Talented bacteria detect cancer, diabetes

You might want to park at the door any assumptions about bacteria being primitive, inert or yucky. This is a story about genetically engineered forms of bacteria that may someday diagnose cancer by analyzing a urine sample, and that have already shown a knack for recognizing the hallmarks of diabetes in humans without so much as a pinprick. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times/Science Now by  Melissa Healy

One in six species could be wiped out by climate change, study says

About one in six species now alive on the planet could become extinct as a result of climate change, according to a study published in Friday’s edition of the journal Science. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-species-extinction-20150501-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times/Science Now by Karen Kaplan

Long Beach's answer to Uber and Lyft: Cheaper taxi fares

Long Beach officials loosened restrictions on local taxi fares Tuesday, a move aimed at keeping cabs competitive with the flexible pricing models of ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-long-beach-uber-20150514-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Laura J. Nelson

Construction starts on new Allston-Brighton commuter rail station

Construction on the new Boston Landing commuter rail station near the Allston-Brighton line officially got underway Tuesday.

The new station, located adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike, is on the commuter line connecting Framingham and Worcester to South Station. It’s expected to open in the fall of 2016, two years later than originally planned. http://www.boston.com/business/news/2015/05/12/construction-starts-new-allston-brighton-commuter-rail-station/RsxvjmSp2dFRVANmdv7mOM/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Adam Vaccaro boston.com staff

Boston Bike Week Festival: May 15th!

Free breakfast by Boloco, vendors, music and fun!
Register now! The event is free, but it helps to know you’re coming.

Join one of 10 convoys with experienced ride leaders biking in from neighborhoods throughout metro-Boston to Boston City Hall or simply meet us at City Hall. Enjoy free food, music and fun. Plus, local shops will be on hand to examine bikes and lots of other commuters stopped in to share their energy.
The fun continues all summer, with Bike Fridays: April 24th, June 26th, July 24th, & August 28th, 2015. Same event, different name! http://www.bostonbikes.org/events/bike-fridays/boston-bike-week/
Article courtesy of The City of Boston/Boston Bikes

Self-driving cars are getting into accidents in California

The riskiest thing about self-driving vehicles may turn out to be human drivers.
Four of the nearly 50 self-driving cars undergoing tests on California roads since September, when the state began issuing permits to auto companies, have crashed.
But the cars, three owned by Google and one by Delphi, were in collisions caused by human error.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-self-driving-accidents-20150512-story.html#navtype=outfit&page=1
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Jerry Hirsch and Joseph Serna