and 12 and are wearing wearing warm clothes. Horizontal full length outdoors shot with copy space. (martinedoucet)

If you think Black Friday sales are going to get competitive this year, you may be in for a treat while shopping for your Christmas tree.


According to the National Christmas Tree Association, there is a shortage of holiday trees in certain states this year—similar to last year—resulting in price hikes, limited supplies and signaling a dying industry.

“We suggest shopping soon to get the best selection. We can’t accurately predict prices as they vary significantly based on location, quality and competition. Prices were somewhat higher in 2016 and we expect a modest increase in 2017,” Tim O’Connor, executive director for National Christmas Tree Association, tells FOX Business.


O’Connor says the supply of trees is a “bit tight this year, as it was in 2016,” because fewer trees were planted seven to 10 years ago.

“This was due to a combination of excess supply at that time and the recession both pushing prices downward, along with some growers exiting the business,” he adds.

Gary Thomas, a Christmas tree grower in Jarrettsville, Maryland tells FOX Business he’s having a tough time filling requests from retailers who are looking for trees for their lots this year.

“I feel there will be a tight market for trees this year. A lot of the farms that grew trees for the wholesale market to supply the retailers cut back on planting around 10 years ago. This was due to a glut of trees on the market and the growers were losing money on every tree they sold. Now 10 years later we have a tree shortage. The prices are up but that is due to significant higher labor and other costs of doing business such as high insurance costs,” Thomas, owner of Winter Tree Farms and president of the Maryland Christmas Tree Association, says.

Thomas, who has been growing trees since 1961, adds that the shortages are expected to increase each year because many farmers are continuing to cut back on planting trees—or have stopped all together to retire.

“The next generation doesn't want to be a tree farmer, as it’s hard work and it takes eight to 10 years to grow a tree. Our industry is an aging one where the current farmers do not have a family member to take over the business so they are simply slowly going out of the business,” he says.

However, some farmers in states like Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia say their tree supply is still in good shape.

“There is not a shortage for our customers in our area [Southwestern Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia]. There was a glut of trees but now the supply has caught up with the demand,” Jim Rockis of Quarter Pine Tree Farm in Smithfield, Pa., tells FOX Business.

"I thought, 'Wow, this is a one-time opportunity,'" del Genio said. "I'll never meet anyone else who found a planet."

That prediction was spectacularly wrong. In 1992, two scientists discovered the first planet around another star, or exoplanet, and since then more people have found planets than throughout all of Earth's preceding history. As of this month, scientists have confirmed more than 3,500 exoplanets in more than 2,700 star systems. Del Genio has met many of these new planet finders.

Del Genio is now co-lead of a NASA interdisciplinary initiative to search for life on other worlds. This new position as the lead of this project may seem odd to those who know him professionally. Why? He has dedicated decades to studying Earth, not searching for life elsewhere.

We know of only one living planet: our own. But we know it very well. As we move to the next stage in the search for alien life, the effort will require the expertise of planetary scientists, heliophysicists and astrophysicists. However, the knowledge and tools NASA has developed to study life on Earth will also be one of the greatest assets to the quest.

Habitable Worlds

There are two main questions in the search for life: With so many places to look, how can we focus in on the places most likely to harbor life? What are the unmistakable signs of life -- even if it comes in a form we don't fully understand?

"Before we go looking for life, we're trying to figure out what kinds of planets could have a climate that's conducive to life," del Genio said. "We're using the same climate models that we use to project 21st century climate change on Earth to do simulations of specific exoplanets that have been discovered, and hypothetical ones."

Del Genio recognizes that life may well exist in forms and places so bizarre that it might be substantially different from Earth. But in this early phase of the search, "We have to go with the kind of life we know," he said.

Further, we should make sure we use the detailed knowledge of Earth. In particular, we should make sure of our discoveries on life in various environments on Earth, our knowledge of how our planet and its life have affected each other over Earth history, and our satellite observations of Earth’s climate.

Above all else, that means liquid water. Every cell we know of -- even bacteria around deep-sea vents that exist without sunlight -- requires water.

Life in the Ocean

Research scientist Morgan Cable of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is looking within the solar system for locations that have the potential to support liquid water. Some of the icy moons around Saturn and Jupiter have oceans below the ice crust. These oceans were formed by tidal heating, that is, warming of the ice caused by friction between the surface ice and the core as a result of the gravitational interaction between the planet and the moon.

"We thought Enceladus was just boring and cold until the Cassini mission discovered a liquid water subsurface ocean," said Cable. The water is spraying into space, and the Cassini mission found hints in the chemical composition of the spray that the ocean chemistry is affected by interactions between heated water and rocks at the seafloor. The Galileo and Voyager missions provided evidence that Europa also has a liquid water ocean under an icy crust. Observations revealed a jumbled terrain that could be the result of ice melting and reforming.

As missions to these moons are being developed, scientists are using Earth as a testbed. Just as prototypes for NASA's Mars rovers made their trial runs on Earth's deserts, researchers are testing both hypotheses and technology on our oceans and extreme environments.

Cable gave the example of satellite observations of Arctic and Antarctic ice fields, which are informing the planning for a Europa mission. The Earth observations help researchers find ways to date the origin of jumbled ice. "When we visit Europa, we want to go to very young places, where material from that ocean is being expressed on the surface," she said. "Anywhere like that, the chances of finding evidence of life goes up -- if they're there."

Water in Space

For any star, it's possible to calculate the range of distances where orbiting planets could have liquid water on the surface. This is called the star's habitable zone.

Astronomers have already located some habitable-zone planets, and research scientist Andrew Rushby, of NASA Ames Research Center, in Moffett Field, California, is studying ways to refine the search. Location alone isn't enough. "An alien would spot three planets in our solar system in the habitable zone [Earth, Mars and Venus]," Rushby said, "but we know that 67 percent of those planets are not very habitable." He recently developed a simplified model of Earth's carbon cycle and combined it with other tools to study which planets in the habitable zone would be the best targets to look at for life, considering probable tectonic activity and water cycles. He found that larger rocky planets are more likely than smaller ones to have surface temperatures where liquid water could exist, given the same amount of light from the star.

Renyu Hu, of JPL, refined the search for habitable planets in a different way, looking for the signature of a rocky planet. Basic physics tells us that smaller planets must be rocky and larger ones gaseous, but for planets ranging from Earth-sized to about twice that radius, astronomers can't tell a large rocky planet from a small gaseous planet. Hu pioneered a method to detect surface minerals on bare-rock exoplanets and defined the atmospheric chemical signature of volcanic activity, which wouldn't occur on a gas planet.

Vital Signs

When scientists are evaluating a possible habitable planet, "life has to be the hypothesis of last resort," Cable said. "You must eliminate all other explanations." Identifying possible false positives for the signal of life is an ongoing area of research in the exoplanet community. For example, the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere comes from living things, but oxygen can also be produced by inorganic chemical reactions.

Shawn Domagal-Goldman, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, looks for unmistakable, chemical signs of life, or biosignatures. One biosignature may be finding two or more molecules in an atmosphere that shouldn't be there at the same time. He uses this analogy: If you walked into a college dorm room and found three students and a pizza, you could conclude that the pizza had recently arrived, because college students quickly consume pizza. Oxygen "consumes" methane by breaking it down in various chemical reactions. Without inputs of methane from life on Earth's surface, our atmosphere would become totally depleted of methane within a few decades.

Earth as Exoplanet

When humans start collecting direct images of exoplanets, even the closest one will appear as a handful of pixels in the detector – something like the famous "blue dot" image of Earth from Saturn. What can we learn about planetary life from a single dot?

Stephen Kane of the University of California, Riverside, has come up with a way to answer that question using NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging camera on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR). These high-resolution images -- 2,000 x 2,000 pixels – document Earth's global weather patterns and other climate-related phenomena. "I'm taking these glorious pictures and collapsing them down to a single pixel or handful of pixels," Kane explained. He runs the light through a noise filter that attempts to simulate the interference expected from an exoplanet mission.

DSCOVR takes a picture every half hour, and it's been in orbit for two years. Its more than 30,000 images are by far the longest continuous record of Earth from space in existence. By observing how the brightness of Earth changes when mostly land is in view compared with mostly water, Kane has been able to reverse-engineer Earth's rotation rate -- something that has yet to be measured directly for exoplanets.

When Will We Find Life?

Every scientist involved in the search for life is convinced it's out there. Their opinions differ on when we'll find it.

"I think that in 20 years we will have found one candidate that might be it," says del Genio. Considering his experience with Tombaugh, he added, "But my track record for predicting the future is not so good."

Rushby, on the other hand, says, "It's been 20 years away for the last 50 years. I do think it's on the scale of decades. If I were a betting man, which I'm not, I'd go for Europa or Enceladus."

How soon we find a living exoplanet really depends on whether there's one relatively nearby, with the right orbit and size, and with biosignatures that we are able to recognize, Hu said. In other words, "There's always a factor of luck."

source:https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/our-living-planet-shapes-the-search-for-life-beyond-earth

The last weeks of 2016 and the first months of 2017 have shown a sharp recovery in visitor numbers in Paris tourism after 12 months of decline, the largest recorded since 2009.

Thus, the month of December 2016 saw hotel arrivals in Greater Paris increase by 19.5 % compared to December 2015, with a progression of 28 %for foreigners. More significant still, these arrivals were back at the level of December 2014, before the series of attacks that affected France from January 2015.

When compared with December 2014, although some markets were still in sharp decline (Japan, Italy, and Russia especially), others showed strong growth reflecting a positive underlying trend: United States (+ 31 %), China (+ 40 %), Middle East (+ 17 %), Asia, excluding China and Japan, (+ 24 %).

These observations were confirmed in January 2017 with hotel arrivals in Greater Paris up by 20.1 % compared to January 2016 and by 28.7% for foreigners. The level reached in January 2017 is even a record for the month of January over the past 10 years.

This recovery in visitor numbers has been confirmed by the evolution in hotel occupancy rates in the first months of 2017. In January, the average occupancy rate in Greater Paris (source: MKG Consulting/Olakala Destination) reached 66.6 %, an increase of 8.4 points compared to January 2016. It was 63.4 % in February, an increase of 5.6 pts. The first indicators confirm this trend for March.

Finally, a follow-up of airline bookings for Paris also reinforces this view of a recovery. At the end of February, international air arrivals in Paris for the current quarter were up by 11.1 % (source: ForwardKeys). Some markets even showed growth that was largely superior to this average: + 77.0 % for Japan, + 30.9 % for Brazil, + 24.6 % for the United States, and + 69.4 % for Russia.

On the basis of this information, Pierre Schapira, Chairman of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, declared: "These indicators show a distinct reversal in the situation in tourism in Paris, which all tourism trade professionals are delighted about. This recovery however remains to be confirmed over the coming weeks at the start of the spring and summer 2017 high season. Exceptional marketing initiatives carried out by the PCVB, in partnership with Atout France and the CRT Ile de France, thanks to resources made available by the State, Paris City Hall and the Ile de France region, are of course going to contribute to that”.

source:https://press.parisinfo.com/news/press-releases/marked-recovery-number-tourist-paris