Robotic surgery grows, but so do questions

These days, some surgeons have four arms and are made of metal and plastic.

Use of a robotic assistant called the Da Vinci Surgical System has quadrupled in the last four years, and the machine now helps with incisions and sutures in 2,000 hospitals around the world. Da Vinci is a multi-purpose robot — the only one of its kind — that can scrub in on heart bypass and valve repair operations, hysterectomies, prostate removal surgeries and other procedures. http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-robotic-surgery-20111017,0,3304377.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Amber Dance, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Glendale to monitor impact of electric cars

The first 100 people to buy an electric vehicle will get a $200 rebate from the city of Glendale in exchange for installing a special socket that will help measure the potential impact of more cars tapping into the power grid.

As plug-in electric vehicles become more popular, officials want to be prepared for the influx of energy use, so it’s requiring all electric-vehicle owners to install a special socket that will measure the effect on the power supply, said Ned Bassin, assistant general manager of customer and support services at Glendale Water & Power. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/glendale-to-monitor-impact-of-electric-cars.html#start

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Greenspace by Britanny Levine, Time Community News

California has 1 in 4 U.S. solar energy jobs, study says

Reporting from Sacramento

One in every four solar energy jobs in America is held by a Californian, and growth in the clean-tech industry is burgeoning nationwide, a new study said.

In August, California had an estimated 25,575 solar-related jobs out of 100,237 for all 50 states, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011. The census is scheduled for release Monday by the Solar Foundation, a research and education organization in Washington.

California's solar jobs tally was more than four times greater than runner-up Colorado, which had 6,186 solar jobs  http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-jobs-20111017,0,3230671.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Marc Lifsher

 

 

Robots built to help autistic children

Robots aren't known for their soft side. They build cars and defuse bombs; they don't, as a rule, make friends or deal with feelings. But a few groups of researchers around the world are working to build robots for an unusual purpose: Making emotional connections with autistic children who often struggle to interact with humans.  http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-autism-robots-20111017,0,5798122.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Chris Woolston, Special to the Los Angeles Times

 

Target commits to 100% sustainable, traceable fish by 2015

The second largest discount retailer in the U.S. announced Thursday that it will sell only sustainable, traceable fish by 2015. Minneapolis-based Target Corp. operates 1,762 stores, many of which are converting to incorporate PFresh markets that sell fresh and frozen foods, including fish.

In 2010, Target stopped selling farmed salmon, Chilean sea bass and orange roughy due to various sustainability issues. It currently sells 50 different brands of fish certified by either the Marine Stewardship Council or the Global Aquaculture Alliance  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/target-sustainable-traceable-fish.html

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Greenspace posted by Susan Carpenter

Polar bears and greenhouse gases: Can one live with the other?

A federal judge ruled Monday that the government did not breach its obligations under the Endangered Species Act by failing to consider greenhouse gas emissions in efforts to protect the polar bear.

U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan also concluded that federal officials were within their authority in a rule allowing "incidental" harm to polar bears that might occur as a result of oil and gas activities in the Arctic -- provided that those activities already are authorized under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/polar-bear-4d-incidental-take-ruling.html

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Nation Now posted by Kim Murphy

New Zealand fears oil spill from ship may worsen

Reporting from Seoul—

A stricken cargo ship carrying tons of oil threatened to break apart off the coast of New Zealand late Monday and dislodge from the reef it rammed this month.

Salvage crews halted attempts to pump oil from the Liberian-flagged Rena as weather in the area worsened. The ship, which ran aground Oct. 5 on a reef 14 miles offshore, has spilled tons of heavy oil that has washed up on pristine beaches near the town of Tauranga on New Zealand's North Island. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-new-zealand-spill-20111018,0,1472943.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by John M. Glionna