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Microbes, Maple Leafs, Christmas
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December 3, 2010
Maybe we’re not alone
The discovery of an alien microbe that lives on arsenic is giving scientists hope that the existence of alien life on this and other planets isn’t all science fiction. “Very neat that an organism grows in high levels of arsenic,” says SFU molecular biologist and biochemist Peter Unrau about NASA’s find in California’s Mono Lake. “Both DNA and RNA have a phosphodiester backbone that scientists consider essential to life on Earth. If arsenic is incorporated into either an RNA or DNA backbone, this is an astounding finding. But work needs to be done to be dead certain that arsenic is actually being used instead of phosphate in a nucleic acid.”
Peter Unrau, 778.782.3448, punrau@sfu.ca (in class until 11:45 a.m. today)
Rogers shopping for sports teams
There are reports that Rogers Communications is interested in acquiring control of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) in what could be a $1.3-billion deal. MLSE owns the National Hockey League Toronto Maple Leafs, the American Hockey League Toronto Marlies, the NBA Toronto Raptors, plus the Major League Soccer Toronto FC club. SFU marketing expert Lindsay Meredith can talk about how Rogers’ marketing strategy would be impacted if this deal goes through.
Lindsay Meredith, 604.932.6934 (Whistler home), 604.842.6007 (cell), meredith@sfu.ca
New king for nativity’s ‘homeless’
An old growth red cedar carving of one of the Christmas nativity's three gift-bearing kings is being unveiled Dec. 4 (1 p.m.) at the West Vancouver Dundarave nativity scene. SFU communication lecturer Michael Markwick, who heads the Dundarave festival's homelessness fund-raising drive, teaches on social change. He says the new king (Melchior, who brings gold) points to “the depth of love we have to bring, especially this season, in order to make meaningful social change happen for the homeless in our community.”
Michael Markwick, 778.847.1426; markwick@sfu.ca
For more on this and other Christmas related story ideas, see: http://tinyurl.com/29jfmoo
The discovery of an alien microbe that lives on arsenic is giving scientists hope that the existence of alien life on this and other planets isn’t all science fiction. “Very neat that an organism grows in high levels of arsenic,” says SFU molecular biologist and biochemist Peter Unrau about NASA’s find in California’s Mono Lake. “Both DNA and RNA have a phosphodiester backbone that scientists consider essential to life on Earth. If arsenic is incorporated into either an RNA or DNA backbone, this is an astounding finding. But work needs to be done to be dead certain that arsenic is actually being used instead of phosphate in a nucleic acid.”
Peter Unrau, 778.782.3448, punrau@sfu.ca (in class until 11:45 a.m. today)
Rogers shopping for sports teams
There are reports that Rogers Communications is interested in acquiring control of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) in what could be a $1.3-billion deal. MLSE owns the National Hockey League Toronto Maple Leafs, the American Hockey League Toronto Marlies, the NBA Toronto Raptors, plus the Major League Soccer Toronto FC club. SFU marketing expert Lindsay Meredith can talk about how Rogers’ marketing strategy would be impacted if this deal goes through.
Lindsay Meredith, 604.932.6934 (Whistler home), 604.842.6007 (cell), meredith@sfu.ca
New king for nativity’s ‘homeless’
An old growth red cedar carving of one of the Christmas nativity's three gift-bearing kings is being unveiled Dec. 4 (1 p.m.) at the West Vancouver Dundarave nativity scene. SFU communication lecturer Michael Markwick, who heads the Dundarave festival's homelessness fund-raising drive, teaches on social change. He says the new king (Melchior, who brings gold) points to “the depth of love we have to bring, especially this season, in order to make meaningful social change happen for the homeless in our community.”
Michael Markwick, 778.847.1426; markwick@sfu.ca
For more on this and other Christmas related story ideas, see: http://tinyurl.com/29jfmoo